Browse Articles

Negative interpretation bias and emotional responses to positive contexts

Negative interpretation bias, the tendency to interpret ambiguous situations as negative or threatening, is associated with reports of intense and more frequent negative affect. However, there is a relative paucity of work seeking to determine whether this cognitive bias might account for individual differences in affective responses to positive content. Given the wealth of benefits associated with positive emotional experiences, such as greater psychological wellbeing and better physical health, this investigation tested the influence of negative interpretation bias on emotion responses to evocative positive film clips as positive emotion-eliciting contexts. Negative interpretation bias was indexed using a novel word matching task. In each investigation, careful consideration of dispositional or trait-level influence on interpretation bias (i.e., dispositional negativity) was considered. Investigations conducted across three samples of college students at a large, Midwestern public university reveal complexity to this question: in one study, a small significant indirect effect of negative interpretation bias on the association between dispositional negativity and self-reported affect following positive emotionally-evocative films was found, while in the two subsequent studies, no significant mediation was found. Certain contextual factors, such as the explicit or discrete nature of the clip presentation as well as more stable tendencies toward positive emotional responsivity and the capacity to self-report emotional experiences, appear to be important. Finally, the novel task was found to be reliable and demonstrated convergent validity with established indicators. Future work should continue to clarify the conditions under which negative interpretation bias may influence responses to positive emotional contexts, given the importance of positive emotionality for lifelong physical and mental health.

Silicon‐Bridged Homocyclopentadienides: Metal‐Assisted Facile Ring Expansion of Cyclopentadienide by Transient Imino(Metallophosphino)Silylenes

ABSTRACT In this study, we report the aromatic C─C bond cleavage of cyclopentadienide by transient imino(metallophosphino)silylenes through the reaction of silylene equivalents with CpCo(CO) 2 , enabling the transformation of cyclopentadienides into silicon‐bridged homocyclopentadienides. The presence of homoaromaticity in these species is substantiated by NICS and ACID analyses. Experimental observations, in conjunction with detailed quantum chemical calculations, support a mechanistic scenario that metal‐assisted, silylene‐mediated cyclopentadienide activation proceeds via a formally Büchner ring‐expansion pathway.

The Paradox of Medical Aid in Dying

Isolation and preliminary characterization of a glucan-type exopolysaccharide produced by Bacillus tequilensis strain HH from Egyptian fermented cucumber

Abstract Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production is a common feature of microbial carbohydrate metabolism during fermentation; however, glucan-type EPS produced by Bacillus species in fermented vegetable systems remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to isolate an EPS-producing bacterium from naturally fermented cucumber and to perform a preliminary physicochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the produced polymer. An EPS-producing bacterial isolate was recovered and identified as Bacillus tequilensis , a member of the Bacillus subtilis species complex, based on 16 S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The extracellular polysaccharide was partially purified and analyzed using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, revealing structural features consistent with a glucan-type EPS. Rheological analysis demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in viscosity, confirming the macromolecular nature of the polymer in aqueous systems. Sucrose-hydrolyzing activity was detected under optimized conditions, indicating active carbohydrate metabolism associated with EPS production. In vitro cytocompatibility assessment using Vero and WI-38 cell lines showed high cell viability at low to moderate concentrations, with a dose-dependent reduction observed at higher levels. Overall, this study reports the isolation of an EPS-producing Bacillus tequilensis strain from Egyptian fermented cucumber and provides preliminary insights into the properties of its glucan-type exopolysaccharide, highlighting fermented vegetable microbiota as a potential source of functional biopolymers.

Primary cesarean section in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis using the Robson Ten-Group Classification System

Background The overuse of cesarean sections, mainly of primary procedures, is a major contributor to perinatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Robson Ten-Group Classification System is the global standard for cesarean section rate. Evidence on the pooled primary cesarean section rate using this system in Sub-Saharan Africa SSA remains limited. Materials and methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Google, and ResearchGate were searched for studies published between 2001 and February 22, 2025. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Stata 17. A random-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled rate. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Publication bias was assessed using a Doi plot and the Luis Furuya-Kanamori index. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Results The pooled facility‑based primary cesarean section rate, derived from 25 institution‑based studies (213,117 births; predominantly secondary and tertiary hospitals), in Sub-Saharan Africa was 18.7% (95% CI: 16.2–21.4; 95% prediction interval: 8.4%−36.8%). Robson Groups 1 and 2 were the largest contributors (47.5%), with Group 1 alone accounting for 37.1%. In both nulliparous and multiparous women, primary cesarean section was more common after spontaneous labor than after induction or elective procedures. Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² = 99.64%, p < 0.001). No evidence of publication bias was found (LFK index = −0.27). Conclusion The facility‑based primary cesarean section rate in Sub-Saharan Africa exceeded the WHO global reference, with Robson Groups 1 and 2 being the largest contributors. High rates of prelabor cesarean and elevated rates following spontaneous labor raise concern for possible overuse, but unmeasured comorbidities and referral bias cannot be excluded. Stricter adherence to evidence-based protocols, routine use of the Robson classification for clinical audits, and linkage with indication‑level data are essential for improving obstetric care.

