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Altering gillnet soak duration and timing minimizes bycatch and maintains target catch
Seabirds are one of the most at-risk avian groups worldwide, and incidental catch in fishing practices is one of the top threats for seabirds globally. Seabirds that forage on fish through surface feeding, pursuit-diving, or plunge-diving are particularly vulnerable to bycatch. Bycatch mitigation solutions are therefore a vital component of global seabird conservation, but owing to the episodic nature of bycatch and its involvement of match-mismatch contingencies, results from existing efforts involving gear additions (e.g., lights, flags, or buoys) are highly varied and, at times, reduce target catch. Altering the time during which gear remains in the water and modifying fishing practices based on the activity patterns of target fish and seabirds is a promising option for bycatch mitigation. We experimentally tested best practices for the soak timing and duration of shallow-set gillnets used in the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) bait fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. We compared catch, bycatch, and seabird activity among control (ca. 24 h) and short (ca. 12 h) set durations that were left to soak overnight or only during daylight hours. Target catch did not differ between control and short overnight sets but was greatly reduced during short daytime sets. Nearly all bycatch, including all seabird bycatch, occurred during the control sets. Seabirds associated with fishing vessels throughout the day. Since the catch of herring in gillnets occurs at night outside of most coastal seabirds’ foraging period, we recommend that fishers continue to haul their nets early every morning to minimize the time where shallow-set nets are filled with prey during daytime hours, thereby limiting seabird bycatch risk.
Unravelling the mechanism by which vildagliptin and linagliptin inhibit pyroptosis in lung injury through the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in type 1 diabetic rats
Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a multifactorial condition linked to hyperglycemia, which, can lead to damage across multiple organs, including the lungs. Nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3)- mediated pyroptosis could contribute to the onset of DM consequences. Several approaches have been established aimed to minimizing the complications associated with DM. Among these, linagliptin and vildagliptin, di-peptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, are known to exert not only antihyperglycemic effects but also additional beneficial biological activities. The current study investigated the impact of linagliptin and vildagliptin on pulmonary function, oxidative stress, and NLRP3-induced pyroptosis in rats. Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were given a 7-day acclimatization period. A single intraperitoneal injection of freshly produced STZ (60 mg/kg) was utilized to develop DM type-1 in rats. Following STZ treatment, all rats were given a 5% glucose solution overnight. Blood glucose levels were monitored in overnight fasted rats 72 h later, with a threshold of 250 mg/dL or higher confirming the onset of DM. The diabetic rats were randomly allocated to treated daily with either vildagliptin (5 mg/kg/p.o.) or linagliptin (5 mg/kg/p.o.) for 30 days. Additionally, the typical control group received merely the vehicle. The findings revealed that vildagliptin improves pulmonary dysfunctions associated with DM by restoring glucose homeostasis, insulin, redox marker levels, and inflammatory indices. Additionally, the NLRP3-pyroptosis-mediated IL-1β was suppressed. Vildagliptin has been shown to mitigate the detrimental effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the lungs, as evidenced by a reduction in pathological lung alterations and a decrease in Caspase 3 expression, which is indicative of immunohistochemical changes. In conclusion, pyroptosis triggered by the NLRP3 inflammasome possibly exacerbate diabetic pulmonary injury in rats. Vildagliptin is superior to linagliptin in ameliorating diabetes-induced lung injury primarily via targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.
