Dystocia, or difficult labor, is a common complication during parturition in cattle that poses substantial risks to both dam and fetus. When the incidence is high on a farm level, it is a significant economic burden for dairy and beef enterprises. This review paper presents a comprehensive roadmap strategy to enhance decision-making in the management of dystocia in cows. The strategy encompasses early recognition and assessment, utilization of advanced diagnostic tools, and a range of medical and surgical interventions tailored to specific maternal and fetal causes of dystocia. The roadmap also integrates preventive measures to reduce the incidence of dystocia through genetic selection and optimized nutrition. By addressing the key challenges in dystocia management, such as resource constraints, timely intervention, and the need for continuous education, this strategy aims to improve health outcomes for cows and calves and reduce economic losses. Implementing this structured approach can facilitate better preparedness, efficient resource utilization, and improved overall livestock management, thereby promoting the sustainability and productivity of the cattle industry and addressing animal welfare aspects.

The cost-effective rearing of heifers depends on the provision of adequate nutrients at an appropriate age to meet nutrient requirements for growth and production. The objective of the present study was to investigate how the time of switching to a rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) source affects the ruminal fermentation and growth performance of Holstein dairy calves. A total of 36 Holstein female calves were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments on day 28 or 42 of life. In the first 28 days of life, they were on the same soybean meal (SBM)-based starter diet containing 22.2% crude protein with 37% RUP. The RUP content of the experimental diet was increased to 48% by a total replacement of the original SBM with xylose-treated soybean meal (XSBM). The following treatments were used: (1) starter diet containing SBM from d 28 (SBM28); (2) starter diet containing XSBM from d 28 (XSBM28); and (3) starter diet containing XSBM from d 42 (XSBM42). All the calves were fed a constant amount of milk (4 L/d), weaned on day 60, and then remained in the experiment until day 70 of life. The results showed that neither feed intake nor BW were influenced by the treatments in the pre-weaning period (days 28 to 60). The calves fed the XSBM28 and XSBM42 diets had greater daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio compared to those on the SBM28 diet post-weaning from day 61 to 70 (p < 0.05). The inclusion of XSBM in the starter diets from days 28 and 42 increased the calves’ height pre- and post-weaning (p < 0.05). The ruminal pH and concentrations of butyrate and iso-butyrate were higher at weaning when the calves were fed the XSBM diets. The calves fed the XSBM diets had less ammonia-N and total short-chain fatty acids at day 70 of life (p < 0.05) and a lower neutral detergent fiber digestibility in the post-weaning period (p < 0.05). The fecal scores and blood metabolites were not different among the treatments. The results showed that increasing the RUP content from 37% to 48% in the starter diets by a total replacement of SBM with XSBM during the pre-weaning period may improve the growth performance around weaning. A later replacement at 42 days of life appears equally effective compared to a replacement at 28 days of life.

It is important to understand the sources causing exposure to nitrogen dioxide. Previous studies on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) source attribution have largely focused on local urban scales. This study aims to assess the source contributions to NO2 levels at regional and urban background locations in Germany. For this purpose, we used the chemistry-transport model LOTOS-EUROS. Road transport was identified as the largest contributor, particularly in urban background settings (up to 59% in major cities), with larger shares from light-duty vehicles than from heavy-duty vehicles. Modelled contributions from traffic on highways exceed those from urban roads in the urban background. This study also highlights contributions from shipping, agriculture, energy, and industry, which vary significantly from region to region. Transboundary contributions also play a role, particularly near the border. The model performance has been validated by comparison with ground-based observations from the federal state networks and the Federal Environmental Agency. The comparison to the observations showed an underestimation of NO2 concentrations in cities, hinting at shortcomings in the spatial allocation of the emissions. The observed difference between the NO2 levels in Berlin and those in the rural background showed a large sensitivity to ambient temperature, which was not reproduced by the model. These results indicate that the way the traffic emissions are described, including the temperature influence, needs to be updated.

