Life Forms Research Articles

A metal ion mediated functional dichotomy encodes plasticity during translation quality control

Proofreading during translation of the genetic code is a key process for not only translation quality control but also for its modulation under stress conditions to provide fitness advantage. A major class of proofreading modules represented by editing domains of alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS-Ed) and threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS-Ed) features a common fold and an invariant Zn2+ binding motif across life forms. Here, we reveal the structural basis and functional consequence along with the necessity for their operational dichotomy, i.e., the metal ion is ubiquitous in one and inhibitor for the other. The universally conserved Zn2+ in AlaRS-Ed protects its proofreading activity from reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain high fidelity Ala-codons translation, necessary for cell survival. On the other hand, mistranslation of Thr-codons is well tolerated by the cells, thereby allowing for a ROS-based modulation of ThrRS-Ed’s activity. A single residue rooted over ~3.5 billion years of evolution has been shown to be primarily responsible for the functional divergence. The study presents a remarkable example of how protein quality control is integrated with redox signalling through leveraging the tunability of metal binding sites from the time of last universal common ancestor (LUCA).

Peculiar morphology of Asgard archaeal cells close to the prokaryote-eukaryote boundary.

The emergence of complex eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic ancestors is a major enigma in the history of life. Current data suggest that Asgard archaea are the closest prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes and have a genetic potential for cellular complexity, suggesting their key role in the evolution of eukaryotes. The Asgard archaeal order Hodarchaeales was recently proposed as the sister lineage of eukaryotes with a unique set of eukaryotic signature proteins. However, there is no microscopic evidence to show the cellular structure of these closest known archaeal relatives of eukaryotes. Here, we retrieved Hodarchaeales-affiliated full-length 16S rRNA sequences from marine sediments (Aarhus Bay, Denmark), representing 0.1% of the relative rRNA read abundance in sequence libraries, and designed new oligonucleotide probes specifically targeting their cells. We then employed catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) and imaged the labeled cells by super-resolution microscopy with appropriate controls. Hodarchaeales-affiliated cells were characterized by an elongated cell body connected to a rounded expansion at one pole with a confined central DNA localization. They were conspicuously large, with an average length of 3 µm, ranging from 1.5 to 5.2 µm. The average width was 1.1-0.8 µm in the round expansion and the cell body, respectively. The remarkable size and morphology of the detected Hodarchaeales-related cells suggest a potential for complex eukaryote-like cellular architecture in these as-yet-uncultivated Asgard archaea, which could represent a key transitional stage in eukaryogenesis.IMPORTANCEAsgard archaea played a pivotal role in the evolution of complex cellular life, as recent data revealed their close relationship to eukaryotes in the Tree of Life and a genetic repertoire suggesting intricate cellular organization. This suggests that the key elements of eukaryotic cellular complexity originated in Asgard archaea. However, visual evidence to show their cellular structure and morphological diversity remains scarce, leaving an open question of how the genetic potential for cellular complexity translates into phenotype. In this study, we report the remarkable size and unusual shape of yet-uncultivated Asgard archaeal cells, which are close to the prokaryote-eukaryote boundary. Our findings suggest a previously unknown complex cellular structure in the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes and could contribute to our understanding of the evolution of complex life forms.

COMPASSION AND THE CITY: An Introduction

AbstractCompassion and the city is an unusual coupling in the urban analytic. The five essays in this Interventions collection propose compassion in the city as a form of life embedded in the conditions of the urban. Posed against the grain of extant scholarship that addresses these concerns in terms of discursive care or aid, this collection brings in five urban contexts—Dhaka, Delhi, Cairo, Jakarta and Horsens—to highlight understated nuances of how compassion might be recognized and understood within the urban condition. This introduction proposes what embedding compassion as a resolute part of the urban social infrastructure could entail and what that might imply in framing human affirmation in the face of urban suffering.