‘Wildest thing’: solar-powered slug steals chloroplasts and stores them for emergencies
Examining associations between medical fear and perceptions of provider trust, provider empathy, and medical mistrust among college-attending young adults
Objective The current study examined associations between various dimensions of medical fear (e.g., blood, mutilation, sharp objects, injection/blood draws, examinations/symptoms) and perceptions of provider trust, provider empathy, healthcare system mistrust, and attitudes toward medical care-seeking. Additionally, we explored the associations between different dimensions of medical fear and medical care engagement. Methods A convenience sample of 479 young adults (18–26 years) attending a large, urban Mid-Atlantic university completed a cross-sectional online survey during the fall of 2022 assessing medical fears, provider trust, perceptions of provider empathy, medical care-seeking attitudes, and medical mistrust. Participants with medical fears (n = 211) answered an additional open-ended question regarding medical care engagement. Multiple regression models were used to examine associations between medical fear dimensions and outcome measures. A binary logistic regression was performed to examine the likelihood of health care engagement based on different medical fear dimensions. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Results Participants identified as 75.8% female (n = 363), 47.0% White (n = 219), and 25.7% (n = 122) reported having a chronic illness. Increasing levels of mutilation fear were significantly associated with lower ratings of provider trust (β = −.286, p < .001) and empathy (β = −.172, p = .010), as well as more medical mistrust (β = .227, p < .001). None of the five medical fear dimensions were significantly associated with medical engagement. Conclusions Findings highlight the role of mutilation fears in patient-provider relationships and views about the healthcare system in general. While these fears were not associated with medical care avoidance in our study, their association with patient-provider relationships may have implications for adherence to medical recommendations and health outcomes. Patient-centered collaborative care that takes medical fears into consideration may help strengthen patient-provider relationships and mitigate potential negative health outcomes.
Correction: Class I PI3K regulatory subunits control differentiation of dendritic cell subsets and regulate Flt3L mediated signal transduction
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of mucosal immune responses and growth efficiency in young animals: Demonstrating the superiority of data-dependent empirical priors
The transition from milk to solid food during the weaning period exposes young animals to significant dietary and environmental stressors, which can profoundly affect mucosal immune responses and overall growth efficiency. This paper introduces a novel Bayesian hierarchical model to comprehensively assess the complex interactions between diet, environmental factors, intestinal microbiota, and immune markers in young animals’ small intestines. The model integrates data at both individual and group levels, providing a robust framework to understand how these stressors influence immune responses and growth outcomes. This hierarchical Bayesian approach captures individual variability and group-level effects by employing sophisticated interaction terms and data-dependent empirical priors, offering high-resolution uncertainty quantification. The model’s novelty lies in its ability to synthesize multiple sources of variability, offering insights that are not achievable through traditional statistical models.
Halitosis among users of electronic nicotine delivery systems in a multi-center cross-sectional study
Effects of lifestyle on telomere length: A study on the Korean population
Telomere length is a known indicator of biological aging, typically decreasing with age. Biological age is a benchmark for assessing an individual’s health and aging. Correlations between telomere length and lifestyle factors have primarily been investigated from the perspective of a single variable and predominantly examined in postmenopausal women in Korea. This study aimed to analyze the effects of multiple lifestyle factors on telomere length in a diverse Korean population comprising 368 healthy adults (174 men and 194 women). We measured anthropometric and blood-related parameters and collected data on lifestyle-related factors, such as exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, and stress, using surveys. Telomere length was quantified using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the relationship between lifestyle factors and telomere length was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses (p-value <0.10). Our findings indicated that telomere age, derived from telomere length, significantly increased with each adverse lifestyle factor. For men, significant contributors included exercise, smoking, and stress, whereas for women, significant contributors were exercise, alcohol consumption, sleep, and stress. The results showed that lifestyle and biological age considerably affected telomere age and accelerated the aging process. These results emphasize the importance of lifestyle in the management of biological aging.
Predicting flexural strength of hybrid FRP-steel reinforced beams using symbolic regression and ML techniques
Abstract Hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and steel reinforced concrete (hybrid FRP-steel RC) beams have gained recognition for their exceptional flexural performance, surpassing that of beams reinforced exclusively with FRP bars (FRP-RC). However, current design guidelines, such as ACI 440.11–22, fail to accurately predict the flexural strength of these hybrid systems. This study aims to enhance the predictive accuracy and interpretability of flexural strength models by applying advanced computational approaches—specifically, machine learning (ML) techniques and symbolic regression. A robust dataset of 134 experimental data points was utilized to develop predictive models. The prediction results showed that both ML and symbolic regression models significantly outperformed the ACI 440.11–22 equations, achieving lower errors (MAE, MAPE, RMSE) and higher accuracy (R2). The results demonstrate that the ML models—Gaussian process regression (GPR), NGBoost, and CatBoost—achieved high predictive accuracy, with mean R2 values approaching 1.0 and MAPE% as low as 5.19 (training) and 11.51 (testing) for GPR. Furthermore, symbolic regression yielded a transparent mathematical expression with a mean prediction ratio (µ) of 1.003, a CoV of 0.139, and a MAPE% of 11.08. These findings highlight the practical and technical advantages of symbolic regression in developing reliable, interpretable, and efficient design equations for hybrid FRP-steel RC beams.
The economic effects of federal cuts to US science — in 24 graphs
Strategic orchestration in sharing economies: A configurational analysis of platform differentiation and governance alignment
Platform firms in the digital economy face a critical challenge: balancing differentiation-driven competitive strategies with the need for institutional legitimacy. While existing research recognizes this tension, current frameworks inadequately address how governance mechanisms mediate strategic positioning in trust-sensitive sharing economy contexts. This study integrates Porterian positioning theory with platform boundary theory to analyze 33 chinese sharing platforms through fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), examining configurations of three external positioning dimensions (variety-based, gender-based, and region-based differentiation) and two internal governance dimensions (resource ownership and transaction process differentiation). Our analysis identifies two equifinal success pathways: (1) An aggressive strategy combining market pioneering in user segmentation with cautious transaction governance, and (2) a conservative strategy aligning geographic specialization with institutional compliance in resource ownership. Both pathways demonstrate that governance mechanisms compensate for the legitimacy risks inherent in differentiation strategies, with platform performance contingent on strategic coherence between external positioning and internal governance architectures. Three key theoretical advances emerge: First, integrating Porterian positioning theory with platform boundary theory, we demonstrate how governance dimensions serve as compensatory tools that enable radical market differentiation in sharing economy platforms without legitimacy erosion, a trade-off insufficiently addressed in prior distinctiveness theory research. Second, building on configuration theory, in the context of the sharing economy, we solve the theoretical tensions in the distinctiveness-performance relationship by demonstrating configurational equifinality—both radical and conservative strategies succeed when external and internal dimensions achieve strategic coherence. Third, advancing research of sharing user participation, we establish that participation in trust-sensitive sharing platforms depends on strategic alignment between positioning and governance dimensions rather than isolated optimization of individual dimensions. These contextualized findings provide managers with evidence-based frameworks to coordinate market positioning strategies with governance investments, particularly when operating in institutionally complex environments. The demonstrated mechanisms in China’s sharing economy warrant future verification in other platform types and cultural contexts.
Chronic liver injury scores are superior prognostic indicators of outcomes in severe alcohol-related burns
Abstract Acute and chronic alcohol abuse are common among burn patients and may be associated with chronic liver injury, a potential factor influencing outcomes. This study evaluates the predictive power of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and non-invasive liver fibrosis scores and their applicability in burn patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients admitted to a high-volume supraregional burn center in Northern Germany between 2007 and 2024. Patients were categorized based on their BAC at admission: low (< 100 mg/dL) vs. high (≥ 100 mg/dL). Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes. Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers such as the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score were applied to both groups. Among 121 large-surface burn patients (mean total body surface area: 16.4%), no significant differences were observed between BAC groups in demographics, comorbidities, or ICU admission rates. The serum ethanol concentration showed no significant predictive value for mortality (AUC = 0.515). In contrast, the FIB-4 score (AUC = 0.781) and APRI (AUC = 0.736) demonstrated strong prognostic accuracy. In multivariate analysis, the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (OR = 2.42; p = 0.001), serum albumin (OR = 0.29; p = 0.016), and FIB-4 score (OR = 1.50; p = 0.033) emerged as independent predictors of mortality. Propensity score matching analysis confirmed that BAC was not associated with increased mortality after adjustment for burn depth and extent. Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers, such as FIB-4 score, provide valuable prognostic insights in burn patients, independent of acute alcohol intoxication and should be considered a routine screening tool for large surface burn patients. Incorporating chronic liver dysfunction into existing burn severity models may enhance risk stratification and outcome prediction.
