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The diversity of soil parasitic protists shapes ecosystem stability worldwide

Soil parasitic protists influence the health of plants and soil organisms. Yet, the extent to which these interactions impact the stability of terrestrial ecosystems remains largely unquantified. Here, we utilized two independent global-scale biodiversity surveys available online to investigate the relationship between the taxonomic diversity of parasitic protists and satellite-based time series of ecosystem productivity (i.e., normalized difference vegetation index). We found that soil parasitic protist diversity, particularly the diversity of Apicomplexa (common parasites of soil invertebrates), was consistently and positively correlated with ecosystem temporal stability worldwide. Our analyses suggest that Apicomplexa diversity is positively associated with temporal stability of ecosystem productivity by boosting mean productivity, likely through regulating invertebrate plant herbivory and nutrient cycling. Furthermore, the relationships between Apicomplexa diversity and ecosystem temporal stability were strongly mediated by climate, with a stronger correlation found in less productive colder or drier ecosystems. Our findings provide large-scale empirical evidence for the previously undescribed significant statistical relationship between soil parasitic protist diversity and ecosystem stability, highlighting their potential role in explaining the stability of terrestrial ecosystems globally.

Correction: Telemedicine via data glasses in CBRN protection suit—Evaluation of medical qualification and technical feasibility

An adaptive LASSO-GARCH framework for robust EV parking occupancy forecasting and uncertainty management

Abstract This paper is dedicated to predicting the occupancy capacity of public parking lots for electric vehicles (EVs). The proposed method is a hybrid framework based on adaptive regression and dynamic volatility modeling. This method begins with extracting neighbors based on similarity to reduce the input dimensions. Then, the expected point load is estimated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The main innovation of this method is the design of a two-stage mechanism that, in the early hours of the day due to data scarcity (cold start phase), utilizes information from similar days. Then, as the system stabilizes, the model smoothly connects to the generalized auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) algorithm to track the day’s continued volatility. Additionally, a physical processing step has been subsequently added to yield correct, discrete, and non-negative outputs. The proposed framework has been validated using a comprehensive dataset based on real data from Caltech ACN-Data. Comparative analyses demonstrate the superiority of the model over benchmarks such as ARIMA and advanced deep learning architectures (LSTM and GRU) in terms of relative accuracy and stability (RMSE equal to 2.71 EVs). The analysis shows that the model has an absolute error of zero in 50% of cases. Additionally, the estimation error remains below 6 EV during 95% of working hours (while the total daily traffic of the parking is 400 EVs). Additionally, a degradation study has been presented to illustrate the necessity of synergy between the components of LASSO-GARCH. The results show that this integration has led to point accuracy. It also optimizes the uncertainty bounds by reducing the mean prediction interval width (MPIW) and maintaining a 95.5% prediction interval coverage probability (PICP).

Resveratrol isomers with opposing activities target endonuclease G to modulate neurodegeneration and mitochondrial elimination

Mitochondrial endonuclease G (EndoG) is involved in several important cellular processes and has been implicated in multiple diseases. Accordingly, molecules modulating EndoG activity may have high therapeutic potentials. Searching for compounds affecting paternal mitochondrial elimination (PME) in Caenorhabditis elegans , we have identified resveratrol (RSV), a well-known natural compound, as a PME inhibitor. Interestingly, RSV exists as a mixture of trans - and cis -isomers, which interconvert upon light exposure and, surprisingly, exhibit opposing effects on PME by targeting nematode EndoG. Biochemically, trans -RSV enhances and cis -RSV inhibits endonuclease activity of EndoG through direct binding to EndoG. In cellular thermal shift assays, trans -RSV stabilizes and cis -RSV destabilizes nematode EndoG in vivo, indicating direct physical interactions between RSV isomers and EndoG. Structurally, two cis -RSVs bind to the His-Me finger DNA-binding motifs of the EndoG dimer, obstructing its access to DNA substrates. In contrast, trans -RSV binds to the EndoG dimeric interface to stabilize the EndoG dimer. Functionally, trans -RSV enhances and cis -RSV inhibits dopaminergic (DA) neuronal loss induced by α-synuclein, consistent with an important role for EndoG in α-synuclein-induced Parkinsonism. In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, cis -RSV treatment inhibited DA neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra and improved motor symptoms of animals. Our study demonstrates unexpected, opposing effects of RSV isomers on EndoG in regulating its nuclease activity and associated biological processes, which could complicate RSV applications and cause unanticipated toxicity and side effects. However, when used properly, RSV isomers hold promise as targeted therapies for EndoG-associated human diseases, including PME-related disorders and neurodegeneration.

