Search

With the on-going efforts in digitising museum collections, increased participation of citizen scientists, and greater accessibility to research data, accurately determining global patterns of diversity has become more achievable. Here, we used occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, with annotation of authoritative taxonomy, to evaluate the taxonomic richness of marine gastropods and to identify global species hotspots for this group. We also reviewed the availability of genetic resources within hotspots to detect potentially important regions where reference sequences for identifying these organisms are wanting. We find 33,268 unique and valid species under 3291 genera belonging to 380 gastropod families that have been recorded from 1662 to 2023. Globally, only 12.1% of reported species are linked to a COI barcode, whilst 27.1% of the families are represented with complete mitogenomes. Georeferenced records show the wide albeit disparate distribution of observations and species counts. The compiled dataset, published by organisations that are restricted to 55 countries, reveal a seeming lack of local submissions, but nonetheless demonstrates the growing contribution of citizen science platforms. We present 28 marine provinces across the globe as putative gastropod species hotspots and call for further work and stronger involvement, particularly within COI barcoding cold spots, to address the observed genetic reference inequity. Lastly, we highlight the important and relevant role of open and inclusive science to biodiversity monitoring and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyophyllum consists of rare edible and medicinal mushrooms. Considering this group's economic and ecological significance, understanding its biodiversity could be strategically important. Our analysis involved an extensive examination of publicly available ITS sequences from NCBI-GenBank and fungal amplicon sequencing data obtained from NCBI-SRA. At a 98% sequence similarity level, we deliminated 88 Lyophyllum OTUs, 49 of which were not categorized as 'known species'. The diversity of Lyophyllum is predominantly concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and tends to display endemic distribution, and Europe is particularly notable for its high diversity of Lyophyllum. Given the escalating volume of data produced by amplicon sequencing, employing the amplicon dataset can facilitate an accurate survey of species diversity in Lyophyllum taxonomy. By using data from amplicon datasets, the fieldwork time and research funding for taxonomists can be saved, thereby significantly advancing the progress of the entire field of biodiversity research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization challenges national identity with global influences that disregard national borders and internal influences such as ethnic and regional ties. Pancasila is needed as a filter for new values to preserve local culture. This study explores the formation of the Profile of Pancasila Students in the Global Diversity dimension among 7th-grade students at Harapan Bangsa Outstanding Junior High School. This research used a qualitative method with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentation. The research sample consists of 7th-grade students at Harapan Bangsa Outstanding Junior High School. The research instruments included interview guidelines, observation sheets, and related documents. The data analysis technique used was an interactive descriptive analysis by Miles and Huberman, which includes data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion/verification. The results showed that students can better explore, explain, and understand cultural diversity in Indonesia through active and interactive learning. Civics teachers' strategies in shaping the Profile of Pancasila Students with a Global Diversity dimension include jigsaw learning, Snowball Throwing, quizzes, and Pancasila Profile strengthening projects. The implications of this research contribute to the development of more effective and efficient learning to enhance students' ability to understand cultural diversity in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococci are gut microbes of most land animals. Likely appearing first in the guts of arthropods as they moved onto land, they diversified over hundreds of millions of years adapting to evolving hosts and host diets. Over 60 enterococcal species are now known. Two species, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, are common constituents of the human microbiome. They are also now leading causes of multidrug-resistant hospital-associated infection. The basis for host association of enterococcal species is unknown. To begin identifying traits that drive host association, we collected 886 enterococcal strains from widely diverse hosts, ecologies, and geographies. This identified 18 previously undescribed species expanding genus diversity by >25%. These species harbor diverse genes including toxins and systems for detoxification and resource acquisition. Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium were isolated from diverse hosts highlighting their generalist properties. Most other species showed a more restricted distribution indicative of specialized host association. The expanded species diversity permitted the Enterococcus genus phylogeny to be viewed with unprecedented resolution, allowing features to be identified that distinguish its four deeply rooted clades, and the entry of genes associated with range expansion such as B-vitamin biosynthesis and flagellar motility to be mapped to the phylogeny. This work provides an unprecedented^ broad and deep view of the genus Enterococcus, including insights into its evolution, potential new threats to human health, and where substantial additional enterococcal diversity is likely to be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to analyze global diversity values present in Indonesian language textbooks for fourth-grade elementary school students. The study employs a qualitative approach with content analysis as the method. The research objects consist of four textbooks published by Erlangga, Yudistira, Bumi Aksara, and Puskurbuk Kemdikbudristek. The analysis process involves selecting relevant material samples, developing analytical categories, coding the content, and interpreting emerging patterns. The research findings indicate that the Indonesian language textbooks for fourth-grade elementary school students provide activities and experiences that enrich their understanding of cultural diversity in Indonesia. Students are taught to develop attitudes of tolerance and intercultural communication, as well as reflection and responsibility towards diversity. These books contribute to shaping students who are inclusive, tolerant, and capable of communicating in a multicultural environment, embodying the values of global diversity character. The importance of fostering global diversity character in primary school students is highlighted through education, particularly using meticulously designed Indonesian language textbooks. These textbooks introduce students to various aspects of Indonesian and other cultures, promoting understanding, appreciation, and tolerance for cultural diversity. Emphasizing character development, the textbooks instruct students in intercultural communication and encourage interactions with culturally diverse peers, fostering effective communication skills for multicultural environments. Furthermore, students are prompted to reflect on their own multicultural experiences, shaping their global perspectives. In summary, Indonesian language textbooks serve as a vital resource in shaping students into inclusive, tolerant individuals proficient in effective communication within multicultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyophyllum consists of rare edible and medicinal mushrooms. Considering this group’s economic and ecological significance, understanding its biodiversity could be strategically important. Our analysis involved an extensive examination of publicly available ITS sequences from NCBI-GenBank and fungal amplicon sequencing data obtained from NCBI-SRA. At a 98% sequence similarity level, we deliminated 88 Lyophyllum OTUs, 49 of which were not categorized as ‘known species’. The diversity of Lyophyllum is predominantly concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and tends to display endemic distribution, and Europe is particularly notable for its high diversity of Lyophyllum. Given the escalating volume of data produced by amplicon sequencing, employing the amplicon dataset can facilitate an accurate survey of species diversity in Lyophyllum taxonomy. By using data from amplicon datasets, the fieldwork time and research funding for taxonomists can be saved, thereby significantly advancing the progress of the entire field of biodiversity research.

This study aims to analyze local wisdom-based cultural literacy learning to strengthen the profile of Pancasila students in the dimension of Global Diversity integrated into Pancasila Education subjects. The research method employed a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The subjects of this study were fourth-grade students and teachers of SDN Gelam 1 Candi in the 2023/2024 school year, totalling 24 students. Data collection techniques were carried out through observation, interviews, and documentation. This data analysis technique used interactive model analysis consisting of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. In testing the validity of the data obtained by using the triangulation techniques. The results of this study indicated that local wisdom-based cultural literacy learning can strengthen the profile of Pancasila students in the Global Diversity dimension integrated into Pancasila Education subjects through various learning activities, such as making Pop Up Book of Sidoarjo Local Wisdom and LKPD integrated with local wisdom of Sidoarjo City. In addition, it can also improve the cultural literacy skills of students who can respond to local cultural diversity and cultural issues to face cultural shifts in the future. Students can also show a sense of pride and participate in preserving the local culture of Sidoarjo by making Udeng Pacul Gowang an icon of Sidoarjo City.

This study has explored pedagogical challenges that international faculty confront teaching in U.S. journalism and mass communication programs, the strategies they adopt to address some of those challenges and what roles an institution and campus diversity play as they navigate challenges. By interviewing 12 foreign-born journalism and mass communication faculty, this study has identified prejudices and misperceptions about international faculty, their accent and lack of teaching preparedness can emerge as pedagogical challenges. This research also documents the strategies that international faculty adopt to navigate these pedagogical challenges. Foreign-born faculty members also think that student diversity in the classrooms positively impacts their teaching experience on a campus.

