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Composite materials are used in many engineering applications and industrial fields due to their superior properties, such as high strength, lightweight, and stiffness. These outstanding properties have made these materials an alternative to metallic materials. The vital need for new lightweight and inexpensive materials with superior strength properties has led to research on "hybridisation". Hybrid composites with more than one type of polymer in the same structure are needed to achieve a better balance of properties and to combine many desired properties in a single material. Many researchers have studied the hybrid effect and contributed to the understanding and modelling of the subject. Studies to explain the primary mechanism of the hybrid effect are limited and insufficient to explain the complex interaction. In this study, a three-dimensional printer using fused deposition modelling technique was used to produce hybrid materials, and the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical, absorptive, and morphological properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), Tough PLA, and PLA/Tough PLA hybrid materials were investigated. The hybrid material form exhibited superior properties when selecting specific production parameters from individual raw elements. It can be said that the mechanical properties of the PLA/Tough PLA hybrid material increased with the increase in production temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abildgaardia ovata (Cyperaceae) is a widely distributed herbaceous plant found in tropical to warm-temperate regions, including East, South-east and South Asia, Oceania, Africa and Central and South America. Preliminary data suggested intraspecific diversity in A. ovata in Japan; thus, we investigated the genetic diversity of A. ovata using chloroplast DNA and the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrITS) sequence data and analysed its distribution patterns and morphological traits. Further, we observed its chromosomes. We identified two distinct major lineages with slightly overlapping yet unique distribution patterns, one in Japan’s Honshu, Kyushu, Nansei, Korea’s Jeju Isl. and Nepal, while the other was restricted to Nansei and Taiwan. Species delimitation analysis supported the existence of two A. ovata intraspecies. Ecological niche modelling further suggested ecological differentiation between the two intraspecies. Samples with heterogeneous nrITS sequences were also found in Nansei where the two species are distributed; those may have resulted from hybridisation between the above-mentioned two intraspecies. Other samples with heterogeneous nrITS distributed in Kyushu. With respect to chromosome numbers, the former is a homoploid hybrid between 2n = 20 intraspecies while the latter is an allopolyploid with 2n = 40. Together, we identified novel cryptic diversity within the widespread polyploid species complex; however, the lack of diagnostic characters precludes formal description at this point. Further taxon sampling and additional genetic analyses may reveal whether the more narrowly distributed lineage differentiated from the widely distributed one in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridisation and introgression are increasingly seen as important drivers of the evolution of organisms, particularly in Lepidoptera. One group that is gaining attention due to recently published cases of interspecific gene flow is the genus Melitaea Fabricius (Nymphalidae). In this study, we used genomics to investigate the role of hybridisation in the evolution of the western Palearctic species of the Melitaea phoebe group M. ornata Christoph, the recently described M. pseudornata Muñoz Sariot & Sánchez Mesa, M. phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller), M. punica Oberthür, and M. telona (Fruhstorfer). We provide evidence of asymmetric gene flow from M. phoebe to both M. ornata and M. pseudornata. Gene flow from M. phoebe to M. pseudornata was very high (25.0%–31.9%), widespread throughout the distribution of the latter, and not equally distributed along the genome. The Z chromosome showed patterns compatible with the large‐Z effect, which were mimicked by two autosomes. Melitaea pseudornata endured massive introgression while remaining a separate entity from M. phoebe, although gene flow may have altered its phenotype, including its voltinism and the morphology of the adults and caterpillars. These findings suggest that hybridisation may be pervasive in this genus and highlight its key role in the evolution of butterflies, emphasising the need for further research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house mouse is the best-studied mammal species after humans, yet our understanding of its evolutionary history remains incomplete. Here, we focused on the colonisation of Europe by two subspecies and formation of a hybrid zone between them. We carried out a large-scale study of ~7000 mice sampled across an area embracing an ~900 km long portion of the zone, supplemented with cytochrome b and D-loop sequencing of ~1200 individuals collected worldwide. We demonstrate that the course of the mtDNA contact front is intricate and highly discordant with the consensus front for autosomal and X-linked markers, suggesting that local snapshots of mtDNA introgression may be misleading when treated in isolation. While multiple unrelated M. m. domesticus haplotypes occur in the zone area, the diversity of M. m. musculus haplotypes is limited. Moreover, we uncovered a vast region of domesticus introgression into musculus territory in northern areas and showed this introgression is unlikely to be driven by positive selection. We consider two previously published hypotheses explaining this phenomenon and put forth an alternative scenario assuming associations between mice and humans in northern Europe during the Nordic Bronze Age and subsequent zone movement associated with the expansion of Balto-Slavic peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive differentiation of traits and underlying loci can occur at a small geographical scale if natural selection is stronger than countervailing gene flow and drift. We investigated this hypothesis using coupled quantitative genetic and genomic approaches for a wind‐pollinated tree species, Quercus rubra, along the steep, narrow gradient of the Lake Superior coast that encompasses four USDA Hardiness Zones within 100 km. For the quantitative genetic component of this study, we examined phenotypic differentiation among eight populations in a common garden, measuring seed mass, germination, height, stem diameter, leaf number, specific leaf area and survival. For the genomic component, we quantified genetic differentiation for 26 populations from the same region using RAD‐seq. Because hybridisation with Quercus ellipsoidalis occurs in other parts of the species' range, we included two populations of this congener for comparison. In the common garden study, we found a strong signal of population differentiation that was significantly associated with at least one climate factor for nine of 10 measured traits. In contrast, we found no evidence of genomic differentiation among populations based on FST or any other measures. However, both distance‐based and genotype–environment association analyses identified loci showing the signature of selection, with one locus in common across five analyses. This locus was associated with the minimum temperature of the coldest month, a factor that defines the climate zones and was also significant in the common garden analyses. In addition, we documented introgression from Q. ellipsoidalis into Q. rubra, with rates of introgression correlated with the climate gradient. In sum, this study reveals signatures of selection at the quantitative trait and genomic level consistent with climate adaptation, a pattern that is more often documented at a much broader geographical scale, especially in long‐lived wind‐pollinated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intricate interplay between evolutionary and demographic processes has frequently resulted in complex patterns of genetic and phenotypic diversity in alpine lineages, posing serious challenges to species delimitation and biodiversity conservation planning. Here we integrate genomic data, geometric morphometric analyses and thermal tolerance experiments to explore the role of Pleistocene climatic changes and adaptation to alpine environments on patterns of genomic and phenotypic variation in diving beetles from the taxonomically complex Agabus bipustulatus species group. Genetic structure and phylogenomic analyses revealed the presence of three geographically cohesive lineages, two representing trans‐Palearctic and Iberian populations of