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Relationship of parenting styles on depression, anxiety, stress and self-esteem of adolescents

Globally, fourteen percent of adolescents suffer from mental health issues. Among the many contributing factors to mental health problems, parenting is considered to have a significant effect on both the physical and psychological health of adolescents. This study aimed to assess depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem among adolescents and their relationship with parenting style. A community-based cross-sectional study with multistage proportionate sampling was conducted among 583 school-going adolescents from 15 th September to 14 th October 2022 in Bheemdatt Municipality. This study used the previously validated Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire to assess the status and relationships. Variables were analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents was found to be 37.39% (95% CI: 33.46 to 41.32), 42.19% (95% CI: 38.18 to 46.19), and 24.69% (95% CI: 21.18 to 28.19), respectively. Likewise, the mean self-esteem score among adolescents was found to be 22.26 ± 3.56. The authoritative parenting style was found to be significantly associated with DAS and self-esteem among adolescents, while authoritarian parenting style is associated with depression and self-esteem, and permissive parenting style is associated with stress. Social support, and bullying, showed strong effects on the research outcomes. These findings highlight the crucial role of parental involvement and support in shaping adolescent mental health, underscoring the need for positive parenting practices to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents. It is highly recommended that school-based programs focus on raising awareness of mental health issues and offer interventions such as stress management and student counseling. There is a pressing need to effectively monitor and enforce anti-bullying policies within educational settings.

In Situ Derived Impedance–Structure Correlation during LaNiO ₃ Decomposition

Bystanders’ attitudes towards drone delivered Automated External Defibrillators for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A qualitative interview study

Background Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the public at an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) increases patient survival, but AEDs are infrequently used. Using drones to deliver AEDs may be one way to increase uptake, but there is limited understanding about what members of the public think about this. The aim of the study was to explore public attitudes towards drone AED delivery for OHCA. Methods We conducted 14 remote, semi-structured interviews with real-life OHCA bystanders. Participants were recruited via social media, a UK cardiac arrest survivor charity and the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust. We analysed data using the Theoretical Domains Framework and mapped findings to the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation model of Behaviour (COM-B) to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to the retrieval and use of drone-delivered AEDs. We used The Behaviour Change Wheel to identify potential interventions to optimise use of drone-delivered AEDs. Results Participants experienced varying levels of physical and social opportunities in relation to (un)available AEDs and (in)appropriate support from the call-handler, affecting the likelihood of them performing CPR and/or using an AED effectively. Most participants were unsure about how to use an AED, and none knew how a drone-delivered AED system would work in practice. Many participants questioned whether they would possess sufficient capability and motivation to retrieve and/or operate a drone-delivered AED during a time-critical emergency. There were five key themes for potential interventions: incorporating information about drone-delivered AED use into pre-existing training programmes and materials; ensuring drone use complies with specific regulatory and/or legislative requirements; making the drone-delivered AED easy to identify and access; optimising call-handler scripts to incorporate drone-delivered AED use; providing social support via a robust co-responder model to complement drone-delivered AED use. Conclusions Participants accepted drone-delivered AEDs for OHCA, but were unsure if it would be effective. They identified several issues that we addressed through the development of a comprehensive intervention framework. A comprehensive call-handler script that incorporates drone-delivered AED use and support for bystanders was the most salient potential intervention for future testing by relevant stakeholders.

Grain Boundary-Driven Synergistic Dual-Mechanism Catalysis in RuO ₂ for Enhancing Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity and Stability

Assessing NaV1.7 during tonic firing in pig C-nociceptors

Assuming the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) NaV1.7 facilitates action potential generation upon slow electrical depolarization, we investigated protoxin II and TTX to target VGSC sub-types and to assess their role in C-fiber excitability when stimulated with sinusoidal single 1 Hz pulse (500 ms) and repetitive 4 Hz stimuli. We performed ex vivo extracellular compound potentials (CAP) recordings of pig saphenous nerve and in vivo pig single nerve fiber (SNF) recordings of heat- mechanosensitive (“polymodal”) nociceptors (C-HT) and low- threshold mechanoresponsive C-fibers (C-LTMR) upon electrical 1 and 4 Hz sinusoidal stimulation, which evoke a discharge burst and a tonic response, respectively. Both toxins reduced C-CAP amplitudes and conduction velocity. Number of action potentials evoked by low-intensity phasic (1 Hz) or tonic (4 Hz) sinusoidal stimulation were reduced in C-HT nociceptors after protoxin. In C-LTMR fibers, protoxin reduced the number of action potentials to 4 Hz, but did not affect 1 Hz discharges. The toxins did not increase the delay of action potential initiation of C-CAPs or during SNF. Our results confirm the functional role of NaV1.7 to tonic supra-threshold electrical 4 Hz sinusoidal action potential firing in C-fibers. Protoxin reduced AP discharges to low-intensity phasic 1 Hz stimuli in C-HT nociceptors but not C-LTMR touch fibers. This finding suggests a differential functional role of NaV1.7 between C-fiber classes. Peripheral NaV1.7 blockade seems to increase the depolarization level required for C-nociceptor activation, and this might be relevant to target clinically ongoing pain.

