Browse Articles

Phenotypic characterization of Landim and Pafúri goat populations in Southern Mozambique based on morpho-structural traits and zoometric indices

This study aimed to characterize the morpho-structural traits of indigenous goats reared at the Chobela Research Station located in Chobela neighbourhood, Magude District, southern Mozambique. A total of 137 goats were selected, comprising 77 Landim and 60 Pafúri animals. Qualitative (morphological) traits were assessed through visual inspection and summarized using frequencies and percentages, while quantitative (morphometric) traits were measured using a zoometric tape and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level. Due to low expected frequencies in some qualitative trait categories, inferential analysis (Chi-square test) was not performed, and these results are presented descriptively. In terms of morphological traits, all Pafúri goats exhibited a convex head profile, whereas Landim goats showed both convex (57.9%) and concave (42.1%) profiles. Approximately 75% of the goats presented a uniform coat colour pattern. Morphometric comparisons based on inferential analysis of female goats (n = 131) due to the limited number of males (n = 6), showed that Landim goats tended to have higher mean values for horn length (19.21 ± 0.83 cm), withers height (58.67 ± 1.20 cm), and body length (67.31 ± 1.73 cm), whereas Pafúri goats exhibited slightly larger head dimensions and thoracic perimeter. However, none of these differences were statistically significant (p > 0.05). Regarding zoometric indices, Landim goats tended to exhibit higher cephalic and thoracic indices, whereas Pafúri goats showed similar or slightly higher body, particularly among females. In contrast, Pafúri goats exhibited marginally higher proportionality indices, reflecting more elongated body proportions. Similarly, the small variations observed in zoometric indices did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). We hypothesized that, despite being reared under similar environmental conditions, Landim and Pafúri goat ecotypes would exhibit distinct morpho-structural characteristics due to differences in genetic background and adaptive history. These findings indicate that the morpho-structural differences between the two breeds are mainly descriptive rather than statistically supported. These results provide site-specific and preliminary baseline information for future genetic and phenotypic studies, thus may support conservation and sustainable utilization strategies for indigenous goat populations, particularly those reared under similar management and environmental conditions in southern Mozambique.

COMMD1 Induces Copper Deficiency of SOD1 by Inhibiting the Palmitoylation of CCS in ALS

Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) compromise its metal-binding capacity, resulting in protein misfolding and aggregation, which ultimately induces cellular apoptosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Copper metabolism domain containing 1 (COMMD1), a gene implicated in copper homeostasis, has not been thoroughly characterized in the context of ALS pathogenesis. In this study, we identified elevated COMMD1 expression in ALS, potentially contributing to diminished copper incorporation into SOD1. Knockdown of COMMD1 enhanced palmitoylation of the copper chaperone for SOD1 (CCS), facilitating its membrane translocation and promoting copper loading into SOD1, thereby conferring neuroprotection in ALS. Mechanistically, we established that COMMD1 knockdown augments CCS palmitoylation via activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α)/fatty acid synthase (FASN) signaling axis. In vivo investigations utilizing male hSOD1 G93A transgenic mice demonstrated that COMMD1 deficiency markedly ameliorated the deterioration of motor function and prolonged survival duration. These findings collectively suggest that COMMD1 represents a potential therapeutic target for ALS intervention.

Spatiotemporal patterns of prevalence and mortality from respiratory infections and tuberculosis across Japan and its prefectures

Background Respiratory infections and tuberculosis (RIT) remain major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. In rapidly ageing societies, demographic shifts may decouple disease occurrence from fatal outcomes. Japan offers a representative setting to examine long-term spatiotemporal patterns of RIT burden in an advanced ageing context. Methods A population-based spatiotemporal analysis of Japan from 2010 to 2023 was conducted using standardized national and prefectural estimates. Annual RIT prevalence and deaths were examined by sex and age group. Long-term trends were quantified using estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) from log-linear models of rates, and changes in the etiological composition of RIT mortality were assessed by age and sex. Results National RIT prevalence fell from 31.40 million cases in 2010 to 27.52 million in 2023, and the prevalence rate decreased from 24,536.02 to 22,070.66 per 100,000 (EAPC −1.11). In 2023, prevalent cases were similar between females (13.95 million) and males (13.57 million). Adults aged 75 years and older increased from 2.47 million prevalent cases in 2010 to 3.28 million in 2023 despite declining rates. Total RIT deaths decreased from 104,048 in 2010–98,091 in 2023, while the death rate changed from 81.31 to 78.68 per 100,000 (EAPC 0.83). Mortality remained higher in males than females, with 61,683 versus 36,407 deaths in 2023, and was concentrated in adults aged 75 years and older (87,545 deaths), although their death rate declined from 629.40 to 429.91 per 100,000. Across prefectures, prevalence rates declined universally (−8.47% to −56.30%), whereas deaths increased in most prefectures (−10.74% to 153.64%), with the largest rises observed in Saitama (153.64%), Chiba (130.41%), and Osaka (63.79%). Etiology-specific patterns shifted, with Streptococcus pneumoniae declining from 28.9% to 20.4% of deaths, while Staphylococcus aureus rose from 12.2% to 19.0% and Legionella spp. from 8.6% to 11.5%, most notably among adults aged 75 years and older. Conclusions In ageing settings exemplified by Japan, declining RIT prevalence can coexist with persistent, older-adult–concentrated mortality, subnational inequality, and an evolving etiological profile. Age-focused care, prefecture-tailored prevention, and etiology-aware management may reduce avoidable deaths and geographic disparities.

