To date, only 14 species have been reported worldwide from the ovaries of fish hosts. In the present study, a novel species, Myxobolus binotati n. sp., was described from the ovary of Barbodes binotatus. Spores were oval in frontal view and lemon-shaped in sutural view, measuring 10.7 × 8.3 × 6.2 μm. They possessed two unequal pyriform polar capsules, with larger measuring 4.8 ± 0.4 (4.0-5.8) μm in length, 2.8 ± 0.2 (2.4-3.4) μm in width, while smaller measuring 2.7 ± 0.3 (2.1-3.1) μm in length, 1.6 ± 0.2 (1.3-1.9) μm in width. Polar tubules coiled 7-8 and 4 turns in the larger and smaller capsules, respectively. The spores lacked an intercapsular appendix, iodinophilous vacuole, and mucous envelope, and possessed 8-10 asymmetrically distributed sutural markings. Molecular analysis of 18S rDNA gene revealed that the new species shared the highest sequence similarity (87.3%) with Myxobolus abitus found in the gills of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Phylogenetic analyses placed M. binotati n. sp. within a clade comprising species infecting the gills, fins, skin, scales, and ovaries, including several taxa characterized by unequal polar capsules. However, it formed a distinct lineage within this clade. The combined morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic evidence supports the establishment of M. binotati n. sp. as a new species.

Cervical lymph node status is the single most important prognostic determinant in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet conventional gray-scale ultrasound relies on morphological criteria that only indirectly reflect the underlying biological process driving nodal progression: tumor angiogenesis. This narrative review focuses specifically on cervical lymph nodes and examines whether multiparametric ultrasound (B-mode, Doppler, elastography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound [CEUS]) can serve as a non-invasive, repeatable surrogate for nodal angiogenic activity in HNSCC and outlines a practical framework for its use in the head and neck clinic; evidence on the primary tumor itself was outside this review's scope. A narrative synthesis of the literature on angiogenesis biology in HNSCC and on multiparametric ultrasound of cervical lymph nodes was performed, drawing on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical pilot studies identified through PubMed-indexed sources. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-driven neoangiogenesis is a recognized diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biological axis in HNSCC. Ultrasound modalities that visualize or quantify microvascular architecture and perfusion-Doppler vascularity patterns, shear-wave elastography, and CEUS-track features that are biologically continuous with angiogenesis (disorganized, high-permeability neovessels; altered tissue stiffness from stromal remodeling). Combining CEUS with B-mode ultrasound improves diagnostic accuracy for inconclusive cervical lymph nodes compared with either modality alone, and pilot multiparametric protocols in HNSCC show reproducible irregular contrast enhancement and elastographic heterogeneity in metastatic nodes. Multiparametric ultrasound does not replace histology, but it offers a repeatable, radiation-free, low-cost window onto the vascular phenotype of HNSCC that complements morphological staging. Given the heterogeneity and methodological limitations of the available evidence, multiparametric ultrasound should currently be regarded as a promising imaging biomarker rather than an established non-invasive surrogate for angiogenesis. Larger prospective, HNSCC-specific cohorts using standardized acquisition protocols, with direct histological correlation, are needed before this approach can be adopted into routine diagnostic pathways.

The Data-Information-Knowledge (DIK) hierarchy describes how clinical observations are progressively transformed into actionable knowledge. Although digital technologies are beginning to reshape vascular surgery, their impact is often discussed in isolation rather than as components of a continuous knowledge-generation process. This narrative review applies the DIK framework to examine how recent technological advances are transforming each stage of knowledge generation in vascular surgery. Emphasis was placed on data modeling, computer vision and natural language processing, as well as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-based large language model applications. Despite these advances, limitations remain, including data quality, external validation, generalizability, and the reliability and transparency of generated recommendations. Maximizing future knowledge generation requires coordinated advances across all three layers, especially on the data layer.