Impact of Global Climate Change in the Distribution and the Range Dynamics of Endemic Orchid Habenaria suaveolens Dalzell in Northern Western Ghats of India

Climate change and human activity have significantly contributed to the decline of biodiversity worldwide. Orchids, in particular, are sensitive to disturbances and may respond rapidly to the impacts of climate change than many other plant species. Due to their complex biology and the pressures placed on their habitats, orchids are considered a highly vulnerable group of plants. The lateritic plateaus of northern Western Ghats support a variety of life forms and are quite fragile in nature. The slightest pressure on the habitat affects all the flora and fauna thriving in these microhabitats. Habenaria suaveolens is one of the endemic orchids that can be found growing in these habitats only. In the present study, we examine the effect of climate change on the distribution of threatened H. suaveolens utilizing ecological niche modeling for present and future climatic scenarios (SSP 2-4.5 & SSP 5-8.5) to identify key environmental determinants and population parameters. A total of 25 occurrence records were used to study the SDM model using the MIROC6 global climatic model. The result revealed that only 19.50% (7921 km2) is highly suitable for the species in the current period. The highly suitable area reduces from 57.99% (SSP245) to 74.12% (SSP585) in 2090. Moreover, the total suitable habitat gets confined to less than 1000 km2 in future climatic conditions. The major environmental variable that predicts the distribution of the species are Bio17 (Precipitation of driest quarter), Bio1 (Annual Mean Temperature), Bio2 (Mean Diurnal Range), and aspect. Recently, the species is becoming less in population due to man-made activities like quarrying, tourism, grazing, trampling, etc., in and around the lateritic plateaus, leading to disturbances in the habitat. This study has provided a baseline data about the contiguous distribution of the species and its potentially suitable habitats in the future for conservationists to take precautionary steps for the protection of the species. Hence, a strategic plan can be compiled based on this to conserve these highly habitat specific plants.

Indigenous Knowledge of Traditional Practitioners and Ethnobotanical Description of Underutilized Medicinal Plants Used in Treating Some Viral Infections in Southwestern Nigeria

Aims: The research aims to document underutilized medicinal plants used in treating viral infections in Southwestern Nigeria and to explore the traditional knowledge associated with their use. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across six southwestern states of Nigeria. From each state, three rural communities were selected from two Local Government Areas based on the prevalence of herbal healing practices, prominence of practitioners, and their indigenous knowledge of underutilized medicinal plants for treating infectious viral diseases. A total of 48 informants were randomly selected from the study locations. Place and Duration of Study: Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos states, Nigeria; between October, 2024 and March, 2025. Methodology: Ethnobotanical details regarding medicinal plants were gathered from informants in the six states through structured interviews, observations, group discussions, and field excursions. The identification of rarely utilized medicinal plants was carried out by analyzing their life forms, growth habits, and environments, with support from the traditional healers involved. The Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were determined following established procedures. The pattern of distribution of medicinal plants was examined through a participatory approach Results: Over 50% of the respondents knew about the viral diseases and underused medicinal plants for their treatment. A total of 54 medicinal plant species from 32 different families were recorded and detailed. Most of the plant species were herbaceous, perennial, and regarded as either abundant or rare. The fidelity level (FL) values for each underutilized medicinal plant found ranged between 25 and 100%. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) value for viral diseases exceeded one (1). Conclusion: The indigenous herbal knowledge has highlighted the underutilized medicinal plants for viral disease treatment which can promote sustainable livelihoods in indigenous communities.

Fungi in Mangrove: Ecological Importance, Climate Change Impacts, and the Role in Environmental Remediation

