Search Results (14,766)

Climate change is reshaping global hydrological cycles, intensifying scarcity and heightening health risks in vulnerable regions. This study examines the health impacts of climate-driven water scarcity across the Middle East, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa using data on water availability, climate variability, and health outcomes. The study uses a multi-regional mixed methods approach that brings together climate, hydrology, governance, and health data to explore how climate-driven water scarcity affects public health in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the MENA region. It combines quantitative climate and health indicators with qualitative evaluations of water system vulnerability to compare exposure pathways and health outcomes across regions. Findings show that rising temperatures, altered rainfall, declining groundwater, and recurrent droughts undermine water security, leading to increased disease burdens through four pathways: (1) waterborne illnesses from unsafe or insufficient supplies; (2) reduced hygiene due to limited access; (3) food insecurity from crop failures; and (4) mental health stress, conflict, and displacement from water competition. Women, children, and low-income households face disproportionate impacts. Current adaptation measures are fragmented, highlighting the need for integrated water governance to build climate resilience. Recommended strategies include community-based water safety planning, digital water monitoring, and embedding health metrics in climate–water policies. This cross-regional analysis supports equitable, climate-resilient health systems and informs interventions to mitigate water scarcity under accelerating climate change. This study directly supports global policy agendas by providing evidence that advances the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and international frameworks on climate resilience, water security, and food and health protection. Full article

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a major cause of economic losses in the global cattle industry, particularly in countries characterized by intensive livestock production systems. Pestivirus tauri, formerly known as Bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV-2), is the current taxonomic designation according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Between 2005 and 2018, Pestivirus tauri was detected in cattle herds in mainland Italy, particularly in the Lombardy region. Four viral strains were successfully isolated in cell cultures and subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic reconstruction placed all Italian isolates within the Pestivirus tauri subgenotype c, a lineage encompassing strains reported in Asia, Europe and the United States. Consistently, comparative sequence identity analyses indicated the highest similarity with the Parker strain (USA, 1991) and the Potsdam 1600 strain (Germany, 2000). These results contribute to a more detailed understanding of Pestivirus tauri genomic architecture and evolutionary dynamics, providing a valuable resource for comparative genomic studies. Such data are crucial for exploring viral diversity and evolution, optimizing the design of diagnostic primers and probes, and advancing insights into the molecular epidemiology of Pestivirus. Full article

Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) populations are a vital resource for pollination and honey production, yet their genetic diversity in Central Asia remains poorly understood. This study provides a comprehensive genetic assessment of 16 honeybee populations from Kazakhstan, with comparative samples from Russia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, utilizing mitochondrial COI–COII intergenic region and 12 highly polymorphic nuclear STR markers. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the predominance of the Eastern European C lineage (A. m. carnica), while a few populations from East Kazakhstan and Russia attributed the M lineage (A. m. mellifera), indicating local introgression and the persistence of relict lineages. STR analyses showed high levels of polymorphism and genetic diversity, with variation in heterozygosity and inbreeding across populations. Analyses of population genetic structure delineated four principal genetic clusters shaped by regional differentiation, historical gene flow, and sporadic admixture. Concordance between mitochondrial and nuclear markers confirms the robustness of these findings. Overall, this study highlights the rich genetic diversity of honeybees from Kazakhstan and emphasizes the importance of conserving local populations and implementing selective breeding programs to sustain adaptive potential and long-term apiculture. Full article

This study adheres to a logistic regression modeling protocol originally developed for long-range intelligence analyses and employs data from UN demographic estimates (the 2024 revision) to generate a set of statistical functions that suggest a moderately strong relationship between increasing median age and the probability of a persistently positive international net migration rate (NMR). According to this relationship, the post-Cold War probability (data from 1990 to 2015) of experiencing a persistently positive net migration rate (defined as a +NMR, directly followed by five consecutive years of +NMRs) rose from less than 0.12 at a population median age of 15 years, to a probability greater than 0.55 at 36 years, and then to more than 0.77 at 45 years. The author hypothesizes a speculative set of predictions aimed at providing long-term tests for this model. These predictions assume that, by a median age of 36.0 years, at least one country in the hypothesized cluster of countries will have shifted to experiencing a series of +NMRs. If, as this model predicts, the age-structurally associated transition to sustained +NMRs transpires by 2055, there could be a substantially larger pool of migrant net-receiving states in parts of Asia, Latin America, and North Africa than the UN’s future scenarios currently project. Full article