Discourse on gender diversity tends to overlook differences across levels of hierarchy (e.g., students, faculty, and editors) and critical dimensions (e.g., subdisciplines and geographical locations). Further ignored is its intersection with global diversity—representation from different countries. Here we document and contextualize gender disparity from perspectives of equal versus expected representation in journal editorship, by analyzing 68 top psychology journals in 10 subdisciplines. First, relative to ratios as students and faculty, women are underrepresented as editorial-board members (41%) and—unlike previous results based on one subfield—as editors-in-chief (34%) as well. Second, female ratios in editorship vary substantially across subdisciplines, genres of scholarship (higher in empirical and review journals than in method journals), continents/countries/regions (e.g., higher in North America than in Europe), and journal countries of origin (e.g., higher in American journals than in European journals). Third, under female (vs. male) editors-in-chief, women are much better represented as editorial-board members (47% vs. 36%), but the geographical diversity of editorial-board members and authorship decreases. These results reveal new local and broad contexts of gender diversity in editorship in psychology, with policy implications. Our approach also offers a methodological guideline for similar disparity research in other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the SEGH international board released a short editorial paper back in 2019, we described an aim to increase the membership offering, whilst improving the diversity of input regionally, by scientific discipline and to ensure greater and more regular contact across the regions from 2020 onwards. Wider aspirations described in 2019 (Watts et al. 2019) are discussed within this short communication at the end of 2021 to evaluate progress made. In particular, how the SEGH community adapted to the unprecedented circumstances that have challenged each and every one of us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020 and are likely to influence our activities for the foreseeable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has explored pedagogical challenges that international faculty confront teaching in U.S. journalism and mass communication programs, the strategies they adopt to address some of those challenges and what roles an institution and campus diversity play as they navigate challenges. By interviewing 12 foreign-born journalism and mass communication faculty, this study has identified prejudices and misperceptions about international faculty, their accent and lack of teaching preparedness can emerge as pedagogical challenges. This research also documents the strategies that international faculty adopt to navigate these pedagogical challenges. Foreign-born faculty members also think that student diversity in the classrooms positively impacts their teaching experience on a campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity is the fuel of innovation. Global diversity—geographical or international diversification—is indispensable for developing a true psychological science of human beings but remains poorly understood. We surveyed 68 top psychology journals in 10 subdisciplines and examined the global diversity of authors, editors (i.e., members of academic editorial teams), and journal ownership. Results show that (a) the global diversity of authorship, editorship, and ownership is low in top psychology journals, with the United States boasting outsized influences; (b) disparity intensifies along the hierarchy of authors, editors, and journal ownership and substantially differs between subdisciplines and journal types; (c) removing the United States markedly increases global diversity and eliminates differences in diversity between subdisciplines and between authorship and editorship; and (d) more authors and editors are from the journal’s home country (vs. a foreign journal) and from the editor-in-chief’s home country (vs. a journal with a foreign editor-in-chief), and the home-country biases are most pronounced in the United States—journals from the United States or with U.S. editors-in-chief have the lowest global diversity in authorship and editorship. These results provide substantial novel insights into the global diversity of psychology journals, with implications for a new diversity policy to stimulate the generation of variety and, by extension, innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural awareness enables individuals to behave following social norms in various cultures. This research describes the practice of character cultivation by strengthening the Pancasila Berkebinekaan global student profile project at SDN Pagentan 3, focusing on recognizing and appreciating cultural diversity. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, utilizing data collection techniques such as interviews, observations, and documentation. The findings indicate that cultivating character through the Pancasila Berkebinekaan global student profile project at SDN Pagentan 3 is centered around introducing and understanding values through traditional Indonesian dances, Indonesian cuisine, and traditional attire. This character cultivation involves three stages: 1) the moral knowing stage, achieved through the integration of the curriculum and global diversity values from relevant sources such as images and videos; 2) the moral feeling stage, where students are directly engaged in experiences such as sharing Indonesian cuisine, participating in traditional dances, and wearing traditional attire to foster pride in Indonesian culture and respect for cultural differences. 3) the moral action stage is fostered through activities encouraging students to express their opinions, collaborate, and acknowledge one another's achievements. This research is a reference for educators in designing character education programs to help students internalize global diversity values at the Elementary School level.

