Two new species of Xylaria (Xylariaceae, Ascomycota) associated with fallen leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China

Xylaria is a large and complex genus of macrofungi, playing a critical role in ecosystems as decomposers and possessing antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. This paper described two new Xylaria species discovered on fallen leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, based on morphological characteristics and genetic sequences. Detailed color illustrations and comparisons with similar species were provided. The main characteristics of X. acifer included long, needle-shaped stromata, ellipsoid to fusoid ascospores, and prominent non-cellular appendages. The stromata of X. tuberculosa had an aggregated, knobby fertile part, with smaller ascospores also featuring non-cellular appendages. Additionally, a key to 46 Xylaria species associated with fallen leaves and petioles worldwide was established

Polygala spatulata (sect. Pseudosemeiocardium, Polygalaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang (sect. Pseudosemeiocardium, Polygalaceae), a new species from a karst cave in west Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species resembles Polygala isocarpa Chodat in its annual habit, terminal racemes, lamellate appendage, yellow flowers and glabrous seeds, but it can be easily distinguished by its sparsely white-pilose stem and leaf blades, spoon-shaped inner sepals, ovate outer sepals (ca. 1.5 mm) which is glandular and all persistent after anthesis, as well as its elliptic, reticulate seeds. Photographs, an illustration, a distribution map and a comparative table with the most similar species are also provided

Three new species of Dicephalospora (Leotiomycetes, Helotiales) from Northern Thailand and Southwestern China

Dicephalospora is a discomycetous genus belonging to the family Helotiaceae (Helotiales). The genus currently comprises 19 species. Among them, 17 species have been reported from Asia, of which 14 were reported from China. During a survey of Leotiomycetes, we collected six specimens of Dicephalospora species from southwest China and northern Thailand. The samples were examined based on the phylogenetic analyses of LSU and ITS sequence data, along with morphological characterization, and our results demarcate three new Dicephalospora species, viz., D. tengyueica, D. maetaengica and D. menghaica. Dicephalospora tengyueica sp. nov. formed a distinct clade closely related to D. rufocornea, D. irregularis and D. sagerae, whereas D. maetaengica sp. nov. clustered closer to D. menghaica sp. nov. with 100% ML and 1.00 BIPP statistical support. All three species have similar apothecia sizes but differ in their coloration. Dicephalospora tengyueica has aseptate ascospores, while D. menghaica and D. maetaengica have 7-septate ascospores. The paraphyses in D. menghaica are branched, while they are unbranched in the other two species. An updated key to the known species of Dicephalospora is also provided

New taxa and a combination in Glomerales (Glomeromycota, Glomeromycetes)

This article presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyzes of sequences of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota): Dominikia indica, Dominikia indica strain 211, Isolate 517, and Isolate 524. Dominikia indica strain 211 was previously characterized only by sequences of the 45S nuc rDNA region (= 18S, partial, ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2, 28S, partial) and the rpb1 gene (without any morphological data) that were deposited in GenBank under the incorrect name “Dominikia indica strain 211”. Its 45S sequences differed from the original D. indica sequences and, consequently, resulted in erroneous phylogenetic classification of this species. Isolate 517 and Isolate 524 slightly differed in morphology from Macrodominikia compressa (formerly D. compressa) and Microkamienskia perpusilla (formerly Kamienskia perpusilla), respectively. Microkamienskia perpusilla was originally found in a maritime dune site of Italy in 2009 and not yet reported from any other habitat in the world. Our sequence comparisons and analyses showed that D. indica represents a new genus, here created under the name Delicatispora gen. nov. with De. indica comb. nov., and Dominikia indica strain 211 is a new species, described as Dominikia paraminuta sp. nov. These analyses also indicated that Isolate 517 is conspecific to M. compressa and confirmed the correctness of the transfer of D. compressa by other AMF researchers to Macrodominikia gen. nov. with M. compressa comb. nov. Morphological studies of our M. compressa specimens grown in culture showed that the original description of this species is incomplete and, therefore, the description was emended. Phylogenetic analyses of Isolate 524 proved its conspecificity to Mk. perpusilla and thus revealed its second site of occurrence, i.e., the coastal dunes of the Hel Peninsula in northern Poland

Acorus shannai (Acoraceae), a new species from Southern China

Acorus shannai (Acoraceae) is a commonly used seasoning in southern China. It was previously misidentified as A. macrospadiceus (Yamam.) F. N. Wei & Y. K. Li before. Through comparison of morphological characteristics, distribution locations, and type specimen, we determined that the elevation of A. gramineus var. macrospadiceus Yamam to species status was incorrect. Therefore, we propose a formal description of a new species following nomenclature regulations. Based on morphological and plastid genomic data, this study formally describes and illustrates Acorus shannai, distributed in the Qiandongnan area of Guizhou Province and its surroundings, confirming it as a new species within the genus Acorus. This species is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from other members of the A. gramineus group. Key distinguishing features include a strong fennel odor (vs. aromatic in “A. tatarinowii” and A. gramineus), fruit with prominent dorsal sutures (vs. inconspicuous dorsal sutures in “A. tatarinowii” and A. gramineus), and a leaf-shaped spathe that is about 2–3 times as long as the spadix (vs. more than 3 times in “A. tatarinowii”). Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. shannai is closely related to the other species in the A. gramineus group. The recognition of A. shannai is not only important for the species diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Acorus, but also can avoid the drug safety caused by using other Acorus species as A. shannai to eat and promote the conservation of A. shannai resources

Application of a theoretical simulator to the optimisation of risk-based invasive species surveillance