Protected areas play a critical role in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services, yet their effectiveness in mitigating anthropogenic pressures, particularly in fragile alpine ecosystems like the Three-River-Source region of the Qinghai Plateau—a vital water tower for Asia—requires long-term and rigorous assessment. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Three-River-Source Nature Reserve by analyzing spatiotemporal changes in the human footprint from 2000 to 2024. Utilizing a globally consistent human footprint dataset refined with high-resolution grazing intensity data for the Qinghai Plateau, we compared human footprint dynamics inside and outside the reserve and across its three functional zones (core, buffer, experimental). To isolate the policy effect, we employed a propensity score matching (PSM) approach to control for confounding geographical and socio-economic factors. Results indicate that while human pressure increased overall, the nature reserve was partially effective. The PSM-based comparison revealed that the increase in human footprint inside the nature reserve was lower than in matched external control areas. This effect was spatially heterogeneous and positively correlated with management intensity: it was most pronounced in the core zone, moderate in the buffer zone, and negligible in the experimental zone. The conservation outcomes showed notable improvement following policy enhancements, particularly after the national park’s formal establishment. The findings confirm the value of strict internal protection and functional zoning but highlight the challenge of intensifying peripheral pressures, underscoring the need for integrated landscape-level management strategies beyond the reserve’s boundaries to ensure long-term ecological integrity. Full article

Scrub typhus, caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi), remains a major public-health concern in the Asia–Pacific region. Genome-wide inference is complicated by extensive repetitive DNA and frequent genome rearrangement. We isolated O. tsutsugamushi HMU_001 from a scrub typhus patient on Hainan Island, China. Intracellular morphology was examined and replication was quantified in endothelial cells. Using long-read sequencing with short-read polishing, we generated a closed circular genome and performed standardized comparative analyses across all available complete O. tsutsugamushi genomes. HMU_001 assembled as a 1,895,724 bp genome and, among the 17 complete genomes analyzed in this study, represented the most compact genome. Repeats comprised 873,550 bp (46.08%) and included 72 RAGE loci (4 relatively complete) and 283 insertion sequences (54 intact). Repeat content varied widely and largely explained genome size differences. A core-gene phylogeny resolved four clades with partial geographic structure, while tsa56 genotypes were only partly congruent with it. Genome synteny was generally limited across strains but markedly higher among the closest relatives, consistent with ongoing rearrangement. HMU_001 expands representation of complete O. tsutsugamushi genomes by adding a TA763_A lineage strain from a high-incidence island setting. Comparative analyses support a model in which repeat proliferation and decay drive genome evolution and structural remodeling. Full article

University students often face various stressors that impact their physical, mental, and social well-being, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of student health in higher education settings. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to campus green and blue spaces has significant health benefits. However, empirical studies evaluating the health effects of campus outdoor grey spaces (playgrounds, roads, squares) remain limited. Grey spaces are identified as grey in a material sense (urban, concrete, artificial, constructed). This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on the associations between outdoor campus spaces and student health, with implications for sustainable campus planning. Following the PRISMA protocol, 60 studies were identified and included from four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed). The results were as follows: (1) Research in this field has increased over the past five years, with Asia (particularly China) contributing the largest share of studies; (2) The research topics were diverse, covering five major themes of campus outdoor spaces and 28 student health indicators; (3) The measurement of environmental and physical–mental health combined subjective assessments with objective data, whereas social health primarily relied on self-reported subjective perceptions; (4) Campus outdoor spaces affected university students’ health by promoting physical activity, modulating physiological responses, alleviating stress and cognition, and providing opportunities for social interaction and solitude. Campus outdoor spaces contribute to students’ sustainable well-being in various ways. Green and blue spaces provide significant psychological restorative benefits, while grey spaces play a crucial role in promoting physical activities and social interactions, thus warranting greater attention in campus planning. These findings highlight the importance of designing equitable, multifunctional blue-green-grey spaces to support healthier and more sustainable university campuses. Full article

Aesthetic patients in East Asia are commonly concerned about small apparent eye size. Simultaneous treatment of the glabellar and lateral canthal areas with botulinum neurotoxin has potential to provide improvements. This case series evaluated changes in eye size following treatment of these two areas using standard on-label doses of onabotulinumtoxinA in patients from Japan or China. Outcomes were assessed based on standardised frontal photographs taken before and after treatment (at rest, maximum smile, and maximum frowning). Changes in eye size were examined using a 4-point Likert scale, as evaluated by three independent groups: six injectors; six non-injecting observers; and treated patients. Furthermore, improvements in overall facial impression were analysed using two established tools: ‘emotional attributes’ and ‘social attributes’. Twenty East Asian subjects were included (n = 17 women; mean age: 37.5 ± 6.4 years). The majority of evaluators in all three groups rated patients’ eye size as ‘significantly’ or ‘mildly’ improved post-treatment, whether assessed at rest, when smiling, or during frowning. Furthermore, almost all evaluators noted improvements in one or more emotional and social attributes. This approach has significant potential as a culturally adapted aesthetic technique for improving eye size in East Asian patients. Larger multicentre studies are warranted. Full article

The teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera, native to South Asia and Southeast Asia (e.g., India, Laos, and Myanmar), has recently caused frequent outbreaks in mangrove forests across Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions of China. Its larvae feed extensively on the leaves of Avicennia marina, severely threatening local mangrove ecosystems. However, accurate morphological identification of H. puera across its eggs, larvae, and pupae remains challenging. Therefore, the development of rapid molecular detection methods is essential for effective pest identification and monitoring, thereby supporting timely management interventions. In this study, mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) were analyzed from H. puera and related species were analyzed. Sliding window analysis was conducted to estimate nucleotide diversity (Pi), leading to the selection of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as the optimal target. Species-specific primers were designed based on the H. puera COI sequence, and two molecular detection assays—SS-PCR and LAMP—were developed. Both assays exhibited high specificity, stability, and sensitivity, successfully amplifying target fragments from H. puera across all tested geographic populations and different developmental stages. The limit of detection of the SS-PCR method was 83 fg/µL DNA, while that of the LAMP method reached 8.3 fg/µL DNA. The newly developed assays offer reliable and robust tools: the SS-PCR method is suitable for precise, large-scale detection in laboratory settings, whereas the LAMP assay is preferable for rapid, field-based detection of H. puera. These methods contribute to the early detection and effective management of H. puera populations, thereby safeguarding mangrove ecosystems. Full article

Species of the genus Thunbergia, native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, are widely cultivated as ornamental plants; however, their ability to escape cultivation and establish themselves in novel environments poses a growing threat to tropical forests. Here, we provide the first nationwide assessment of Thunbergia species occurring in Ecuador, integrating data from citizen science platforms, herbarium collections, and field surveys. We analyzed spatiotemporal patterns of occurrence, evaluated invasion status based on wild persistence and spread, and assessed environmental preferences using climatic niche analyses. Species distributions were further examined across land-cover types, conservation areas, and forest–non-forest interfaces. We confirmed the presence of five Thunbergia species in Ecuador, two of which also occur in the Galapagos Islands. All species were recorded both in cultivation and in the wild, indicating ornamental horticulture as the main introduction pathway for the genus, and occurrences were documented within 24 conservation areas. Thunbergia alata, T. fragrans, and T. grandiflora were categorized as invasive in Ecuador. Among them, T. fragrans exhibited broad environmental tolerance across bioregions. Wild occurrences were predominantly associated with human-modified landscapes but frequently occurred near forest edges, indicating ongoing encroachment into natural forests. These findings highlight the urgent need for preventive and targeted management strategies, particularly against T. alata, which represents an emerging threat to Andean forest ecosystems. Full article

As exploratory learning (EL) is increasingly observed with the use of large language models (LLMs), students demonstrate notably varied levels of engagement and effectiveness when they interact with such LLM-supported learning environments. However, the underlying mechanisms driving these disparities, particularly in how students interact with LLMs, remain underexplored. To address this gap, this observational comparative study systematically investigates the EL strategies of 46 students in two different regions of Asia, classifying 25 distinct strategies across cognitive stages using the Depth of Knowledge model. Our analysis compares strategy usage between high and low-performing student subgroups. The findings reveal: (1) A declining trend in the utilization of EL strategies across ascending cognitive stages. (2) High AWP students employed EL strategies more frequently than their peers, with ten EL strategies exhibiting significant between-group differences. (3) Among students with different AI experience, only a few EL strategies usage and cognitive stages showed significant differences. These insights can help educators and LLM interface designers develop targeted exploratory learning assistance for different types of students and help them build high-level metacognitive processes for effective human–computer interaction. Full article