Little is known about host-gut microbiome interactions within natural populations at the intestinal mucosa, the primary interface. We investigate associations between the intestinal microbiome and mucosal immune measures while controlling for host, social and ecological factors in 199 samples of 158 wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. We profile the microbiome composition using a multi-amplicon approach and measure faecal immunoglobulin A and mucin. Probabilistic models indicate that both immune measures predicted microbiome similarity among individuals in an age-dependent manner. These associations are the strongest within bacteria, intermediate within parasites, and weakest within fungi communities. Machine learning models accurately predicted both immune measures and identify the taxa driving these associations: symbiotic bacteria reported in humans and laboratory mice, unclassified bacteria, parasitic hookworms and fungi. These findings improve our understanding of the gut microbiome, its drivers, and interactions in wild populations under natural selection.

Background

Anthropogenic activities have led to a global rise in water temperatures, prompting increased interest in how warming affects infectious disease ecology. While most studies have focused on individual host-parasite systems, there is a gap in understanding the impact of warming on multi-host, multi-parasite assemblages in natural ecosystems. To address this gap, we investigated freshwater eukaryotic parasite communities in ten natural lakes near Konin, Poland: five artificially heated and five non-heated “control” lakes. Since 1958, the heated lakes have experienced a mean annual temperature increase of 2 °C due to hot water discharge from two adjacent power plants. We collected seasonal environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from surface waters over a two-year period and applied targeted metabarcoding to compare the richness and distribution of eukaryotic parasites across lake types with a focus on protists and fungi.

Results

Using literature searches and sequence metadata from GenBank, we identified putative parasites which included Alveolates, Stramenopiles, basal Fungi and Ichthyosporeans as well as their associated hosts. Heated lakes harboured distinct parasite assemblages with higher richness of chytrids and aphelids, suggesting thermal preferences among certain freshwater microeukaryotic parasites. Other groups exhibited clear seasonal trends with richness of oomycetes peaking in spring and summer, and that of Cryptomycota in winter and autumn. A general linear model revealed a marginally positive correlation between chytrid parasite richness and richness of their green algal, diatom, and dinoflagellate hosts. Post-hoc analyses indicated that heated lakes exhibited greater seasonal variation in chytrid parasite richness and a stronger correlation between host and parasite richness than control lakes.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that warming can induce strong shifts in the richness and assemblages of freshwater microeukaryotic parasites. Using chytrids as a focal group, we additionally demonstrate that warming may amplify seasonal variation in parasite richness and strengthen host-parasite richness relationships.

Invasive alien species threaten global biodiversity and ecosystems. Understanding the context-dependency of invasion dynamics is crucial for uncovering the processes driving the establishment and spread of alien species. This study investigates how abiotic (soil characteristics) and biotic factors (resident vegetation diversity and similarity to the invader) affect the invasion success of Senecio inaequidens (South African ragwort) across high- and low-productivity habitats in northern Italy. Our results revealed that abiotic and biotic factors affect S. inaequidens success. We found evidence of biotic resistance from resident plant communities, driven mainly by diversity and cover. However, a negative relationship between S. inaequidens performance and both phylogenetic and functional similarity to resident species was found, indicating better performance when growing with more similar species. We additionally observed stronger resistance in more nutrient-rich environments, highlighting the context-dependent nature of such relationships. Our results suggest that S. inaequidens is more susceptible to competition than adverse abiotic conditions, making it as a good colonizer rather than a strong competitor. These findings emphasize the complexity of invasion dynamics and the importance of considering both biotic and abiotic factors in developing management strategies for invaded ecosystems.

Mammalian mating systems, which form the cornerstone of social systems, are shaped by diverse ecological and sociobiological factors, and they influence behavior and reproductive success. Among mammals, bats exhibit a remarkable diversity of mating systems, making them ideal for studying their complexity; yet, interspecific variations of bat mating systems remain largely unknown. To address this, we surveyed six roosts of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) over 2 years, uncovering novel aspects of their mating system. Our findings suggest a lek mating system, where males aggregate and are visited by receptive females. Mating involves multiple copulations and distinct body postures, with the female remaining with the male for several hours. Male roost occupancy peaked in August, reflecting a phenological cycle. Males demonstrated pronounced territoriality and site fidelity, defending display spots with vocalizations and physical confrontations, underscoring their important role in securing mating success. Complex vocalizations appeared crucial for deterring rivals and attracting females, suggesting vocal signals govern mate choice by females. Additionally, a yellow facial secretion observed in males may function as an olfactory signal during mate selection. This study provides valuable insights into the mating system of M. myotis, with implications for understanding the species’ behavioral ecology and contributing to conservation strategies.

