BACKGROUND: Agricultural systems are under extreme pressure to meet the global food demand, hence necessitating faster crop improvement. Rapid evaluation of the crops using novel imaging technologies coupled with robust image analysis could accelerate crops research and improvement. This proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility of using X-ray imaging for non-destructive evaluation of rice grain traits. By analyzing 2D X-ray images of paddy grains, we aimed to approximate their key physical Traits (T) important for rice production and breeding: (1) T1 chaffiness, (2) T2 chalky rice kernel percentage (CRK%), and (3) T3 head rice recovery percentage (HRR%). In the future, the integration of X-ray imaging and data analysis into the rice research and breeding process could accelerate the improvement of global agricultural productivity. RESULTS: The study indicated, computer-vision based methods (X-ray image segmentation, features-based multi-linear models and thresholding) can predict the physical rice traits (chaffiness, CRK%, HRR%). We showed the feasibility to predict all three traits with reasonable accuracy (chaffiness: R2 = 0.9987, RMSE = 1.302; CRK%: R2 = 0.9397, RMSE = 8.91; HRR%: R2 = 0.7613, RMSE = 6.83) using X-ray radiography and image-based analytics via PCA based prediction models on individual grains. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the feasibility to predict multiple key physical grain traits important in rice research and breeding (such as chaffiness, CRK%, and HRR%) from single 2D X-ray images of whole paddy grains. Such a non-destructive rice grain trait inference is expected to improve the robustness of paddy rice evaluation, as well as to reduce time and possibly costs for rice grain trait analysis. Furthermore, the described approach can also be transferred and adapted to other grain crops.

• Klíčová slova
• Computer vision, Image data analysis, Quality control, Rice breeding, Rice phenotyping, X-ray imaging,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Global databases of plant functional traits are facing issues in data heterogeneity and taxonomical or geographical representativeness. To fill data gaps, natural history collections, such as herbaria, have become widely accepted as a potential source of data on functional traits. Surprisingly, root characteristics of plants still have not been studied on herbarium materials. We investigated whether rooting depth data from herbarium samples are realistic enough to be used in ecological studies. We measured original maximum rooting depth records on herbarium specimens and individuals from the field. Global data from the TRY database were also obtained. We tested the pairwise correlations between data from the three datasets. The effect of life form, taxonomic position, and average species height on rooting depth was also evaluated. Herbarium data showed strong correlation to field records, while records from the TRY database showed a weaker correlation with data measured on herbarium materials. Life form, taxonomic position, and height proved to be good predictors of rooting depth collected from the field or the herbarium; however, the model including data obtained from the TRY as the response variable performed weaker. We constructed an equation for predicting realistic average maximum rooting depth values of a given species based on herbarium data. Strong correlation among the field and herbarium datasets suggests that museal collections can be considered as resources of root trait data. Although herbarium-based rooting depth measurements usually represent lower values than field records, the correction of the herbarium-derived dataset is solvable. These corrected data might be more accurate than using large, global trait databases. Herbarium work might be a more sustainable, time- and cost-effective practice than field sampling. The inclusion of herbarium-derived information in trait-based studies, as well as in global databases, can improve these sources spatially, temporally, and taxonomically.

• Klíčová slova
• bias, functional trait, maximum rooting depth, natural history collection, prediction,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

We propose a method to estimate pairwise strain interactions from population-level frequencies across different endemic settings. We apply the framework of replicator dynamics, derived from a multi-strain SIS model with co-colonization, to extract from 5 datasets the fundamental backbone of strain interactions. In our replicator, each pairwise invasion fitness explicitly arises from local environmental context and trait variations between strains. We adopt the simplest formulation for multi-strain coexistence, where context is encoded in basic reproduction number R 0 and mean global susceptibility to co-colonization k, and trait variations α ij capture pairwise deviations from k. We integrate Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype frequencies and serotype identities collected from 5 environments: epidemiological surveys in Denmark, Nepal, Iran, Brazil and Mozambique, and mechanistically link their distributions. Our results have twofold implications. First, we offer a new proof-of-concept in the inference of multi-species interactions based on cross-sectional data. We also discuss 2 key aspects of the method: the site ordering for sequential fitting, and stability constraints on the dynamics. Secondly, we effectively estimate at high-resolution more than 70% of the 92 × 92 pneumococcus serotype interaction matrix in co-colonization, allowing for further projections and hypotheses testing. We show that, in these bacteria, both within- and between- serotype interaction coefficients' distribution emerge to be unimodal, their difference in mean broadly reflecting stability assumptions on serotype coexistence. This framework enables further model calibration to global data: cross-sectional across sites, or longitudinal in one site over time, - and should allow a more robust and integrated investigation of intervention effects in such biodiverse ecosystems.