Science as a commons: Motivations for continued participation in citizen science projects
The study of the commons is a growing field of research that is highly relevant to fostering the sustainability of shared resources, including knowledge resources. Citizen science has great potential to constitute science as a knowledge commons, in which continued participation is essential for the long-term viability of inherently collaborative projects and the strengthening of communities. However, different motivations for participation can significantly influence continued engagement, and, consequently, the sustainability of these projects. This research explores, first, participants’ motivations for joining and continuing projects, as well as the reasons for abandoning them. Secondly, we analyse the influence of various motivations on continuity, with a particular focus on highly committed participants—an aspect hitherto scarcely investigated. Specifically, we examine whether these participants’ motivations are primarily associated with general interests (e.g., resource sustainability) alongside personal interests (e.g., capability building). This approach aligns with the key finding of commons theory, which challenges the idea that rational behaviour implies only self-interest. The analyses of 478 responses to the survey designed for this study reveal that participants who sustain CS projects through continued participation are driven by a combination of personal and general interests. These findings reflect cooperative behaviours characteristic of individuals who create or maintain commons. Therefore, we propose that science can be understood as a commons that can be collaboratively and sustainably managed by multiple, decentralized communities. Consequently, fostering cooperation is essential for the effective management of shared resources, particularly in citizen science projects. Enhancing our understanding of cooperation enables the better and more effective implementation of specific recommendations, such as optimizing communication among all those involved in citizen science projects and fostering awareness of common goals and collective achievements. In turn, this reinforces personal benefits, creating a virtuous circle that further strengthens cooperation and its benefits.
Potential molluscicidal and antimicrobial activities of rare earth elements against the land snail Theba pisana and certain microorganisms
Abstract A novel application of light rare earth elements (LREEs) was explored for their biological activity as potential eco-friendly molluscicides and antimicrobials on Theba pisana (Müller, 1774) and their feeding behavior, and microorganisms like Candida albicans, Bacillus cereus, Aspergillus niger, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Our data showed increased snail mortality with higher element concentrations till 500 mg/L. LC25 and LC50 values after ten days of exposure were 513.70 and 3012.72 mg/L, respectively, lower survival rates than the control. As treatment concentration and exposure duration increased, the ingested leaf area and daily consumption rates of treated lettuce leaves declined. On day one, consumption dropped from 60.00 ± 0.00 cm² (control) to 30.25 ± 6.13 cm² at 500 mg/L, further decreasing to 31.25 ± 0.76 cm² and 14.00 ± 1.46 cm² by day four at the same concentrations. Low concentrations had minimal impact on snail feeding, while higher levels significantly reduced appetite, consumption and freshness of leaves. LREEs-based formulations exhibited marked antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens by the measured inhibition zones. Results highlight the promising application of LREEs in integrated pest and microbial disease management. However, these findings warrant further investigation to optimize their safe and practical use in the field.
Retraction: Seedbank persistence of four summer grass weed species in the northeast cropping region of Australia
Investigation of erythema migrans patients identifies Borrelia species and Neoehrlichia mikurensis with implications for clinical assessment
Abstract Emerging tick-borne infections pose public health challenges and may complicate treatment decisions. The EMBio study, a multicenter observational study, aims to describe erythema migrans (EM), an early localized manifestation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infection, and investigate the occurrence of tick-borne co-infections among patients presenting with this skin lesion. Additionally, the study seeks to determine relations between EM morphology, other clinical manifestations, specific pathogens, and disease prognosis. Clinical characteristics, skin biopsies, and blood samples were analyzed from 26 patients to assess co-infections, quantity, Borrelia species, and spirochete load. Borrelia DNA was detected in 88% of EM skin lesions, with Borrelia afzelii as the predominant species. Two cases of co-infections were identified, one involving two Borrelia species and one involving Borrelia afzelii and the intracellular bacterium Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Notably, homogeneous EM lesions harbored significantly higher spirochete quantities in the central zone compared to annular lesions, suggesting that lesion morphology reflects local bacterial density. This supports the value of molecular diagnostics in detecting mixed infections and supports morphology-guided biopsy strategies in the clinical assessment of cutaneous infections. This study contributes to a better understanding of co-infection dynamics and may improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management in endemic settings.
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract in esophagectomy and the incidence of pneumonia and anastomotic leakage: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Despite advances in surgery, esophagectomy remains a major operation in which pneumonia and anastomotic leakage are causes of morbidity. It is currently unknown whether selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) affects the incidence of postoperative pneumonia and anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing esophagectomy. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize current evidence regarding SDD in patients undergoing esophagectomy. Methods We performed a comprehensive search in Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar with articles included until August 2024. We included observational studies and clinical trials which were scored using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies – of Interventions. A fixed effects model was used to pool results of the former studies. Results A total of five studies were identified with a total of 924 patients. All studies were assessed as either having serious bias or a high risk of bias. SDD usage was associated with a significantly lower incidence of pneumonia (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.58; p < 0.00001; I2 = 26%; n = 924) and anastomotic leakage (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.74; p = 0.001; I2 = 0%; n = 810). Pooled analysis regarding mortality, duration of hospitalization and duration of Intensive Care Unit stay could not be performed due to heterogeneous data, 4 of 5 studies reported lower mortality rates in patients receiving SDD. Conclusion Although the data indicates that using SDD in patients undergoing an esophagectomy was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative pneumonia and anastomotic leakage, the available studies were not of sufficient quality to make a recommendation, given their age and risk of bias. A high-quality randomized controlled trial using standardized outcome definitions is needed to substantiate claims about SDD use in esophagectomy.
Association of height, BMI, and smoking status with prostate cancer risk before and after the introduction of PSA testing in Sweden
Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence has steadily increased in Sweden, more steeply in the mid-1990s caused by increased opportunistic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Tallness, normal weight, and non-smoking are associated with more PSA testing, which increases detection of low-risk and localised PCa. We investigated time trends of height, body mass index (BMI), and smoking with PCa risk in 171,889 men in Sweden aged 50–64 years at baseline, who were linked to nationwide cancer registers during follow-up. Cox regression determined the association of these factors assessed before 1980, 1980–1994, and 1995–2004 with PCa risk. During 15 follow-up years, 8,049 men were diagnosed with PCa. The association of height with PCa was weakly positive across all calendar periods. For obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) vs. normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) and current vs. never smoking, the associations changed from null before 1980 (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86–1.23, and 1.11, 95% CI 0.97–1.27) to negative in 1995–2004 (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.93, and 0.86, 95% CI 0.79–0.93; pinteraction between periods = 0.05 and 0.001). In men with clinical characteristics available, height was positively associated with both aggressive and non-aggressive PCa whilst obesity and smoking showed negative associations only with non-aggressive PCa. These findings likely reflect differences in PSA testing by BMI and smoking habits and contribute important knowledge for etiological studies of PCa.
Cooking skills and food insecurity
Cooking skills play a relevant role in food security, which encompasses the availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability of food. While previous discussions have mainly focused on accessibility, particularly economic access through food prices and income, this article explores the dimension of food utilization by analyzing the relation between food insecurity and cooking-related variables. We conducted a survey of 106 low-income households in an urban area of Santiago, Chile. Food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) developed by the FAO. Using principal component analysis, we constructed two indexes reflecting subjective perceptions of cooking skills. We then applied probit models to examine how both subjective and objective cooking skills variables are associated with the probability of experiencing food insecurity. Results show that individuals who can prepare six to ten egg preparations have an 8.4 percentage point lower prevalence of experiencing food insecurity, while those who can prepare more than ten such preparations show a 30.5 percentage point lower prevalence compared to those who can prepare five or fewer. Moreover, our results found a positive prevalence between negative subjective perceptions and food insecurity of 8.8 percentage point. For the first time, this study jointly examines subjective perceptions and self-reported objective measures of cooking skills in relation to food insecurity. We hope this work contributes to expanding the food insecurity discussion beyond economic access and supports the design of food security policies focused on improving cooking aspects.