Early detection and rapid response are critical to the successful management of non-indigenous species (NIS) and rely on effective surveillance programmes. Risk-based surveillance, where surveillance targets high risk locations, is the most efficient form of NIS surveillance. However, further research is required on the impact of different levels of emphasis on risk, in sampling designs and on surveillance efficacy. This study implements a theoretical surveillance simulator to model the relative merit of different surveillance strategies with different levels of focus on NIS risk for NIS detection at one or more sites. Three potential surveillance scenarios were modelled: random, risk-based and heavy risk-based surveillance, each with three distributions of combined NIS risks of introduction and establishment: exponential, random and uniform. An example analysis using model derived NIS risk data is also provided. Sensitivity and elasticity analyses were conducted to identify variables which influence model outputs. The interaction between sampling method detection probability and changes in NIS abundance was modelled. It was found that NIS risk distribution influences the relative performance of different surveillance strategies and that risk- and heavy risk-based surveillance have lower times to detections and, generally, higher surveillance probabilities of detection compared to random surveillance at more skewed NIS risk distributions. However, there was a trade-off between short detection time and detection failure in risk-based and particularly heavy risk-based surveillance. Therefore, an over-emphasis on risk-based surveillance could provide suboptimal NIS detection. Sensitivity and elasticity analysis showed that the number of NIS seed sites, mean site visit rate and method detection probability had the largest effects on detection time, highlighting the complexity of designing surveillance programmes. In conclusion, the optimal surveillance strategy is conditional on the risk distribution and this study highlights the value of model-based simulators to guide decision-making in the design of NIS surveillance programmes

Predictive abilities of acculturation for differences in self-rated health among international medical students from Medical University – Sofia

Despite the various theoretical frameworks of acculturation, the mechanisms by which acculturation affects health and well-being remain unclear. This cross-sectional study explores the role of acculturation in self-rated health (SRH) among international medical students. The study was conducted in 2024 at the Medical University – Sofia and included 326 participants. The Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS) was employed to assess cultural influences from both the host and home countries, focusing on two dimensions: Ethnic Society Immersion (ESI) and Dominant Society Immersion (DSI). SRH was measured using a five-category Likert scale. Covariates included perceived stress, social support, and health behaviour factors. Logistic binary regression was applied for analysis. The findings revealed that most international medical students rated their health as good (56.4%). Poor health was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with lower ESI (Mdn = 3.4), higher stress levels (Mdn = 22), and a lack (31.9%) or insufficiency (54.2%) of physical activity (PA). ESI emerged as a significant predictor of good health (Exp(B) = 0.403; p = 0.004). The impact of DSI on poor SRH was mediated by PA (Exp(B) = 4.629 and Exp(B) = 2.699, p < 0.05 for both risk groups). The results of this study can be useful in planning health and social services for international students, considering their specific needs

A new species of the genus Petrobia Murray (Prostigmata, Tetranychidae) and complementary description of Petrobia cardi Chaudhri

A new species, Petrobia (Petrobia) pakistanensis sp. nov. is described and collected, based on females form wild grasses, from Pakistan. the species P. (Tetranychina) cardi Chaudhri, W.M., 1972 is re-described and illustrated, based on femles and male.Petrobia (Petrobia) pakistanensis sp. nov. (Prostigmata, Tetranychidae) is described and illustrated, based on female specimens collected from wild grasses (Poaceae) from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The male of P. (Tetranychina) cardi Chaudhri, reported for the first time, is described and illustrated. Additionally, the complementary description of females of this species is provided, based on a new collection

Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals Pseudolomaantha thailandica gen. et sp. nov. and Submultiguttulispora multiseptata gen. et sp. nov. in Chaetosphaeriaceae

Anamorphic chaetosphaeriaceous fungi exhibit high morphological variability and are distributed worldwide across terrestrial and aquatic habitats. During an ongoing taxonomic study of microfungi, two intriguing chaetosphaeriaceous hyphomycetes were collected from dead wood and dead bamboo stems in China and Thailand. A polyphasic approach, combining morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of LSU and ITS sequence data, revealed that these fungi represent two new genera within Chaetosphaeriaceae. Pseudolomaantha and Submultiguttulispora are proposed for these new genera, and they exhibit non-phialidic and phialidic asexual morphs, respectively. Pseudolomaantha thailandica gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by a sporidesmium-like asexual morph with macronematous, mononematous conidiophores; monoblastic conidiogenous cells, and pyriform to obclavate, rostrate conidia bearing an apical appendage. Submultiguttulispora multiseptata gen. et sp. nov. is distinguished by macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, mono- to polyphialidic conidiogenous cells, and fusiform or ellipsoidal-fusiform, pale brown to olive green to brown conidia with filiform, hyaline appendages at both ends. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and notes on the new collections are provided, along with a key to non-phialidic hyphomycetous genera in Chaetosphaeriaceae

Economic, Social and Political Inequalities’ Impact on Health in the CIS Countries and the USA: Comparative Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the impact of various types of inequalities on health differentials in the USA and CIS to define whether the given outcomes fit existing theories related to health. To reach that goal, we review the major existing theoretical explanations of the impact of inequalities on health, provide some major empirical research conducted in US and CIS countries to test these theories, elaborate on the conceptualizations of various types of inequality, provide a comparison between the researched countries, and outline the commonalities and specifics of the impact of inequalities to conduct future research. Special emphasis in the outlined prospective research is placed on the subjective assessments of one’s status and wellbeing, which are largely shaped by the culture of a given country and region