Mechanistically Guided Combinatorial Coding Based on Strand Displacement Probes for Multiplex Pathogen Variant Discrimination

ABSTRACT Accurate and scalable discrimination of closely related genetic variants at single‐nucleotide resolution remains challenge in molecular diagnostics, particularly under multiplexed conditions. Herein, we present a mechanistically guided Color‐Coding Strategy for Multiple Variants Based on Single‐Mutation‐Responsive Strand‐Displacement Padlock Probes that enables combinatorial color‐coded identification of genetic variants with minimal parallel reactions. By integrating multiple isothermal amplification reactions ( n ) with multichannel strand displacement probes (m), the system establishes a theoretical n ‐dimensional coding framework capable of resolving up to variants in a single assay. Each variant is uniquely encoded by an “ n ‐color codon” and automatically decoded via a programmable algorithm. Using SARS‐CoV‐2 as a model, we identified up to 15 variants using only three reaction tubes across RNA, synthetic DNA, pseudovirus, and clinical nasopharyngeal swabs ( n = 76). In clinical evaluation, the assay achieved 100% positive agreement with RT‐qPCR for SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive specimens and successfully assigned variant identities to 72 of 76 samples (94.7%). The platform achieves a reduced reaction number, experimental complexity, and cost compared to conventional approaches. Owing to its modular and programmable design, this strategy is readily adaptable to emerging variants, demonstrating its potential for pathogen surveillance, and genetic variant analysis.

Case 22-2026: A 37-Year-Old Woman with Persistent Nasal Ulceration

Development of shelf stable formulation for adenovirus vectored vaccines and therapeutics

Abstract A major limitation of therapeutic delivery is the cold chain storage requirement. Adenoviruses (AdV) have been demonstrated to be an effective delivery vector for several indications including COVID-19 vaccines but are limited by storage and transportation conditions. Previous work has demonstrated formulation and drying of vectored vaccines with pullulan and trehalose-based (PT) films significantly improves thermostabilization. To increase the accessibility of AdV based therapeutics, we developed a vacuum based drying methodology with optimized PT excipients resulting in a shelf stable product. We demonstrate the thermostability of formulated and dried AdV at 55°C for 7 weeks with less than 0.5 total log IU loss, and over 44 weeks at 37°C with less than 0.25 total log IU loss. Additionally, murine vaccination with the ChAd-TriCoV/Mac vaccine showed no difference in response between fresh and aged at 37°C for 44 weeks. These data demonstrate our formulation methodology’s performance, resulting in a shelf stable formulation for AdV based therapeutics.

Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence against reproductive-age women in Africa and Asia regions: Insights from 2022–2024 DHS datasets

Background Intimate partner violence is a major public health and human rights issue, affecting one in four women globally. It is particularly prevalent in low‑ and middle‑income countries, where reproductive‑age women face heightened risks due to cultural norms, poverty, and weak legal protections. It is linked to severe mental, physical, and reproductive health consequences, as well as intergenerational and societal impacts. Using recent demographic and health survey data, this study provides updated cross‑regional insights into intimate partner violence among women in Africa and Asia to inform culturally tailored interventions and strengthen policy frameworks. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using recent demographic and health survey data (2022–2024) from twelve countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, including 88,414 women aged 15–49 years. Intimate partner violence was measured using 13 self‑reported items adapted from the Conflict Tactics Scale and coded as a binary outcome. Explanatory variables were selected based on the WHO ecological model, covering individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. Weighted data were analyzed in STATA 17 using multilevel logistic regression to account for clustering, with associations reported as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results The overall prevalence of intimate partner violence among reproductive‑age women in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia was 29.51% (95% CI: 29.21–29.81), with emotional (21.03%) being most common. Prevalence ranged from 51.74% in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 13.53% in the Philippines. Multilevel analysis identified significant predictors, including age, education, marital and employment status, early cohabitation, number of children, maternal abuse exposure, attitudes toward wife‑beating, partner jealousy, fear of partner, smoking, partner alcohol use, and region. Notably, partner alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.10), fear of partner (AOR = 2.98), and partner jealousy (AOR = 2.96) showed the strongest associations with intimate partner violence. Conclusions Nearly one in three reproductive‑age women experienced intimate partner violence, highlighting its magnitude and public health importance. Intimate partner violence was strongly associated with socio‑demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors and regional differences. These findings call for multi‑level interventions that promote women’s empowerment, challenge harmful gender norms, strengthen legal frameworks, and expand community‑based support, while future longitudinal and qualitative research should deepen understanding and guide evidence‑based policy.

