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Royal Society Open Science

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Online ISSN: 2054-5703

Disciplines: Multidisciplinary

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BP/1/720, holotype of Milleropsis pricei. (a) Left lateral view; (b) left lateral view of segmented elements from µCT scan of the specimen; (c) right lateral view; (d) right lateral view of segmented elements from µCT scan of the specimen. Abbreviations: an, angular; art; articular; bo, basioccipital; co, coronoid; d, dentary; ect, ectopterygoid; epi, epipterygoid; fr, frontal; hy, hyoid; j, jugal; lac, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; n, nasal; op, opisthotic; pa, parietal; pal, palatine; pbs, parabasisphenoid; phal, phalanges; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pof, postfrontal; pr, prootic; pra; prearticular; prf, prefrontal; pt, pterygoid; q, quadrate; qj, quadratojugal; sa, surangular; sm, septomaxilla; so, supraoccipital; sp, splenial; sq, squamosal; stp, stapes; and v, vomer. Scale bar represents 1 cm.
BP/1/720, holotype of Milleropsis pricei. Segmented elements from µCT scan of Individual II in: (a) left lateral; (b) right lateral; (c) dorsal; (d) ventral; (e) occipital and (f) anterior views. Abbreviations: an, angular; art; articular; bo, basioccipital; cor, coronoid; d, dentary; ect, ectopterygoid; epi, epipterygoid; f, frontal; hy, hyoid; j, jugal; lac, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; n, nasal; op, opisthotic; pal, palatine; pbs, parabasisphenoid; po, postorbital; pof, postfrontal; pra; prearticular; prf, prefrontal; pr, prootic; pt, pterygoid; q, quadrate; qj, quadratojugal; sa, surangular; smx, septomaxilla; sp, splenial; sq, squamosal; st, supratemporal; stp, stapes; v, vomer; 5, fifth maxillary tooth position; and 17, 17th maxillary tooth position. Scale bar represents 1 cm.
BP/1/720, holotype of Milleropsis pricei. Segmented elements from µCT scan of Individual VI in: (a) left lateral; (b) right lateral; (c) dorsal; (d) ventral; (e) occipital and (f) anterior views. Abbreviations: an, angular; art; articular; cor, coronoid; d, dentary; ect, ectopterygoid; epi, epipterygoid; hy, hyoid; j, jugal; lac, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; n, nasal; op, opisthotic; p, parietal; p. anl proc, anterolateral process of parietal; pbs, parabasisphenoid; phal, phalanges; po, postorbital; pof, postfrontal; pr, prootic; pra; prearticular; prf, prefrontal; pt, pterygoid; q, quadrate; sa, surangular; smx, septomaxilla; sp, splenial; and stp, stapes. Scale bar represents 1 cm.
BP/1/720, holotype of Milleropsis pricei. Segmented elements from µCT scan of Individual IX in: (a) left lateral; (b) right lateral; (c) dorsal and (d) ventral views. Abbreviations: amf, anterior maxillary foramen; cor, coronoid; d, dentary; mx, maxilla; pmx, premaxilla; smx, septomaxilla; spl, splenial; 5, fifth maxillary tooth position; and 17, 17th maxillary tooth position. Scale bar represents 1 cm.
Specimens of Milleropsis not scanned in this study. (a) BP/1/720, holotype of Milleropsis pricei, Individual I in left lateral view with a corresponding line drawing demonstrating antorbital sutures; (b) SAM PK-K7751, referred specimen, left lateral view; (c) SAM-PK-K10082, referred specimen, left lateral view with corresponding line drawing; (d) SAM-PK-K8609, referred specimen, mirrored right lateral view. Scale bars each represent 1 cm.

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Cranial osteology and neuroanatomy of the late Permian reptile Milleropsis pricei and implications for early reptile evolution

January 2025

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161 Reads

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Roger B. J. Benson

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Royal Society Open Science is an open journal publishing high-quality original research across the entire range of science on the basis of objective peer-review (all articles which are scientifically sound and useful to the community).

The journal allows the Society to publish all the high-quality articles it receives without the usual restrictions on scope, length or impact including replications or those that include negative findings. The Editorial team consists entirely of practising scientists and draws upon the expertise of the Royal Society’s Fellowship.

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Recent articles


Development of reed-based cellulose aerogel: a sustainable solution for crude oil spill clean-up
  • Article
  • Full-text available

January 2025

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11 Reads

This study focused on fabricating a cellulose aerogel for oil spill clean-up, using common reed (Phragmites australis) as the cellulose source. The process involved isolating cellulose from reed via traditional Kraft pulping, considering the effects of key factors on the isolated cellulose content. After a two-stage HP bleaching sequence, the highest cellulose content achieved was 27.2%, with 80% ISO brightness and 1% ash content under mild Kraft pulping conditions of 30% sulfidity, 20% active alkali (AA), sustained cooking at 165°C for 3 h, and a liquor-to-reed ratio of 8 : 1. Subsequently, reed-based cellulose aerogel was fabricated via a freeze-drying method using an eco-friendly NaOH/poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous solvent system, which was then modified with methyltrimethoxysilane. The resulting aerogel exhibited remarkable characteristics, including a low density of 0.04 g cm⁻³, high porosity of 96%, high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle (WAC) of 141°, and a superior crude oil adsorption capacity of 35 g g⁻¹. Comprehensive characterizations of the fabricated materials, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, and WAC measurements, were evaluated. This interdisciplinary study explores the commercial promise of reed-based cellulose aerogel as a sustainable solution for oil spill clean-up efforts.


Does a biological invasion modify host immune responses to parasite infection?