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems of great ecological importance, located in transition areas between marine and terrestrial environments, predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions. In Brazil, these biomes are present along the entire coastline, playing essential environmental roles such as sediment stabilization, coastal erosion control, and the filtration of nutrients and pollutants. The unique structure of the roots of some mangrove tree species facilitates sediment deposition and organic matter retention, creating favorable conditions for the development of rich and specialized biodiversity, including fungi, bacteria, and other life forms. Furthermore, mangroves serve as important nurseries for many species of fish, crustaceans, and birds, being fundamental to maintaining trophic networks and the local economy, which relies on fishing resources. However, these ecosystems have been significantly impacted by anthropogenic pressures and global climate change. In recent years, the increase in average global temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, and ocean acidification have contributed to the degradation of mangroves. Additionally, human activities such as domestic sewage discharge, pollution from organic and inorganic compounds, and alterations in hydrological regimes have accelerated this degradation process. These factors directly affect the biodiversity present in mangrove sediments, including the fungal community, which plays a crucial role in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling. Fungi, which include various taxonomic groups such as Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota, are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, making the study of their diversity and distribution relevant for understanding the impacts of climate change and pollution. In particular, fungal bioremediation has gained significant attention as an effective strategy for mitigating pollution in these sensitive ecosystems. Fungi possess unique abilities to degrade or detoxify environmental pollutants, including heavy metals and organic contaminants, through processes such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and enzymatic degradation. This bioremediation potential can help restore the ecological balance of mangrove ecosystems and protect their biodiversity from the adverse effects of pollution. Recent studies suggest that changes in temperature, salinity, and the chemical composition of sediments can drastically modify microbial and fungal communities in these environments, influencing the resilience of the ecosystem. The objective of this narrative synthesis is to point out the diversity of fungi present in mangrove sediments, emphasizing how the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pollution influence the composition and functionality of these communities. By exploring these interactions, including the role of fungal bioremediation in ecosystem restoration, it is expected that this study would provide a solid scientific basis for the conservation of mangroves and the development of strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts on these valuable ecosystems.

A Critical View of Antimicrobial Peptides: Exploring their Potential and the Barriers to Realisation.

The global rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections highlights the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies beyond traditional antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), naturally occurring in all forms of life and synthetically producible, have garnered significant attention for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and diverse mechanisms of action, including membrane disruption, immune modulation, and biofilm formation inhibition and disruption. Despite great potential, the clinical deployment of AMPs faces significant challenges, including cytotoxicity, low chemical stability, high production costs, and stringent regulatory demands. Innovative strategies, such as AMP-antibiotic conjugation, offer potential solutions to some of these challenges by enhancing efficacy, reducing toxicity, and broadening antimicrobial activity. This review critically evaluates the promise and limitations of AMPs as therapeutic antibacterial agents. We also explore the potential of AMP-antibiotic conjugates, highlighting their potential synergistic effects and the obstacles to their clinical application. Antimicrobial self-assembling peptides are also discussed, with their ability to form nanostructures that may disrupt biofilms and inhibit bacterial communication, representing a promising but complex avenue. A critical perspective on the challenges and practical applicability of these strategies is essential to advance their development in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Religious and moral self-identification of student youth in matters of family and marriage

The article examines the problems of self-determination of student youth in the system of moral values, namely, in matters of family and marriage, depending on religious beliefs and the degree of faith. The hypothesis of the study is that commitment to faith in young people contributes to the development and strengthening of moral and ethical values of the younger generation. The results of the study indicate that students who consider themselves believers to one degree or another have more holistic and morally significant attitudes and views on creating a family and entering into marriage, in contrast to students without religious ideas and beliefs. The parental family is the source of moral and ethical development of a teenager and his attitude to faith. Family and religion shape the worldview of a young person on family and marriage. The more religiously inclined a young person is, the more he believes in the institution of family and marriage, and considers marriage important for himself. Religious students least of all consider celibacy as a form of existence and life. The more religiously inclined a young person is, the more he honors the institution of parental blessing. The relevance of the study lies in studying the dependence of moral and ethical values of student youth on religious beliefs.

Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei from human gut microbiome against colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: in vitro, in vivo and probiogenomic approaches

Abstract Antibiotic treatment regimens fail to address Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting resistance to multiple drugs, including the last resort antibiotic, colistin. The use of probiotics as candidates for alternative antimicrobial therapy or as a source of new antibiotics is considered as an emerging trend in therapeutics. Rejuvenating the human gut with probiotics offers an intriguing therapeutic approach in various enteric diseases. However, the precise role of probiotics in non-enteric infections, particularly those caused by colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae remains unresolved, prompting further comprehensive research. Therefore, we propose an innovative prophylactic approach using Lacticaseibacilli of human gut origin against this pathogen. Probiotic characterisation like tolerance to acid, bile and sodium chloride were performed to evaluate its gastric survival. In vitro experiments revealed that non-neutralised cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lacticaseibacillus has the potential to inhibit pathogenic K. pneumoniae. The observed growth reduction is suggestive of the cumulative effect of organic acids and other antimicrobial substances in CFS. The two Lacticaseibacillus paracasei isolates exhibited promising activity (with suspected proteinaceous heat labile molecules) against K. pneumoniae and those with better adhesion to CaCo-2 cell lines were selected for downstream studies. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of CFS treated pathogen cells revealed cell surface distortions and pore formations. The prophylactic potential of Lacticaseibacillus (live and heat-inactivated forms) in Balb/c mice model showed a reduction in histopathological and microbiological alterations caused by K. pneumoniae, when compared with untreated pathogen control. Whole genome analysis of the potential probiotic isolate revealed the genome is devoid of any antibiotic resistance genes and other virulence markers indicating its safety in vivo. Furthermore, the in vitro pathogen inhibition results were reinforced by antiSMASH and BAGEL analysis, which predicted the presence of putative bacteriocin genes. Hence, this multiapproach research study has revealed a promising prophylactic probiotic from human gut microbiome against multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae.

What’s Cooking? Mobilizing Women’s Life Narratives in Diasporic Cookbooks

Over recent years there has been a proliferation of cookbooks by diasporic women authors containing a wealth of traditional family recipes. Today’s cookbooks focus on experiencing transnational traditions and transculturalism through women’s voices and intergenerational stories. This paper elucidates how cookbooks, as a form of life writing, materialise ‘mobile lives’ (Elliot and Urry, 2009) through a focus on women’s histories, narratives and activism. In shaping intergenerational women’s life storying, these cookbooks represent identity markers of the geopolitics of migration. I will examine two cookbooks that explore diasporic ancestries: Cynthia Shanmugalingam’s Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka (2022) and Reem Assil’s Arrabiya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora (2022). The authors pay homage to their homeland through culinary expression. The cookbooks include heartfelt essays that convey the importance of documenting oral food histories in order to preserve their distinct gustatory cultures in an environment where the physical land is threatened or erased from national consciousness. The cookbook is an ideal site for mobilizing the oral to the textual while also stressing the intimacy and distinctness of these diasporic family accounts. Therefore, these cookbooks mediate the interconnected acts of diasporic writing, reading and cooking.

Preface: the paradox of generalism, a philosophical perspective

Evolution ultimately proceeds via ecological specialisation. This is regardless of the exact mechanism/s involved (e.g. selection, genetic drift, allopatric, sympatric, parapatric, etc.), leading to unique, functionally adapted entities (genetically-physiologically-biochemically-chemically-morphologically-behaviorally) filling new or vacant niches, whereupon the novel population becomes reproductively isolated from the original parent population. True, some such species can occasionally hybridise/introgress with other closely related species, and occasionally may be reproductively viable, but species populations tend to show restricted genetic variation (genetic identity) over their geographical range. If specialism is the main driving force of evolution, as clear from the fossil record as well as extant life forms, this must be reflected in the habitat and dietary specialisations. All living things are constrained by the aforementioned life-style factors, e.g. morphology, etc., which maintains them within their adopted niche and thereby reduces intra- and interspecific competition. Can a species, in a biological sense, be a ‘Jack-of-all-trades and master of none’? This is the paradox to be faced if the reality of generalism is to be accepted. In addition, the recent widespread discovery, using molecular techniques, of morphologically-cryptic entities within hitherto accepted ‘good species’ suggests that the diet breadth of such species complexes may in turn be more complex than imagined.