The freeze-thaw process in sperm cryopreservation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that impair motility, viability, and fertilizing capacity in fish, including the Javaen barb (Systomus rubripinnis), an endemic Indonesian cyprinid of conservation concern. Cryopreservation underpins gene bank development for aquatic genetic resources and supports biodiversity conservation alongside hatchery-based stock enhancement. This study evaluated five natural antioxidants: basil leaf extract (BLE), noni fruit extract (NFE), moringa leaf extract (MLE), sambiloto leaf extract (SLE), and honey-egg yolk (HEY). Each antioxidant was supplemented into the Kurokura's cryopreservation extender across a graded concentration series (BLE 1-4%, NFE and MLE 0.5-1.5%, SLE 6-9%, and HEY 1-2% with a fixed 5% egg yolk) and compared with an antioxidant-free control. Radical scavenging capacity was measured by DPPH assay (IC50: BLE 134.06, MLE 297.04, NFE 422.86, SLE 3010.46 ppm), and post-thaw motility, duration of motility, viability, abnormality, fertilization rate, and ATP bioluminescence were assessed. The most effective doses tested were doses of 1% for BLE, NFE, and MLE, 1.25% for HEY, and 7% for SLE. BLE at 1% gave the best overall profile (motility 85.00 ± 0.88%; duration 7.14 ± 0.38 min; viability 82.00 ± 1.86%; abnormality 18.26 ± 0.16%), significantly exceeding the control (65.00 ± 2.31%; 4.56 ± 0.33 min; 68.00 ± 2.42%; 23.54 ± 0.28%; p < 0.05), whereas SLE sustained the longest motility. All extracts supported fertilization rates above 82% versus 70.08 ± 3.82% in the control, and 1% BLE preserved post-thaw luminescence equivalent to fresh sperm (165,217 vs. 164,087 RLU), interpreted comparatively. These locally available, plant-derived antioxidants offer a low-cost route to germplasm conservation of Javaen barb, strengthening conservation hatchery and broodstock management, sustainable aquaculture production, and food security for inland fisheries communities.

Prior to this study, the mitogenomic characterization, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic placement of the Tinfoil Barb Barbonymus schwanefeldii remained largely unexplored, despite its notable ecological and economic importance. Hence, this study aimed to provide the first in-depth insight into the mitogenomic features of this species from its native range in Sumatra, Indonesia. The generated mitogenome is 16,578 bp in length and contains 37 genes along with a control region (CR). The genome also exhibited a 57.03% A + T bias and all protein-coding genes (PCGs) initiated with the ATG codon, except COI (GTG). The codon usage was dominated by arginine, leucine, and serine, whereas methionine and tryptophan were rare. The pairwise nonsynonymous-to-synonymous substitution ratios demonstrated strong purifying selection across all Barbonymus species. This pattern was further supported by complementary codon-based approaches, which showed that the 13 PCGs were predominantly subject to strong evolutionary constraints, with evidence of positive selection confined to a small number of sites in a limited subset of genes. Most transfer RNA genes of B. schwanefeldii maintained the canonical cloverleaf secondary structure, except tRNA-Ser1, which lacked the dihydrouridine stem. The comparative profiling of conserved sequence blocks within the CR among Barbonymus taxa highlighted variation in length and nucleotide composition, with tandem repeats exclusively detected in B. gonionotus. A mitogenome-wide assessment of B. schwanefeldii revealed considerable intra-specific genetic divergence (0%-3.932%) and notable haplotypic diversity across Southeast Asian islands and mainland populations. This population genetic structure likely reflects historical connectivity during the Pleistocene via ancient drainage systems of the Malacca Strait or North Sunda, followed by subsequent isolation after post-glacial eustatic sea-level rise. The phylogenetic inference robustly corroborated a sister-species relationship between B. schwanefeldii and Barbonymus altus within the clade 'Poropuntiinae'. Collectively, these findings elucidate the phylogeographic patterns and evolutionary history of this Southeast Asian endemic cyprinid fish within the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot.

Stingrays are a subset of the cartilaginous fish commonly known as rays, which belong to the class Chondrichthyes that also includes sharks and skates. All rays share a flat body with enlarged pectoral fins permanently fused to the head. The mouth is located on the ventral surface. The tail is the most dangerous anatomical feature because of the spinal blade, also known as the stinger or barb (see Image. Stingray and Tail Barb). Rays with longer spines located more distally on the tail pose the greatest risk for sting injuries. Most injuries are unintentional because stingrays are docile animals. Injury severity varies, but all stings cause severe pain due to envenomation. Systemic envenomation is rare, and treatment primarily involves evaluation for severe penetrating or traumatic injuries and hot water immersion of the envenomated site to inactivate the toxin and relieve pain. Consultation with a medical toxicologist, trauma surgeon, and intensive care specialist may be appropriate in severe cases.

