Lomechusoides umbrosus sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini) is described, a socially integrated myrmecophile associated with Formica polyctena Foerster, 1850. The species is documented from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Belarus, and Western Russia (incl. Ural Mountains) based on both newly collected and museum specimens. Field observations show beetles on the surface of host mounds and within nest material, indicating a close association with red wood ant hills. Morphological comparison of the new species and similar Lomechusoides species is provided, including an identification key for Lomechusoides species of Northern Europe, and an update to the global L. strumosus group key. A detailed account of differences between the new species and L. strumosus (hosted by F. sanguinea), for which it has until now been misidentified as, is made. Mitochondrial COI barcodes are provided to support the morphology and show low but robustly supported genetic divergence (0.7%) between L. umbrosus sp. nov. and L. strumosus, which are similar to divergences between other currently recognised species in the genus. Key diagnostic characters include the shape of the pronotum, colour and microsculpture of the head, pronotum and abdomen, dimensions of the antennae, genital structures, as well as the ant host. Our study clarifies long-standing confusion over records of "L. strumosus" from nests of the Formica rufa group and suggests that host specificity is prevalent within Lomechusoides. The holotype is deposited at the Natural History Museum Denmark.
The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is a widely distributed species across Europe, North America, and North Africa, playing a pivotal role in ecological processes within its diverse habitats. However, the microbiome associated with L. niger remains poorly investigated. In the present study, we isolated a novel species, Paenarthrobacter lasiusi, from the soil of the L. niger anthill. The genome of P. lasiusi S21 was sequenced, annotated, and searched for groups of genes of physiological, medical, and biotechnological importance. Subsequently, a series of microbiological, physiological, and biochemical experiments were conducted to characterize P. lasiusi S21 with respect to its sugar metabolism, antibiotic resistance profile, lipidome, and capacity for atmospheric nitrogen fixation, among others. A notable feature of the P. lasiusi S21 genome is the presence of two prophages, which may have horizontally transferred host genes involved in stress responses. P. lasiusi S21 synthesizes a number of lipids, including mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol, as well as steroid compounds that are typically found in eukaryotic organisms rather than prokaryotes. P. lasiusi S21 exhibits resistance to penicillins, lincosamides, fusidins, and oxazolidinones, despite the absence of specific genes conferring resistance to these antibiotics. Genomic data and physiological tests indicate that P. lasiusi S21 is nonpathogenic to humans. The genome of P. lasiusi S21 contains multiple operons involved in heavy metal metabolism and organic compound inactivation. Consequently, P. lasiusi represents a novel species with an intriguing evolutionary history, manifesting in distinctive genomic, metabolomic, and physiological characteristics. This species may have potential applications in the bioaugmentation of contaminated soils.
In forest ecosystems soil organisms are important for immobilization, translocation and recycling of radionuclides. Still, there is a lack of studies on the role of insects such as ants in the turnover of radionuclides and how radioactivity affects an ant community. In this study seven anthills were sampled in an area that was heavily contaminated after the fallout from the Chernobyl accident. Samples of ant and anthill materials were taken from different depths of the anthills as well as from the surrounding soil and the activity concentrations of 137Cs were determined. In addition, a radiation dose assessment was performed for ants and anthills using the ERICA tool. The deposition of 137Cs in 1986 in the study area was calculated back to be on average 110,500 Bq m-2. The averaged data for all the seven locations investigated indicate that the level of 137Cs activity concentrations in the anthill's material increased with depth of the anthill being highest at the depth 50-65 cm. The concentration in the upper layers (0-2 cm) and of the ants showed significant correlations with the deposition upon multivariate analysis. The concentration ratio (CR) defined as the ratio between the mass activity for 137Cs density in ants (Bq kg-1 d.w.) and mass activity density in soil (Bq kg-1 d.w.) was determined to be in the range of 0.04-0.14. Also, the transfer factor (TF) defined as the ratio between the mass activity for 137Cs density in ant (Bq kg-1 d.w.) and to the unit area activity density (in Bq m-2 d.w.) was determined for 137Cs to be 0.0015 m2 kg-1 d.w. The assessed radiation doses were found to be a 4.9 μGy h-1 which is below international reference levels for non-human biota.