Warum juckt’s mich da? Neuropathischer Pruritus bei neurologischen Autoimmunerkrankungen

Background: To date, little is known about the prevalence of itch in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its characteristics. Objectives: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence, intensity and characteristics of chronic pruritus in MS patients and its effect on quality-of-life and association with MS symptoms, clinical signs, comorbidities and MRI findings. Methods: MS patients presenting to an outpatient neurology clinic were asked about their current symptoms. Those who experienced chronic pruritus were administered the Standardized Itch Questionnaire and Itch Quality of Life forms. All patients’ medical records were reviewed. Patients with any medical conditions associated with chronic itch were excluded. Results: Seventy-seven total MS patients were included, and 27 (35%) reported pruritus. The average itch NRS severity was 5.42 (range 0–10). The most affected body parts were the extremities, face or scalp, and trunk. Itch was characterized as acute (74%), paroxysmal (59%) and tingling (55%). Heat (52%) was the most common aggravating factor, while cold temperatures had no effect. Compared with MS patients without itch, itch patients reported more fatigue (77% vs 44%, p = 0.004), heat sensitivity (48% vs 20%, p = 0.0177), cognitive impairment (62% vs 26%, p = 0.0029) and depression or anxiety (48% vs 16%, p = 0.0063). Additionally, itch patients had more T2 hyperintensities in the posterior cervical cord and anterior pons/ventromedial medulla (74.1% vs 46.0%, p = 0.018 and 29.6% vs 8.0%, p = 0.020, respectively). Finally, T2 hyperintensities in the anterior pons/ventromedial medulla were strongly associated with itch localized to the face or scalp (OR 11.3, 95% CI 1.6–78.6, p = 0.025).

Phenotypic variation of Wittrockia cyathiformis (Bromeliaceae) across life forms and forest types in the Atlantic Rainforest

Background and aims – This study investigates the phenotypic plasticity of Wittrockia cyathiformis (Bromeliaceae), an endemic species of the Atlantic Rainforest, with the aim of evaluating its morphological variation in relation to different life forms and forest types, specifically Dense Ombrophilous Forest and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. Material and methods – Field collections were conducted in State Conservation Units and Campos Gerais National Park in Paraná during 2022 and 2023. We measured vegetative morphometric parameters of six to eight bromeliads for each life form (epiphytic, saxicolous, and terrestrial) in each forest type, totalling 43 specimens, with 22 from Dense Ombrophilous Forest and 21 from Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. Additionally, we assessed the national conservation status of the species in Brazil. Key results – The different forest types of the Atlantic Forest exert a greater influence on the phenotypic variation of W. cyathiformis than life forms, with only leaf sheath length being greater in epiphytes and smaller in terrestrials. On the other hand, significant variations in leaf morphometry, such as leaf width and spine size, were strongly associated with the bioclimatic conditions of each forest type. Specimens from Dense Ombrophilous Forest exhibit characteristics typical of species adapted to warm and humid environments, with broader leaves, whereas those from Mixed Ombrophilous Forest have narrower leaves and smaller spines. Conclusion – The different life forms of this species do not result in significant morphometric changes. However, its phenotypic plasticity is strongly influenced by the different forest types, which may favour adaptation to variable environmental conditions. Despite this adaptive capacity, W. cyathiformis is classified as endangered (EN) in its area of occupancy in Brazil. The ongoing habitat loss highlights the need for conservation measures to ensure the long-term persistence of its populations.

Political Competition and Educational Equity: Language Game and TCSOL Medium Instruction

This paper discusses the medium of instruction in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), analyzing its use in teaching Chinese as a foreign language alongside Wittgenstein's Theory of "Language Game". It explores the fairness of education from a linguistic perspective, arguing that the forms of life in various countries can impact educational fairness through processes of mutual integration and resistance. Moreover, factors affecting educational equity within the educational system can also influence fairness globally by affecting these forms of life. In other words, addressing educational equity in the context of global political competition necessitates an examination of political factors. In TCSOL, teachers predominantly use English as the medium of instruction. This can lead to issues of medium failure when interacting with learners from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Educational inequity arises for students lacking English proficiency, which serves as a mediating language. This work begins by introducing Confucius Institutes and discussing their role in promoting international education and cultural exchange within the context of economic globalization. It then provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between educational equity and language, explaining how language inequality contributes to educational inequity and affects global communication. It is often assumed that resolving global political, economic, and cultural imbalances is a prerequisite for addressing educational equity. However, education itself possesses a degree of self-regulation and can focus on the equity of its own processes. Equity in education reflects the balanced development of human politics, economics and culture.