• MeSH
• biologické modely * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matematické pojmy MeSH
• mikrobiální interakce * MeSH
• pneumokokové infekce * epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• séroskupina MeSH
• Streptococcus pneumoniae * patogenita   klasifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• základní reprodukční číslo statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Brazílie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Írán epidemiologie   MeSH
• Mosambik epidemiologie   MeSH
• Nepál epidemiologie   MeSH

Understanding differences in life-history outcomes under variable abiotic conditions is essential for understanding species coexistence. At middle elevations, a mosaic of available sets of abiotic conditions could allow highland and lowland species of the same ecological guild to overlap. Therefore, these sites are excellent to study the influence of abiotic conditions on life history and, thus, spatial overlap patterns of competing species. To test differences in life-history outcomes, we selected a pair of closely related lacertids, Iberolacerta horvathi and Podarcis muralis, with an overlapping geographical range but a contrasting elevational distribution. To assess how abiotic and biotic factors contribute to the realized niches of both species, we first built dynamic energy budget (DEB) models for each species based on available functional and life-history data. Then, we used a mechanistic modelling framework (NicheMapR) to simulate the microclimatic conditions at 15 study sites across an elevational gradient and performed whole life-cycle simulations for both species to compare egg development times, lifespans, reproductive years, mean yearly basking and foraging times and yearly fecundity in syntopy and allotopy along the elevational gradient. Our simulations show that the variability of abiotic conditions along an elevational gradient affects life-history traits of both species. We found strong effects of species and elevation on life-history outcomes such as longevity, activity and fecundity. We also observed the effects of syntopy/allotopy on egg development times, activity and reproductive output. In addition, we found a significant interplay between elevation and species impacting fecundity where occupying higher elevation habitats resulted in a more pronounced reduction in fecundity in P. muralis. Furthermore, using two different thermal preferences for spring and summer, we show that some physiological and reproductive traits change with seasonal changes in thermal preferences. Based on our simulations, we conclude that the intermediate elevations that harbour the majority of syntopic populations exhibit high environmental variability that is likely facilitating species coexistence. Since our model predictions support that the current elevational distribution of the species is not only affected by abiotic factors, this suggests that past historical contingencies might have also played a significant role. Our study provides a framework using mechanistic models to understand current distribution patterns of two interacting species by comparing life-history differences between species based on responses to changing abiotic conditions along an elevation gradient.

• Klíčová slova
• Lacertidae, dynamic energy budget, ectotherms, elevation, life history, microclimate, syntopy,
• MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• ještěři * fyziologie   MeSH
• mikroklima * MeSH
• nadmořská výška * MeSH
• rozmnožování MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• zvláštnosti životní historie * MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