the elevation‐generalist A. bipustulatus and another corresponding to the strictly‐alpine A. nevadensis, a narrow‐range endemic taxon from the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southeastern Iberia. The best‐supported model of lineage divergence, along with the existence of pervasive genetic introgression and admixture in secondary contact zones, is consistent with a scenario of population isolation and connectivity linked to Quaternary climatic oscillations. Our results suggest that A. nevadensis is an alpine ecotype of A. bipustulatus, whose genotypic, morphological and physiological differentiation likely resulted from an interplay between population isolation and local altitudinal adaptation. Remarkably, within the Iberian Peninsula, such ecotypic differentiation is unique to Sierra Nevada populations and has not been replicated in other alpine populations of A. bipustulatus. Collectively, our study supports fast ecotypic differentiation and incipient speciation processes within the study complex and points to Pleistocene glaciations and local adaptation along elevational gradients as key drivers of biodiversity generation in alpine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interrogating the ecological and geographic factors that influence population divergence dynamics can reveal why some groups of organisms diversify more prolifically than others. One such group is the heathers (Erica, Ericaceae), the largest plant genus in the Cape Floristic Region. We study Erica abietina, a highly variable species complex with four subspecies differing in geographic range, habitat and pollination syndrome. We test for population differentiation, hybridisation, introgression and pollinator‐driven divergence using genotyping‐by‐sequencing on samples across the entire distribution. We find five variably distinct genetic groups, with one subspecies comprising two independent lineages that are geographically isolated and occur on different soil types. Phylogenetic analysis suggests two independent shifts between bird and insect pollination, with accompanying genetic divergence. However, for one pair of populations with different pollinators, we uncover several individuals of hybrid origin at a site of sympatry. These results suggest that floral differentiation driven by divergent selection acts in concert with geographic isolation to maintain reproductive isolation and promote speciation. Our investigations reveal a highly dynamic system whose diversity has been shaped by a variety of interacting forces. We suggest that such a system could be a model for much of the diversification of the Cape flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss. During demographic monitoring of native turtle species in northeast Spain, we captured several alien species of semi-aquatic turtles, including Mauremys mutica. Among them, four individuals of this latter species showed external characteristics that were not fully consistent with the diagnosis of this species. These individuals showed a smaller postocular stripe and 2-3 lateral cervical lines and the typical plastral pattern observed in Mauremys leprosa. The analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicated that the maternal lineage was unequivocally M. mutica (pure or hybrid), but nuclear DNA revealed a heterozygote position at the C-mos gene, matching sequences for this gene in GenBank from both M. leprosa and M. mutica. These results highlight the negative impact of alien turtles, which can genetically contaminate vulnerable native turtle populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reynoutria japonica (Japanese knotweed) is a highly invasive female plant that primarily reproduces through vegetative regeneration during secondary distribution. Despite producing a substantial number of viable hybrid seeds, the occurrence of seedlings and young plants in the wild remains rare; the reasons for this rarity are unclear. Environmental intolerance and chromosomal anomalies during hybridisation can impede seedling development. This study evaluates the combined impact of these factors by examining substrate, temperature, and light effects on germination, as well as assessing seedling genome sizes and viability. Seeds were cultivated in both natural and controlled environments to manage external influences. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate chromosomal arrangements. The final germination was notably high at 99%, and 68% of seedlings thrived under controlled conditions, emphasising hybrid seedling viability regardless of highly polyploid levels ranging from pentaploid to aneuploid (2C DNA genome size from 5.17 to 11.95 pg). Thus, it is evident that seeds can germinate and produce vital seedlings despite various chromosomal sets. Even fluctuating temperatures and type of substrate do not limit seed germination. However, these results were obtained under laboratory conditions, with seeds and seedlings receiving regular irrigation. A significant seedling mortality rate (99%) was observed in the field experiment, and the final germination was also low there (15%). Observations suggest that water stress might be the cause of this mortality. Further research on water stress is necessary because it could be the primary factor limiting the successful generative spread of the knotweeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation translocations are widely used to recover threatened species, but can pose risks to recipient ecosystems, particularly in the case of conservation introductions. Because of limited data and uncertainty, risk assessments for such projects often rely on extrapolated evidence and expert opinion, further complicating decision making. The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) serves to classify the realised impacts of invasive species. We developed a protocol combining EICAT and formal expert elicitation to predict these impacts. We applied our protocol to the extinct-in-the-wild sihek (Guam kingfisher; Todiramphus cinnamominus), for which introduction outside the known historical range is being considered. We elicited from multiple experts probability estimates of impact levels across four impact mechanisms and five candidate release sites. We aggregated estimates using simulation-based and Bayesian approaches, with and without accounting for expert confidence. Experts generally agreed that sihek introduction might impact the recipient ecosystem through predation, competition, and disease, although they disagreed about the likely impact levels. Releases to Palmyra Atoll were considered to pose the lowest risk across candidate sites, so this site was selected for further detailed ecological assessments and risk mitigation efforts. EICAT, with its standardized impact mechanisms and definitions, helped reduce the linguistic uncertainty and subjectivity common to expert-based assessments. Expressing judgments as probabilities allowed us to evaluate uncertainty transparently and to assess the weight of expert confidence on the overall risk estimation. Formal quantitative elicitation and aggregation then allowed a transparent evaluation of results, facilitating communication with stakeholders and decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We examined range‐wide genetic variation in a widespread white oak species in western North America to determine phylogeographic patterns (including possible latitudinal gradients) and investigate their underlying causes. Location: Western North America. Taxon: Quercus garryana (Fagaceae). Methods: We sampled Q. garryana at 117 locations throughout its range and related species of white oaks in 8 additional populations. We sequenced DNA from four variable intergenic plastid spacers and the ribosomal nuclear ITS region. We constructed haplotype networks and phylogenetic trees, mapped the geographical distributions of plastid haplotypes, and analysed genetic diversity patterns. Results: We identified 25 plastid haplotypes that clustered in two major groups, each showing pronounced genetic variation with latitude. In contrast, ITS showed little or no geographical or phylogenetic variation. Quercus garryana shared several plastid haplotypes with related white oaks and was not differentiated from these species by ITS. Plastid haplotype diversity in Q. garryana was highest in the central part of its range and sharply reduced to the north. Two haplotypes (one from each haplotype group) occurred in the northern third of the range, with only one at the northern range limit. Populations at the southern range limit were characterised by distinct haplotypes. Main Conclusions: Genetic patterns of Q. garryana have been shaped both by post‐Pleistocene climate change, interacting with features of the landscape, and by hybridisation with other white oaks. The