Introduction of species represents today one of the most important problems of nature conservation. Special attention is paid to alien vascular plants and vertebrates. In the Afrotropical Region (sub-Saharan Africa), however, there is a lack of comprehensive review of alien amphibians and reptiles. The presented paper constitutes an attempt to overview the status, distribution and threats posed by introduced herp species to sub-Saharan Africa since the second half of the 18th century. This review includes 21 amphibian (including 10 established) and 57 reptile (including 33 established) species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. Most species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa which subsequently developed viable populations originated from the Malagasy (32%), Afrotropical (30%), and Oriental (27%) Regions. Most introductions were made in the last two decades, mostly as results of an increase in international trade and herp pet industry, especially in South Africa. Stowaway and pet trade are the most common pathways of introductions. Several factors determine the successful establishment of introduced alien herp species in sub-Saharan Africa, viz. behavioral and morphological traits, propagule pressure, climate and habitat overlap, and presence of potentially competing species. The impact of alien herps in sub-Saharan Africa on the local biodiversity is not well investigated. In comparison with other continents the number of introduced and established herp species in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively low. The Malagasy Region has the highest number of introduced herp species in sub-Saharan Africa.
Amaranthus spinosus L. is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, commonly known as the spiny amaranth, or spiny pigweed. It is native to the tropical Americas, but is present on most continents as an introduced species, noxious weed, and can be a serious weed of rice cultivation in Asia. In Egypt, the Nile Delta, particularly Cairo, is the home of spiny amaranth; however, it has recently been recorded in the Nile Valley (Aswan area) colonizing different habitats such as roadsides, depressions, Khor and river banks. This study aimed to study the current distribution of spiny amaranth in the Aswan area and its associated species. It also aims at studying their life and growth forms, habitats, soil characteristics, local and global distributions, local threats, and spiny amaranth seed characteristics. Five sites along the river Nile in Aswan city was surveyed from the period of 2018 until 2025 in four identified habitats (Roadsides, depressions, khor, and river banks). Forty species were recorded associated with spiny amaranth, belonging to 38 genera and 16 families. Therophytes (15 species) followed by phanerophytes (14 species) were the most represented life form. All recorded species inhabit the Nile region, and most of the 12 taxa were pantropical. Most studied species (32.5% of the total threatened species) suffer from at least one type of threat. They mostly suffer from habitat loss due to industrial, urban, and tourist development. Soil samples were analyzed for edaphic variables. The relative importance of a certain environmental factor on the distribution of the recorded species across the four habitats were performed using PCORD (v6.22 software). The spiny amaranth seed colors are mainly dark brown to reddish brown, lenticular shape, glabrous and matte surface, acute apex, and obtuse to rounded base, hilum marginal, sub-basal, and slightly eccentric. Its length ranged from 7.24 to 7.84 mm, and its width varied between 7.27 and 7.77 mm. The authors recommended that monitoring the behavior of alien species and conducting ongoing surveys are crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Novel invasive genotypes can arise through polyploidisation, hybridisation, or gene flow between populations of distinct origins or related species. Solidago gigantea, a notorious European invader, has long been reported exclusively as tetraploid in its invasive range. Recently, mixed-ploidy populations, including tetraploid and pentaploid plants, were discovered; yet the potential role of the novel pentaploid cytotype (and its progeny) in S. gigantea invasions remains poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the origin of pentaploids and the cytotype and genetic structure of mixed-ploidy populations, characterise the reproductive mode and mating interactions of pentaploid plants, and assess their fitness and potential contribution to invasiveness using relative DNA content screening, ddRADseq population genetics, and reproductive potential and fitness assessments. Molecular analyses revealed that pentaploids constitute a genetically distinct lineage within S. gigantea. Our results rule out both an autopolyploid origin from the common tetraploid cytotype and an allopolyploid origin via hybridisation with co-occurring native or invasive Solidago species. The pentaploid cytotype reproduces exclusively through clonal propagation; its low genetic variability suggests that the two studied populations may belong to a single extensive clonal genet. Pentaploids produce viable gametes but appear to exhibit strict self-incompatibility, preventing the formation of offspring within the same genotype. However, pentaploid S. gigantea engages in bidirectional mating with co-occurring tetraploid plants, yielding well-developed seeds with offspring ploidy ranging from 4x to 5x (predominantly aneuploid). Despite this cytological variability, progeny from mixed-ploidy populations displayed germination rates and early growth comparable to those from pure tetraploid populations. Notably, at least some tetraploid offspring from 4x-5x crosses successfully established, flowered, and backcrossed with pentaploid plants to produce viable seeds of subsequent introgressed generations. The pentaploid cytotype of S. gigantea introduces a new post-invasion dynamic to its invasive populations. Rather than being an evolutionary dead-end, this cytotype may potentially enhance the species' invasiveness through three evolutionary pathways: (1) a highly successful clonal life strategy enabling both local and long-distance spread; (2) genetic enrichment of tetraploid populations via ongoing interploidy crosses; and (3) establishment of novel aneuploid genotypes due to the remarkable tolerance of chromosomal instability observed in S. gigantea.