Fossilized feathers are rare, yet critical for understanding the evolution of flight in pennaraptoran dinosaurs and the appearance of crown birds in the Late Cretaceous.[1][,][2] Feathers associated with skeletal remains are abundant in several Lower Cretaceous Lagerstätten[3][,][4][,][5] but nearly absent from Upper Cretaceous deposits.[6][,][7] As such, the evolution of avian feathers close to the emergence of the crown-group Neornithes remains largely unknown. Here we report on an exceptionally preserved three-dimensional pennaceous feather preserved in a medium-sized theropod dinosaur coprolite found in the uppermost Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation in North America. Arguably the best-preserved feather ever recovered from Mesozoic lithic deposits, it demonstrates that the anatomically modern lightweight and stiff feather with a square, medulla-filled rachis was in place in Pennaraptora before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Skeletal remains from the same coprolite suggest the feather belongs to a hesperornithiform, a lineage of flightless aquatic birds within Ornithurae but outside Neornithes.[8] Consistent with this identification, the feather exhibits a low structural index and high barb density, adaptations for reduced penetrability present in extant aquatic birds.[9][,][10][,][11] Tiny associated gar scales are interpreted as the bird's last meal. Microcomputed-tomography data reveal the preservation of additional associated feathers, including extinct morphotypes, within the coprolite,[3] suggesting these morphotypes persisted even in crownward, non-neornithine birds until the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Differences in plumage, especially with regard to body feathers most responsible for thermal insulation, may have played a role in the extinction of all non-neornithine pennaraptorans during the hypothesized asteroid-induced impact winter.[12].

In sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), the composition of fatty acids in the seeds, primarily oleic, linoleic, stearic and palmitic acid, is of utmost importance for oil quality. Despite this, the genetic basis of this trait and its interaction with the environment is poorly understood. Understanding this interaction is critical to improvement of sunflower within the context of climate change. In this work, we incorporated fatty acid composition measurements from the sunflower SAM population and eight environments across an extensive geographic cline into GWAS. The SAM panel consists of 287 varieties representing approximately 90% of sunflower diversity, for which 2.2 million high-quality SNPs with a MAF > 5% are available. For increased power, multivariate GWAS was performed with four different inputs: (i) mean fatty acid composition within each environment, (ii) mean fatty acid composition within each environment omitting high oleic varieties, (iii) trait stability within environments quantified by standard errors among replicate samples (α stability) and (iv) Eberhart and Russell's β, which quantifies trait stabilities across environments (β stability). All four analyses yielded highly significantly associated SNPs. We found that high oleic varieties exhibited high β trait stability, resulting in substantial overlap in markers between analyses (i) and (iv), with signals being fairly consistent between environments in analysis (i). For analyses (ii) and (iii), significant markers tended to vary between trials. For significant SNPs across all analyses, 147 candidate genes were identified, including promising candidates such as 15 fatty acid metabolism genes, 6 heat shock proteins and 22 transcription factors. Lastly, a large introgression consisting of two flanking inverted sequences on Chromosome 5 was found to coincide with α stability in the Georgia trial, suggesting a role in FA composition stability under high heat conditions.

Leishmaniosis is a parasitic disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It affects humans, canids, and rodents in endemic areas and is transmitted through the bites of infected sand flies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of equine leishmaniosis in horses from Tiaret Province, northwestern Algeria, an area endemic for canine leishmaniosis, and to identify the main risk factors associated with infection. The study included 75 local Barb horses and employed molecular and serological techniques for the detection of Leishmania infection. Among the sampled animals, 71 tested positive by at least one diagnostic method, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 94.6%. Horses from the southern part of the province were 75% less likely to be infected than those from other areas (odds ratio [OR]: 0.259, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.067-1.004, p < 0.05). These findings provide the first evidence of equine leishmaniosis in northwestern Algeria. Furthermore, the exceptionally high prevalence observed in Tiaret Province suggests intense Leishmania transmission in the area, potentially posing a substantial risk of infection to other susceptible hosts, including humans and dogs. Consequently, the implementation of effective surveillance and control measures is essential to reduce the risk of transmission.