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R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing
... The results were analyzed using Tracer v.1.7 [49] to assess convergence and effective sample sizes (ESS) for all parameters. Topological convergence and MCMC chain mixing were evaluated using the There Yet package (RWTY) [50], implemented in R [51]. The RWTY script is available online [52]. ...
... Convergence, ESS values, and optimal burn-in values were assessed using Tracer v.1.7 [91]. The outgroup was extracted using the Ape and Treeio libraries in R v.4.3 [51]. ...
... (1) 15-15-15 dorsal scales rows, smooth, and without apical pits; (2) eight dorsocaudal scales to the tenth subcaudal; (3) loreal scale is absent; (4) divided cloacal scale; (5) preocular scale is present; (6) rostral visible from above, lateral margins extended and slightly curved similar to gull wings, forming an open V with a >90° obtuse angle, without rostral medial projection and moderate cleft, and margins contacting the prenasal straight or slightly straight; (7) 7(3, 4)/7 (3,4) supralabials; (8) 6(4)/6(4) infralabials; (9) 138-145 ventral scales in males; (10) 53-58 subcaudal scales in males; (11) noncontact prefrontals-supralabial; (12) hexagonal front shield, longer than wide; (13) first infralabial pair separated by the inclusion of the mental, rarely in contact; (14) the last supralabial scale is enlarged; (15) the dorsal region of the body uniformly ashy brown, with three black stripes along the body, a narrow vertebral starting behind the black band and two lateral ones, with an arrangement 2-3-2 scales wide, then reducing after the cloaca to one scale; (16) each dorsolateral line on each side supramarginated by another conspicuous ashy cream line, one scale wide; (17) dark paravertebral lines are absent; (18) no pale nuchal band; it is replaced by two pale ashy spots on parietals, margined of black; (19) the ventral surface of the body is considered immaculate, with a pale lemon-yellow background in adults, that turns cream on both the lateroventral margins and those that contact the first dorsal row and the tail, not like the head, where the background is grayish; (20) a distinctive pale band on the snout, ash colored, occupies the internasals and half of the prefrontals; (21) twelve maxillary teeth; maxilla with anterior process; (22) hemipenes unilobulate, uncalyculate, no capitate, naked base-body with three enlarged spines, one of them very differentiated; (22) maximum TL 338 mm in males. [124]; subsequently, the records were manually checked, eliminating those without museum vouchers and cleaned for duplicates using the R software and the Splits library [51]. Finally, the map was created using the free software QGIS v.3.28. ...
The highest elevations of the Tropical Andes form an archipelago of sky islands, where herpetological diversity is actively evolving. In this study, we combined morphological and molecular data to discover and describe a new snake species of the colubrid genus Tantilla from the middle-upper basin of the Boconó River on the lacustrine slope of the Cordillera de Mérida. This species belongs to the Tantilla melanocephala phenotypic group. Our results align with the previously published data, indicating that Andean populations diverged from a lowland ancestral lineage originating from the Guiana Shield and northern Brazil during the Miocene (~8 million years ago [Myr]). Morphologically, the new species is distinguished from the other members of the genus by its three longitudinal black stripes, the presence of two pale spots on the parietals instead of a pale nuchal band, noncontacting prefrontal and supralabial scales, the first pair of infralabial scales typically separated (rarely in contact), 138-145 ventral scales in males, <60 subcaudal scales in males, 12 maxillary teeth with a moderate diastema and an anterior process on the maxillary bone, and a unilobed, unicalyculate, and noncapitated hemipenis. We discuss the validity of certain available names and the zoogeographic patterns of Tantilla in its northernmost Andean distribution. Furthermore, our study provides the first evidence suggesting that Tantilla species richness may be underestimated in the mountainous regions of northern South America, where allopatric speciation driven by topographic complexity and niche conservatism has likely played a crucial role in the phenotypic and genotypic divergence of centipede snake populations.
... Individual animal maximum and minimum estimates were then used to calculate mean maximum emissions variability in each production setting and experimental condition combinations. All analyses were performed using R (version 2024.04.1+748) [35]. Pearson's correlation was calculated using the 'cor' function [35]. ...
... All analyses were performed using R (version 2024.04.1+748) [35]. Pearson's correlation was calculated using the 'cor' function [35]. Figures were generated using the package "ggplot2" [36]. ...
Automated head chamber systems (AHCS) are increasingly deployed to measure enteric emissions in vivo. However, guidance for AHCS-derived emissions data analyses pertains to confined settings, such as feedlots, with less instruction for grazing systems. Accordingly, our first objective in this experiment was to determine the utility of two data preprocessing approaches for grazing-based analyses. Using Pearson’s correlation, we compared “simple arithmetic” and “time-bin” averaging to arrive at a single estimate of daily gas flux. For our second objective, we evaluated test period length averaging at 1, 3, 7, and 14 d intervals to determine daily pasture-based emissions estimates under two experimental conditions: herd access to a single AHCS unit vs. two AHCS units. Unlike findings from the confinement-based literature, where slight improvements have been observed, time-bin averaging, compared to simple arithmetic averaging, did not improve gas flux estimation from grazing for CH4 (p ≥ 0.46) or CO2 (p ≥ 0.60). Irrespective of experimental condition, i.e., herd access to a single AHCS unit vs. two AHCS units, assessment of variability of diurnal emissions patterns revealed CH4 flux on pasture had at least half as much variability for the same individuals acclimated in confinement. Using a 7-day test period length interval, aggregating gas flux data at 7 d at a time was adequate for capturing diurnal emissions variation in grazing steers, as no improvement was observed in the percentage of individuals with five of six time bins measured for a 14-day test period length interval. This analysis should provide insights into future research to standardize AHCS data preprocessing across experiments and research groups.
... For data processing and analysis, we used the statistical software R (version 4.3.1) by R Core Team (2023) [30]. The analyses utilized several R packages, including tidyverse by Wickham et al. (2019) [31] for data manipulation and visualization, survey by Lumley (2024) [32] for handling complex survey data, and sf by Pebesma & Bivand (2023) [33] for spatial data processing. ...
Background
Ensuring an adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is crucial for upholding public health and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-6). The main goal of this study was to review the existing WASH facilities, mapping for regional comparisons, and identify the significant socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with WASH facilities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Methods
This study employed a quantitative research design using the most recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data from Afghanistan (2022–23, n = 23,213), Bangladesh (2019, n = 61,242), Nepal (2019, n = 12,655), and Pakistan (2017–19, n = 96,105). Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression model. Besides, spatial mapping was used for regional comparison, the Generalized Variance Inflation Factor (GVIF) was applied for checking multicollinearity, and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate model performance.
Results
This study revealed substantial disparities in the coverage of WASH facilities across four countries. Nepal had the highest coverage (75.33%), followed by Pakistan (59.47%), Bangladesh (50.28%) and Afghanistan (33.54%). Wealthier households were associated with higher odds of WASH facilities compared to the poor: Afghanistan (aOR = 7.83; 95% CI: 6.58–9.32; p < 0.001), Bangladesh (aOR = 5.75; 95% CI: 5.34–6.20; p < 0.001), Nepal (aOR = 5.80; 95% CI: 4.52–7.44; p < 0.001), and Pakistan (aOR = 9.64; 95% CI: 8.79-10.58; p < 0.001). In addition, place of residence, education of household head, access to the media, age of household head, and family size emerged as significant determinants of WASH facilities across all four countries.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that wealthier households, those with educated heads, and those in urban areas have higher coverage of WASH facilities. To ensure adequate WASH facilities, policymakers should focus on rural areas, lower-income groups, less educated household heads, and should conduct awareness campaigns.