Age group typically identifies millennials – those born between 1982 and 2004. Yet our research challenges the designation based on age group by considering this population in the context of an individual's citizenship or culture. Based on tenets of social identity theory, we explore a citizen's personal value orientation and cognitive moral reasoning to discover commonalities or differences across individuals from eight countries. We report wide variations among citizens' personal value orientations and principled moral reasoning despite being borne within an identified age group. We conclude that an individual's geographic context is a stronger classification descriptor based on values and moral reasoning than their age-based generational categories. Implications for business practice and scholarly research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization increases national culture and language diversity, which, if well managed, can benefit organizational performance. National culture is comprised of both language and country of origin, yet until relatively recently research has tended to focus on one or the other. We use person-organization fit theory and the meaning-based model of advertisement experience to propose that other-group orientation, a characteristic supportive of a pro-diversity climate, influences the relationship between language and national culture diversity recruiting messages and perceived person-organization fit. We used two randomized field experiments, one with 458 currently or recently employed people and one with 327 real job seekers, to test our model. Language and national culture diversity messages independently decreased perceived fit among those lower in other-group orientation and increased perceived fit among those higher in other-group orientation. A combined language and national cultural diversity message had the strongest effect by both decreasing fit perceptions among job seekers lower in other-group orientation and increasing fit perceptions among those higher in other-group orientation. These results refine both existing theory on and the practice of recruiting for pro-global diversity values by demonstrating that the relationship between recruiting message wording about an employer's pro-national culture and pro-language diversity values and person-organization fit is moderated by other-group orientation. These findings can help employers better understand how recruiting messages can play a strategic role in hiring pro-global diversity talent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been administered globally, but progress on vaccination varies considerably between countries. We aimed to provide an overall picture of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, including policy, coverage, and demand of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods We conducted a descriptive study of vaccination policy and doses administered data obtained from multiple public sources as of 8 February 2022. We used these data to develop coverage indicators and explore associations of vaccine coverage with socioeconomic and healthcare-related factors. We estimated vaccine demand as numbers of doses required to complete vaccination of countries’ target populations according to their national immunization program policies. Results Messenger RNA and adenovirus vectored vaccines were the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines in high-income countries, while adenovirus vectored vaccines were the most widely used vaccines worldwide (180 countries). One hundred ninety-two countries have authorized vaccines for the general public, with 40.1% (77/192) targeting individuals over 12 years and 32.3% (62/192) targeting those ≥ 5 years. Forty-eight and 151 countries have started additional-dose and booster-dose vaccination programs, respectively. Globally, there have been 162.1 doses administered per 100 individuals in target populations, with marked inter-region and inter-country heterogeneity. Completed vaccination series coverage ranged from 0.1% to more than 95.0% of country target populations, and numbers of doses administered per 100 individuals in target populations ranged from 0.2 to 308.6. Doses administered per 100 individuals in whole populations correlated with healthcare access and quality index (R 2 = 0.59), socio-demographic index (R 2 = 0.52), and gross domestic product per capita (R 2 = 0.61). At least 6.4 billion doses will be required to complete interim vaccination programs—3.3 billion for primary immunization and 3.1 billion for additional/booster programs. Globally, 0.53 and 0.74 doses per individual in target populations are needed for primary immunization and additional/booster dose programs, respectively. Conclusions There is wide country-level disparity and inequity in COVID-19 vaccines rollout, suggesting large gaps in immunity, especially in low-income countries.

