Old Dominion University

The mesopelagic zone is a site of strong microbially driven particle attenuation with depth and thus plays a crucial role in controlling the transfer efficiency of the ocean's biological pump. However, little quantitative information exists on the dependency of decay processes on the source material. Here we followed the decay of ¹⁴C‐labeled dead particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from three different phytoplankton species, and two incubations of live diatoms, in mesopelagic water over 3 months. Commonly used first‐order kinetics failed to adequately describe the decay of organic material as rate constants varied from day to day. Over extended periods, decay rates for organic material exhibited two distinct phases, with rates in the second phase being inversely related to rates in the first phase. Microbial biomass (measured via adenosine triphosphate and cell counts) increased substantially during phase 1 and ebbed during phase 2. Decay rates were significantly different among the three algal sources; however, differences were even more pronounced among carbon pools and followed a distinct pattern (combined average per‐day decay rates at 12°C): fresh DOC (0.6) > fresh POC (0.1) > live cells (0.06) > aged DOC/POC (0.01). Separation of POC into four broad biochemical fractions showed that components in the operationally defined lipid fraction contained the most degradable compounds for fresh material. Our research highlights the need to include the dynamics of the most easily digestible fractions of freshly released organic material, and live plankton resilient to digestion, in calculations of vertical carbon flux budgets.

Amino acid identification is crucial across various scientific disciplines, including biochemistry, pharmaceutical research, and medical diagnostics. However, traditional methods such as mass spectrometry require extensive sample preparation and are time-consuming, complex and costly. Therefore, this study presents a pioneering Machine Learning (ML) approach for automatic amino acid identification by utilizing the unique absorption profiles from an Elliptical Dichroism (ED) spectrometer. Advanced data preprocessing techniques and ML algorithms to learn patterns from the absorption profiles that distinguish different amino acids were investigated to prove the feasibility of this approach. The results show that ML can potentially revolutionize the amino acid analysis and detection paradigm.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is the apprehension that others may be having more rewarding experiences from which one is absent. A positive relationship between FoMO and social media related behaviors is well established. Limited studies have examined how FoMO may be associated with risky health behaviors, such as alcohol use. Risky alcohol use is a pervasive public health issue among college students, a population with high rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Emerging studies have identified alcohol-related content (ARC) on social media may predict greater college drinking. Yet no research has investigated if social media ARC exposure is a mechanism linking FoMO to alcohol outcomes among college students. This study examined if FoMO is indirectly related to college student ( N = 705; ages 18–25) alcohol outcomes (i.e., quantity, frequency, problems, and peak drinks) via frequency of checking social media and frequency of ARC exposure from peers. All paths sequentially linking FoMO to alcohol outcomes were significant and positive. Greater FoMO was related to more frequent social media checking, greater ARC exposure, and indirectly related to greater alcohol consumption and problems. FoMO may be a helpful indicator of who is at risk of risky drinking and problems via social media use.

Young cisgender sexual minority women (e.g. lesbian, queer) in the U.S. are at risk for disordered eating behaviors (DEB). Minority stress theory proposes sexual minority stressors (SMS; e.g. discrimination) related to marginalized statuses are culturally specific stressors that may explain engagement in these behaviors. However, little is known about daily SMS-DEB associations. We conducted a 14-day daily diary study of 321 U.S.-based sexual minority cisgender women ages 19-35 who were in a relationship with a woman. SMS were assessed using an 8-item daily measure of distal SMS (e.g. heard anti-LGBT talk, verbal harassment), and DEB with single items capturing dietary restraint, overeating, loss of control eating, and emotional eating. Multi-level models revealed on days when women experienced SMS, they were more likely to report dietary restraint and emotional eating, but not overeating or loss of control eating. Women who generally reported more frequent SMS were more likely to report all four DEB. There were no significant couple-level SMS-DEB associations. These findings expand our understanding of how SMS is associated with DEB in the daily lives of cisgender sexual minority women. Future studies are needed to explore the temporal sequencing of the associations. Findings may also help to inform the design of culturally tailored interventions aimed at reducing DEB among sexual minority women.