Thioketal-Incorporated Biodegradable Lipid Nanoparticles Deliver mRNA to Ductal Epithelial Cells for Improved Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

From root to result: Portable NIRS-based non-destructive prediction of cassava quality traits

Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food and a key industrial crop across tropical regions, but traditional phenotyping for critical quality traits like dry matter content (DMC) and starch content (StC) is a laborious and low-throughput process. This study investigates the efficacy of a handheld near-infrared spectrometer device (NIRS) for the non-destructive, rapid prediction of these traits. The research methodology involved collecting spectral data from 2,236 cassava clones from 19 field trials in Brazil, using two sample types: fresh roots and mashed roots. Six spectral pre-processing methods and three machine learning algorithms—Partial Least Squares (PLS), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB)—were evaluated to optimize predictive models. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination in calibration ( R C ), the root mean squared error of calibration ( R M S E C ), and the Kappa index to quantify the consistency of clone selection. Results show that mashed samples consistently yielded superior predictive performance across all models. Specific preprocessing methods, such as Savitzky-Golay filtering combined with Standard Normal Variate (SG + SNV) and first-derivative transformations, significantly enhanced model accuracy. Among the algorithms, PLS demonstrated the best overall performance, with high predictive accuracy ( R C >0.96) and low prediction errors ( R M S E C <1.3 for DMCo), especially with mashed samples. High Kappa index values, consistently approaching 1.0, confirmed a good alignment between NIRS-based selection and traditional phenotypic methods. This study validates a portable spectrometer as a reliable and efficient tool for high-throughput phenotyping in cassava breeding programs. The findings confirm that portable NIRS devices, when used with optimal sample preparation (mashed roots) and robust modeling (PLS), can effectively yield good predictions for plant selection. This approach can significantly accelerate breeding cycles by enabling rapid, early-stage selection decisions, thereby overcoming a major bottleneck and contributing to a more efficient and sustainable genetic improvement of cassava.

Proteins and Water Control the Stability of the Intracellular Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Inclusions Formed by Cyanobacteria

Dietary variability in Middle Holocene South American shellmounds: Insights from isotopic analysis and an adapted Bayesian MixSIAR model

The degree of homogeneity in the diet of archaeological populations associated with Brazilian shellmounds ( sambaquis ) is an ongoing debate. Isotopic studies have the potential to document both intra- and inter-group dietary variability, especially when paired with quantitative tools, such as Bayesian Mixing Models. In this study, we investigate intra-site variability on diet at two shellmounds in southeastern Brazil: Piaçaguera (7151–5668 yBP), characterized by two distinct burial clusters, and Moraes (6791–5590 yBP). We analyzed δ 13 C and δ 15 N on human and fauna bone collagen ( n  = 43) and on human dentine collagen ( n  = 5 teeth). Our data were complemented by previously published isotopic data from these sites ( n   = 88) and from other Brazilian shellmounds ( n  = 51). To quantify the consumption of different food sources, we adapted the Bayesian MixSIAR model to integrate both bone and dentine values without compromising sample independence. Our results indicate that marine fish contributed approximately 30–50% to the diet of individuals from Piaçaguera, and terrestrial animals accounted for 16–45% of the diet of individuals from Moraes. We observed a slight difference in the consumption of marine and terrestrial sources between the burial groups in Piaçaguera and a higher intake of freshwater fish among subadults in Moraes. New radiocarbon dating in Piaçaguera indicates that the two burial groups did not belong to distinct chronological periods. These findings highlight the importance of a constant dialog between archaeological and isotopic data. The adapted MixSIAR model validated and increased the robustness of our results, proving to be effective in delineating dietary patterns in past groups from distinct archaeological contexts.

