Recent ucr items

Dense Amygdala: Extensive Complex-valued Functional MRI of the Ventral and Medial Temporal Lobe during Passive Movie Watching in Three Individuals.

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dense, individual-level datasets are an important resource for social neuroscience that enable models of brain responses to a wide range of naturalistic features, often investigated with movie fMRI. This data release provides high spatiotemporal resolution 3 Tesla BOLD fMRI data in three healthy participants while viewing four feature-length movies with sound (Grand Budapest Hotel, Forrest Gump, Planet Earth, Jiro Dreams of Sushi; ca. 520 minutes) and a movie trailer composite, together with clip and movie repeats. All movie functional data were acquired with partial brain coverage from an approximately axial slab covering ventral prefrontal and temporal lobes, including the amygdala, with a repetition time of 556 ms and complex-valued image reconstruction. The dataset is released in both unprocessed and minimally preprocessed forms with individual, high quality anatomic templates. Preprocessed fMRI data are provided in both individual template and FreeSurfer average surface spaces....

Opinion: Which animals have personality?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Human personality generally refers to coherent individuating patterns in affect, behavior, and cognition. We can only observe and measure behavior, from which we then infer personality and other psychological processes (affect, cognition, etc.). We emphasize that the study of personality always explains or summarizes patterns not only in behavior but also in these other psychological processes inferred from behavior. We thus argue that personality should be attributed only to nonhuman animals with behaviors from which we can infer a sufficiently rich set of psychological processes. The mere inference of a biological trait that explains behavioral variability, on our view, is not sufficient to count as a personality construct and should be given a different term. Methodologically, inferring personality in nonhuman animals entails challenges in characterizing ecologically valid behaviors, doing so across rich and varied environments, and collecting enough data. We suggest that studies...

An insulin-like growth factor-like peptide promotes ovarian development in the silkmoth Bombyx mori

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Insulin family peptides are known to be key regulators of growth and metabolism in insects and vertebrates. Insects have two types of insulin family peptides: insulin-like peptides and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-like peptides (IGFLPs). We recently demonstrated that an IGFLP in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori (BIGFLP) promotes the growth of the genital imaginal disc ex vivo. However, the role of BIGFLP in the regulation of insect growth remains unclear because no in vivo study has been performed. Therefore, we analysed the functions of BIGFLP in vivo by constructing BIGFLP knock-out (KO) B. mori using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system. The KO moths exhibited decreased body weights and size of the appendages compared wild-type (wt) moths. Interestingly, KO females also had drastically lower ovary weights and number of eggs than wt females. However, mutant ovaries that were transplanted into wt host...

No evidence for sleep-dependent memory generalization in a large online sample.

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Memory generalization allows individuals to extract and apply information from prior experiences to novel situations, supporting flexible learning and efficient decision-making. Theoretical models suggest that sleep should facilitate generalization, yet the literature examining its role in promoting generalization is mixed. We recruited 137 participants via Prolific to complete an image-location memory task over two sessions spaced 12 h apart. Participants were randomly assigned to the Wake group (learning in the morning) or the Sleep group (learning in the evening). In Session 1, participants learned the location of stimuli on the screen and were tested on their memory 5 min later. Twelve hours later, in Session 2, they were tested on their memory again. Stimuli consisted of 160 images from eight semantic categories and were strategically positioned on-screen to test the effects of generalization on retrieval (i.e., category-based memory distortions and biases). After the delay,...

Biological and Biologically Inspired Functional Nanostructures: Insights into Structural, Optical, Thermal, and Sensing Applications

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biological materials developed over millennia consist of simple biogenic materials, yet exhibit exceptional functional properties. Leveraging design features from these structures with engineered nanomaterial components can lead to bio-inspired structures that demonstrate superior performance over traditional engineering materials. We describe nanoscale based architectures in biological systems, their role in enhancement of structural, optical, thermal and sensing properties, and their subsequent translation to bio-inspired structures. In structurally robust biological materials, we highlight nanoscale design features that enhance strength and stiffness, while retaining toughness. In optically active biological materials, we show how periodic nanostructures manipulate electromagnetic waves resulting in structural coloration as well as antireflective and camouflaging properties. Thermally regulating biological materials utilize nanopores and other nanostructural features to statically...

Data Centers Lower Nearby Housing Values

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented investment in data centers, yet the local costs and benefits of these facilities remain largely unmeasured. We estimate how households value nearby data center development using a newly constructed database of U.S. data centers and housing transaction data. Our statistical analysis uses a matched stacked event study design that compares housing transactions near newly announced large data centers with transactions in observably similar areas near data centers that are announced later. Large data centers reduce housing values within 3 miles by 3% on average over the following 5 years. The effect is highly localized: prices within 1 mile fall by 7.2% on average, with smaller effects beyond 1 mile. Price declines persist for at least 5 years and are larger for hyperscale and high-capacity data centers, urban locations, and the first large data center in an area. Consistent with increasing public awareness of data center externalities,...

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-like peptide and 20-hydroxyecdysone regulate the growth and development of the male genital disk through different mechanisms in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It is well established that ecdysteroids play pivotal roles in the regulation of insect molting and metamorphosis. However, the mechanisms by which ecdysteroids regulate the growth and development of adult organs after pupation are poorly understood. Recently, we have identified insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-like peptides (IGFLPs), which are secreted after pupation under the control of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). In the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, massive amounts of Bombyx-IGFLP (BIGFLP) are present in the hemolymph during pupal-adult development, suggesting its importance in the regulation of adult tissue growth. Thus, we hypothesized that the growth and development of adult tissues including imaginal disks are regulated by the combined effects of BIGFLP and 20E. In this study, we investigated the growth-promoting effects of BIGFLP and 20E using the male genital disks of B. mori cultured ex vivo, and further analyzed the cell signaling pathways mediating hormone actions....

