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Correction: Long noncoding RNA NONHSAT122636.2 attenuates myocardial inflammation and apoptosis in myocarditis

Dicationic Boron Derivatives of Schlenk’s and Thiele’s Hydrocarbon

Salmonella isolated from street foods and environment of an urban park: A whole genome sequencing approach

Salmonella is one of the most important foodborne pathogens worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the importance of this microorganism in street food and the environment of an urban park in Quito, Ecuador. This research included phenotypic characterization and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of isolates from different food matrices and fecal samples of dogs and pigeons. Salmonella was found in 10% (18/180) of the food samples, 3% (3/100) of the dog stool samples, and 5% (5/100) of the pigeon stool samples. These results also showed that meals containing any sauce or eggs were associated with a high probability of Salmonella isolation, regardless of other ingredients. All Salmonella isolates from food were identified as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) while isolates from animal feces belonged to Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) and S. Typhimurium. WGS analysis showed that all S. Typhimurium strains belonged to ST19 and S. Infantis to ST32 according to the Multi-Locus Sequence Type (MLST) scheme. These strains were not related to Salmonella genomes of other origins when a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) tree analysis was carried out. Antimicrobial resistance genes, such as blaCTX-M-65, were predominantly linked to the pESI-like plasmid found in S. Infantis. These results show the importance of urban fauna as a reservoir of S. Infantis and the impact these animals could have in terms of public health.

Peer reviews of peer reviews: A randomized controlled trial and other experiments

Is it possible to reliably evaluate the quality of peer reviews? We study this question driven by two primary motivations – incentivizing high-quality reviewing using assessed quality of reviews and measuring changes to review quality in experiments. We conduct a large scale study at the NeurIPS 2022 conference, a top-tier conference in machine learning, in which we invited (meta)-reviewers and authors to voluntarily evaluate reviews given to submitted papers. First, we conduct a randomized controlled trial to examine bias due to the length of reviews. We generate elongated versions of reviews by adding substantial amounts of non-informative content. Participants in the control group evaluate the original reviews, whereas participants in the experimental group evaluate the artificially lengthened versions. We find that lengthened reviews are scored (statistically significantly) higher quality than the original reviews. Additionally, in analysis of observational data we find that authors are positively biased towards reviews recommending acceptance of their own papers, even after controlling for confounders of review length, quality, and different numbers of papers per author. We also measure disagreement rates between multiple evaluations of the same review of 28% – 32%, which is comparable to that of paper reviewers at NeurIPS. Further, we assess the amount of miscalibration of evaluators of reviews using a linear model of quality scores and find that it is similar to estimates of miscalibration of paper reviewers at NeurIPS. Finally, we estimate the amount of variability in subjective opinions around how to map individual criteria to overall scores of review quality and find that it is roughly the same as that in the review of papers. Our results suggest that the various problems that exist in reviews of papers – inconsistency, bias towards irrelevant factors, miscalibration, subjectivity – also arise in reviewing of reviews.

Relaxation Optimized Heteronuclear Experiments for Extending the Size Limit of RNA Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Determining the priority semen characteristics and appropriate age for genetic improvement in Thai native roosters

Semen characteristics are crucial indicators of reproductive success and directly influence the production efficiency of native chickens, which play a vital role in sustainable poultry production systems in Thailand. Key semen traits, including mass movement, semen pH, semen volume, sperm viability, sperm abnormalities, and sperm concentration, are routinely evaluated to assess the reproductive performance of Thai native grandparent roosters. Improved reproductive efficiency in these chickens can lead to increased fertility rates, better hatchability, and enhanced productivity, significantly benefiting smallholder farmers and the poultry industry. To enhance the accuracy and efficiency of evaluating the genetic potential of grandparent roosters, this study aimed to compare rooster age groups, estimate genetic parameters and breeding values, and develop an optimal selection index for semen traits. A total of 3,475 test-day records of six semen traits from Thai native grandparent roosters (Pradu Hang Dum), obtained from the Khon Kaen University native chicken experimental farm, were analyzed using a multi-trait animal model with average information restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML). The heritability estimates for semen volume, mass movement, sperm concentration, sperm abnormalities, sperm viability, and semen pH across age groups were low, ranging from 0.128 to 0.161, 0.102 to 0.115, 0.101 to 0.111, 0.090 to 0.091, 0.067 to 0.083, and 0.043 to 0.057, respectively. Repeatability estimates ranged from low to moderate, between 0.119 and 0.384 for all traits and age groups. Genetic correlations among semen traits ranged from ‒0.332 to 0.580, ‒0.554 to 0.640, and ‒0.631 to 0.773 for rooster age Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Based on heritability and genetic correlations, the three most important semen traits identified were semen volume, mass movement, and sperm concentration. The study revealed a strong relationship between rooster age and semen quality, with the highest selection index values observed in the youngest age group (32–52 weeks). This finding highlights the potential for genetic improvement by implementing a selective breeding program targeting the top 10% of young roosters based on the developed selection index. Such a strategy would significantly accelerate genetic progress in semen traits, improving reproductive efficiency and boosting the economic viability of native chicken production. Furthermore, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of genetic evaluation in native chicken populations and can serve as a model for developing sustainable breeding programs for other poultry breeds under tropical conditions.

