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Moderation analysis of subjective well-being, self-efficacy, and academic performance of 4th grade children in Russia

Research evidence exists on associations of subjective well-being, self-efficacy and various academic and non-academic outcomes with older students; however, there is a research gap on how these variables relate to each other in elementary school students. The goal of this cross-sectional study within a larger longitudinal project was to examine the role of subjective well-being and self-efficacy in predicting academic achievement in math and reading among elementary school students in Russia. The sample included 1,962 students’ responses (50.4% girls, 7.7% in rural areas) from elementary schools in central Russia. To measure students’ well-being, two subscales from the Survey of Subjective Well-being in School (SSWBS) were used: satisfaction with school (k = 7) and affect toward school (k = 3). Domain-specific Self-efficacy Scales: self-efficacy for mathematics (k = 4) and self-efficacy for reading (k = 4) were used to measure students’ self-efficacy. To measure students’ academic achievement in mathematics and reading, the Progress assessment – the computer adaptive test – was used. Based on the results, self-efficacy for math relates positively to girls’ (SD = 0.32) and boys’ (SD = 0.34) results in math ( p  < 0.01). In contrast, for girls, self-efficacy in reading is more important for their results in reading (SD = 0.27) than for boys (SD = 0.16). Hence, both types of self-efficacy are significant for girls and moderate the relationship between subjective well-being and their academic results (satisfaction with school: SD = 0.09, p  < 0.01; affect toward school: SD = 0.1, p  < 0.05). The results confirmed the role and importance of self-efficacy in academic performance as well as its relationship to subjective well-being for elementary school students, thus expanding the theoretical views and providing the evidence for the moderating effect of self-efficacy. The paper articulates ideas for future research and implications for teachers and policy makers on targeted development of self-efficacy for math through school wide interventions, especially for elementary school girls.

Human-anchored longitudinal comparison of generative AI with a bias-calibrated LLM-as-judge

Service LLMs evolve without public changelogs, complicating reproducible evaluation. We present a preregistered human-anchored longitudinal study that tracks three major model families over ten weekly waves using a fixed prompt bank (N = 240) across six domains. Blinded human raters provided correctness judgments, and a bias-calibrated LLM-as-judge produced secondary pairwise preferences corrected weekly via a Bradley–Terry model. Mixed-effects modeling and change-point detection (PELT with MBIC penalty) identified significant service drift patterns. Results show divergent stability trajectories among models: one stable, one improving, and one degrading mid-study. Judge calibration increased agreement with humans (τ = 0.59–0.68) while reducing volatility. Safety metrics co-varied with drift events, suggesting behavioral shifts rather than confirmed causal changes. All data, prompts, rubrics, and parameter configurations are provided in supporting files S1–S6.

Multiple sources of volunteered geographic information strengthen holistic estimates of lake visitation

Lakes provide human societies with a wide range of cultural ecosystem services (CES), yet these benefits are rarely quantified. Site visitation is frequently used to assign CES values to recreational destinations, but traditional approaches for estimating lake visitation have limited spatiotemporal extent. Visitation estimates increasingly leverage volunteered geographic information (VGI) to address this challenge. We compared the utility of five different sources of VGI from Flickr, eBird, iNaturalist, Twitter, and Gaia GPS, which broadly encompass lake users with different motivations for interacting with nature. We evaluated the potential for predicting on-site visitation from in-person counts by testing models informed by unique combinations of VGI sources at urban and suburban lakes in western Washington. Additionally, we investigated the amenities driving differences in relative lake visitation by modeling visitation as a function of lake attributes (e.g., tree cover, water quality, built infrastructure). All VGI sources were included in the top-performing visitation models, suggesting they provide significant and unique contributions to estimates of overall lake use ( combined R 2   =  0.85, in-sample testing). Given that these VGI sources reflect different types of lake users seeking unique CES, we conclude that holistic VGI visitation estimates should incorporate a diversity of VGI sources. Our results also reveal that built lakeside infrastructure is the predominant driver of visitation at lakes in western Washington, suggesting that spatially equitable updates to amenities will encourage public lake use. We urge greater consideration of the accessibility of different lake-based CES across the landscape and among diverse communities in future lake recreation planning, and suggest that VGI-based estimates of lake visitation offer a robust way to inform this process.