Authoritarian attitudes and the perceived scientific legitimacy of anthroposophic medicine: A survey of attitudes on complementary and alternative medicine in Austria

Objectives This study investigates prevalence, usage, and perceived scientific legitimacy of anthroposophic medicine (AM) a prominent form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It further explores associations with socioeconomic and psychological factors, with particular attention to authoritarian orientation, as measured by the KSA-3 scale and low ambiguity tolerance. Design/Setting A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among the Austrian population assessing sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare utilization, attitudes toward conventional medicine, AM, and CAM, as well as selected psychological variables. Participants A total of 429 individuals completed the survey. To enhance representativeness, the sample was post-stratified according to recent election results. Outcome Measures Regression models and appropriate statistical tests, selected based on data distribution and scale level, were used to evaluate associations between sociodemographic factors, psychological characteristics, and the use of and attitudes toward AM and CAM. Results Individuals over 50 showed higher CAM preference (p = 0.044), and were more likely to have used AM at least once (p = 0.083). Similarly, women showed higher CAM preferences (p = 0.004) and a higher likelihood of AM use (p < 0.001). Participants who viewed AM as scientific tended to be older (p < 0.001), have a higher income (p < 0.001), and resided more often in rural areas (p = 0.012). Psychologically, lower ambiguity tolerance and stronger perceived health control correlated with a stronger belief in AM’s scientific legitimacy (p < 0.05). Higher authoritarian orientation was also significantly associated with an increased belief in AM as scientific and a preference for eminence-based approaches (p < 0.001). Conclusions In our sample, we demonstrate how differences in specific socioeconomic and psychological factors correspond to differences in attitudes toward CAM and AM. These findings represent a promising foundation for more interdisciplinary research aimed at uncovering the underlying drivers of AM and CAM utilization.

Effects of differential contacts with the criminal legal system on mental health outcomes of adolescents and young adults: A fixed-effects model

Research has indicated that contacts with the criminal legal system may have detrimental consequences for health and well-being. There is, however, a lack of research exploring how different types of interactions with the criminal legal system may impact mental health. Our study aims to address the gap in the literature by exploring progressively more severe forms of criminal legal contact on a variety of mental health symptoms using the Pathways to Desistance Study (PDS), a longitudinal sample of youth (2000–2010) who have a high level of contact with the criminal legal system (N = 1,322). Using fixed-effects modeling, we examine how specific types of contact with the criminal legal system (e.g., arrests, court appearances, institutionalization) are associated with mental health outcomes including symptoms of anxiety, depression, hostility, and psychoticism. We found that arrests and institutionalization have significant cross-sectional associations with multiple mental health symptoms, while appearing in court was associated with more long-term increases in reported mental health symptoms. We also observed that substance use, criminal involvement, and use of mental health medication were consistently associated with mental health outcomes across 10 waves of data. Thus, our paper evidences that even less severe contacts with the criminal legal system appear to be stressors that can have both short-term and long-term effects on mental health symptoms in youths and young adults.

