bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discussion of the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders with the family caregivers of cancer patients: An example from a major cancer center in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Shahri Mohammad Z. , Sroor Mahmoud , Ghareeb Wael Ali Said , Alhassanin Suzan , Ateya Heba Aly
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To explore the views of the family caregivers (FCGs) about the “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) discussions and decision-making processes that occurred during hospitalization in a Saudi cancer center.

Methods

In this cross-sectional survey, the FCGs of inpatients with advanced cancer completed a self-administered questionnaire soon after giving the patients a DNR status designation by their oncologists.

Results

Eighty-two FCGs participated in the study, with a median age of 36.5 years and male preponderance (70.7%). The FCGs were mostly sons (41.5%), daughters (14%), or brothers (11%) of patients. Only 13.4% of mentally competent patients had the chance to listen to the DNR discussion. The discussion mainly occurred in the ward corridor (48.8%) or another room away from the patients’ rooms (35.4%). In 36.6% of cases, the discussion took ≤5 minutes. Half of the FCGs stated that the oncologists’ justifications for the DNR decision were unconvincing. The majority (84.2%) of the FCGs felt that the healthcare providers should share the DNR decision-making with patients (1.2%), families (69.5%), or both (13.4%). FCGs ≤ 30 years of age were more supportive of giving patients’ families a chance to participate in the DNR decision-making process (p = 0.012).

Significance of results

There is considerable room for improving the current practice of DNR discussions and decision-making processes in the studied setting. A readily feasible rectifying measure is to ensure the adequacy of time and privacy when planning for DNR discussions. We expect our findings to draw the attention of stakeholders to a compelling need for reviewing the current policies and processes, aiming to improve the experience of cancer patients and their FCGs.
Response of cotton at different growth stages to imazapyr
Authors: Marshall Michael W. , Williams Mitchell B. , Jones Michael A.
Published: December 2023

A significant proportion of the forested production area in South Carolina is managed using aerial applications of imazapyr. Cotton injury from off-target movement of imazapyr has been observed in South Carolina. Field experiments were conducted twice at the Edisto Research and Education Center (EREC) in 2021 and 2022, and once at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center (PDREC) in 2022, to evaluate the response of cotton at two growth stages to imazapyr at 0.1×, 0.05×, 0.025×, 0.0125×, and 0.00625× of the normal use rate of 0.84 kg ae ha−1. Injury to cotton at the vegetative stage was 86% and 74% at 0.1× and 0.05× imazapyr rates 28 d after application (DAA). Cotton height ranged from 23 to 93 cm at all three locations. Yield at the EREC location in 2021 was reduced by 79%, 48%, and 31% at the 0.1×, 0.05×, and 0.025× rates of imazapyr, respectively. Similar reductions from imazapyr were observed at both EREC and PDREC in 2022. Injury to cotton at the reproductive stage based on visual estimates at 28 DAA ranged from 95% to 64% for the 0.1× to 0.0125× rates, respectively. Cotton height at the reproductive stage was reduced to 59% of the untreated control 28 DAA when the 0.1× rate of imazapyr was applied. Seed cotton (which included both seed and lint) yield ranged from 0 to 2,880 kg ha−1 at the three locations in both years. Seed cotton yield was lowest when imazapyr was applied at the 0.1× to 0.025× rates. Cotton exposure to imazapyr at the vegetative and reproductive growth stages resulted in plant injury, height, and yield reductions, especially at the higher rates of imazapyr. The greatest reduction in cotton growth and yield was observed after exposure at the reproductive growth stage regardless of imazapyr rate. In summary, the magnitude of cotton response to imazapyr depends on crop growth stage and imazapyr concentration at the time of exposure with the greatest impact occurring at the reproductive growth stage.
Self-regulation of resources in higher education
Authors: Trentepohl Sebastian , Waldeyer Julia , Fleischer Jens , Roelle Julian , Leutner Detlev , Wirth Joachim
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Resource-management learning strategies are particularly important for performance in higher education. Despite this consideration, the current state of research still lacks evidence on the precise interplay of the different learning process components that affect academic performance. The aim of the present study was to test a mediation model derived from process theories of self-regulated learning, in which students' knowledge about resource-management strategies impacts their academic performance via its behavioural manifestations. N = 106 university students took part in an online course over the period of one semester. Students' resource-management strategy knowledge was assessed at the beginning of the semester, and their use of resource-management strategies was observed via log data of their learning behaviour during the semester while learning through the online course. Academic performance was assessed on the basis of an exam at the end of the semester. The mediation model was tested for three different resource-management strategies: time management, effort regulation, and help seeking. There was a significant indirect effect of strategy knowledge via strategy use on academic performance for all learning strategies considered. We conclude that students' strategic learning behaviour is an indispensable link in the relationship between their strategy knowledge and academic performance, and discuss implications for research and training practice.
Lifestyle Factors, Psychosocial Resources, and Mental Health in Older People
Authors: Tucak Junaković Ivana , Nekić Marina , Šimić Nataša
Published: December 2023