Multi‐Macrocyclic Nanohoops Bearing Carbazole‐Embedded Cycloparaphenylenes as Geometry‐Adaptive Hosts Toward Fullerenes

ABSTRACT Curved conjugated molecules with strained non‐planar geometries show unique properties valuable for supramolecular chemistry and optoelectronics, but their synthesis and modification remain challenging. We introduce carbazole‐embedded cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) as versatile building blocks to overcome these limitations. Using Suzuki coupling and regioselective bromination, we created a functionalizable macrocyclic synthon. This enabled controlled multi‐component couplings to construct trimacrocyclic ( TMC ) and pentamacrocyclic ( PMC ) curved π‐systems. Structural analyses reveal TMC adopts a well‐defined C‐shape that self‐assembles into tubes, while PMC shows a deformed conformation. Their optical and electronic properties are size‐dependent, featuring strong fluorescence and stepwise oxidation to open‐shell polycations. Supramolecular studies show TMC acts as an adaptive host, forming distinct 1:1 complexes with C 60 (host–guest recognition‐induced host cavity expansion) and C 70 (encapsulation without conformational change). In comparison, PMC forms 2:1 (guest:host) complexes with C 60 or C 70 . Crystallographic and computational data indicate recognition is governed by the geometrically defined C‐shaped cavity rather than the macrocycle's electron‐rich nature.

Braking Bad News

Correction: FSP1 + fibroblast subpopulation is essential for the maintenance and regeneration of medullary thymic epithelial cells

First report of Corynespora cassiicola causing leaf spot on Begonia fimbristipula in China

Background Begonia fimbristipula , an economically important medicinal plant in southern China, has recently suffered severe yield losses from leaf spot disease in Guizhou and Hunan Provinces; the causal pathogen remains unknown. Methods Field surveys were conducted across multiple locations in Guizhou and Hunan Provinces to record disease symptoms and incidence. The pathogen was isolated from diseased leaves via tissue culture, and identified by combining morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, TEF1α, RPB2). Pathogenicity was verified by fulfilling Koch’s postulates through artificial inoculation and re-isolation assays. Results Severe leaf spot outbreaks were observed in August 2024, with over 60% disease incidence across 667 hectares and >20% fresh leaf yield loss. The isolated pathogen was identified as Corynespora cassiicola based on gray to dark-gray colonies, pale-brown olivaceous conidia with 0–15 pseudosepta, and ≥98% bootstrap support in phylogenetic clustering with known C. cassiicola strains. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reproducing typical field symptoms on inoculated B. fimbristipula seedlings and re-isolating the pathogen. Conclusions This is the first report of C. cassiicola causing leaf spot on B. fimbristipula in China, expanding the host range of this pathogen. Our findings provide a critical basis for the accurate diagnosis of this newly emerging disease on the medicinal plant.

Direct Cl─Cl Coupling Over Atomically Dispersed Ir ₂ Pairs for Efficient Chlorine Electrosynthesis

ABSTRACT Chlorine evolution reaction underpins the chlor‐alkali industry, yet its conventional dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) suffer from low noble‐metal utilization and limited intrinsic activity. Here, we report a molecularly precise strategy to construct atomically dispersed iridium diatomic (Ir 2 ) pairs anchored on MnO 2 nanorods (i.e., Ir 2 ─MnO 2 ), representing a well‐defined dual‐atom catalyst (DAC) for efficient chlorine electrosynthesis. Spherical aberration‐corrected microscopy and x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) validate the diatomic features of Ir 2 pairs with an interatomic distance of 3.16 Å. The Ir 2 ─MnO 2 electrocatalyst exhibits competitive CER performance, delivering an overpotential of 36.9 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and a low Tafel slope of 34.6 mV dec −1 in NaCl electrolyte. Kinetic analysis, operando Raman spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations collectively reveal that adjacent Ir–Ir dual‐atoms synergistically stabilize two *Cl intermediates, enabling a thermodynamically favored direct *Cl─*Cl coupling mechanism. Notably, Ir 2 ─MnO 2 maintains satisfactory selectivity and durability over 500 h at large current densities in natural seawater electrolysis. This work breaks the technical challenges of atomic‐scale dispersion and diatomic pairing of DACs, establishing diatomic site engineering as a powerful paradigm for efficient chlorine electrosynthesis.