The celebration of diversity is at the heart of global education initiatives. Yet, participation in study abroad and related programs in the United States – a purported ‘melting pot’ of races and cultures – remains, disproportionately, the domain of affluent whites. Against this background, this study seeks to learn from the experiences of underrepresented and hypersegregated students in international virtual exchange (IVE), an educational experience involving sustained interaction between geographically separated participants using technology and trained facilitators. Using a survey, semi-structured interviews, exchange field notes, and the researcher’s own abroad experiences, the data revealed five main themes: ‘Virtual connections beyond the classroom,’ ‘Bias reduction,’ ‘Color matters,’ ‘Equality in digital space,’ and ‘One step closer to abroad.’ Findings suggest that U.S. universities and other educational institutions serving underrepresented groups can increase student international experiences by promoting IVE on their campuses and encouraging more professors to include exchange as a component in their courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure to account for genetic diversity of antigens during vaccine design may lead to vaccine escape. To evaluate the vaccine escape potential of antigens used in vaccines currently in development or clinical testing, we surveyed the genetic diversity, measured population differentiation, and performed in silico prediction and analysis of T-cell epitopes of ten such Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic-stage antigens using whole-genome sequence data from 1010 field isolates. Of these, 699 were collected in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, and Tanzania), 69 in South America (Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Peru), 59 in Oceania (Papua New Guinea), and 183 in Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand). Antigens surveyed include cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein, liver-stage antigens 1 and 3, sporozoite surface proteins P36 and P52, sporozoite asparagine-rich protein-1, sporozoite microneme protein essential for cell traversal-2, and upregulated-in-infectious-sporozoite 3 and 4 proteins. The analyses showed that a limited number of these protein variants, when combined, would be representative of worldwide parasite populations. Moreover, predicted T-cell epitopes were identified that could be further explored for immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Findings can inform the rational design of a multivalent malaria vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The culturable bioaerosol concentrations of global WWTPs are 102–105 CFU/m3. • WWTPs have unique core pathogenic communities and distinct continental divergence. • Sources and environmental factors affect the distribution of airborne pathogens. • Potential health risks are associated with the core determined airborne pathogens. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recognized as one of the major potential sources of the spread of airborne pathogenic microorganisms under the global pandemic of COVID-19. The differences in research regions, wastewater treatment processes, environmental conditions, and other aspects in the existing case studies have caused some confusion in the understanding of bioaerosol pollution characteristics. In this study, we integrated and analyzed data from field sampling and performed a systematic literature search to determine the abundance of airborne microorganisms in 13 countries and 37 cities across four continents (Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa). We analyzed the concentrations of bioaerosols, the core composition, global diversity, determinants, and potential risks of airborne pathogen communities in WWTPs. Our findings showed that the culturable bioaerosol concentrations of global WWTPs are 102–105 CFU/m3. Three core bacterial pathogens, namely Bacillus, Acinetobacter , and Pseudomonas , as well as two core fungal pathogens, Cladosporium and Aspergillus , were identified in the air across global WWTPs. WWTPs have unique core pathogenic communities and distinct continental divergence. The sources of airborne microorganisms (wastewater) and environmental variables (relative humidity and air contaminants) have impacts on the distribution of airborne pathogens. Potential health risks are associated with the core airborne pathogens in WWTPs. Our study showed the specificity, multifactorial influences, and potential pathogenicity of airborne pathogenic communities in WWTPs. Our findings can improve the understanding of the global diversity and biogeography of airborne pathogens in WWTPs, guiding risk assessment and control strategies for such pathogens. Furthermore, they provide a theoretical basis for safeguarding the health of WWTP workers and ensuring regional ecological security. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been administered globally, but progress on vaccination varies considerably between countries. We aimed to provide an overall picture of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, including policy, coverage, and demand of COVID-19 vaccines.Methods: We conducted a descriptive study of vaccination policy and doses administered data obtained from multiple public sources as of 8 February 2022. We used these data to develop coverage indicators and explore associations of vaccine coverage with socioeconomic and healthcare-related factors. We estimated vaccine demand as numbers of doses required to complete vaccination of countries' target populations according to their national immunization program policies.Results: Messenger RNA and adenovirus vectored vaccines were the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines in high-income countries, while adenovirus vectored vaccines were the most widely used vaccines worldwide (180 countries). One hundred ninety-two countries have authorized vaccines for the general public, with 40.1% (77/192) targeting individuals over 12 years and 32.3% (62/192) targeting those ≥ 5 years. Forty-eight and 151 countries have started additional-dose and booster-dose vaccination programs, respectively. Globally, there have been 162.1 doses administered per 100 individuals in target populations, with marked inter-region and inter-country heterogeneity. Completed vaccination series coverage ranged from 0.1% to more than 95.0% of country target populations, and numbers of doses administered per 100 individuals in target populations ranged from 0.2 to 