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Objective To evaluate the value of different combinations of alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， alpha-fetoprotein-L3 isoform ratio （AFP-L3%） and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin （DCP） for early diagnosis of hepatitis B virus （HBV）-related hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Methods A total of 167 patients were enrolled in this study， including 100 patients with HCC and 67 patients with infection-related liver cirrhosis （LC）. The levels of serum AFP， AFP-L3% and DCP were detected by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was delineated for subsequent analysis. Results The levels of AFP， AFP-L3% and DCP in HCC patients were significantly higher than those in LC patients （all P < 0.05）. There was no significant difference in AFP and AFP-L3% levels between stage 0 and stage A patients in HCC group （both P > 0.05）. DCP levels in stage 0 patients were significantly lower than those in stage A patients in HCC group （P < 0.05）. The sensitivity and specificity of AFP， AFP-L3% and DCP in the diagnosis of early HCC were 51.5%， 92.5%， 28.3%， and 95.5%， 60.0%， 84.7%， respectively. Analysis of the area under the ROC curve （AUC） results showed that the AUC values of AFP， AFP-L3% and DCP for the diagnosis of early HCC were 0.760， 0.619 and 0.749， respectively. The AUC value of combined detection of AFP and DCP was 0.810， which yielded the highest diagnostic efficiency. Conclusion AFP has important diagnostic value in the diagnosis of early HCC. The combination of AFP and DCP can improve the diagnostic efficiency of HBV-related early HCC.

Climate warming poses a significant threat to species worldwide, particularly those inhabiting arid and semi‐arid regions where extreme temperatures are increasingly prevalent. However, empirical studies investigating how moderate heat events affect the physiological processes of arid and semi‐arid animals are largely scarce. To address this knowledge gap, we used an arid and semi‐arid lizard species (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) as a study system. We manipulated thermal environments to simulate moderate heat events (43.5 ± 0.3°C during the heating period) for lizards and examined physiological and biochemical traits related to survival, metabolism, locomotion, oxidative stress, and telomere length. We found that the body condition and survival of the lizards were not significantly affected by moderate heat events, despite an increase in body temperature and a decrease in locomotion at high test temperatures were detected. Mechanistically, we found that the lizards exhibited down‐regulated metabolic rates and enhanced activities of antioxidative enzymes, resulting in reduced oxidative damage and stable telomere length under moderate heat events. Based on these findings, which indicated a beneficial regulation of fitness by physiological and biochemical processes, we inferred that moderate heat events did not have a detrimental effect on the toad‐headed agama, P. przewalskii. Overall, our research contributes to understanding the impacts of moderate heat events on arid and semi‐arid species and highlights the adaptive responses and resilience exhibited by the toad‐headed agama in the face of climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to reduce human–wildlife conflicts in the area around Liupanshan Nature Reserve in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. This study investigated the financial losses caused by wild boar and their causes. A questionnaire investigation (n = 135) and a field test were conducted, which included 108 sample lines and 97 infrared cameras. A principal component analysis and generalised linear model was used to analyse the importance of the effect of the factors on wild boar damage. Based on an estimate of 17,049 wild boars in the study area, we found that in the agricultural land owned by the residents, the boar density of each county and distance from the village to the nature reserve were the most significant factors that affected crop damage. Then, financial losses in spring, summer, and autumn had a moderate effect on financial loss, and the crop type had the lowest effect. We recommend reducing the wild boar population by increasing leisure hunting and the number of leopards. Additionally, a focus on farmland protection is a practical way to prevent wild boar invasions. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to conduct long-term monitoring of wild boar population status and manage the relationship between the government, research teams, and local people to more efficiently and comprehensively reduce conflicts between humans and wild boars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Helan Mountains, located at the interface between China's arid and semi-arid zones, form a natural dividing line in the heart of the desert. Often described as a "desert oasis", this region functions as an ecological island with a uniquely distinctive geographical setting, making it a focal point for contemporary ecological research. The Alashan wapiti (Cervus canadensis alashanicus), an isolated population in this area, has become a key conservation concern for the Chinese government. Our multi-scale habitat assessments identified bare land as the principal limiting factor for the availability of suitable habitats for the species. Consequently, the protection and restoration of Alashan wapiti habitats are of critical importance, particularly in enhancing the quality of existing habitats. Our findings provide valuable scientific insights to support future conservation and management efforts in the Helan Mountains. The Helan Mountains, situated in the heart of the desert, act as a dividing line between China's arid and semi-arid zones. Often referred to as a "desert oasis", they create an ecological island with a uniquely distinctive geographical location, making this area a focal point of contemporary research. Ungulates play a critical role in this ecosystem. The Alashan wapiti (Cervus canadensis alashanicus), an isolated population of China's smallest wapiti (Cervus canadensis) subspecies, is found exclusively within the Helan Mountains Nature Reserve. The conservation of this isolated population is fraught with challenges, particularly during winter, the harshest season for northern ungulates. Winter habitats are crucial for ensuring population stability. Therefore, we used certain methods, such as factor screening and model parameter optimization to assess habitat suitability using multi-scale species distribution models. The optimized results show that suitable habitats overlap with areas of high vegetation coverage in the Helan Mountains, covering just 588.32 km2, which is less than a quarter of the reserve's total area. The bare land area and winter NDVI are the two primary factors influencing habitat suitability, with other factors having minimal impact, underscoring the critical importance of food resources for the Alashan wapiti. The limited availability of these resources poses significant conservation challenges. Our findings provide a more precise foundation for targeted habitat protection and restoration efforts. We recommend enhancing the protection and restoration of food resources, effectively conserving vegetated areas, and preventing desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The daily activity rhythms of herbivores have significant ecological and conservation implications. Most studies have focused on predators and their prey, as well as sympatric carnivores or herbivores, with little attention given to ungulates in predator-free ecosystems. Using camera traps, we systematically studied the activity patterns and grouping characteristics of goitered gazelles in the Helan Mountains. Our findings reveal that goitered gazelles are crepuscular-like, with activity peaks occurring after dawn and before dusk. Their daily activity patterns and grouping characteristics vary across seasons, likely influenced by climatic conditions and resource availability. This research provides essential ecological insights for the restoration and conservation of goitered gazelle populations and underscores the importance of further behavioral studies on ecologically significant rare species in isolated habitats. Wildlife activity patterns, which reveal the daily allocation of time and energy, are crucial for understanding survival pressures, adaptive strategies, and behavioral characteristics in different environments. Among ungulates, grouping behavior is a prevalent adaptive trait that reflects the population structure, mating systems, and life history strategies formed over long-term evolutionary processes. This study aimed to elucidate the daily activity patterns and grouping characteristics of the rare goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in the Helan Mountains of western China from 2022 to 2023 using camera trap monitoring. With a total of 3869 camera days of effective trapping, we recorded 442 independent detections of goitered gazelles. The results revealed the following: (1) Goitered gazelle is primarily active during the day, showing an activity pattern similar to crepuscular animals, with two activity peaks occurring after dawn and before dusk. (2) Daily activity patterns showed both seasonal and sex differences. In the warm season, morning activity peaks occurred earlier, and afternoon peaks occurred later compared to the cold season. The overlap in daily activity patterns between females and males in the warm season was lower than that in the cold season, and this trend persisted throughout the year. (3) The number of times different types of groups were observed varied significantly, with single males and single females accounting for a larger proportion of all observed groups. There was no significant difference in group size across seasons, with groups typically consisting of 1–2 individuals. Our study provides detailed insights into the temporal ecology and population structure of goitered gazelles in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This information will guide the identification of future conservation priorities and the development of management plans for the reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]