The sensory system gauges the external environment to maintain homeostasis and regulate the behaviour of animals. One of the sensory modalities, olfaction, has gained much attention in recent years due to its direct impact on the successful survival of animals. Research conducted on human, vertebrate and invertebrate model systems has revealed that the odor perception capability of an animal not only helps in the identification of palatable, stale or toxic items, but also regulates the entire gamut of physiological functions such as appetite, lipid storage, metabolic health, life span and immunity. Moreover, olfactory function is one of the important parameters associated with progression, susceptibility and diagnosis of various diseases. The olfactory capacity of some animals can be utilised to diagnose human diseases, while olfactory impairment may be an early indicator of underlying pathology, such as neurological and infectious diseases. Understanding the link between olfaction and animal health may help in enhancing longevity, improving diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This review summarizes the recent studies conducted on human and animal model systems, emphasizing the role of odor perception in health and disease. At the end, we have discussed the olfactory abnormalities associated with various disorders and use of olfactory function of animals in diagnosing human diseases.

Autonomous driving decision-making requires a deep semantic understanding of traffic scenes. In this paper, we propose the SGVLM (Semantic Graph Vision-Language Model) architecture: a vision-language model that enhances autonomous driving decision-making through depth-integrated semantic scene graph fusion. Key objects are represented as nodes (category, state) and spatial-semantic relations as edges, enriched with pixel-wise depth estimates from Depth-Anything-V2 to capture accurate inter-object distances. These structured graph features are aggregated via a two-layer Graph Attention Network and projected into the FastVLM’s FastViTHD feature space. A cross-modal triplet fusion layer then jointly integrates graph embeddings, visual features, and natural-language queries. Leveraging Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) for efficient fine-tuning, SGVLM_7B achieves relative improvements of 25.9% in BLEU-4 and 18.6% in ROUGE-L over the InternVL4Drive-v2 baseline on the DriveLM-nuScenes benchmark, and attains 94.56% accuracy on collision-warning decision tasks in our TTSG-data safety-critical scenarios. These results demonstrate that depth-integrated semantic scene graph fusion substantially enhances the model’s ability to generate actionable driving decisions under complex traffic conditions.

The objective of this work was to generate and characterize complexes of quinoa proteins (QP) with either resveratrol (RSV) or tocopherol (TOC) whose dimensions fell into the nanoscale. The QP-based nanocomplexes characterization was carried out jointly with encapsulation efficiency determination. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed no covalent bond formation and indicated that the protein’s secondary structure was modified. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements confirmed that the addition of bioactive compounds did not substantially alter the protein’s original size. A consistent particle diameter of 100 nm was observed in both types of nanocomplexes with and without RSV and TOC. The antioxidant capacity of nanocomplexes was analyzed after an in vitro simulated digestion process, showing an increase in this property post-digestion. These nanocomplexes hold great potential as functional ingredients.

Ultrahigh-Ni layered cathodes are among the most promising materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density, but their practical use is often limited by severe surface instability and structural degradation. In this work, surface Co doping of LiNi0.93Co0.05Al0.02O2 (NCA) is demonstrated to enhance both electrochemical performance and structural stability. The introduction of Co at the surface promotes the formation of stable spinel phases, such as Co3O4 and LixCoO2, which simultaneously remove residual lithium species and suppress the evolution of detrimental NiO-like rock-salt phases and resistive interfacial layers. Comprehensive analyses, including electrochemical testing, synchrotron-based X-ray techniques, and high-resolution electron microscopy, confirm that Co-doped NCA exhibits improved interfacial stability and lithium-ion transport compared to undoped NCA. These findings highlight surface Co doping as a scalable and practical design strategy to mitigate degradation pathways, thereby enabling ultrahigh-Ni cathodes to achieve greater durability and performance in advanced lithium-ion battery applications.

Understanding patterns and mechanisms underlying local adaptation is becoming increasingly important for species conservation amid anthropogenically driven environmental change. Alpine systems are experiencing particularly intense pressure from environmental change resulting from increased rates of warming and corresponding loss of snow and ice. We integrate morphological and genetic analyses to identify traits important for local adaptation in one of the highest elevation breeding birds in North America, the Sierra Nevada Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. We performed an in-depth analysis of how traits with known links to thermoregulation in birds such as wing length, bill size, and feather microstructure vary between two populations at sites with contrasting climate and environmental conditions. We identified loci underlying these traits using a genome-wide association study and further examined regions of the genome related to altitude adaptation and cold tolerance using F ST outlier tests. Together, these results indicate that temperature, food availability, and alpine landscape features may impose multifaceted and potentially conflicting selective pressures on morphological traits important to adaptation in alpine birds. Overall, this work represents one of the first in-depth analyses of the genetic basis of adaptation in an alpine specialist songbird.