308.6. Doses administered per 100 individuals in whole populations correlated with healthcare access and quality index (R2 = 0.59), socio-demographic index (R2 = 0.52), and gross domestic product per capita (R2 = 0.61). At least 6.4 billion doses will be required to complete interim vaccination programs-3.3 billion for primary immunization and 3.1 billion for additional/booster programs. Globally, 0.53 and 0.74 doses per individual in target populations are needed for primary immunization and additional/booster dose programs, respectively.Conclusions: There is wide country-level disparity and inequity in COVID-19 vaccines rollout, suggesting large gaps in immunity, especially in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Digitization of herbarium specimens and DNA sequencing efforts in the past decade have enabled integrative analyses of patterns of diversity and endemism in a phylogenetic context. Here, we compare the best available floristic databases to a comprehensive specimen database to examine spatial patterns of moss phylogenetic assembly. We test the hypotheses that (1) mosses exhibit phylogenetic regionalization, (2) islands contain significantly high phylogenetic diversity and (3) that moss phylogenetic endemism is low on a global scale. Location: Global. Taxon Mosses. Methods: We developed a phylogeny of 3654 moss species using 25 markers and compiled a global specimen database from online repositories. We calculated floristic and phylogenetic measures of diversity and endemism and performed randomizations to test for significant deviations from expectations. We use rarefaction and extrapolation to alleviate substantial differences in sampling effort across the globe. We used both phylogenetic and floristic methods to test for spatial regionalization. We compare our specimen‐based results to those obtained using a floristic dataset. Results: Phylogenetic diversity is more robust to missing data than species richness. Mean phylogenetic distance was significantly higher than expected in areas with high species richness, indicating that reported richness in these areas is likely a product of repeated colonization. Phylogenetic endemism is low globally. Phylogenetic regionalizations cluster into a Holarctic/Holantarctic temperate region, a pantropical region, and a region composed of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Main Conclusions: Future efforts for collecting, sequencing and databasing moss species should focus on the tropics, particularly Africa and Southeast Asia. We provide further evidence to support several important theories developed in moss biogeography, including the role of long‐distance dispersal in shaping floristic patterns, the dominance of anagenesis in driving patterns of island diversity, and the role of climatic instability in driving patterns of assembly in the Holarctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article looks at the recent development of cultural policy in Malta in the context of the membership of the University of Malta in the SEA-EU network. The introductory part of the narrative engages closely with preparations in joining the European Union in 2004 that included the setting up of various governance and funding institutions, those related to the European Capital of Culture in 2018, and the impact of COVID-19 on cultural practice and creative communities. This first section, which provides a critical analysis of the sector, is followed by the second, core part of the text, which reports on the various aspects of policy, higher education programmes and manifestations (through festivals, exhibitions and multi-media expressions) that relate to academics and researchers based at the University of Malta and satellite institutions. The paper concludes that while a great deal of effort has been done on many cultural fronts, and many initiatives taken, the relationship between the University of Malta, its academic and research members, and society at large, is largely loose and project-based rather than policy-oriented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to provide a taxonomic appraisal of the phytoseiids mainly from Apulia, Italy, through the examination of 1055 specimens collected in the areas of that district. Reports of occasional collection in Basilicata and Molise areas are also listed (16 specimens). The mite specimens were collected on the main cultivated and ornamental plants, and on spontaneous plants as well. Complementing the morphological characterization of the species collected is provided. This is the first wide report survey on the phytoseiid fauna in Apulian territories. This study reports on nine new records of Phytoseiidae for Apulia region (Southern Italy). Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) exhilaratus Ragusa was the most frequent or abundants species sampled. Also, some other species, i.e. Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, were collected and are potential taxa for biocontrol. In addition, a dichotomous key to separate phytoseiid mite species listed from Italy was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a considerable global health threat affecting wildlife, livestock, and the general public. In this study, whole‐genome sequence analysis of over 350 B. anthracis isolates was used to establish a new high‐resolution global genotyping framework that is both biogeographically informative and compatible with multiple genomic assays. The data presented in this study shed new light on the diverse global dissemination of this species and indicate that many lineages may be uniquely suited to the geographic regions in which they are found. In addition, we demonstrate that plasmid genomic structure for this species is largely consistent with chromosomal population structure, suggesting vertical inheritance in this bacterium has contributed to its evolutionary persistence. This classification methodology is the first based on population genomic structure for this species and has potential use for local and broader institutions seeking to understand both disease outbreak origins and recent introductions. In addition, we provide access to a newly developed genotyping script as well as the full whole‐genome sequence analyses output for this study, allowing future studies to rapidly employ and append their data in the context of this global collection. This framework may act as a powerful tool for public health agencies, wildlife disease laboratories, and researchers seeking to utilize and expand this classification scheme for further investigations into B. anthracis evolution.