Invasive species have attracted widespread attention because of their ecological, economic, and social impacts. Vernonia amygdalina Del. (commonly known as bitter leaf) is a perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family, native to tropical Africa and widely recognized for its medicinal value. In recent years, this species has been reported sporadically in southern China, raising concerns about its potential to become invasive. Here, we assess the risk of invasion posed by V. amygdalina through synthesizing evidence on its taxonomic background, morphological and life-history traits, reproductive strategies, allelopathic effects, defense mechanisms, climate suitability, and human-mediated introduction and cultivation practices. Overall, the available evidence suggests that V. amygdalina may have substantial invasion potential, supported by high reproductive capacity, strong allelopathic effects, effective defense traits, and broad climatic tolerance. Moreover, current introduction and cultivation practices in southern China may further increase invasion risk by elevating propagule pressure. Preventive actions, including early detection, targeted monitoring, and surveillance systems will be important for managing this species and mitigating potential ecological threats. Our synthesis also highlights the value of assessing invasion risk before introducing non-native species.
A 66-year-old right-handed woman with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) developed a distinctive unilateral hand dystonia, having previously presented with progressive cognitive and behavioural decline. An MR scan of the brain showed bifrontal cortical atrophy with subtle signal changes involving the left caudate nucleus and putamen. Electroencephalography and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were unremarkable. Over subsequent months, the patient developed worsening right-sided rigidity, limb apraxia, myoclonus and alien limb phenomena. During this progression, a characteristic abnormal hand posture became evident, comprising tonic flexion of digits III-V with extension of the thumb and index finger, resembling the configuration of a pistol. Retrospectively, we identified this 'pistol sign' in other patients, around 85% of whom fulfilled diagnostic criteria for CBS. This distinctive dystonic posture may serve as a useful bedside sign, contributing to earlier diagnosis and improved clinical management of patients with CBS.
With the continuous development of economic and trade globalization, the economic and ecological losses caused by invasive alien plants have become increasingly severe. Through ecological network analysis, clarifying the diffusion patterns and driving mechanisms of invasive plants can shift the governance strategy from passive eradication to proactive spatial intervention, thereby improving the efficiency of invasive plant control. This study takes the built-up area of Guiyang City as the research area. Based on conducted field botanical surveys data, the maximum entropy model(MaxEnt)was applied to predict the suitable habitats of invasive plants under current (1970-2000) and future (2050) climate scenarios. On this basis, the core diffusion source areas of invasive plants were identified. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy Weight Method (EWM) were combined to construct a comprehensive resistance surface, and the diffusion network of invasive plants was generated via circuit theory. The results show that: 1. GDP, nighttime light intensity, and NDVI are the key environmental factors determining the distribution of invasive plants in Guiyang City. Under the current climate pattern, invasive plants are mainly distributed in the central part of the built-up area with a fragmented distribution pattern. In future climate scenarios, the area of suitable habitats for invasive plants will expand significantly, presenting a continuous and carpet-like distribution pattern. 2. A total of 51 core diffusion source areas were identified in the study area, with a total area of 11.49 km2, which are mainly distributed in an annular pattern around the central part of the built-up area. In addition, 128 diffusion corridors, 41 pitch point, and 30 barriers point were extracted in the study. This study constructs a risk identification framework for invasive plant diffusion based on the "source-corridor-node" triad, which provides a spatial decision-making basis for the precise management of invasive plants. It also elevates the thinking of invasive plant prevention and control from the local management of individual species to the construction of overall resilience of urban ecosystems, thereby providing theoretical support and practical paradigms for urban ecological security risk early warning and the optimal allocation of social resources.