An Unexpected Adenosine-Alkylating Ribozyme Emerged by Target Site Relocation during in Vitro Selection

Wood shadows: The influence of Xylophaga on hard-substrate macrofauna in Southern California

The abundant small taxa on hard substrates in deep-sea environments remain understudied and therefore poorly understood. Abundant seepage, tectonic activity, upwelling, and high productivity generate a diverse array of hard substrates including basalts, carbonate rocks, phosphorites, ferromanganese crusts, and sedimentary rocks throughout the Southern California Borderland (SCB), and wood falls are common given the region’s proximity to land. A comparative experimental approach was used to examine the influence of hard substrate type on patterns of macrofaunal colonization under different environmental conditions, and particularly revealed the outsized influence of the wood-boring bivalve Xylophaga on macrofaunal colonization both on and near wood substrates. The experimental substrates––wood (to assess the influence of organic falls), carbonate rock (to assess faunal affinities for seep-related substrates outside of a seep environment), and other rocks (ferromanganese, phosphorites, and sedimentary rocks, which are common throughout the SCB)––were deployed for ten months at two sites (San Juan Seamount, 40-Mile Bank), each at two water depths (~700 m, ~ 1100 m) in the SCB. The settlement of juvenile Xylophaga on wood and nearby substrates drove overall density trends and contributed to the distinct community composition observed among substrate types. Experimental substrates exhibited significantly higher densities than natural rocks, possibly representing the influence of different substrate or earlier successional stages. Diversity was highest on natural rock substrates and lowest on experimental wood substrates, which also exhibited the lowest evenness due to dominance by wood specialists such as Xylophaga , dorvilleid polychaetes, and the ampharetid polychaete Decemunciger sp. Juvenile Xylophaga were found on both experimental wood substrates and nearby rock substrates, and likely provided other species with food, and on wood, with modified (engineered) habitat. These findings suggest that natural wood falls could have a shadow effect on macrofauna of adjacent hard substrates in this region, which merits future study.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Hydroxyindolenines Using Achiral Oxaziridines

Incidental extramammary findings on breast magnetic resonance imaging: Prevalence and recommended diagnostic follow-up

Among the current clinical imaging modalities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the highest sensitivity for breast cancer detection. Only a few studies have been conducted on the extramammary findings of breast MRI; nonetheless, incidental extramammary findings on the breast MR images of the patients are likely to be malignant and may influence staging and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of extramammary findings on breast MRIs and explore the appropriate diagnostic steps. This retrospective study included 234 patients (mean age: 55.8 years) who underwent breast MRI scans at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital between 2013 and 2020. Reports were reviewed to identify incidental findings, categorized as pathological findings or congenital anomalies. The included patients had confirmed malignant tumors and no prior breast MRI findings. The patient demographics, MRI findings, and indications were recorded. Nineteen incidental extramammary findings were recorded in 16 of the 234 patients with breast cancer whose records were reviewed. The most common sites were the musculoskeletal system (21%), liver (37%), and lungs (21%). Pleural and chest wall involvement was found in two instances (10.5%). One patient (6%) underwent a biopsy, while 15 patients (94%) underwent further imaging. Incidental extra-mammary findings on breast MRI should not be neglected. This study showed that breast MRI examinations were associated with a 7% rate of extramammary findings, suggesting the need for careful evaluation during routine breast MRI. These findings may require further diagnostic evaluation depending on the clinical context. A consistent and systematic diagnostic approach is needed to identify extramammary abnormalities on breast MR scans.

Mental imagery and breathing exercises integrated into a standardized warm-up routine enhance sympathetic activation and optimize muscular performance in firefighters

The capacity of firefighters to consistently mobilize their full physical potential during duty shifts is of paramount importance. One promising approach to achieving this goal involves developing operational protocols that effectively activate the sympathetic nervous system and vagal regulation prior to each professional action. This study investigated the effects of combining mental imagery and conscious breathing exercises with a conventional and standard warm-up on cardiac modulations, muscular strength and endurance performance in 34 firefighters randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group (n = 17), which performed only the conventional and standard warm-up, and an experimental group (n = 17), which performed the standard warm-up in combination with mental imagery and breathing exercises. The results showed that incorporating such psychophysiological techniques into a conventional warm-up routine during repeated physical efforts optimizes sympathetic spectral power, heart rate responses, and physical performances, including maximal voluntary isometric handgrip contraction, maximum push-ups, and the maximal abdominal plank duration. Altogether, these findings indicate that brief mental imagery and controlled breathing exercises incorporated into standard warm-up routines effectively preserve muscular performance under repeated exertion while enhancing sympathetic activation, offering a practical and immediately applicable strategy to optimize firefighters’ operational readiness.