Spatial overlap of sea ice-associated predators and prey in western Hudson Bay

Spatio-temporal distribution of species shapes community structure and ecosystem function, yet the mechanisms driving biological hotspots remain unclear in dynamic environments like sea ice. We computed Getis-Ord (Gi*) distribution hotspots based on four years of direct and indirect observations of polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ), Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ), ringed seals ( Pusa hispida ), and bearded seals ( Erignathus barbatus ) in western Hudson Bay, to identify spatial clustering and assess spatial relationships among these ice-associated species. We further mapped distribution hotspots of bear-hunting sign to examine predator-prey and intraguild relationships. Polar bears and bearded seals primarily used offshore areas, while Arctic foxes concentrated their activity on nearshore ice. Ringed seals built lairs throughout the study area but they mostly hauled out on landfast ice. The polar bear hotspot overlapped largely (30% − 49%) with those of the three other species. Particularly, 80% of the Arctic fox hotspot was included in the polar bear hotspot. In contrast, bearded seals and ringed seals had low overlap (18%), reflecting their different habitat preferences. Understanding current patterns in ice-associated species’ distributions and relationships is crucial to inform conservation actions and for predicting direct and indirect effects of Arctic warming. Our results help identify key ecological areas on sea ice and demonstrate how systematic collection of opportunistic observations can be combined to generate valuable ecological insights at low cost.

Comparison of the triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride-glucose-body mass index for predicting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in elderly diabetic patients

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is posing a challenge to global health systems. Developing an effective, simple, noninvasive method to identify NAFLD in elderly diabetic patients, track disease progression, and monitor treatment effects is importance. This study aims to assess the value of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) in detecting NAFLD elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods This study enrolled 6,882 individuals aged 60 years or older with DM who underwent liver ultrasonography in this cross-sectional study at Zhaobaoshan Residential District Community Health Service Center, from Jan. 1, 2015, to Oct. 19, 2023. And data was accessed for research purposes after Oct. 1,2024. Participants were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group in a 7:3 ratio. The diagnostic values of TyG and TyG-BMI were assessed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). Two cut-off points were selected to rule out or rule in NAFLD, and we explored their specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. Results There were 2,210 and 927 participants with NAFLD in the training and validation groups. In a fully adjusted model, TyG and TyG-BMI were correlated with an increased risk of NAFLD in the training group (TyG: OR=3.920, P < 0.001; TyG-BMI: OR=1.032, P < 0.001). These results were consistent in the validation group. The AUCs of TyG and TyG-BMI indicated that both had predictive value for NAFLD, with TyG-BMI showing the higher predictive accuracy. DCA suggested that TyG-BMI is preferable in clinical settings for both groups. In the training group, with a TyG-BMI cut-off of 212.886, the sensitivity was 80.6%, specificity 57.5%. With a cut-off of 251.741, the sensitivity was 32.6%, specificity 90.7%. Thus, a TyG-BMI < 212.886 could rule out NAFLD (SE = 80.6%, NPV = 77.8%), while a TyG-BMI ≥ 251.741 could rule in NAFLD (SP = 90.7%, PPV = 74.8%). These findings were similar in the validation group, with a TyG-BMI < 212.886 ruling out NAFLD (SE = 80.0%, NPV = 77.3%) and a TyG-BMI ≥ 251.741 ruling in NAFLD (SP = 91.5%, PPV = 76.4%). Conclusions In conclusion, TyG-BMI is more accurate than TyG in predicting NAFLD in elderly participants with diabetes. This simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool effectively classifies elderly diabetic patients with and without NAFLD.

Feasibility of Baseline cardIac investiGation in awake elepHants (Elephas mAximus) using tRansThoracic echocardiography: The BIG HEART study

Introduction Cardiovascular diseases are common in elephants, but most cases are diagnosed only postmortem. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used in domestic and captive animals, although its application in elephants has not yet been established. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of performing TTE in Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ), to develop a standardized procedure to optimize image quality, and to assess measurement variability. Materials and methods Preliminary trials were conducted in ten elephants, including seven free-ranging animals in Cambodia and three captive elephants in France. These led to a standardized TTE protocol based on cooperative training and positive reinforcement. Key refinements included the exclusive use of a left parasternal approach, soaking the thoracic skin with lukewarm water before application of coupling gel, and extension of the left forelimb over a training ball to optimize access to the acoustic window. Each examination included two left ventricular (LV) views: a long-axis view for M-mode measurements and a short-axis view for two-dimensional (2D) analysis. A total of 72 examinations were performed on 4 days on three elephants, with offline assessment of eight 2D and M-mode variables, including two indices of LV function (fractional shortening and fractional area change). A general linear model was used to determine within-day and between-day coefficients of variation. Results All examinations were successfully completed without anesthesia or restraint. Within-day and between-day variability were low for all parameters (coefficients of variation = 0–3.4%), while interanimal variability was higher (5%−19.6%). Discussion LV dimensions and systolic function can be assessed in awake Asian elephants with excellent repeatability and reproducibility. Conclusions The present validated TTE procedure enables longitudinal cardiac monitoring in captive Asian elephants without anesthesia, providing a unique opportunity for the antemortem diagnosis of left-sided heart disease and facilitating future comparative and conservation studies in this endangered species.