The subtropical rainforests of eastern Australia are expected to be greatly affected by climate change with several studies predicting an upward shift in elevational distribution for many groups of fauna and flora. Freshwater streams have so far been neglected by most studies involving elevation, climate change and subtropical rainforest. This study is the first to explore changes in macroinvertebrates across an elevational gradient within sub-tropical streams to determine the effect of elevation. The study focussed on Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera (ET) and identified indicator species with the potential to be used for future monitoring of climate change. Stream macroinvertebrates and environmental data was collected from pools, riffles and runs at 13 sites across three subtropical streams that spanned an elevation gradient from 300m to 1100m a.s.l. Water temperature, substrate composition, stream width and riparian canopy cover were the most notable environmental changes observed across the gradient. Trichopteran species richness was negatively correlated with elevation, however ephemeropteran species richness did not respond to elevation. Water temperature, canopy cover, stream width and substrate composition explained the highest variation in ET assemblages across the gradient, with ET assemblages separating into distinct “low” (300m – 500m a.s.l) and “high” (700 – 900m a.s.l) assemblages; the 1100m elevational zone was distinct with an observed sharp decline in species richness. Elevation, along with reach scale environmental factors, are influential in structuring ET assemblages in subtropical rainforest streams with specific ET taxa having the potential to be useful indicators of climate change in these systems.

Abstract: Aim: This study explored the drivers of seasonal African elephant (Loxodonta africana) habitat use in small, enclosed conservation areas with limited space and no migration corridors. It also examined how these habitat-use dynamics influence management strategies, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and long-term sustainability of elephant populations in isolated protected areas. Location: The study was conducted in Mwea National Reserve, a 44 km² fenced protected area in Kenya. Methods: Elephant distribution was assessed using indirect signs of presence. A total of 96 straight-line dung transects (250 m each) and 350 m reconnaissance walks were conducted across the reserve to document dung occurrence. Seasonal distribution was modeled using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) employing five environmental predictors. We hypothesized that (i) water and forage availability would be the primary determinants of dry-season habitat use, and (ii) landscape variables would be more influential in the wet season when water and forage are less limiting. Results: MaxEnt models performed moderately well, with AUC values of 0.714 (dry season) and 0.664 (wet season). In the dry season, the most influential predictors were the presence of invasive plant species (28.9%), proximity to permanent rivers (26.9%), and elevation (26.5%). In the wet season, distance to the reserve boundary was the strongest predictor (38.9%). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maintained a relatively stable influence across seasons (16.2% dry, 20.1% wet). Conclusions: Seasonal shifts in elephant habitat-use underscore the need for targeted management while control of invasive species in dry-season grazing areas would enhance forage availability. Furthermore, maintaining fence integrity in the wet season is essential tool for reducing elephant range expansion and mitigating human–wildlife conflict. These findings provide spatially explicit insights for managing elephant populations in small, enclosed conservation areas particularly in savanna ecosystems.

Anaplecta omei is the only species of Anaplecta widely distributed in southern China. However, previous studies have failed to elucidate the factors underlying its distribution pattern. This study aims to clarify the genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary history of A. omei, and explores the events that have influenced its differentiation and distribution patterns. We analyzed 97 complete mitochondrial sequences from 24 geographic populations of A. omei and conducted phylogenetic reconstruction, genetic diversity assessment, and population structure analysis. Additionally, we performed a selection test and estimated divergence times. Demographic history was examined using neutrality tests, mismatched distribution analysis and Bayesian Skyline Plot (BSP) analysis. Our results reveal that geographic populations of A. omei exhibit high haplotype diversity, low nucleotide diversity and a clear phylogeographic structure forming four distinct lineages. The selection tests suggested that the isolation of A. omei was driven by physical barriers, rather than adaptive divergence. By integrating divergence time estimates with demographic history analyses, we demonstrated that tectonic uplift, glacial climate oscillations, and local environmental complexity have collectively shaped the speciation and distribution of A. omei. These findings provide novel insights into the process of speciation and distribution within Blattodea.

Understanding the relative roles of diversification and dispersal is key to explaining large-scale biogeographic patterns. Although both processes are known to shape biodiversity, their relative contributions remain understudied in many systems. Here, we examine how these processes have jointly contributed to the exceptional diversity and endemism of Nymphalidae butterflies in South America’s Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. We obtained DNA sequences for 68 Nymphalidae species (43 missing from major phylogenies) and integrated them into published time-calibrated phylogenies. We used Dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis models and Biogeographical Stochastic Mapping to infer historical biogeographic patterns over time, and ClaDS to estimate region-specific diversification rates. We further evaluate whether regional patterns of diversification are associated with occurrence in montane environments or across the north–south biogeographic break within the Atlantic Forest. Our results show that butterfly diversity in the region was driven primarily by recurrent dispersal from Amazonia and the Andes, rather than by elevated in situ diversification, which remained low and stable through time. Although dispersal increased progressively during the Cenozoic, we found no evidence that the Diagonal of open formations acted as a major barrier, indicating that forest corridors probably allowed extensive exchanges between the Atlantic Forest and other Neotropical regions. Southern lineages exhibited slightly higher diversification rates, especially among montane generalist species, but overall diversification contributed little compared to the sustained input of dispersing lineages. Together, these findings highlight the central role of biome connectivity in shaping Atlantic Forest Nymphalidae diversity, while underscoring the importance of jointly considering diversification and dispersal processes to better understand the macroevolutionary dynamics underlying current biodiversity patterns.

Limited information on moose calving behaviour, including parturition timing, cow-calf interactions, and pre- and post-partum movement patterns hinder our ability to define calving phenology and habitat use. GPS-collars were deployed on 89 female moose over five years, including 8 with animal-borne video and environmental data (AVED) collection systems, across northern Quebec regions. We assessed the accuracy and precision of six movement-based methods typically used to infer calving dates of moose and other ungulates, by comparing calving dates estimated from GPS-collar movement patterns to AVED video observations of calves and calving. Comparisons of 8 females during 12 calving seasons identified three of the six movement-based methods to be both accurate and precise and we used these three movement-based methods to estimate parturition dates for the larger sample of female moose equipped with GPS collars. Moose parturition dates occurred from May 12 to June 23, with more than 70% of births occurring between May 18 and May 26. Classification of videos from AVEDs revealed that females spent more time walking, standing, feeding, and ruminating the day before calving compared to the day after, when they spent time laying down and licking their calf. Analysis of movement patterns demonstrated that one day before calving, females were located (net square displacement) 2.5 km from their calving site (median; range <0.1 - 16.5 km), then remained highly localized for 7 days post-calving (median 0.2 km; range <0.1 - 4.9 km). Parturition dates varied between regions, by on average three days, but did not vary between years or according to latitude, longitude, autumn temperature, forestry disturbance, or hunting disturbance. AVED observations of moose calving validate some, but not all, movement-based methods employed to estimate parturition dates and aid in defining the timing, behaviour, and movement patterns related to this critical life history phase in moose populations.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only disease-modifying therapeutic approach for cat allergy, though it requires at least three years of treatment and can potentially induce severe systemic reactions. Plant-derived bioparticles expressing Fel d 1 allergen (Fel d 1 eBP) have been developed as a novel therapeutic candidate for cat allergy. Cellular and scRNA-seq analyses reveal that Fel d 1 eBP induce Th1 and IL-10 + T cells. We also demonstrate that Fel d 1 eBP targets the induction of protective metallothionine genes, CCL18 + monocytes and naïve B cells that are interferon responsive. Moreover, Fel d 1 eBP demonstrated reduced capacity to elicit basophil activation and histamine release, indicating their hypoallergenic nature. Administration of titrated doses of Fel d 1 eBP through skin prick test revealed that they are well-tolerated with reduced mean wheal compared to native Fel d 1 in open-label Phase 0 study. Altogether, we demonstrate that Fel d 1 eBP is hypo-allergenic and demonstrate tolerogenic properties making them a novel candidate for use in AIT for cat allergy.

