The cold, low carbon dioxide (CO2) conditions of the Pleistocene epoch fundamentally structured ecosystems, profoundly influencing the evolutionary trajectory of Homo sapiens and other large mammals. Although often considered uniquely stable, the Holocene is more usefully viewed as just another Pleistocene interglacial interval that was naturally trending towards a renewed glacial phase. However, rapid anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission rates have reversed this trajectory and might have now foreclosed the prospect of returning to cyclic glacial climates for millennia. A large set of flora and fauna has benefited from low CO2 conditions, which we define as low-CO2 dependents. By elevating atmospheric CO2 concentrations beyond levels seen for millions of years, we have accelerated global warming beyond the adaptive capacities of many species and ecosystems. African savannas and grasslands are particularly relevant in this context because this was the environment in which the human species evolved. These biomes have been previously maintained by fire and carbon scarcity but are now experiencing woody encroachment driven by rising CO2. The resultant global reforestation further threatens biodiversity adapted to open ecosystems, while rewilding initiatives must therefore pair prehistoric analogues with explicit climate-fitness tests that anticipate mid-century CO2 trajectories. Addressing these complex challenges requires both targeted local interventions and systemic policy reforms, grounded in a pragmatic recognition of the transient nature of the Holocene. Recognising the transience of any single baseline allows conservation and agriculture to plan for a dynamic, overshoot-prone future.

Shortages of kerosene, used to cook food and melt ice for drinking water on the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910–13, hastened the death of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his three remaining companions in March 1912. Various explanations for the losses have been proposed, but no definitive account has been published. This article aims to provide a reliable, authoritative and complete history of Scott’s kerosene shortages.

A review of primary expedition records (personal journals in particular) has been undertaken, assembling information about fuel shortages and related matters, and identifying and evaluating seven potential explanations for shortages. The evidence indicates that many of the potential explanations are inconsistent with trusted historical evidence, and that one appears to be based upon a widespread misinterpretation of Scott’s diary. The prevalent explanation is a complex interplay of facts, omissions, distractions and fiction, traceable to an Editor’s Note in the expedition’s official book “Scott’s Last Expedition.”

This article identifies four significant factors that contributed to fuel shortages: an intentional reduction of their fuel allowance in some depots by one third, their reduced speed of travel on later barrier stages, unseasonably cold weather and the unplanned use of fuel to cook pony meat.

Schwartzitrema Vigueras, 1941, is a small, rarely reported genus of diplostomoideans that parasitize avian definitive hosts, predominantly anhingas, on several continents. No DNA sequences were previously available for any Schwartzitrema spp. In the present study, we describe adults of 2 new Schwartzitrema spp. from anhingas in Brazil. We also provide description of metacercaria of one of the new species from Argentina. Schwartzitrema macrotesticulata n. sp. lacks a clear separation between its testes, appearing almost as a contiguous, irregularly shaped, lobular mass. A highly characteristic feature of Schwartzitrema macroholdfastus n. sp. is a strongly enlarged lobe of the holdfast organ. These features, along with distribution of vitellarium and nature of the preputial folds surrounding the genital cones, separate the new species from their congeners. We generated partial sequences of the large ribosomal subunit (28S) rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) mtDNA genes from adult forms of both species and cox1 of metacercarial stages. The 28S sequences were used for phylogenetic inference. The pairwise sequence divergence between the 2 species is 4.0–4.6% in cox1 gene. Intraspecific variability in the same cox1 region did not exceed 0.8% despite the long geographic distance between collecting sites in Brazil and Argentina.

Polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are small, positively charged metabolites indispensable for DNA stabilization, chromatin remodelling, RNA translation and redox balance, with dynamic distribution across the nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In cancer, polyamine homeostasis becomes profoundly dysregulated through altered biosynthesis, degradation and transport, driving malignant phenotypes and therapy resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop precision techniques that combine polyamine metabolism with immunotherapeutic and redox-based therapies, identify biomarkers to predict therapy response and create logical combination regimens to overcome resistance. The existing literature lacks in providing a holistic view of how polyamine dynamics intersect with diverse cancer hallmarks. Thus, this review consolidates emerging evidence on the multifaceted roles of polyamines in cancer hallmarks, with a particular focus on their impact on efferocytosis, ferroptosis and the dynamics of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation of contemporary treatment approaches that focus on polyamine metabolism, including transport blockers, biosynthesis inhibitors and various polyamine analogues, was discussed. While addressing context-dependent effects of polyamines that impede therapeutic progress, our discussion also incorporates important findings from pre-clinical and clinical investigations. Going forward, this review aims to enlighten and direct future translational research by situating polyamine biology within the broader context of cancer evolution and treatment adaptation.