January 2025

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12 Reads

Biological invasions can disrupt the close and longstanding coevolved relationships between host and parasites. At the same time, the shifting selective forces acting on demography during invasion can result in rapid evolution of traits in both host and parasite. Hosts at the invasion front may reduce investment into costly immune defences and redistribute those resources to other fitness-enhancing traits. Parasites at the invasion front may have reduced pathogenicity because traits that negatively impact host dispersal are left behind in the expanding range. The host’s immune system is its primary arsenal in the coevolutionary ‘arms race’ with parasites. To assess the effects of invasion history on immune responses to parasite infection, we conducted a cross-infection experiment which paired common-garden reared cane toads and lungworm parasites originating from various sites in their invaded range across northern Australia. Infected toads had larger spleens and higher concentrations of eosinophils than did uninfected toads. Infected toads also exhibited lower bacteria-killing ability, perhaps reflecting a trade-off of resources towards defences that are more specifically anthelminthic. The impact of infection intensity on multiple immune measures differed among toads and parasites from different parts of the invasion trajectory, supporting the hypothesis that invasion has disrupted patterns of local adaptation.


Non-random mating behaviour between diverging littoral and pelagic three-spined sticklebacks in an invasive population from Upper Lake Constance

January 2025

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35 Reads

Adaptive divergence and increased genetic differentiation among populations can lead to reproductive isolation. In Lake Constance, Germany, a population of invasive three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is currently diverging into littoral and pelagic ecotypes, which both nest in the littoral zone. We hypothesized that assortative mating behaviour contributes to reproductive isolation between these ecotypes and performed a behavioural experiment in which females could choose between two nest-guarding males. Behaviour was recorded, and data on traits relevant to mate choice were collected. Both females of the same and different ecotypes were courted with equal vigour. However, there was a significant interaction effect of male and female ecotypes on the level of aggression in females. Littoral females were more aggressive towards pelagic males, and pelagic females were more aggressive towards littoral males. This indicates rejection of males of different ecotypes in spite of the fact that littoral males were larger, more intensely red-coloured and more aggressive than the pelagic males—all mating traits female sticklebacks generally select for. This study documents the emergence of behavioural barriers during early divergence in an invasive and rapidly diversifying stickleback population and discusses their putative role in facilitating reproductive isolation and adaptive radiation within this species.


Conceptual framework showing predictions on the associations between urbanization, condition and immune defences in the Eurasian coot.
Location of the sampling sites. Urban and non-urban coot populations were marked in yellow and green, respectively.
Differences in body condition in three urban (yellow) and three non-urban (green) populations of the Eurasian coot. Means (central point), s.e. (box) and 95% confidence intervals (whiskers) of haemoglobin concentration (a) and size-corrected body mass (b) are shown. For the purpose of visualization, size-corrected body mass was calculated as residuals from body mass against wing length.
Differences in body condition and immune defences between males (M) and females (F) in urban (yellow) and non-urban (green) populations of the Eurasian coot. Means (central point), s.e. (box) and 95% confidence intervals (whiskers) of haemoglobin concentration (a), size-corrected body mass (b), haptoglobin concentration (c), haemolysis (d) and bacterial killing capacity (e) are shown.
Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird

January 2025

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28 Reads

There is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect body condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex and taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the effects of urbanization on body condition (size-corrected body mass and haemoglobin concentration) and innate immune defences (haemolysis–haemagglutination assay, haptoglobin concentration and bacterial killing assay) in 136 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) from three urban and three non-urban populations across Poland. We also quantified the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio to control for the potential effect of physiological stress on immune defences. We found that urban coots showed significantly better condition than non-urban ones. At the same time, we found no relationship between any immune defence and urbanization or condition. Thus, our study offers no support for condition-dependent immune function. Our analyses also revealed significant differences between male and female coots in both condition and immune defences; however, we found no evidence for sex-specific responses to urbanization. In conclusion, our study provides correlative evidence that urban habitat enhances condition, but not immune defences in the Eurasian coot.


(a) Fertility and (b) survivorship across the lifespans of female chacma baboons and geladas. (a) Fertility (the proportion of females in each yearly age class that gave birth) rises upon entering adulthood and declines in old age in both chacma baboons (purple) and geladas (teal). (b) Survivorship is lower in chacma baboons, in large part due to higher rates of infant mortality. Published life table data from olive baboons (light grey, from [36] and [61]) and yellow baboons (dark grey, from [62]), which experience much lower rates of infanticide [63], are provided for additional comparative context.
Effects of maternal age on reproductive outcomes in (a,c) chacma baboons and (b,d) geladas. (a,b) Interbirth intervals were generally longer in young and old chacma baboons and in young geladas. However, these trends disappeared or reversed once 2−3 years had passed, respectively. Old female geladas often failed to close very long interbirth intervals. (c,d) Infant survival was higher in middle-aged chacma baboons and in young geladas. Orange lines indicate young mothers, grey lines indicate mid-aged mothers, and blue lines indicate old mothers.
The risk of infant mortality resulting from maternal death—but not infanticide—changed as mothers aged. The proportion of infants (n = 179, n = 429) that died due to infanticide, injury or illness, maternal death and unknown causes are provided across tertiles of maternal age at birth. Although deaths attributable to infanticide appear to shift across maternal age categories, these trends were not well-supported in either species.
Female reproductive ageing persists despite high infanticide risk in chacma baboons and geladas

January 2025

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8 Reads

Across mammals, fertility and offspring survival are often lowest at the beginning and end of females’ reproductive careers. However, extrinsic drivers of reproductive success—including infanticide by males—could stochastically obscure these expected age-related trends. Here, we modelled reproductive ageing trajectories in two cercopithecine primates that experience high rates of male infanticide: the chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) and the gelada (Theropithecus gelada). We found that middle-aged mothers generally achieved the shortest interbirth intervals in chacma baboons. By contrast, old gelada females often showed shorter interbirth intervals than their younger group-mates with one exception: the oldest females typically failed to produce additional offspring before their deaths. Infant survival peaked in middle-aged mothers in chacma baboons but in young mothers in geladas. While infant mortality linked with maternal death increased as mothers aged in both species, infanticide risk did not predictably shift with maternal age. Thus, infanticide patterns cannot explain the surprising young mother advantage observed in geladas. Instead, we argue that this could be a product of their graminivorous diets, which might remove some energetic constraints on early reproduction. In sum, our data suggest that reproductive ageing is widespread but may be differentially shaped by ecological pressures.