Abstract: There are numerous risk/protective factors for developing mental disorders in older people. This study examined the contribution of lifestyle (physical activity, sedentary behavior, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption) and psychosocial resources (optimism, resilience, social support, and frequency of social contacts) to older people’s mental health. We conducted the study on a community-dwelling sample of 780 persons (58% women) aged 65–98 from different geographical regions of the Republic of Croatia. We administered the questionnaires, including relevant instruments, individually. We found no differences in mental health regarding smoking habits. On the other hand, individuals who consumed alcohol had better mental health than those who did not drink alcohol, primarily because of gender differences in alcohol consumption and mental health. Physical activity was significantly positively associated with mental health. The regression analysis results showed that psychological resources (optimism and resilience) were significantly better predictors of mental health than lifestyle factors and social resources. The study’s results emphasize the importance of psychological resources as protective factors for older people’s mental health.
Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Asbrand Julia , Krämer Martina , Heinrichs Nina , Nitschke Kai , Tuschen-Caffier and Brunna
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) in children is highly prevalent but current treatments are not effective for all patients. Aim: A group treatment based on empirically driven etiological models including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure, and social skills training was examined. Method: The study examined treatment success using a SAD-specific cognitive behavior group therapy in a randomized controlled trial ( N = 74, 8 – 12 years, blind randomized allocation to treatment [CBT; n = 42] and waitlist [WLC; n = 32]). Results: Compared to WLC, parents of children in the CBT group reported a decrease in symptoms (CBT: d = 1.02, WLC: d = 0.06), while children did not differ in two measures of social anxiety. An estimate of total treatment effects showed a steady decrease in social anxiety symptoms (child report pre- to posttreatment: d = 0.50 – 0.52, posttreatment to follow-up: d = 0.37 – 0.39; parent report pre- to posttreatment: d = 0.92, posttreatment to follow-up: d = 0.69). Conclusion: While group treatment is most likely an effective approach, parents reported stronger social anxiety symptom reduction than children. The selection of measures for the assessment of SAD and treatment success and further modifications of exposure-based approaches are to be considered in future research.
„Wir würden nur schlafende Hunde wecken!“
Authors: Maier Anna , Fegert Jörg M. , Marzian Lena-Marie , König Elisa , Hoffmann Ulrike
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung: Theoretischer Hintergrund: Fachkräfte in Institutionen sind wichtige Ansprechpersonen für Betroffene von (außer)‌institutioneller sexualisierter Gewalt in Kindheit und Jugend (SGKJ), verfügen aber oft nicht über ausreichende Kenntnisse zum Umgang mit (Verdachts–) Fällen. Fragestellung: Was benötigen Fachkräften in Institutionen im Umgang mit SGKJ. Methode: Von 01/2022 bis 04/2022 wurden quantitative und qualitative Daten zu Umgang mit SGKJ in Institutionen bei medizinisch-therapeutischen und pädagogischen Fachkräften in Deutschland digital erhoben. Die Daten wurden mittels deskriptiven und inhaltsanalytischen Verfahren ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Die Mehrheit der 164 Befragten war bereits mit SGKJ konfrontiert. In Institutionen bestehen oftmals einzelne Schutzmaßnahmen. Allerdings wird mehr Wissen über den Umgang benötigt und der Tabuisierung von SGKJ muss entgegengewirkt werden. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Institutionen, die Kinder und Jugendliche betreuen, sollten Maßnahmen zum Schutz vor SGKJ etablieren.
Stresserleben und Stresssymptomatik von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Zeiten der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Rüth Jana-Elisa , Döring Lena , Baier Annalena , Essing Kira , Wagner Stephanie , Lohaus und Arnold
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung: Theoretischer Hintergrund: Insbesondere für Kinder und Jugendliche war die COVID-19-Pandemie mit vielen Herausforderungen verbunden, die mit Stress assoziiert sind. Fragestellung: Es wird mehr Stresserleben und eine stärkere Stresssymptomatik während der Pandemie sowie eine längsschnittliche Mediation durch Emotionsregulation erwartet. Methode: Im Herbst 2020 ( NT1 = 173) und 2022 ( NT2 = 121) wurden Gymnasiast_innen der Klassenstufen 5 bis 8 (T1) bzw. 7 bis 10 (T2) zum Stresserleben, zur körperlichen Stresssymptomatik sowie zur Emotionsregulation befragt. Eine Substichprobe ( n = 71) nahm an beiden Befragungen teil. Ergebnisse: Im Vergleich zur Normstichprobe (2018) zeigte sich zu T1 und T2 konsistent ein erhöhtes Stresserleben. Für die Stresssymptomatik zeigte sich eine Mediation durch dysfunktionale Emotionsregulation. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Während der COVID-19-Pandemie war das Stresserleben erhöht. Emotionsregulation scheint bedeutsam für die Stresssymptomatik zu sein.
Internalisierende Störungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Dippel Nele , Asbrand Julia
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung: Angststörungen und Depressionen sind im Kindes- und Jugendalter prävalente und somit hoch relevante Erkrankungen bezogen auf Versorgung und Forschung. Zugleich greifen bisherige Erklärungsmodelle mit Blick auf intrapersonale sowie interpersonale Faktoren zu kurz, wenn sich Kinder und Jugendliche in einer (digitalen) Welt bewegen und sich mit globalen Krisen konfrontiert sehen. Der biopsychosoziale Blick der Ätiologie und Behandlung muss somit auf globale Themen geweitet und relevante Lebenswelten wie soziale Medien integriert werden. Dieses Editorial regt mit Vorschlägen zu einer soziokulturellen Perspektive an und bereitet den Schwerpunkt Internalisierende Störungen vor.
Conscientiousness Can Predict Academic Performance – Even in	High-Stake Setting
Authors: Danner Daniel , Höft Stefan
Published: December 2023