A longitudinal study on the impact of subjective exclusion on changes in self-esteem: the mediating effect of perceived income inequality

This study explored the impact of the subjective exclusion perceived by adults on the development trajectory of self-esteem and verified the mediating role of perceived income inequality. We analyzed data from the 2017–2020 Korea Welfare Panel Study on 1,410 20–59-year-old research participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the key variables and research participants’ general characteristics. A structural equation model investigated how the change trajectory of self-esteem and subjective exclusion affected the development trajectory of self-esteem via perceived income inequality. First, greater perceived subjective exclusion is associated with higher perceived income inequality, which acts as the mediator variable. Furthermore, the higher the perceived subjective exclusion, the lower the initial self-esteem; this gap increased over time. Second, perceived income inequality did not significantly impact initial self-esteem but positively significantly affected self-esteem’s rate of change, showing a wide variation. These findings suggest the necessity of social support systems and policy interventions to restore self-esteem, a cornerstone of mental health, among individuals experiencing social exclusion. Additionally, given that perceived income inequality impacts self-esteem, efforts to address social structural inequalities should be strengthened alongside clinical interventions.

Electron Inversion and Tunneling at Silicon Thermal Oxide Interfaces for Solar-Driven Molecular Catalysis to Syngas

Plasmodium species infecting lizards in the Brazilian Cerrado: Identification and description of a novel species, Plasmodium brasiliensis n. sp.

Parasites of the genus Plasmodium, responsible for lizard malaria, are widely distributed and taxonomically diverse. Molecular techniques provide valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships of Plasmodium species and lineages. However, the available data are still scarce, emphasizing the need for taxonomy-focused studies. We investigated the occurrence of Plasmodium infection in free-living lizards in the Brazilian Cerrado using an integrative approach based on the amplification/sequencing of the Plasmodium cytb gene and microscopic analysis. Among 302 lizards screened, 61 (20.2%) tested positive in the molecular screening, including 18 with concordant results in microscopy. We recovered 16 sequences in the first molecular survey of this host group in the biome. Our findings unveil a variety of Plasmodium species, some of which were previously undocumented in this region. We describe new lineages of Plasmodium ouropretensis, P. tropiduri, P. carmelinoi, and also report a new species, herein named as Plasmodium brasiliensis n. sp. The infection by Plasmodium sp. in Hoplocercus spinosus represents the first description of Apicomplexa organisms in this species. Furthermore, our results open remarkable possibilities for extensive studies in a field unexplored for many years.

Correction: Nursing staff’s attitudes towards the prevention of adverse events among hospitalized people with dementia: Protocol of qualitative systematic review and evidence synthesis

Dietary phytochemical index and the risk of cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Recently, the association between dietary phytochemical index (DPI) and the risk of cancer has been the focus of researchers, however, this possible association has not been fully understood. The current meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between DPI and the risk of cancers. Methods A literature search by the main keywords such as “dietary phytochemical index”, “DPI”, and “cancer” was completed using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science up to December 2024 and references of retrieved relevant articles. Observational studies examining the association between the DPI and the risk of cancers were included. The reported odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each study was converted into log OR, and their standard deviation was calculated. Then to compute the pooled OR, the random-effects model with inverse variance weighting method was performed. Results Nine case-control studies were included in the present meta-analysis. The sample size ranged from 120 to 851 with an age range from 18 to 75 years. The pooled results indicate an inverse association between DPI and the risk of all cancers (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.29–0.54, I2 = 0.00%; P-value < 0.001). Also, subgroup analysis indicated that higher a DPI score is related to the decreased risk of breast cancer (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.26–0.55, I2 = 0.00%; P-value < 0.001) and pooled non-breast cancer including glioma, prostate, and colorectal cancers (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.27–0.71, I2 = 0.00%; P-value = 0.001). Conclusions The results of the current meta-analysis revealed that the higher DPI score is associated with a decreased odds of cancers. Large-scale cohort studies are recommended to validate the findings presented in the current study.