Support Vector Machine Implementation in the Analysis of HIV Species Based on Amino Acid and Dipeptide Sequences

Abstract: Infections are little irresistible specialists that can reproduce inside the cells in living life form. Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) is an infection that attacks human cells, debilitates the insusceptible framework and making individuals more vulnerable to disease. The favourable environment created by such virus allows grow of its content and rapidly increases within the hosts. HIV is a progressive sickness that causes a wide range of medical problems as a result of a widening array of bodily deficiencies and also considered as a lentivirus responsible for AIDS. The progressive breakdown of safe structures and the increase of dangerous breakthrough contamination characterise such human situation. In the study we used support vector machine (SVM) with Uniprot / Swiss-prot database to know the discrimination in HIV species based on Amino Acid and Dipeptide sequences to know the proportion and suggest the doctors to inject favourable protein to overcome the contamination. This also encourages the pharmaceutical industries to produce low cost medicines to cure of such diseases and also allow the patients to recover from diseases in low cost.

1H, 13C and 15N chemical shift assignments of Rubella virus macro domain in the free and in the ADPr bound state

Abstract Prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and certain viruses with positive single-stranded RNA genomes are among the forms of life that have been found to possess macro domains (MDs). There are claims that viral MDs inhibit the immune response mediated by PARPs, such as PARP12 and PARP14, and are involved in the formation of the viral replication transcription complex (RTC). Rubella virus (RuV) is included in this group of viruses. Its MD acts as an “eraser” of the posttranslation modification (PTM) ADP-ribosylation by binding to and hydrolyzing ADP-ribose (ADPr) from ADP-ribosylated substrates including proteins and nucleic acids. Consequently, it represents an attractive pharmacological target. Currently, no inhibitors exist for RuV MD’s de-ADP-ribosylation activity, which may play a crucial role in viral replication and pathogenesis, as observed in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). RuV remains a serious threat, particularly to unvaccinated children, with approximately 10,000 of the 18,000 global cases in 2022 reported in Africa. Alarmingly, no FDA-approved drugs are available for RuV treatment. In this study, we present the almost complete NMR backbone and side-chain resonance assignment of RuV MD in both free and ADPr bound forms, along with the NMR chemical shift-based secondary structure element prediction. These findings will support the efficient screening of fragments or chemical libraries using NMR spectroscopy to identify compounds that are strong binders and potentially exhibit antiviral activity.

Enhancing environmental observatories with fog computing

The exploitation of natural resources by humans and the generation of waste have transformed the environment, raising concerns about the habitability of our planet for all life forms, as evidenced by the ongoing collapse of biodiversity. In this context, environmental observatories play a crucial role in documenting the state and evolution of socio-ecological systems by capturing inter-linkages between matter, energy and biota at relevant scales, in inter-connected compartments (surface, subsurface). The ultimate goal remains to understand and model the past and future trajectories of our habitats. Classical observation systems rely on a wide range of sensors of heterogeneous nature distributed over a domain, based on manual observations (manual gauges, water sampling) and/or transferred to a cloud. However effective continuous monitoring in any condition without data gap is challenged by the remote location of observatories, including limited access to energy, the large dynamic range in environmental signals, the necessity of maintenance and the need to limit our impact. In this work, we surveyed a set of environmental observatories belonging to three research infrastructures in France and Germany: the French network of critical zone observatories (OZCAR), the Réseau Zone Atelier (RZA) and the TERrestrial ENvironmental Observatories network (TERENO). The site managers and personnel express clearly the need to ensure continuous operations, adapt sampling strategy to effective in-situ events, in a context of decreasing technical staff onsite. The results of our survey highlight the critical need for bringing data processing near the sensors before the data are sent to a cloud platform. Adding in situ local computational power in the observatories themselves may improve reactivity and robustness of observation systems, while taking into account available energy at the same time. Therefore, in this review, we propose to introduce Fog Computing technologies in environmental monitoring systems, highlight its advantages and draft its main characteristics. We explore and review the value of Fog Computing, a technical solution bringing intelligence to operate adaptive heterogeneous sensor networks and comply with the challenge to capture intermittent to long-term temporal variability with an intermittent source of energy.