... For statistical analysis, we used the statistical software R studio [40] in R statistical program [41]. Sample size was determined a priori using G * Power 3.1, assuming a large effect (f = 0.5) and accepting an α-error of 5% and a β-error of 10%. ...
Telomere length (i.e., the length of the repeated sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes) is a promising indicator of overall stress. Our study aimed to compare the effects of a stress-inducing separation process between dams and their calves, with either a gradual or a nose-flap separation method after a three-months dam-calf contact since calving, on relative telomere length (RTL). Due to their nature, the nose-flap and gradual separation method have different effects on behaviour, stress hormone levels and physical development during and after dam-calf separation, which requires an overall measure of the weaning and separation stress during both procedures. We also investigated correlations between behavioural and other physiological stress indicators on RTL. We found no significant effect of the weaning and separation method on RTL in dairy calves after weaning and separation from their dams, but a tendency for shorter RTL in gradually separated dams compared to nose-flap separated dams. No correlations between behavioural and other physiological stress indicators and RTL were found, which may be due to a short interval between the two RTL measurement points. Future studies should aim to analyse the effect of various separation methods over a longer period and preferably include a non-separation group as reference.
... Data were aggregated using Microsoft Excel (19) and all analyses were conducted using the R Stats version 4.3.3 (20) using an alpha value of 0.05. ...
Objective
To investigate whether the introduction of healthy vending machines on a university campus could increase the proportion of healthy food and beverage purchases.
Design
Four new healthy vending machines offering a wider range of healthier food and beverages were installed alongside existing machines. These new machines used traffic light colours to indicate nutritional value. A year after their installation, a traffic light text guide and colourful wrap were added to the new machines. Chi-square tests were used to assess significant differences in the sales of green (healthy), amber, or red (unhealthy) items from healthy and existing vending machines across the three years (2021 – 2023).
Setting
The study was conducted on a university campus where the new healthy vending machines were installed.
Participants
Participants of this study were the consumers who purchased items from the vending machines on the university campus.
Results
The results indicated a shift towards healthier purchases following the introduction of the healthy vending machines. The addition of the traffic light text guide and colourful wrap further reduced unhealthy purchases, although this change was small. Sales from the existing vending machines did not meaningfully decrease, and any reductions were more than replaced by sales from the new healthy vending machines.
Conclusions
The study concluded that by providing healthier options and guiding consumers towards these options, the vending machine program offers a promising pathway towards promoting healthier food and beverage choices from vending machines on university campuses.
... The analysis was conducted using R software (v 4.3.2) [39] along with several packages, including lavaan [40], psych [41], semTools [42], and tidyverse [43]. To examine the factorial structure of the NGSES, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. ...
Background/Objectives: General Self-Efficacy (GSE) refers to an individual's belief in their overall ability to perform effectively across various situations. Research shows that GSE is a key predictor of multiple outcomes, including psychological resilience, better health, and improved overall well-being across different populations and environments. Numerous tools have been developed to measure GSE, enhancing our understanding of self-efficacy and its broader implications. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES) in a community sample of adults recruited through social media platforms. Methods: The NGSES was adapted into Italian following the back-translation procedure. A total of 811 participants (mean = 43.18; 68.8% females) completed the scale. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factorial structure of the questionnaire. Adjusted item-total correlations and internal consistency were assessed using McDonald's omega. Additionally, multi-group CFA was used to test factorial invariance across gender. Results: The trimmed model exhibited a strong fit to the data: RMSEA = 0.068, CFI = 0.994, SRMR = 0.043. An omega coefficient of 0.872 confirmed the scale's strong reliability. Convergent validity was established by a moderate and significant correlation with the NGSES. Configural, metric, scalar, and latent means invariance across genders were all confirmed. Conclusions: The NGSES was found to be a valid and reliable tool, suitable for both clinical and research applications in the Italian context. It can also inform the development of educational and therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing GSE in the general population.
... Details of the model averaging approach can be found in [53]. All analyses were performed in R 4.4.1 [54]. ...
Recreational beach use is important for coastal economies and is influenced by water clarity, a trait that may be maintained by water purification ecosystem services (ESs). However, few studies have addressed these linkages. In this study, we ask the following questions: (1) Do watershed-scale water purification ecosystem services influence coastal water quality? (2) Does coastal water quality help explain beach visitation rates? To address these questions, we focused on Puerto Rico (PR), where coastal tourism has economic and cultural importance. We estimated water purification ESs using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST), coastal water quality using long-term monitoring data, and beach visitation rates using the InVEST Recreation model. We used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis to evaluate these linkages accounting for influential anthropogenic factors (amenities, population density, and impervious surfaces). Water purification ESs strongly predicted coastal water quality, which, in turn, significantly explained beach water clarity. However, amenities and impervious surfaces best explained beach visitation. Our study suggests a disconnect between water quality and recreational beach use in PR, which should be explored further.
... We performed the analysis with the glmer function in the lme4 package, in R 3.6.3 (59). ...
Urbanization and plant species introduction disrupt the plant-animal interactions and generate novel ecosystems, which wildlife requires certain behavioural plasticity to live in. The Austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus), an endemic parrot of the Andean-Patagonian forest that frequents natural and urban environments. We aim to 1) describe the seasonal foraging dynamics of parakeets and native and introduced plants in natural and urban environments, and 2) differentiate parakeet use and selection of plants. In natural and urban areas of Bariloche city (Argentina) we conducted focal observations of parakeets feeding, and registered resource availability and phenology during a year. Parakeets interacted with 37 plant species, both native and introduced. In natural environments, parakeets consumed three times more native than introduced species, whereas in urban areas the opposite occurred. In every season but spring, the number of parakeets preying on plants was explained by the interaction between the origin of the plants and the environment. The highest abundance of parrots foraging coincided with the highest peaks of food availability, although the plant selected varied across habitat type and scale of study. We discuss the value of each environment for parakeets, the variables that could explain the use or selection of plants, and conservation strategies of parrot populations and the ecosystems services they provide.
... Pumas ® version 2.2.0 (Pumas-AI, Baltimore, MD, USA) [24], an integral package within the Julia programming language, was utilized to develop the PD models. To effectively manage, visualize, and analyze our data, we employed R ® version 4.4.1 [25], operated through the user-friendly RStudio [26] interface. Non-compartmental analysis was performed with the R package NonCompart, version 0.7.0. ...
Background/Objectives: Omeprazole is widely used for managing gastrointestinal disorders like GERD, ulcers, and H. pylori infections. However, its use in pediatrics presents challenges due to drug interactions (DDIs), metabolic variability, and safety concerns. Omeprazole’s pharmacokinetics (PK), primarily influenced by CYP2C19 metabolism, is affected by ontogenetic changes in enzyme expression, complicating dosing in children. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for omeprazole and its metabolites to predict age-related variations in metabolism and response. Results: The PBPK model successfully predicted exposure to parent and metabolites in adults and pediatrics, incorporating competitive and mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 by omeprazole and its metabolites. By accounting for age-dependent metabolic pathways, the model enabled priori predictions of omeprazole exposure in different age groups. Linking PK to the pharmacodynamics (PD) model, we described the impact of age-related physiological changes on intragastric pH, the primary outcome for proton pump inhibitors efficacy. Conclusions: The PBPK-PD model allowed for the virtual testing of dosing scenarios, providing an alternative to clinical studies in pediatrics where traditional DDI studies are challenging. This approach offers valuable insights for accurate dosing recommendations in pediatrics, accounting for age-dependent variability in metabolism, and underscores the potential of PBPK modeling in guiding pediatric drug development.
