Biologia futura最新文献

{"title":"Reasons to avoid using weasel words in ethology: establishing a more technical terminology may facilitate synthesis in the behavioural sciences.","authors":"Roszik Sára, Miklósi Ádám","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00272-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00272-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The term 'weasel word' is used for vague, ambiguous, or misleading language when the speaker creates an impression of meaning or certainty without committing to specific facts. In academic writings, clear presentation of the declarant's thoughts is inevitable for the transmission and/or sharing of knowledge with high fidelity; hence, weasel words and phrases should be avoided. So far, the topic has received little attention in the behavioural sciences, including ethology, although research in fields focusing on behaviour and the mind provide fertile ground where such rhetorical strategies may go unnoticed. By presenting examples of weasel words used in ethology, we aim to demonstrate how they can lead to misunderstandings among scientists, as well as to prolonged and unproductive debates. We argue that the use of weasel words may stem equally from ingrained bad habits, knowledge gaps, anthropomorphism and inconsistent jargon. Instead of referring to mental states, the description of the behaviours should be in focus from a functional point of view. This allows more precise behaviour measurement and greater agreement in the use of terminology. Adopting a more descriptive and precise terminology may facilitate interdisciplinary discussions and lay the groundwork for novel approaches, such as synthetic or computational ethology.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144582960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do dogs understand?-Contrasting anecdotal reports, neuroimaging, and behavioural evidence on language comprehension.","authors":"D J Ujfalussy","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00275-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00275-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dogs are the earliest domesticated species which still live alongside humans in unprecedented numbers. While various aspects of their socio-cognition have been shown to have adapted to the human environment during domestication, evidence on language comprehension is contradicting and inconclusive. In this review article, in an attempt to answer the hypothetical question: \"Do dogs understand human language?\" I try to summarize all recent behavioural, neurocognitive, as well as anecdotal reports we have on language comprehension in dogs. I assess the contradictions, suggest a set of possible explanations, and propose a new, systematic and more naturalistic approach to consolidate anecdotal and neuroimaging evidence with behavioural evidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144582959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intracellular Ca²⁺ waves in mammalian cells.","authors":"Fruzsina Fazekas, Lilla Vasbányai, Eszter Berekméri","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00270-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00270-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intracellular calcium waves refer to the coordinated propagation of increased free calcium ion (Ca²⁺) concentration in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ is one of the major intracellular second messengers which coordinates many cells function including gene transcription, division, and cell apoptosis. The spread of the ions in the cytoplasm is not the same in all cell types. Experiments indicate the strength of the stimuli, the site of the first Ca²⁺ entry and the localization of the organelles influence the Ca²⁺ propagation and may lead to functional compartmentalization. Polarized cells with complex anatomy already have anatomical subparts (like processes) which elevate the probability of the functional separation between the cell parts. Cells are stimulated at special parts where the receptors/channels are located. Ca²⁺ enters the cell via ligand or voltage gated calcium channels, connexin channels from the neighboring cells or with the activation of G-protein coupled receptors which activate Ca²⁺ release from the cytosolic Ca²⁺ stores. The emptying stores may activate store-operated Ca²⁺ channels, too. These local signals could globalize and elevate free Ca²⁺ concentration in the cells. Smaller, more compact cells form a uniformly activated cell, however, in polarized cells this cannot happen in each time, leads to spatiotemporally different subpart activation. In this review, we discuss the main mechanisms of the cells which involved in Ca²⁺ signaling and the possible methods how a single event (a Ca²⁺ spike) can form slow intracellular Ca²⁺ wave and globalized signal. Intracellular Ca²⁺ waves were found in multiple cell types starting with simple egg cells. Here, we bring examples to anatomically more complex polarized cells with processes, but without excitability: the radial glia, astrocytes, Müller glia and osteocytes as a cell does not connect strongly to sensory-neural structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144526348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"After all, how valuable is the dog model for examining human socio-cognitive abilities?","authors":"Márta Gácsi","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00273-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00273-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One of the most striking questions of cognitive ethology is how we got in 50 years from dogs tested as laboratory rats to thick volumes analysing the ethology of family dogs? Due to its shared evolutionary history and developmental environment with humans, the dog was introduced as an inspiring model species of the evolution of human socio-cognitive skills. The human behavioural complex theory provided the conceptual ammunition, and the resulting theoretical framework prioritised the dog, whose social competence was argued to be assembled through convergent evolution, in contrast to homology-based model species. Since then, the dog has been applied as the model of numerous phenomena, such as communicative abilities, attachment, personality, social learning, talent, cooperation/prosocial behaviour, ageing, human psychiatric conditions, language competence, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Recently, behavioural observations could be connected and complemented with genetic and neural research. The dog model became a great success, though an alternative approach argued that dogs were much better represented by free-ranging than companion dogs in research. Still, revealing countless similarities (and differences) between dog and human behaviours/abilities, and especially how dogs integrate these skills, the dog model offered a novel complementary approach to study the evolution of the human mind. It has helped us understand the processes and mental representations underlying dogs' and humans' functionally analogous behaviour complexes, and guided how this knowledge can be applied even in future translational research. A better understanding of dogs' socio-cognitive abilities is also highly beneficial in itself, as our relationship with them has changed. It is no longer sufficient that they have skilfully adapted to our world; we also strive to make our coexistence more comfortable for them.