One of the 84 plant species endemic to Jeju Island, South Korea, is Salix blinii H. Lév. We surveyed its habitat to obtain quantitative information on the population demographics of S. blini, and thus to re-evaluate its conservation status and recommend in situ conservation strategies. We recorded 365 individuals in three valleys, above 1,200 m, on Mt Halla, of which 34 were flowering individuals capable of sexual reproduction. Although the population size is limited, the high proportion of small individuals suggests ongoing recruitment. Vegetative reproduction is presumed to play an important role, as it does for other Salix species that grow in valleys or along intermittent streams. Salix blinii is currently categorized as Vulnerable, based on criterion D2, on the IUCN Red List, but we reassess it as Vulnerable based on criteria D1+2 based on the number of mature individuals recorded. Although Mt Halla is designated as multiple large protected areas, small-scale protected areas within these larger areas need to be designated for more effective in situ conservation of S. blinii.

The main challenge to producing a nutritionally improved milk fat composition is to increase monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and decrease saturated fatty acids (SFA) without detriment to dairy product characteristics. Our aim was to determine the optimal amount of intestinally available oleic acid (via abomasal infusion) to produce higher-MUFA milk fat with satisfactory functional characteristics for ice cream. One control and four increasing doses of free fatty acids (FA) from high oleic sunflower oil (HOSFA) were infused into the abomasa of four lactating dairy cows in a changeover design with periods of 7 d. Treatments were (1) control (no FA infused), (2) HOSFA (250 g/d), (3) HOSFA (500 g/d), (4) HOSFA (750 g/d), and (5) HOSFA (1000 g/d). All treatments included meat solubles and Tween 80 as emulsifiers. Ice cream mixes were prepared with butter oil from all treatments. Samples prepared from control and 500 g/d HOSFA infusion were evaluated by a judging panel in a triangle test. Statistical analysis of results showed linear changes in most of the variables analysed as HOSFA infusion increased. For ice cream under freezing temperatures, the 500 g/d level was optimal. Sensory evaluation analysis indicated no statistical difference between ice creams prepared from the control and 500 g/d HOSFA infusion. Changes in 23 triacylglycerol fractions were statistically correlated to functional properties at 10 min of freezing. The decrease in fractions with SFA (butyrin-caprylin-palmitin, butyrin-laurin-olein, butyrin-myristin-palmitin, butyrin-palmitin-palmitin, caproin-myristin-palmitin, butyrin-palmitin-stearin, caproin-palmitin-palmitin) and the increase in dioleyl triglycerides (with butyric, lauric, myristic and palmitic acids) and triolein were some of the most highly correlated with ice cream functional properties as the result of increasing HOSFA infusion. We were able to produce an ice cream with desirable physical and organoleptic qualities, yet containing twice as much oleic acid and two-thirds as much palmitate as a control ice cream.

Ophiuroids have been major components of marine seafloor communities since the early Paleozoic. Past paleontological studies, especially those dealing with Paleozoic specimens, have based taxonomic descriptions on whole-skeleton morphology while mostly overlooking disarticulated ossicles, causing a large gap in our knowledge of Paleozoic ophiuroids. Recent studies of Mesozoic and Cenozoic ophiuroids, however, have examined the fine-scale morphological details of ophiuroid arm plates and have documented useful characters for taxonomic assignment. Here, we use similar methods for examining disarticulated ophiuroids to describe a Late Mississippian (Serpukhovian) ophiuroid fauna based solely on dissociated ossicles, preserved as microfossils and sieved from shale samples collected from the Indian Springs Shale Member of the Big Clifty Formation in Sulphur, Indiana, USA. We describe 11 species in total, 10 of which are new to science: Umerophiura daki n. sp., Strataster lisae n. sp., Schoenaster limbeckae n. sp., Vandelooaster douglasi n. sp., Furcaster wardi n. sp., Furcaster mccantae n. sp., Furcaster coulombeae n. sp., Sulphaster odellettorum n. gen. n. sp., Covidaster medicus n. gen. n. sp., and Suchaster granulosus n. gen. n. sp. Also present are ossicles of Cholaster sp. indet. The assemblage described in this paper significantly increases the known ophiuroid diversity in the Mississippian, yielding more species than all previous reports on Mississippian ophiuroids combined. Furthermore, our study shows that the evolution of the modern ophiuroid clade began much earlier than expected. Our results imply that the microfossil record of ophiuroids is paramount to unveiling the true paleobiodiversity of this evolutionarily important echinoderm clade.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/21fc0302-5a9f-41de-b1e3-6972de4b57bc

Catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) programmes for free-roaming dogs (FRD) are humane and effective in controlling dog populations in developing countries. However, each component, from capture to release, can impact an individual animal’s welfare. This study aimed to develop a standardised welfare assessment scoring system for evaluating the welfare of dogs undergoing routine CNVR procedures at a veterinary training facility in Goa, India and to assess the impact of a targeted staff training intervention by comparing welfare assessment scores before and after its implementation. A score-based protocol was designed, incorporating 22 animal-, resource-, and management-based parameters covering six key steps of the CNVR procedure: catching/transport; cage/holding area; pre-operative period; surgery; post-operative period; and release. Eighty-two dogs were assessed initially. Areas for improvement were identified and informed the design of a targeted staff training intervention involving theory-based lectures and interactive sessions. Knowledge was assessed before and after receiving the intervention, with total scores on the assessment improving. The welfare assessment was repeated on another 81 dogs. Total welfare scores for individual dogs improved significantly after the staff intervention compared with before. This study demonstrates that a welfare assessment tool can be used to assess the welfare of individual dogs in a busy CNVR programme; furthermore, it can inform the compilation and delivery of a targeted staff training intervention and demonstrate improvements in dog welfare after such an intervention.

Seabirds are excellent ecosystem indicators and are amongst the most threatened taxa globally. Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, supports significant breeding colonies of seabirds, especially red-footed boobies Sula sula. The population was surveyed by boat during 1968–1969 and in 2000, over which period the population grew from c. 6,500 to 10,000 breeding pairs. In 2022–2023, we monitored five subcolonies across Aldabra to determine breeding phenology and breeding success. In August 2022 and February 2023, we surveyed the atoll-wide population using the boat-based survey methodology followed in earlier studies. We also carried out unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys in February 2023 to compare the results with the boat-based counts and to quantify inland colonies undetectable by boat. Boat surveys revealed that Aldabra’s red-footed booby population had grown to 36,720 pairs by 2023, an increase that is intrinsically possible based on our population model but only if the much lower count in 2000 was an underestimate. The UAV and boat counts were closely aligned in our study, and aerial images captured a similar number of nests to boat surveys for shoreline colonies. However, UAV surveys revealed several undocumented inland colonies. An additional 5,574 inland breeding pairs of red-footed boobies were counted from images captured inland during aerial surveys in the 2023 wet season, bringing the atoll-wide population to at least 45,817 pairs. We recommend UAVs for surveys of large, conspicuous seabird species at low-lying mangrove colonies. Our study highlights the global importance of Aldabra as the most significant red-footed booby colony in the Indian Ocean and possibly the world.

In 1988, meteorological measurements started at the Spanish research station Juan Carlos I (JCI) on Livingston Island. A second station - Gabriel de Castilla (GdC) - was installed in 2005 on Deception Island. These long-term measurements improved our climatological understanding of the western region of the South Shetland Islands (SSI), a region that has received less attention than the more station-populated King George Island in the central SSI. Here, we present a complete climatological analysis of these stations after undertaking a full quality control process of the data. This analysis covers temperature, wind, precipitation, radiation, relative humidity and pressure, as well as trends and variability. The results show: 1) the stations along the western SSI coastline, particularly JCI, are warmer than those on the central SSI, especially in summer, 2) at GdC, winters are colder due to stagnant cold air pooling within the Deception Island caldera, 3) the importance of island orography in shaping local climatology, especially regarding wind patterns, and 4) the critical need to correct precipitation measurements for undercatchment of solid precipitation by common pluviometers. This study provides a climatological framework to support further research conducted in the region.