Southern urbanism as a negotiation of past, present, and future

ABSTRACT The ‘Global South’ notion has been a source of critical investigation for the past decades, referring to numerous interpretations, and providing complementary perspectives on alternative urban dynamics. The southern narrative presents stories of cities, which experience time compression that manifests expedited, multilayered spatio-temporal changes. These cities combine past local heritage, culture and knowledge that are transplanted and often normalised under the concepts of colonial pasts and post-modern urban planning. These struggles require questioning agency, engagement and funding within dominant policy frameworks. This special issue examines cities negotiating past concepts at present, while seeking legitimacy and striving for alternative, resilient futures amid societal, political, economic and environmental crises. The purpose is to provide pluriversal knowledge, an approach recognising the inseparability of humanity and other forms of life. The articles in this issue explore these questions under three themes: alternative understandings of colonial pasts; examining everyday urbanism and community perspectives and exploring climate crisis responses.

Training Strategies for Agricultural Product Online Live Streaming Sales Anchors

Under the wave of digitalization and the popularization of the Internet, the online live broadcast of agricultural products has gradually emerged and become a new driving force to promote the sale of agricultural products. To cultivate professional livestreaming of agricultural products, this paper puts forward a series of training strategies, aiming at improving the professionalism, practical ability, and market acumen of livestreaming of agricultural products, to promote the sustainable and healthy development of agricultural products e-commerce industry, and help rural revitalization and farmers’ income increase. The online live broadcast anchors of agricultural products should be combined with the actual situation of their own live broadcast types. In daily training, the e-commerce anchors also need to have innovative thinking and learning abilities and be able to constantly try new live broadcast forms and content, as well as quickly learn new knowledge and skills. At the same time, they also need to have good psychological quality and coping ability, be able to flexibly respond to various emergencies in the process of live broadcasting, and maintain a professional image.

Floristic Inventory and Diversity of Urban Green Spaces in the Municipality of Assemini (Sardinia, Italy).

Urban greenery is a key component of green infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and urban well-being. Between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive inventory of ornamental flora was conducted in Assemini (Sardinia, Italy), documenting 198 vascular plant taxa, including 155 exotic, 41 native, and 2 cryptogenic species from 65 families. Among the exotic species, most were neophytes (63%), and 14% were archaeophytes. In terms of life forms, scapose phanerophytes, with a tree-like growth habit, dominated (45%), while Mediterranean and American chorotypes were the most represented, each accounting for 21%. A total of 7356 plants were recorded, comprising trees (61.3%), shrubs (32.3%), and climbers (5.7%), belonging to 90 shrub, 89 tree, and 19 climber taxa. The highest number of plants was found in "Green Areas" and "Schools", which also exhibited the greatest biodiversity, with 136 different taxa each. The most planted species were Quercus ilex, Nerium oleander, and Olea europaea. The survey also identified 21 allergenic, 36 toxic, and 35 mechanically harmful species, primarily located in "Green Areas" and "Schools". Biodiversity analysis using the Shannon Index revealed significant diversity, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Fagaceae emerging as the most represented families. These findings highlight the importance of plant inventories in urban green space management for sustainable planning. Well-maintained green spaces can enhance ecological resilience, improve public health, and promote social cohesion in future urban developments.