Pathogenic bacteria continually evolve under antimicrobial pressure through acquired resistance genes, making it crucial to understand their evolutionary strategies. We identify a clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA), harboring heterogeneous multicopy blaCTX-M, among which a blaCTX-M-249 variant mediates CZA resistance. Both blaCTX-M-249 and its closely related allele blaCTX-M-65 are dominant within the clonal population and are located at two loci on the same plasmid, with their proportions shifting under antibiotic pressure. Using experimental and mathematical models, we demonstrate that the heterogeneous arrangement of blaCTX-M variants on the same plasmid confers greater stability and competitive advantage than that across separate plasmids, particularly during drug switching. Re-analysis of large genomic datasets supports the universality of this phenomenon. Our findings reveal an evolutionary strategy in which β-lactamase genes, through multicopy heterogeneity on a single plasmid, ensure stable inheritance of resistance and enhance bacterial adaptability under fluctuating clinical antibiotic pressures.

This study introduces a hybrid stellar oscillation optimizer with differential evolution (hSOO-DE) for high-performance tuning of PID controllers with derivative filtering (PID-F) in nonlinear temperature regulation of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). The hybrid approach combines the global exploration capability of the stellar oscillation optimizer (SOO) with the local exploitation strength of differential evolution, ensuring a well-balanced search between diversification and intensification during parameter optimization. The proposed algorithm was applied to a benchmark nonlinear CSTR model and comprehensively compared with state-of-the-art metaheuristic optimizers SOO, birds of prey-based optimization (BPBO), covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) and differential evolution (DE) as well as classical tuning techniques including Ziegler-Nichols, Tyreus-Luyben, and Simulink Tuner. The optimization objective jointly minimizes overshoot and integral absolute error to enhance transient and steady-state control quality. Statistical analyses, including boxplot evaluations and Mann-Whitney U-tests, demonstrate that hSOO-DE achieves the lowest mean objective value with minimal variance compared to recent optimizers. Time-domain results confirm superior transient performance, reflected in reduced rise and settling times and minimal overshoot, while integral performance indices verify improved steady-state precision. Validation against conventional PID-F tuning methods further highlights the robustness and reliability of the proposed design. The findings demonstrate that embedding DE within the oscillatory structure of the SOO yields a robust and efficient framework for PID-F controller tuning in nonlinear chemical reactor systems.

Chicken B cell development represents a remarkable evolutionary divergence from mammalian paradigms, featuring unique three-stage ontogeny centered on the bursa of Fabricius, an avian-specific primary B cell lymphoid organ. Unlike mammals where B cells develop continuously in bone marrow, chickens utilize a temporally restricted program spanning pre-bursal (E5-E14), bursal (E8-hatching), and post-bursal phases (hatching-bursal involution), each characterized by distinct molecular mechanisms and anatomical sites. In this review, we documented chicken B cell development in three developmental phases (pre-bursal to post-bursal phases) and compared it with mammalian B cell development mostly in humans as a representative mammalian model. In chicken, while the embryonic bursa of Fabricius serves as the primary B cell receptor (BCR)-dependent B cell developmental organ, it also supports BCR-independent early colonization followed by extensive activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)-mediated gene conversion rather than V(D)J recombination for antibody diversification. Recent gene knockout studies reveal paradoxical BCR signaling requirements for post-hatched chicken B cell development, with J H knockout chickens lacking post-hatched B cells, while recombination activating gene 1 ( RAG1 ) knockout chickens maintain post-hatched bursal B cell populations through alternative pathways. Single-cell RNA sequencing has identified previously unrecognized chicken B cell subpopulations and provided molecular signatures for bursal and post-bursal B cells, addressing longstanding phenotypic marker limitations. These findings demonstrate that effective chicken humoral immunity can be achieved through alternative evolutionary strategies, with reduced dependence on RAG1 activity compared to mammalian systems, providing new perspectives on immune system evolution and adaptive immunity mechanisms.