PROBLEM: Disgust contributes to anxiety-based psychopathology, and in turn, anxiety increases disgust proneness. BACKGROUND: Disgust and anxiety undergo significant changes in pregnancy, but no previous study has examined their longitudinal associations in this time period. AIM: This prospective longitudinal study aimed to identify longitudinal associations between disgust sensitivity and state anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy, while exploring the directionality of the effect between those two variables. METHODS: At each trimester of pregnancy, the pregnant women (n = 261) completed the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R), the Pathogen disgust domain of the Three Domains of Disgust Scale (TDDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A path analysis (structural equation model) was used to assess cross-lagged effects between disgust sensitivity and state anxiety across the three pregnancy trimesters. FINDINGS: We found significant cross-lagged associations between disgust and anxiety such that higher disgust (overall DS-R score, Core disgust subscale of DS-R and Pathogen disgust domain of TDDS) in the first trimester predicted greater anxiety in the third. No significant cross-lagged associations were found between Animal-reminder or Contamination disgust subscales of DS-R and state anxiety. State anxiety did not predict disgust sensitivity at any time point. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate a unidirectional association between disgust sensitivity and state anxiety in pregnant women such that disgust sensitivity in early pregnancy predicts state anxiety in late pregnancy, but anxiety does not predict disgust sensitivity at any time point. CONCLUSION: Assessing disgust in early pregnancy could help to identify women at risk of higher anxiety levels in advanced pregnancy.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19 pandemic, Cross-lagged path model, Disgust, Emotion, Longitudinal, Pregnancy, State anxiety,
• MeSH
• analýza latentních tříd MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• komplikace těhotenství * psychologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• odpor * MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• prenatální diagnóza metody   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• těhotné ženy * psychologie   MeSH
• trimestry těhotenství * psychologie   MeSH
• úzkost * psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Tropical forest canopies are the biosphere's most concentrated atmospheric interface for carbon, water and energy1,2. However, in most Earth System Models, the diverse and heterogeneous tropical forest biome is represented as a largely uniform ecosystem with either a singular or a small number of fixed canopy ecophysiological properties3. This situation arises, in part, from a lack of understanding about how and why the functional properties of tropical forest canopies vary geographically4. Here, by combining field-collected data from more than 1,800 vegetation plots and tree traits with satellite remote-sensing, terrain, climate and soil data, we predict variation across 13 morphological, structural and chemical functional traits of trees, and use this to compute and map the functional diversity of tropical forests. Our findings reveal that the tropical Americas, Africa and Asia tend to occupy different portions of the total functional trait space available across tropical forests. Tropical American forests are predicted to have 40% greater functional richness than tropical African and Asian forests. Meanwhile, African forests have the highest functional divergence-32% and 7% higher than that of tropical American and Asian forests, respectively. An uncertainty analysis highlights priority regions for further data collection, which would refine and improve these maps. Our predictions represent a ground-based and remotely enabled global analysis of how and why the functional traits of tropical forest canopies vary across space.

• MeSH
• biodiverzita MeSH
• lesy * MeSH
• listy rostlin fyziologie   chemie   anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• nejistota MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• stromy * fyziologie   anatomie a histologie   chemie   klasifikace   MeSH
• tropické klima MeSH
• Země (planeta) * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Afrika MeSH
• Asie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• půda MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Maintenance of species coexistence is an important and on-going subject of plant ecology. Here, we aimed to determine how Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common, co-occurring plant species in European wet grasslands, respond to changing environmental conditions and what these changes portend for coexistence of these two species. Such studies are important for predicting and modelling the effects of management and climate change on wet grassland plant species composition and for maintaining the ability of wet grasslands to provide their important ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and water purification. Based on past studies, we hypothesized that both species would be affected by hydrologic changes but that these effects would be modified by nutrient conditions with fertilization having a more positive impact on G. maxima. METHODS: We established a mesocosm to distinguish the effect of hydrology and nutrients on the biomass allocation patterns of these two species to determine how environmental conditions may impact the life history traits of these two species, which would influence their ability to co-exist. Plants were grown in pots from late May to early September 2019 and subjected to two nutrient and three water level treatments. Half of the plants were harvested in July while the other half were harvested in early September and their biomass allocation patterns calculated. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the environmental treatments on the measured parameters. In addition, we determined the phenotypic plasticity of the two species and whether these showed allometric relationships to plant size. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: C. acuta was affected more by hydrologic changes, growing better in dry and saturated conditions, while fertilization had a more positive effect on G. maxima. Both species were stressed when flooded, but C. acuta more so than G. maxima. Contrary to our predictions, C. acuta produced more ramets and was taller than G. maxima. Both species showed plastic responses to changing nutrient and water conditions, but only some were related to plant size. Our results indicate that C. acuta and G. maxima are more likely to co-exist in oligo- to mesotrophic wet grasslands with fluctuating water levels.

• Klíčová slova
• allometry, biomass allocation, coexistence, niche differences, phenotypic plasticity, wet grasslands,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