Projected entangled-pair states (PEPS) have become a powerful tool for studying quantum many-body systems in the condensed matter and quantum materials context, particularly with advances in variational energy optimization methods. A key challenge within this framework is the computational cost associated with the contraction of the two-dimensional lattice, crucial for calculating state vector norms and expectation values. The conventional approach, using the corner transfer matrix renormalization group (CTMRG), involves combining two tensor network layers, resulting in significant time and memory demands. In this work, we introduce an alternative split-CTMRG algorithm, which maintains separate PEPS layers and leverages modified environment tensors, reducing computational complexity while preserving accuracy. Benchmarks on quantum lattice models demonstrate substantial speedups for variational energy optimization, rendering this method valuable for large-scale PEPS simulations.

Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) parasites cause two major infectious diseases in Africa: African trypanosomiasis in humans (HAT) and Nagana in animals. Despite the enormous economic and social impact, vaccines and reliable diagnostic measures are still lacking for these diseases. The main obstacle to developing accurate diagnostic methods and an active vaccine is the parasite’s ability for antigenic variation, impairment of B cell maturation, and loss of B cell memory which collectively prevent the development of a long-lasting, effective immune response. The antigenic variation is sustained by random gene switching, segmental gene conversion, and altered glycosylation states of solvent-exposed regions of the corresponding variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs). These glycoproteins use a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor for attachment to the membrane. GPIs of T. brucei have specific branched structures that are further heterogeneously galactosylated. Here, we synthesized a glycan fragment library containing T. brucei GPIs’ most prominent structural features and performed an epitope mapping using mice and human sera of infected specimens using glycan microarrays. The studies indicate that in contrast to VSGs, T. brucei GPIs are recognized by infection-induced short-lived Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and long-lasting Immunoglobulin G (IgG), suggesting a specific immune response against GPI structures. These findings enable the development of diagnostic tests based on synthetic antigens for the reliable diagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis and Nagana.

Aim

To investigate how trait correlations between life stages associated with complex life cycles (aquatic nymph and terrestrial adult) shape the functional diversity and trait–environment relationships of European dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera).

Location

European mainland.

Time Period

Pre-1990 and post-1990.

Major Taxa Studied

Dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera).

Methods

Based on functional traits linked to dispersal and microhabitat preference, we use trait hypervolumes and structural equation modelling to estimate spatial and temporal trait correlations between terrestrial (adult) and aquatic (nymphal) life stages, and potential complex trait–environment relationships across life stages.

Results

Adult and nymphal functional diversity were positively correlated and trait variation between life stages did show reciprocal causality. Cross-lagged correlations showed that historical nymphal traits most strongly impacted present nymphal and adult diversity, suggesting that functional diversity patterns are influenced by carryover effects and differential selection pressures on nymphs relative to adults. Between the two life stages, we find both parallel and contrasting patterns between direct and indirect trait–environment relationships. The effect of mean annual temperature on adult trait diversity is largely driven by its positive correlation with nymphal traits. Positive nymphal trait correlations with habitat availability and topography are reducing the direct negative effects these variables have on adult trait diversity.

Main Conclusions

We show that constraints inherent to complex life cycles significantly influence functional diversity patterns in European dragonflies, creating indirect trait–environment relationships across life stages. Spatial patterns in functional diversity were determined by both life stages, not just adults or nymphs, via a combination of independent and interactive trait–environment relationships.

These findings challenge conventional functional biogeography models focused solely on direct environmental filtering. Consequently, integrating reciprocal trait relationships enhances causal claims when predicting functional biodiversity responses to environmental changes.

Thin-film plasmonic supercrystals of pentagonal gold nanobipyramids (AuBP) exhibit a diverse range of packing structures that influence the near-field distribution of the enhanced electric field and the far-field response. By varying the molecular weight of the coating ligands, the softness of the anisotropic building blocks is changed. A thorough structural characterization reveals that this affects the resulting superstructures from self-assembly more intricately than with isotropic building blocks. Softer coatings lead to smaller aligned domains in monolayers, while bilayers exhibit more crystalline domains with dominant interlayer twist angles near 0° and 90°. The far-field distribution and near-field response are measured using micro-absorbance and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Correlating these data with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) structural analysis enabled the identification of the longitudinal and transverse individual and collective plasmonic modes. Notably, for large crystalline bilayer domains, a strong polarization-dependent optical response is observed. These features underline the potential of these superstructures for applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopies, plasmonic photocatalysis, and advanced optical manipulation in switchable optical metamaterials.