Post-earthquake waste disposal planning constitutes a critical preliminary stage of post-disaster reconstruction. The efficacy of collaboration among stakeholders in this phase directly impacts environmental and social benefits. Nevertheless, there is a deficiency of a clearly defined collaborative mechanism between governments and enterprises during post-earthquake waste disposal. Therefore, this paper commences from the post-disaster reconstruction phase, formulating a two-sided evolutionary game model for local governments and waste management enterprises grounded in the perspective of bounded rationality. The model employs replicator dynamics to analyze evolutionary stable strategies and equilibrium conditions. It is further refined by incorporating prospect theory to explore the dynamic mechanisms through which governmental supervisory intensity and enterprise technological choices interact. Additionally, this study examines how various factors influence decision-making processes at both government and enterprise levels. The theoretical model and its equilibrium results are validated through a realistic case simulation based on the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The findings reveal that government-enterprise collaboration is inherently unstable and highly sensitive to synergistic parameter effects. For instance, collaboration is significantly promoted by increasing policy tax incentives alongside either higher enterprise revenues or lower government supervision costs. Analysis of enterprise decision-making indicates that the key strategic trade-off involves balancing the costs of resource utilization against the additional benefits gained and the potential losses incurred from neglecting such utilization. Furthermore, social prestige gains exert an implicit influence by affecting the probability of mass incidents and the degree of loss aversion within the government-enterprise synergy.

Pseudolysimachion pyrethrinum var. gasanensis (Gasan spike speedwell) is a valuable Korean endemic variety with significant horticultural potential. Despite its morphological distinctiveness, its taxonomic status and evolutionary position have remained a subject of debate. In this study, we assembled and characterized the first complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. pyrethrinum var. gasanensis using high-throughput sequencing. The complete plastome is 152,251 bp in length, exhibiting a typical quadripartite structure with a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,191 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,690 bp), and two inverted repeats (IRs) (25,685 bp each). The genome contains 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. Genomic analysis identified 42 simple sequence repeat (SSR) units across 38 distinct loci, predominantly mononucleotide A/T motifs, which serve as potential molecular markers for variety-level identification. Selective pressure analysis revealed that the majority of protein-coding genes are under strong purifying selection (Ka/Ks < 1.0), emphasizing the evolutionary stability of the plastome. Comparative analysis of IR boundaries using IRscope revealed a high degree of structural conservation among Pseudolysimachion species, with minor variations at the junction sites. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18 complete plastomes strongly supported the monophyly of the genus Pseudolysimachion (Bootstrap = 100%) and placed P. pyrethrinum var. gasanensis as a sister to the European P. spicatum. These genomic resources provide a foundational tool for the molecular breeding, systematic conservation, and sustainable utilization of this endemic variety, while offering clarity to its taxonomic classification within the tribe Veroniceae.

Background and aims – The timing of seasonal life cycle events is important for developing assessments of the extinction risk status, understanding the responses to climate change, and even evolutionary strategies. Many studies on phenology have been published about the impact of climate change; however, relatively little is known about phenological patterns in long-lived, dioecious species such as cycads. Cycad species are threatened with a high risk of extinction and require obligatory outcrossing for effective reproduction. While phenological research in cycads has been conducted in species with restricted distributions, the potential phenological variations in widely distributed species remain unaddressed. Material and methods – We analyzed phenological data of Zamia loddigesii , a cycad species with broad distribution. We selected 17 populations from Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico. The timing and abundance of vegetative structures were observed for 1874 plants. In total, 333 reproductive plants were found of which 216 and 117 were polliniferous and ovuliferous plants, respectively. On these plants, we recorded 589 pollen and 134 ovulate strobili. We explored the relationship between phenophases and temperature and precipitation. Key results – Our results showed a high synchrony at intrapopulation level and slight asynchrony within the distribution area for reproductive phenology. This asynchrony occurred at the northern portion. Receptivity and open pollen, at the individual level, lasted approximately two weeks, but at the species level lasted for five months with peaks of intensity between May and June. No marked seasonal pattern was found for the leaves with peaks in April and May, but leaves can be produced almost all year round. Temperature influenced only the reproductive phenological pattern. Conclusion – The vegetative phenological pattern appears to be influenced mainly by other factors including anthropogenic activities. These data allowed us to understand the reproductive dynamics that will contribute to the development of effective conservation proposals.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mpa is an AAA+ ATPase that unfolds and translocates substrate proteins during proteasomal degradation. Mpa spontaneously assembles into a homohexamer driven by interdomain interactions, even in the absence of a nucleotide. To dissect the mechanisms underlying its oligomerization and deoligomerization, we perturbed the system using chemical and thermal denaturants and monitored the oligomeric states by far-UV CD, fluorescence, calorimetry, state-of-the-art single-particle mass photometry, and ATPase activity assays. Equilibrium chemical denaturation resulted in gradual changes in spectroscopic signals, whereas mass photometry revealed a direct transition from a hexamer to monomeric species, indicating a concerted but noncooperative pathway without any intermediate oligomeric or folded monomeric states. In contrast, thermal perturbation showed two sharp and distinct transitions, the first one corresponding to a concerted and cooperative transition from hexamer to unfolded state, which further aggregates, and the second transition to disaggregation at elevated temperatures. Both chemical and thermal unfolding processes were irreversible with respect to the reassembly of the functional oligomer. Using single-particle mass photometry complemented by spectroscopy and calorimetry, these findings establish that Mpa is an obligate oligomer and can provide insights into the oligomerization pathways of AAA+ enzymes that spontaneously hexamerize and have the potential to further illuminate evolutionary strategies underlying their assembly mechanisms.