Failure to account for genetic diversity of antigens during vaccine design may lead to vaccine escape. To evaluate the vaccine escape potential of antigens used in vaccines currently in development or clinical testing, we surveyed the genetic diversity, measured population differentiation, and performed in silico prediction and analysis of T-cell epitopes of ten such Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic-stage antigens using whole-genome sequence data from 1010 field isolates. Of these, 699 were collected in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, and Tanzania), 69 in South America (Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Peru), 59 in Oceania (Papua New Guinea), and 183 in Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand). Antigens surveyed include cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites, circumsporozoite protein, liver-stage antigens 1 and 3, sporozoite surface proteins P36 and P52, sporozoite asparagine-rich protein-1, sporozoite microneme protein essential for cell traversal-2, and upregulated-in-infectious-sporozoite 3 and 4 proteins. The analyses showed that a limited number of these protein variants, when combined, would be representative of worldwide parasite populations. Moreover, predicted T-cell epitopes were identified that could be further explored for immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Findings can inform the rational design of a multivalent malaria vaccine.

Aim: High levels of species richness in mountains are associated with their hypothetical roles as cradles and/or museums of diversity, but the generality of these roles remains unknown. To fill this gap, we tested these two hypotheses at a global scale and assessed the direct and indirect effects of abiotic regional features on the variation of montane amphibian richness world‐wide. Location: Global. Time period: The last c. 300 Myr. Major taxa studied: Amphibians. Methods: Using an amphibian phylogeny containing 7,238 species, along with species distribution and climatic data, we estimated species richness, speciation rates, evolutionary time, terrain roughness, area and climatic stability for 514 mountain ranges. We evaluated the direct and indirect effects of these variables on richness patterns across these mountains using structural equation models. Results: We found that most diverse mountain ranges for amphibians are concentrated in the Neotropics, but the fastest speciation rates are not restricted to this region. Instead, we found that evolutionary time, area and climatic stability better explained the global patterns of amphibian diversity in mountains. Species richness is higher in mountain regions with large and climatically stable areas, where early‐derived lineages originated/established and accumulated through time. Main conclusions: Mountains host an invaluable biodiversity shaped through deep time. Differences in speciation rates do not play a major role in explaining amphibian species richness across mountains. Instead, mountains experiencing milder historical climatic oscillations and having greater available areas for species persistence are likely to have faced lower extinction rates, leading to an increased accumulation of amphibian species through time. This condition highlights the importance of mountains as museums of deep evolutionary legacies and species‐rich biotas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latitudinal biodiversity gradient (LBG), in which species richness decreases from tropical to polar regions, is a pervasive pattern of the modern biosphere. Although the distribution of fossil occurrences suggests this pattern has varied through deep time, the recognition of palaeobiogeographic patterns is hampered by geological and anthropogenic biases. In particular, spatial sampling heterogeneity has the capacity to impact upon the reconstruction of deep time LBGs. Here we use a simulation framework to test the detectability of three different types of LBG (flat, unimodal and bimodal) over the last 300 Myr. We show that heterogeneity in spatial sampling significantly impacts upon the detectability of genuine LBGs, with known biodiversity patterns regularly obscured after applying the spatial sampling window of fossil collections. Sampling-standardization aids the reconstruction of relative biodiversity gradients, but cannot account for artefactual absences introduced by geological and anthropogenic biases. Therefore, we argue that some previous studies might have failed to recover the 'true' LBG type owing to incomplete and heterogeneous sampling, particularly between 200 and 20 Ma. Furthermore, these issues also have the potential to bias global estimates of past biodiversity, as well as inhibit the recognition of extinction and radiation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kingdom Fungi is a megadiverse group represented in all ecosystem types. The global diversity and distribution of fungal taxa are poorly known, in part due to the limitations related to traditional fruit-body survey methods. These previous hurdles are now being overcome by rapidly developing DNA-based surveys. Past fungal DNA surveys have predominantly examined soil samples, which capture high species diversity but represent only the local soil community. Recent work has shown that DNA samples collected from the air with cyclone samplers provide information on fungal diversity at the scale of some tens of kilometers around the sampling location. To test the feasibility of air sampling for investigating global patterns of fungal diversity, we established a new initiative called the Global Spore Sampling Project (GSSP). The GSSP currently involves 50 sampling locations distributed on all continents, with each location collecting two 24-h samples per week. Here we describe the GSSP methodology, including the sampling, DNA extraction and sequencing protocols, and the bioinformatics pipeline. We further report results based on 75 pilot samples from five locations, of which three in Europe, one in Australia, and one in Greenland. The results show highly consistent patterns, suggesting that GSSP holds much promise for systematic global fungal monitoring. The GSSP provides highly standardized sampling across space and time, enabling much-improved estimation of total fungal diversity, the global distribution of different fungal groups, fungal fruiting phenology, and the extent of long-distance dispersal in fungi.