species contains substantial genetic variation with strong spatial structuring of plastid haplotypes, indicating (1) early divergence of southern (Sierra Nevada) and northern populations, and (2) northward dispersal during the Holocene resulting in greatly reduced genetic diversity in its northern range. Species that can adjust their ranges with changing climates may remain susceptible to loss of genetic variation, potentially affecting their ability to persist in novel conditions at northern range margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens has four distinct phenotypic forms currently recognised as subspecies, although three species have been recognised within the group in the past. Here, we use multilocus nuclear DNA to test the recent hypothesis that the Splendid Fairywren represents three allopatric taxa with little to no modern-day contact, despite phenotypic evidence of periods of past contact and gene flow. Our nuclear dataset is concordant with earlier mtDNA-based data in supporting three distinct genetic groups within M. splendens. These genetic groups align with the three phenotypically distinct forms recently hypothesised to be allopatric and previously described at species-level – western M. splendens, central M. callainus and eastern M. melanotus. Nuclear gene flow does not appear to be rampant between the three forms; however, several individuals show signals of admixed nuclear ancestry, which we cannot distinguish as having resulted from incomplete lineage sorting, poor phylogenetic signal, or gene flow. Given changing modern taxonomic interpretations of the significance of gene flow in speciation, we argue that recognising three distinct species within the M. splendens complex might better represent their evolutionary distinctiveness, rather than continuing to treat these genetically and morphologically distinct forms as subspecies of a widespread polytypic species. Our study highlights the interesting complexity of determining species status when taxa are in the 'grey zone' near the subspecies/species continuum, and the value gained from adding perspectives from nuclear DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridisation between Australian dingoes and domestic dogs is a controversial area of interest and research. An ongoing canine sterilisation programme in rural and remote Western Australia provided an opportunity to assess the dingo ancestry of camp dogs and opportunities for hybridisation. Blood samples were collected from 345 individual community dogs at 21 locations. Dogs were screened using 23 microsatellite loci and ancestry percentage assigned using an iterative Bayesian assignment algorithm. A single individual was a dingo, 96% were domestic dogs and 3.5% were hybrids. Camp dog and dingo hybridisation in these areas is of little concern in terms of conserving dingo purity. Hybridisation of dingoes occurs as domestic dogs and dingoes are the same species, Canis familiaris. An assessment of camp dogs or dogs that reside in rural and remote communities found very little dingo ancestry. Based on these samples camp dogs are not of high concern when it comes to conserving dingo purity in Western Australia. Image by Dr Nicole Laing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Host contact zone dynamics can be influenced by parasites. • Luscinia nightingales have significantly different haemosporidian prevalence. • Differential prevalence did not change in sympatry versus allopatry. • Community structure was significantly different between hosts, even in sympatry. • Parasites are unlikely to drive contact zone dynamics in nightingales. Parasites are a key driving force behind many ecological and evolutionary processes. Prevalence and diversity of parasites, as well as their effects on hosts, are not uniform across host species. As such, the potential parasite spillover between species can significantly influence outcomes of interspecific interactions. We screened two species of Luscinia nightingales for haemosporidian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) along an approximately 3000 km transect in Europe, incorporating areas of host distant allopatry, close allopatry and sympatry. We found significant differences in infection rates between the two host species, with common nightingales having much lower parasite prevalence than thrush nightingales (36.7% versus 83.8%). This disparity was mostly driven by Haemoproteus prevalence, which was significantly higher in thrush nightingales while common nightingales had a small, but significantly higher, Plasmodium prevalence. Furthermore, we found no effect of proximity to the contact zone on infection rate in either host species. Despite having lower infection prevalence, common nightingales were infected with a significantly higher diversity of parasite lineages than thrush nightingales, and lineage assemblages differed considerably between the two species, even in sympatry. This pattern was mostly driven by the large diversity of comparatively rare lineages, while the most abundant lineages were shared between the two host species. This suggests that, despite the close evolutionary relationships between the two nightingales, there are significant differences in parasite prevalence and diversity, regardless of the distance from the contact zone. This suggests that spillover of haemosporidian blood parasites is unlikely to contribute towards interspecific interactions in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The point of departure of this article is the trend towards hybridisation in new technology development, which makes classical dichotomies between machines, human life and the environment obsolete and leads to the post-human world we live in today. We critically reflect on the post-human concept of the hybrid world. Although we agree with post-humanists that human life can no longer be opposed to machines but appears as a decentralized human-technology relation, alliance or network that constitutes a hybrid world, we ask for a limit to hybridisation. After rejecting the concept of metabolism as such a limit, we explore the concept of the responsive conativity of material entities. The principle of conativity of material entities provides a materialist perspective on metabolism, which enables us to conceive material entities as self-assertive material entities that are differentiated from the environment. The principle of responsivity of material entities provides a materialist perspective on the post-human world in which material entities are responsive to each other and form alliances and networks. We propose to differentiate between the conativity and responsivity of material entities and propose the conativity of matter as a limit to hybridisation in the post-human world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand is home to 16 endemic species of Lepidium (Brassicaceae), including two species considered to have become extinct since European colonisation and an additional species shared with Australia. Previous meiotic chromosome counts suggest at least some are high polyploids. A hybrid origin has been proposed for several of them, with African and American species implicated as parents. We generated amplicon sequence data for 15 genes derived from targeted enrichment data from a selection of species endemic to New Zealand, and of African, American, and Australian origin naturalised in New Zealand. These were analysed, along with publicly available genomic data from other Lepidium species. Our results are consistent with earlier work in supporting two main groups of endemic New Zealand Lepidium, corresponding to different dominant nrDNA sequences. Our data suggest that these two groups differ in ploidy (one octoploid, the ploidy of the other uncertain). The octoploid species combine four distinguishable subgenomes and the other species may be the products of allopolyploidisation between octoploid species and a diploid species closely related to, if not, L. africanum. Previously proposed links to American Lepidium are also supported, with at least two Australasian Lepidium subgenomes related to subgenomes present in American polyploid species. The affinities of two further subgenomes present in Australasian Lepidium remain to be determined, but they may also be of American origin. One New Zealand endemic species, L. naufragorum, displays sequences broadly consistent with it being the octodecaploid product of hybridisation between octoploid and decaploid New Zealand groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study objective was to estimate the genetic structure of the aboriginal honeybee population of Apis mellifera mellifera from the Southern Urals (Russia). We identified in 56 wild and 93 managed colonies two spatially separated haplotypes of the mitochondrial locus