Undergraduate GPA does not predict success in PhD programs for cohorts of MS students at two minority-serving institutions

Master of Science (MS) research training programs funded by organizations such as the NIH, the NSF as well as private corporations represent the potential for significant interventions for student success, especially for marginalized or underrepresented and first-generation students, to bridge the gap between undergraduate studies and doctoral programs. These students often face serious challenges during their undergraduate years, such as navigating unfamiliar academic systems, balancing demanding coursework with work responsibilities, and fulfilling family obligations. These and other systemic pressures can impede their academic progress and opportunities for research experience. We therefore asked how their undergraduate GPA impacted success in the PhD in terms of (i) acceptance, (ii) completion, and (iii) time to degree after participating in a funded MS research training program. We examined data collected at San Francisco State University and California State University, Los Angeles over a 30-year period because they (i) had similar student demographics, (ii) were institutions with strong MS degree programs, and (iii) had an infrastructure (established offices) to coordinate various training programs. We found that high GPA did not predict greater success in entering or completing the PhD, or in time to degree. This study, therefore, demonstrates that undergraduates from diverse groups with lower undergraduate GPA levels can benefit from a structured MS research training program in reaching their goal of becoming PhD scientists. Interestingly, increases in diversity of these programs did not adversely affect participation of majority students but rather enhanced the program’s participation by doubling the MS student body. Moreover, it indicates that more holistic approaches in admissions are required, including limiting the use of a GPA below 3.0 as an early filter to eliminate applicants. These MS programs appear to play a crucial role as a bridge to PhD studies and are instrumental in enhancing diversity within STEM fields. We suggest that a strategy for success is to provide infrastructure in the form of a coordinating office housing the training grants as a means of structuring mentorship and professional development for under-represented and first-generation students.

Kisspeptin improves local ovarian insulin resistance in PCOS by modulating the PI3K/AKT/GLUT4 signaling pathway

Background Insulin resistance (IR) is commonly observed in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affecting 44% to 70% of these individuals. Kisspeptin is a key regulatory factor in energy balance and reproduction, and it may alleviate PCOS-related symptoms by improving insulin resistance. Methods In this study, a PCOS-IR mouse model was established using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and a high-fat diet. The expression of kisspeptin, PI3K, phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), AKT, phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) was measured by immunofluorescence staining, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Results In granulosa cells from PCOS-IR mice, kisspeptin upregulated GLUT4 expression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In vitro experiments showed that kisspeptin significantly reduced ROS levels, enhanced MMP, and improved mitochondrial function. Conclusion Kisspeptin improves insulin resistance through the PI3K/AKT/GLUT4 signaling pathway and exerts its effects in vitro in granulosa cells. by protecting mitochondrial function. This study provides potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of PCOS-IR.

Morphogenetic development of trochlear groove and thigh muscles from embryo to fetus in humans

Mechanical forces caused by fetal movements are essential for normal musculoskeletal development. However, the relationship between skeletal development and knee joint motion in utero remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the development of lower limb musculoskeletal structures during the embryonic and early fetal stages from a kinematic perspective and to compare muscle and skeletal developmental processes. We analyzed 29 human embryonic and fetal specimens. Using phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, we analyzed the morphogenesis of the knee joint components, trochlear groove angle, and hypothetical joint motion of the thigh muscles in three dimensions. To analyze chronological morphogenesis, Procrustes analysis was performed, and Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis were subsequently conducted using the Procrustes coordinates. The trochlear groove angle on the plane vertical to the femoral axis decreased from approximately 160° to 130° until 120 mm Crown-rump length (CRL) and remained constant until 185 mm CRL. All hypothetical joint motions increased slowly between 30 and 100 mm CRL, whereas rapidly after approximately 100 mm CRL. The protrusions of the lateral femoral condyle became more pronounced from fetal stage as they grew. The timing of the onset of fetal movement and the increase in muscle mass and joint motion during early pregnancy were consistent with those of previous studies, and the timing of the angle stabilization occurred almost simultaneously with the rapid increase in femoral muscle mass and hypothesized joint motion. It suggested that stabilization of joint morphology enables smooth joint motion, which leads to an increase in muscle mass and joint motion.