Milwaukee Shoulder Syndrome

A gradient-based analysis of ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies bundles in Wuyi Mountain National Park Region, China

School leadership and indigenous student outcomes: A correlational study of Student Needs Management Practices based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Indigenous students continue to face persistent educational disadvantages, including lower academic attainment and reduced school engagement, often linked to school systems that do not systematically address students’ hierarchical needs. This study examined the association between principal-led Student Needs Management Practices (SNMP) and Indigenous student outcomes across 93 national primary schools in Orang Asli settlement areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 342 teachers through multi-stage sampling. SNMP was operationalised across five Maslow-derived dimensions physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualisation needs while Indigenous student outcomes encompassed academic achievement, co-curricular participation, and character development. Both SNMP (M = 4.63, SD = 0.39) and student outcomes (M = 4.26, SD = 0.49) were rated at very high levels by teacher respondents. Pearson correlation revealed a significant, moderate positive association between SNMP and student outcomes (r = .411, p < .001). Multiple regression indicated that the five SNMP dimensions collectively explained 18.8% of the variance in student outcomes (R 2  = .188, adjusted R 2  = .176), F(5, 336) = 15.559, p < .001. Belongingness needs emerged as the only statistically significant predictor (β = .298, p < .001); safety needs approached significance (β = .124, p = .061); physiological, esteem, and self-actualisation needs were not significant predictors. These findings suggest that emotional and relational dimensions of leadership practice are more directly associated with Indigenous student outcomes than material or recognition-based dimensions, and that the modest direct association is consistent with leadership-influence models in which principals affect student outcomes substantially through intermediate mechanisms such as teacher commitment. The study offers evidence-based implications for needs-responsive school leadership in Indigenous education contexts.

Applying Glycerol Triacetate as a Multi‐Hydrogen‐Bond Acceptor Co‐solvent to Realize Ultra‐Wide Temperature Zn Metal Batteries

ABSTRACT Although aqueous Zn metal batteries (ZMBs) possess high‐safety and low‐cost, their practical application is hindered by inferior performances at extreme temperatures (< −20°C or > 50°C). Herein, glycerol triacetate (GT) was used as a multiple hydrogen‐bond acceptor (HBA) co‐solvent to construct a hybrid electrolyte with limited content of GT (6 mol%) for ZMBs. Plentiful HBA sites in GT couple with hydrogen atoms of water to break hydrogen bond (HB) networks between H 2 O molecules, which greatly lowers the freezing point of the hybrid electrolyte. Additionally, GT introduction reduces active H 2 O amount by optimizing the solvated Zn 2+ structure to restrain hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and electrode‐corrosion at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, GT even facilitates the entry of trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTf − ) anions into inner solvation shell of Zn 2+ , forming a robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that not only enhances high‐temperature stability but also improves low‐temperature interfacial ion‐transport of anodes. Hence, Zn//Zn symmetric cells achieve exceptional cycling stability over 3300 h at −60 °C and maintains stable operation for 560 h at 100°C. Especially, Zn//KVOH (KV 12 O 30 •nH 2 O) full cell delivers a remarkable capacity of 398.1 mAh g −1 at 5 A g −1 under 100°C, with a capacity retention of 73.2% after 1000 cycles, which is among the best high‐temperature performances in recent reports.

Transdermal Estradiol Patches in Prostate Cancer

Synthetic gRNA-mediated multiplex CRISPR enables the generation of translucent F0 Xenopus laevis for in vivo imaging

Abstract Transparent model organisms are invaluable for live imaging, yet generating them remains challenging. Here, we present a robust strategy to produce translucent Xenopus laevis , enabling non-invasive, deep-tissue imaging in intact organisms. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated quadruple knockout animals targeting slc2a7 , hps6 , and the two tyrosinase homeologs. Instead of in vitro-transcribed single guide RNAs, we employed chemically modified, commercially synthesized two-part guide RNAs, which enabled efficient multiplex genome editing. We produced a high proportion of translucent frogs directly in F0 founder tadpoles, eliminating the need for multi-generational breeding. We validated in vivo live imaging using two transgenic reporter lines with GFP expression in the eye, brain, and heart. Loss of both eumelanin and iridescent pigments in tyr ; hps6 knockouts markedly improved optical clarity and fluorescence visibility. Overall, this multiplexed genome-editing strategy enables the rapid generation of translucent transgenic X. laevis suitable for live imaging, while also providing a simple and efficient protocol for simultaneous multi-gene targeting in X. laevis .