Best-first search–based approach for mining top-k closed frequent itemsets from uncertain databases

Uncertain data mining has become critical due to data generated by sensor networks, RFID systems, and data integration platforms. Mining top-k closed frequent itemsets from uncertain databases is particularly challenging because probabilistic support evaluation is expensive and the search space grows exponentially. Most existing methods rely on depth-first search (DFS) traversal, which explores candidates in enumeration order and often discovers high-support patterns late, leading to weak pruning and costly closure verification. This paper proposes TUFCI, a best-first-search-based algorithm for mining top-k closed frequent itemsets from uncertain databases. TUFCI explores candidates in descending order of probabilistic support using a priority queue, enabling early discovery of strong patterns, rapid threshold elevation, and safe early termination. Support-ordered exploration also improves closure checking by prioritizing supersets most likely to violate the closure property, thereby reducing redundant superset examinations. Experimental results demonstrate that TUFCI significantly outperforms DFS-based approaches in runtime and reduces the number of closure checks, especially on dense datasets.

Retraction: Functional Study of Ectodysplasin-A Mutations Causing Non-Syndromic Tooth Agenesis

When Anticipation Is Not Enough: A Mixture of Robust and Adaptive Feedback Control Strategies Improves Reaching in Dynamic Environments

Successful goal-directed movements depend on the central nervous system's (CNS) ability to handle diverse physical interactions. The CNS is thought to handle different dynamical contexts through three mechanisms: (1) trial-by-trial adaptation when forces are predictable, (2) a model-free robust control strategy, and (3) online adaptation of feedback responses. While each has been studied independently, their relative contributions and the possibility that they are recruited to different extents across contexts is unknown. Here, we quantified all three strategies within the same individuals to examine how CNS exploits them under varying environmental conditions. Participants (19 female, 15 male) performed reaching tasks while interacting with robot-generated force fields that were either consistent or varied unpredictably. Trial-by-trial adaptation was measured using standard force channels to isolate anticipatory compensation. Robust control was assessed through movement velocity and corrective force magnitude. Online adaptive control was quantified by the temporal alignment between commanded and measured forces within a movement. Results showed that participants improved anticipatory compensation in consistent environments and relied on both robust and online adaptation when perturbations were unpredictable. Crucially, markers of robust control dominated the early movement phase, whereas online adaptation dominated later corrections. This temporal dissociation was confirmed by electromyographic recordings. Markers of robust and online adaptive feedback strategies also statistically predicted participants' ability to adapt across trials in consistent environments, revealing a common trait linking online control and adaptation. These findings reveal a rich and flexible combination of control mechanisms, offering a new framework for understanding the neurophysiological bases of reaching control.

Rising tides: Unveiling the spatial and temporal evolution of sea level rise under climate change

This study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of sea level rise under climate change, employing a tri-scale quantitative framework (global, China’s coastal waters, and Shanghai municipality) to elucidate its underlying drivers and regional disparities. By synthesizing IPCC AR6 datasets and NASA sea level projection models, we integrate the Theil-Sen Median Method with Mann-Kendall Test to analyze trajectory patterns from 2030 to 2100. Spatial clustering effects are further identified through hotspot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) implemented in ArcGIS Pro. The findings reveal a statistically significant upward trend in global sea levels, primarily attributed to thermal expansion and cryospheric melt (glaciers and polar ice sheets), with localized subsidence observed in certain high-latitude regions. China’s coastal waters exhibit accelerated sea level rise, particularly in the South China Sea and East China Sea, where rates surpass the global mean—a phenomenon driven by coupled effects of monsoon circulation, Kuroshio Current dynamics, and freshwater discharge from major rivers (e.g., Yangtze and Yellow Rivers). At the urban scale, Shanghai’s coastal zone demonstrates exacerbated relative sea level rise due to superimposed land subsidence and localized hydrodynamic processes, manifesting distinct spatiotemporal clustering patterns. By integrating global-scale thermodynamic baselines, regional oceanic drivers, and local land subsidence patterns, this study provides a quantitative foundation for place-based adaptation strategies in delta cities. The findings enable evidence-based risk assessment and inform anticipatory governance measures—such as targeted infrastructure reinforcement and land-use planning adjustments—to address the compound sea level risks identified at each scale.

A randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of early-onset preeclampsia: Study Protocol

Background Despite significant advancements in obstetric care, the incidence of preeclampsia remains a substantial public health challenge, and effective strategies to prevent the disease progression remain limited, particularly in low-resource settings. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and glutathione precursor, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effects, making it a promising candidate for repurposing. However, robust evidence from well-powered randomized controlled trials is lacking. Objective This study will evaluate the impact of NAC on the time-to-disease progression in pregnant women with early-onset preeclampsia in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods This is the study protocol for a proof-of-concept, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to be conducted between April 2026 to July 2028 at the maternity units of the two teaching hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. At baseline, n = 153 sexually active women aged 18 years or older diagnosed with early-onset preeclampsia at 24–34 weeks’ gestation will be randomised to receive either daily oral tablet containing 600 mg of NAC or a placebo tablet that is matched for appearance and the dosing regimen in addition to standard antenatal care from diagnosis (randomisation) until either 34 weeks’ gestation or delivery, whichever comes first. The primary endpoint is the time-to-progression (in days) of early-onset preeclampsia to severe disease. The data analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Kaplan-Meier estimates with a Log-rank test will be used to calculate and compare the time-to-disease progression for the treatment groups, while Cox proportional hazard models with a backwards conditional method will be used to compare the primary endpoint between the treatment arms while adjusting for other covariates for precision using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Subgroup analyses will also be performed to assess the differential effects of significant covariates on the impact of NAC on disease progression. Statistical significance will be reported as P  < 0.05. Discussion This study will evaluate the efficacy of daily oral NAC compared to placebo in treating pregnant women with early-onset preeclampsia. If proven effective, NAC could offer a safe, affordable, and scalable intervention to reduce the burden of preeclampsia, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Expression of concern: Bioavailability of iron, zinc, phytate and phytase activity during soaking and germination of white sorghum varieties

TNF-α Deficiency Reduces Parvalbumin Neuron Density, Impairs Homeostatic Plasticity, Disrupts Synaptic Excitation–Inhibition Balance, and Prevents Critical Period Closure in the Auditory Cortex

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pleiotropic cytokine, modulates neuronal functions under both physiological and pathological conditions. In the auditory system, it is required for refinement of the cortical frequency map during early development. In adulthood, TNF-α upregulation following noise trauma contributes to synaptic imbalance and central auditory processing deficits. The effects of TNF-α deficiency on adult auditory cortical circuits and function have not been examined. Here, we report that compared with wild-type (WT) control mice (an equal number of males and females per group), adult TNF-α knock-out (KO) mice had reduced PV neuron density and PV expression levels. Pyramidal neurons in the auditory cortex of TNF-α KO mice had larger miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitude and lower miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) frequency, suggesting a shift in synaptic E/I balance. Cortical multiunit recordings showed increased spontaneous and evoked activity and broadened tuning bandwidth consistent with the increased synaptic E/I ratio. Importantly, unlike WT mice, TNF-α KO mice exhibited persistent critical period-like plasticity into adulthood. Following exposure to a single-frequency tone, the representation of the tone was enlarged in adult TNF-α KO mice, but not in WT mice. Together with existing literature, our results suggest that TNF-α has a bell-shaped influence on adult auditory cortical circuits, with both elevated and deficient TNF-α expression leading to PV neuron dysfunction, increased synaptic E/I ratio, and enhanced cortical frequency map plasticity.

The ancestors of eukaryotic cells contained a mix of genes from various microbes

Development and validation of the screening tool for identifying elder abuse by caregivers (STIEAC)

Purpose Elder abuse is a global concern, yet detection methods focus mainly on victims. In community settings, trusted caregivers may perpetrate abuse that remains hidden due to cultural norms. Existing tools lack a contextual fit for sub-Saharan Africa. This study developed and validated the Screening Tool for Identifying Elder Abuse by Caregivers (STIEAC) in Southwest Nigeria. Methods The study used Artino’s seven-step questionnaire development framework, combining a literature review and caregiver focus groups to create culturally relevant items across the neglect, physical, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse domains. Expert panels ensured content and face validity, followed by pilot testing after which the revised tool was administered in a survey among 1119 caregivers. The psychometric evaluation included factor analysis, reliability (Cronbach’s alpha, Guttman split-half), and construct validity via correlations with the Zarit Burden, General Health Questionnaire-12, and Katz Activities of Daily Living scales. Results The STIEAC’s 10-item structure encompasses the five elder abuse domains, demonstrating high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.90) and reliability (split-half coefficient = 0.713). Bartlett’s test was significant (χ² = 7642.08, p < 0.001), and the KMO measure was adequate (0.896). Domain-specific reliability was highest for neglect (α = 0.87) and lowest for sexual abuse (α = 0.03). Construct validity was supported by a positive correlation with the ZBI (r = 0.294, p = 0.001) and negative correlations with the GHQ-12 (r = −0.349, p = 0.001) and the Katz ADL (r = −0.160, p = 0.001). Conclusion The STIEAC is a reliable 10-item tool reflecting culturally nuanced elder abuse perpetration by caregivers in community settings. Despite the low consistency of the sexual abuse subscale, it has strong overall validity, filling a critical gap for screening for elder abuse in sub-Saharan Africa and assisting researchers and practitioners.