Abstract: We investigated, to what extent Conscientiousness can predict academic performance in a real application high-stakes setting. N = 267 applicants for a place at a university completed a Conscientiousness questionnaire during the selection process and 6 weeks after they commenced their studies. Students’ academic grades were used as criterion variables. The results suggest that the high-stakes setting increases the level of Conscientiousness reported, that not all applicants change their answers to the same extent and that the high-stakes setting decreases the criterion-related validity, but Conscientiousness remains a useful predictor for academic performance in high-stakes settings.
Microplastics Are the Not-So-Secret Ingredient in Marine Snow
Authors: Herring Molly
Published: December 2023

Particles of tiny, degraded plastics coated with biofilms sink to the seafloor, carrying carbon with them.
Tropospheric Gravity Waves Increase the Likelihood of Double Tropopauses
Authors: Shao Jia , Zhang Jian , Tian Yufang , Wang Wuke , Huang Kaiming , Zhang Shaodong
Published: December 2023

The tropopause region is crucial for the stratosphere‐troposphere exchange (STE) and acts as an indicator of climate change. Double tropopauses (DTs) act to increase the STE process but their driving mechanisms remain an open question. The present assessment offers for the first time the linkage between tropospheric gravity waves (GWs) and DT events by exploring a global data set of multi‐year radiosonde measurements. In the extratropics, the occurrence frequency of DT events keeps a remarkably consistent spatial‐temporal structure with GW total energy. Under the DT scenario, GW total energy has increased by 37.67% compared to single tropopause events. Based on a statistical assessment, the upward propagating GWs throughout the second tropopause region can probably raise Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability or turbulence, leading permanent irregularities in thermodynamic structure, and consequently, increasing the likelihood of DT.
Evaluating Methane Emissions From Decommissioned Unconventional Petroleum Wells in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Cahill Aaron G. , Joukar Mohammad , Sefat Morteza , van Geloven Chelton
Published: December 2023

Hundreds of thousands of unconventional natural gas wells recently constructed across North America have transformed the global energy landscape and generated widespread concern relating to fugitive methane leakage. To date, no studies have evaluated the integrity of unconventional wells post‐abandonment. Here, we evaluated emissions at nine decommissioned unconventional wells within the Montney region of British Columbia, Canada and found two exhibited co‐emission of CH4 and CO2 from surrounding soils indicating integrity failure, releasing up to ∼2,000 kg of CO2‐eq/yr into the atmosphere. A further three wells exhibited statistically significant anomalous CO2 fluxes of ∼500 kg/year from surficial soils around the well, likely associated with minor integrity failure and derived from near total soil‐based aerobic oxidation of fugitive CH4. These findings suggest that more than half of decommissioned unconventional wells may generate emissions, however only relatively small contributions to GHG emissions result that are significantly mitigated through natural soils‐based CH4 oxidation.
Multi‐Time Scale Variations in Atlantic Niño and a Relative Atlantic Niño Index
Authors: Tan Wei , Liu Yunyun , Li Xiaofan , Johnson Nathaniel C. , Hu Zeng‐Zhen
Published: December 2023

Atlantic Niño is a leading mode of climate variability in the tropical Atlantic Ocean with important regional impacts. Tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) connected with Atlantic Niño exhibit notable multi‐time scale variations, including a quasi‐linear warming trend and sub‐annual to interdecadal variability associated with different physical processes. Contrasting the tropical Pacific SST associated with the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which has a weak trend and quasi‐periodic oscillatory variability with a period of 2–7 years, the ATL3 index, the primary index for monitoring the Atlantic Niño, has no dominant time scale, that is likely responsible for its low prediction skills. Following the same spirit as the relative Niño3.4 index, we demonstrate that a relative ATL3 index, which is defined as the difference between the raw ATL3 index and the global SST anomaly, provides distinct advantages for monitoring the sub‐annual‐to‐interdecadal variations for Atlantic Niño in real time.
Organic Matrix Effect on the Molecular Light Absorption of Brown Carbon
Authors: Zhang Antai , Zeng Yaling , Yang Xin , Zhai Jinghao , Wang Yixiang , Xing Chunbo , Cai Baohua , Shi Shao , Zhang Yujie , Shen Zhenxing , Fu Tzung‐May , Zhu Lei , Shen Huizhong , Ye Jianhuai , Wang Chen
Published: December 2023

Brown carbon (BrC) absorption impacts radiative forcing and climate change. Quantifying radiative forcing of BrC requires understanding its molecular composition and absorption characteristics. While organic molecules surrounding BrC may impact its absorption, their effects have not yet been investigated. This research determined matrix effect on BrC absorption by comparing individual BrC molecules and BrC within an organic matrix. Over 20,000 water‐soluble organic molecules constituted the water‐soluble BrC and associated organic matrix. The matrix enhanced aliphatic BrC absorption but suppressed aromatic BrC, especially with higher matrix O/C ratios indicating greater polarity and acidity. By directly measuring and modeling organic matrix effect on BrC, we can improve climate prediction precision and aerosol‐radiation interaction comprehension.
Large Methane Emissions From Tree Stems Complicate the Wetland Methane Budget
Authors: Jeffrey L. C. , Moras C. A. , Tait D. R. , Johnston S. G. , Call M. , Sippo J. Z. , Jeffrey N. C. , Laicher‐Edwards D. , Maher D. T.
Published: December 2023