Boule is the ancestral member of the Deleted in Azoospermia (DAZ) family and is pivotal for gametogenesis and male fertility in most animals. However, there is a dearth of information on molluscan boule. Here, we identified a counterpart (Pcbol) from the genome of Pomacea canaliculata, which has emerged as a cosmopolitan alien species and notorious pest that causes devastating damage to aquatic biodiversity, freshwater ecosystems and crop production in invaded ranges. This study aimed to investigate the biological roles of Pcbol in male reproduction and to decipher the molecular mechanisms underpinning its modulation via dsRNA-delivered RNA interference (RNAi). The bioinformatic analysis showed that the Pcbol genomic sequence is 12,934 nt in length, harboring an open reading frame of 294 nt that encodes 97 aa residues, with an RRM domain evolutionarily conserved among molluscan orthologues. Spatiotemporal expression profiling indicated the predominant abundance of Pcbol in adult males and testis tissues. dsPcbol, injected at a dose of 4 μg/per snail for 5 days, yielded optimal silencing at both transcript and translation levels of Pcbol, as revealed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Immunofluorescence echoed a pronounced reduction in Pcbol signal intensity following RNAi. In addition to the arrested reproductive gland phenotype, the number of sperm cells substantially dwindled upon dsPcbol treatment relative to the dsGFP control. In biochemical and fecundity assays, Pcbol depletion triggered a significant decrease in Te/SP/Arg content and suppressed the number of deposited eggs and hatchability. Furthermore, spermatogenic genes like CDC25/TSSK1/SPATA17/DDX4/Dmrt2/Sox2/Kelch10/SPO11 displayed considerable downregulation post Pcbol silencing, with molecular docking predicting a strong affinity between CDC25 and Pcbol. These molecular modules may interact with Pcbol to mediate knockdown effects on spermatogenesis dysfunction. Collectively, our findings not only confirmed that boule was indispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility in a mollusk, but also highlighted the Pcbol-based male sterile technique (MST), which can be incorporated into precision pest management (PPM) strategies for sustainable control of P. canaliculata.
A novel compensating wheat-Dasypyrum villosuminterstitial translocation carrying an approximately 15-Mb alien segment harboring PmV was created and demonstrated normal inheritance powdery mildew resistance. The powdery mildew resistance gene PmV, derived from the diploid Dasypyrum villosum accession No.1026, was previously introgressed into common wheat via the T6V#4S·6DL translocation. However, severely reduced gamete transmission ratio limited its breeding utility. To address this limitation, a recombinant translocation line T6VS#4S-6V#2S·6AL with improved transmission ratio was previously created, then two smaller segmental translocations-Dv6T25 (T6VS-6AS·6AL, harboring 6VS 0-85 Mb) and Dv6T31 (T6AS-6VS·6AL, harboring 6VS 70-270 Mb), both carrying PmV-were generated using the ph1b induction system. In this study, homologous recombination within the overlapping region of Dv6T25 and Dv6T31 was utilized. A novel compensating interstitial translocation line Dv6-IT1 (T6AS-6VS-6AS·6AL) was identified, carrying an introgressed fragment of approximately 15 Mb, which exhibits normal meiotic transmission and confers no deleterious effects on plant height or spike number across different genetic backgrounds. The development of Dv6-IT1 provides a promising resistance source with minimal linkage drag for wheat powdery mildew breeding. This study not only addresses the long-standing transmission barrier associated with the original T6V#4S·6DL translocation but also significantly reduces linkage drag. Moreover, it establishes a model strategy for the precise introgression of wild species resistance genes into common wheat, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable wheat improvement against evolving pathogen threats.