A heterogeneous catalyst was developed from raw Kwale red Anthill mud by thermal treatment in a muffle furnace at 900 °C for 4 h. The resulting heterogeneous catalyst was highly porous with a surface area of 42.16m2/g, possessing excellent stability as well as high catalytic activity. Central Composite Design and Machine Learning approach (Python code) were applied to model and optimize biodiesel yield from extracted watermelon oilseed. Highest biodiesel yield of 93.41 wt% was obtained under the experimental conditions of 4min duration, 350 W microwave power, 4 wt% of catalyst, and MeOH/oil ratio of 8:1 based on Central Composite Design rotatable. The optimum value of the biodiesel yield from Machine Learning was 91.7 wt%, showing a marginal performance over the Central Composite Design rotatable value (91.6 wt%) at the optimized conditions of 3 min, 280 W, 3 wt% catalyst loading and MeOH/oil molar ratio of 6:1. The correlation of the coefficient (R2) of the model was 0.9827 for Central Composite Design rotatable while the R2 of the Machine Learning model was 1.0. Thus, python coding in terms of prediction and accuracy of biodiesel yield was superior to Central Composite Design rotatable, even though both models provide a reliable response within the region of data analyzed. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy of the biodiesel produced revealed the presence of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters. Biodiesel properties from watermelon seed oil transesterification fall within the recommended standard for biodiesel fuel. This study concluded that an effective green biowaste catalyst generated from earthen waste could enhance biodiesel production from watermelon seed oil, hence, ensuring sustainability and economic feasibility for biodiesel industries.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue with cell structure group, capable to infiltrate through the bloodstream and lymphatic tissue, spreading throughout the body. This study aim to complete theoretical foundation of flavonoid compound from anthill plant (Myrmecodia pendans) which contribute in growing cell line oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma through proliferation inhibition, inhibition mechanism transduction Akt signal and NF-κB in tongue cancer cell Supri's-clone (SP-C1). Application benefit to explore potential fractionation anthill plant use herbal ingredients for chemo protective therapy. This whole study conducted with experiment laboratorium method utilized tongue cancer human cell SP-C1. This study consist 2 steps, first to determinate, extraction and fractionation anthill plant and carry out tonicity test to get flavonoid fraction from anthill plant which has anticancer potential against tongue cancer cell SP-C1. The second stage held with invasion inhibition test, proliferation and inhibition test against protein Akt expression and NF-κB in tongue cancer cell SP-C1. The barriers to proliferation through the test of MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, barriers to invasion through Boyden chamber assay and the membrane polycarbonate, ELISA analysis and Western blotting analysis on the obstacle Akt signal transduction pathways and transcription factor of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Data analysis conducted with 2 way ANOVA followed with LSD post hoc test with significance is set on 95%. Pearson correlation conduct to find strong relationship intervariable. This study showed that the average cell growth inhibition SP-C1 based on the time and concentration using the MTT [3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The resistance of cancer cell in vitro SP-C1. On ELISA testing and Western blotting analysis, inhibiton of protein expression of Akt signal transduction and transcription factor of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) showed increased protein expression was significantly obstacles and prove that the ethyl acetate fraction flavonoid inhibits translocation and activation of transcription pathway NF-κB and growth factors that induces the phosphorylation of Akt signal transduction pathway. Ethyl acetate fraction flavonoid anthill has antitumor activity in multiple molecular targets transduction pathway including Akt and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
In this study, adsorption behavior of anthill-eggshell composite (AEC) for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) from aqueous solution was investigated. The raw AEC sample was thermally treated at 864 °C for 4 h and characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The effects of adsorption process variables including initial Cr6+ concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage on the Cr6+ removal efficiency were investigated using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Equilibrium adsorption isotherm and kinetic were also studied. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the three variables proved to be significant and the optimum conditions for Cr6+ adsorption were obtained to be 150 mg/L initial Cr6+ concentration, 45.04-min contact time, and 0.5 g adsorbent dosage, which resulted in 86.21% of Cr6+ adsorbed. Equilibrium isotherm study showed that Freundlich model fitted well to the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model appeared to better describe the experimental data. The study showed that mixed anthill-eggshell is a promising adsorbent for removing Cr6+ from aqueous solution.
Anthills made by Lasius flavus F. in a saltmarsh have significantly different vegetation from that of the surrounding marsh. One species, Frankenia laevis L., is differentially distributed with aspect on the mounds. The reasons for these differences and the problems of survival of anthills on a saltmarsh are discussed.
Andreprevotia sp. strain IGB-42 is a chitin-degrading bacterium isolated from the soil of an anthill. The genome contains 4.7 Mb, a G+C content of 61.31%, 4,257 predicted open reading frames, and a set of industrially interesting chitinase genes.