Mononuclear Palladium(I) Halides Stabilized by Bis(di- <i>tert</i> -butylphosphino)ferrocene Ligand

The influence of experience marketing, sense of virtual community, and satisfaction on user purchase intention in live stream sales

Amid the digital and mobile internet boom, Live Stream Sales has emerged as a transformative, contactless commerce model reshaping consumer behavior. This study examines how diverse user experiences influence Sense of Virtual Community, Satisfaction, and Purchase Intention. The results indicate that think, act, and relate experiences significantly enhance satisfaction; feel and act experiences directly promote purchase intention; and both sense of virtual community and satisfaction serve as key mediators in driving purchase intention. These findings deepen the understanding of user experience in live commerce and provide practical guidance for enhancing consumer engagement and purchase motivation.

Electronic-Symmetry-Tuned Emission Beyond 1500 nm in Erbium(III)-Phthalocyanine Complexes for High-Resolution In Vivo Biosensing

Maximum effect with minimum impact: A new selective control strategy for the Browsing ant Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Formicidae: Formicinae) minimize the impact on non-target species

Early-stage control of invasive ants provides an opportunity to suppress establishment while conserving existing biodiversity. We developed and tested a selective control strategy targeting the Browsing ant Lepisiota frauenfeldi , an emerging omnivorous, polygynous, and polydomous invader, during its initial establishment in an urban area of Okinawa Island, Japan. Because the local ant community was still present when the invasion was detected, the trial aimed at reducing the competitive advantage of the target species while preserving biotic resistance from resident species. We hypothesized that weakening L . frauenfeldi through selective chemical treatment would allow existing species to occupy its vacant niches, thereby accelerating eradication. Species-specific baits were formulated using a growth regulator with protein- and carbohydrate-based substrates. Baits were placed near nest entrances identified through monthly surveys over an area of approximately 1.6 hectares. Ant community dynamics were monitored for 44 months using hand-collection and sticky-trap surveys. The invasive ant showed a strong negative response to treatment, with an estimated 92% reduction in occurrence probability, ultimately disappearing from the treated area. Several non-target ant species increased in frequency, consistent with expectation of the niche reoccupation, while most other species remained stable, indicating minimal impact on the broader community. Compared to conventional methods, this approach used drastically less chemical while achieving high efficacy. Implementation through cross-organizational collaboration enabled parallel treatment in adjacent restricted areas and contributed to the program’s success. These results highlight the practical and ecological value of nest-targeted, community-collaborative selective baiting as a strategy for managing omnivorous invasive ants during early establishment.

Superconductivity in the Locally Noncentrosymmetric Th ₂ Mo ₂ Rh ₂ Si ₄ C by Rational Design

Establishing consensus on the implementation of Anticoagulation Stewardship Program with cardiologists in Pakistan: A Delphi study

Background The Anticoagulation Stewardship Program (ASP) improves clinical outcomes, promotes patient safety, and supports healthcare systems in delivering high-quality, evidence-based anticoagulation management. This study aimed to develop a consensus among cardiologists about the implementation of the ASP Program in Pakistan. Methods A three-round Delphi study was conducted utilizing an online questionnaire. In Round 1, cardiologists (Delphi panel experts) reported their consensus with the items in the questionnaire using a 3-point Likert scale. The selection of items for Round 2 was based on acceptance by ≥66.6% of the cardiologists and the agreement of the scientific committee. In Round 2, the panelists assessed those items that failed to gain consensus in Round 1. In Round 3, a face-to-face meeting was conducted among the scientific committee to evaluate the items that failed to gain expert agreement in Round 2 to form the final consensus document. Descriptive statistics was used to present the data. Results A total of 90 cardiologists from 30 hospitals were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 75 agreed to participate in Round 1 of the study (83% response rate). 68 cardiologists completed the survey in Round 2. Initially, 33 items from four domains were evaluated by the Delphi experts in Round 1. 18 items reached consensus in Round 1, 4 items reached consensus in Round 2, and 2 items reached consensus in Round 3. The final consensus document comprised 24 items. The study showed absolute consensus among national cardiologists regarding the implementation of ASP in Pakistan. A considerable agreement was achieved regarding essential components needed to strengthen ASP for anticoagulation management in the cardiology departments. Conclusion This study emphasized the need for educational sessions for patients and healthcare professionals, collaboration with healthcare authorities, and allocation of financial resources for ASP. This study also identified consensus among cardiologists on the perceived benefits of ASP for patients and the healthcare system. Several barriers that hindered the implementation of ASP in Pakistan were identified, including patient- and healthcare system-related barriers.