... All models were tested using Maximum Likelihood estimation method, which also handles missing data. The analyses were performed with R [41] and the nlme package [42] for multilevel modeling, while the LGM analyses were conducted with the Lavaan package [43]. ...
Background
Confronted with stressful circumstances, individuals use coping strategies to adapt. During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals were threatened by an unprecedented health crisis, which governments tried to navigate with various imposed measures. Social distancing had massive negative consequences for mental health; yet studies also documented important interindividual differences, which may be related to differences in coping strategies. This study aims at identifying the most frequent coping responses, their change over time, as well as their possible role for adapting to the crisis.
Methods
Our sample consisted of 732 individuals living in Switzerland (age range 18–81 years). An online three-wave questionnaire was administered during the second pandemic wave (i.e., October, November, and December 2020). We used bivariate latent growth modeling and multilevel modeling in order to investigate the development of depressive symptoms and the extent to which it related to the level and change in coping strategies, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.
Results
Bivariate latent growth models showed that feeling depressed was related to lower use of seeking functional and emotional support, positive reappraisal and acceptance, and higher use of self-distracting. Moreover, results indicated that more change in depressive symptoms was related to less change in seeking functional support and positive reappraisal, and to more change in self-distracting. Regarding multilevel modeling, where all coping strategies were simultaneously included as predictors of depressive symptoms, a higher level of support seeking and positive reappraisal, and a lower level of self-distracting were related to fewer depressive symptoms. Over time, seeking support, positive reappraisal, acceptance, and self-distracting decreased, while depressive symptoms increased. Decreasing the use of positive reappraisal and increasing the use of self-distracting were related to increasing depressive symptoms. Younger aged individuals experienced significantly more depressive symptoms than their older age counterparts when they decreased the use of positive reappraisal.
Conclusions
In conclusion, individuals used various coping strategies to adapt to the COVID-19-related life circumstances, but only some of them related to changes in depressing symptoms, possibly demonstrating a gap between the availability and use of coping strategies during the pandemic and their actual effect on mental health.
... Data were analysed using negative binomial generalised linear models (GLMs) implemented with the MASS and multicomp packages in R version 4.4.0 [16]. Three models were constructed with total Culicoides, subgenus Avaritia females and C. obsoletus/scoticus females as dependent variables, respectively, and trap location and temperature as independent variables. ...
Background
Bluetongue virus serotype 3 emerged in northern Europe and the UK for the first time in 2023, causing significant losses of domestic ruminants. Vector-proof accommodation is considered a potential control measure to reduce host-vector contact, but this has not been investigated in northern Europe. This study investigates the efficacy of vector-proof accommodation to protect livestock from Culicoides biting midges in the UK.
Methods
Four identical stables were fitted with various levels of vector-proofing, using readily available materials, and a CDC light trap in each. Two further CDC light traps were set outside the stables. For 19 nights during June and July 2024, two pygmy goats were placed into each stable and traps were run until the following morning to collect Culicoides. Trap catch comparisons for total Culicoides, Avaritia females and Culicoides obsoletus/scoticus were analysed using negative binomial generalised linear models.
Results
The use of brushes around closed doors resulted in a 14-fold reduction in the number of Culicoides collected from indoor traps. There was an additional effect of installing fine mesh over slatted windows, but this was not significant. Housing animals without shutting the door had no effect on the number of Culicoides collected compared to outside. Blood meal analysis confirmed Culicoides obsoletus/scoticus collected from inside stables were feeding on the goats.
Conclusions
This study has shown that small animal housing can be cheaply and easily fitted with readily available vector-proof materials to effectively protect a small number of animals from Culicoides. The efficacy and suitability of vector-proof accommodation may vary with time of year, and consideration needs to be given to the welfare implications of housing animals during the summer.
Graphical Abstract
A crescente geração de resíduos sólidos urbanos, com
projeções indicando um aumento de 70% até 2050, representa
um desafio significativo para a gestão desses resíduos. A
compostagem surge como uma alternativa viável, capaz de
minimizar o impacto ambiental e melhorar a qualidade do solo. A
utilização de reatores fechados e inoculação com
microorganismos podem ser utilizados para buscar economia de
area, reduzir odores e acelerar a produção do composto
organico, Neste contexto, o estudo avaliou a eficiência da
compostagem em reatores fechados, utilizando resíduos
alimentícios e serragem, com e sem a adição de inoculantes. Os
resultados indicaram que a presença de inoculantes pode
acelerar a degradação do carbono orgânico e otimizar a relação
C/N, evidenciando uma compostagem mais eficiente. No entanto,
a estabilidade do composto e a conformidade com os critérios
legais de qualidade não foram plenamente alcançadas,
destacando a necessidade de um período operacional mais longo.
Este estudo contribui para o entendimento da compostagem de resíduos sólidos urbanos no Brasil, enfatizando a importância de
ajustes operacionais e a potencialidade dos inoculantes para
melhorar o processo.
When quantifying animal cognition, memory represents one of the most tested domains and is key to understanding cognitive evolution. Memory tests thus play an important role in comparative cognitive research, yet slight variations in the experimental settings can substantially change the outcome, questioning whether different memory tests tap into different memory systems or whether they test memory at all. Here, we first assessed memory performance of 16 common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) in two distinct paradigms varying in their format and delay. First, we examined marmoset memory in a 24-h delay memory test (24 h-DMT) in which they could freely explore an environment with three novel objects of which one contained food. We examined their retention the day after, and the procedure was iterated cumulatively with previous objects remaining in the enclosure until the marmosets had to choose the correct out of 30 objects. Second, we administered a classical delayed response test (DRT) in the same animals with three objects and a maximum delay of 30 s. In the DRT, marmoset performance was poor and not better than chance after 15 s already. However, individuals excelled in the 24 h-DMT, performing above chance level after 24 h even with tenfold the number of objects to choose from compared to the DRT. Moreover, individual performances in the two tests were not correlated, and typical age effects on memory could not be detected in both experiments. Together, these results suggest that the two tests explore different domains, and that the 24 h-DMT examines long-term memory. The outcome of the DRT is more difficult to assign to memory since individuals performed only moderately even in the 0-s delay condition. This puts into question whether this task design indeed tests memory or other cognitive processes.
Ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi respond differently to changing edaphic conditions caused by atmospheric deposition. Within each guild, responses can vary significantly, reflecting the diversity of species and their specific adaptations to environmental changes. Metal contaminants are often deposited onto earth's surface through atmospheric deposition, yet few studies have assessed the relationship between soil metal contamination and fungal communities. The goal of this study was to understand how soil metal contamination and other edaphic factors vary across the spruce‐fir ecosystem in the Southern Appalachians and influence fungal diversity and function. Here, we characterize soil fungal communities using high‐throughput sequencing of the ITS2 gene region and found that higher soil lead (Pb) concentrations were associated with lower fungal diversity. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were less diverse (specifically hydrophilic ectomycorrhizal functional types) at plots with elevated soil Pb concentrations, while saprotrophic fungi were less diverse at plots with elevated soil carbon:nitrogen ratios. Fungal community composition was significantly influenced by pH, Pb, and spatial factors. This study identifies important relationships between fungal diversity and soil Pb concentrations and indicates variable responses of genera within well‐defined ecological guilds. Our work highlights the need to characterize poorly understood taxonomic groups of fungi and their function prior to further environmental degradation.