An actinomycete strain, designated MM04-1133T, was isolated from an anthill soil sample collected in Bagan, Myanmar. To establish the taxonomic status of this strain, the isolate was subjected to a polyphasic approach. Strain MM04-1133T was Gram-staining positive, aerobic, motile and formed long and narrow sporangia directly above the surface of the substrate mycelium. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the strain contained 3-OH-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose and xylose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The diagnostic phospholipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The G+C content of the DNA was 69.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain MM04-1133T clustered within the genus Virgisporangium, with the sequence exhibiting highest similarity (98.5% identity) with Virgisporangium ochraceum NBRC 16418T. The strain grew in the presence of 0-1% (w/v) NaCl, at pH 5-8 and at 20-40 °C, with optimal growth at 30-37 °C. Based on phylogenetic analysis and chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, we propose classifying this isolate as a novel species of the genus Virgisporangium, to be designated as Virgisporangium myanmarense sp. nov. The type strain is MM04-1133T (=NBRC 112733T=VTCC 910008T).
The characteristics of microbial communities of the anthills of Lasius niger compared to the soil beyond the area of the strong effect of ants is given.
The chemical instability of traditional organically-decorated superhydrophobic metal surfaces is a significant issue, severely limiting practical applications. This is due to the susceptibility of low surface energy coatings to ion permeation, decomposition, and exfoliation, especially in harsh environments. Here, organic coating-free, durable superhydrophobic surfaces on Al alloys by developing the paracrystalline state of a bionic anthill tribe structure is successfully achieved, using femtosecond laser element-doping microstructuring followed by repetitive annealing processes. Remarkably, the inherent superhydrophobic properties of the sample are maintained for ≈2000 h in a corrosive 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution, significantly surpassing the performance of traditional organic coatings. Moreover, this inherent superhydrophobicity remains nearly unchanged, even after rigorous electrochemical reaction measurements. Additional tests involving UV irradiation (>100 h), freezing cycles (>100 cycles), and acid/alkali resistance (>65 h) further demonstrate that the environmental adaptability of the surface far exceeds that of silane-coated surfaces. Ab initio calculations reveal that the formation of the paracrystalline state reduces surface energy and enhances chemical stability, thereby extending the durability of the superhydrophobic metal. These findings offer a powerful strategy for utilizing atomic-level structural rearrangements to design inherent superhydrophobic surfaces without the need for organic coatings.
The Arctic plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate system. However, the unique geography and climate of the Polar Regions present significant challenges for anti-icing/de-icing and clean water production in the Polar Regions, and there is an urgent need for innovative materials to help personnel and instrumentation address these issues. In this work, a composite structure with both micro- and nano-rough surfaces, excellent vapour escape channels and superhydrophobic properties is developed with the design concept of an anthill delicate cross-scale multi-stacked void structure. The light absorption reaches 98% across wavelengths from 200 to 2500 nm. It also has a hydrophobicity angle of 154.5°. It de-ices within 540 s at low solar intensities and delays icing up to 5400 s at -20 °C. A vapor escape channel enables efficient interfacial evaporation, achieving a rate of 2.76 kg m-2 h in Arctic seawater. Notably, the study achieved the integrated exploration of interfacial evaporation and de-icing, converting 0.5 cm of Arctic ice into fresh water in 7200 s. Additionally, PMOS (PDA@MWCNTs@MnO2@CuO@MS) shows high durability, retaining superhydrophobicity after 200 tape strips, friction tests, and 50 icing-deicing cycles-offering a reliable solution for polar de-icing and interfacial evaporation.
Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem that requires the development of new bioactive compounds. In this context, metabolomic analyses can expedite the research of fungal metabolites as a valuable resource. To investigate the metabolic profiles and isolate antibacterial compounds from micromycetes associated with Mexican cloud forest ants by utilizing network analysis of their chemical and bioactivity data. 248 fungal strains isolated from six ant's species, soil of their anthills, and soil of the surroundings were evaluated for their in vitro inhibition growth of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae; subsequently, their metabolites were dereplicated and analyzed by molecular networking and compound activity mapping from spectrometric data. Prioritization of some fungi for isolation of their major constituents was performed, and their structures were established by spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis and their bioactivity determined. From the fungal collection, 15 secondary metabolites (1-15) were dereplicated, and 10 compounds (16-25), including the new (E)-tridec-7-ene-3,5,6,10-tetraol (25), were isolated from Ascomycetes of Trichoderma, Cladosporium, and Clonostachys genera. Compounds 16-18 stood out for being bioactive. This study is the first report of antibacterial activity against A. baumannii for the tricyclic pyridin-2-ones deoxy-PF1140 (16) and PF1140 (17), with minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 μg/mL. Network analysis and dereplication proved effective in bioprospecting for antibacterial compounds, offering valuable insights into the chemical diversity of cloud forest soil fungi and their potential applications. Moreover, this study broadens the knowledge of fungal secondary metabolites linked to leafcutter, fire, and warrior ants.
This study investigated how autism impacts the relationships between family members and the family unit. It aimed to provide a deeper qualitative understanding by incorporating the perspectives of autistic adolescents and their family members, adding depth to existing quantitative findings. This qualitative study involved audio-recorded semi-structured in-depth interviews with 40 participants, including mothers, fathers, siblings, and autistic adolescents, recruited through autism and disability agencies in Canberra, Australia. Data collection and analysis followed a constructivist grounded theory approach. Reflexive journaling and iterative member checking ensured the accuracy and validity of the findings. The study found that autism significantly influenced family dynamics, leading to behaviors such as self-harm, anxiety, overstimulation, anger, and limited social and emotional awareness, which strained family relationships. Families reported increased stress and tension, particularly in the absence of regular support and respite. Despite these challenges, families employed various strategies to maintain close relationships and foster resilience, such as sharing memories, setting boundaries, and establishing routines. Positive outcomes included improved teamwork and strengthened bonds. Participants emphasized the importance of patience, understanding, and methodical problem-solving in maintaining a cohesive family dynamic. The study concludes that while autism poses significant challenges to family relationships, families can develop effective strategies to manage these challenges and foster resilience. The findings align with social identity theory, highlighting the role of family connectedness and social buffering in mitigating the negative impacts of autism on the family. Strong family bonds and a supportive environment are crucial for reducing stress and promoting positive identity formation. Continued support and targeted interventions are essential for enhancing family dynamics and improving the well-being of autistic individuals and their families.
In this commentary, two members of the technical teams that led Kenyan health reforms reflect on progress made in the country's journey toward universal health coverage during President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term (2017 to 2022). The authors discuss how key decisions were made while balancing multiple considerations such as: maintaining the technical fidelity of the reforms to achieve objectives, accounting for the context of previous reforms, and making necessary trade-offs between technical and political pressures. They share three lessons, contextualized with African proverbs, for others implementing health reforms. First: "The person who does not seize today's opportunity will also be unable to seize tomorrow's opportunity"-that is, act quickly when opportunities arise. Second: "The person who cannot dance will say, 'The drum is bad!'" This implies that naysayers, especially those who are not part of technical teams, may not understand the reasons behind certain decisions or trade-offs. Reformers must balance different needs, including responding to varied opinions, taking urgent action, generating timely results, making technically sound decisions, and getting the design right. And third: "A bird that flies from the ground onto an anthill does not know that it is still on the ground." This proverb reminds us to not mistake short-term gains for the achievement of long-term goals. Kenya continues to enjoy unprecedented political will to pursue health reforms. For other reformers lucky enough to have political support, the final advice to the technical teams in the driver's seat is to design for delivery … and then start!
This study explores the experiences of siblings of autistic adolescents within families. Without the novel insights generated from engaging with siblings of autistic adolescents within a qualitative framework, it can be challenging to develop strategies for practicing effectively with this group or structuring interventions with these families. Using a social constructivist approach and qualitative participatory methodology, the exploratory study was conducted using in-depth interviews with ten non-autistic siblings, analyzed via a thematic analysis method. The results reveal a common feeling of uncertainty and apprehension in the relationships, leading siblings to physical and emotional detachment from their autistic brothers or sisters. The research emphasizes the caregiving roles predominantly taken up by sisters, especially when the autistic sibling is a brother with intellectual disability. These roles exert substantial demands, with unclear boundaries suggesting potential role confusion. The findings have important implications for family practice, necessitating the need to address role conflict and promote role clarity. They also underscore the gendered nature of caregiving, advocating for support to sister-siblings in these roles. This study revealed the complexities of sibling relationships in families with a member who is an autistic adolescent sibling. The study suggests interventions that promote open family dialogues for a balanced approach to family roles, providing valuable guidance to practitioners to enhance siblings and family well-being.
The purpose of this study was to synthesize and structurally characterize four ant nest membranes in four different concentrations and determine the best concentration that could potentially be used as an alternative material for the production of new collagen barrier membranes. Membranes were created by mixing ant nest extracts at various concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%, as well as collagen, chitosan, and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) using a film casting. A Universal Testing Machine (UTM) was used to evaluate mechanical properties including elastic modulus, tensile strength, maximum elongation, elongation at break, and maximum force. Water absorption was performed, FTIR was used for functional group identification, and morphology was examined using SEM. Additionally, EDS was used to identify the composition and distribution of elements in membranes. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA (analysis of variance) and post hoc testing with a significance level of p <0.01 for quantitative data. The results showed that the mechanical properties produced the following mean (standard deviation): elastic modulus 0.87 Mpa (0.11), tensile strength 16.32 N/mm2 (2.46), maximum elongation 4.96% (1.72), elongation at break 5.23% (1.87), and maximum force 22.50 N (5.06). The average water absorption capacity of all four membranes had a p-value <0.01. FTIR spectrum showed various peaks corresponding to functional groups, while SEM results indicated a homogeneous mixture. EDS analysis confirmed that the addition of ant plant extract at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% resulted in the presence of elements C, O, and Ca. Meanwhile, membranes prepared with 2% concentration had a different composition, namely C, O, Ca, and Na. Increasing the concentration of ant nest affects the values of the membrane's mechanical properties parameters, including the elastic modulus (0.87 Mpa), tensile strength (16.32 N/mm2), maximum elongation (4.96%), elongation at break (5.23%), and maximum force (22.50 N). The average membrane absorption of water (p value <0.01) was also affected. SEM images showed homogeneous mixing, and membrane EDS results consisted of C, O, and Ca composition. However, there was no effect on FTIR functional groups. The anthill membrane with a 1% concentration has the potential to serve as an alternative membrane in guided tissue regeneration.
Background:Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (L. paracasei) strains and their postbiotics show potential for managing metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Two newly isolated L. paracasei strains, M2.1 and P4, were yielded from Formica rufa anthills in Sinite Kamani National Park, Bulgaria. Their metabolic effects on mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated. Methods: Mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24 h with 10% (v/v) cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of M2.1 or P4. Two experimental (M2.1, P4) and two control groups (mature, untreated adipocytes and mature adipocytes, treated with 10% (v/v) MRS broth) were analyzed for intracellular lipid accumulation, glucose uptake, and the mRNA expression of lipid metabolism and beta-oxidation-related genes. Fold changes in gene expression were assessed using RT-qPCR. Results: Both M2.1 and P4 CFSs enhanced glucose uptake by over 30% compared to the control. P4 demonstrated a more favorable effect by significantly upregulating adipose triglyceride lipase-patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 2, adiponectin, and peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes-acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1, palmitoyl. Intracellular lipid accumulation increased only with M2.1, while P4 supported improved lipid turnover without promoting excessive lipid storage or lipolysis. Conclusions: P4 CFS exhibits the potential to improve adipocyte metabolism by enhancing glucose uptake, promoting beta-oxidation, and increasing adiponectin expression, offering a promising strategy for managing metabolic dysfunctions.
Ants disperse seeds of many plant species adapted to myrmecochory. While advantages of this ant-plant mutualism for myrmecochorous plants (myrmecochores) have been previously studied in temperate region mostly in forests, our study system was a pasture. Moreover, we used a unique combination of observing the effect of ant-activity suppression on ant dispersal and comparison of the contribution of ant and unassisted dispersal to the distance from mother plant. We established plots without and with ant-activity suppression (enclosures). We offered diaspores of a myrmecochorous (Knautia arvensis), and a non-myrmecochorous (Plantago lanceolata) species in a choice test and followed ants carrying diaspores during days and nights (focus of previous studies was on diurnal dispersal). We measured frequency and distances of ant dispersal and compared them with unassisted dispersal recorded using sticky trap method. The dispersal frequency was lower in enclosures (3.16 times). Ants strongly preferred diaspores of the myrmecochore to non-myrmecochore with 586 and 42 dispersal events, respectively (out of 6400 diaspores of each species offered). Ant dispersal resulted in more even and on average longer distances (maximum almost tenfold longer, 994 cm) in comparison to unassisted dispersal. Ant dispersal altered the distribution of distances of the myrmecochore from roughly symmetric for unassisted dispersal to positively skewed. Ants dispersed heavier diaspores farther. Ants dropped the majority of diaspores during the dispersal (which reduces clustering of seeds), while several (11%) were carried into anthills. Anthills are disturbed microsites presumably favorable for germination in competitive habitats. Ants provided non-negligible dispersal services to myrmecochorous K. arvensis but also, to a lesser extent, of non-myrmecochorous P. lanceolata.