Bioassay-guided fractionation and identification of wound healing active compounds from Khaya senegalensis leaves

This study investigated the wound healing potential of Khaya senegalensis leaves through a comprehensive approach, including phytochemical, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, migration, and molecular docking analyses. Bioassay-guided isolation identified β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, with structures confirmed by NMR and FTIR analyses. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, tannins, and steroids, with solvent polarity significantly influencing composition. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the strongest DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ = 5.6 mg/mL). The methanol extract had the highest total phenolic content (198.8 mg GAE/g) while the ethyl acetate had the highest flavonoid content (1,228.1 mg QE/g). MTT assays confirmed the cytocompatibility of all extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds in HaCaT and HDF cells (>50% viability at ≤100 µg/mL). Scratch assays demonstrated significant, concentration-dependent wound closure, with optimal effects at 12.5 μg/mL. The most active fraction (1.2H) and subfractions (1.2.1H, 1.2.3H), as well as the isolated compounds, achieved complete wound closure in HDF cells within 24 hours. Molecular docking revealed strong binding of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol with TNF-α and GSK-3β, supporting their role in modulating inflammatory and proliferative pathways. These findings highlight Khaya senegalensis as a promising candidate for promoting wound repair, exerting antioxidant, cytocompatible, and pro-migratory effects.

Eight-Port millimeter wave MIMO antenna loaded with novel frequency selective surface for higher data rate transmission

In this research, an eight-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna integrated with frequency frequency-selective surface (FSS) is presented for 28.0 GHz millimeter-wave (n257/n261) bands. The radiating patch consists of a circular-ring shape with a plus-shaped stub embedded in it. The antenna element is fed by a 50 Ω microstrip feed line and a quarter-wave transformer as a matching network. The MIMO antenna measures 50 mm × 50 mm and achieves spatial diversity through an orthogonal arrangement of eight radiating elements. A 10 × 10 array of FSS is also designed at 28.0 GHz and measures 60 mm × 60 mm. The FSS structure is intended for a band-stop filter and consists of a circular ring with a plus-shaped stub. The proposed MIMO antenna has a peak realized gain of 13.89 dBi and features directional 2-D radiation patterns. The specific absorption rate analysis is also performed, resulting in a value of 0.0274 W/kg at 28.0 GHz.

Comparative study on the kinetic model and effect of sludge protein dissolution under the synergistic action of acid-thermal and alkaline-thermal

Risk of prostatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An observational retrospective cohort study of canagliflozin versus other antihyperglycemic agents using propensity score matching

Purpose Prostatitis has been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs). This study was conducted to evaluate the risk of prostatitis with canagliflozin in response to a specific Health Authority query. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data from adult male patients with T2DM who were new users of canagliflozin (target) or comparators (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, sitagliptin, and liraglutide). Data were obtained from 8 global administrative claims databases, transformed to a Common Data Model for consistent analysis across databases. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using propensity scores to match canagliflozin users to users of each comparator at a 1:n ratio (maximum n = 100). Hazard ratios were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model, conditioned on the matched set. Results A total of 388,893 adult male patients with T2DM received canagliflozin across databases (mean age, 51.2–71.7 years) and were matched to 657,134 patients receiving empagliflozin, 340,539 receiving dapagliflozin, 819,047 receiving sitagliptin, and 278,684 receiving liraglutide. On-treatment incidence rates showed that prostatitis was uncommon in the canagliflozin cohort in nearly all databases (4.2–7.7 per 1000 person-years) and were similar to those of the comparator treatments. The exception was a higher crude incidence rate in the Merative MarketScan ® Medicare Supplemental Database (10.1–12.1 per 1000 person-years). Propensity score matching achieved good balance in all available covariates, and effect estimates were relatively close to a hazard ratio of 1.0, varying on both sides of the null effect. Minimum detectable relative risks were low in most databases, and meta-analytic estimates were near 1.0, with all upper bounds <1.50. No association (either increased or decreased risk) was found with canagliflozin versus other AHAs. Conclusions This analysis found no evidence of a statistically significantly increased risk of prostatitis among adult male patients with T2DM receiving canagliflozin compared with the other AHAs evaluated in this study.