How does the World Bank’s use of lending and non-lending instruments affect the policy priorities of developing countries? We consider how certain forms of external assistance can shape the incentives of political leaders and the ideational environment within which they work in ways that promote reform. With new data on the delivery of analytical and advisory products and micro-level survey data from 1244 public sector officials in 121 developing countries, we find a consistently positive but not statistically significant association between the World Bank’s delivery of “Economic and Sector Work” products and the degree to which public sector officials perceive the multilateral institution to be effective in shaping the direction of government policy. We do not find a detectable effect of economic and sector work on the perceived utility of the World Bank’s advice or engagement during policy reform implementation. Nor do we find any evidence that the World Bank’s development policy lending consistently affects its perceived influence on the direction, design, or implementation of government policy. These findings have important implications for understanding both the effectiveness of development assistance and the conditions under which international institutions can influence the policy priorities of developing countries.

In coastal communities, green infrastructure can be part of the infrastructure investment strategy to revitalize existing infrastructure and provide protection from flooding, erosion, and other coastal hazards. This article asks the question: What are key equity considerations related to green infrastructure planning for coastal resilience? We answer this question using the voices of research experts, practitioners, and community members who participated in a virtual workshop designed to identify key questions and concerns about coastal resilience and social equity. These research and practice perspectives are synthesized using an integrative planning framework for green infrastructure implementation that was developed to answer the research question. Our findings identify equity touchpoints as they relate to four cross-cutting themes: (1) stakeholder engagement and public participation, (2) trade-offs and multiple benefits, (3) resources and capacity, and (4) data, metrics, and analysis.

Purpose Personal history of parent-child aggression (PCA) can predict future parenting behavior, but some effects may differ between racial groups. Black parents in the U.S. are more likely to encounter discrimination and personally experience and approve of PCA, which may account for previously reported group differences. This study examined whether personal PCA history predicted later parental child abuse risk mediated by PCA approval across the transition to parenthood, and whether effects differed by race. Methods Expectant parents (non-Hispanic White sample: 95 mothers with 86 fathers; Black sample: 94 mothers with 85 fathers) participated in a prospective longitudinal study, assessed prenatally and when children were age 6 mo., 18 mo., and four years. Personal history of PCA was assessed retrospectively, PCA approval was evaluated at each timepoint; and abuse risk was assessed as both theoretical abuse risk (an analog task at all timepoints) and actual PCA use (parents’ report at the final two timepoints). Results Personal PCA history largely predicted PCA approval for Black parents but was inconsistent for White parents. Higher PCA approval predicted abuse risk for both groups but appears to be a more consistent mediator between personal PCA history and abuse risk for Black parents. Conclusions Findings suggest PCA approval may perpetuate the PCA cycle but future work needs to consider differential effects by race, socioeconomic status, and age and identify factors that may account for such differences. Abuse preventions should be more intentionally culturally informed to enhance efficacy for communities of color.

Middle-age and older runners demonstrate differences in running biomechanics compared with younger runners. Female runners demonstrate differences in running biomechanics compared with males, and females experience hormonal changes during menopause that may also affect age-related changes in running biomechanics. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between age and running biomechanics in healthy female recreational runners. Fifty-two participants (ages 27–65 y) ran on an instrumented treadmill at 2 different self-selected speeds: easy pace and 5 km race pace. Lower-extremity kinematic and kinetic variables were calculated from 14 consecutive strides. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between age and lower-extremity running biomechanics, controlling for self-selected running speed. There was a negative relationship between age and easy pace ( R = −.49, P < .001) and age and 5 km race pace ( R = −.43, P = .001). After controlling for self-selected running speed, there were no significant relationships between age and running biomechanics for either running speed. Several biomechanical variables were moderately to strongly correlated with running speed. Running speed should be considered when investigating age-related differences in running biomechanics.