Urban environments are increasingly recognized as important settings for biodiversity monitoring, yet empirical knowledge of insect fauna in cities remains limited. Ants are key components of urban ecosystems and useful model organisms to study the ecological effects of urbanization. Urban ant assemblages include invasive alien species, climate-sensitive taxa, and species associated with both ecosystem functioning and human environments, making them relevant to questions of biodiversity loss, sustainable urban development, and human well-being. Here we describe a nationwide dataset on urban ants in Italy, compiled through the community science project School of Ants. The dataset, accessible through GBIF, contains 4,698 occurrence records collected between 2011 and 2024 using a standardized baiting protocol (cookie-crumb-filled tubes left open for one hour). It documents 66 species and four species complexes, belonging to 21 genera and three subfamilies of the family Formicidae, and represents approximately one-fourth of the known Italian ant fauna. Data were generated through the participation of more than 6,000 volunteers and subsequently validated by taxonomic experts. Records were harmonized according to Darwin Core standards to facilitate integration with global biodiversity infrastructures. This dataset provides a spatially and temporally structured resource to investigate the effects of urbanization on ant assemblages, track dominant and non-native species. Although coverage is concentrated in Northern Italy, the standardized and accessible protocol provides a scalable framework that can be readily adopted to generate comparable urban ant datasets in other geographic contexts.
Conservation corridors connect natural areas, aiming to mitigate the effects of land transformation. However, their influence on biodiversity, particularly species turnover, remains poorly understood. This study evaluates the impact of conservation corridors on riverine ecosystems and their associated dragonfly assemblages. We assessed species richness and applied the zeta diversity framework to evaluate species turnover across multiple sites, thereby providing insights into how these corridors influence dragonfly community composition relative to natural areas. The research was conducted in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa, covering 104 freshwater sites within natural grasslands and timber plantation corridors. At each site, a 100 m transect adjacent to a river was sampled twice, focusing on recording adult male dragonflies and six environmental variables. Drivers of species richness were analysed using generalised additive models and generalised linear models. Multi-site generalised dissimilarity models were run to examine changes in zeta diversity along environmental gradients and to partition the contributions of different factors to compositional turnover. A total of 37 species were recorded, with one species exclusive to natural areas and four unique to corridors. Dragonfly assemblages were influenced more by stochastic processes than by environmental gradients. Although factors such as site distance, differences in water temperature, dissolved oxygen, shade and rock cover affected turnover, they explained little variation in both rare and common species. Species richness was higher in corridors and consistently declined with increasing shade cover. Neither the presence of corridors nor invasive alien vegetation influenced species turnover, indicating that corridors function similarly to natural habitats. This study demonstrates the crucial role of conservation corridors in preserving dragonfly diversity in altered landscapes. Our findings support continued investment in corridor implementation and management for biodiversity conservation and demonstrate the utility of the zeta diversity framework for understanding species turnover dynamics.
Taxonomy is a cornerstone of biological science and essential to biodiversity policy, yet it faces persistent structural challenges collectively known as the "taxonomic impediment". These include limited capacity, uneven geographic and taxonomic coverage, and a disconnect between the supply of expertise and its societal demand. In this study, we present a meta-research analysis of taxonomic activity in Europe over the past decade, drawing on publication metadata from OpenAlex, Wikidata, and GBIF. Using an open and reproducible workflow, we identify more than 31,000 authors affiliated with European institutions who have contributed to taxonomic publications, and we assess their taxonomic and institutional distribution. Using robust regression models, we show that biodiversity policy variables collectively explain additional variation in taxonomic research effort beyond species richness alone, with the Birds and Habitats Directives showing positive associations and marine-related policy variables showing negative associations. We explore how this supply of expertise compares with demands arising from European biodiversity policy, including legally binding instruments such as the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as strategic initiatives focused on invasive alien species, crop wild relatives, and species of conservation concern. Our results highlight clear imbalances in capacity across taxonomic groups and regions, with some politically and ecologically significant taxa receiving comparatively little attention. This work illustrates how openly available data can be used to evaluate taxonomic capacity and its alignment with policy needs, providing a framework for strategic planning and investment in taxonomy.