ViT-Stain: Vision transformer-driven virtual staining for skin histopathology via global contextual learning

Current virtual staining approaches for histopathology slides use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and generative adversarial networks (GANs). These approaches rely on local receptive fields, struggle to capture global context, and long-range tissue dependencies. This limitation can introduce artifacts in fine textures and cause loss of subtle morphological details. We propose a novel vision transformer-driven virtual staining framework (ViT-Stain) that translates unstained skin tissue images into hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-equivalent images. The transformer’s self-attention enables ViT-Stain to capture long-range dependencies, preserve global context, and maintain fine textures. We trained ViT-Stain on the E-Staining DermaRepo dataset, which pairs unstained and H&E-stained whole-slide images (WSIs). We validated our model using metrics including SSIM, PSNR, FID, KID, LPIPS, and a novel histology-specific fidelity index (HSFI). Three board-certified pathologists provided feedback for qualitative evaluations. ViT-Stain outperforms leading CNN and GAN models, including Pix2Pix, CycleGAN, CUTGAN, and DCLGAN. It achieves an overall diagnostic concordance of 85% with virtual H&E-stains (Fleiss’ κ = 0.88). However, the model requires longer training (about 93 hours on A100 GPUs) and inference times (about 2.9 minutes). Our work advances AI-driven diagnostic reproducibility for high-fidelity clinical settings and aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) global health goals.

How digital transformation curb greenwashing: Insights from fraud risk factor theory

This study investigates how digital transformation influences corporate greenwashing and promotes genuine sustainable development, drawing on the framework of fraud risk factors. Based on panel data from Chinese publicly listed companies between 2009 and 2022, a two-way fixed effects model is employed, with endogeneity addressed through difference-in-differences and instrumental variable techniques. The results show that digital transformation significantly curbs greenwashing by mitigating motivations, reducing opportunities, and enhancing exposure. The effect is stronger for growth- or mature-stage enterprises, non-myopic firms, and regions with low regulatory intensity and high environmental awareness. Furthermore, a double-threshold effect is identified, with the inhibitory role of digital transformation becoming more significant at intermediate and advanced stages. Importantly, digital transformation reduces greenwashing without compromising firms’ financial or sustainable performance. These results provide actionable insights for businesses and policymakers in curbing greenwashing and advancing sustainable development.

Mining the FAERS database reveals new safety signals for 120 mg denosumab in oncology practice

Objective To detect and quantify adverse drug event (ADE) signals linked to 120 mg denosumab in the real world. Methods We queried the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) for reports on 120 mg denosumab, standardized, and categorized these events with Preferred Terms (PT) and System Organ Classes (SOC) from MedDRA version 27.1. Disproportionality analysis was performed using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN). Results We identified 10,963 ADE reports for 120 mg of denosumab. Among 10 963 reports, 41.6% of patients were ≥ 65 years old, 37.1% were from the United States, and 17.7% were from Japan; 77.0% were serious. Data mining revealed 294 positive disproportionality signals across 27 SOCs. The highest signal proportions were for neoplasms (15.99%), musculoskeletal disorders (13.27%), infections (11.56%), gastrointestinal disorders (10.88%), and procedural complications (10.20%). The most frequent ADEs were osteonecrosis of the jaw (n = 3,082, 28.11%), death (n = 803, 7.32%), hypocalcemia (n = 799, 7.29%), and fatigue (n = 282, 2.57%). The strongest signals by ROR were bone giant cell tumor (7888.08), bone giant cell tumor malignant (6502.96), osteonecrosis of the jaw (396.57), and bone giant cell tumor benign (312.37). Thirty-two unlisted events were identified, including exostosis of jaw, osteosarcoma, tooth fracture, and bone lesions. Conclusions Clinicians should maintain vigilance for both established toxicities and these 32 emerging signals to ensure the safety of patients receiving 120 mg of denosumab for oncological purposes.

Genetic diversity, phylogeography, population structure, and demographic history of wild Catla catla at a transboundary scale across South Asia revealed by Mitochondrial COI sequences