The association of competitiveness and sociodemographics with imposter phenomenon in a cohort of sport science college undergraduates

Introduction Imposter phenomenon is where individuals experience continued feelings of self-doubt, with fears of being exposed as frauds. The intersectionality of different identities related to imposter phenomenon has rarely been examined in sport science student populations. This study examines the prevalence of imposter phenomenon among sport science undergraduate students and explores differences between different sociodemographic groups. Methods This secondary analysis study examines 289 undergraduate students in a sport science course at a United States Southeastern university from Spring 2023 to Spring 2025. The Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) measured imposter phenomenon, and the Revised Competitiveness Index (CI-R) examined competitiveness. Multiple linear regression examined associations of imposter phenomenon with sociodemographic variables and competitiveness subscales (enjoyment of competition, contentiousness). Results Overall, 52.6% of students reported frequent or intense imposter characteristics (CIPS mean±SD = 62.1 ± 12.9). In the final model ( adjusted r² =  26.7%), significant predictors included: being a senior versus first-year/sophomore ( b  = 5.6; 95%CI: 2.1, 9.2); and higher contentiousness (10%-increase- b  = −1.5; 95%CI: −2.0, −0.9). Interaction terms included gender identity × first generation student status (p = 0.02) and varsity athlete × enjoyment of competition (p = 0.06). Among first generation students, those not identifying as men had higher imposter phenomenon than men ( b  = 7.4; 95%CI: 4.2, 10.6); among non-first generation students, no differences were found ( b  = −1.3; 95%CI: −7.9, 5.2). Among varsity athletes, for every 10% increase in the enjoyment of competition subscale, imposter phenomenon scores decreased by 2.1 (95%CI: −4.4, 0.1); among non-varsity athletes, enjoyment of competition was not associated with imposter phenomenon scores (10%-increase- b  = 0.1; 95%CI: −0.7, 0.8). Discussion Over half of the sample noted frequent and intense feelings of imposter phenomenon. Helping students consider their capabilities and potential for future success, despite academic setbacks, should be considered in resources to mitigate imposter phenomenon. Resources throughout a student's college tenure can help address imposter phenomenon at various stages of academic and professional development.

Emetine dihydrochloride suppresses the invasiveness and motility of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through MAPK pathway inhibition and Twist1 protein destabilization

AI agents are sensitive to nudges

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly deployed as autonomous agents that make choices and use tools on behalf of users. Yet, we have limited evidence about how their decisions are shaped by their environment. We adapt a human decision-making task to test leading LLMs under four forms of choice architecture: defaults, suggestions, information highlighting, and “optimal” nudges derived from a resource-rational model of human choice. We treat human behavior as a baseline for predictable sensitivity to such interventions. Across models and prompting strategies, LLMs often depart substantially from this baseline. They sometimes pay excessive costs to acquire information, sometimes ignore available information, and, most crucially, are far more responsive to nudges than humans, such that weak cues that slightly shift human behavior have larger effects on model choices, toward both better and worse payoff outcomes. Chain-of-thought prompting and in-context human data do not reliably stabilize behavior. Recent reasoning-optimized LLMs can, in some configurations, restore more human-level sensitivity to nudges, but do so inconsistently and at substantial computational cost. These results point to an important and largely neglected safety concern: LLM agents can be behaviorally brittle under subtle changes in choice architecture, even in the absence of adversarial settings.

Do probiotics modulate dietary intake? Pilot data from a randomized controlled sub-study of the ProBioHRV clinical trial in patients with depression and healthy controls

Background The gut microbiome plays a central role in human health and is strongly influenced by diet. Probiotics can beneficially modulate the microbiome and, through the gut–brain axis, may affect mood, appetite, and food preferences. This randomized controlled trial examined whether three months of probiotic supplementation could alter dietary intake in individuals with major depression ( MD ) and healthy controls ( HC ). Methods In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 53 participants (23 with MD , 30 HC ) received either a multi-strain probiotic or placebo twice daily for three months. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and three follow-ups using the Vienna Food Record (VFR). Nutritional data were analyzed with nut.s® software and evaluated using mixed ANOVAs for repeated measures. These analyses represent additional data collected within the framework of the ProBioHRV study. Results Changes across dietary measures were generally small, with only a limited number reaching statistical significance. Significant three-way interactions ( time × intervention × diagnosis ) emerged for vitamin D intake, dietary variety, folic acid, and diversity. In HC , probiotic supplementation was associated with higher vitamin D intake after one week, while in MD , a similar increase was observed after three months (trend level, p  = .058). Conversely, participants receiving probiotics showed lower dietary variety and diversity scores at several time points. Across all time points, folic acid intake was lower in MD compared to HC , independent of intervention. Conclusion Probiotic supplementation did not produce consistent changes in nutrient intake but showed exploratory, time- and group-dependent patterns for selected measures, including vitamin D intake and dietary variety and diversity. Given the pilot nature of the study, these findings are descriptive and hypothesis- generating. Larger, well-powered studies with objective nutritional and microbiome measures are required.