Cover crops (CC) play a critical role in developing and maintaining agroecosystem resiliency. However, current research indicates an inconsistent effect of CC on soil health indicators and the relationship of soil health with crop yield and quality parameters. Hence, a long-term CC experiment established in 2007 at Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada was used to evaluate the CC effects on soil health indicators (56 indicators collected from 0 to 15 cm depth) and tomato fruit marketable yield and quality in 2019. To determine the association of soil functionality with tomato fruit yield and quality (i.e., plant compounds associated with human health), soil health indicator(s) were grouped into six critical soil functions. The CC treatments used to assess the soil health indicators and associated soil functions were winter cereal rye, radish, a mixture of radish and rye (radish + rye), and a no cover crop control (no-CC). Cover crops significantly enhanced 22 indicators by 2–35% than the no-CC treatment with the majority associated with nutrient supply. Fruit yield was greater with long-term cover crop, but there was no evidence that CC adoption would influence phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of processing tomato. Among the tested CCs, greater values for most of the soil health indicators were observed for radish + rye ≥ radish > rye. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated a clear separation of no-CC plots from the long-term CC species for the soil functions of erosion control, nutrient supply, and climate regulation; thus, confirming the implications of long-term CCing on increasing soil functioning and building resilient production systems.

This short report provides the first observations of deep-sea corals belonging to the class Octocorallia and order Antipatharia surveyed during the KM24-03 Leg 2 cruise in the waters around Minamidaito and Kitadaito Islands in Okinawa, Japan between approximately 200 and 1,000 m. It also lists and illustrates the specimens that were collected. Based on field observations, deep-sea corals occupied the niches inside and around caves and crevices, as well as non-cave environments such as flat seabeds and slopes. Our morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the collected specimens revealed the presence of Callogorgia cf. korema, Pleurocorallium inutile, and Acanthopathes undulata. We provide the first documentation of deep-sea corals found in this area, as well as extend the known geographic distribution of these species. In particular, the black coral A. undulata, which until now has only been reported from the western and central Pacific Ocean, is reported for the first time in the northwestern Pacific. Our preliminary findings warrant further investigation and more stringent protection of the deep-sea species and habitats found in the waters around these karstic islands from anthropogenic impacts, perhaps with inclusion in regional Marine Protected Areas.

This study evaluated the effect of sweet whey fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772, an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacterium (LAB), on the yield and quality of Requeson, a traditional Mexican fresh cheese, further supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei 431. Fermentation of the whey at 42°C for 48 hours resulted in the production of 1.126 ± 0.12 mgeq dextran/mL of EPS. The incorporation of this EPS-rich whey led to a marked (∼230%) increase in cheese yield and significantly enhanced textural properties, including greater hardness, cohesiveness and elasticity. Furthermore, L. casei 431 maintained viability above 107 cfu/g throughout 21 days of refrigerated storage (4°C), with no detectable microbial contamination. Although formulations containing EPS were slightly preferred in sensory evaluations, they exhibited improved stability and retained overall acceptable sensory quality. These results highlight the potential of EPS-producing LAB and probiotics to improve the technological, nutritional and functional attributes of fresh cheese, while contributing to the valorisation of dairy by-products.

To address the complexity and excessive reliance on expert experience in tuning fuzzy Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller parameters, this study proposes a variable-rate spraying control system that integrates an improved Beetle Antennae Search (IBAS) algorithm with fuzzy PID control. To evaluate the feasibility of the system, a mathematical transfer function of the variable-rate spraying system was constructed, and a flow control simulation platform was established for simulation analysis. To overcome the limitations of conventional BAS, which is prone to premature convergence and limited search precision, the IBAS algorithm was developed. The improvements include a hybrid disturbance strategy to enhance individual search capability and a simulated annealing mechanism to prevent the algorithm from being trapped in local optima. Using the IBAS algorithm, the proportional and quantization factors of the fuzzy PID controller were optimized offline to obtain the optimal parameters. The IBAS-fuzzy PID controller was then compared in simulation with conventional PID, fuzzy PID, and BAS-optimized fuzzy PID controllers. The simulation results demonstrated that the IBAS-fuzzy PID algorithm achieved higher flow control accuracy than existing methods. To further validate the effectiveness of the improved algorithm under practical conditions, field experiments were conducted. The results indicated that the IBAS-optimized fuzzy PID controller outperformed the three other control methods in terms of flow control accuracy. Overall, both simulation and field results confirm that the proposed IBAS algorithm for fuzzy PID parameter optimization significantly enhances response speed, control precision, and overshoot reduction, providing a novel approach and potential application for variable-rate spraying technology.