Applying nano-delivery systems for phytohormones via foliar application has proven effective in reducing grain cadmium (Cd) levels in crops. However, the mechanisms underlying this reduction remain inadequately understood. This study integrated the determination of leaf photosynthetic parameters, Cd translocation analysis, and metabolomics to elucidate the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) and melatonin (MT), delivered with or without chitosan-encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-CS), on grain Cd levels in rice. Our findings revealed that the foliar application of MT@MSN-CS significantly outperformed MT alone in reducing grain Cd levels and enhancing leaf photosynthesis under Cd stress. Conversely, GSH@MSN-CS showed comparable effects to GSH alone. Foliar-applied GSH@MSN-CS and MT@MSN-CS both decreased the Cd transport coefficients from panicle nodes to brown rice by 26.2–53.3%, with MT@MSN-CS demonstrating superior efficiency in reducing Cd concentrations across roots, stems, leaves, panicle nodes, and grains. Metabolomic analysis revealed substantial shifts in rice metabolite profiles following GSH@MSN-CS and MT@MSN-CS treatments. Foliar application of MT@MSN-CS or GSH@MSN-CS may rapidly and effectively activate the primary antioxidant defense system and alleviate membrane lipid peroxidation in rice grown on low-to-moderately Cd-contaminated soils by upregulating amino acid metabolism. The secondary defense mechanism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, was reprogrammed to reduce energy expenditure and decrease Cd translocation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore differences in attitudes toward the inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in physical education (PE) between male and female teachers. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study included responses from 180 physical education teachers, including 86 men (mean age 39.79 ± 9.99 years) and 94 women (mean age 42.86 ± 9.92 years), in Slovakia. Each participant completed the modified version of the Attitudes toward Teaching Individuals with Physical Disabilities in Physical Education-Revised survey, as well as a brief demographic questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to analyze data. Results: Attitudes were generally positive, with no significant differences between males and females overall. However, significant differences were revealed in exploring negative outcomes for teachers. For example, female teachers were significantly more likely to reject the negative attributes of the inclusion of students with ASD in PE lessons than male teachers (U ¼ 3260, p ¼ 0.025 �). Conclusions: This is the first study to explore differences in attitudes among men and women in Slovakia toward teaching students with ASD. Future research is needed to further explore differences in particular outcomes associated with students with ASD in physical education. ARTICLE HISTORY

Background Despite a large number of primary research studies, and systematic and narrative reviews, there is no consensus on the impact of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Currently, there is no evidence‐based guideline for Muslim women regarding Ramadan fasting during pregnancy and clinicians cannot provide firm recommendations. Objectives To review the current evidence regarding the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Search Strategy We conducted an umbrella review of all systematic and narrative reviews examining the impacts of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes by searching PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Registry of Systematic Reviews databases between November 2023 and February 2024. Selection Criteria We included all systematic and narrative reviews examining the impacts of Ramadan fasting on pregnancy and birth outcomes. The primary outcome was the change in birth weight, gestational age at birth, fetal growth indices, and Apgar score as well as the risk of delivery by cesarean section and the risks of gestational diabetes and pre‐eclampsia. Data Collection and Analysis We summarized the data using narrative synthesis and descriptive statistics as appropriate. This study was registered with PROSPERO, ID: CRD42023478819. Main Results Out of 943 published reports identified across all database searches, 13 systematic and narrative reviews were included, of which three were systematic reviews with meta‐analysis, six were systematic reviews without meta‐analysis, and the remaining four were narrative reviews. There is no sufficient evidence that Ramadan fasting during pregnancy may reduce gestational age at birth or increase the risk of preterm birth (PTB). There is little evidence to support the hypothesis that maternal Ramadan fasting may reduce birth weight or increase the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Systematic reviews showed pooled estimates of odds ratios ranging between 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–1.44) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.72–1.37) for PTB, and between 1.05 (95% CI 0.87–1.26) and 1.37 (95% CI 0.74–2.53) for LBW. There is no sufficient evidence that Ramadan fasting during pregnancy may increase the risk of delivery by cesarean section, gestational diabetes, or the risk of pre‐eclampsia. None of the reviews reported evidence regarding the impacts of fasting during pregnancy on rare but clinically significant pregnancy and birth outcomes such as stillbirth, miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or neonatal deaths. Conclusion There is little evidence that Ramadan fasting during pregnancy can negatively impact pregnancy and birth outcomes. Primary research studies on this issue suffered from significant methodologic limitations and systematic reviews showed significant heterogeneity for several pregnancy and birth outcomes. High‐quality primary research studies that collect data on multiple confounders and effect modifiers are needed to investigate this issue and help reaching evidence‐based recommendations.

This needs-assessment study evaluated the physical activity levels, needs, preferences, and requirements for exercise among individuals with visual impairments, aiming to establish evidence for the codesign of a subsequent home-based exercise program. The questionnaire, comprising 35 questions, was developed by a research team of disability and adapted physical activity experts. It was implemented for the online survey, collecting data from 145 adults with severe low vision and blindness between January 15 and January 29, 2024. Descriptive statistical analysis and content analysis were employed. Seventy-five participants (62.5%) were classified as overweight or obese, and only 15 participants reported engaging in the recommended levels of physical activity. Regarding the requirements for future home-based exercise programs, seven themes were identified: accessibility, nonvisual learning support, safety management, personalization, motivation, education, and technology. The results emphasized the urgent need for adapted home-based exercise programs that align with individuals’ specific health conditions and abilities.