Invasive alien plant species threaten biodiversity, especially in ecologically rich regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. Coastal communities, which host many endemic taxa, are among the most affected. One such invasive taxon is Kalanchoe × houghtonii, an allegedly artificial hybrid that, despite strong invasive potential, remains largely unrecognized as a taxon of concern in Mediterranean countries. In this study, we assess its impact on the Habitat of Community Interest 'Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp.' at two sites along the southern coast of Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula). We conducted fieldwork to document population size, growth stages, and spatial overlap with native species. Our results show that K. × houghtonii form dense monospecific patches that apparently compete for space with two native Limonium species in southern Catalonia. We also gathered 723 iNaturalist occurrences of K. × houghtonii to map its Mediterranean distribution, confirming the presence of this taxon in 107 Natura 2000 protected sites, 58 of them within this specific protected coastal habitat. Niche modelling indicates high climatic suitability of K. × houghtonii across Mediterranean Natura 2000 sites containing this particular habitat, as well as substantial overlap with Mediterranean Limonium spp. occurrences obtained from iNaturalist. These findings highlight the invasive potential of K. × houghtonii and support its inclusion in national catalogues of invasive species across Mediterranean countries, calling for systematic monitoring of its spread and ecological impacts.
Although humans are uniquely prolific tool users, children consistently struggle to innovate tools in experimental paradigms, a finding that challenges perceptions of children as natural creative beings. This paradox may reflect limitations in experimental paradigms that impose rigid structures misaligned with children's natural, exploratory problem-solving tendencies. The present study examined whether more open-ended contexts better reveal children's capacity for tool innovation and explored the processes underlying creative problem solving. A total of 126 British children (66 girls, 60 boys, 0 nonbinary), aged 4-7 years (M = 6.04, SD = 0.94), were tested in dyads on two tool innovation tasks, each presented in either a goal-directed or open-ended condition using a counterbalanced design. The tasks were themed to encourage play. In the pirate-themed hook task, treasure was available to retrieve from a hole on an island by creating a pipe cleaner hook, and in the alien-themed floating-object task, a mysterious object was available to retrieve by filling a tube with water to make the object float. Innovation rates did not differ across the goal-directed and open-ended conditions for either task. However, further analysis revealed that, regardless of condition and age, children who engaged in more exploration were more likely to innovate successful tool solutions. These findings underscore the central role of exploration in children's tool innovation and highlight the importance of examining problem-solving processes beyond outcome-based measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) offer a high reversible capacity, however, their commercial application is seriously impeded by rapid voltage decay and capacity degradation. Increasing Ni content in LLOs materials is regarded as a viable strategy to address this issue and has attracted current research interests but is normally accompanied by inferior cycling stability and reduced capacity. Herein, an effective strategy is proposed to enhance the performance of high‑nickel lithium-rich Mn-based oxides Li1.13Mn0.48Ni0.33Co0.06O2 (LLMO) through Nb doping. Specifically, the optimized Ni excess cathode LLMO-Nb3 furnishes discharge capacities and energy densities of 199 mAh g-1 and 222 Wh kg-1 compared to 125 mAh g-1 and 136 Wh kg-1 of pristine LLMO after 200 cycles at 1.0C. The robust NbO bonds and the pillaring effect of inactive Nb are capable of effectively stabilizing the oxygen lattice framework as well as suppressing the capacity and voltage fading upon cycling; the LLMO-Nb3 material achieves an impressive capacity retention of 91.46% after 300 cycles at 0.5C and 94.86% after 200 cycles at 1.0C as well as exhibits a superior midpoint voltage attenuation of 0.8 mV per cycle over 200 cycles at 1.0C. Concurrently, the cathode electrolyte interfacial (CEI) stability is improved by this synergistic regulation strategy combining increased Ni content with Nb doping, thus preventing the rapid performance decay of LLMO. This study proposes a novel strategy for fabricating high-performance high‑nickel Li-rich cathodes by doping proper alien elements, providing valuable guidance for the design of advanced cathode materials targeting high energy density lithium-ions batteries.