The Papilionoideae is a taxonomically complex subfamily within the Fabaceae. Pollen characteristics are often used as additional diagnostic features in the taxonomy of Papilionoideae. Unfortunately, the pollen morphology of the Papilionoideae in India remains poorly understood. This study aims to bridge the palynological knowledge gap in the Papilionoideae taxa, fo-cusing on Northeast India. In this investigation, light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to examine the pollen morphology of 10 species belonging to nine genera of Papilionoideae: Aeschynomene americana, Cajanus scarabaeoides, Calopogonium mucunoides, Crotalaria calycina, Crotalaria spectabilis, Grona triflora, Lablab purpureus, Pueraria phaseoloides, Tephrosia candida, and Uraria crinita. The pollen grains were prepared using Wodehouse's method; photomicrographs were taken to describe and measure the pollen traits. Pollen traits such as size, aperture number, and shape are stable traits, while exine sculptures, P/E ratio, and gap between two adjacent colpi (GBC) traits can differentiate Papilionoideae taxa. Most of the species (nine species) had tricolporate pollen grains except Aeschynomene americana with syncolporate pollen. Medium-sized pollen was observed in most of the studied species (eight species), except with small-sized pollen grains (A. americana, C. caly-cina). Three distinct pollen shapes were identified among the studied species: oblate-spheroidal (six species), prolate-spheroidal (three species), and prolate in Uraria crinita. Different types of exine sculpture observed were reticulate, fossulate, fossulate-verrucate, perforate, foveolate-reticulate, foveolate-granulate, rugulate-perforate, and psilate-perforate. The first two principal component analysis (PCA) axis showed 60.3% of the total data variance. Polar axis (PA), equatorial diameter (ED), apocolpium, mesocolpium, and GBC, colpi breadth (ColpiB), P/E, and nexine (> 0.7) contribute significantly to the PCA. Further, a taxonomic key has been prepared based on the pollen morphological characters for correct species identification. This study strengthens and validates the subfamily's taxonomic status and will serve as a foundation for more phylogenetic and molecular research on Papilionoideae.
Societal Impact statement
Herbarium collections are powerful, yet underutilized, tools for global biodiversity conservation and protected area management. By integrating digitized herbarium records with existing biodiversity data, previously unknown plant species were uncovered, exposing critical gaps in conservation knowledge. These insights underscore the urgent need to harness herbarium data to refine conservation strategies, equip decision‐makers with more precise information, and drive evidence‐based policy. Maximizing the potential of these vast botanical archives can transform conservation efforts, safeguarding ecosystems essential for both planetary health and human well‐being.
Summary
The world's herbaria represent an invaluable reservoir of biodiversity information, increasingly accessible through the digitization of specimens. This wealth of data serves as a critical tool for informing and shaping national conservation strategies for protected areas.
By integrating herbarium data with biodiversity assessments into local management plans, a more efficient and effective approach to conservation is achieved. In species‐rich countries like Honduras, biodiversity knowledge is often represented by herbarium specimens housed in institutions worldwide; however, this valuable information frequently remains excluded from protected area management plans and species lists.
A case study focusing on Honduran ferns and lycophytes reveals several significant discrepancies: only 66 unique species are reported in management plans compared to 216 species identified solely in herbarium records for the same protected areas. Approximately 30% of unique species recorded in management plans lack valid vouchers deposited in herbaria. Notably, the incorporation of herbarium data highlights considerable inconsistencies in how biodiversity is reported within Honduras's protected areas, with a Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis indicating a significant difference in community composition between herbarium and management plan records.
To address these gaps, we propose a best practice protocol for integrating herbarium data into species lists at the local level, along with targeted determination of herbarium specimens and verification of records for national species lists.
Intertidal communities are predictably affected by both physical and biological factors, with herbivory as a particularly important factor. Instead of dense beds of macroalgae, which typically characterise the mid-eulittoral zone along the south coast of South Africa, at Kalk Bay this zone is dominated by a generalist grazer, the goat’s eye limpet Cymbula oculus. Despite its voracious grazing behaviour, this species of true limpet (family Patellidae) appears to positively influence macroalgal richness through epibiotic interactions. This study aimed to determine the role of C. oculus as an alternative settlement substrate for several macroalgal species that would otherwise be consumed by this grazer. Additionally, we wanted to determine whether the limpet’s density was on the increase, and, if so, what such an increase might mean for a future scenario at the site. Data collection and sampling took place within quadrats along transect lines. The quadrats were photographed to determine macroalgal cover on the limpet shells and on the surrounding primary rocky substrate, and analysed using ImageJ software. Additionally, C. oculus density was estimated, as well as macroalgal biomass on both the limpet shells and the primary rocky substrate. It was found that C. oculus shells are an important secondary substrate for macroalgae, and that species of foliose and turfy macroalgae benefit more than encrusting macroalgal species. The mean density of C. oculus, at 20 (SE 2.22) ind. m−2, was significantly greater than that reported two decades ago. The potential exists for increased cover abundance of chemically and morphologically defended macroalgae on the primary rocky substrate, a future scenario that seems increasingly possible given the increased C. oculus densities.
The stability of forest productivity is a widely studied phenomenon often associated with tree species diversity. Yet, drivers of stability in forest structure and its consequences for forest productivity remain poorly understood. Using a large (10 ha) young tree diversity experiment, we evaluated how forest structure and multiple dimensions of diversity and composition are related to remotely sensed structural metrics and their stability through the growing season. We then examined whether structural stability (SS) across the growing season (April–October) could explain overyielding (i.e., the net biodiversity effect, NBE) in annual wood productivity. Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle‐Light Detecting and Ranging (UAV‐LiDAR), we surveyed experimental tree communities eight times at regular intervals from before bud break to after leaf senescence to derive metrics associated with canopy height heterogeneity, fractional plant cover, and forest structural complexity (based on fractal geometry). The inverse coefficients of variation for each of these three metrics through the season were used as measures of SS. These metrics were then coupled with annual tree inventories to evaluate their relationships with the NBE. Our findings indicate that wood volume and, to some extent, multiple dimensions of diversity and composition (i.e., taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) explain remotely sensed metrics of forest structure and their SS. Increases in wood volume as well as functional and phylogenetic diversity and variability (a measure of diversity independent of species richness) were linked to higher SS of forest complexity and canopy height heterogeneity. We further found that higher SS of forest complexity and fractional plant cover were associated with increased overyielding, which was mostly attributable to the complementarity effect. Structural equation models indicate that the stability of structural complexity explains more variation in NBE among plots than dimensions of diversity or variability, highlighting its value as an informative metric that likely integrates multiple drivers associated with overyielding. This study highlights the potential to integrate remote sensing and ecology to disentangle the role of forest SS in shaping ecological processes.
Zooplankton play a key role in marine food webs, transferring energy from the base of the food web to higher trophic levels. In the Arctic, warming is altering nutrient availability and primary productivity, which could alter zooplankton‐mediated transfer of energy through food webs. The Barents Sea Opening is warming rapidly, and has a strong influence on the Arctic as it is a prominent gateway for North Atlantic water advected into the polar region. Trophic position (TP) is an important metric because it identifies the location of an organism within a food web and therefore provides insight on food web functioning. Using nitrogen isotopes of amino acids in copepods, we investigated how the food web baseline and TP of the keystone Calanus species change in response to environmental gradients along the Barents Sea Opening in summer between 2010 and 2016. Spatial and interannual variation in net primary production and the North Atlantic Oscillation index both strongly influenced the nitrogen isotope baseline. We demonstrate that protistan microzooplankton play a key role in the diets of Calanus spp., accounting for 1–2 TP steps determined using alanine (TPAla) and that this varied spatially and interannually; however, the TP of Calanus spp. determined using glutamic acid (TPGlu = 2.2 ± 0.2) indicated consistent herbivorous feeding. Flexibility in the diet of Calanus spp. under differing environmental conditions suggests that Calanus spp. may be able to adapt to changing food availability created by environmental instability driven by climate change.