Antibiotic resistance is escalating, highlighting the urgent need for novel antimicrobial strategies. Defensin-like antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered ideal candidates due to their broad-spectrum activity and engineerable potential; however, their limited antimicrobial efficacy and complex chemical synthesis constrain practical applications. In this study, we aimed to enhance the antimicrobial properties of defensin-like AMPs through rational design, directed evolution, and structural fusion strategies. The engineered variant XC1 demonstrated significantly improved antimicrobial activity against a broad range of pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, while maintaining broad-spectrum efficacy. Comprehensive evaluation of toxicity and stability showed that XC1 exhibited good functional stability in serum, low hemolysis, and low cytotoxicity, indicating excellent therapeutic potential. In addition, high-level secretory expression of defensin-derived AMPs and their engineered variants was achieved using Pichia pastoris GS115, demonstrating strong biosynthetic capability. Together, these results provide a viable strategy for enhancing the antimicrobial activity and scalable biosynthesis of defensin-like AMPs.

Habitat connectivity evolution and management strategies under the dual drivers of urban expansion and renewal: A case study of nanning, China

Sperm functional and morphometric differences between Iberian and European ecotypes of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.).

Integrated assortment and distribution planning in vendor-managed inventory systems: a clustering-based grouping evolution strategy and adaptive large neighborhood search approach

The efficient conversion of lignocellulosic sugars into bioethanol is constrained by the inability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to metabolize xylose and by its preference for glucose when both sugars are available. Although recombinant strains have been developed to improve xylose utilization, further optimization is needed to achieve robust co-fermentation performance. In this study, three parental strains were used: a wild-type S. cerevisiae strain (GF16), a genetically engineered S. cerevisiae strain capable of metabolizing xylose (TMB3001), and a reference strain of Scheffersomyces stipitis (ATCC 58376). From these, we obtained an evolved S. cerevisiae strain (F2C7A) through a combination of UV mutagenesis, protoplast fusion, and adaptive laboratory evolution. In synthetic medium containing only xylose, F2C7A consumed 87.9% of the sugar after 72 h, compared with only 52.3% by its parental hybrid strain, although, its biomass yield was lower (0.20 g/g vs. 0.35 g/g). Under mixed-sugar conditions, F2C7A consumed all available glucose and 33% of xylose within 48 h, producing ethanol at 0.45 g/g yield with minimal xylitol accumulation. In culture medium containing only xylose, it reached a biomass yield of 0.86 g/g and a xylitol yield of 0.11 g/g. Transcriptomic analysis revealed strong induction of XYL1, XYL2, tricarboxylic acid cycle genes, and oxidative phosphorylation components under xylose, consistent with a respiratory phenotype. Mixed-sugar cultures displayed a respirofermentative profile and reduced xylitol formation, suggesting improved redox balance in the presence of glucose. Several nonspecific sugar transporters (HXT8, HGT1, STL1) were overexpressed under xylose, indicating potential compensatory uptake mechanisms. Changes in nitrogen metabolism included upregulation of GLT1 and repression of GDH1, suggesting a shift toward NADH-dependent glutamate synthesis. These findings demonstrate that combining classical and evolutionary strategies can enhance xylose metabolism in S. cerevisiae, providing a foundation for further improvement of strains intended for lignocellulosic bioethanol production.

Soil-borne oomycetes, such as Phytophthora and Pythium species, are highly destructive pathogens responsible for severe diseases in crops, ornamentals, and natural ecosystems. These pathogens can persist in soil for many years, making them particularly difficult to control. To establish infection, they deploy a diverse arsenal of effector proteins that manipulate host immune responses, disrupt vital cellular functions, and may influence the rhizosphere microbiome to facilitate successful colonization. Phytophthora relies heavily on RxLR effectors to disrupt intracellular immunity, while Pythium species predominantly deploy necrosis-inducing NLPs and cell wall-degrading enzymes, with no confirmed canonical RxLR effectors, suggesting distinct evolutionary strategies. This review aims to explore the detailed mechanisms of plant-pathogen interaction. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular dialogue between pathogens and their hosts, particularly how pathogenic species such as Phytophthora and Pythium manipulate plant immunity through effector secretion, and how plants counteract by activating defense mechanisms at molecular, cellular, and biochemical levels, including changes in hormone signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) dynamics, and defense gene expression. The review also outlines emerging disease management strategies and integrative approaches guided by effector biology and microbiome insights.