This study presents the first assessment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences from multiple countries to evaluate the genetic diversity, phylogeographic relationships, population structure, and demographic history of wild Catla catla in South Asia. A total of 18 haplotypes, with moderate haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.599), low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.017), and limited mutational steps among most haplotypes, were identified after analyzing 133 COI sequences collected from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The results revealed low genetic differentiation among all wild Catla samples, influenced by introgression from hatchery-reared fry and population bottlenecks. Phylogenetic analyses identified two distinct haplogroups for Pakistani populations, supporting the existence of divergent mitochondrial lineages. AMOVA test showed that most genetic variation occurred within populations (74.46.%) rather than among the seven river basin populations (25.54%). The high pairwise genetic distance (FST= 0.255), together with the presence of numerous population-specific haplotypes and low gene flow (Nm = 0.729), indicated significant population structure among these river populations. A positive Mantel test (r = 0.12) confirmed a significant increase in genetic divergence with increasing geographic distance. The neutrality test and mismatch distribution presented a contrasting demographic history. A significantly negative Fu’s Fs (Fu’s Fs = −24.431) pointed to recent population expansion, whereas a significant Harpending’s raggedness index (r = 0.009) and a multimodal mismatch distribution suggested long-term demographic substructure. These findings provide essential COI-based baseline genetic information for conserving the genetic integrity of the wild Catla catla and guiding sustainable transboundary fisheries management in South Asia.

In sickness and health: A reflexive thematic analysis of ethical considerations and experiences of owners of cats treated for diabetes mellitus

Cats are widely regarded as beloved family members, with whom owners develop strong emotional bonds. When a cat is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, many owners choose to pursue medical treatment despite the significant commitment and resources required for disease management. This study qualitatively explored the factors influencing treatment decisions for cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, focusing on the emotional, practical, and ethical challenges that shape owners’ choices. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 cat owners in Sweden, all of whom had opted to initiate treatment for their cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The data were systematically analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating three themes within an overarching theme encapsulating key aspects of cat ownership. These themes centered on owners’ perceived responsibility of care, maintaining the cats’ quality of life, and the burden of end-of-life decisions. Findings highlight the interplay of emotional attachment, caregiving responsibilities, and ethical considerations in decision-making. We argue that recognising the emotional bonds between owners and their cats and providing personalised care plans that balance medical needs with owners’ life situations can improve communication, veterinary support and cat welfare. Addressing both the medical and emotional aspects of caregiving is crucial for fostering a sustainable and positive caregiving experience.

Optimization, characterization and biological activity of siderophore produced by marine Streptomyces coelicolor

Two Streptomyces spp. were isolated from open ocean waters of the Gulf of Mannar. Of the two isolates, one was identified as Streptomyces coelicolor through conventional and molecular approaches, and it was found to produce a siderophore. Characterization revealed the siderophore to be of trihydroxamate type with hexadentate iron-binding capacity. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of aromatic rings with C–O and C = C stretching, while 1 H and 13 C NMR together with mass spectrometry confirmed the hydroxamate nature and identified the siderophore as ferrioxamine. A narrow shift in λ max indicate the photoreactive nature of the siderophore on exposure to sunlight. The cell-free supernatant of S. coelicolor and the purified siderophore dose-dependently inhibited the growth of microbial pathogens. Quorum quenching activity was confirmed using the indicator strain Chromobacterium violaceum . Both the cell-free supernatant and siderophore were found to inhibit biofilm formation and induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in pathogens. The siderophore also suppressed the proliferation of the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) by disturbing iron homeostasis. Optimization of International Streptomyces Project (ISP2) medium constituents using two-level factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) enabled cost-effective siderophore production. In addition to iron, the siderophore exhibited binding affinity for other heavy metals including zinc, cobalt, cadmium, lead, and magnesium.

The effects of human training data (HTD) explanation on purchase intention for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies

Consumers exhibit resistance to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies despite their widespread deployment. One common thread linking various reasons for this is the perceptions of AI technologies’ lack of inherent human qualities. This paper explores the effect of human training data (HTD) explanation on purchase intention for AI technologies as a potential source-based explainable AI (XAI) solution to this problem. We define HTD explanation as a statement that describes the role that humans play within a given AI system’s training data in lay terms that is easy to understand for end-users. This includes descriptions of what human data is used and for what purpose (e.g., “Our ready-made meals are developed by an AI system trained on millions of people’s food and taste preferences”). We predict HTD explanation to have a positive effect on consumer purchase intention that is mediated by perceived transfer of human essence. We tested our hypotheses in four between-subjects experiments. Study 1 supports the proposed main effect. Studies 2 and 3 show evidence for the mediation mechanism. Study 4 provides marginal evidence that HTD explanation may reduce adoption intention among consumers high pre-existing trust in AI technologies. Our findings suggest that the psychological processes linking HTD explanation to consumer outcomes may be more complex than originally theorized. This study introduces HTD as a form of source-based XAI solution and offers preliminary insight into PET and deep humanization effects, where consumers may perceive AI technologies to possess human qualities by virtue of HTD use.