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144526347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhizobacterial diversity exhibiting biotic stress tolerance in association with wheat-cotton crop rotation: Implications for plant-microbe interactions and agroecosystem resilience.","authors":"Seema Aslam, Muhammad Babar, Ghulam Shabir, Tahir Naqqash, Florian M W Grundler","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00269-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00269-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biotic stress, particularly from fungal diseases, significantly impedes agricultural productivity worldwide. To meet the increasing demand for sustainable food production, environment-friendly and cost-effective solutions are needed. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) provide a sustainable alternative by enhancing plant health and acting as biocontrol agents. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and biocontrol potential of biotic stress-tolerant rhizobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of cotton and wheat plants infected with fungi in a cotton-wheat rotation area. A total of 136 rhizobacteria were isolated and screened for their in-vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum. Among these, 108 isolates demonstrated antifungal activity against F. oxysporum. Additionally, various biocontrol-linked traits were assessed, including hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production, starch hydrolysis, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, enzyme production (pectinase, protease, gelatinase, catalase) and biofilm formation. The results showed that 88 isolates exhibited pectinase activity, 105 showed biofilm formation and EPS production, 20 demonstrated protease production, 93 showed starch hydrolysis activity. Only three isolates produced hydrogen cyanide. Gelatinase activity was observed in 124 isolates, while catalase activity was detected in 87 isolates. Genetic diversity analysis of the tolerant rhizobacteria was performed using REP, ERIC, and (GTG)₅-PCR fingerprinting. The dendrogram constructed from (GTG)₅ and REP-PCR fingerprint profiles indicated greater diversity. Moreover, all three PCR-primers effectively differentiated the cotton rhizosphere isolates from those obtained from the wheat rhizosphere, indicating a distinct resident bacterial community despite the cotton-wheat rotation. These findings suggest the presence of diverse, biotic stress-tolerant rhizobacteria in the cotton-wheat rotation area, which could be utilized as potential biocontrol agents against fungal plant diseases. However, further research is required to explore the pathways underlying their antifungal potential and to develop sustainable and efficient bio-formulations for field applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144526373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A BEE indicator for monitoring wild bee diversity in agricultural systems.","authors":"Marco d'Agostino, Emanuele Luigi Zenga, Manuela Giovanetti, Fortunato Fulvio Bitonto, Marta Galloni, Marino Quaranta, Laura Bortolotti","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00268-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00268-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the growing importance of assessing the condition of wild bees in agroecosystems, we focused on developing a BEE indicator that could be easily used by non-expert taxonomists to score bee diversity. Our goal was to create a tool suitable for farm-level use, one that does not require taxonomic expertise nor heavy field work. Since existing literature has emphasized the significance of environmental features surrounding any investigated site, we incorporated this aspect into our design. We began by identifying a user-friendly field tool to differentiate among bee morphogenera, then proceeded by developing a process for data analyses and interpretation. A protocol is also shared. Further on, we run a case-study testing this tool at 13 sites in three countries, differentiating farms based on farming practices (conventional or organic, as proxy of opposite conditions). The results confirmed that (a) a diagnostic table based on morphological similarities is a practical field tool that, in almost all cases, allows for accurate classification of a bee individual into a specific group (morphogenus); (b) the process of analysis, based on number of morphogenera and landscape composition reflects variability among bees and across sites; (c) evaluating environmental features is essential for placing the results of bee variability into the appropriate context.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144504791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Easternmost distribution of Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax, du Buysson 1905) in Slovakia: urgent need for advanced detection and interregional monitoring.","authors":"Balázs Kolics, Éva Kolics, Zoltán Ács, Helena Mališová Proková, Katarína Baldaufová Senková, Dušan Senko","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00262-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00262-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) continues its spread across Europe, posing a significant threat to biodiversity, viticulture, and apiculture. This study reports the first molecular data of the invasive yellowlegged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) in Slovakia, confirmed through molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Radio telemetry successfully located the nest within inaccessible private property, highlighting the technique's crucial role in early detection. This finding, along with the need for manual tracking techniques, public awareness campaigns, and regional monitoring programs, underscores the urgent need for proactive legal frameworks to facilitate the use of radio telemetry and ensure timely intervention to prevent further spread and mitigate the ecological and economic impacts of this invasive species in Slovakia and neighboring countries. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of continued research and development of radio telemetry techniques, including improved signal range and integration with drone technology, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of V. velutina detection and control.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144493975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dogs as a model to study the emergence of concept manipulation skills for language-readiness.","authors":"Dorottya S Rácz, Marianna Boros, Attila Andics","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00267-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-025-00267-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Language-readiness entails the ability to segment holistic events into discrete concepts, learn signals for such concepts, and combine them in a rule-based manner to create composite meanings. There is much debate about whether, and to what extent, the brain mechanisms that enable concept manipulation abilities in humans are unmatched in the animal kingdom. Challenging human-uniqueness theories, we propose a social cognition-mediation account hypothesizing that concept manipulation abilities essential for language-readiness could also emerge in other species with a sufficient level of certain prerequisite social-cognitive skills, namely goal-representation, intentionality-attribution, and mentalization. We argue for the involvement of a new species in comparative studies on language evolution to evaluate this hypothesis: the domestic dog, a species that has undergone selective pressures for prosociality during domestication similar to those experienced by early humans, as well as shows a natural propensity to communicate their experiences. As a consequence, dogs may possess the necessary social-cognitive capacities to develop concept manipulation skills. Dogs' concept manipulation abilities have never been systematically investigated, nor directly compared to those of humans. Capitalizing on recent advances in comparative non-invasive neuroimaging and behavioural measures, here we propose feasible, promising experimental approaches for such investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144493974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding stress-induced illegitimate aggression: the role of physiological and psychological factors in police cadets.","authors":"József Haller, István Farkas, József Végh, Zsombor Hermann, Krisztián Ivaskevics, Johanna Farkas, Erika Malét Szabó, Ildikó Bock-Marquette, Szilárd Rendeki","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00265-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42977-025-00265-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To better understand the consequences of stress in realistic scenarios, police cadets were tasked with performing a police intervention under differing expectations. One group was led to anticipate a dangerous mission, while the other expected a routine event. In the field, however, both groups faced the same challenging situation. The warned group exhibited strong pre-intervention stress responses, which was minimal in the other group. By contrast, the unwarned group experienced a sudden surge in stress within the first minute of the intervention, as reality clashed with their expectations. A similar sudden stress response by the beginning of the intervention was missing from the warned group. A significant portion of cadets unlawfully attacked suspects, a behavior linked to intense stress displayed at the onset of the intervention. This emotional, illegitimate aggression was driven primarily by the noradrenergic stress response, with no indication of cortisol involvement. Traditional statistical methods (group comparisons, univariate, and multivariate regressions) suggested that psychological traits had little impact compared to acute stress effects. However, machine learning revealed that psychological characteristics-such as those assessed by the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Big Five Personality Test, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-played a crucial role in conjunction with stress responses. Multivariate analyses yielded data similar to those obtained through machine learning, but only when the dependent variables were selected to match those identified as crucial by the latter. These findings highlight the power of machine learning in uncovering complex interactions that traditional methods might overlook.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144332410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From kin to canines: understanding modern dog keeping from both biological and cultural evolutionary perspectives.","authors":"Eniko Kubinyi, Borbála Turcsán","doi":"10.1007/s42977-025-00264-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42977-025-00264-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review examines modern companion dog keeping from both biological and cultural evolutionary perspectives. Dog keeping is explored as a trait that has evolved from being adaptive, contributing to the survival and prosperity of human populations, to possibly being neutral or even maladaptive in modern contexts on the population level. Currently, many people in Western cultures regard dogs as family members or \"fur babies\", even though investing money, time, and emotional commitment in them does not directly increase biological fitness. This new kinship can be better understood through a cultural evolution framework, which is compared to the biological (Fisherian) runaway model to understand how human behaviours can evolve beyond their original utility. For future studies, the review proposes exploring whether and how well dogs can be substitutes for human relationships, their impact on human fertility and social networks, who benefits from dog keeping, and for whom keeping a dog is unnecessary or harmful.</p>","PeriodicalId":8853,"journal":{"name":"Biologia futura","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144332409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}