Lazy Toads of the genus Scutiger are a diverse group of alpine specialists in Asia. Despite continuous research on the taxonomy of the genus, the diversity is still underestimated. Integrating both molecular and morphometric analyses, we describe three new species of the genus Scutiger from the Gaoligong Mountain Range in Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, these three species resemble S. gongshanensis, S. mammatus, and S. boulengeri, respetively, but they can be diagnosed from these recognized species and all other congeners by a suit of morphological characters, including the toe webbing status, numbers of pectoral glands and axillary glands with nuptial spines in breeding males, and the number of fingers covered with nuptial spines in breeding males. Additionally, they show considerable genetic divergences with respect to their morphologically similar species. We discussed the still underestimated diversity in Southwest China, the existing taxonomic problems of the genus, particularly regarding the validity and the whereabouts of type specimens of S. bangdaensis, S. biluoensis, and S. meiliensis, and we provide an updated key to all recognized species of China.

Ultra-fast phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing via dual-fluorescent staining and morphometric analysis on a microfluidic chip.

Shape analysis of microplastic fragments: A computed microtomography study.

Optimized protocols for the simultaneous isolation of primary brain microvascular endothelial cells and primary neurons with high purity and functional maturation from individual newborn mice.

Hidden diversity: Identification and characterisation of compartment-specific testicular macrophage populations.

Introduction: The lateral ankle ligaments are the most common to get involved in ankle sprains and problems related to ankle instability, and a precise knowledge of the morphological features of these ligaments would be highly beneficial for diagnosis and treatment. Aim: To describe the attachments, and mean dimensions of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, from March 2022 to 2023. A total of 56 embalmed cadavers donated for teaching purposes were dissected to evaluate the lateral ankle ligaments. The three lateral ankle ligaments, namely Anterior Talofibular (ATFL), Calcaneofibular (CFL), and Posterior Talofibular (PTFL) were identified. Their positions with respect to external bony landmarks were defined. The morphology of the ligaments, their site of attachments, length, and width were documented. The stretching of the ligaments and their orientation with the longaxis of the fibula with dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot was noted. The morphological observations were presented in percentages. Assuming the numeric measurements of the morphometric analysis to be normally distributed, the data were summarised in mean and standard deviation. Results: The ATFL was found to consist of two bands in 32 (57.14%) ankles and a single band in 24 (42.86%) ankles. The CFL was cord like in 38 (67.9%) ankles and was single banded in 18 (32.1%) ankles. The lateral talocalcaneal ligament was observed to reinforce CFL in four ankles. The mean length of ATFL, CFL and PTFL were 19.24±2.31 mm, 28.16±3.56 mm, 25.03±3.53 mm, respectively and the mean width were 8.21±1.52 mm, 5.25±1.10 mm, 7.56±1.25 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The detailed anatomical knowledge would be vital in diagnosis and arthroscopic reconstruction of the injured ankle ligaments In the era of minimally invasive surgeries, the study findings would be promising for clinical practice and research.

Development of tailored non psychoactive Cannabis sativa L. genotypes in half-sib seed progeny segregation generation adhering to requirements through morpho-cannabinoid & terpene profile diversity.

Watershed boundaries are typically delineated using Digital Elevation Models. This study delineates the Gomaspan Dam watershed in Erbil, northern Iraq. Recently, the decrease in rainfall events has exacerbated drought issues. The Gomaspan dam is strategically significant for Erbil since it supports the region's increasing water shortage, improves agriculture and irrigation, and avoids the impact of flash floods. Evaluating morphometric characteristics is crucial for sustainable water resources. In methodology, ArcGIS 10.8 was used to fill sinks in the ASTER, SRTM, and ALOS Digital Elevation Models by determining flow direction, flow accumulation, and then performing morphometric analyses. The results analyze linear, areal, and relief morphometric parameters. According to the study, choosing a suitable Digital Elevation Model is crucial for accurate water management planning. Although the coarser resolutions of ASTER (130.82 km²) and SRTM (131.40 km²) may generalize boundaries, ALOS (131.32 km²) increases boundary precision. The highly dendritic Gomaspan watershed shows high runoff potential, with ASTER and SRTM having a bifurcation number near 2, while ALOS captures a more developed stream network (bifurcation number ≈3). Moderate stream sinuosity (SRTM: 1.3, ASTER/ALOS: 1.2) indicates some lateral erosion. Its nearly circular shape (circularity ratio: 0.53; form factor: 0.89) suggests rapid runoff and a potential for flooding. A relief ratio of 0.095 suggests the presence of moderately steep slopes. Both ASTER and SRTM datasets reflect a more rugged terrain compared to ALOS. They also exhibit higher stream frequency values (8.638 and 8.493 streams/km²) and greater drainage density (26.79 and 26.17 km/km²), indicating increased surface runoff and erosion potential. These characteristics make ASTER and SRTM more suitable and cautious options for assessing flood risk and planning effective water management strategies.

ABSTRACT Morphological and morphometric analysis of archaeological animal hairs offers a nondestructive method to explore past clothing. We examined hair from two 18th‐century burial areas (SP03 and SP04) in Mazamet, France. SP03 specimens exhibited a continuous medulla, a low medullary index (0.2 ± 0.03) and cuticular features suggesting goat or badger hair. In contrast, SP04 samples showed a fragmented medulla, a slightly higher medullary index (0.26 ± 0.04) and scale characteristics similar to cow or horse hair. These findings suggest the use of common and local animal furs, consistent with the modest status of the individuals and Mazamet's economy.

Abstract. This data paper presents a long-term monitoring dataset of phytoplankton (2010–2022) and zooplankton (2010–2023) communities, as well as associated environmental parameters (2010–2023), from the Iroise Marine Natural Park, Iroise Sea, North Atlantic, France's first marine protected area (Drago et al., 2025). The dataset combines traditional microscopy-based phytoplankton counts with zooplankton data (abundances) obtained from digitized images using the ZooScan imaging system, along with surface and bottom temperature and salinity measurements. Sampling was conducted seasonally along two main transects and three coastal stations, capturing both spatial and temporal dynamics of plankton communities. Phytoplankton was identified at the species level by the same taxonomist during all the time series (573 taxa in total). From their individual images, zooplankton were automatically sorted into 103 taxonomic and morphological groups, validated by an expert, and compiled into a data table, allowing both community and individual approaches using abundances and biovolumes at both individual and community levels. Individual zooplankton images have also been made available for further morphometric analyses. This 14-year-long, spatially and temporally resolved zooplankton imaging dataset (available at https://doi.org/10.17882/105465) is part of an ongoing effort to enhance the availability of zooplankton imaging data, locally and globally. This, as a whole dataset, can be used to study the influence of coastal–offshore environmental gradients on marine plankton biodiversity patterns, especially in protected waters at the intersection of the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, in a region characterized by the presence of the Ushant front.

Beekeeping in Guatemala is predominantly sedentary and low-tech, heavily relying on honey production. This study assessed the morphotypic diversity of Apis mellifera colonies across different regions of the country, aiming to identify hybridization patterns between African and European subspecies. Using geometric morphometric analysis of forewings from 28 apiaries, nurse bee samples were digitized at 19 anatomical landmarks and compared against a reference subspecies database including: A. m. ligustica, A. m. mellifera, A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica, A. m. iberiensis, A. m. scutellata, and A. m. intermissa. Canonical variate analysis revealed that 60% of colonies resembled African morphotypes, while 40% aligned with European ones. A strong correlation between morphotype and altitude was observed, indicating an altitudinal pattern of Africanization. These findings are relevant for designing genetic and sanitary management strategies adapted to local ecological conditions. Keywords: Apis mellifera, Guatemala, geometric morphometrics, genetic diversity, Africanization.

Basella alba (Basellaceae) is a species showing a high morphological variability. Currently, it is represented by two commonly cultivated forms plus one wild taxon. A morphometric analysis of some Indian populations was performed and the results obtained allow the recognition of three varieties, of which one new for science (Basella alba var. scandens var. nov.). This new infraspecific taxon differs from the others two by thin cord-like twining stem and smaller ovate-cordate leaves.

Watershed delineation and morphometric analysis of Dhansiri River using SRTM DEM and ArcSWAT

Thymus apulus, a new species from the calcareous highland (Murge hill area) of Apulia and Basilicata, southern Italy, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to Thymus sect. Hyphodromi, and has been confused in the past with T. striatus (a southeastern European species), or T. spinulosus (a species strictly endemic to central and southern Italy). A morphometric analysis to assess the taxonomic relationships of the putative new species and the closely related T. spinulosus and T. striatus was carried out. Multivariate and univariate morphometric analyses demonstrate that T. apulus is clearly different from T. striatus and T. spinulosus. It can be reliably identified by a combination of quantitative and qualitative diagnostic characters, including pink corolla, capituliform to elongate inflorescence, predominantly glabrous leaves with rare sessile oil glands and non-parallel lateral veins, and distinct morphometric traits of the bracts and calyx. The distribution of T. apulus is restricted to several localities in the Murge highland (Apulia and Basilicata), within Alta Murgia National Park (SCI IT9120007 “Alta Murgia”) and Murgia Materana Park (SCI IT9220135 “Gravine di Matera”). Thymus apulus usually grows in sub-Mediterranean xeric grasslands corresponding to habitat 62A0, “Eastern sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands (Scorzoneratalia villosae)”, included in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Furthermore, the conservation status assessment of the new species, according to IUCN categories and criteria, is proposed and discussed, and an analytical key for dried herbarium specimens to the species of T. sect. Hyphodromi in Italy is presented.

Background. Diabetes mellitus and heart failure are frequently coexisting conditions that synergistically accelerate pathological myocardial remodeling. Both cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis are recognized as hallmarks of this combined pathology. Novel pharmacological interventions, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, have been shown to attenuate adverse remodeling and improve outcomes in clinical studies. However, the precise morphological correlates of these therapies at the cardiomyocyte and stromal level remain insufficiently explored in experimental models. The purpose was to investigate histological and morphometric changes of the myocardium in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes combined with isoproterenol-induced heart failure, and to evaluate the corrective effects of empagliflozin monotherapy compared to combination therapy with empagliflozin and sacubitril/valsartan. Materials and methods. Forty white random-bred male rats were divided into four groups: 1) controls; 2) untreated pathology (diabetes + heart failure); 3) empagliflozin monotherapy (10 mg/kg daily for 30 days); 4) combination therapy with empagliflozin (10 mg/kg) and sacubitril/valsartan (60 mg/kg). Myocardial samples were processed with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome stain. Morphometric analysis was performed using an Axioscope microscope and digital image analysis. Perimeter and cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and their nuclei were measured. Statistical analysis employed StatPlus and Statistica software. Results. In untreated animals (group II), we observed heterogeneous capillary congestion, stromal edema, and marked cardiomyocyte alterations: hypertrophy, atrophy, nuclear polymorphism, vacuolization, and extensive interstitial fibrosis. Morphometric indices were significantly increased compared to controls: mean cardiomyocyte area reached 351.27 ± 16.20 µm2 (vs. 217.48 ± 9.47 µm2, p < 0.01), and nuclear area — 38.19 ± 2.14 µm2 (vs. 21.06 ± 0.93 µm2, p < 0.01). Empagliflozin monotherapy (group III) partially ameliorated these changes, reducing fibrosis to small foci and lowering morphometric indices (293.89 ± 12.70 µm2 and 27.34 ± 2.18 µm2, respectively). The combination therapy (group IV) demonstrated the most pronounced effect, with near normali­zation of myocardial structure: interstitial edema was minimal, fibrosis was limited to thin collagen strands, and morphometric parameters approached control values (235.29 ± 7.51 µm2 and 24.63 ± 3.06 µm2). Conclusions. Empagliflozin demonstrates a significant protective effect on myocardial morphology under combined diabetic and heart failure stress. However, the addition of sacubitril/valsartan produces superior structural normalization, particularly by reducing fibrosis and edema and restoring myofibrillar organization. These findings provide morphological evidence that combination therapy may exert greater cardioprotective efficacy than monotherapy, supporting its use in complex comorbid settings.

Background: The styloid process is a slender, cylindrical bony projection of the temporal bone, showing marked interindividual variability in length, orientation, and degree of ossification. Its abnormal elongation, defined as exceeding 30 mm, is often associated with Eagle’s syndrome but may also occur as an incidental anatomical variant. Objective: This study reports two rare cases of abnormally long styloid processes without ossification of the stylohyoid ligament, identified in adult dry skulls from the osteological collection of the “Olga Necrasov” Centre of Anthropological Research, Iași, Romania, and provides morphological and CT-based characterization. Materials and Methods: Both skulls were examined macroscopically and by CT, with 3D reconstructions being used for morphometric analysis. Results: In Case 1, the left SP measured 62 mm, corresponding to Langlais type I elongation, with no evidence of pseudoarticulation or ligamentous ossification. In Case 2, the left SP was elongated to 33 mm and fusiform in shape, while the contralateral (right) SP was completely absent, a highly uncommon anatomical variation scarcely reported in the literature. Both findings were confirmed by CT imaging. Conclusions: The coexistence shows that the stylohyoid complex cand vary greatly during development. Such findings expand the spectrum of known anatomical variants of the stylohyoid complex and underscore the importance of detailed morphologic and imaging evaluation of the styloid region in both anatomical and clinical contexts.

The uncinate process is a key anatomical structure in the cervical spine, essential for uncovertebral joint formation and spinal biomechanics. Although its linear dimensions have been previously described, the relationship between its vertical height and angular orientation remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the three-dimensional morphometry of the uncinate process from C3 to C7, focusing on correlations between height and angular parameters. Fifty-one dry human cervical vertebrae (C3-C7), obtained from multiple adult donors (donor count unknown; sex unknown), were analyzed using high-resolution CT (0.75-mm slices). Although specimens were unevenly distributed across vertebral levels, measurements included uncinate height, uncinate angle, and endplate angle on coronal reconstructions. Statistical analysis involved Wilcoxon signed-rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman's correlation tests. No significant side-to-side differences were found in uncinate height or angle, though the endplate angle was significantly higher on the left. Inter-level comparisons revealed significant differences in left uncinate height and bilateral endplate angles. Importantly, uncinate height showed a strong negative correlation with uncinate angle (Right: ρ = -0.557; Left: ρ = -0.677; both p < 0.001) and a strong positive correlation with endplate angle (Right: ρ = 0.777; Left: ρ = 0.809; both p < 0.001). These findings underscore the anatomical variability and interdependence of vertical and angular features of the uncinate process, with implications for uncovertebral joint mechanics and surgical approach planning. Recognizing such variations may improve safety and accuracy in anterior cervical spine procedures.