Flow chart of literature search and study selection. Note: the PRISMA diagram outlines the various steps of the literature search for study inclusion and exclusion. Reasons for exclusion are indicated at each step.
Forest plot of musical ability/training on second-language learning. Note: for illustrative purposes, we plotted each experiment’s average effect size (Fisher’s z-score) following guidelines from Hedges et al. [54] and Linck et al. [55] and ordered them from smallest to largest. Each dot differs in size based on study weight; larger dots indicate larger sample sizes while smaller dots indicate smaller sample sizes. Confidence intervals are given in brackets.
Funnel plot of all effect sizes. Note: all effect sizes (black dots) plotted against their standard errors. In the absence of publication bias, points should be symmetrically distributed around the meta-analytic effect (dotted line) with variability increasing as precision (as indexed by standard errors) decreases.
Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis

January 2025

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14 Reads

In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition. However, while several studies have assessed this relationship in various ways, the consistency and robustness of the relationship between musical ability and second-language learning remains unclear. Thus, we synthesized 184 effects across 57 independent studies (n =3181) with a robust variance estimation multivariate meta-analysis, and we narratively summarized partial correlation effects across 12 studies. The available evidence suggests that musical ability is indeed positively related to second-language learning, even after factoring in publication bias revealed by the meta-analysis. Although future work with more diverse participant populations and methodologies is needed to further disentangle this relationship, it is apparent that individuals with better musical ability are generally more successful at second-language learning.


An example of Ram analysis in a semen–vaginal fluid mixture. (C-m presented the methylated status of target semen-specific CpG site within this locus, which remained C after Bisulfite conversion and sequencing; C presented the unmethylated status of target semen-specific CpG site within this locus, which converted to T after Bisulfite conversion and sequencing; AA, AG and GG indicated the genotypes of target microhaplotype site within this locus.)
The comparison of mean Ram values at nine loci in 22 blood, 18 semen and 23 vaginal fluid samples.
The Log10(P(RMNE)) values (Log10 values of P(RMNE)) of potential donors in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures from group 1.
The Log10(P(RMNE)) values (Log10 values of P(RMNE)) of potential donors in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures from group 2.
Application of a new composite genetic marker semen-specific methylation-microhaplotype in the analysis of semen–vaginal fluid mixtures

January 2025

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2 Reads

DNA mixtures containing semen and vaginal fluid are common biological samples in forensic analysis. However, the analysis of semen–vaginal fluid mixtures remains challenging. In this study, to solve these problems, it is proposed to combine semen-specific CpG sites and closely related microhaplotype sites to form a new composite genetic marker (semen-specific methylation-microhaplotype). Six methylation-microhaplotype loci were selected. To further improve discrimination power, five methylation-SNP loci were also included. The methylation levels and genotypes of these selected loci were obtained using massively parallel sequencing technology. Except for loci MMH04ZHA019 and MMH17ZHA059, the remaining nine loci were successfully sequenced. For the successfully sequenced loci, they performed well in identifying individuals and body fluids. An allele categorization model was developed using K-nearest neighbour algorithm, which was then used to predict allele types in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures. These loci were able to confirm the presence of semen and link semen to a true donor in semen–vaginal fluid mixtures with mixing ratios of 10:1, 9:1, 5:1, 4:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:9 (semen:vaginal fluid). This preliminary study suggests that this new composite genetic marker has great potential as a supplementary tool to commonly used genetic markers (STR, etc.) for analysing semen–vaginal fluid mixtures.


Towards carbon neutrality: mapping mass retrofit opportunities in Cambridge, UK

January 2025

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6 Reads

This study proposes a methodology and a proof of concept to target and prioritize mass retrofitting of residential buildings in the UK using open building datasets that combine fabric energy efficiency and fuel poverty to meet the net-zero targets. The methodological framework uses a series of multi-variate statistical and geospatial methods that consider urban, socio-economic and physical attributes. In addition, thermal imaging is implemented to provide insights at the building scale. We define a hard-to-decarbonize (HtD) metric to enable the clustering of different residential types to establish retrofitting priorities. Using Cambridge, UK, as a case study, five neighbourhoods were identified and characterized to help determine decarbonization intervention priorities. We found that one of five clusters of neighbourhoods is HtD and requires more policy support from government for the implementation of retrofit strategies. The achieved framework has the potential to inform policy and decision making. Of relevance, it is applicable to different urban contexts.