AIM: This study explores whether personality-based role assignments (Pilot, Navigator, Solo) can raise intrinsic motivation in pair programming, focusing on designing a framework and process extension for the resource-constrained environment of very small entities (VSEs). METHOD: We employed a mixed-methods design across three quasi-experimental datasets (n = 73 participants), applying linear mixed-effects (LME) modeling to assess motivational outcomes and thematically analyzing (n = 25) interviews for socio-psychological insights. FINDINGS: Openness strongly correlates with Pilot roles; Extraversion & Agreeableness favor Navigator roles; and Neuroticism aligns more comfortably with Solo roles-each yielding substantial boosts in intrinsic motivation (up to 60-65%). Twelve qualitative themes underscore the influence of mentorship, pairing constellations, and flow disruptions on developer experiences. IMPLICATIONS: Building on these results, we propose the role-optimization motivation alignment (ROMA) framework, mapped to the ISO/IEC 29110 Software Basic Profile and Agile Guidelines, with practical tasks (T1-T7) to facilitate systematic role-trait alignments in small agile teams. Although our data primarily involve Gen-Z undergraduates, the recurring patterns suggest broader applicability, further supported by a separately published application for ongoing generalizability. CONCLUSION: Personality-driven role optimization may significantly enhance collaboration and developer satisfaction in VSEs, though further studies in professional settings and investigations into AI-assisted or distributed pair programming are warranted.

• Klíčová slova
• Agile software development, Big Five, ISO/IEC 29110, Inter-coder reliability, Intrinsic motivation, Large language models (LLMs), Linear mixed-effects, Mixed-methods research, Pair programming, Software engineering,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Freshwater diversity is declining at an alarming rate worldwide, and climate change is a key driver. However, attributing biological shifts solely to climate warming remains challenging because of confounding anthropogenic stressors. Peatbogs, being highly conserved, strictly protected, and minimally disturbed, offer a unique study system to isolate climate effects. We compared odonate assemblages in 27 Central European raised and transitional bogs between two sets of standardized surveys approximately 20 years apart (1998-2006 and 2020-2024). During this period, the mean annual air temperature has increased by 1.23°C. We tracked species richness, composition, taxonomic diversity, and functional traits (thermal tolerance, conservation value indicators, and selected morphological and life-history traits) and also examined phylogenetic patterns of species turnover. Although species richness remained stable, assemblage composition shifted markedly from cold-adapted, vulnerable bog specialists toward warm-adapted habitat generalists with lower conservation value. Notably, Ponto-Mediterranean species and those with a lower upper elevational limit increased their occupancy. Although the phylogenetic signal across the evolutionary tree of odonates was low, implying that the responses of the species to climate change were independent of their phylogenetic position, we revealed frequent genus-level replacements. These findings reinforce the position of odonates as a model group for detecting climate-driven changes in freshwater communities. Our study has revealed that climate warming alone can trigger profound reorganization of insect communities in inherently stable peatbog habitats. Specific traits linked to vulnerability (e.g., thermal index, red list status) and specialization proved to be promising predictors of future shifts in odonatofauna of temperate peatlands. The pronounced changes documented here may precede irreversible transformations of these unique ecosystems, highlighting the urgency of monitoring bog habitats and maintaining their stability under ongoing global change.

• Klíčová slova
• Dragonfly Biotic Index, European Red List, Odonata, Species Temperature Index, climate change, raised and transitional bogs, temperate peatlands, trait‐based approach,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• klimatické změny * MeSH
• mokřady * MeSH
• vážky * fyziologie   MeSH
• zachování přírodních zdrojů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the association between subjectively experienced levels of diabetes distress (DD) and personality traits (PTs), even when levels of DD appear stable over time. This study aimed to use the Alternative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) to associate specific maladaptive PTs with experienced DD and to describe differences in the constellation of PTs between people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) and type 2 diabetes (PWT2D). METHODS: A total of 358 participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) (56.2% female, mean age 42.33 years, standard deviation (SD) = 14.33) were evaluated using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) and the shortened 160-item version of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Psychometric properties of the DDS were evaluated first, then the association between DDS and PID-5 scores, and the differences between groups based on diabetes type and DD level, were analyzed. RESULTS: Strong associations were found between the PID-5 Negative Affectivity (NEF) domain and the emotional burden (β = 0.852, p Holm < 0.001) and regimen distress (β = 0.435, p Holm = 0.006) DDS subscale scores. PWT1D had a higher level of personality pathology than PWT2D, as did participants with elevated levels of DD across most domains and facets of PID-5. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that attention should be paid to the level of NEF among people with diabetes in relation to their emotional burden and perception of regimen distress. We recommend a distinction between people based on their diabetes type. Implications for clinical practice and interventions for DD perceived through the lens of the dimensional DSM-5 PT model are discussed.

• Klíčová slova
• AMPD, DDS, diabetes distress, diabetes distress scale, diabetes mellitus, personality traits,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH