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Influence of biosilica treatments and storage receptacles on the quality of maize (Zea mays L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds during long-term storage
Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major source of affordable, high-quality dietary protein that complements maize ( Zea mays L.)-based diets. Traditional storage of these seeds in sacks and glass jars without treatment often leads to infestation by insect pests, such as Acanthoscelides obtectus and Sitophilus zeamais, causing significant grain losses. This study evaluated grain damage and weight loss after mixing biosilica with maize and common bean seeds, which were stored in various containers (glass jars, polyethylene, and polypropylene bags) over a six-month period, during which seed viability was also assessed. Although the initial moisture level (≤ 13%) was favourable for storage for both grain species, about half of the common bean cultivars (FEB 190 and NUV6) and two-thirds of the maize cultivars (CMS 8501 and CMS 8704) were adversely affected after prolonged storage without treatment for six months. As concerns the effects of the storage receptacle on the biosilica-treated seeds, the polyethylene bags and glass jars were more effective for common beans than for maize seeds after five months of storage. However, by the sixth month, the biosilica-containing jars were characterized by low insect perforation indices (≤ 50%) and rather high seed viability (> 80%) for both maize and common beans after six months of storage, highlighting the protective effect and storage loss reduction capacity of the biosilica. Hence, their application could help farmers improve safe grain storage over prolonged periods and eventually enhance their livelihoods and incomes.
Regional differences, distribution dynamics and convergence of multi-dimensional grain security level in major grain producing areas in China
Based on panel data from China’s 13 major grain – producing provinces between 2014 and 2023, this study constructs a multidimensional grain security evaluation index system, incorporating the dimensions of quantity, quality, ecology, and capacity. Using the entropy method, kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient, and convergence model, we analyze the regional differences, dynamic evolution, and spatial convergence of grain security levels. The results show that: (1) grain security level is generally increasing; there are obvious spatial differences in grain security level among; (2) There are obvious spatial differences in grain security levels among regions, showing the trend of “Northeast> central> eastern> western”; (3) α Convergence analysis shows that the central region converges, while the northeast, east and west regions diverge; both absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence exist in the whole region and each region. Compared with previous studies, this paper provides new insights into the dynamic evolution, spatial distribution and regional convergence of multidimensional grain security in China’s major grain producing areas by integrating a multi-dimensional framework including quantity, quality, ecology and capacity. The research has enriched the evaluation system of grain security and laid a solid foundation for policy optimization.
Clinical outcomes and patient-reported measures in HCV care: Insight from a longitudinal prospective study in a large Italian region
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a critical public health issue worldwide. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C. However, real-world elimination efforts are hindered by barriers in diagnosis, treatment access, and follow-up. Embedding patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) into routine care may improve service delivery. This study evaluates clinical and patient-reported outcomes in the HCV care cascade in Tuscany (Italy), offering insights into how health service organization affects effectiveness, equity, and patient experience. Methods We conducted a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective study on 953 adults with HCV chronic infection. These adults were treated between 2021 and 2023 in seven prescribing centers in Tuscany. Clinical data included demographics, comorbidities, fibrosis staging, virological response (SVR12), and loss to follow-up (LTFU). PROMs and PREMs were collected at baseline (T0), 3 months post-treatment (T1), and 6 months after T1 (T2). We used the SF-12 tool and custom surveys. Patients were stratified by referral source (GPs, harm reduction services/prison, specialists). Clinical and questionnaire data were analyzed separately. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Cochran’s Q, Friedman, and repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results DAA therapy achieved high clinical efficacy: SVR12 was reached in 93.4% of patients. The rate rose to 98.6% when excluding those lost to follow-up. Patients referred by harm reduction/prison services were younger and mostly male. They had higher psychiatric comorbidities and risk behaviors. PROMs demonstrated significant improvements in perceived physical and emotional health following treatment, particularly among individuals referred by GPs and specialists. PREMs revealed increasing satisfaction with referring doctors over time. Satisfaction with specialist care remained high and stable. Referral pathways markedly influenced patient profiles and reported outcomes. There were notable disparities in experience and quality-of-life indicators. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of integrating clinical and patient-reported data in monitoring HCV care. High SVR rates confirm the effectiveness of DAAs, while PROMs and PREMs provide valuable insight into patient engagement and equity of access. Stratified analyses reveal the need for tailored approaches across care pathways, and high-risk populations require special attention. Embedding patient voice in evaluation fosters a more responsive, people-centered health system, advancing progress toward HCV elimination.
Analyzing public opinion on China’s “Double Reduction” policy: A sentiment and content analysis of microblog discourse
The “Double reduction” policy in China was promulgated and implemented on July 24, 2021. This was the most rigorous and radical education reform since China was founded, aimed at easing pupils’ academic burden and improving their physical and mental health. It sparked extensive public debate across stakeholders (schools, teachers, parents). To delve into public sentiment and improve policy management, this paper analyzes Sina Weibo (Chinese Twitter) posts from July to November 2021. We apply text mining to collect microblogs and comments, and we use Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) for topic extraction. A natural language processing-based (NLP) approach is used to analyze the sentiment. Specifically, we fine-tune a pre-trained Chinese BERT model to classify sentiment, leveraging its superior performance on Weibo data. We report sentiment polarity (positive/negative/neutral) and track its trends over time. We also incorporate engagement metadata (likes/reposts) as indicators. Key findings include the distribution of sentiments, major public concerns, and how sentiment levels evolved around key dates. These insights can help policymakers understand public reactions and guide more responsive education reforms.
Unpacking antigypsism and support for solidarity-based actions: Implications of social class, discrimination awareness, group efficacy and emotions
Roma people, being the largest ethnic minority in Europe, continue to experience prejudice and structural discrimination. Moreover, there is low participation in Roma collective action and allies’ solidarity-based actions. This pre-registered experimental research examines on samples from non-Roma population in Spain how social class, discrimination awareness, and group efficacy predict prejudice towards Roma and non-Roma participation in solidarity-based actions as allies in addition to test the role of intergroup emotions on those effects. In Study 1 (N = 870) social class and discrimination awareness were manipulated. Results showed that individuals assigned to the low social class condition exhibited more prejudice towards Roma in terms of stereotypes, emotions and discriminatory behaviors. Moreover, discrimination awareness condition indirectly predicted more participation in pro-Roma solidarity-based actions through increased outrage about about the situation of Roma. Study 2 (N = 1,000) confirmed the effect of social class on prejudice. Further, it showed two different paths for predicting solidarity-based actions: discrimination awareness (high vs. low) predicted higher participation in solidarity-based actions indirectly via empathy towards Roma people and outrage towards about the situation of Roma, whereas group efficacy (high vs. low) predicted participation in solidarity-based actions through hope in relation to the situation of Roma and empathy towards Roma. This experimental research highlights the need to address the role of Roma social class as a crucial factor in understanding prejudice and confirms the discrimination (via outrage and empathy) and efficacy (via hope) routes for promoting solidarity-based actions participation to support Roma rights and promote social equity.
Epidemiological characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks in Chongqing from 2003 to 2023
Foodborne diseases have a high incidence and widespread occurrence, affecting a significant number of individuals, making them one of the most pressing public health issues globally. The situation regarding foodborne diseases in China is similarly concerning. This study collected data on foodborne disease outbreaks reported by 39 districts and counties in Chongqing from 2003 to 2023 and analyzed the epidemiological characteristics. The aim was to understand the patterns and trends of foodborne disease outbreaks in Chongqing, thereby providing a scientific basis for developing effective prevention and control strategies. From 2003 to 2023, a total of 767 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported in Chongqing, resulting in 10,462 individual cases and 43 fatalities. Domestic settings were identified as the primary location for these incidents, accounting for 46.4% (356/767) of the total occurrences, followed by hotel and restaurant, which contributed 25.0% (192/767). The majority of incidents occurred between May and October. The highest number of incidents was associated with the consumption of poisonous mushrooms, totaling 204 cases, which represents 26.6% (204/767) of all reported incidents. This was followed by meat and meat products, which accounted for 94 incidents, or 12.3% (94/767). Poisonous mushrooms and aconitines emerged as the leading pathogenic factors contributing to fatalities, responsible for 27.9% (12/43) and 16.3% (7/43) of the total deaths, respectively. In recent years, the epidemiological characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks in the region have evolved. Since 2020, surveillance datum has indicated that mushroom-related events have emerged as the predominant cause of both foodborne disease incidents and associated fatalities in Chongqing. It is essential to enhance monitoring of cases and incidents, improve incident response and early warning mechanisms, conduct comprehensive analyses of the factors contributing to the high incidence of these events, and implement targeted supervision and education for critical locations, pathogenic factors, and personnel.