To facilitate the continued use of commercial nuclear power and address environmental contamination, it is essential to understand the fate and transport of plutonium (Pu) in (sub)surface environments. Current geochemical models do not account for complexity in mineral assemblages, such as metal substitution or the role of nanoscale crystallite sizes. In this work, we studied mineralogically complex systems where Pu(V) was the sorbate and Al-substituted or nanoscale iron (oxyhydr)oxides were the sorbents. Using M4-edge and L3-edge high-energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near-edge structure (HERFD-XANES) spectroscopy, we probed the electronic configuration of Pu, quantified the extent of Pu surface-mediated reduction, and explored Pu speciation. Our results indicate that nanoscale iron oxides exert a greater degree of control over the redox behavior of Pu than Al-substituted iron (oxyhydr)oxides under circumneutral pH and oxic conditions. This is due to the dependence of Pu surface-mediated reduction on an initial sorption step, which is greater with the increased specific surface area and reactivity of nanoscale crystallites.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the conceptual and empirical study of altered states of consciousness (ASCs), induced pharmacologically or otherwise, driven by their potential clinical applications. To draw attention to the rich history of research in this domain, we review prominent classification schemes that have been proposed to introduce systematicity into the scientific study of ASCs. The reviewed ASC classification schemes fall into three groups according to the criteria they use for categorization: (1) based on the nature, variety, and intensity of subjective experiences (state-based), including conceptual descriptions and psychometric assessments, (2) based on the technique of induction (method-based), and (3) descriptions of neurophysiological mechanisms of ASCs (neuro/physio-based). By comparing and extending existing classification schemes, we can enhance efforts to identify neural correlates of consciousness, particularly when examining mechanisms of ASC induction and the resulting subjective experiences. Furthermore, an overview of what defining ASC characteristics different authors have proposed can inform future research in the conceptualization and quantification of ASC subjective effects, including the identification of those that might be relevant in clinical research. This review concludes by clustering the concepts from the state-based schemes, which are suggested for classifying ASC experiences. The resulting clusters can inspire future approaches to formulate and quantify the core phenomenology of ASC experiences to assist in basic and clinical research.

Zooplankton-associated microbiomes play an important role for host health, and contribute to ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Yet, few studies have assessed how environmental gradients and biotic interactions, including parasitism and diet, may shape the microbiome composition of wild zooplankton. Here, we analyzed the microbiomes of water fleas from the Daphnia longispina species complex using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a long-term field dataset spanning six sampling events over 13 years. Sampling coincided with outbreaks of the virulent eukaryotic gut parasite Caullerya mesnili. Additionally, we explored how microbiome structure varied in relation to water parameters, phytoplankton density (i.e., Daphnia diet), and zooplankton density and community structure. Daphnia microbiomes displayed strong temporal variation and comparatively small differences based on host infection status. Microbiome beta diversity correlated with phytoplankton density but not with its community composition, including green algae, protists, and cyanobacteria. Environmental conditions, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, and cyanobacterial abundance—previously found to drive Caullerya epidemics—were also associated with distinct microbiome structures. Importantly, microbiome beta diversity co-varied with infection prevalence, suggesting a link between microbiome shifts, epidemic size, and environmental conditions driving large epidemics. Dominant bacterial taxa correlated with Daphnia density, whereas the phylogenetic composition of rare taxa was associated with total zooplankton density. These findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of Daphnia microbiomes and suggest potential mechanisms by which they may mediate disease dynamics, particularly through associations with diet quantity, temperature, and host population density.

The structure of 2-[4-(di­cyano­meth­yl)cyclo­hexa-2,5-dien-1-yl]propane­bis­(nitrilium) bis­(hexa­fluorido­arsenate), C12H6N42+·2AsF6−, has ortho­rhom­bic (Cmce) symmetry. The compound exhibits a layer structure, which is formed by hydrogen bonds between the semi-protonated nitrile groups. Unexpectedly, no H⋯F contacts are observed. Instead, the [AsF6]− anions show C⋯F contacts to the positively polarized carbon atoms of the dication with distances in the range 2.871 (2)–3.154 (2) Å.