Schematic of our method and the three components (a), (b) and (c).
(a–d) Maps of each pond site, showing data from week 3 of collection. Points indicate trap locations (1–5). (a) Tarn: mean trap distance = 4.7 m, area ~ 0.075 ha; (b) Pennywell: 6.7 m, approximately 0.16 ha; (c) Sneed: 8.8 m, approximately 0.25 ha; (d) Brandon: 4.9 m, approximately 0.016 ha. (e–g) Pennywell in weeks 4 (e), 5 (f) and 6 (g). Trap locations (1–5) are shown, with point size scaled to the number of fish caught (max size = 5) and colour representing the proportion of red breeding-condition males (0% = white, 100% = red). Number of fish caught across the pond site (n) and aggregation score: (a) n = 122, aggregation = 8; (b) n = 181, aggregation = 39; (c) n = 196, aggregation = 35; (d) n = 104, aggregation = 12; (e) n = 114, aggregation = 19; (f) n = 12, aggregation = 1; (g) n = 130, aggregation = 38. Images adapted from Google Maps.
(a) Aggregation scores (index of dispersion, i.e. variance/mean) for each sampling session as a function of the total number of fish caught during that sampling session. Larger values on the y-axis represent cases where fish are more aggregated. Red points indicate data that were removed from the analysis, as the aggregation score did not seem to be able to take large values when the total number of fish caught was less than 26. (b) Coefficient of variation (COV) values for each trap compared to the number of fish caught in that trap. Larger values on the y-axis indicate higher variation in body length among fish in a trap relative to their mean body length.
Relationship between the proportion of red-bellied males caught and the aggregation of fish. The plotted line shows the fitted relationship from GLMM coefficients. The horizontal dashed line indicates where fish are randomly distributed; below this line, fish are more evenly distributed than would occur by chance (regular distribution), and above this line, fish are more clustered than random (aggregated distribution).
Expected distributions of the coefficient of variation (COV) of body lengths of fish caught in traps, generated by randomized sampling for three example sampling sessions. The red lines show the median of the COV for that sampling session (observed siteCOV). Quantiles, representing the proportion of expected values less than or equal to the observed value, are significant at less than 0.025 (positive assortment, fish group with similar sizes) or greater than 0.975 (negative assortment, fish group with dissimilar sizes). Examples shown include: (a) the only statistically significant value for positive assortment (quantile 0.004), (b) a non-significant value for positive assortment (quantile 0.195) and (c) a non-significant value for negative assortment (quantile 0.68).
Quantifying animal social behaviour with ecological field methods

January 2025

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11 Reads

Field studies of social behaviour are challenging due to the need to record or infer interactions between multiple individuals, often under suboptimal environmental conditions or with potential disturbance by observers. Due to the limited field techniques available, we present a novel method to quantify social behaviours in the field by comparing the counts of individuals caught in traps across multiple locations sampled simultaneously. The distribution of individuals between traps gives the extent of aggregation, and phenotypic data allow for inference of non-random assortment. As a case study, we applied this method to populations of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in freshwater ponds, using minnow traps. As expected, we observed a strong trend for aggregation. We were able to describe the ecological drivers of aggregation, comparing environmental and phenotypic conditions across sites. Aggregation was not related to environmental parameters, but was negatively associated with the proportion of breeding males caught during the breeding season. No evidence for phenotypic assortment based on body size was found. These results demonstrate that widely available ecological equipment can address questions related to social behaviour. This cost-effective approach, avoiding the tagging of individuals and minimizing extended observer disturbance, can be applied across various habitats and species.


Cellular automata modelling of leukaemic stem cell dynamics in acute myeloid leukaemia: insights into predictive outcomes and targeted therapies

January 2025

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5 Reads

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematologic malignancy with high relapse rates in both adults and children. Leukaemic stem cells (LSCs) are central to leukaemopoiesis, treatment response and relapse and frequently associated with measurable residual disease (MRD). However, the dynamics of LSCs within the AML microenvironment is not fully understood. This study utilized three-dimensional cellular automata (CA) modelling to simulate LSC behaviour and treatment response under induction chemotherapy. Our study revealed: (i) a correlation between LSC persistence post-induction chemotherapy and risk of AML relapse; (ii) MRD negativity based on LSC count may not reliably predict outcomes, supporting clinical evidence that patients with MRD-negative status can still be at risk of relapse; (iii) prolonged persistence of LSCs post-chemotherapy without disruption of normal haematopoiesis, aligning with clinical observations of dormant AML clones; (iv) early LSC dynamics post-induction chemotherapy, characterized by stochastic behaviours and movement velocities, are insufficient predictors of long-term prognosis; and (v) a distinct spatiotemporal organization of LSCs in later phases post-induction chemotherapy is correlated with long-term outcomes. Our modelling results provide a theoretical and clinical framework for AML research, and future clinical data validation could refine the utility of CA modelling for oncological studies.


Finding polarized communities and tracking information diffusion on Twitter: a network approach on the Irish Abortion Referendum

January 2025

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8 Reads

The analysis of social networks enables the understanding of social interactions, polarization of ideas and the spread of information, and therefore plays an important role in society. We use Twitter data—as it is a popular venue for the expression of opinion and dissemination of information—to identify opposing sides of a debate and, importantly, to observe how information spreads between these groups in our current polarized climate. To achieve this, we collected over 688 000 tweets from the Irish Abortion Referendum of 2018 to build a conversation network from users’ mentions with sentiment-based homophily. From this network, community detection methods allow us to isolate yes- or no-aligned supporters with high accuracy (90.9%). We supplement this by tracking how information cascades spread via over 31 000 retweet cascades. We found that very little information spread between polarized communities. This provides a valuable methodology for extracting and studying information diffusion on large networks by isolating ideologically polarized groups and exploring the propagation of information within and between these groups.