Inhibitory Circuits Can Restore OFF Pathway Responses in Retinal Prostheses

One of the first steps in processing visual information is to split the light signal captured by photoreceptors into complementary ON and OFF pathways, which separately encode increases and decreases in luminance. In blind patients with retinal degeneration, optoelectronic prostheses can successfully activate the ON pathway and evoke bright percepts; however, patients do not perceive dark features. This indicates that the OFF pathway is not being activated by existing prosthetics. To quantify OFF pathway deficits, we stimulated retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa of either sex with electrical stimulation mimicking retinal prosthetic activation and recorded their voltage responses using whole-cell recording. We found that most OFF RGCs respond with incorrect ON responses, except for one specific subtype of RGC, the OFFα, which retained correct OFF-type responses following the termination of stimulation. We found that these preserved OFF responses were driven by postinhibitory rebound excitation, mediated by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Using a combinatorial genetic approach to achieve chemogenetic control, we identified AII amacrine cells as the presynaptic source driving these electrically evoked OFF responses. These insights into how the OFF pathway responds to artificial stimulation suggest new opportunities to improve prosthetic vision restoration through tuning of stimulation parameters.

Analysis of 173,303 exomes and genomes in the Pakistan Genome Resource

Correction: A Preliminary proteomics-based assessment of biotic indicators in Central Mexican water bodies biotic indicators by proteomics in Mexican water bodies

Dynamic and Context-Dependent Modulation of Somatosensory Input in the Primate Primary Motor Cortex

During voluntary movement, somatosensory input is attenuated, a phenomenon known as sensory gating, which may prevent the CNS from being overwhelmed by predictable afferent feedback not essential for motor control. In the cerebral cortex, sensory gating has been demonstrated in primary (S1) and higher-order sensory areas. The primary motor cortex (M1) is the major cortical output relay to the spinal cord and muscles, and proprioceptive feedback is crucial for shaping motor output. However, whether proprioceptive signals to M1 are attenuated during movement and, if so, for what functional purpose remains unclear. We recorded somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) in M1 of two male monkeys performing a wrist task while electrically stimulating muscle and cutaneous afferents innervating forearm extensors and adjacent skin. Both local field potentials and single-neuron recordings revealed significant suppression of muscle-evoked SEPs during active movement and static hold phases, providing direct evidence that proprioceptive input to M1 is generally gated during motor execution, consistent with previous findings for cutaneous input. However, a subset of M1 neurons preserved SEPs during static hold, particularly those evoked by afferents from antagonistic muscles and stretched skin. Because maintaining a stable posture required precise joint-angle control, these findings suggest that specific muscle and cutaneous afferents escape attenuation to provide information critical for posture control. Overall, our findings demonstrate that while proprioceptive muscle and cutaneous inputs to M1 are broadly suppressed during motor output, specific afferent signals are selectively maintained in a context-dependent manner to support posture control.

A mosaic of whole-body representations on the human precentral gyrus

Source analysis and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in farmland soil around a mining area

In the context of the interplay between ecology, society, and economy, analyzing the characteristics of soil heavy metal pollution and constructing ecological security patterns have emerged as critical scientific issues that necessitate urgent attention for the advancement of high-quality agricultural development. This study focused on the farmland surrounding the Baiyun Mountain mining area in Nanyang, China, and involved the collection of 437 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of nine heavy metal elements, including Ag, Cu, and Pb. An ecological risk assessment model was developed to evaluate the ecological risks posed by potentially toxic elements in the region, based on the theory of matter element extension. Additionally, the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was employed to analyze the sources of heavy metal pollutants. The results indicated that: (1) The average concentrations of Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, Sb, Ba, As, and Hg were 0.06, 17.50, 22.72, 66.84, 1.15, 0.85, 426.39, 9.25, and 0.05 mg·kg -1 , respectively, with Zn, Mo, and Hg significantly exceeding the soil background values for Henan Province; (2) The ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic elements revealed that 93.82% of the samples were classified as clean, 5.49% as at mild risk, and 0.69% as at severe risk, with Hg identified as the primary ecological risk factor; (3) The primary sources of pollution can be categorized as follows: natural parent material sources (26.1%), mixed sources from transportation and mining development (25.8%), mixed sources resulting from pesticide use and mining emissions (19.8%), atmospheric deposition from fossil fuel combustion (15.1%), and sources from non-metallic mineral mining and building material industry (13.2%). This study provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of soil pollution in farmland located in mining areas.