This professional book review provides a critique of R. P. Churchill's (2006) book entitled Human Rights and Global Diversity: Basic Ethics in Action. His book is divided into three chapters: 1. Reasoning about Human Rights, 2. Debating the Universality of Human Rights, and 3. Human Rights and Cross Cultural Negotiations. Churchill presented the concepts and constructs of human rights, the universality of human rights and an argument for human rights. Churchill’s overarching claim for human rights was that they are the same for all human beings regardless where they reside. In addition to presenting the arguments for universal human rights he presented the oppositional constructs by the integration of the voices of notable theorists.

The latitudinal gradient in species richness is perhaps the most fundamental pattern of biodiversity, yet a satisfactory explanation for its existence remains elusive. A geometric "mid-domain effect" is often cited as having potential to help explain the latitudinal gradient in species richness, but the logic underpinning this hypothesis is apparently built on two incorrect assumptions: (1) that a given great circle—usually the Equator—can constitute the geometric "mid-domain" of the Earth's surface, and (2) that geophysical or bioclimatic boundaries are of geometric relevance in the context of a global-scale mid-domain effect. This article gives a brief overview of the relevant literature and history of thought on the subject, and describes in clear and simple terms why a global-scale mid-domain effect cannot arise, and thus cannot possibly represent a mechanistic basis for the latitudinal gradient in species richness. Explicit acknowledgement of this fact is of great importance, as it allows us to dispense with a commonly cited hypothesis for the latitudinal gradient in species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a considerable global health threat affecting wildlife, livestock, and the general public. In this study, whole‐genome sequence analysis of over 350 B. anthracis isolates was used to establish a new high‐resolution global genotyping framework that is both biogeographically informative and compatible with multiple genomic assays. The data presented in this study shed new light on the diverse global dissemination of this species and indicate that many lineages may be uniquely suited to the geographic regions in which they are found. In addition, we demonstrate that plasmid genomic structure for this species is largely consistent with chromosomal population structure, suggesting vertical inheritance in this bacterium has contributed to its evolutionary persistence. This classification methodology is the first based on population genomic structure for this species and has potential use for local and broader institutions seeking to understand both disease outbreak origins and recent introductions. In addition, we provide access to a newly developed genotyping script as well as the full whole‐genome sequence analyses output for this study, allowing future studies to rapidly employ and append their data in the context of this global collection. This framework may act as a powerful tool for public health agencies, wildlife disease laboratories, and researchers seeking to utilize and expand this classification scheme for further investigations into B. anthracis evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obligate anaerobic fungi of the phylum Neocallimastigomycota play a key role in digesting fibrous feeds in the gut of herbivores, but little is known about their global diversity. In this study, the collective diversity of gut anaerobic fungi was examined using all curated internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences of anaerobic gut fungi available in GenBank. The 262,770 quality-checked fungal ITS1 sequences downloaded from GenBank were assigned to 274 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the approximate species level. Of these approximate species-equivalent (Sp-eq) OTUs, 119 were represented by at least five ITS1 sequences, with 38 containing known species and 81 containing no known species. Based on a rarefaction analysis, the currently available ITS1 sequences represent nearly all the major species of gut anaerobic fungi, but much more sequencing effort is needed to assess the actual richness of minor OTUs. One dataset of ITS1 reference sequences (referred to as AF-RefSeq) and one comprehensive taxonomic framework are also presented, and they are shown to be suitable for taxonomic classification of most of the ITS1 sequences in GenBank. The results of the present study may help guide future studies involving taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis of ITS1 sequences of anaerobic fungi and targeted isolation and characterization of new anaerobic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]