Evolution of the dinosaur ankle skeleton. (a) Phylogeny of archosaurs showing mapped foot morphological states. Above: the antarctometatarsus of Kiyacursor longipes, a noasaurid ceratosaur, in dorsal view (redrawn from [23]). Below: the arctometatarsus of Gallimimus bullatus (MPC-D 100/52) in dorsal view. (b) Ancestral and antarctometatarsalian arrangements of metatarsals in the ankle. (c) Arctometatarsalian metatarsal arrangements in the ankle. (d) Right foot of the tyrannosaurid Gorgosaurus libratus (UALVP 10) in sagittal cross-section, shown in articulation. Dark blue squares indicate independent evolutionary origins of the arctometatarsalian foot. Abbreviations: MPC, Institute of Paleontology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; UALVP, University of Alberta Laboratory for Vertebrate Paleontology, Edmonton, Alberta. Silhouettes were sourced from Phylopic (http://phylopic.org/) and modified with kind permission from artworks by Genya Masukawa (Jaculinykus, Ornithomimus and Gobivenator).
Proportional lengths of distal hind limb segments in theropod dinosaurs. (a) PGLS regression of log10-transformed distal hind limb length (= tibia + metatarsus) against log10-transformed femur circumference. (b) Residual plots from PGLS regressions of distal hind limb lengths (tibia, metatarsus, tibia + metatarsus) with specimens ordered according to foot morphologies (Anc, ancestral state; Ant, antarctometatarsus; Arc, arctometatarsus). (c) Temporal evolution of proportional length of distal hind limb segments (scaled between 0 and 1 residual distal hind limb length) mapped onto a time-scaled theropod phylogeny, with ancestral values estimated using the ace function of ape 5.3 [37]. The x-axis represents time in Ma.
Probabilistic APT (‘a posteriori’ time-scaling) for key nodes in coelurosaur phylogeny illustrating the emergence of arctometatarsus. Coloured circles refer to the temporal occurrences of coelurosaurian theropods, with later-diverging members possessing the arctometatarsus during the mid-Cretaceous and early Cretaceous. Silhouettes were sourced from Phylopic (http://phylopic.org/) by Scott Hartman (Tyrannosaurus) and modified with kind permission from artworks by Genya Masukawa (Gobivenator, Chirostenotes, Jaculinykus and Ornithomimus). The horizontal axis represents time in Ma.
Results of the phylogenetic ANCOVA model. PGLS regressions of log 10 -transformed femur circumference against independent variables for theropod dinosaurs. Abbreviations: Dhl, length of distal hind limb segments (tibia + metatarsus); fc, femur circumference.
Comparison of parameters across foot morphologies. OUMA model fits for PGLS residuals of distal hind limb segments. Abbreviations: Dhl, length of distal hind limb segments (tibia + metatarsus).
Cursorial ecomorphology and temporal patterns in theropod dinosaur evolution during the mid-Cretaceous

January 2025

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65 Reads

Coelurosauria, including modern birds, represents a successful group of theropod dinosaurs that established a high taxonomic diversity and significant morphological modifications. In the evolutionary history of this group, a specialized foot morphology, the arctometatarsus, evolved independently in several lineages and has been considered an adaptation for cursoriality. While its functional significance has been extensively studied, the temporal pattern of this parallel evolution, as well as its origin and influencing factors, remains largely unresolved. Here, we show the temporal evolution of cursorial traits, including the arctometatarsus and hind limb proportions. Our study reveals that the proportional elongation of distal hind limb segments preceded the evolution of the arctometatarsus in ornithomimosaurs and oviraptorosaurs. In contrast, in tyrannosauroids, alvarezsaurs and troodontids, the proportional elongation of the tibia and metatarsals occurred in parallel with the acquisition of the arctometatarsus. The evolutionary history of the arctometatarsus further highlights the presence of a phylogenetic constraint outside Coelurosauria, as this foot specialization is restricted to members of this group. Finally, our date estimation, based on compiled evolutionary patterns, demonstrates that these cursorial traits emerged during the mid-Cretaceous (93–120 Ma), suggesting selection on theropod locomotor performance throughout this interval.


Sampling locations for Atlantic cod along the Norwegian coast. Numbers on the map correspond to the numbering of stations in electronic supplementary material, table 1. Colour (black and grey) in the pies illustrates the proportion of NEAC in each sample, based upon scoring otoliths. Locations over multiple years are compiled. The following four samples are mentioned in the manuscript text: Tranøybotn (7-8), Røst (72-73), Farsund (62) and Hvaler (71).
Photograph of an agar gel used to score haemoglobin in both the 1960s and the present study. HbI alleles are labelled as the 1/1, 1/2 and 2/2 genotypes.
Isolation-by-distance plot of genetic distance for coastal cod (NEAC not included) based on haemoglobin frequencies, plotted against the closest sea-distance, mantel estimated r is 0.68 with a p-value of 0.001.
Frequencies of the HbI-1 and HbI-2 alleles in cod from the present study (a) and extracted from a study in the early 1960s [9] (b). Both datasets contain coastal and NEAC individuals. Sites in very close geographical proximity and/or sites sampled over multiple years are aggregated. The pie illustrating the allele frequencies for otolith-identified NEAC in the present dataset (depicted by the square inset upper-right in panel (a)) is a compilation of the individual fish identified as NEAC in all locations. For samples lacking exact coordinates in Frydenberg et al. [9] (b), the description of the sampling location was used to decide placement on the map and is thus approximate.
Frequency of the HbI-1 allele relative to the distance in kilometres to the station in Hvaler, for the historical data from Frydenberg et al. [9] (1961–1963) and for the contemporary data in the present study (2002–2007). Panel (a) covers all samples while panels (b) and (c) represent a zoom-in on geographic regions. The regression model (HbI-1 ~ distance + dataset) explains a significant portion of the variance for all samples combined (a: R² = 0.77, p < 0.001), for all samples south of Røst (b: R² = 0.77, p < 0.001) and all samples including and north of Røst (c: R² = 0.59, p < 0.001).
Haemoglobin revisited: delineating population structure with the world’s first molecular genetic marker used in fisheries research

January 2025

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22 Reads

When haemoglobin genotyping was implemented in the early 1960s to investigate population genetic structure in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), it became one of the first molecular genetic markers deployed in fisheries research worldwide. However, its suitability was questioned due to its potential for selection. While the issue of neutrality concerned the first population geneticists, markers under selection are now routinely used to study population genetic structure. Here, we revisited haemoglobin genotyping half a decade later to analyse >6000 mature Atlantic cod from 73 spawning locations throughout Norway’s approximately 2500 km coastline. A latitudinal gradient in allele frequencies, with a decrease in the HbI-2 allele towards the south, was observed. Our observed HbI-2 frequencies were consistently slightly lower than data from the 1960s, potentially reflecting adaptive changes to increasing sea temperatures. However, despite this difference, the observed north–south pattern in allele frequencies observed here and in the historical studies overlapped, aligning with current knowledge of population genetic structure in this species. We therefore conclude that this once questioned marker, which provided the first molecular genetic insights into genetic structure in Atlantic cod, provides knowledge consistent with the isolation by distance pattern revealed through decades of research in this species in this region.


