Dealing with Missing Angular Sections in NanoCT Reconstructions of Low Contrast Polymeric Samples Employing a Mechanical In Situ Loading Stage.

While in situ experiments are gaining importance for the (mechanical) assessment of metamaterials or materials with complex microstructures, imaging conditions in such experiments are often challenging. The lab-based computed tomography system Xradia 810 Ultra allows for the in situ (time-lapsed) mechanical testing of samples. However, the in situ loading setup of this system limits the image acquisition angle to 140°.

Identification and functional characterization of multiple haemadins and an oligomeric decorsin in the Asian land leech Haemadipsa interrupta.

Haematophagous leeches rely on a broad variety of bioactive compounds to secure a sufficient blood meal from their vertebrate prey. Both the primary (platelet aggregation) and secondary (blood coagulation) haemostasis are the main targets of action. The platelet aggregation inhibitor decorsin was first described in the North American leech, Macrobdella decora Say, 1824, whereas the bivalent thrombin inhibitor hirudin was originally identified in the European medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758.

Long-term patterns of forearm asymmetry in females of three syntopic bat species and its effects on individual fitness.

Fluctuating asymmetry, the non-directional deviation from bilateral symmetry resulting from developmental instability, can indicate early-life environmental stress. While fluctuating asymmetry can affect individual survival and reproductive success, its effect on fitness differs between species. Here, we analyzed up to 27 years of mark-recapture data from 894 RFID tagged individuals of three forest-living bat species in southern Germany to investigate the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in forearm length.

Wiped out by an earthquake? The 'extinct' Taiwanese swallowtail butterfly (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) was morphologically and genetically distinct.

For the first time, we obtained for the first time a COI DNA barcode from museum specimens of the Old World swallowtail butterfly endemic to Taiwan, Papilio machaon ssp. sylvina, that has disappeared since the devastating Jiji earthquake in 1999 that shook Central Taiwan. We demonstrate that this population was not only phenotypically distinct, but also had a unique mitochondrial haplotype among all other Holarctic populations of P.

Small Brains: Body Shape Constrains Tissue Allocation to the Central Nervous System in Ant-Mimicking Spiders.

In Batesian mimicry, mimetic traits are not always as convincing as predicted by theory-in fact, inaccurate mimicry with only a superficial model resemblance is common and taxonomically widespread. The "selection trade-offs hypothesis" proposes a life-history trade-off between accurate mimetic traits and one or more vital biological functions. Here, using an accurate myrmecomorphic (ant-mimicking) jumping spider species, Myrmarachne smaragdina, we investigate how myrmecomorphic modifications to the body shape impact the internal anatomy in a way that could be functionally limiting.

Causal Relationship Between Immune Cells and Hypopituitarism: Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Hypopituitarism, one or more pituitary hormones inefficiently produced by the anterior pituitary or released from the posterior pituitary to adapt to the needs of the organism. Existing epidemiological data show that immune-mediated diffuse infiltration of the anterior pituitary is important in the development of hypopituitarism. However, the precise connection between immune cells and hypopituitarism remains unclear.

Covariation in the Craniocervical Junction of Carnivora.

The craniocervical junction is the transition between the skull and the vertebral column that provides mobility while maintaining sufficient stability (i.e., protection of the brainstem and the spinal cord).

Mandible composition and properties in two selected praying mantises (Insecta, Mantodea).

Insects process their food with their cuticle-based mouthparts. These feeding structures reflect their diversity and can, in some cases, showcase adaptations in material composition, mechanical properties, and shape to suit their specific dietary preferences. To pave the way to deeply understand the interaction between mouthparts and food and to determine potential adaptations of the structures to the food, this study focuses on the mandibles of two praying mantis species.

Molecular evolution of toothed whale genes reveals adaptations to echolocating in different environments.

Background: Echolocation was a key development in toothed whale evolution, enabling their adaptation and diversification across various environments. Previous bioacoustic and morphological studies suggest that environmental pressures have influenced the evolution of echolocation in toothed whales. This hypothesis demands further investigation, especially regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptive radiation of toothed whales across multiple habitats.

Sliding-Induced Rehydration in Hydrogels for Restoring Lubrication and Anticreeping Capability.

Fluid exudation in cartilage under normal loading can be counteracted by a sliding-induced rehydration phenomenon, which has a hydrodynamic origin related to a wedge effect at the contact inlet. Similar to cartilage, hydrogels also exhibit tribological rehydration properties, and we mimic this phenomenon to restore hydration lubrication and overcome creeping. It occurs within a specific velocity range and is mainly dependent on the applied load and hydrogel network structures.

Discovery of deep-sea coral symbionts from a novel clade of marine bacteria with severely reduced genomes.