Molluscum contagiosum complicated with epidermal cyst:a case reoportRuixian Niu , Wenjin Geng , YunZou , Weian Kuang , Jiangtao Zheng,Xunguo Yin ,Na Qiao,Department of Dermatology,Corresponding author: Dr. Na Qiao and XunguoYin, Department of Dermatology, The first hospital ofQuJing,Kunming Medical University, Yunnan, China. 29250820@qq.com and yxgkm2008@163.comKey Clinical Message: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) o ften occur in clusters, and the clinical manifestations of the skin lesions are diverse. For isolated or large lesions, they are prone to be confused with other skin diseases clinically. Differential diagnosis is necessary. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for improving the prognosis of patients.Abstract: MC is a viral infection that affects primarily pediatric patients, sexually active young adults, and immunocompromised people of all ages.  Clinically, MC presents as firm rounded papules, pink or skin-colored, with a shiny and umbilicated surface. The histological characteristics  microscopic findings are represented by a crateriform invagination of hyperplastic epithelium composed of enlarged keratinocytes containing inclusion bodies known as Henderson–Patterson bodies . In some cases, the morphology of MC lesions can vary, including in immunocompetent children. For example, giant MC can mimic cysts, abscesses, or condyloma. Erosive MC lesions can mimic eczema vaccinatum. Papules might also be pearly white or reddish in color[1]. Here, we report a case report of Molluscum contagiosum complicated with epidermal cyst.Key words: Molluscum contagiosum; epidermal cystCase History/examination: An otherwise healthy 24-year-old Chinese Han man presented with an nodular on the scrotum that had persisted for 1 month. The patient had large skin color nodules in the scrotum without obvious inducment and no obvious self-conscious symptoms before 1 month, and was treated in our outpatient department with topical fusidic acid considering ”epidermal cyst”. After treatment, no improvement was found. In order to seek further diagnosis and treatment, the patient was revisited in our department on June 30, 2024.Physical examination revealed the scrotum showed a hemisbulous swelling about the size of soybean, with moderate movement, medium texture, and no obvious tenderness. The rest of the scrotum showed no obvious similar lesions. [Figure 1a]. Skin biopsy revealed：The epidermis is generally normal, with cystic keratins visible in the dermis and eosinophilic inclusions visible around the sac wall. [Figure 2a、Figure 2b].Diagnosis: Molluscum contagiosum with epidermal cyst.Differential diagnosis: It is necessary to be associated with epidermal cysts, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, pigmented basal cell epithelioma, pigmented cutaneous fibroma and its appendages It belongs to the differentiation of organ tumors, etc.Treatment: Surgical resection.Outcome and follow-up： no recurrence, no similar lesions in other parts.Discussion: MC often occurs, especially in immunodeficient patients (such as malignant tumors, AIDS, etc). For isolated or large skin lesions, it is easy to be confused with other skin diseases in clinic, and differential diagnosis is needed. It should be distinguished from epidermal cysts, pigmented basal cell epithelioma, pigmented dermatofibroma and accessory tumor[2].Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of this patient were atypical manifestations of Molluscum contagiformis. This case emphasizes the importance of histopathology for accurate diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians must be aware that early detection and accurate diagnosis of this situation are crucial for improving the prognosis of patients.Figure 1a：skin-coloured, shiny papules on the wrist (indicated by red arrow)Figure 2a: The epidermis is generally normal, with cystic keratins visible in the dermis(HE X 40)Figure 2b: eosinophilic inclusions visible around the sac wall. (HE X 100)

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Hyperspectral indices integrated with physiology predicted metabolites such as Rubisco activity across early, mid, and late flowering drought, establishing a rapid, non-destructive framework to detect sink limitations and identify cotton resilience to stage-specific stress and fiber quality decline.

In eukaryotes, protein secretion plays essential roles in intercellular communications and extracellular niche-building. Protein secretion generally requires a signal sequence that targets cargos to the canonical secretory pathway consisting of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, and vesicles moving between these compartments. However, cytoplasmic proteins lacking signal sequences (e.g. IL1β, Acb1, FGF2) have been detected and many have defined functions in the extracellular space, suggesting unconventional protein secretion (UcPS) via alternative pathways. In recent years, scientists have uncovered many new UcPS paradigms, reporting a plethora of mechanisms that collectively form a new field. The inaugural Cold Spring Harbor Asia (CSHA) conference on “ Molecular Mechanism and Physiology of Unconventional Secretion” is the first meeting to bring these researchers together, providing a collegial platform for information sharing at this exciting frontier of cell biology research.

A document by Emma Fairbanks. Click on the document to view its contents.

Leaf shape displays remarkable diversity, with its evolution hypothesized to reflect adaptive ecophysiological functions. Theoretical models propose that variation in leaf shape—particularly through modifications in effective leaf width ( w e)—primarily influences thermoregulation and hydraulic efficiency. However, comprehensive empirical tests of both hypotheses are lacking. Oxytropis diversifolia (Fabaceae) has natural variation in leaf shape (1 leaflet, 1–3 leaflets, and 3 leaflets) and exhibits clinal variation, making it an ideal candidate to test those functional relationships. Here, we quantified leaf morphometrics across populations, logged in situ leaf temperature and gas exchange, and examined leaf anatomy associated with water balance. We found that the production of more leaflets did reduce w e. Leaves with reduced w e could stay cooler during the day, but the extent of leaf-to-air temperature difference was typically small (often within 1℃); to some extents, the intermediate 1–3-leaflet phenotype exhibited superior gas exchange. Leaf anatomy showed a benefit-cost: reduced w e correlated with a decreased mesophyll-to-mid-vein ratio and increased vein density, whereas vascular dimensions were also significantly decreased. We propose that the functional significance of leaf shape lies in water relations over thermoregulation. The trade-off in water balance could probably lead to balancing selection maintaining leaf-shape variation.

Acute Postpartum Respiratory Distress with Right Ventricular Dysfunction complicating into Postpartum Cardiomyopathy: A Case of Suspected Atypical Amniotic Fluid Embolism.