The floor of the fourth ventricle contains critical surface landmarks overlying brainstem nuclei. Despite advances in microsurgical techniques, detailed morphometric data on these landmarks remain limited. To perform a morphometric analysis of the fourth ventricle floor using cadaveric specimens, with emphasis on dimensions, symmetry, and proportional relationships relevant to surgical planning. Forty formalin-fixed adult human brainstems were used. Sixteen anatomical parameters were assessed, including twelve linear distances and four qualitative observations. Key landmarks-including the facial colliculus, sulcus limitans, striae medullares, and the hypoglossal and vagal trigones-were measured under magnification. Anatomical ratios were calculated, and findings were compared to prior cadaveric studies. The mean floor length and width were 33.58 ± 2.49mm and 20.0 ± 1.83mm, respectively. The facial colliculus consistently divided the floor into symmetrical rostral and caudal segments (~ 43% each). The hypoglossal and vagal trigones, measured for the first time, occupied 25.44% and 12.69% of the caudal floor length. The safe midline corridor between sulci limitans comprised only 30.59% of the floor width. Statistically significant asymmetry was found in lateral recess lengths (p = 0.003) and striae medullares bundle counts (p = 0.044). Most measurements differed significantly from previously published data (p < 0.001). This is the first cadaveric study to define the hypoglossal and vagal trigones quantitatively. The findings clarify the topographic relationships of safe and high-risk surgical corridors in the fourth ventricle floor and provide normative data to support safer microsurgical planning.

Peroxisomes are the site of important metabolic pathways as they contain enzymes involved in the β-oxidation of fatty acids, the degradation of reactive oxygen species and the synthesis of ether-lipids and steroid hormone precursors. They are present in virtually all eukaryotic cells, yet they demonstrate considerable heterogeneity of number and protein composition. The presence of peroxisomes and concomitant activity of peroxisomal enzymes was previously documented in ovarian cells and it was suggested that peroxisomal oxidative stress management through catalase plays a pivotal role during oogenesis. In the present article, an exhaustive analysis is presented of the changes in peroxisome abundance during folliculogenesis in mouse oocytes. To this end, a quantitative assessment of the number of peroxisomes was conducted through morphometric analysis in the oocytes in follicular and oestrus cycle stages. Furthermore, a qualitative investigation was undertaken into the distribution of peroxisomal proteins involved in their biogenesis, membrane transport and lipid/hormone and reactive oxygen species metabolism in secondary and tertiary follicles. Given the metabolic connection between peroxisomes and mitochondria, the study was complemented with immunofluorescence stainings for reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes and antioxidative enzymes. Our results confirmed the presence of peroxisomes in all follicular cells, including the oocyte. They further prove that peroxisomal abundance and protein composition are subject to variation depending on follicular and oestrus cycle stage and follicular cell type. Most strikingly, the study provided evidence of the near absence of catalase and of oxidative stress marker 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine in the oocyte.

Thraustochytrium aureum ssp. strugatskii, a marine protist belonging to the class Labyrinthulea, exhibits a complex life cycle characterized by alternating motile and vegetative phases. Using an integrative multimodal microscopy approach, we reconstructed its full developmental cycle and analyzed the coordination between cellular morphology, subcellular architecture, and population-level behavior. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy, combined with fluorescence and time-lapse imaging, revealed the dynamics of nuclear division, organelle rearrangement, and zoospore formation. Morphometric analysis of serial ultrathin sections demonstrated distinct changes in mitochondrial distribution, Golgi apparatus, and lipid droplet abundance during transitions between stages. We have shown that vegetative cells undergo synchronized karyokinesis coupled with stable nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios, leading to the emergence of multinucleate stages prior to zoospore formation. The integration of ultrastructural and dynamic data enabled us to propose a systems-level model linking metabolic state, morphogenesis, and population structure. This model highlights feedback regulation between nutrient availability, biomass accumulation, and developmental synchronization. Our results establish that T. aureum ssp. strugatskii has good potential to serve as a tractable model organism for systems-level studies of protists and provide an initial framework for predictive modeling of its life cycle under controlled conditions.