Microbes perform critical functions in corals, yet most knowledge is derived from the photic zone. Here, we discover two mollicutes that dominate the microbiome of the deep-sea octocoral, Callogorgia delta, and likely reside in the mesoglea. These symbionts are abundant across the host's range, absent in the water, and appear to be rare in sediments.

Impact of global environmental changes on the range contraction of Eurasian moose since the Late Pleistocene.

Climatic oscillations are considered primary factors influencing the distribution of various life forms on Earth. Large species adapted to cold climates are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to climate changes. In our study, we investigated whether temperature increase since the Late Pleistocene and the contraction of environmental niche during the Holocene were the main factors contributing to the decreasing range of moose (Alces alces) in Europe.

Nurse honey bees filter fungicide residues to maintain larval health.

Residues of plant protection products (PPPs) are frequently detected in bee matrices due to foraging bees collecting contaminated nectar and pollen, which they bring back to their hive. The collected material is further used by nurse bees to produce glandular secretions for feeding their larvae. Potential exposure to PPPs occurs through direct oral ingestion, contact during foraging, or interaction with contaminated hive material.

Nature's All-in-One: Multitasking Robots Inspired by Dung Beetles.

Dung beetles impressively coordinate their 6 legs to effectively roll large dung balls. They can also roll dung balls varying in the weight on different terrains. The mechanisms underlying how their motor commands are adapted to walk and simultaneously roll balls (multitasking behavior) under different conditions remain unknown.

Experimental elevated temperature affects bumblebee foraging and flight speed.

Global warming threatens wild bees and their interaction with plants. While earlier studies have highlighted the negative effects of elevated temperatures on bee-plant interactions, we still lack knowledge about how they impact the foraging behaviours that are central to bee pollination activities. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated how ambient temperature affected the foraging behaviours of the bumblebee .

Wandering the taxonomic mine-field: the Podocotyle species complex (Digenea: Opecoelidae).

This study focuses on the opecoelid genus Podocotyle, particularly the species in the northern European seas (White, Barents and Pechora), with additional data from few isolates from the Far East. The research combines molecular analyses (28S, 5.8S+ITS2 rDNA, and cox1 mtDNA) and morphological examinations.

Review of the Palaearctic species of Bouček, 1956 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), with descriptions of the eight new species.

Palaearctic species of the genus Bouček, 1956 are reviewed. Twelve Palaearctic species are recognized based on females, of which eight new species are described: Tselikh, Lee & Ku, (Republic of Korea), Tselikh, Lee & Ku, (Republic of Korea), Tselikh, Haas & Ku, (Republic of Korea, Sweden), Tselikh, Lee & Ku, (Republic of Korea), Tselikh, Lee & Ku, (Republic of Korea), Tselikh, Lee & Ku, (Republic of Korea), Tselikh, Haas & Ku, (Germany, Japan, Sweden), and Tselikh, Haas & Ku, (Russia, Republic of Korea, Sweden). The female of Bouček, 1956 is described for the first time.

pan-Draft: automated reconstruction of species-representative metabolic models from multiple genomes.

The accurate reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) for unculturable species poses challenges due to the incomplete and fragmented genetic information typical of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). While existing tools leverage sequence homology from single genomes, this study introduces pan-Draft, a pan-reactome-based approach exploiting recurrent genetic evidence to determine the solid core structure of species-level GEMs. By comparing MAGs clustered at the species-level, pan-Draft addresses the issues due to the incompleteness and contamination of individual genomes, providing high-quality draft models and an accessory reactions catalog supporting the gapfilling step.

Functional morphology of cleaning devices in the damselfly (Odonata, Coenagrionidae).

Among the different micro- and nanostructures located on cuticular surfaces, grooming devices represent fundamental tools for insect survival. The present study describes the grooming microstructures of the damselfly (Odonata, Coenagrionidae) at the adult stage. These structures, situated on the foreleg tibiae, were observed using scanning electron microscopy, and the presence and distribution of resilin, an elastomeric protein that enhances cuticle flexibility, were analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Optimally warm roost temperatures during lactation do not improve body condition in a long-lived bat.

Lactation is the most energetically demanding time in the life of female mammals. To maximize lifetime reproductive success, females of long-lived species, such as bats, face a trade-off between investing in current and future reproduction. However, it is unclear whether global warming could influence this trade-off through shifts in the energy budget: warmer temperatures may reduce thermoregulatory costs, leaving mothers with more energy available for maternal care or for improving their own body condition (BC), which may increase survival and ensure future reproduction.

Haemoglobin Gene Repertoire in Teleost and Cichlid Fishes Shaped by Gene Duplications and Genome Rearrangements.

Haemoglobin is a key molecule for oxygen transport in vertebrates. It exhibits remarkable gene diversity in teleost fishes, reflecting adaptation to various aquatic environments. In this study, we present the dynamic evolution of haemoglobin subunit genes based on a comparison of high-quality genome assemblies of 24 vertebrate species, including 17 teleosts (of which six are cichlids).