Rhodococcus erythropolis NI86/21, isolated from maize rhizosphere in Hungary, possesses one of the largest genomes (8.046 Mb) within the species. The genome comprises a 6.83 Mb chromosome and 1.22 Mb of extrachromosomal elements, including three circular and two fragmented linear plasmids. Comparative analysis identified five horizontally acquired genomic islands (HGTi), totaling 0.64 Mb with mosaic-like architecture derived from plasmids, phages, and chromosomal segments of other Nocardiaceae. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic analysis revealed a lower expression of genes located in HGT elements (53%) compared to core chromosomal genes (73%), indicating regulatory silencing of foreign DNA. Nevertheless, an inducible cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP116) responsible for thiocarbamate and atrazine degradation is encoded on HGTi_V and actively expressed upon herbicide exposure. Strikingly, an identical CYP450 locus is present on a conjugative plasmid in Rhodococcus sp. TE1 isolated from thiocarbamate-treated soil in Canada, demonstrating independent acquisition of the same catabolic module from a high GC% content Rhodococcus, under similar selective pressure. Frequent recombination between chromosomal and mobile elements generates the observed mosaic-like HGT structures, which we found common for R. erythropolis strains. These results highlight extraordinary genomic plasticity and rapid adaptive evolution in Rhodococci, enabling efficient colonization of herbicide-contaminated agro-ecosystems.IMPORTANCERhodococcus erythropolis NI86/21 exemplifies how bacterial genomes evolve through horizontal gene transfer and mobile elements. Its unusually large, plastic genome contains extensive HGT islands and a high load of active transposons, which shape mosaic genomic architectures and hinder complete genome assembly. These horizontally acquired regions, although partially silenced, encode key adaptive functions such as an inducible CYP116 monooxygenase enabling thiocarbamate and atrazine degradation. Remarkably, an identical CYP116 module is present in Rhodococcus sp. TE1 from thiocarbamate-treated Canadian soil, demonstrating that similar environmental pressures can drive independent acquisition of the same biodegradation trait. Together, the dynamic transposon activity, mosaic HGT structure, and geographically convergent gene recruitment highlight the extraordinary genomic plasticity of R. erythropolis and underscore its rapid adaptive potential in agro-ecosystems, with implications for microbial evolution and bioremediation strategies.

Abstract We analyze relationships between evolutionary stability and the tenable strategy blocks of Myerson and Weibull (Econometrica 83(3): 943–976). In finite two-player games, we prove that strategies robust against equilibrium entrants (Swinkels, J. Econ. Theory 57(2):306–332) are fully settled in the sense of Myerson and Weibull. Based on this, we propose new evolutionary stability concepts that characterize tenable strategy blocks directly. These characterizations are formulated solely in terms of primitives without relying on tenability’s meta game framework, simplifying the application of tenability and comparisons with other concepts. For instance, we prove that every coarsely tenable block contains a strategically stable set (Kohlberg and Mertens, Econometrica 54(5):1003–1037). Finally we show that in finite and symmetric two-player games, established evolutionary stability notions imply a symmetric variant of coarse tenability.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the mumps virus (MuV), a member of the genus Orthorubulavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. Although effective vaccines exist, mumps vaccination is not yet part of Uganda's routine immunization program. In 2022 and 2023, Uganda experienced a notable outbreak of mumps, underscoring the need for molecular characterization of the circulating virus strains. This study aimed to identify and genetically characterize the mumps virus strains responsible for the outbreak. Buccal or oropharyngeal swabs were collected from clinically confirmed cases from five districts. The mumps virus was isolated using the WHO Vero cell line. RNA was extracted from the isolates and clinical samples using the Qiagen kit. Real-time PCR testing was conducted and positive samples subjected to Sanger sequencing of the SH gene, a key target for genotypic classification. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA v12 software, with genotypes assigned based on phylogenetic clustering of study sequences with the 24 WHO mumps reference sequences. The study obtained ten virus isolates and fourteen sequences belonging to three genotypes: D, H and G. This genotypic variation, observed within a relatively small sample size, underscores the potential complexity of mumps virus transmission and evolution within the country. This study presents the first genetic characterization of mumps viruses from Uganda and the findings provide critical genomic baseline data for future mumps virus surveillance in Uganda, contributing to the understanding of mumps virus evolution, transmission dynamics, and potential vaccine introduction strategies.