This study addresses the growing concerns of increased radiation doses to patients resulting from the increased complexity of interventional radiology procedures. Despite the importance of dose management, few facilities use dosimetry systems to measure and control patient radiation doses. To aid in patient exposure control, this research aimed to predict the peak skin dose (PSD) using dose parameters from digital imaging and communication in medicine-radiation dose structured reports. The study focused on air kerma (Ka,r) and air kerma area product (KAP) values categorized into fixed dose (radiography and fluoroscopy) and motion dose (rotational digital subtraction angiography) for frontal and lateral biplane devices. Using single and multiple regression analysis, model equations for PSD were developed based on data from a radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter and five dose parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to consolidate the data, and multiple regression models were created using principal component scores. The results showed that rotational digital subtraction angiography had a minimal impact on PSD, whereas the Ka,r value demonstrated higher accuracy in predicting PSD than KAP. The inclusion of PCA in the multiple regression model further improved accuracy, with a root mean squared error of 226, confirming that PCA-enhanced models are more effective in predicting PSD.
Background and Objectives: This study investigates how different harvest times affect the yield and quality of sugar beet varieties. By evaluating the performance of various varieties at different harvest times, the research aims to determine if early quantitative and qualitative assessments can accurately predict final outcomes. Confirming this hypothesis could significantly benefit breeding programs by enabling early selection, thereby speeding up the development of high-yield, high-quality sugar beet varieties.
Materials and Methods: The research involved 13 sugar beet varieties. These varieties underwent phenotypic evaluation over two years (2022 and 2023) at the Sugar Beet Research Station in Karaj Alborz, Iran. The experimental design was split-plot design based on the randomized complete block design, with four replications and five harvest dates. A combined analysis of variance was performed, treating the year effect as random and the variety and harvest date effects as fixed for white sugar yield. The mean of the main effects and their interactions were compared using Duncan's multiple range test at a 5% probability level. To assess the potential for early selection of varieties and expedite breeding, regression analysis was employed, which is a common statistical method for evaluating genotype-environment interactions. Additionally, Spearman's correlation, a non-parametric rank correlation method, was used to determine the correlation between the ranks of the varieties across different harvest dates.
Results: The analysis of variance revealed significant effects of the year, variety, harvest date, and the interactions between harvest date-year and harvest date-variety at a 1% probability level. The fifth harvest in 2022 reached an average of 11.36 t ha-1, while the first harvest in 2023 had the lowest yield, averaging 2.75 t ha-1. In terms of harvest date-variety interaction, Yalda and Hosna achieved high yields of 12.44 and 12.14 t ha-1 on the fifth and fourth harvest dates, respectively, followed by Robina and Shokoufa on the fourth and fifth dates. Regression analysis confirmed a significant linear relationship between environmental conditions and yield at the 1% probability level. This relationship indicated that as the environmental index increased, there was a corresponding increase in white sugar yield, mainly due to delayed harvest times. This pattern suggests a predictable and uniform response of white sugar yield to environmental changes. The genotype-environment interaction (linear) was also significant at the 1% probability level, indicating that although yield followed a linear trend, the slope of the regression line varied for different experimental varieties across different years and harvest dates. However, the mean square deviation from the regression line was non-significant, suggesting that the white sugar yield values of the experimental varieties closely aligned with the regression line. This implies that the response of a cultivar did not fluctuate significantly during linear changes in different years and harvest dates. In fact, despite the complexities of the genotype-environment interaction, the response of varieties to changes in different years and harvest dates remains stable around the regression line. Spearman correlation analysis supports these findings, indicating that quantitative and qualitative performance in the early stages cannot reliably predict final yield unless the harvest date is postponed until early October.
Conclusion: The study concludes that initial performance evaluations are not reliable for early selection. Delaying selection until October enhances the reliability of breeding decisions, ensuring the selection of cultivars with optimal genetic potential for high yields. This approach allows breeders to make more informed decisions, ultimately leading to the development of high-yield, high-quality sugar beet varieties. By understanding the interactions between genetic and environmental factors, breeders can improve the effectiveness of their strategies, thus contributing to more efficient sugar beet cultivation practices.
As in the case with other countries with well-documented history in grape cultivation, the discrimination of Greek grapevine resources is an arduous and complicated task due to the use of numerous synonyms and homonyms, the evolution of many phenotypes within varieties and the doubtful origin of several Greek grapevine landraces. The aim of the present study was to present a comprehensive exploration and characterization of twelve autochthonous Greek grapevine cultivars grown in various regions of Crete and Thira islands of southern Greece, using both ampelographic traits and molecular markers. From 2018 to 2022, a total of 112 accessions from commercial vineyards were analyzed using 48 ampelographic characters developed by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) and 10 microsatellite loci (SSR). According to both methods, the results showed that: (a) nine of the twelve studied varieties appeared in a single cluster in the ampelography-based clustering with the exception of ‘Vilana’, ‘Moschato Spinas’ and ‘Mandilaria’ phenotypes that exhibited a relative significant intra-varietal variation, (b) the matrices produced from ampelographic data revealed a distance between the studied samples from Cretan and Thira vineyards and the reference samples from the national grapevine repository for ‘Athiri’ and ‘Aidani lefko’ varieties, (c) ‘Dafni’ exhibited a clear molecular-genetic distinction and was significantly separated from the other cultivars studied, (d) our data did not support the previously reported high similarity between the varieties ‘Vilana’ and ‘Vidiano’. The combination of ampelographic description and molecular determination of the SSR profile proved to be effective for studying genetic diversity and identifying grapevine cultivars.
Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) dominates the soil carbon pools in semi-arid and arid areas globally. Variations in the SIC pool would substantially affect the atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. The rapid and accurate measurement of SIC content using visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy is of high significance for the management of soil carbon pools in semi-arid and arid regions. Ensemble learning is a novel and advanced modeling approach. However, it has been applied less in soil spectroscopy, and its transfer capability has not been evaluated. Therefore, we hypothesized that the use of the ensemble technique could further SIC prediction accuracy and have a better model transfer capability. In this study, a stacking model was developed using 990 soil samples collected from the Alar Reclamation region in South Xinjiang, China. The stacking model consists of 10 base models (support vector machine (SVM), partial least squares algorithm (PLSR), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), etc.). Two strategies (hyperparameter-adjusted and − unadjusted) were used to transfer the model to other target areas including Shaya and Wensu Counties on the southern border of China. Our results demonstrate that the SIC content could be predicted accurately using the stacking models (R 2 p = 0.81). The stacking model outperformed all the individual models and significantly improved the prediction accuracy of SIC. The R 2 p of the stacking models improved by 0.05-0.21, and the root mean square error (RMSE P) reduced by 0.33-1.44 g kg − 1. Additionally , the stacking models displayed superior model transfer capability. Compared with direct transfer, the stacking model with fine-tuning of the hyperparameters displayed better model stability and generalization. Moreover, the average R 2 p improved by over 0.09 compared with the stacking model with unadjusted hyper-parameters. Overall, stacking ensemble learning is a potential method for predicting SIC with good transfer capabilities. Our results provide new tools and strategies for the accurate estimation of SIC in semi-arid and arid regions.