Despite globally parallel changes in insolation intensity, the nature and causes of Holocene stadial-interstadial transitions and relevant cycles remain mysterious. Particularly, the ice-thermal feedbacks caused by the ice sheet on the Tibetan Plateau have pronounced effects in the interannual surface-heat anomaly and local-to-remote atmospheric circulations. However, its long-term variations and impacts in terms of melt-freeze dynamics remain mysterious. Our results are based on decadal resolved difference between two oxygen isotope records during the past 12,000 years from Donggi Cona Lake, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau. They indicate surface-heat anomaly-caused air-temperature variabilities, which were about −3 °C in springs 9,500 years ago and 2 °C in autumns afterwards on average, independent from insolation strength. We find that increasing autumn air-temperature variability generated large-scaled vertical convections over the Plateau 4,500 years ago. Since then, the recent Tibetan Plateau thermal forcing centre formed with the noted increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission. The predicted increasing autumn air-temperature with greenhouse effect portends future higher atmospheric sensitivity. We anticipate Holocene ice-ages to be tipping points of the coupled surface-atmosphere climate changes.

In the context of sustainable development, water resources, energy, and carbon emissions are pivotal factors influencing the rational planning of economic development and the secure establishment of ecological barriers. As a core food production area, how can the Great River Basin balance the pressure on the “water–energy–carbon” system (WEC) to realize the coordinated development of “nature–society–economy”? Taking the Yellow River Basin in China as the research object, this paper explores the coupling characteristics and virtual transfer trends of WEC in the agricultural sector under the condition of mutual constraints. The results show the following: (1) On the dynamic coupling characteristics, W-E and E-C are strongly coupled with each other. The optimization of water resource allocation and the development of energy-saving water use technology make the W-E consumption show a downward trend, and the large-scale promotion of agricultural mechanization makes the E-C consumption show an upward trend. (2) On the spatial distribution of transfer, there is an obvious path dependence of virtual WEC transfer, showing a trend of transfer from less developed regions to developed regions, and the coupling strength decreases from developed regions to less developed regions. The assumption of producer responsibility serves to exacerbate the problem of inter-regional development imbalances. (3) According to the cross-sectoral analysis, water resources are in the center of sectoral interaction, and controlling the upstream sector of the resource supply will indirectly affect the synergistic relationship of WEC, and controlling the downstream sector of resource consumption will indirectly affect the constraint relationship of WEC. This study provides theoretical and methodological references for the Great River Basin to cope with the resource and environmental pressure brought by global climate change and the effective allocation of inter-regional resources.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a suitable process to use manure for biogas production. During this process, antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria are reduced. In this study, we investigated the reduction of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, fluoroquinolone-resistant, and total Escherichia (E.) coli concentrations in chicken manure during AD. AD was performed at 30 °C and 37 °C (mesophilic temperature range), with and without sawdust addition as a lignocellulosic biomass. The initial concentrations of total E. coli were 6.43 log10CFU/g to 7.84 log10CFU/g. The concentration of Fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli was approx. 6.05 log10CFU/g (6.70%), and of ESBL-producing E. coli approx. 5.48 log10CFU/g (0.99%). During AD, we observed that temperature had the main influence on the bacterial reduction, as E. coli abundance was below the detection limit after day 7 at 37 °C and after day 14 at 30 °C. At 37 °C we observed higher amounts of free ammonia, which is an inhibitor of the AD process. The carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio has an important impact on the AD process because a higher C/N ratio decreases the amount of generated total ammonia nitrogen. However, we did not observe a significant difference in AMR and total E. coli reduction between chicken manure with a natural C/N ratio (10:1) and an increased C/N ratio (25:1).

Conductive polymers with TEMPO pendants are considered as a promising class of energy storage materials. However, the rational design of such materials demands for the minimization of the molar mass of the unit. The utilization of the PROXYL stable radical instead of TEMPO may decrease the weight of the monomeric unit and, thus, improve the capacity of the materials. Herein, we report a NiSalen complex with 3-carboxy-PROXYL pendants, designed to decrease the molar mass of the complex. The resulting product was characterized by 1H NMR, electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry and EPR.