Viologen Covalent Organic Framework Mediates Near-Infrared Light-Induced Electron Transfer for Catalytic Oxidative Coupling Reactions

Assessing competitiveness and complementarity in agricultural trade between China and Cambodia pre-pandemic and post-pandemic

The concepts of trade competitiveness and complementarity function as key indicators for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a nation’s export profile, as well as predicting future trade trajectories. Analyzing the levels of competitiveness and complementarity within the agricultural sectors of Cambodia and China is imperative for understanding and comparing their respective competitive advantages. This study utilizes quantitative research methodologies to analyze the agricultural trade dynamics between China and Cambodia before and after the pandemic. Specifically, the research involves the calculation of the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index, the trade complementarity index (TCI), the trade intensity index (TII), and the Grubel-Lloyd (GL) index, covering the period from 2017 to 2022. The data is from the UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database through the HS code 1-24. The study used a three-year period as a short research phase and applied two phases to compare pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. The empirical results demonstrated that China and Cambodia both exhibit a strong comparative advantage in exporting specific items. From 2017 to 2019, China has comparative advantages in exporting HS items 05,13 and 16, and Cambodia has comparative advantages in exporting HS items 10,11 and 17. From 2020 to 2022, China has a comparative advantage in exporting HS item 13, and Cambodia has a comparative advantage in exporting HS item 10. Both China and Cambodia have specific complementary agricultural items in bilateral agricultural exports from 2017 to 2019, but China does not have complementary exports in its exports and Cambodia’s imports from 2020 to 2022. The trade intensity index underscores the advantages of their bilateral trade in the direction of China’s exports to Cambodia. Inter-industry advantages are identified in specific agricultural products. This study is beneficial for the Cambodian government and relevant stakeholders in formulating sustainable policies to promote agricultural trade after pandemic. The insights derived from these indices will furnish a rigorous foundation upon which the Cambodian government can develop and implement evidence-based sustainable strategies to optimize and enhance its agricultural trade performance.

Stabilizing the Unstable: Enhancing OER Durability with 3<i>d</i>-Orbital Transition Metal Multielemental Alloy Nanoparticles by Atomically Dispersed 4<i>d</i>-Orbital Pd for a 100-Fold Extended Lifetime

Efficient quantification of Parkinson’s disease severity using augmented time-series data

The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease relies heavily on the subjective assessment of physicians, which depends on their individual experience and training, potentially leading to inconsistent diagnostic results. Therefore, developing an objective and efficient diagnostic method is essential to improve the accuracy and timeliness of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. In this study, we utilized the PhysioNet dataset, a time-series dataset comprising data from 93 Parkinson’s patients and 73 healthy individuals. The dataset contains vertical ground reaction forces recorded from 16 sensors (8 per foot) during a 2-minute test at a sampling rate of 100 Hz. To address challenges such as limited dataset size, high labeling noise, and high intra-class variability, we performed data preprocessing and applied various data augmentation techniques, including jittering, scaling, rotation, permutation, magnitude warping, time warping, cropping, and linear residuals. These methods were evaluated using one-dimensional-convolutional neural network (1D-ConvNet) and one-dimensional Transformer networks. By conducting 10-fold cross-validation, we observed significant improvements in classification performance. The best data augmentation strategy achieved 90.8% accuracy, 92.0% precision, 91.0% recall, and a 91.0% F1 score in assessing disease severity. These results highlight the importance of selecting appropriate data augmentation techniques for time-series data to improve model generalization and diagnostic reliability, while also offering new insights for researchers working with sensor device data. Our results demonstrate that data-enhanced methods can significantly boost the performance of machine-learning models in the field of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

Diversity Synthesis Using Glutarimides as Rhodium Carbene Precursors in Enantioselective C–H Functionalization and Cyclopropanation

Oral health-related knowledge, practice, and utilization of dental services among pregnant women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background Promoting and maintaining appropriate oral hygiene practices in pregnant women is recommended as an integral component of prenatal care to ensure healthy pregnancies and positive birth outcomes. This study aimed to assess the oral health-related knowledge, practices, and utilization of dental services among pregnant women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 1120 pregnant women was conducted in both government and private maternal hospitals from October 2022 to January 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and validated, comprising 37 closed-ended questions. Data analysis involved descriptive analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Multiple linear and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out using socio-demographic variables as predictors for knowledge, practices, and utilization of dental services. Level of significance was set at P ≤  0.05. Results Majority (37.2%) of the pregnant women were in the 30-34 years age group. The majority had limited oral health knowledge (59.7% very poor, 23.8% poor), and 66.4% had poor oral health practices. Dental service utilization was suboptimal, with 39.6% never seeking dental care during pregnancy. A positive correlation was seen among knowledge, practices, and utilization of dental services. Multiple linear regression revealed that both knowledge and practices scores were significantly associated with education and occupation; and utilization scores with occupation. Conclusion This study highlights the need for enhancing oral health knowledge, practices, and utilization of dental services among pregnant women in Riyadh. Bridging knowledge and access gaps can enhance the oral and overall health outcomes of mothers and their infants.