This study explores variation in the fundamental frequency (F0) and Vowel Formant Dispersion (VFD) in cis-gender , heterosexual men (n=4) and women (n=4) within flirting interactions (com-pared to non-flirting interactions) on the American reality show 'Married at First Sight'. Results show that women of this study produce a rise in mean F0 while in flirting interactions and men project larger vocal tract sizes (lower VFD). Our findings suggest that women may perform greater degrees of stereotypical hy-per-femininity via F0 variation when aiming to appear more attractive to a desired male partner-at least for the speakers of the current dataset. As for the men, two speakers exhibit lower F0 when in the flirting context (possibly signalling notions of hyper-masculinity) where the other two raise F0 (possibly accommodating to their romantic partner). VFD shows similarly diverse results , with all men possibly using it to signal hyper-masculinity and only two women hyper-femininity. These results suggest that speakers of this study combine features associated with stereotypi-cally hyper-gendered speech production with aspects of vocal accommodation to their partner in their flirting strategies.
The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is the largest wetland complex in North America, with millions of wetlands punctuating the landscapes of Canada and the United States. Here, wetlands have been dramatically impacted by agricultural land use, with unclear implications for regional to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions budgets. By surveying wetlands across all three Canadian prairie provinces in the PPR, we show that emissions patterns of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from aquatic habitats differ among wetlands embedded in cropland versus perennial landcover. Wetlands in cropped landscapes had double the aquatic diffusive emissions (20.6 ± 31.5 vs. 9.4 ± 17.3 g CO2‐eq m⁻² d⁻¹) largely driven by CH4. Structural equation modeling showed that all three GHGs responded differently to the surrounding landscape properties. Emissions of CH4 were the most sensitive to land use, responding positively to the elevated phosphorus content and lower sulfate content in cropped settings, despite higher organic matter content in wetlands in perennial landscapes. Aquatic N2O emissions were negligible, while CO2 emissions were high, but not strongly related to agricultural land use. While our estimates of aquatic CH4 emissions from PPR wetlands were high (18.2 ± 41.4 mmol CH4 m⁻² d⁻¹), accounting for fluxes from vegetated and soil habitats would lead to whole‐wetland emissions rates that are lower and comparable to wetlands in other biomes. Our study represents an important step toward understanding wetland emission responses to land use in the PPR and other wetland‐rich agricultural landscapes.
This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale (OUS-Spa) across three samples. The total sample consisted of 3,427 participants (M = 33.11 years; SD = 13.68; 67% female), including respondents from Spain (n = 1,047), Chile (n = 1,039), and Colombia (n = 1,341). The results support the bifactor structure of the model, which includes the dimensions of Instrumental Harm and Impartial Beneficence, across all three samples. Measurement invariance was confirmed, and the scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency. Additionally, convergent validity was consistent with the psychological profiles associated with the subscales. These findings contribute to the literature on moral decision-making during times of heightened uncertainty, such as the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Impartial Beneficence was positively associated with concerns about the coronavirus and perceptions of personal and global threat. Women scored higher on Impartial Beneficence, while men scored higher on Instrumental Harm. These patterns were consistently observed across all three samples. Older adults in Spain and Chile exhibited higher levels of Impartial Beneficence and lower levels of Instrumental Harm. Overall, the results support the validity of the Spanish version of the OUS, demonstrating a strong alignment with the original inventory.
The effectiveness of iron oxide nanoparticles in enhancing crop plant development depends on their stabilization. In this study, the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA), used both as a stabilizer for iron oxide nanoparticles (HA-MNP) and independently, was evaluated in maize seedlings. Different concentrations of HA-MNP (0.625–7.5 mg/L) were tested alongside a 0.01% HA solution. Growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), phenolic content, and genotoxicity were analyzed. While HA alone led to slight decreases in seedling length, pigment content, and polyphenol levels compared to the control, it increased peroxidase activity and mitotic index. Lower concentrations of HA-MNP (below 2.5 mg/L) enhanced seedling growth, likely due to improved iron uptake, whereas higher concentrations reduced pigment and phenolic content. All HA-MNP concentrations induced genotoxic effects, which was proven by an increased mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations, indicating both positive and defensive plant responses to oxidative stress. These findings suggest a complex interaction between HA, HA-MNP, and maize seedlings, where HA concentrations play a significant role in modulating growth and stress response, while higher concentrations may induce toxicity.
Mountains are estimated to harbor the highest diversity in many taxonomic groups. However, patterns of elevational distributions and their underlying explanatory environmental variables have not been well studied in amphibians. We explore elevational patterns of species richness in amphibians and evaluate seven environmental models that may explain such patterns. We also test how the spatial scale of elevational bands affects the perceived patterns and the power of the explanatory variables. We utilize records from the most comprehensive amphibian database of Mexico. Gradients were selected across five Mexican mountain ranges, for both coastal and continental slopes, according to four criteria that allowed for standardization. Species richness-elevation relationships were classified into five patterns as described in the literature. Generalized linear models were applied to test six models, which include temperature, precipitation, water-energy dynamics, topographic heterogeneity (TH), their interaction and area. Species richness and environmental factors for each model and each gradient were calculated at four spatial scales of elevational bands (100, 200, 300, and 500 m). A total of 20 gradients were evaluated, for which all five patterns of species richness reported in literature were observed at least once. The pattern of mid-peak richness was the most commonly observed, followed by a decreasing pattern of richness with elevation. The water-energy dynamic was the best model at smaller spatial scales, while temperature, TH and area, became increasingly important in explaining richness patterns as the spatial scale increased. The elevational distribution of species richness in amphibians showed similar tendencies as in literature. This study demonstrated a larger variation in the power of explanatory variables between mountain ranges than between spatial scales. In general, the proportion of variance explained was high, showing that the chosen explanatory environmental variables are important in structuring the elevational patterns.
In recent years, several botanical species have been tested to determine their ability to reduce the damage caused by Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in brassica crops. Considering the insecticidal potential demonstrated by many botanical species, the effects of the aqueous extracts of Psychotria leiocarpa Cham. & Schltdl, Psychotria deflexa DC., Acosmium subelegans (Mohlenbr.) Yakovlev and Vatairea macrocarpa (Benth.) Ducke by infusion and maceration on the biological parameters of P. xylostella were evaluated. All extracts reduced P. xylostella larval duration and caused larval and egg mortality. In the larvae, the extracts resulted in 70% mortality. In addition, the botanical extracts affected the survival of P. xylostella eggs. The extracts of P. leiocarpa and P. deflexa, prepared by infusion, delayed the emergence of adults, while the extract of V. macrocarpa reduced pupal survival. The longevity of adults was also influenced by the extracts, where the maceration of V. macrocarpa and P. deflexa and infusion of A. subelegans reduced the longevity of P. xylostella females and the maceration of V. macrocarpa and P. leiocarpa reduced the longevity of P. xylostella males. We conclude that the studied extracts were toxic to P. xylostella, especially in the reproduction, of diamondback moth. Consequently, the botanical extracts reduced the number of individuals of the next generation.
Zebra mussels ( Dreissena polymorpha ), an invasive dreissenid mussel, have been established and caused considerable effects in many North American aquatic ecosystems. In response, copper-based pesticides have been used to manage zebra mussel populations. We evaluated the effects of a low-dose copper-based molluscicide for zebra mussel suppression on nontarget species in Lake Minnetonka (Minnesota, USA). Our study evaluated nontarget effects before and after treatment. Chlorophyll- a concentration increased in both the treated and reference bays 1 and 14 d posttreatment. Zooplankton community composition changed in both bays over the course of this study; zooplankton abundance and diversity initially decreased in the treated bay but gradually recovered and was back to pretreatment and reference bay levels after one year. We observed no significant differences in benthic invertebrate abundance or diversity between the treated and reference bays, although abundance and diversity estimates were dynamic and uncertain. Among caged organisms, copper bioaccumulation was higher in both mussel species than in fish, and among fish, was highest in fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ). These findings contribute to our understanding of the potential effects of copper-based pesticides on aquatic ecosystems and provide insights for zebra mussel management.