Influence of Sb-doping on structural, optical and UV photodetector properties of CdS thin films

<i>Drosophila</i> Myc ameliorates defects in mitochondrial homeostasis and muscle maturation caused by Metaxin-2 deficiency

Mitochondrial protein import machineries are essential for organelle homeostasis. Metaxin-2 (Mtx2) is an evolutionarily conserved component of the mitochondrial sorting and assembly machinery, and its mutations are associated with a progeroid syndrome, named mandibuloacral dysplasia associated to Mtx2 (MADaM). To investigate the pathologic mechanisms of MADaM, we developed Mtx2 genetic models in Drosophila . Mtx2 null mutants are lethal at a preadult stage, and this phenotype can be rescued by expression of either Drosophila Mtx2 (dMtx2) or its human ortholog, demonstrating functional conservation across species. Tissue-specific conditional knockout and transgene rescue experiments pinpoint muscle as a critical tissue requiring dMtx2 function. Loss of dMtx2 impairs myofibril assembly and induces structural and functional abnormalities in muscle mitochondria. Notably, Mtx2 deficiency significantly reduces the expression of myogenic, mitochondrial, and ribosomal proteins. Overexpression of Drosophila Myc, a master regulator of ribosome biogenesis and cell growth, successfully rescues the preadult lethality caused by dMtx2 deficiency, and partially restores sarcomere and mitochondrial defects. Our results reveal an interaction between Mtx2-related mitochondrial and ribosomal homeostasis, and elucidate potential Myc-dependent pharmaceutic mechanisms underlying MADaM pathologies.

Evaluation of a novel role proposal for the use of a physiotherapist navigator in an acute cancer care setting in Ontario: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background An increasing number of Canadians are living beyond cancer, with many individuals experiencing long-lasting side effects of cancer and its treatments. Research shows that engaging in rehabilitation during and after cancer treatment can reduce side effects and improve quality of life. However, less than 30% of individuals with cancer have access to rehabilitation services. The purpose of this pilot trial is to assess the feasibility of a novel PT Navigator role in an acute cancer care setting for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer. Methods Study Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial. Eligibility: Adults aged ≥18 years who are currently undergoing cancer treatment for any type of cancer. Intervention: The intervention group includes six consultative sessions by a PT Navigator over a maximum of eighteen weeks. Randomization: Participants will be randomly allocated using a 1:1 allocation ratio to receive the intervention with the PT Navigator or usual care. Outcomes: The primary feasibility outcome is adherence rate. Secondary outcomes include recruitment rate, retention rate, satisfaction and preliminary effectiveness, including health-related quality of life, self-reported exercise volume, health care utilization, activity limitation, functional strength, exercise capacity, and overall impairment score. Analysis: Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two month follow up. Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness will be assessed using descriptive statistics. Discussion This study aims to assess the feasibility of a novel PT Navigator role in an acute cancer care setting in Ontario, Canada. This pilot trial will evaluate process and resource capabilities before testing the role within a larger scale randomized controlled trial. The overall project goal is to facilitate regular assessment by a rehabilitation professional to promote early identification of physical impairment and early intervention to manage impairment as a standard component of cancer care in Canada. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT07045740 .

Predictors of visual outcomes and recurrence after pars plana vitrectomy for uveitis: A 3-Year longitudinal cohort study

An evaluation scale for the cultural value of heritage buildings

As a repository of human history and a conduit for culture, heritage buildings represent the primary central focus of heritage conservation. However, the lack of a comprehensive framework for evaluating the cultural value of heritage buildings is a significant challenge. Based on a systematic review of the classification of cultural value in cultural heritage over the past two decades, this study employed face-to-face interviews with ten local shop owners, go-along interviews with ten visitors, and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with five experts in Longxing Ancient Town, Chongqing, China. The interview transcripts were coded and analyzed with NVivo software, the FGD results were analyzed manually, and the weights of the indicators were assigned using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Ultimately, by synthesising the perspectives of various stakeholders, the Cultural Value Evaluation Scale (CVES) for heritage buildings was developed for the first time. This scale, designated as the LHSSA Framework (Local value, Historic value, Sustainability value, Scientific value, Aesthetic value), encompasses five primary indicators and 24 secondary indicators. The scale offers considerable theoretical significance and practical value for the identification of heritage value and the improvement of the heritage value evaluation system.