Barriers to and facilitators of timely family consent in caesarean sections: Experiences, perspectives and associated factors–a mixed-methods study in Somaliland
Introduction In many countries, the consent for caesarean section (CS), when indicated, is made by the woman herself. However, in Somaliland, the family (husband, father, or other close male family member) are required to make the consent for CS to be performed, a process that can be time-consuming and result in adverse outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the barriers to and facilitators of timely family consent in caesarean sections at the national referral hospital in Somaliland. Methodology A convergent mixed-methods study with a parallel sampling method was conducted at the national referral hospital in Somaliland. Quantitative data was collected on timely vs. late family consent for CS, as well as sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics. Data were analysed using binary and multivariable logistic regression. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Of the 516 women included in the quantitative phase of the study, 16 participated in the in-depth interviews. The quantitative results showed that women with hypertensive disorders (aOR 8.491; 95% 1.076–66.991) and obstetric haemorrhage (aOR 3.209; 95% CI 1.159–8.887) had higher odds of late family consent compared to women without hypertensive disorders and obstetric haemorrhage respectively. The themes that emerged on barriers to timely family consent for CS were poor communication and understanding, delayed informed choice for CS, differences in understanding between family members on the indication for CS, and absence of the person providing formal consent. The themes that emerged on facilitators of timely family consent were the husband’s autonomous decision making for CS and adequate disclosure of all relevant information about CS. Conclusion A standard counselling package can be designed on educating family members on the importance of timely CS consent during the antenatal period with male involvement. A policy should be developed that gives women the autonomy to make health decisions and give consent in maternal health emergencies. Healthcare providers need training on effective communication when requesting CS consent, with a focus on the elements of informed consent.
Exploring COVID-19 pandemic perceptions and vaccine uptake among community members and primary healthcare workers in Nigeria: A mixed methods study
Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global health, with diverse perceptions about the disease and its control measures, including vaccination. Understanding these perceptions can help inform public health and vaccination strategies in future outbreaks. This study examined community members and healthcare workers' (HCWs) perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines in Nigeria, exploring factors that influence vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study, combining quantitative survey data from 2,602 respondents (2,206 community members and 396 HCWs) with qualitative interviews (14 HCWs and 16 community members). Quantitative data were analyzed to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and pandemic perceptions, while qualitative insights provided a deeper understanding of cultural perceptions, experiences, and hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Results Overall, 43.4% of community members and 96.7% of HCWs received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine uptake was positively associated with increasing age, previous COVID-19 testing, male sex, government employment, and knowing someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Christianity was associated with lower uptake among community members. Perceptions varied, with 34.2% of community members and 17.7% of HCWs considering COVID-19 a death sentence, while 27.8% and 22.0% believed in ‘African immunity,’ respectively. Hesitancy was driven by the fear of side effects (32.6%), pregnancy-related concerns (25.9%), and convenience-related issues (13.5%). Qualitative data revealed misinformation, mistrust, fear of adverse reactions, logistical challenges, and belief in the sufficiency of childhood vaccination fueled hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite this, general trust in vaccine safety and efficacy remained high, with most respondents willing to be vaccinated against other diseases and future outbreaks. Conclusion Our findings underscore the need for tailored public health strategies to address specific sociodemographic factors, individual perceptions, and logistical challenges to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Public health campaigns should focus on debunking myths, improving vaccine literacy, and leveraging the social influence of respected community leaders to build trust.
Exposure to high-altitude hypobaric hypoxic environment induces low-frequency hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice: Mediated by slowing down the postsynaptic electrical signal transmission speed in the cochlear-inferior colliculus auditory signaling pathway
Objective To reveal the pattern of effects of exposure to high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia environment on the auditory function of C57BL/6J mice, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the targeted prevention and treatment of hearing loss, tinnitus, and otogenic vertigo in high-altitude areas. Methods Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group was further subdivided into 9 subgroups according to the exposure duration (3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 days), with 4 mice in each subgroup. Mice in the experimental group were housed in a hypobaric hypoxic chamber simulating an altitude of 6000 meters. Auditory function-related indicators of mice in both groups were detected using auditory brainstem response (ABR), electrocochleography (ECochG), and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). Statistical methods were used to compare the intergroup differences. Results Results of ABR testing: Under click stimulation, the latencies of Waves I, II, III, IV, and V, as well as the I-III interwave interval, were significantly prolonged in all subgroups of the experimental group. Abnormal changes (elevation or reduction) in the amplitudes of Waves II and III were observed, and hearing thresholds were significantly elevated ( P < 0.05). Under stimulation with low-frequency 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz pure tones, all subgroups of the experimental group also exhibited similar changes as mentioned above ( P < 0.05). Horizontal comparison of different stimulation conditions (click, 4000 Hz, 8000 Hz) within the experimental group revealed that the degree of hearing loss was more significant in the click group and 4000 Hz pure tone stimulation group than in the 8000 Hz group ( P < 0.05). Results of ECochG testing: The latencies of the summating potential (-SP) and compound action potential (AP) were generally prolonged in all subgroups of the experimental group. Among them, the -SP/AP amplitude ratio was > 0.4 in the subgroups exposed for 3, 5, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days ( P < 0.05), and the -SP/AP area ratio was > 2.0 in the 7-day exposure subgroup. Results of DPOAE testing: Among all 40 mice, only 3 passed the test, with a pass rate of 7.5%, and all of these 3 mice were from the control group. Conclusion Exposure to a high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia environment can induce low-frequency hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice, and the process of auditory response regulation and adaptation of mice to this environmental stimulus exhibits time dependence. Further analysis revealed that this low-frequency hearing loss is closely associated with the slowing of postsynaptic electrical signal transmission speed in the cochlea-inferior colliculus auditory conduction pathway; the mechanism underlying this slowing of electrical signal transmission may be related to changes in voltage or resistance at various sites of the auditory pathway during sound signal conduction. Based on auditory physiological mechanisms, it is hypothesized that the aforementioned abnormal changes in voltage or resistance may be associated with endolymphatic hydrops, suggesting that endolymphatic hydrops may be one of the potential key links through which the high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia environment affects auditory conduction function.
Surface geoenvironments shape organic matter inputs in iron-ore caves of Carajás, southeastern Amazonia
Cave ecosystems rely heavily on organic matter inputs from the outside to support their trophic networks and biodiversity. In the iron-ore caves of Carajás, southeastern Amazonia, bat guano is a major source of organic matter and integrates signals from the surrounding landscape. Nevertheless, our understanding of the relative contributions from other surface-derived organic matter sources, and how these organic material sources are transported into cave environments is limited. Through a combination of carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, Bayesian mixing models, and compositional data analysis, the present study estimated for the first time, the contribution of different geoenvironmental units of ferruginous outcrops ( canga ) to cave deposits in four iron-ore caves of Carajás on a preliminary scale. The results indicate a consistent contribution of organic matter derived from poorly drained depressions, particularly swampy fields (median: 41.5–42.9%) and grasslands (median: 8.8–15.1%). These patterns suggest that water infiltration via fractures is an important pathway connecting the surface environment and underground systems, thereby contributing alongside the accumulation of bat guano. This study demonstrates the ecological importance of caves as integrative components of the surrounding landscape and further emphasizes the need to conserve both cave ecosystems and the surface ecosystems that support them by quantifying surface–subsurface connectivity.
C1RL-AS1/microRNA-424-5p/adrenoceptor β2 axis: A novel regulatory mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma associated with immune infiltration and prognosis
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options despite advances in cancer therapy. Adrenoceptor β2 (ADRB2) has emerged as a critical gene involved in tumor immunity and progression, yet its precise role and regulatory mechanisms in LUAD remain unclear. This study analyzed ADRB2 expression, prognostic significance, and molecular alterations using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets, and explored its regulatory mechanisms and impact on tumor immunity via comprehensive genomic analyses, dual-luciferase reporter assays, murine in vivo experiments, and flow cytometry. Results showed that ADRB2 expression was significantly decreased in LUAD tissues compared with normal controls, and low expression correlated with reduced patient overall survival. Copy number deletions and DNA hypermethylation were identified as key drivers of ADRB2 suppression. Hsa-miR-424-5p directly targets both ADRB2 and C1RL-AS1, forming the novel C1RL-AS1/hsa-miR-424-5p/ADRB2 regulatory axis. ADRB2 overexpression inhibited tumor growth, enhanced immune cell infiltration, and was positively correlated with immune checkpoint markers such as PD-1 and PD-L1. These findings provide a basis for developing novel LUAD treatment strategies focusing on immune modulation through ADRB2-targeted interventions.
Using reinforcement algorithms to improve the collaboration efficiency of entrepreneurial teams
Entrepreneurial Team (ET) plays an essential role in the business process by driving innovation and optimizing ideas via adaptability, collaboration, and resourcefulness. The team performance is continuously affected because of resource imbalance, poor communication and inefficient task allocation. The importance of ET in organization growth is the main reason for this analysis. Therefore, this work uses Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) to handle efficient dynamic decisions and coordination to improve ET efficiency in dynamic and complex environments. The main intention of this work is to improve resource utilization, communication efficiency and optimize task allocation. During the analysis, Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) is utilized to direct agents toward achieving collaborative goals. In every state, the agent receives rewards and penalties for their actions, which helps meet the organization’s goal with minimum time and improves the overall task completion rate. This process is evaluated using different case studies like software development, optimized manufacturing and logistic coordination, which helps to validate the system’s adaptability in various scenarios. In addition, different hypotheses are validated via case studies and metrics such as defect resolution, collaboration quality, operational efficiency, resource optimization, and task completion rate. Thus, the work highlights the impact of MARL in ET to ensure the highest performance in a dynamic environment.
Potentially unsafe doses of local anesthetics in axillary brachial plexus block: A single-center retrospective cohort study
Local anesthetic systemic toxicity is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of regional anesthesia that can occur when high doses of local anesthetics are administered. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of local anesthetic doses exceeding safe thresholds in axillary brachial plexus blocks using four different calculation methods. This retrospective study analyzed 2395 patients who underwent axillary brachial plexus block between 2017 and 2021 at Geneva University Hospitals. Four progressively more conservative sets of dosing rules were systematically applied. These included standard package insert recommendations, weight-based limits using actual weight, weight-based limits using ideal body weight, and consensus-based rules adapted to patients’ comorbidities and treatments. For local anesthetic mixtures, proportional calculations were applied to determine cumulative maximum safe doses. Using the most conservative calculation method, local anesthetic doses exceeded maximum safe thresholds in 64.8% of cases, compared to 29.5% using package insert recommendations. Potentially unsafe doses were consistently more frequent with local anesthetic mixtures (85.4%) compared to single agents (32.4%) across all calculation methods. Symptoms compatible with local anesthetic systemic toxicity occurred in 19 patients (0.79%), with severe manifestations in 9 cases (0.38%). No significant relationship was found between these symptoms and potentially unsafe doses, regardless of the calculation method used. This study reveals substantial variation in local anesthetic dosing practices for axillary brachial plexus blocks. Rates of potentially unsafe doses varied significantly depending on the criteria applied. The consistent pattern of higher rates of potentially unsafe doses with mixture use highlights opportunities for practice standardization and improved safety protocols in regional anesthesia. The multiple calculation approaches allow clinicians to compare findings with their own institutional practices.
Community size rather than grammatical complexity better predicts Large Language Model accuracy in a novel Wug Test
The linguistic abilities of Large Language Models are a matter of ongoing debate. This study contributes to this discussion by investigating model performance in a morphological generalization task that involves novel words. Using a multilingual adaptation of the Wug Test, six models were tested across four partially unrelated languages (Catalan, English, Greek, and Spanish) and compared with human speakers. The aim is to determine whether model accuracy approximates human competence and whether it is shaped primarily by linguistic complexity or by the size of the linguistic community, which affects the quantity of available training data. Consistent with previous research, the results show that the models are able to generalize morphological processes to unseen words with human-like accuracy. However, accuracy patterns align more closely with community size and data availability than with structural complexity, refining earlier claims in the literature. In particular, languages with larger speaker communities and stronger digital representation, such as Spanish and English, revealed higher accuracy than less-resourced ones like Catalan and Greek. Overall, our findings suggest that model behavior is mainly driven by the richness of linguistic resources rather than by sensitivity to grammatical complexity, reflecting a form of performance that resembles human linguistic competence only superficially.
Scenario-based forecasting of the global energy demand and carbon footprint of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly and is emerging as a significant driver of global electricity consumption, yet its long-term energy and emissions implications remain poorly quantified. This study develops a scenario-based, simulation-driven modeling framework that links mathematical representations of AI computational demand with life-cycle carbon accounting for global AI-related energy use and emissions through 2050. We evaluate alternative development pathways that differ in model scale, deployment structure, and electricity mix assumptions. Across all scenarios, improvements in hardware and algorithmic efficiency substantially reduce energy use per operation; however, aggregate AI electricity demand still increases by roughly an order of magnitude due to rapid growth in training and inference workloads. Under the continuation of current trends, AI electricity consumption could reach up to 30% of global demand by 2050, corresponding to more than 8 gigatons of annual CO 2 -equivalent emissions. Even under optimistic efficiency trajectories, total AI-related electricity demand remains more than six times higher than 2024 levels. In contrast, scenarios that combine consolidation toward fewer, larger models with transitions to low-carbon electricity sources reduce total emissions by up to 40% relative to business-as-usual pathways, exceeding the reductions achievable through efficiency gains alone by more than 20 percentage points. These results highlight widening regional disparities and indicate that policy choices affecting AI deployment patterns and electricity system decarbonization play a central role in shaping the carbon intensity of computation.
Gender and poverty in the United States: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances
This study examines gender differences in poverty determinants among single-headed households in the United States using data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. Using logistic regression with decomposition methods, we analyzed 1,383 households (833 female-headed, 550 male-headed) to identify factors associated with living below the federal poverty threshold. Results reveal significant differences in poverty determinants between men and women. Working for an employer, self-employment, education level, and age were negatively associated with poverty, while fair health status and income uncertainty were positively associated with poverty risk. The decomposition analysis found a statistically significant coefficient effect (p < 0.0001), indicating that the impact of independent variables on poverty likelihood differs by gender. Employment showed a marginally significant differential effect (p = 0.068), with working for an employer having a smaller protective effect against poverty for women compared to men. However, no constant effect was detected, suggesting gender differences in poverty result from differential responses to specific determinants rather than gender itself. Female-headed households were more likely to have dependent children (38.3% versus 12.7%) and report poorer health status, while male-headed households had higher average net worth. These findings suggest that gender-neutral poverty reduction strategies may be insufficient, and that targeted interventions, such as affordable childcare support to enhance labor market participation among low-income women, are needed to effectively address gender disparities in poverty rates.
‘Sometimes sheep need a vet’: A qualitative study of Pentecostal clergy knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours regarding mental health
Clergy are often the first point of contact for religious Canadians when in mental distress, and clergy can impact help-seeking behaviours. As such, this study explores the mental health perspectives of clergy in a diverse and growing Christian denomination, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). 29 PAOC ministers with at least 2 years of experience offering pastoral care participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, aiming to explore their mental health related beliefs, behaviours, and attitudes. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis techniques, Results indicated that participants generally held a multifactorial understanding of mental illness, including biomedical attributions and beliefs in spiritual causes and divine healing. To address mental distress, they typically offered some level of spiritual care themselves, including recommending church-based curricula. They also often urged formal service use, making referrals to mental health professionals. Notably, the sample largely reported a lack of formal mental health training and inconsistent support from the wider church. In sum, this study suggests that PAOC ministers hold nuanced views on mental health, and that clergy may require additional training and support to help them better address mental health issues in congregants.
The impact of shyness on social anxiety among college students: Mediating role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and resilience
Background Social anxiety is prevalent among college students, and shyness has been consistently linked to elevated social anxiety. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain insufficiently understood. This study examined whether regulatory emotional self-efficacy and resilience mediate the association between shyness and social anxiety among Chinese college students. Methods This study employed the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale, Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale, 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Interaction Anxiousness Scale to survey 1,012 college students from three universities in Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces. Pearson correlation analysis and PROCESS Macro Model 6 regression analysis were used to examine the relationships among shyness, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, resilience, and social anxiety. Result Shyness was positively associated with social anxiety. Resilience significantly mediated this association. In addition, shyness was indirectly associated with social anxiety through the sequential pathway of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and resilience. However, regulatory emotional self-efficacy alone did not independently mediate the relationship. Conclusion These findings suggest that resilience plays a central role in the association between shyness and social anxiety, and that regulatory emotional self-efficacy may function indirectly through resilience. Interventions targeting resilience and regulatory emotional self-efficacy may help reduce social anxiety among shy college students.
In vitro culture of human-infecting Encephalitozoon spp. for genome sequencing with minimal host contaminant
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites infecting a wide range of hosts, including humans. They can cause severe infectious diseases if left untreated, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The propagation of the human-infecting microsporidian species in vitro is essential for generating sufficient material for genomics studies, yet existing protocols often lack detail, accessibility, or strategies to minimize host DNA contamination. Here, we present an optimized, reproducible protocol for culturing Encephalitozoon spp. in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1), designed to produce high-yield and high-quality genomic DNA with minimal host DNA for downstream sequencing experiments. In one month, our method yielded approximately one billion spores, which were purified using mechanical disruption, filtration, detergent treatment, and DNase I treatment to remove free host DNA. The reduction of host DNA was validated through PCR, and next-generation sequencing – with Illumina, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore – revealing that 83–97% of the reads mapped to microsporidian genomes. This protocol enabled the generation of the first telomere-to-telomere assemblies for E. cuniculi , E. hellem, and E. intestinalis . Our workflow provides a robust framework for producing microsporidian genomic material suitable for advanced genomics applications, with potential adaptability to other intracellular pathogens.
Visual processing of musical syntax and its relationship to sight-reading ability
Sight-reading—performing music by reading written notation without prior practice—is a fundamental skill for musicians, yet there is considerable variability in sight-reading ability that technical proficiency alone does not explain. Instead, cognitive mechanisms may explain differences in sight-reading expertise. Prediction of upcoming music is crucial for fluent sight-reading, and these predictions rely on knowledge of harmonic syntax—principles for ordering musical elements. Two research gaps remain: First, no study has directly examined how individual differences in sensitivity to harmonic syntax may relate to sight-reading proficiency. Second, while studies have shown that harmonic syntax can be processed through visual observation of musical actions without sound, it remains unclear whether similar sensitivity emerges during the reading of symbolic musical notation—a context more analogous to sight-reading, and parallel to word reading in language. To address these gaps, 20 skilled pianists completed three tasks: sight-reading, self-paced reading of chord progressions, and an audiation test. Using computational modeling to quantify harmonic predictability, we found that harmonically less predictable chords required significantly longer reading times, providing evidence that visual processing of symbolic music notation exhibits sensitivity to harmonic predictability. However, the degree of this sensitivity showed no significant correlation with sight-reading proficiency or audiation ability, although our sample size may have been too small to detect small interaction effects. Instead, accurate sight-readers showed faster chord reading times regardless of harmonic predictability, suggesting that general visual processing efficiency distinguishes proficient sight-readers. These findings extend prior evidence for visual harmonic processing to the domain of symbolic notation, suggesting that sensitivity to harmonic syntax may operate through written musical symbols without auditory input or motor imitation. Simultaneously, they suggest sight-reading may be a multi-dimensional skill where visual fluency may be more critical than sophisticated syntactic knowledge, suggesting the importance of developing visual processing efficiency for sight-reading expertise.