Cryphalus dilutus is an emerging invasive pest of tropical and subtropical regions, with Mangifera indica and Ficus carica being its primary host plants. Larval damage caused by this insect can lead to severe tree wilting, posing a direct threat to agricultural production and ecological security. Native to South Asia, C. dilutus has established introduced populations in the Near East, Mexico, and other areas. In recent years, it has invaded multiple regions, including southern China and southern Italy. Given the widespread global distribution of host plants and the intensification of climate change, their distribution ranges are expected to expand. However, research assessing the potential global geographical distribution of this pest under climate change is lacking. In this study, we used the Random Forest model to predict the potential distribution range of C. dilutus. Under historical climatic conditions between 1970 and 2000, suitable climatic regions for C. dilutus were primarily distributed across southern China, southeastern Brazil, southeastern Mexico, the Congo Basin periphery, and the Iberian Peninsula, with a total area of 12,192.42 × 10⁴ km². The Temperature Annual Range and Precipitation of Warmest Quarter were identified as key environmental determinants that shaped its distribution. Under the future RCP4.5 climate scenario projected for the 2050s, the total suitable area for C. dilutus is projected to contract. Specifically, high-, medium-, and low-suitability areas are projected to decline by 52.77%, 62.39%, and 24.02%, respectively. While the total area of the very low zones is expected to increase, the total area of the suitable region has been reduced to 11,891.17 ×10⁴ km². Future climate change is expected to drive the distribution northward to high-altitude areas and inland areas. Model projections indicate a poleward expansion of the fundamental climatic niche, with climatic suitability increasing in high-latitude and high-altitude regions, such as Northern Europe and western North America. Conversely, current core tropical habitats in the Indian subcontinent and the Amazon Basin are projected to face significant habitat degradation due to thermal stress. Agricultural regions previously considered relatively safe due to climatic constraints, such as northern China, the midwestern United States, and Eastern Europe, may face new challenges from pest infestation. These findings underscore the importance of proactive monitoring and implementation of preventive measures. This provides crucial decision support for countries and regions to formulate precise pest control strategies and offers a theoretical basis for early monitoring and prevention of cross-border invasions on a global scale. Full article

This report contains the first molecular record of the two-spot cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in the United States. Nymphs of multiple instars and adult specimens were collected from a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) field in Macon County, Alabama, in August 2025. While distinct paired dark spots were observed on the forewings of adult specimens, this trait was inconsistently present on nymphal wing pads. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding confirmed the specimen identity. The United States sequence shared > 99% identity with Asian A. biguttula references, and phylogenetic analysis placed it within the A. biguttula clade with 100% posterior probability support. Although this pest was previously reported in 2023 from Puerto Rico based solely on morphological traits, our findings provide the first DNA-confirmed evidence of its presence in the United States. Given its well-documented role in damaging cotton across Asia and Africa, this report underscores the urgent need for monitoring and development of management strategies in United States cotton-growing regions. Full article

The naviculoid genus Luticola exhibits a high degree of morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation when based solely on traditional morphometrics. Here, we describe Luticola edaphica sp. nov., a new species isolated from the forest soils of Mount Sestra (Primorsky Territory, Russian Far East) using an integrative taxonomic approach (phylogenetic, morphological, ultrastructural, and life cycle data). Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on the chloroplast rbcL gene, placed the new strain within the Luticola clade, showing the closest affinity to L. tenera. However, L. edaphica is distinguished from similar Luticola species by a unique combination of morphological traits (structure of the valvocopula, maximal valve length and width, position and number of striae in 10 µm, central area, and distal raphe ends). A comprehensive study of its life cycle revealed that L. edaphica is homothallic and capable of both cis- and trans-anisogamy, with the latter being reported for the genus for the first time. Full article

Adaptation economics is critical for guiding decision-makers in reducing climate vulnerability, evaluating the most suitable action while allocating scarce financial, human, and technological resources. However, this economic evaluation faces significant methodological challenges due to diverse contexts, intangible impacts, and uncertainties. This research aims to characterize academic trends, gaps, and opportunities of collaboration in the economic evaluation of adaptation over the period 2010–2023. Fifty-eight articles were selected following the PRISMA framework and were analyzed using bibliometric analysis, supported by R-Bibliometrix. Additionally, a thematic review of abstracts was conducted to identify economic evaluation approaches. Articles were included if they applied an explicit economic method. This study uses Scopus-indexed literature and abstract-based classification, which may limit generalizability. Across this corpus, the results reveal that adaptation economics, although conceptually evolved, remains geographically concentrated and methodologically fragmented. At the geographical level, research production shows 14.78% annual growth, yet this remains concentrated in the Global North, with limited participation from Latin America, Africa, and South Asia. At the conceptual level, the studies demonstrate a significant thematic transformation, moving from topics linked to diagnosis and planning toward concepts of greater complexity, such as uncertainty. In contrast, and although six methodological approaches were identified, conventional efficiency-based methods (such as cost–benefit) dominate 44.8% of applications. This analysis provides a research agenda to advance more context-sensitive and methodologically diverse economic approaches for adaptation decision-making. Recommendations include fostering South–South and South–North collaboration and developing practical and simplified decision support tools, especially for vulnerable regions. Full article