Background and Aims. Tropical plants are assumed to be especially vulnerable to global warming because their physiologies are adapted to relatively constant temperatures throughout the year. Furthermore, it has been found that woody plants in colder high elevation environments are less tolerant to high temperatures than plants in the warmer lowlands. Here, we examined heat tolerance in a group of herbaceous plants with a wide elevational distribution in the tropics. Methods. This study focused on 61 species from the order Zingiberales (ginger and banana-like plants) distributed from the lowlands (50 m asl) to lower montane forests (2000 m asl) along the Barva elevational gradient in Costa Rica.
This study addressed the following questions: a) Does heat tolerance of Zingiberales species differ along the elevational gradient? b) Does heat tolerance vary along the elevational gradient within families of Zingiberales? c) Does heat tolerance vary along the elevational gradient within species for those with broad elevational distributions? To test if the temperature that causes damage to the function of photosystem II (PSII) in Zingiberales is associated with the temperatures prevalent at their elevation, we estimated heat tolerance (T50) of PSII using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques.
Key Results. In contrast to the results found in tropical trees, our results showed that T50 is higher at higher elevations than in the lowlands for herbaceous plants species. This trend was observed across plant communities and families, and within most species with wide distributions along the elevational gradient.
Conclusions. Our study suggests that herbs differ from trees in their elevational patterns in heat tolerance. We hypothesize that maximum and minimum leaf temperatures, and UV radiation may play a role in the observed pattern.
The present study proposes a categorization of bacteria that leak from activated sludge processes to secondary treated water (STW). Bacterial populations in primary treated water (PTW), activated sludge (AS), STW, and the 0.2 μm-filtrate of STW (FSTW) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant with two treatment trains were observed for a period of one year using a 16S rRNA analysis approach. The taxonomic groups detected were categorized as different “leak types” based on the read occupancies in PTW, AS, STW, and FSTW, where a leak type indicates the likelihood of a taxonomic group to leak to STW. Five leak types were introduced: “LTE”, “LTE-I”, “LTEF”, “LTF”, and “NLT”, with “LT” for leak type, “E” for high read occupancy in STW or the effluent of secondary settling tanks, “I” for high read occupancy in PTW or influent to the AS process, “F” for high read occupancy in FSTW, and “NLT” for a smaller likelihood to leak. Representative taxonomic groups for each leak type were Neisseria and ABY1 for “LTE” Parcubacteria for “LTEF”, Campylobacterota for “LTE-I”, and Saccharimonadia, Bdellovibrionota, and some lineages in Comamonadaceae for “LTF”. Although some taxonomic groups, such as Comamonadaceae, included different leak types, the categorization assigned to each taxonomic group was mostly consistent between the two treatment trains. The categorization scheme proposed herein may become a useful key for understanding the characteristics of bacteria that appear in AS and STW.
Despite historically high literacy rates, there has been declining reading proficiency amongst students in Iceland. This decline has caused concern and created a need to better understand foundational reading growth in the Icelandic school context. This study aimed to evaluate reading growth patterns in letter sound fluency, nonsense word fluency, sight word fluency, and oral reading fluency across 1st grade by initial at-risk status, gender, and age in months. The participants (N = 253) were a sample of 1st grade students, 107 boys and 146 girls, enrolled in four Icelandic public schools. Results indicated a widening gap across the year for children at risk of reading difficulty (d = .68–.92) and a clear Matthew effect in foundational reading skills. Gender was not related to growth on any of the measures and age had a small but significant relation with the growth of nonsense word fluency across the year. The results indicate concerning trends for children at risk of reading difficulty in the Icelandic school context with implications that gaps will continue to widen in reading for these children across their academic careers unless targeted intervention is provided.
Hip arthroplasty or hip replacement surgery for total osteoarthritis aims to restore mobility, not just in the replaced joint but also in reintegration into whole-body movement. While traditional biomechanical approaches provide insights into joint-specific outcomes, they often overlook broader neuromuscular adaptations emerging before and after surgery. Using network analysis, we examine how movement coordination reorganizes in unilateral total hip osteoarthritis (HOA) patients before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery. By analyzing local, global, and integrative properties of movement networks, we assess how osteoarthritis disrupts coordination and the extent of post-surgical recovery. Pre-surgery movement patterns exhibit severely compromised whole-body coordination by various network metrics: localized compensations, fragmented coordination, asymmetrical movements, altered synergies between key segments, and increased reliance on the unaffected limb. These asymmetries persist post-surgery, particularly in the contralateral limb, suggesting a potential neural reorganization of motor control compensating for pre-surgery injury that extends beyond surgery and slows full restoration of bilateral coordination. Following THA, local connectivity becomes more balanced, and whole-body integration improves, yet the persistence of elevated participation coefficients in both the affected and contralateral limbs indicates lingering motor adaptations and altered control strategies. These findings underscore the rehabilitative value of a network analytical framework that might track functional recovery, highlighting the need for whole-body reintegration and inter-limb coordination beyond isolated joint function. By quantifying the balance between local adaptations, global movement coordination, and asymmetry, this approach provides critical insights into post-surgical motor reorganization, with implications for clinical decision-making and personalized rehabilitation planning.
Chilli is a versatile commercial crop with diverse applications in food, phytofeed, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. The vibrant hues of purple or black peppers are attributed to anthocyanins, specifically delphinidin and cyanidin, renowned for their antioxidant properties. Over two seasons, twenty-six purple-fruited accessions were evaluated for anthocyanin content. The total anthocyanin levels varied from 30.2 to 59.7 mg/100 g FW (Fresh weight). Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry profiling revealed that delphinidin and cyanidin contents ranged from 8.19 to 32.6 mg/100 g FW and 0 to 16.5 mg/100 g FW, respectively. The IIHR-B-HP-81 accession had the highest total anthocyanin content of 59.7 mg/100 g FW and 32.2 mg/100 g FW of delphinidin. Significant genotype × environment interactions and a positive Annichiarico Environmental Index value for the rainy season highlighted the influence of a favourable climate with low temperatures, optimal for fruit anthocyanin accumulation. Stability analysis revealed that accessions IHR-B-HP-81, IHR-B-HP-129, IHR-B-HP-53 IHR-B-HP-18, IHR-B-HP-56 and IHR-B-HP-137, which ranked high in the simultaneous selection index, demonstrated well-balanced and consistent performance across different environments. These key accessions with high anthocyanin content could serve as potential donors for breeding nutraceutical-rich peppers, benefiting the food and healthcare industries.
Nicosulfuron and topramezone are herbicides with different mechanisms of action, and are recommended for weed control in maize (Zea mays L.). The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of both herbicides, at increasing doses of 0, 1× and 3×, equivalent to 0, 60, and 180 g ai ha−1 for nicosulfuron, and 0, 33.6, and 100.8 g ai ha−1 for topramezone, on physiological and agronomic characteristics in 29 maize lines, including S2, S3 and S4, using an alpha-lattice incomplete block design. The cluster analysis divided our genotypes into two groups for both herbicides, based on their higher or lower fresh weight. The results showed a reduction in the SPAD index for both herbicides at 7 days after application, and nicosulfuron caused a reduction in the green matter weight of 33.4%. Similarly, nicosulfuron caused a delay and a reduction in its doses, after an initial increase, for all the agronomic variables, female flowering (FF), male flowering (MF), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), and grain weight (GW), in doses of 60 and 180 g ai ha−1, while topramezone only affected PH (1×–3×) and EH (3×). When comparing the applications of both herbicides on the maize genotypes, a difference in female and male flowering of 5.09 and 4.86 days, respectively was observed. A differential response and greater damage to nicosulfuron were observed in maize genotypes, with respect to topramezone applications.
