Cryptic Hybridization Dynamics in a Three-Way Hybrid Zone of Flamebacks on a Tropical Island.

Island ecosystems have emerged as vital model systems for evolutionary and speciation studies due to their unique environmental conditions and biodiversity. This study investigates the population divergence, hybridization dynamics, and evolutionary history of hybridizing golden-backed and red-backed flameback woodpeckers on the island of Sri Lanka, providing insights into speciation processes within an island biogeographic context. Utilizing genomic analysis based on next-generation sequencing, we revealed that the hybrid zone on this island is a complex three-way hybrid zone involving three genetically distinct populations: two cryptic populations of golden-backed in the north and one island-endemic red-backed population of in the south of Sri Lanka.

First Record of Creobroter apicalis Saussure, 1869 (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae) in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka: Unveiling a New Geographic Record of Flower Mantis.

In Sri Lanka, the genus Creobroter has received inadequate attention, resulting in a scarcity of information with only C. pictipennis being recorded. We report the presence of Creobroter apicalis in Sri Lanka for the first time, extending its geographic distribution to Matara District, Southern Sri Lanka.

Coastal hardening and what it means for the world's sandy beaches.

Sea level rise is expected to cause chronic shoreline retreat, affecting over 10% of the world's population in low-elevation coastal zones (LECZ). Sandy beaches supported by man-made structures are more vulnerable to substantial beach area loss due to restricted landward migration, affecting ecosystem services. However, the global extent of 'hardened' sandy coastlines at risk of 'severe beach loss' has not been comprehensively quantified.

Preservation of strawberries using jellyfish gelatin-based biodegradable films and coatings under refrigerated storage.

This study investigated the applicability of the biodegradable films and coatings prepared from gelatin extracted from jellyfish using two extraction methods; conventional hot water extraction and microwave-assisted extraction, for the preservation of strawberries under refrigerated storage (4 °C), compared to biodegradable films and coatings prepared from analytical grade cold water fish skin gelatin and porcine skin gelatin. After 21 days of storage, uncoated strawberries (control group) exhibited visual decay and fungal attacks while coated or film-wrapped strawberries exhibited a better appearance. Coating or wrapping with gelatin films significantly reduced the weight loss of strawberries and the changes in color, hardness, moisture content, pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids of coated/film-wrapped fruits during storage were minimal compared to the uncoated fruits.

Predictive markers of early endothelial dysregulation in type-1 diabetes: a meta-analysis.

Background: This study identifies a new set of salient risk factors that may trigger danger signals of vascular dysregulation in T1D. Vascular abnormalities and impairment of CVD is a major adverse effect of T1D, particularly affecting children, adolescents and young adults.

Methods: The patients of T1D were compared with the healthy control (HC) for the risk factors of vascular dysregulation in published studies from year 2013 to 2023.