Our understanding of tree stem methane (CH4) emissions is evolving rapidly. Few studies have combined seasonal measurements of soil, water and tree stem CH4 emissions from forested wetlands, inhibiting our capacity to constrain the tree stem CH4 flux contribution to the total wetland CH4 flux. Here we present annual data from a subtropical freshwater Melaleuca quinquenervia wetland forest, spanning an elevational topo‐gradient (Lower, Transitional and Upper zones). Eight field campaigns captured an annual hydrological flood‐dry‐flood cycle, measuring stem fluxes on 30 trees, from four stem heights, and up to 30 adjacent soil or water CH4 fluxes per campaign. Tree stem CH4 fluxes ranged several orders of magnitude between hydrological seasons and topo‐gradient zones, spanning from small CH4 uptake to an emission of ∼203 mmol m−2 d−1. Soil CH4 fluxes were similarly dynamic and shifted from CH4 emission (saturated soil) to uptake (dry soil). In Lower and Transitional zones respectively, tree stem CH4 contribution to the net CH4 ecosystem flux was greatest during flooded conditions (49.9% and 70.2%) but less important during dry periods (3.1% and 28.2%). Minor tree stem emissions from the Upper elevation zone still offset the Upper zone CH4 soil sink capacity by ∼51% during dry conditions. Water table height was the strongest driver of tree stem CH4 fluxes, however tree emissions peaked once the soil was inundated and did not increase with further water depth. This study highlights the importance of quantifying the wetland tree stem CH4 emissions pathway as an important and seasonally oscillating component of wetland CH4 budgets.
Process‐Based Quantification of the Role of Wildfire in Shaping Flood Frequency
Authors: Yu Guo , Liu Tao , McGuire Luke A. , Wright Daniel B. , Hatchett Benjamin J. , Miller Julianne J. , Berli Markus , Giovando Jeremy , Bartles Michael , Floyd Ian E.
Published: December 2023

Moderate to high severity wildfire can abruptly alter watershed properties and enhance extreme hydrologic responses such as debris flows and floods. The compounding effects of wildfire on flood hazard, represented here via flood frequency analysis (FFA; e.g., 100‐year flood) are of growing importance. Standard statistical FFA approaches are ill‐suited to examining this issue because wildfire‐affected flood peak observations are limited in number and violate the assumption of independent and identically distributed events. Here, we developed a process‐based FFA framework that integrates a stochastic rainfall generator, wildfire simulation, inverse modeling, and a physics‐based hydrological model to directly simulate the impacts of wildfire on FFA. We applied this framework in the upper Arroyo Seco watershed in Southern California, which experienced Moderate to high burn during the 2009 Station Fire. An FFA analysis, performed with simulated peak flows from the first year since fire demonstrates the 100‐year flood can be three times larger than simulations that only consider peak flows in non‐fire‐affected years. On the other hand, coupling process‐based FFA with stochastically simulated wildfire events and watershed's time‐varying hydrologic recovery yields “fire continuum FFA”, a concept introduced here for the first time. Fire continuum FFA accounts for multiple wildfires within very long synthetic time series. Variability in upper tail flood peaks is substantially higher in fire continuum results as compared with pre‐wildfire FFA. This result highlights the importance of wildfire inter‐arrival time and post‐wildfire recovery processes, both of which are expected to change as a result of climatic change and evolving fire management strategies.
Parent and Adolescent Perspectives on a Novel Transdisciplinary Model of Health Care Delivery for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Pierce Jessica S. , Enlow Paul , Thomas Courtney , Price Julia , Wasserman Rachel , Wysocki Tim , Alderfer Melissa A.
Published: December 2023

Objective:

We aimed to obtain preadolescent/adolescent and parent input on a proposed transdisciplinary model for routine Type 1 diabetes (T1D) health care in which an advanced practice nurse, dietitian, and psychologist with expertise in T1D and extensive cross-discipline training codeliver care during quarterly T1D care visits using a family-focused approach.

Method:

Participants were 17 parent–youth dyads plus one additional adolescent who responded to open-ended questions about the structure and format of the proposed transdisciplinary care model via an online, private social network. A six-member coding team developed and revised a codebook, coded question responses through iterative cycles of inductive coding, and distilled major recurring themes to obtain perspectives on the transdisciplinary care model and feedback on improving the model.

Results:

We identified nine themes regarding reactions to our proposed transdisciplinary care model, which fell into three broad categories: (a) general perceptions of transdisciplinary care (e.g., transdisciplinary care may facilitate improved communication and collaboration among providers and result in more holistic care); (b) perceptions about transdisciplinary care providers (e.g., perspectives on the inclusion of dietitians and psychologists as members of the transdisciplinary care team were mixed); and (c) suggestions for improving the transdisciplinary care model (e.g., ensure care is patient/family-centered and holistic).

Conclusions:

The present findings provided important feedback to modify our transdisciplinary care model and on parent and youth preferences for T1D health care delivery.