COI-COII. Some individuals (17.5%) were represented by the invaded subspecies haplotype. Positive significant autocorrelation and a spatial genetic structure were observed at distance of 0–15 km on alleles of nine microsatellite loci. We did not find a difference in the admixture in the nuclear genes for individuals of alternative haplotypes, which proves a strong introgression process. Considering these results, we recommend reinforced measures to conserve this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this paper is to study a specific element of women's depicted costumes. Pictures on stone monuments present local, so-called native women wearing complex attire of cloth, headwear, brooches, jewels, and other dress accessories. Thirteen stone monuments from Hungary depict local women with headwear-related accessories. The main questions are: what kind of accessories are they, and how can we evaluate their presence on depicted attires? I collected analogous depictions from other Provinces and studied archaeological material. Finally, I concluded that these headwear-related accessories connect to new cultural effects and the complex phenomenon of acculturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The taxonomic history, nomenclature and application of the oldest species names available for the common hybrids between Pilosella caespitosa and P. lactucella are reviewed. Elias Fries created a nomenclatural and bibliographical collision when he replaced a printed label of his exsiccata Herbarium normale with its second version, distributed at a later date, in which the protologue of Hieracium suecicum had appeared. In this protologue, the new species name was validly published with a mere reference to the original description of H. auricula var. majus, thus being based on the type of the latter. In a later fascicle of the same exsiccata, Fries excluded this synonym and distributed a different morphotype of H. suecicum, which caused taxonomic confusion and re-description of the same taxon under the name H. fennicum. The surviving original material of H. auricula var. majus is rejected, and its neotype is designated, making H. suecicum the correct name for the hybrids strictly intermediate between P. lactucella and P. caespitosa. Such hybrids constitute the most common hybridogenous taxon of Pilosella in Scandinavia, Finland and neighbouring Russia, with many synonyms described from this area and partly typified here. Another hybridogenous taxon of the same origin, more similar to P. lactucella and previously known as P. cochlearis, is correctly named P. stipitiflora comb. nov. The nomenclatural value and bibliographic complexity of exsiccata, a commonly underestimated kind of grey literature in taxonomic botany, are further highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is one of the most prevalent and severe disease of beans. Anthracnose resistance to most of the prevalent races in the state is provided by Co-5 gene. Therefore, deployment of this gene is more relevant as the lines developed under this study harboring Co-5 gene have potential to impart resistance against prevalent races. Hybridisation between a resistant genotype, TU having bean anthracnose resistance gene Co-5 and elite cultivar Arka Komal was done and further advanced to generate F1, BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2 plants. Co-5 gene linked SCAR marker SAB3 was used for screening of hybridity of F1, BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2 plants/pods. The results of the foreground selection in these plants revealed that out of a population of 50 BC2F2 plants, 36 plants portrayed Co-5 gene. Further foreground selection with SAB3 SCAR marker, revealed lack of segregation in 12 progenies. Screening of these progenies by detached pod and germinated seed dip methods using race 3 of C. lindemuthianum, validated Co-5 resistance in all 12 BC2F3 progenies. All 12 Co-5 gene-positive BC2F4 progenies were evaluated for 17 agronomic traits including 8 qualitative and 9 quantitative traits. Evaluation identified AKTU 19 and AKTU 33 lines that possessed better elite background. These progenies can further be advanced to isolate variety/(ies) directly or as prebred donor of anthracnose resistance gene Co-5 in the future breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As species' ranges shift in response to human‐induced global changes, species interactions are expected to play a large role in shaping the resultant range dynamics and, subsequently, the composition of modified species assemblages. Most research on the impact of species interactions on range dynamics focuses on the effects of trophic interactions and exploitative competition for resources, but an emerging body of work shows that interspecific competition for territories and mates also affects species range shifts. As such, it is paramount to build a strong understanding of how these forms of behavioural interference between species impact landscape‐scale patterns. Here, we examine recent (1997–2019) range dynamics of North American passerines to test the hypothesis that behavioural interference impacts the ease with which species move across landscapes. Over this 22 year period, we found that fine‐scale spatial overlap between species (syntopy) increased more for species pairs that engage in interspecific territoriality than for those that do not. We found no evidence, however, for an effect of reproductive interference (hybridisation) on syntopy, and no effect of either type of interference on range‐wide overlap (sympatry). Examining the net effects of species interactions on continent‐scale range shifts may require species occurrence data spanning longer time periods than are currently available for North American passerines, but our results show that interspecific territoriality has had an overall stabilising influence on species coexistence over the past two decades.

This article offers a longitudinal perspective on communications during election campaigns from a political-party perspective, where strategic considerations about digital media are compared across time. Our analysis is grounded on the concepts of hybridisation and data-driven campaigning, where digital technology tends to play a central role without replacing all traditional campaign features. Empirically, the study is based on a longitudinal analysis of four election campaigns in Sweden during 2010–2022. The analysis shows that Swedish political parties have gradually integrated digital campaign features in their structure and strategy. The process is not linear, but rather back and forth, as party perceptions of the importance of communication channels vary across time. The results imply a development where all parties, regardless of size and ideology, are increasingly making rational judgments of which combinations of old and new campaign methods and communication channels are most effective.

In Malawi, the putative origin of a newly described Schistosoma haematobium-mattheei hybrid human schistosome was assessed upon a seminal molecular parasitological survey of cattle. Using miracidia hatch test (MHT) and carcass inspection at slaughter, mean prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis was 49.1% (95% CI: 43.7–54.6%) and 10.3% (95% CI: 6.0–16.2%) respectively, though significant spatial heterogeneity was noted. Approximately 2.0% of infected cattle, and only those from Mangochi District, shed S. haematobium-mattheei and/or S. haematobium in faeces. To quantify schistosome (re)infection dynamics, where a S. haematobium-mattheei hybrid was present, we undertook a novel pilot GPS-datalogging sub-study within a specific herd of cattle (n = 8) on the Lake Malawi shoreline, alongside a praziquantel (40 mg/kg) treatment efficacy spot check. At sub-study baseline, all GPS-tagged cattle had proven daily water contact with the lake. Each animal was patently infected upon MHT, with older animals shedding less miracidia. At one month review, whilst parasitological cure was 100.0%, from six weeks onwards, (re)infection was first noted in the youngest animal. By three-month review, all animals were patently (re)infected though only miracidia of S. mattheei were recovered, albeit in much lower numbers. To conclude, infection with S. mattheei is particularly common in cattle and demonstrates a previously cryptic burden of bovine schistosomiasis. Within Mangochi District, bovine transmission of both S. haematobium-mattheei hybrids and S. haematobium are now incriminated, with unequivocal evidence of contemporary zoonotic spill-over. Future control of urogenital schistosomiasis here in the southern region needs to develop, then successfully integrate, a One Health approach with appropriate mitigating strategies to reduce and/or contain bovine schistosomiasis transmission.