Distribution of observed and expected differences in frequency counts between groups in two-arm trials.
Observed (bars) and empirically calculated expected (dotted line) distribution of baseline p-values. (a) calculated using Fisher’s exact test and (b) using a mid-p test in variables with only two levels and two treatment groups (2 by 2 table) with sparse data. (c) calculated using a χ ² test and (d) using a mid-p test for 2 by 2 tables and a χ ² test for larger tables in variables without sparse data. (e) calculated using χ ² tests for variables without and Fisher’s exact test for variables with sparse data and (f) using mid-p tests for 2 by 2 tables and χ ² (without sparse data) or Fisher’s exact test (with sparse data) for larger tables. All figures are for variables where the sum of frequency counts agreed with the participant numbers.
The observed (bars) and expected (dotted line) in a single small study for which mid-p tests were used to calculate baseline p-values.
Accuracy and distribution of baseline categorical variables and p-values in spine randomized controlled trials

January 2025

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2 Reads

Levayer and colleagues assessed integrity issues in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in four spine journals using baseline p-values from categorical variables, concluding that there was no evidence of ‘systemic fraudulent behaviour’. We used their published dataset to assess the accuracy of reported p-values and whether observed and expected distributions of frequency counts and p-values were consistent. In 51 out of 929 (5.5%) baseline variables, the sum of frequencies did not agree with the reported number of participants. For one-third of reported p-values (172 out of 522), we could not calculate a matching p-value using a range of statistical tests. Sparse data were common: for 22% (74 out of 332) of variables in which the reported p-value matched the p-value calculated from a chi-square test, the expected cells were smaller than recommended for the use of chi-square tests. There were 20–25% more two-arm trials with differences in frequency counts of 1 or 2 between-groups than expected. There were small differences between observed and expected distributions of baseline p-values, but these depended on analysis methods. In summary, incorrectly reported p-values and incorrect statistical test usage were common, and there were differences between observed and expected distributions of baseline p-values and frequency counts, raising questions about the integrity of some RCTs in these journals.


Robust and time-resolved estimation of cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic indices

January 2025

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22 Reads

The time-resolved analysis of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) is crucial for the evaluation of the dynamic changes of autonomic activity under different clinical and behavioural conditions. Standard HRV analysis is performed in the frequency domain because the sympathetic activations tend to increase low-frequency HRV oscillations, while the parasympathetic ones increase high-frequency HRV oscillations. However, a strict separation of HRV into frequency bands may cause biased estimations, especially in the low-frequency range. To overcome this limitation, we propose a robust estimator that combines HR and HRV dynamics, based on the correlation of the Poincaré plot descriptors of interbeat intervals from the electrocardiogram. To validate our method, we used electrocardiograms gathered from open databases where standardized paradigms were applied to elicit changes in autonomic activity. Our proposal outperforms the standard spectral approach for the estimation of low- and high-frequency fluctuations in HRV, and its performance is comparable with newer methods. Our method constitutes a valuable, robust, time-resolved and cost-effective tool for a better understanding of autonomic activity through HR and HRV in a healthy state and potentially for pathological conditions.


Morphological change in an isolated population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Britain

January 2025

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35 Reads

The mechanical properties of dietary items are known to influence skull morphology, either through evolution or by phenotypic plasticity. Here, we investigated the impact of supplementary feeding of peanuts on the morphology of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from five populations in Britain (North Scotland, Borders, Jersey and two temporally distinct populations from Formby (Merseyside)). Stable isotope analysis confirmed dietary ecology in 58 specimens. Geometric morphometrics were used to analyse three-dimensional and two-dimensional shape variation across 113 crania and 388 mandibles, respectively. Nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) were lower in the 1990s and 2010s Formby squirrels (suggesting a diet with an increased proportion of peanuts), and higher in other populations. Significant differences in cranio-mandibular shape were found between all populations, with 1990s Formby red squirrels exhibiting a morphology associated with reduced masticatory efficiency. This effect was partially reversed following a reduction in supplementary feeding of peanuts. We propose that these morphological changes are related to the reduced mechanical effort needed to process peanuts relative to naturally occurring food items. This could be an example of diet-induced plastic changes to the skeleton in non-muroid wild mammals, although further research is needed to exclude other driving factors such as genetics.


Multi-modal integration of MRI and global chamber charge density mapping for the evaluation of atrial fibrillation

January 2025

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10 Reads

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent clinical arrhythmia, posing significant mortality and morbidity challenges. Outcomes of current catheter ablation treatment strategies are suboptimal, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. A major obstacle lies in the inability to comprehensively assess both structural and functional remodelling in AF. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)’s detailed structural insights with global chamber charge density mapping (CDM)’s functional mapping capabilities holds promise for advancing AF management. Our research introduces a novel tool for three-dimensional reconstruction of left atrial geometries from MRI, facilitating integration into CDM systems. We comprehensively assess our tool by generating three-dimensional left atrial meshes from MRIs of eight patients with AF and compare them with the established CDM intra-chamber ultrasound approach utilizing both geometric and clinical parameters. We apply the CDM inverse algorithm to both sets of reconstructions in order to compare derived conductions across various heart rhythms and AF conduction patterns. Finally, we explore the potential utility of our integrated pipeline through an exploration of the relationship between AF conduction patterns and their proximity to adjacent thoracic structures. Ultimately, this multifaceted approach aims to unveil insights into AF mechanisms, potentially improving treatment outcomes through personalized ablation strategies targeting arrhythmogenic atrial substrate.