The rapid integration of digital and intelligent technologies has fundamentally reshaped labor markets and redefined the competencies required for future employment. This systematic review synthesizes findings from recent Chinese and international scholarly literature to examine the evolution, influencing factors, cultivation pathways, and optimization strategies for university students' employability in the digital intelligence era. It identifies a paradigm shift from discrete "digital literacy" towards integrated "human-machine collaborative competency." The analysis reveals a complex interaction mechanism among four dimensions: technological advancement, educational provision, individual agency, and organizational adaptation. Correspondingly, cultivation pathways are proposed across four fronts: university curriculum reform, practical platform enhancement, policy support systems, and individual lifelong learning. The paper concludes by constructing a framework for employability development oriented towards human-machine collaboration and suggests future research directions, including AI-powered mentoring, virtual internships, and dynamic competency assessment systems.

Abstract Specialised foraging tactics can shape population dynamics by fostering habitat-specific behaviours and preferential social associations among foragers. Understanding how ecological and social factors influence the transmission of these tactics is key to evaluating their evolutionary significance and ecological stability. Yet the interplay between these factors in shaping behavioural transmission in natural populations remains poorly understood. Here, we analyse how the interplay between spatial, population and social factors influences the potential for social transmission of a specialised foraging tactic—mud-ring feeding—among bottlenose dolphins in Florida Bay, USA. We found that dolphin social networks were clustered into distinct social communities with preferential associations structured around this tactic. Both limited movement and brief presence by non-users into the mud-ring feeding core area may further constrain their opportunities to acquire this behaviour. Non-users were highly connected socially, whereas mud-ring specialists showed reduced social connectivity to the broader population, reflecting their social and behavioural differentiation. This alignment between spatial and social structure suggests that spatial fidelity reinforces social segregation, creating conditions that can both facilitate within-community transmission of the specialised foraging and limit its diffusion across the population. Nevertheless, individuals with high betweenness centrality—often non-users that occupy key bridging positions between network clusters with different levels of mud-ring feeding specialisation—potentially act as conduits for behavioural transmission across otherwise socially disconnected communities. These findings illustrate how social and spatial processes can reinforce one another and shape the transmission of specialised foraging in wild populations, with potential implications for the persistence of such adaptive behaviours in changing environments.

Abstract Partial neural distinguishers limit the available ciphertext bit combinations in differential neural cryptanalysis. When the training data size and the number of bits are not appropriately selected, label collisions can occur, which adversely affects key recovery efficiency. This paper conducts an analysis to investigate the correlation between the number of bits and the data size, aiming to address the aforementioned issue. It develops a strategy to control collisions and mitigate the impact of these collisions on model performance. A Collision-Aware Key Recovery (CAKR) framework is proposed tailored for high-collision data based on this strategy. This framework leverages the distribution characteristics of labels, eliminating the need for training neural distinguishers and significantly reducing both time and resource consumption. Experimental results show that the CAKR framework reduces the key recovery time by 96.8%, 95.5%, and 91.0% for the Speck32/64, Speck64/96, and Speck96/128, respectively. Additionally, a bit search algorithm is proposed that incorporates a differential evolution strategy and uses the non-uniformity of the ciphertext difference distribution among positive samples as the fitness criterion. Frequent calls to the neural distinguisher are avoided by our method, reducing the search time from 3.286 h to 7.464 s for 8-bit combinations in Speck32/64. The CAKR framework also offers a quantum version that theoretically further reduces time complexity.

Klebsiella oxytoca has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in nosocomial infections, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to its capacity to acquire and disseminate resistance and virulence genes through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This study presents a genome-based comparative analysis of K. oxytoca within the genus Klebsiella, aimed at exploring the evolutionary plausibility of outer membrane vesicle (OMV) associated processes in bacterial adaptation. Using publicly available reference genomes, we analyzed pangenome structure, phylogenetic relationships, and the distribution of mobile genetic elements, resistance determinants, virulence factors, and genes related to OMV biogenesis. Our results reveal a conserved set of envelope associated and stress responsive genes involved in vesiculogenic pathways, together with an extensive mobilome and resistome characteristic of the genus. Although these genomic features are consistent with conditions that may favor OMV production, they do not constitute direct evidence of functional OMV mediated horizontal gene transfer. Instead, our findings support a hypothesis generating evolutionary framework in which OMVs may act as a complementary mechanism to established gene transfer routes, including conjugation, integrative mobile elements, and bacteriophages. Overall, this study provides a genomic framework for future experimental and metagenomic investigations into the role of OMV-associated processes in antimicrobial resistance dissemination and should be interpreted as a recently identified evolutionary strategy inferred from genomic data, rather than a novel or experimentally validated mechanism.