Hybrids can express traits plastically, enabling them to occupy environments that differ from parental environments. However, there is insufficient evidence demonstrating how phenotypic plasticity in specific traits mediates hybrid performance. Two parental ecotypes of Imperata cylindrica produce F1 hybrids. The E‐type in wet habitats has larger internal aerenchyma than the C‐type in dry habitats. This study evaluated relationships between habitat utilisation, aerenchyma plasticity, and growth of I. cylindrica accessions. We hypothesize that plasticity in expressing parental traits explains hybrid establishment in habitats with various soil moisture conditions.Aerenchyma formation was examined in the leaf midribs, rhizomes and roots of two parental ecotypes and their F1 hybrids in their natural habitats. In common garden experiments, we examined plastic aerenchyma formation in leaf midribs, rhizomes and roots of natural and artificial F1 hybrids and parental ecotypes and quantified vegetative growth performance.In the natural habitats where soil moisture content varied widely, the F1 hybrids showed larger variation in aerenchyma formation in rhizomes than their parental ecotypes. In the common garden experiments, F1 hybrids showed high plasticity of aerenchyma formation in rhizomes, and their growth was similar to that of C‐type and E‐type under drained and flooded conditions, respectively.The results demonstrate that F1 hybrids of I. cylindrica exhibit plasticity in aerenchyma development in response to varying local soil moisture content. This characteristic allows the hybrids to thrive in diverse soil moisture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterospecific interactions are an important phenomenon of animal epigamic behaviour; however, they remain understudied within important groups, such as insects. Dragonflies are an ideal group for research on interspecific mating and possible hybridisation as they are easily identifiable, large insects, with a conspicuous mating process, often striking territorial behaviour and several mating systems.Using the genus Sympetrum as the model group, we examined heterospecific mating at three different levels. In the field, we identified whether species identity, time and weather affected heterospecific mating frequency. One important part of heterospecific mating is whether the process is completed. For dragonflies, this means that flying in tandem is followed by successful copulation, gamete fusion and oviposition (which comprise mating completeness). In a mesocosm experiment, we determined mating completeness (tandems, copulation, oviposition) of hetero‐ and homospecific pairs and the possible role of species density in heterospecific mating. In the laboratory, we compared the viability of the offspring from heterospecific pairs with different epigamous behaviour.We found heterospecific mating to be a relatively common phenomenon unaffected by environmental variables, that was primarily influenced by species identity, temporal distribution and abundance of dragonfly species. Consequently, the presence of counterparts of other species is the main predictor of the frequency of heterospecific mating.The probability of completed epigamic behaviour (copulation and subsequent oviposition) connected with gamete fusion is lower in heterospecific mating. Generally, based on our results we can assume that successful heterospecific mating (leading to gamete fusion) occurs in closely related species (e.g., Sympetrum striolatum and Sympetrum vulgatum). However, as pre‐copulatory barriers are not strongly developed in some dragonfly groups, less closely related species (e.g., Sympetrum sanguineum and S. striolatum) also may mate. This phenomenon requires further study as it may present a threat to the survival of some species in the context of changing environmental conditions, including climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Salix, comprising some 400–500 species, is important in various alluvial or wet habitats of the northern hemisphere. It is a promising crop for applications such as biomass production, biofuels, or environmental projects. Clear species delimitation is crucial in ecology, biotechnology, and horticulture. DArTseq markers, a genome-wide technique, were tested for species and hybrid identification. A total of 179 willow samples were analysed, including six species of Salix subgen. Salix and four species of Salix subgen. Vetrix, including those used in biomass crop production, representing important European taxa. Identification of species-specific markers, clustering analyses (principal coordinate analysis, neighbor-joining) and Bayesian methods (Structure) unambiguously identified putative hybrids. In addition to demonstrating the high efficiency of DArT-seq markers in identifying willow hybrids, we also opened-up new questions about hybridisation processes and systematics. We detected unidirectional hybridisation between S. alba and S. fragilis, forming backcross hybrids, and we rejected the hypothesis that S. fragilis does not occur naturally in Europe. Further, the isolated position of Salix triandra within the genus was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to develop some interpretative hypotheses on the transformation of education that digitalisation and neoliberalism have brought about in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on changes in the Italian education system to outline the general, structural trend. In order to illustrate how transformations in the education system can be viewed as a process of capitalist valorisation, we present the insights offered by a set of contemporary workerist enquiries and use the theoretical concepts of 'hyperindustrialisation' and 'hybridisation', drawn also from the research work of Romano Alquati. Our conclusions show how work in education can be reconceptualised in relation to the general process of digital socialisation and its contradictions: we unveil hidden sides of the platformisation of education and provide a disenchanted view of digital solutionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores developmental tensions in Finnish adolescents' accounts of their different worlds. By understanding tensions experienced by students, educators can develop their pedagogical practices to address those tensions. Building on cultural-historical activity theory, we analysed 12 interviews of 8th graders, focusing on their experiences in six worlds: family, school, peers, digital, civic, and future activity. The adolescents experienced their worlds as mutually penetrating hybridised configurations. Hybridisation is a source of tensions. Using the method of analysing discursive manifestations of contradictions, we identified tensions ranging from dilemmas to conflicts, critical conflicts and double binds. These represented all the six worlds, with school being the host of the largest number of tensions. The school emerged as a site of conflicts, civic involvement as a source of hesitation and doubt, and future as a source of some degree of desperation. About half of the manifestations were hybrid, involving more than one world. The world of school was most highly hybridised, and the most hybridised was the relationship between school and peer activity. For these adolescents, the challenge is not just moving from one world to another; dwelling in one single setting such as the school means facing tensions generated by hybridisation. Tensions stemming from the intrusion into the school of other worlds cannot be suppressed but should be turned into drivers of expansive learning and development. Our findings are an invitation for the school to become involved in collaborative efforts to address the sources of tensions and transform the practices of schooling accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridisation is commonly observed in geographical zones of contact between distinct lineages. These contact zones have long been of interest for biogeographers because they provide insight into the evolutionary and ecological processes that influence the distribution of species as well as the process of speciation. Here we review research on hybrid zones and zones of past introgression, both terrestrial and marine, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many of New Zealand's hybrid zones occur between lineages or species that diverged prior to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), with numerous divergences dating to the early Pleistocene or Pliocene. Few secondary contact zones have been detected in terrestrial plants and in marine taxa. This may reflect a lack of the intensive sampling required to detect hybrid zones in these groups but for plants may also indicate widespread Pleistocene survival across the country. Lastly, we suggest avenues for research into New Zealand hybrid zones that are likely to be fruitful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Manyara tilapia (Oreochromis amphimelas), native to the Saline Rift Valley Lakes (SRVLs) in north‐central Tanzania, has recently experienced population declines mainly due to overfishing and severe droughts. This, combined with the introduction of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus), which poses a risk of hybridisation, could potentially erode essential genetic traits necessary for their survival. To address these concerns, our study analysed partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences (627 base pairs) from 139 Manyara tilapia and 79 Nile tilapia specimens collected from the SRVLs to test two hypotheses: (i) whether there is no transfer of mitochondrial DNA between these species, and (ii) whether Manyara tilapia populations in the SRVLs have remained genetically connected despite reported declines. The results revealed six distinct haplotypes for Manyara tilapia and three for Nile tilapia. These haplotypes formed separate clusters for each species, with no shared or closely related haplotypes, indicating limited or no transfer of mitochondrial DNA between them. Additionally, we found evidence of restricted genetic connectivity among Manyara tilapia populations in the SRVLs, with populations in Lakes Manyara and Eyasi displaying limited genetic exchange among themselves and with those in other SRVLs. Our findings highlight the importance of sustained conservation efforts in protected areas around Lake Manyara and Lake Eyasi to safeguard the unique populations of Manyara tilapia in these lakes. However, limited connectivity with other SRVLs suggests that conservation initiatives in these areas may have a limited impact on these lakes. Thus, future efforts should prioritise stocks in Lakes Kindai, Singida and Sulunga, focusing on protecting fish refugia, particularly the rivers connected to these lakes, which serve as critical habitats during the dry season and as important reservoirs for replenishing these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the concept of hybridisation (blending of different organisational forms, logics, or identities) in public administration has gained traction, its interplay with principal‐agent dynamics, especially within development cooperation, remains underexplored. Recent shifts towards the "whole‐of‐society" paradigm in Swedish development cooperation introduce complexities in the inter‐organisational dynamics between actors involved. However, our understanding of how these dynamics influence the manifestation of hybridisation in everyday practices is limited. Drawing on the development cooperation experience of Swedish national authorities and data collected from interviews, focus group discussions, and archival documents, this study identifies the interplaying dynamics of three coexisting logics (managerialist, collaborative, and developmental), and two types of hybridisation (specialisation‐centric and integration‐centric). These findings shed light on the challenges and opportunities the inter‐organisational dynamics induce for translating the "whole‐of‐society" policy paradigm into development practice and outcomes. The study's theoretical and practical implications for hybridisation in public administration and development studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Threads, Unveiling Unevenness: Contemporary Maximalist Projects Interrogating Cultural Hybridisation and Marginality. Within a frame that emphasizes the tension between the global and the local, this paper aims to investigate the ways in which complex narratives that incorporate the tropes of migration, periphery, and marginality, amongst others, can bring to light aspects of unevenness and cultural and formal hybridisation. Works like Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, or Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other employ distinct maximalist modes of inquiry (Nick Levey) to question topics related to inequality, cultural relevance, or representational biases, in a type of novel about which James Wood claimed that it “suffered from an excess of storytelling and an almost paranoid preoccupation with linking up their many subplots in a web of forced meaning.” What stands at the core of this article is precisely this impulse to force a meaning which seems most frequently disrupted by an anarchetypal propensity to renegotiate a “rhetoric of inclusivity” (Franco Moretti) through which the maximalist author tries to exhaustively encompass the whole world (Levey). By selecting a corpus of maximalist novels to illustrate their evolution from the second half of the 20th century until more recent works, such as Evaristo’s, this paper investigates the shift through which these narratives have started to factor margins in, differently and more frequently than in the beginnings of this literary form. Fire globale, dezvăluind inegalitatea: Proiecte maximaliste contemporane care interoghează hibriditatea culturală și marginalitatea. Într-un cadru care evidențiază tensiunea dintre global și local, acest text își propune să investigheze modurile în care anumite narațiuni complexe care încorporează figurile migrației, periferiei și marginalității, printre altele, pot pune în lumină aspecte legate de inegalitate și de hibridizarea culturală și formală. Cărți precum Dinți albi de Zadie Smith, Ministerul fericirii supreme de Arundhati Roy sau Fată, femeie, alta de Bernardine Evaristo folosesc moduri de investigare maximaliste specifice (Nick Levey) pentru a aduce în discuție subiecte legate de inegalitate, relevanță culturală sau biasuri de reprezentare, într-un tip de roman despre care James Wood susținea că „suferă de un exces al povestirii și de o preocupare aproape paranoică de a lega numeroasele intrigi secundare într-o rețea de sens forțat”. Miza principală a acestui articol vizează tocmai acest impuls de a forța un sens care pare cel mai frecvent perturbat de o tendință anarhetipică de a renegocia o „retorică a incluziunii” (Franco Moretti) prin care autorul maximalist încearcă să cuprindă într-un mod exhaustiv întreaga lume (Levey). Selectând un corpus de romane maximaliste cu scopul de a ilustra evoluția lor din a doua jumătate a secolului XX până la opere mai recente, precum cea a lui Evaristo, această lucrare investighează schimbarea prin care aceste narațiuni au început să țină cont de margini într-un mod diferit și mai frecvent decât la începuturile acestei forme literare. Cuvinte-cheie: Romane maximaliste; Hibridizare; Migrație; Marginalitate; Anarhetip; Postmodernism. Article history: Received 07 February 2024; Revised 28 March 2024; Accepted 11 April 2024; Available online 25 June 2024; Available print 30 June 2024.

Introduction of farmed non-native fish strains into ecosystems outside their native range has raised global concerns. We investigate the presence of Oreochromis niloticus in the southernmost part of Lake Tanganyika. DNA was extracted from tissue samples and analysed using microsatellite DNA markers. We confirm the O. niloticus from the observed morphological features of the samples collected and the analysis using genetic markers. Although the species is native to the lake, it is unclear if the fish now being sampled are indigenous or escaped from aquaculture facilities 15–20 years ago. The genetic diversity was similar statistically, though higher in O. tanganicae, followed by wild O. niloticus and least in farmed O. niloticus. There was no evidence of hybridisation between O. niloticus and native O. tanganicae. We recommend a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the origin of the O. niloticus, which, though rare, is present in catches. Due to known introductions, conservation measures must be set up to protect the genetic purity of O. tanganicae since O. niloticus is known to hybridise with other Oreochromis species and it is not known whether the farmed non-native strain is capable to establish such hybridization more than the wild native strain.