Socioeconomic correlates of urban mobility trends in two Australian cities during transitional periods of the COVID-19 pandemic

January 2025

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8 Reads

During the COVID-19 pandemic, both government-mandated lockdowns and discretionary changes in behaviour combined to produce dramatic and abrupt changes to human mobility patterns. To understand the socioeconomic determinants of intervention compliance and discretionary behavioural responses to epidemic threats, we investigate whether changes in human mobility showed a systematic variation by socioeconomic status during two distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. We analyse mobility data from two major urban centres and compare the trends during mandated stay-at-home policies and after the full relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions, which coincided with a large surge of COVID-19 cases. We analyse data aggregated from de-identified global positioning system trajectories, collated from providers of mobile phone applications and aggregated to small spatial regions. Our results demonstrate systematic decreases in mobility relative to the pre-pandemic baseline with the index of education and occupation, for both pandemic periods. On the other hand, the index of economic resources was not correlated with mobility changes. This result contrasts with observations from other national contexts, where reductions in mobility typically increased strongly with indicators of wealth. Our analysis suggests that economic support policies in place during the initial period of stay-at-home orders in Australia facilitated broad reductions in mobility across the economic spectrum.


Tsunami modelling over global oceans

January 2025

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29 Reads

Tsunamis are massive waves generated by sudden water displacement on the ocean surface, causing devastation as they sweep across the coastlines, posing a global threat. The aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami led to the establishment of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS). Predicting real-time tsunami heights and the resulting coastal inundation is crucial in ITEWS to safeguard the coastal communities. Global tsunamis other than those in the Indian Ocean might weaken at Indian coasts due to distance yet still cause significant damage due to local coastal morphological amplification. The current study focuses on tsunami simulations over global oceans. A finite element (FE)-based ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model is configured to the global domain to model global tsunamis accurately and efficiently. The model mesh has a spatial resolution of 2 km in the shallow waters and relaxed to 20 km in the deeper waters. Model simulations are performed for significant historical events, assessing their effect on near and far field regions. Computed results are compared with the observations, and it is found that the model’s predictions align well with the observations. The simulation results demonstrate that ADCIRC can be applied to real-time tsunami predictions due to its computational efficiency and accuracy.


Unexpected stability of the iron(II) complex by an asymmetrical Schiff base from Fe(III): structure, magnetic and Mössbauer investigations

January 2025

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37 Reads

The asymmetric Schiff base prepared in situ from ethylenediamine and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde reacts with Fe(ClO4)3·6H2O to form the Fe(II) complex [FeL2](ClO4)2 with L = N,N-diethyl-N′-(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)ethane-1,2-diamine, where the Fe(III) starting material has been unexpectedly reduced to Fe(II). This complex was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction measurements, variable temperature DC magnetic measurement and room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy. The asymmetric ligand L coordinates in a tridentate fashion through its pyridyl, azomethine and amino nitrogen atoms, generating a distorted octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. Variable temperature magnetic studies and a Mössbauer measurement show that the iron is locked in the low spin Fe(II) states.


Five key competencies of AI Thinking. These competencies are arranged in a circle to show that they are interrelated and used in parallel rather than separate concerns addressed in sequence.
The competencies of the AI Thinking model. Each competency is aligned with one or more portions of a linearized Illustration of the process of using AI.
AI Thinking: a framework for rethinking artificial intelligence in practice

January 2025

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29 Reads

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work with information across disciplines and practical contexts. A growing range of disciplines are now involved in studying, developing and assessing the use of AI in practice, but these disciplines often employ conflicting understandings of what AI is and what is involved in its use. New, interdisciplinary approaches are needed to bridge competing conceptualizations of AI in practice and help shape the future of AI use. I propose a novel conceptual framework called AI Thinking, which models key decisions and considerations involved in AI use across disciplinary perspectives. AI Thinking addresses five practice-based competencies involved in applying AI in context: motivating AI use, formulating AI methods, assessing available tools and technologies, selecting appropriate data and situating AI in the sociotechnical contexts it is used in. A hypothetical case study is provided to illustrate the application of AI Thinking in practice. This article situates AI Thinking in broader cross-disciplinary discourses of AI, including its connections to ongoing discussions around AI literacy and AI-driven innovation. AI Thinking can help to bridge between the work of diverse disciplines, contexts and actors in the AI space, and shape AI efforts in education, industrial development and policy.


Top view of the paternal exposure set-up for each treatment. We housed two stickleback in opposite compartments of a 37.9 l tank divided into three sections and housed the trout individually in an undivided 37.9 l tank. We separated the stickleback and predator tanks visually with a removable opaque divider.
Paternal time spent in the front of the tank on day 1 due to paternal treatment (data are median with interquartile range, dots correspond to individuals). Orange boxplots show the baseline behaviour of fathers 5 min before treatments were applied. Blue boxplots show paternal behaviour 5 min after treatments were applied. We found a significant interaction between paternal visual cue exposure and the observation period on day 1 for time spent in the front of the tank. Fathers exposed to the visual cue in the visual-only or visual and olfactory treatment spent more time in the front of the tank after exposure compared to control fathers and olfactory-only exposed fathers.
Offspring survival time in the live-predator assay due to paternal treatment (data are median with interquartile range, dots correspond to individuals). We found that the offspring of fathers exposed to the visual cue in the visual-only and visual and olfactory treatment had reduced survival against a live rainbow trout predator. The data for the figure were log-transformed for visualization only and were not transformed in the model for analysing significance.
Paternal response to novel predator exposure correlates with transgenerational response in offspring of threespined stickleback

January 2025

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8 Reads

Parental experiences can alter offspring phenotypes via transgenerational plasticity (TGP), which may prime offspring to adaptively respond to novel stressors, including novel predators. However, we know little about the types of sensory cues (e.g. visual, olfactory) that parents use to recognize novel predators and the consequences for offspring. Individuals may respond to novel cues if they mimic historical cues or they may need multiple sensory cues to recognize and respond to novel stimuli. We exposed threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) males to a full factorial of visual and olfactory cues of a novel trout predator prior to fertilization and tested offspring for antipredator behaviour and survival against a live predator. Fathers exposed to visual cues oriented more to and spent time closer to the novel predator post-exposure on the first day. Paternal response to visual cues was echoed in their offspring: offspring of fathers exposed to visual cues were caught faster by a live predator, suggesting that multiple cues are not needed to induce a transgenerational effect. While visual cues elicited responses both within- and transgenerationally, they do not seem to result in adaptive priming in offspring, suggesting the possibility of maladaptive TGP in response to novel cues of predation risk.


CO- and H2S-adsorbed one-dimensional AlSi structures for gas sensing applications

January 2025

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6 Reads

The potential applications of low-dimensional materials continue to inspire significant interest among researchers worldwide. This study investigates the properties of one-dimensional AlSi monolayers, specifically AlSi nanoribbons, and their adsorption behaviour with CO and H2S molecules. The electronic, magnetic and optical properties of these systems are calculated using density functional theory and the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package. Results indicate that the structures remain relatively planar with negligible buckling heights. All three studied structures exhibit non-zero magnetic moments; notably, CO adsorption enhances the magnetic moment of the pristine AlSi nanoribbon, whereas H2S adsorption reduces it. Adsorption energy calculations reveal that CO exhibits stronger adsorption compared to H2S. Furthermore, a detailed investigation of the optical properties—including the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, absorption coefficient and electron–hole density—demonstrates the potential of these structures in nanotechnology applications, particularly for CO and H2S gas sensing.


Recent advances in metal-catalysed oxidation reactions

Oxidation reactions are vital tools in synthetic organic chemistry. Oxidation of organic species such as alcohols, phenols, aldehydes and ketones provides synthetically valuable organic compounds, especially synthetic intermediates for several biologically active compounds. Some of these synthetic intermediates have shown their synthetic utility in the total synthesis of natural products. Several classical and modern synthetic approaches have been used to achieve these oxidation reactions. In this review article, various oxidation reactions achieved by metal catalysis are highlighted.


Image processing and ROI selection in micaToolbox for ImageJ. RAW images (a) are converted into standardized mspec images and viewed in the micaToolbox interface as linear normalized reflectance stacks (b). The ROI is drawn around the fish’s trunk, excluding the head, operculum and fins other than the pectoral fin (c). The ROI can then be isolated for image analysis.
Mean luminance of zebrafish immediately following the behavioural assay, as a function of the colour of the experimental arena. Fish in the white treatment (n = 16) had a higher mean luminance than fish in the black treatment (n = 16). Boxes are plotted from the first to the third quartiles, with the median indicated by the thicker horizontal line. Whiskers extend to 1.5 times the interquartile range beyond the box edges. Values outside 1.5 times the interquartile range are considered outliers, and are represented by dots.
Example images of four individual zebrafish displaying a typical colouration immediately following the behavioural assay in the black (left two images) and white (right two images) treatments. All images were taken under identical lighting conditions.
Measures of zebrafish luminance immediately following the behavioural assay, plotted per treatment. Boxes are plotted from the first to the third quartiles, with the median indicated by the thicker horizontal line. Whiskers extend to 1.5 times the interquartile range beyond the box edges. Values outside 1.5 times the interquartile range are considered outliers and are represented by dots. (a) Mean luminance per treatment. Fish in the white treatments (White Control n = 11; White Predatory n = 11; White Social n = 11) had a higher mean luminance than fish in the black treatments (Black Control n = 11; Black Predatory n = 11; Black Social n = 10). There is no effect of stimulus on mean luminance. (b) Dark stripe luminance per treatment. Fish in the white treatments had a higher mean luminance than fish in the black treatments. There is no effect of stimulus on dark stripe luminance. (c) Light stripe luminance per treatment. There is no effect of arena colour or stimulus on light stripe luminance. (d) Luminance contrast per treatment. Fish in the black treatments had a higher luminance contrast than fish in the white treatments. Fish in the social treatments had a higher luminance contrast than fish in the control or predatory treatments.
Dynamic colour change in zebrafish (Danio rerio) across multiple contexts

January 2025

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24 Reads

Many animals are capable of rapid dynamic colour change, which is particularly well represented in fishes. The proximate mechanisms of dynamic colour change in fishes are well understood; however, less attention has been given to understanding its ecological relevance. In this study, we investigate dynamic colour change in zebrafish (Danio rerio) across multiple contexts, using a protocol to image the colouration of live fish without anaesthesia under standardized conditions. We show that zebrafish respond to different visual environments by darkening their overall colouration in a dark environment and lightening in a light environment. This is consistent with crypsis through background matching as a function of dynamic colour change. Additionally, we find that zebrafish use dynamic colour change to increase the internal contrast of their striped patterning in the presence of conspecifics. We speculate that this may function in social signalling and/or dazzle colouration. We find no effect of a predator stimulus on dynamic colour change. Finally, we discuss the potential for zebrafish to use multiple colouration strategies simultaneously as distance-dependent effects, considering the typical viewing distances of zebrafish and their predators.


Journal metrics


2.9 (2023)

Journal Impact Factor™


42%

Acceptance rate


6.0 (2023)

CiteScore™


29 days

Submission to first decision


0.6 (2023)

Immediacy Index


0.02542 (2023)

Eigenfactor®


£1400/ $1960/ €1680

Article processing charge

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