RETRACTED: Evaluation of all-for-one tourism development level: Evidence from Xinjiang production and construction corps, China

All-for-one tourism represents a pivotal strategy to facilitate the transformation and enhancement of the tourism sector and promote the coordinated development of the economy and society within the contemporary context of China. Since its introduction by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2016, governments at all levels have actively promoted the development of all-for-one tourism with remarkable results. Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a unique governance system in Xinjiang, is rich in natural and cultural tourism resources and has achieved specific results in developing all-for-one tourism. Nevertheless, it also faces the outstanding problems of a low level of development and insufficient motivation. Therefore, this study focused on the XPCC as the research area and established an evaluation index system to assess the level of all-for-one tourism development across three dimensions: tourism potential, tourism benefit, and tourism format. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis was conducted regarding the development level, spatial distribution characteristics, the coupling and coordination mechanisms among these dimensions, and the classification of tourism destinations. The results show that (1) XPCC’s four major regions have unbalanced all-for-one tourism development, revealing disparities among divisions. (2) Spatial analysis shows that the Tianshan North Slope is advantageous, while southern Xinjiang and border areas are disadvantageous. (3) The coupling degree spans four stages, with significant differences in spatial distribution. (4) Tourism destinations can be categorized into three types: industrial integration-driven, economic and social-driven, and advantageous resource-driven. Accordingly, the optimization development strategies for all-for-one tourism in the XPCC were proposed: (1) integrating resources to optimize supply, (2) enhancing infrastructure to improve services, (3) deepening industrial integration, (4) strengthening brand building, (5) promoting regional cooperation. These strategies provide insights for optimizing all-for-one tourism development in similar regions.

First unambiguous record of pneumaticity in the axial skeleton of alvarezsaurians (Theropoda: Coelurosauria)

Bonapartenykus ultimus is an alvarezsaurid theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. This species is represented by the holotype specimen and several referred specimens, many of which have pneumatic structures. Pneumaticity involves the invasion of the interior of the skeleton by means of air sac diverticula. Such invasion occurs from cortical openings (foramina) that communicate with internal air spaces. Despite previous studies on pneumatic structures in theropod specimens, there are no studies focusing on the family Alvarezsauridae. Here we address this gap by presenting the first contribution focusing on the pneumatic features of an alvarezsaurid theropod using both external skeletal anatomy as well as computed tomographic images showing internal details. The specimens studied show that the axial skeleton of B. ultimus was invaded by pneumatic structures, reaching the middle section of the tail. Our study suggests that pneumaticity among alvarezsaurids did not have a linear evolutionary trajectory, but instead shows a more random pattern of variability. This study is an important first step that paves the way for future studies to uncover the extent of pneumatic invasion among alvarezsaurids and its macroevolutionary implications.

Divergent psychological stress response patterns to the COVID-19 pandemic in psychiatric patients with vs. without PTSD: A real-world exploratory study

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to increase psychological burden and requires efficient coping strategies to maintain mental health. In particular, it remains unclear which pandemic-related stress response pattern occurs in pre-existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the pandemic – at the same time these patients potentially exhibit dysfunctional coping of artificially generated psychosocial stressors. To analyze this so far widely unconsidered pandemic-related stress response in PTSD, this study longitudinally measured psychosocial burden and adjustment disorder (AD) symptom load in 14 patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of PTSD vs. a cohort of 145 psychiatric patients without PTSD. The previously established Goettingen psychosocial Burden and Symptom Inventory (Goe-BSI) was used. Patients were interviewed at the end of the first (April/May 2020) and the second nationwide lockdown in Germany (November/December 2020). In our convenience sample, psychiatric disorders were diagnosed by patients’ treating clinicians prior to study inclusion. Psychosocial burden and AD symptom load were significantly higher in patients with PTSD than in patients without PTSD over the course of the pandemic (both p = .005). Moreover, explorative analysis of Goe-BSI-assessed general psychiatric symptoms did not reveal changes during the pandemic in patients with PTSD. In sum, we provide preliminary evidence that, in relation to psychiatric patients without PTSD, those with PTSD might experience a higher pandemic-related burden and might thus cope less efficiently with this enduring real-world stressor. This study is limited inter alia by the small sample size and by the underrepresentation of some psychiatric diagnoses.