Capturing eye-gaze synchrony in a triadic interaction: A proof-of-concept study

Abstract Eye-gaze synchrony—the temporal coordination of eye movements between individuals—has been widely studied in dyadic interactions, but its operationalization remains inconsistent and its extension to multi-person settings is methodologically challenging. This proof-of-concept study examines whether eye-gaze synchrony can be captured in a single triadic interaction using mobile eye tracking and proposes a reproducible workflow for doing so. Three participants wore Tobii Pro Glasses 3 during a 7-min spontaneous face-to-face conversation. Independent recordings were synchronized via a router-based setup, and gaze points were re-expressed within a common two-dimensional reference frame anchored by a fiducial marker. To illustrate how different operationalizations can be applied in this context, we compared an event-based approach quantifying discrete occurrences of mutual gaze and joint attention with an index-based approach assessing temporal alignment of gaze signals via Surrogate Synchrony methods. The two approaches yielded different descriptive patterns, suggesting that they may emphasize different features of gaze coordination in this interaction. These results support the technical feasibility of capturing gaze coordination in triadic interactions using mobile eye tracking and underscore the importance of carefully considering how synchrony is operationalized. The proposed workflow provides a foundation that future studies can evaluate and extend across interactions and contexts.

Correction for Massilani et al., A high-coverage Neandertal genome from the Altai Mountains reveals population structure among Neandertals

Retraction: Human swimming posture recognition combining improved 3D convolutional network and attention residual network

Net ecological benefits of co-processing papermaking waste into alkali-activated slag mortar building materials: a gate-to-gate LCA approach

Concerns on the human-induced biospheric carbon sink in the Taklamakan Desert

Data-driven climate-smart strategies for boosting crop yield and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing cropping systems and fertilization practices

The conflict between food production and environmental protection calls for climate-smart agricultural solutions. This study investigated data-driven climate-smart strategies for optimizing cropping systems and nitrogen management to increase crop yield and cut greenhouse gas emissions in China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, which is grappling with pronounced climatic and environmental challenges. The study evaluated three cropping systems: spring maize monoculture (M), winter wheat followed by summer maize double-cropping (WM), and a triple-cropping system encompassing winter wheat, summer maize, and spring maize (WMM). Additionally, four nitrogen fertilization treatments were assessed to understand their impacts. The crop climate resilient index was created to identify the optimal management practices. Leveraging the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) model, this study simulated the daily dynamics of crop yields, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions over a comprehensive 40-year period spanning from 1981 to 2020. The findings revealed intriguing insights into SOC dynamics and nitrogen fertilizer efficiency. Across all cropping systems, the SOC content augmented with increased nitrogen application, with peak levels reaching 294.9 kg·ha ⁻ ¹ under the highest fertilization treatment. The N₂O emissions displayed an upward trend over time, positively correlated with escalating fertilizer use. Regarding crop yields, higher nitrogen inputs generally correlated with enhanced productivity. Overall, the WM system, when coupled with F2 treatment (90 kg·ha ⁻ ¹ for wheat and 60 kg·ha ⁻ ¹ for maize), emerged as the optimal scenario, achieving the highest climate resilient index value of 0.65. These findings underscore the profound importance of integrating cropping systems with judicious nutrient management in developing agricultural systems that are adaptive, productive, and environmentally sustainable. By adopting such practices, farmers in the BTH region and similar climates can achieve agricultural clean production that is robust enough to withstand climate variability and contribute to global efforts towards food security and ecological preservation. As the climate continues to evolve, the precision and holistic application of these strategies will be crucial in maintaining the vitality and productivity of agricultural landscapes.

A hybrid method for assessing the perceived cultural value of cultural and creative products in e-commerce visual-textual presentation

Abstract As the consumption of cultural and creative products (CCPs) increasingly shifts to e-commerce channels, consumers rely heavily on online visual-textual displays to perceive and compare cultural value, whereas systematic design-oriented methods for assessing such perceived value remain insufficient. To address this gap, this study proposes a hybrid method for assessing the perceived cultural value of CCPs in e-commerce visual-textual presentation. First, a three-domain indicator framework covering formal representation, usage inference, and meaning construction is developed by integrating hierarchical cultural semantics with narrative-structure organization, and refined through content validity testing. Second, a hybrid DEMATEL–CRITIC–MULTIMOORA model is used to integrate indicator influence and alternative-performance variation across indicators for weight determination, followed by multi-perspective alternative ranking. Using cultural aromatherapy burners as a case, Kendall’s concordance tests reveal evident divergence in expert judgments, with W  = 0.128 and p  = 0.797 for indicator interaction judgments, and W  = 0.414 and p  = 0.066 for indicator-level assessments of alternative performance. Within this context, the model outputs should be interpreted as structured perceived cultural value assessment results aggregated from heterogeneous expert judgments, rather than as objective measurements of products’ intrinsic cultural quality. External questionnaire validation demonstrates relatively high rank-order consistency between the model results and user-side assessments (Spearman’s ρ  = 0.829; Kendall’s τ  = 0.733). The proposed approach transforms implicit cultural semantic features of CCPs into observable and comparable evidence, providing a decision-support reference for competitor comparison, visual-textual presentation refinement, and CCP design practice.