Due to their pivotal roles in tumor progression and therapy resistance, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are considered key therapeutic targets with loss of stromal androgen receptor (AR) a poorly understood hallmark of aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). A paucity of pre-clinical models however has hampered functional studies of CAF heterogeneity. We demonstrate that our newly-generated CAF biobank contains three FAP ⁺ -fibroblast subtypes, each with unique molecular and functional traits. Cultures with an early-activated phenotype expressed the highest levels of AR and exhibited AR-dependent growth. Consistently, stromal cells expressing early-activation markers co-expressed nuclear AR in clinical specimens and were enriched in pre-neoplastic lesions/low-grade PCa. Conversely, myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF), which expressed low AR levels in vitro and in vivo and were proliferatively-insensitive to AR signaling modulation, constituted the predominant CAF subpopulation in stromogenic high-grade PCa and castration-resistant LACP9 patient-derived xenografts. Exacerbation of the myCAF state upon castration of LAPC9-bearing hosts underscored these findings. Mechanistically, AR loss in myCAF was driven by an NFkB-TGFb1-YAP1 axis, whose combined targeting synergistically repressed myofibroblastic hallmarks and impaired autophagic flux, effects that were potentiated by enzalutamide resulting in myCAF cell death. Collectively, these findings provide a mechanistic rationale for adjuvant targeting of the YAP1-TGFb signaling axis to improve patient outcomes.
Psychometric assessment is the foundation of psychological research, where the accuracy of outcomes and their interpretations depend on measurement. Due to the widespread application of factor models, factor loadings are fundamental to modern psychometric assessment. Recent advances in network psychometrics introduced network loadings which aim to provide network models with a metric similar to factor loadings to assess measurement quality when the data are generated from a factor model. Our study revisits and refines the original network loadings to account for properties of (regularized) partial correlation networks, such as the reduction of partial correlation size as the number of variables increase, that were not considered previously. Using a simulation study, the revised network loadings demonstrated greater congruence with the simulated factor loadings across conditions relative to the original formulation. The simulation also evaluated how well correlations between factors can be captured by scores estimated with network loadings. The results show that not only can these network scores adequately estimate the simulated correlations between factors, they can do so without the need for rotation, a standard requirement for factor loadings. The consequence is that researchers do not need to choose a rotation with the revised network loadings, reducing the analytic degrees of freedom and eliminating this common source of variability in factor analysis. We discuss the interpretation of network loadings when data are believed to be generated from a network model and how they may fit into a network theory of measurement.
Among the Crocodylia, maternal females of most species are known to attend their nests during the egg incubation period.
However, the ecological and environmental factors driving nest attendance in these reptiles remain poorly understood. In 2019, we conducted a
study in coastal South Carolina, USA, to examine temporal patterns of nest attendance by American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis),
investigate the site and environmental factors influencing nest attendance, and characterize behaviors exhibited by attending females. We used
automated game cameras to monitor American Alligator nests throughout the incubation period and collected a suite of physical and
environmental measurements at nest sites and associated habitat. Female attendance was modeled using generalized linear mixed-effects
models with a binomial error distribution. Overall, nest attendance occurred for only a brief portion (1%) of the nesting period. The primary
factors influencing nest attendance were day since oviposition, time of day, rainfall, and distance of nests to nearest water, with most attendance
occurring during the first week postoviposition, at the end of incubation preceding hatchling emergence, at nighttime, shortly following rain
events, and when nests were closer to water. Salinity of nearest water exhibited a weak effect, with the probability of nest attendance slightly
decreasing as salinity increased. Maternal females exhibited four primary behaviors associated with nest attendance: crawling on the nest
(16.2%), guarding the nest from a distance (62.2%), defending the nest (2.5%), and opening the nest and transporting young to water (19.0%),
although temporal and behavioral patterns of nest attendance varied among individual females. At 8 (80%) of 10 nests predated by Raccoons
(Procyon lotor), the maternal female returned and attempted to repair the nest. Nest defense by female American Alligators was low relative to
the number of nest visits by egg and hatchling predators and other mammals. Collectively, our study reveals both environmental and nest site–
level factors influence female nest attendance and, more broadly, demonstrates the importance of spatial and temporal scales of observation in
studies of crocodilian maternal care.
A robust body of empirical evidence suggests that forgiveness is positively related to individual wellbeing. To support a population health agenda aimed at the promotion of forgiveness, further research is needed to identify potential determinants of forgiveness. In this study, we used the first wave of nationally representative data from 22 countries included in the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898) to explore associations of 13 individual characteristics and retrospectively assessed childhood factors with dispositional forgivingness in adulthood. We estimated country-level modified Poisson models in which forgivingness was regressed on all candidate predictors, and then aggregated results for the 11 predictors that were common across countries using a random effects meta-analysis. Risk ratios from the meta-analyses showed that a combination of individual characteristics (e.g., older birth cohort, female gender), early life conditions or experiences (e.g., more frequent religious service attendance, better health, more secure family financial status), and social circumstances or influences when growing up (e.g., higher quality maternal and paternal relationships) were associated with a higher likelihood of forgivingness in adulthood. Associations were somewhat heterogenous across the countries. Our findings suggest that childhood may be important in shaping forgivingness in adulthood and provide some potential foci for population-level interventions.
Agricultural landscapes provide material, non-material and regulating contributions that affect human wellbeing. The responses of these nature’s contributions to people (NCP) to land-use patterns depend on supporting biota with different habitat requirements, generating trade-offs and synergies. Predictions of NCP trade-offs could inform land-use decisions, but these do not typically account for the effects of land-use patterns on the movement of NCP-providing species, nor for interactions among NCP providers. To explore spatial trade-offs and synergies in eight indicators of NCP, we used Bayesian models that allow for interactions among land uses and among NCP using data from 150 grassland sites across rural Germany. We found that spatial arrangements of forest and open habitat influenced many NCP: acoustic diversity, birdwatching potential, natural enemy abundance and pollination. In particular, the amount and proximity of land uses in the surrounding landscape, especially forest and open habitat, drove the supply of most NCP. However, NCP provided by smaller-bodied taxa (herbivory and pathogen infection) responded weakly to landscape factors. Multiple NCP provided by a given taxon responded differently to their surrounding landscape (e.g. bird-provided caterpillar predation and seed predation), leading to trade-offs among NCP over short distances (≤60 m). These were caused by different rates and directions of response to amount and location of land uses. Resulting spatial predictions revealed that grassland-dominated or mixed forest-grassland areas better maximize beneficial NCP and minimize detrimental NCP across landscapes than purely forest-dominated areas. This suggests promoting semi-natural vegetation in agricultural landscapes to provide greater-than-additive benefits to net NCP supply.
Significance Statement
Land use affects nature’s contributions to people (NCP), including those provided by mobile species, in complex ways. Variation in the responses of species to the amount and location of land uses results in NCP trade-offs across landscapes, but decision-makers lack the capacity to spatially predict these trade-offs. We predict how the supply of both beneficial and detrimental NCP and associated trade-offs vary across diverse rural landscapes and find that grassland-dominated or mixed forest-grassland areas deliver higher net NCP supply than forest-dominated areas in our study system. Our findings support policies for promoting semi-natural vegetation cover in agricultural landscapes, as these may provide non-additive benefits for NCP.
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