A new series of piperine-carboximidamide hybrids VIa-k was developed as a new cytotoxic agent targeting EGFR, BRAF, and CDK2. The antiproliferative effect against four cancer cells was investigated against erlotinib. Hybrids VIc, VIf, VIg, VIi, and VIk have the highest antiproliferative activity. Compounds VIc, VIf, VIg, VIi, and VIk inhibited EGFR with IC50 values ranging from 96 to 127 nM. Compounds VIf and VIk had the most potent inhibitory activity as BRAFV600E (IC50 = 49 and 40 nM, respectively) and were discovered to be potent inhibitors of cancer cell proliferation (GI50 = 44 and 35 nM against four cancer cell lines, respectively). Compound VIk, the most effective derivative as an antiproliferative agent, demonstrated potent anti-CDK2 action with an IC50 value of 12 nM, which is 1.5-fold more potent than the reference dinaciclib. Finally, VIc, VIf, and VIk have a high capacity to inhibit LOX-IMVI cell line survival.

Climate change and air pollution are two significant challenges facing our society and represent a major driver for new developments in the transport sector. As a consequence, automotive manufacturers have focused on the electrification of vehicle propulsion systems and offer a wide range of hybrid and full-electric vehicles in different classes. However, in the world’s most densely populated metropolitan areas, small and lightweight vehicles are key for the mobility of millions. Traditionally these vehicles have provided cost-effective transportation which is difficult to preserve with vehicle electrification. Many of these light vehicles, such as scooters and all-terrain vehicles, use internal combustion engines in combination with a continuously variable rubber belt transmission which provides a simple, comfortable and cost-effective transmission technology but with poor efficiency and high maintenance costs. In this contribution, a novel full hybrid powertrain concept is proposed that offers a similar driving experience to conventional continuously variable transmissions while providing significantly improved performance and fuel economy combined with low system complexity. In its basic configuration, the hybrid powertrain can operate without active actuators and even with mechanical throttle control of the internal combustion engine. This minimalist approach reduces system costs and helps to create a competitive solution for price-sensitive markets. The hybrid system is based on a planetary gear set that combines the internal combustion engine and an electric motor. It is complemented by a centrifugal clutch and one-way clutch, resulting in different operating modes for low and high speeds as well as for electric driving. This paper describes the mechanical design and control approach of the proposed hybrid powertrain layout. In order to evaluate the basic functionalities, a prototype vehicle was built and tested. This contribution shows the integration of the hybrid powertrain concept in a prototype vehicle and proves the fulfilment of all required full hybrid functionalities.

Solidago × niederederi (Asteraceae) is a natural hybrid of the native S. virgaurea and the alien invasive S. canadensis, originated in Europe. Its naturalisation potential is still questionable. One of the largest (more than 20 ramet clusters, treated as individuals) known population of this nothospecies, is located in the «Aleksin Bor» Natural Monument (Aleksin town, Tula Region, Russia) in the floodplain of the River Oka. We studied its genetic structure with the help of chloroplast and nuclear markers. Analysis of sequence of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS 1–2 showed that all individuals with intermediate morphology are actually hybrids. Data on the intergenic chloroplast non-coding spacer rpl32–trnL showed that S. canadensis is the maternal species in 60% of the studied individuals. It was shown that even closely located individuals were not clones; therefore, they were results of sexual, rather than vegetative reproduction. Analysis of ISSR markers showed that the studied individuals of S. × niederederi in this population are not only F1 hybrids, but also their descendants (F2 hybrids and/or backcrosses, mostly with S. canadensis). We conclude that S. × niederederi has successfully been naturalised in the studied community and, possibly, is outcompeting its native parental species, S. virgaurea, through introgression.

Societal Impact Statement Hybridisation is an important evolutionary force in plants, but it can potentially lead to genetic swamping and extinction of one or both parental species. The threat of extinction is of particular concern if hybridisation occurs between native and introduced species, especially when the native is of national importance. The widespread occurrence of non‐native bluebells in the United Kingdom has raised concerns that the iconic native bluebell could be at risk due to extinction by hybridisation from introduced non‐native bluebells. This study determines the taxonomic identity of non‐natives and investigates the amount of hybridisation occurring in natural and semi‐natural UK bluebell populations. Summary The widespread occurrence of a non‐native bluebell taxon in the UK has raised concerns that the iconic native bluebell H. non‐scripta (Asparagaceae) could be at risk due to extinction by hybridisation from introduced non‐native congeners. Understanding the nature of this threat requires quantification of the extent of hybridisation between the native and non‐native taxa. An additional complication is taxonomic uncertainty regarding the identity of the non‐native bluebells in the United Kingdom that are colloquially referred to as the ‘Spanish’ bluebell (H. hispanica). We collected 501 bluebell samples from 56 populations in the United Kingdom (H. non‐scripta and non‐natives) and the Iberian Peninsula (H. hispanica). The samples were assayed for variation at 1871 nuclear and 17 plastid single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our genetic analyses demonstrated that non‐native bluebells in the United Kingdom are not H. hispanica but the hybrid between H. hispanica and H. non‐scripta. Moreover, they supported the hypothesis that Portugal is the country of origin of the first H. hispanica introductions to the United Kingdom. The frequency of hybrids was about 16%. Backcrosses between the (hybrid) non‐native bluebell and the native H. non‐scripta were primarily found in public parks. Of the sampled individuals for H. non‐scripta from natural habitats, only 2% showed evidence of introgression. Although hybridisation might be frequent in locations where non‐native bluebells have been introduced, we found no evidence of large‐scale introgression in natural H. non‐scripta populations. Therefore, our results do not support concerns of an ‘extinction by hybridisation’ scenario.

Composite materials are used in many engineering applications and industrial fields due to their superior properties, such as high strength, lightweight, and stiffness. These outstanding properties have made these materials an alternative to metallic materials. The vital need for new lightweight and inexpensive materials with superior strength properties has led to research on “hybridisation”. Hybrid composites with more than one type of polymer in the same structure are needed to achieve a better balance of properties and to combine many desired properties in a single material. Many researchers have studied the hybrid effect and contributed to the understanding and modelling of the subject. Studies to explain the primary mechanism of the hybrid effect are limited and insufficient to explain the complex interaction. In this study, a three-dimensional printer using fused deposition modelling technique was used to produce hybrid materials, and the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical, absorptive, and morphological properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), Tough PLA, and PLA/Tough PLA hybrid materials were investigated. The hybrid material form exhibited superior properties when selecting specific production parameters from individual raw elements. It can be said that the mechanical properties of the PLA/Tough PLA hybrid material increased with the increase in production temperature.

Fibre-reinforced composites laminates (FRCLs) are employed in various applications such as in marine, aerospace, automotive, and civil industries due to their lightweight nature, design tailorability, and superior specific mechanical properties. However, they possess extremely low flame resistance mainly due to the inherent flammability of the polymer matrix. Various treatments have been applied to improve the fire resistance of FRCLs. In particular, hybridisation (fibre hybridisation and polymer hybridisation) is an important technique which is becoming very popular to enhance the thermal performance and flame resistance of FRCLs. This article is a comprehensive review of the recent developments that broadly cover the improvements in fire resistance of composite laminates via multi-scale hybridisation; the characteristics of thermal decomposition of FRCLs have been presented to comprehend the need for flame retardancy. Approaches for improving the fire resistance of FRCLs and thermal stability, both in polymer and in fibre systems, are discussed. Enhancing the fire resistance has been significant through additives to the matrix, use of flame-retardant modified fibres at interfacial regions and by way of multi-layered hybrid laminates besides hybridization at fibre, yarn and layer level. Finally, a review is presented on the modelling of fire resistance of composite laminates by considering thermo-mechanical models for the prediction of decomposition and failure of laminates at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of biological invasion are increasing globally, with associated negative effects on native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Among other genetic processes, hybridisation can facilitate invasion by producing new combinations of genetic variation that increase adaptive potential and associated population fitness. Yet the role of hybridisation (and resulting gene flow) in biological invasion in invertebrate species is under‐studied. Calliphora hilli and Calliphora stygia are blowflies proposed to have invaded New Zealand separately from Australia between 1779 and 1841, and are now widespread throughout the country. Here, we analysed genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), generating genotyping‐by‐sequencing data for 154 individuals collected from 24 populations across New Zealand and Australia to assess the extent of gene flow and hybridisation occurring within and between these blowflies and to better understand their overall population structure. We found that New Zealand populations of both species had weak genetic structure, suggesting high gene flow and an absence of dispersal limitations across the country. We also found evidence that interspecific hybridisation is occurring in the wild between C. hilli and C. stygia in both the native and invasive ranges, and that intraspecific admixture is occurring among populations at appreciable rates. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the population structure of these two invasive invertebrates and highlight the potential importance of hybridisation and gene flow in biological invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical knowledge gap in freshwater plant research is the lack of genetic tools necessary to answer fundamental questions about their demographic histories, adaptation and phylogenetic relationships. One example of this is Typha, a global genus of freshwater plants foundational to wetlands that also is becoming an increasingly problematic biological invader in numerous regions worldwide; although important insights have been discovered for this genus, existing markers are insufficient to answer fundamental questions about their demographic histories, adaptation and phylogenetic relationships; to identify introduced and hybrid lineages; and to examine patterns of hybridisation and introgression.We optimised a library preparation and data processing protocol to develop genome–wide nuclear and plastid resources for studying the evolutionary history, genetic structure and diversity, hybridisation, local adaptation, invasiveness, and geographical expansion dynamics of Typha.We sequenced 140 Typha samples and identified ~120 K nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that differentiate T. angustifolia, T. domingensis and T. latifolia, and retrieved their plastome sequences. We observed genetic introgression among the three species.Following a fast, straightforward and cost‐efficient genomic library preparation protocol, we produced a suite of genome‐wide resources to facilitate investigations into the taxonomy and population genetics of Typha and to advance the genomic understanding of wetland plants.The protocol described, the updated chromosome‐level genome assembly of T. latifolia, the catalogue of species‐specific SNPs, and the chloroplast sequences produced in this study comprise permanent resources that can be applied to study the genetic composition of multiple populations and hybrid zones, and will be incorporated into future studies of Typha, an ecologically important and globally invasive macrophyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents three newly discovered interspecific hybrids of sedges found in the Czech Republic. The finds of two of them (Carex ×helenae and C. ×ploegii) are the result of authors' field work and subsequent revision of specimens in large institutional Czech herbaria, while the third, C. ×alluvialis, was documented by a herbarium specimen in the BRNU herbarium, collected in 1998. The finds of these wetland hybrid sedges are a supplement to the treatment of the genus Carex for the Flora of the Czech Republic, Vol. 9. For each of the hybrids, a detailed morphological description compiled on the basis of Czech plants is given and the location of the voucher specimens is mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of piperine-carboximidamide hybrids VIa-k was developed as a new cytotoxic agent targeting EGFR, BRAF, and CDK2. The antiproliferative effect against four cancer cells was investigated against erlotinib. Hybrids VIc, VIf, VIg, VIi, and VIk have the highest antiproliferative activity. Compounds VIc, VIf, VIg, VIi, and VIk inhibited EGFR with IC50 values ranging from 96 to 127 nM. Compounds VIf and VIk had the most potent inhibitory activity as BRAFV600E (IC50 = 49 and 40 nM, respectively) and were discovered to be potent inhibitors of cancer cell proliferation (GI50 = 44 and 35 nM against four cancer cell lines, respectively). Compound VIk, the most effective derivative as an antiproliferative agent, demonstrated potent anti-CDK2 action with an IC50 value of 12 nM, which is 1.5-fold more potent than the reference dinaciclib. Finally, VIc, VIf, and VIk have a high capacity to inhibit LOX-IMVI cell line survival. A series of piperine-carboximidamide hybrids VIa-k was designed and synthesised. The new compounds were evaluated as antiproliferative agent targeting EGFR, BRAF, and CDK2. Antiproliferative activities were evaluated against four human cancer cell lines. Molecular docking studies were carried out against EGFR, mutated BRAF and CDK2-TK. In silico ADME/pharmacokinetic analysis was considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of farmed non-native fish strains into ecosystems outside their native range has raised global concerns. We investigate the presence of Oreochromis niloticus in the southernmost part of Lake Tanganyika. DNA was extracted from tissue samples and analysed using microsatellite DNA markers. We confirm the O. niloticus from the observed morphological features of the samples collected and the analysis using genetic markers. Although the species is native to the lake, it is unclear if the fish now being sampled are indigenous or escaped from aquaculture facilities 15–20 years ago. The genetic diversity was similar statistically, though higher in O. tanganicae, followed by wild O. niloticus and least in farmed O. niloticus. There was no evidence of hybridisation between O. niloticus and native O. tanganicae. We recommend a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the origin of the O. niloticus, which, though rare, is present in catches. Due to known introductions, conservation measures must be set up to protect the genetic purity of O. tanganicae since O. niloticus is known to hybridise with other Oreochromis species and it is not known whether the farmed non-native strain is capable to establish such hybridization more than the wild native strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]