Implications for Impact Statement

In this study, we aimed to obtain preadolescent/adolescent and parent input on a new model of health care for youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), called transdisciplinary care. In transdisciplinary care, an advanced practice nurse, dietitian, and psychologist work together with the family to deliver routine T1D care. Though qualitative analysis, we found that parents and youth identified both positive and negative perceptions of the transdisciplinary care model and offered suggestions for improving the transdisciplinary care model.
TREX1 is required for microglial cholesterol homeostasis and oligodendrocyte terminal differentiation in human neural assembloids
Authors: Goldberg Gabriela , Coelho Luisa , Mo Guoya , Adang Laura A. , Patne Meenakshi , Chen Zhoutao , Garcia-Bassets Ivan , Mesci Pinar , Muotri Alysson R.
Published: December 2023

Three Prime Repair Exonuclease 1 (TREX1) gene mutations have been associated with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) – a rare, severe pediatric autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the brain and has a poorly understood etiology. Microglia are brain-resident macrophages indispensable for brain development and implicated in multiple neuroinflammatory diseases. However, the role of TREX1 – a DNase that cleaves cytosolic nucleic acids, preventing viral- and autoimmune-related inflammatory responses – in microglia biology remains to be elucidated. Here, we leverage a model of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived engineered microglia-like cells, bulk, and single-cell transcriptomics, optical and transmission electron microscopy, and three-month-old assembloids composed of microglia and oligodendrocyte-containing organoids to interrogate TREX1 functions in human microglia. Our analyses suggest that TREX1 influences cholesterol metabolism, leading to an active microglial morphology with increased phagocytosis in the absence of TREX1. Notably, regulating cholesterol metabolism with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, FDA-approved atorvastatin, rescues these microglial phenotypes. Functionally, TREX1 in microglia is necessary for the transition from gliogenic intermediate progenitors known as pre-oligodendrocyte precursor cells (pre-OPCs) to precursors of the oligodendrocyte lineage known as OPCs, impairing oligodendrogenesis in favor of astrogliogenesis in human assembloids. Together, these results suggest routes for therapeutic intervention in pathologies such as AGS based on microglia-specific molecular and cellular mechanisms.
What happens to regulatory T cells in multiple myeloma
Authors: Chen Huixian , Wang Xueling , Wang Yan , Chang Xiaotian
Published: December 2023

Abnormal tumor microenvironment and immune escape in multiple myeloma (MM) are associated with regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play an important role in maintaining self-tolerance and regulating the overall immune response to infection or tumor cells. In patients with MM, there are abnormalities in the number, function and distribution of Tregs, and these abnormalities may be related to the disease stage, risk grade and prognosis of patients. During the treatment, Tregs have different responses to various treatment regiments, thus affecting the therapeutic effect of MM. It is also possible to predict the therapeutic response by observing the changes of Tregs. In addition to the above, we reviewed the application of Tregs in the treatment of MM. In conclusion, there is still much room for research on the mechanism and application of Tregs in MM.
ChillsDB 2.0: Individual Differences in Aesthetic Chills Among 2,900+ Southern California Participants
Authors: Schoeller Felix , Christov Moore Leo , Lynch Caite , Reggente Nicco
Published: December 2023

We significantly enriched ChillsDB, a dataset of audiovisual stimuli validated to elicit aesthetic chills. A total of 2,937 participants from Southern California were exposed to 40 stimuli, consisting of 20 stimuli (10 from ChillsDB and 10 new) presented either in audiovisual or audio-only formats. Questionnaires were administered assessing demographics, personality traits, state affect, and political orientation. Detailed data on chills responses is captured alongside participants’ ratings of the stimuli. The dataset combines controlled elicitation of chills using previously validated materials with individual difference measures to enable investigation of predictors and correlates of aesthetic chills phenomena. It aims to support continued research on the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of aesthetic chills responses.
A global database of bird nest traits
Authors: Chia Stephanie Yuan , Fang Yi-Ting , Su Yi-Ting , Tsai Pei-Yu , Hsieh Chia , Tsao Shu-Han , Juang Jia-Yang , Hung Chih-Ming , Tuanmu Mao-Ning
Published: December 2023

The reproductive success of birds is closely tied to the characteristics of their nests. It is crucial to understand the distribution of nest traits across phylogenetic and geographic dimensions to gain insight into bird evolution and adaptation. Despite the extensive historical documentation on breeding behavior, a structured dataset describing bird nest characteristics has been lacking. To address this gap, we have compiled a comprehensive dataset that characterizes three ecologically and evolutionarily significant nest traits—site, structure, and attachment—for 9,248 bird species, representing all 36 orders and 241 out of the 244 families. By defining seven sites, seven structures, and four attachment types, we have systematically classified the nests of each species using information from text descriptions, photos, and videos sourced from online databases and literature. This nest traits dataset serves as a valuable addition to the existing body of morphological and ecological trait data for bird species, providing a useful resource for a wide range of avian macroecological and macroevolutionary research.
MarFERReT, an open-source, version-controlled reference library of marine microbial eukaryote functional genes
Authors: Groussman R. D. , Blaskowski S. , Coesel S. N. , Armbrust E. V.
Published: December 2023

Metatranscriptomics generates large volumes of sequence data about transcribed genes in natural environments. Taxonomic annotation of these datasets depends on availability of curated reference sequences. For marine microbial eukaryotes, current reference libraries are limited by gaps in sequenced organism diversity and barriers to updating libraries with new sequence data, resulting in taxonomic annotation of about half of eukaryotic environmental transcripts. Here, we introduce Marine Functional EukaRyotic Reference Taxa (MarFERReT), a marine microbial eukaryotic sequence library designed for use with taxonomic annotation of eukaryotic metatranscriptomes. We gathered 902 publicly accessible marine eukaryote genomes and transcriptomes and assessed their sequence quality and cross-contamination issues, selecting 800 validated entries for inclusion in MarFERReT. Version 1.1 of MarFERReT contains reference sequences from 800 marine eukaryotic genomes and transcriptomes, covering 453 species- and strain-level taxa, totaling nearly 28 million protein sequences with associated NCBI and PR2 Taxonomy identifiers and Pfam functional annotations. The MarFERReT project repository hosts containerized build scripts, documentation on installation and use case examples, and information on new versions of MarFERReT.
Chromosomal-level assembly of Tokudaia osimensis, Tokudaia tokunoshimensis, and Tokudaia muenninki genomes
Authors: Okuno Miki , Mochimaru Yuta , Matsuoka Kentaro , Yamabe Takahiro , Matiz-Ceron Luisa , Jogahara Takamichi , Toyoda Atsushi , Kuroiwa Asato , Itoh Takehiko
Published: December 2023

Herein, we present the first high-quality long-read-based chromosome-level genome assemblies and gene annotations of the genomes of three endangered Tokudaia species: Tokudaia osimensis, Tokudaia tokunoshimensis, and Tokudaia muenninki. These species, which are endemic to different islands of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, exhibited unique karyotypes and sex chromosomal characteristics. The genome assemblies generated using PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C sequence data consisted of 13 (corresponded to 12 autosomes and one X chromosome), 23 (corresponded to 22 autosomes and one X chromosome), and 23 (corresponded to 21 autosomes and the neo- and ancestral X regions) chromosome-level scaffolds that contained 2,445, 2,477, and 2,661 Mbp of sequence data, respectively. Annotations of protein-coding genes were performed using RNA-Seq-based, homology-based, and Ab initio methods. BUSCO completeness values for every species exceeded 96% for genomes and 98% for genes. These data can be an important resource for contributing to our understanding of species genomes resulting from allopatric speciation and provide insights into mammalian sex-determination mechanisms and sex chromosome evolution.
Study on reasonable anchorage length based on failure mechanism of the bolt anchorage system
Authors: Wang Meng , Shang Liyou , Zhang Baoan , Li Yatao , Su Jinshuai , Wang Shuai
Published: December 2023

In addition to analysing the mechanism of failure of the prestressed rock anchor anchor system and investigating the appropriate depth for fixing the rock anchors, theoretical equations were derived to calculate the rock anchors' axial force, ultimate capacity, and the interfacial shear force in the elastic phase. These equations are then used to analyse the pressure distribution within the rock bolt anchorage section and to investigate the effect of interfacial shear strength, shear stiffness, and anchorage length on interface failure. Drawing on the findings from both field-based rock bolt pull-out tests and numerical simulations, analyzed the failure mechanism of the anchor system, and proposed a reasonable anchor length design method for rock bolt. The results show that there is a strong dependence between ultimate load carrying capability of rock bolts and interfacial shear stress and shear rigidity, and that increasing the anchorage length and reducing the interface shear stiffness can avoid the stress concentration phenomenon. The primary factor leading to the anchor system failure is secondary interface failure. The evolution law of interface damage is that the damage occurs first at the initial position. As the interface damage location changes, the peak shearing stress moves towards the bottom of the anchored section. The engineering application results verified the feasibility of a reasonable anchorage length calculation method and rock bolt design process. The findings of this paper can be used as a basic reference for determining rock bolt anchorage support parameters during the design and construction of underground engineering projects.
Communities in C. elegans connectome through the prism of non-backtracking walks
Authors: Onuchin Arsenii A. , Chernizova Alina V. , Lebedev Mikhail A. , Polovnikov Kirill E.
Published: December 2023

The fundamental relationship between the mesoscopic structure of neuronal circuits and organismic functions they subserve is one of the major challenges in contemporary neuroscience. Formation of structurally connected modules of neurons enacts the conversion from single-cell firing to large-scale behaviour of an organism, highlighting the importance of their accurate profiling in the data. While connectomes are typically characterized by significant sparsity of neuronal connections, recent advances in network theory and machine learning have revealed fundamental limitations of traditionally used community detection approaches in cases where the network is sparse. Here we studied the optimal community structure in the structural connectome of Caenorhabditis elegans, for which we exploited a non-conventional approach that is based on non-backtracking random walks, virtually eliminating the sparsity issue. In full agreement with the previous asymptotic results, we demonstrated that non-backtracking walks resolve the ground truth annotation into clusters on stochastic block models (SBM) with the size and density of the connectome better than the spectral methods related to simple random walks. Based on the cluster detectability threshold, we determined that the optimal number of modules in a recently mapped connectome of C. elegans is 10, which precisely corresponds to the number of isolated eigenvalues in the spectrum of the non-backtracking flow matrix. The discovered communities have a clear interpretation in terms of their functional role, which allows one to discern three structural compartments in the worm: the Worm Brain (WB), the Worm Movement Controller (WMC), and the Worm Information Flow Connector (WIFC). Broadly, our work provides a robust network-based framework to reveal mesoscopic structures in sparse connectomic datasets, paving way to further investigation of connectome mechanisms for different functions.
Disjunct habitat of cryptic Terebellides (Annelida, Trichobranchidae) species shows a phylogenetic link between polychaetes from the White and the North Seas
Authors: Kudryavtseva A. A. , Novoyatlova U. S. , Chuyko A. , Gaeva D. R. , Vlasov A. V. , Manukhov I. V.
Published: December 2023

Understanding the distribution and biodiversity of marine species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and maintaining the health of global ecosystems. Advancements in molecular data utilization have significantly improved our understanding of biodiversity within the genus Terebellides. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis on polychaete samples from the Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea, revealing their affiliation with a putative undescribed species of the genus Terebellides found in two locations of the North Sea. Interestingly, this species was not detected in the Norwegian and Barents Seas, leading us to propose a disjunct distribution scenario for this Terebellides species. This unique distribution pattern might be attributed to the succession of polychaetes by new species, facilitated by the Gulf Stream and a climate change role in driving shifts in species' ranges and altering marine ecosystem dynamics.
Antimicrobial effects of chlorine dioxide in a hospital setting
Authors: Helou Mariana , Mahdi Ahmad , Abou Fayad Antoine , Sleiman Ahmad , Matar Ghassan M. , Zoghbi Sanaa , Madani Tarek , Husni Rola
Published: December 2023

Chlorine dioxide is a powerful disinfectant with strong antibacterial properties. We conducted a study at different sites of the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital to determine the efficacy of the ECOM air mask in decreasing the particle load. Air cultures were obtained from three different locations, namely the patients’ elevator, visitors’ elevator and mobile clinic and the number of colonies grown on each type of agar was determined. We also measured particle counts at the three sites both at baseline and after placement of the ECOM air mask. After 7 days of ECOM air mask use, the numbers of colonies grown on all types of media was decreased by 20–100% versus the baseline values. The counts of particles of different diameters (0.3, 0.5 and 5 µm) were decreased at all three sampled sites. This study highlighted the efficacy of the ECOM air mask. The utility of the gaseous form of ClO2 as an antiseptic in the hospital setting appears promising.
Serosurvey and associated risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in Egyptian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Alshammari Ayed , Marzok Mohamed , Gattan Hattan S. , Salem Mohamed , Al-Jabr Omar A. , Selim Abdelfattah
Published: December 2023

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease that causes reproductive disorders in animals, making it a barrier to maximum efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence ofNeosporacaninum(N.caninum) antibodies in water buffaloes from four governorates in northern Egypt. A commercial indirect-ELISA test was used to detect antibodies againstN.caninumin the serum of 450 water buffaloes. The total seroprevalence ofN.caninumin water buffaloes from Egypt was 31.3%, and the highest prevalence was observed in Gharbia governorate. The identified risk factors forN.caninuminfections in water buffaloes were sex (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.22−4.17), buffaloes more than 4 years of age ( OR = 5.80, 95%CI: 2.26−14.86), abortion in second trimester (OR = 16.48, 95%%CI: 2.99−34.03), history of abortion (OR = 3.45, 95%CI: 1.58−7.52) and contact with dogs (OR = 2.55, 95%CI: 1.51−4.32). Thus, more studies are needed to determine the role of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Egypt.
Synthesis and in-vitro anti-proliferative with antimicrobial activity of new coumarin containing heterocycles hybrids
Authors: Abdelaziz Eman , El-Deeb Nehal M. , Zayed Mervat F. , Hasanein Asmaa Mohammed , El Sayed Ibrahim El-T. , Elmongy Elshaymaa I. , Kamoun Elbadawy A.
Published: December 2023

A series of new coumarin-N-heterocyclic hybrids, coumarin-quinolines 7a–e, coumarin-acridines 10b,c and coumarin-neocryptolepines 13b,c were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer and antimicrobial activities. The structures of all synthesized hybrids were confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS spectrometry. The anti-proliferative activity of hybrids 7a–e, 10c and 13c were bio-evaluated using MTT-assay against colon (CaCo-2), lung (A549), breast (MDA-MB-231), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) human cancer cell lines using doxorubicin as a reference drug. The results demonstrated that, all hybrids displayed moderate to good anti-proliferative activity against the cell lines. The most active hybrids were 7a–d and 10c against CaCo-2 cancer cell line with IC50: 57.1, 52.78, 57.29, 51.95 and 56.74 µM, and selectivity index 1.38, 1.76, 2.6, 1.96 and 0.77; respectively. While, 7a,d were potent against A549 cancer cell line with IC50: 51.72, 54.8 µM and selectivity index 1.5, 0.67; respectively. Moreover, 7c showed the most potency against MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line with IC50: 50.96 µM and selectivity index 2.20. Interestingly, docking results revealed that binding energy of the current compounds showed marked affinity values ranging from -6.54 to -5.56 kcal with interactions with the reported key amino acid SER 79. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized hybrids 7a–e, 10b,c, 13b and 13c were evaluated against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial and fungal strains. The hybrids 10b, 13b, 10c, and 13c exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against E.coli, S. mutans, and S. aureus with MIC from 3.2 to 66 µM, this hybrids also displayed antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC values ranging from 0.0011 to 29.5 µM. In-silico investigation of the pharmacokinetic properties indicated that tested hybrids had high GI absorption, low Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability in addition to cell membrane penetrability.
Immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae tyrosine hydroxylase on ZnO nanocrystals for improved stability and catalytic efficiency towards L-dopa production
Authors: Khalid Ansa , Ali Sikander , Rukhma  , Jahangeer Muhammad , Sarwar Abid , Nelofer Rubina , Aziz Tariq , Alharbi Metab , Alasmari Abdullah F. , Albekairi Thamer H.
Published: December 2023

The current study focuses on the submerged fermentation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) from Aspergillus oryzae IIB-9 and its immobilization on zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO-NPs) for increased L-dopa production. The volume of Vogel’s medium (75 ml), period of incubation (72 h), initial pH (5.5), and size of inoculum (1.5 ml) were optimal for maximum TH activity. The watch glass-dried (WG) and filter paper-dried (FP) ZnO-NPs were prepared and characterized using analytical techniques. The UV–Vis spectra revealed 295 and 285 nm absorption peaks for WG-ZnO-NPs and FP-ZnO-NPs dispersed in isopropanol. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of ZnO-NPs. FTIR spectra band from 740 to 648.1/cm and 735.8/cm to 650.1/cm showed the stretching vibrations of WG-ZnO-NPs and FP-ZnO-NPs, respectively. The particle size of ZnO-NPs observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images was between 130 and 170 nm. Furthermore, the stability of immobilized TH on ZnO-NPs was determined by varying the incubation period (10 min for WG-NPs and 15 min for FP-NPs) and temperature (45 °C and 30 °C for WG and FP-NPs, respectively). Incubating enzymes with various copper, iron, manganese, and zinc salts studied the catalytic efficiency of TH. Immobilization of TH on ZnO-NPs resulted in an 11.05-fold increase in TH activity, thus enhancing stability and catalytic efficiency.
Verbal lie detection using Large Language Models
Authors: Loconte Riccardo , Russo Roberto , Capuozzo Pasquale , Pietrini Pietro , Sartori Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

Human accuracy in detecting deception with intuitive judgments has been proven to not go above the chance level. Therefore, several automatized verbal lie detection techniques employing Machine Learning and Transformer models have been developed to reach higher levels of accuracy. This study is the first to explore the performance of a Large Language Model, FLAN-T5 (small and base sizes), in a lie-detection classification task in three English-language datasets encompassing personal opinions, autobiographical memories, and future intentions. After performing stylometric analysis to describe linguistic differences in the three datasets, we tested the small- and base-sized FLAN-T5 in three Scenarios using 10-fold cross-validation: one with train and test set coming from the same single dataset, one with train set coming from two datasets and the test set coming from the third remaining dataset, one with train and test set coming from all the three datasets. We reached state-of-the-art results in Scenarios 1 and 3, outperforming previous benchmarks. The results revealed also that model performance depended on model size, with larger models exhibiting higher performance. Furthermore, stylometric analysis was performed to carry out explainability analysis, finding that linguistic features associated with the Cognitive Load framework may influence the model’s predictions.
Divergent preference functions generate directional selection in a jumping spider
Authors: Castilho Leonardo Braga
Published: December 2023

Sexual selection has long been thought to promote speciation, but this possibility still remains a topic of controversy. Many theoretical models have been developed to understand the relationship between sexual selection and speciation, but such relationship seems complex and sexual selection has also been argued to prevent speciation in many scenarios. Here, I model for the first time the tendency of speciation due to sexual selection using realistic model parameters input collected from an existing species, the jumping spider Hasarius adansoni. I show that, even though the species has substantial female variance in preference (the model typically thought to link sexual selection to speciation), when realistic parameters are input in the model, it predicts directional selection, rather than disruptive selection. I propose that including realistic parameters in speciation models is a new tool that will help us understand how common sexual selection helps or hinders speciation in the real world.
Combining chromosomal microarray and clinical exome sequencing for genetic diagnosis of intellectual disability
Authors: Kim Jaewon , Lee Jaewoong , Jang Dae-Hyun
Published: December 2023

Despite the current widespread use of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and exome/genome sequencing for the genetic diagnosis of unexplained intellectual disability (ID) in children, gaining improved diagnostic yields and defined guidelines remains a significant challenge. This is a cohort study of children with unexplained ID. We analyzed the diagnostic yield and its correlation to clinical phenotypes in children with ID who underwent concurrent CMA and clinical exome sequencing (CES). A total of 154 children were included (110 [71.4%] male; mean [SD] age, 51.9 [23.1] months). The overall diagnosis yield was 26.0–33.8%, with CMA contributing 12.3–14.3% and CES contributing 13.6–19.4%, showing no significant difference. The diagnostic rate was significantly higher when gross motor delay (odds ratio, 6.69; 95% CI, 3.20–14.00; P < 0.001), facial dysmorphism (odds ratio, 9.34; 95% CI 4.29–20.30; P < 0.001), congenital structural anomaly (odds ratio 3.62; 95% CI 1.63–8.04; P = 0.001), and microcephaly or macrocephaly (odds ratio 4.87; 95% CI 2.05–11.60; P < 0.001) were presented. Patients with only ID without any other concomitant phenotype (63/154, 40.9%) exhibited a 6.3–11.1% diagnostic rate.