India's National River Linking Project (NRLP) is a large-scale inter-basin water transfer scheme designed to address water scarcity and excesses by connecting surplus basins to deficit ones across the country. However, such large-scale hydrological alterations pose serious ecological risks. This study examines the potential role of river interlinking on the distribution and dynamics of freshwater invasive alien species and their interactions with native biodiversity across Indian river basins. We modelled the distribution of 15 naturalised freshwater IAS using species distribution models based on bioclimatic variables. These maps were then overlaid with basin-level freshwater biodiversity and threatened-species data, as well as the proposed river-linking network. The results reveal strong positive correlations between IAS richness and overall as well as threatened freshwater biodiversity, with biodiversity hotspots such as the Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Brahmaputra, and the Western Ghats basins being most at risk. The proposed interlinking routes are expected to act as ecological corridors, enabling biotic exchange among previously isolated basins. Such increased connectivity could accelerate biological invasions, disrupt migratory routes, alter hydrological regimes, and undermine ecosystem resilience. The findings emphasise the urgent need to incorporate invasion ecology and biodiversity safeguards into NRLP plans to prevent irreversible ecological damage.
A comprehensive analysis of published records of terrestrial vascular plants reported from the Comino archipelago (Maltese Islands) since the mid-1800s and of plants recorded by us between 2008 and 2025 was combined to synthesise the first annotated and comprehensive checklist of vascular plants of Comino. A total of 328 observations were made, of which 78 are new records for Comino and two are recorded for the first time in the Maltese Islands. The flora consists of 490 vascular plant species. This study identifies and examines ecologically sensitive species on the Comino archipelago, including 58 strictly and legally protected species, 21 endemics, and several other plants that are red-listed as threatened species or are very rare in the Maltese Islands (e.g., Euphorbia peplis, Hornungia procumbens, and Malva setigera). Alien species are also reviewed, and 12 out of the 61 recorded species are declared invasive for Malta, but only a few are effectively invasive on Comino (e.g., Acacia saligna, Ailanthus altissima, and Oxalis pes-caprae). In addition, this account offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of Comino's geology, natural habitats, climate, and anthropogenic history. More critically, it identifies the principal threats and pressures affecting the island, which have contributed, at least in part, to the disappearance of approximately 160 species previously recorded but not observed for several decades. As highlighted in previous studies, the persistent issue of over-tourism on Comino over the past 15-20 years warrants urgent attention, as the most recent reports indicate that some 10,000 visitors flock to the small beaches of the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay, which, as also demonstrated in this report, overwhelm and disturb this ecologically sensitive Natura 2000 archipelago.
Pomacea canaliculata, as a significant invasive alien species, poses severe threats to agricultural development. Currently, chemical applications demonstrate notable efficacy in controlling this pest. However, metaldehyde exhibits overly singular toxicity towards P. canaliculata; niclosamide sulfate is not a molluscicide; and fentin acetate is a fungicide. Currently, these findings fail to elucidate the physiological and biochemical effects of the compounds after they enter the P. canaliculata's body. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of metaldehyde (ME), niclosamide sulfate (NS), and fentin acetate (FA) against P. canaliculata and analyzed the morphological and physiological changes in response to chemical stress. The results indicated that three chemicals exhibited potent molluscicidal activity, especially in the NS treatment group. After 12 h exposure to LC50 concentrations (48 h LC50), the surface area of livers was reduced significantly by 12.1%, 13.9%, and 2.8% compared to the control group, while the kidneys expanded significantly by 6.4%, 3.2%, and 16.7%, respectively. The heart showed marked enlargement by 152.1% and 44.2% under niclosamide sulfate and metaldehyde treatments. The pulmonary sac significantly contracted by 23.6% under niclosamide sulfate stress but expanded by 6.1% under fentin acetate exposure. The stomach enlarged significantly after niclosamide sulfate treatment, whereas it shrank by 2.1% and 5.7% under metaldehyde and fentin acetate treatments, respectively. Metabolomic analysis of liver tissues revealed 553, 99, and 585 differential metabolites compared to the control group, respectively. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the metabolism pathway, lysine degradation, and bile secretion are likely related to the response to chemical stress in P. canaliculata. Further examination showed a significant decrease in total protein content and the activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) under chemical stress. These findings enhance our understanding of the targeted mechanisms of molluscicides against P. canaliculata. Metaldehyde may exert neurotoxic effects on the P. canaliculata, while niclosamide sulfate may interfere with its respiratory system. Additionally, both chemicals affect metabolic pathways in the snail's liver, including lipid metabolism and metabolic pathways associated with energy metabolism. These findings provide valuable insights for designing a novel snail control agent and formulating scientific management strategy.
Foreign-born residents in high-income countries often outlive the native-born population, but it remains unclear how this advantage varies across countries and socioeconomic groups. We aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in the life expectancy advantage of foreign-born populations across 10 European countries. Using national population registers and census, we collected data on mortality by country of birth and educational attainment in 10 European countries from 2010 to 2019. Based on these data, we estimated partial life expectancy between ages 35 and 80 years for native-born and foreign-born populations in each country, both overall and by education. We then decomposed the overall gap between native- and foreign-born populations into differences in education-specific mortality and the educational composition of the population. Foreign-born populations had higher partial life expectancies than native-born populations in all countries except Sweden and Estonia, especially among individuals with low-level education. Decomposition analyses revealed that the overall longevity advantage of foreign-born populations was largely attributable to their lower mortality in less-educated groups. However, in most countries-except Estonia, Lithuania, and Spain-the overrepresentation of less-educated individuals among the foreign-born partially cancelled out these advantages. The longevity advantages among foreign-born populations in European countries may reflect socioeconomic barriers that concentrate relatively healthy, resource-rich immigrants into lower socioeconomic groups. Improving how societies recognize and use the skills and resources of foreign-born populations can help reduce these barriers, benefiting their longevity outcomes and contributing to more inclusive societies.
Prior research found birthplace differences in dietary intake among Hispanic and Black populations. Research is needed to compare food and nutrient intake between immigrants and natives of United States using a wider range of ethnic subpopulations. This study aims to investigate the association between birthplace and nutrient intake among 4 ethnic population subgroups. Cross-sectional data from adult respondents in the NHANES waves 2007-2008 through 2017-2018, linked with the Food Pattern Equivalents Database and linear regression models estimated birthplace differences [immigrants compared with United States-born (reference)] in the consumption of added sugars, total and saturated fat, sodium, whole grains, and fiber. Models were stratified by ethnicity: Hispanic, non-Hispanic (NH)-Asian, NH-Black, and NH-White. The analyses included 6185 Hispanic; 12,067 NH-White; 5932 NH-Black and 2051 NH-Asian adults. Within each ethnic group, strong evidence showed immigrants exhibited lower intake of added sugars (coefficients ranged from -2.97 to -7.51 depending on the ethnic group, all P < 0.05), total fats (range: -7.18 to -21.21), and saturated fats (range: -2.53 to -6.91) than their United States-born coethnics after controlling for covariates. Hispanic (4.0), NH-Asian (2.21), NH-Black (3.61), and NH-White (2.56) immigrants reported higher fiber intake (P < 0.05), whereas only NH-Black (0.57) and NH-White immigrants (0.21) showed higher whole grain consumption than their United States-born coethnics, after covariate adjustments. Hispanic (-142.1) and NH-Black immigrants (-76.9) reported lower sodium intake compared with their United States-born coethnics (P < 0.05). Across the 4 ethnic populations, immigrants generally exhibited better intake of the nutrient examined relative to United States-born coethnics, suggesting a protective immigrant effect. Research to understand reasons for these differences is warranted. Furthermore, future nutrition interventions may require tailored approaches to help maintain healthy nutrient profiles among immigrants, while reducing intake of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars and increasing fiber and whole grain intake among all populations.
Children in immigrant families (CIF) represent one in four children in the United States and face disproportionate health risks shaped by immigration policy, structural racism, trauma, and barriers to care. Using a socioecological framework, this article reviews the current state of pediatric immigrant health and outlines opportunities for pediatricians to advance equity at the individual, organizational, and structural levels. Clinicians can follow expert clinical care guidelines, practice trauma-informed care and safe documentation practices, and partner with qualified medical interpreters. Health systems can create safe spaces for immigrant families and collaborate with researchers to promote community-led cohort building while protecting patients from identification. Finally, pediatricians play a vital role in advocating for inclusive insurance coverage and equitable health policies. Advancing care for CIF requires coordinated efforts across all levels of influence to ensure that every child, regardless of birthplace or legal status, receives care grounded in dignity, trust, and justice.