EEG-based classification models reveal differential neural processing of words and images

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Machine learning methods employing neuroimaging data are useful for monitoring the activation of neural representations. Specifically, they can be used to discern the brain networks engaged in processing specific categories of items. This approach has been employed on neuroimaging data, including functional magnetic resonance imaging data and electroencephalography (EEG) data. NEW METHOD: Here, we present a task and an analytical pipeline for investigating category representations using EEG. Participants (N = 30) viewed a series of images and words of objects belonging to five categories (Animals, Tools, Food, Scenes, and Vehicles) and responded when items from the same category were presented consecutively. RESULTS: We trained support vector machines on EEG data within participants and found that both image trials and word trials yielded significant category classification accuracy, with image trials achieving higher accuracy than word trials. When comparing categories...

Is My Loneliness Killing Me? Effects of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Transitions Between Cognitive Status Categories and Death

Tue, 1 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Loneliness and social isolation are associated with numerous adverse physical and psychological health outcomes in older adulthood, including cognitive impairment and mortality risk. Yet, how the individual and joint effects of loneliness and social isolation contribute to these outcomes remains unclear, particularly given the interplay between individual differences (loneliness) and environmental factors (social isolation) in shaping these important health outcomes in older adulthood (i.e., person-environment interactions). We used Cox regression, logistic regression, and multistate survival models to systematically investigate the individual and adjusted associations among loneliness, social isolation, cognitive aging outcomes, and mortality risk. Further, extensive between-study variability in operational definitions, modeling approaches, and covariate adjustments may be contributing to mixed results in the existing literature. In this registered report, we applied a multistudy...

Tetexcalhuiliztli de Marcelo Toledo: La pluralización del tiempo, La heterogeneidad de los espacios

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

El artículo propone una interpretación crítica de Tetexcalhuiliztli, obra del compositor argentino Marcelo Toledo. A través del uso de instrumentos semióticos efectúa una aserción de significado, valor y sentido, fundamentada en procedimientos que interrelacionan acontecimiento estético, análisis formales de la partitura y reconstrucción de circunstancias sociopolíticas contemporáneas que circundan e integran el devenir personal del compositor, las cuales inciden en la concreción de unas ideas artísticas y la determinación de unas estrategias creativas. Así, identifica lo argentino, mexicano -desde lo originario hasta lo citadino contemporáneo- y neoyorkino como fuentes culturales a partir de las cuales es factible concretar un discurso crítico artístico actual y particular. En este contexto, el proceso analítico recurre de manera consecutiva e interrelacionada al método psicológico formal de análisis musical propuesto por Dante Grela, a cuatro entrevistas al compositor, a documentos...

Combined effective field theory interpretation of Higgs boson, electroweak vector boson, top quark, and multijet measurements

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Constraints on Wilson coefficients (WCs) corresponding to dimension-6 operators of the standard model effective field theory (SMEFT) are determined from a simultaneous fit to seven sets of CMS measurements probing Higgs boson, electroweak vector boson, top quark, and multijet production. Measurements of electroweak precision observables are also included and provide complementary constraints to those from the CMS experiment. The CMS measurements, using LHC proton-proton collision data at s=13Te$$\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\text {V} $$, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 36.3 or 138fb-1$$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$, are chosen to provide sensitivity to a broad set of operators, for which consistent SMEFT predictions can be derived. These are primarily measurements of differential cross sections which are parameterized as functions of the WCs. In measurements targeting t(t¯)X$${\text {t}} (\bar{\textrm{t}})\text {X} $$ production, SMEFT effects are modelled at the detector level. Individual...

Type I Interferon Signaling Differences Among Avian and Human Influenza A Virus Strains

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Highly Pathogenic Influenza A Virus (HPAI) H5N1 strains have been reported in the United States, circulating in cattle farms and ultimately causing a spillover from cattle to humans. The emergence of this new strain has heightened public health concerns about its pathogenicity, transmissibility, and interactions with the innate immune system in humans. IAV employs multiple strategies to evade the host's innate immune system, including HA-mediated degradation of Type I Interferon Receptors during active infection. This study aims to compare and investigate whether the HA protein of the current circulating HPAI H5N1 IAV enhances IFN-1 receptor degradation in A549 cells and, if so, what mechanisms are being utilized to promote receptor degradation and enhanced viral pathogenicity. Protein sequence alignments of Texas (A/Texas/37/2024(H5N1), Washington (A/Washington/2148/2025(H5N5) H5 HA proteins, and California (A/California/07/2009(H1N1) H1 HA protein will be done to compare...

Capitalizing on change: Habitus transformation and cancer mitigation in the field of firefighting

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While cancer remains the leading cause of occupational death among firefighters, cancer mitigation efforts are not always successful. This study examines how health practices become durable behavioral changes within the professional field of California firefighters. Drawing on 48 in-depth interviews, we examine how health uptake has been successful in a field where resistance would be expected based on the entrenched tradition and masculine culture. Integrating Bourdieu's framework with Fundamental Cause Theory, we show that cultural, symbolic, and social capital must be reconfigured concurrently to transform the entrenched habitus and enhance cancer mitigation. Specifically, acquiring new knowledge on cancer risks, reclassifying clean gear as a new symbol of professionalism, and solidifying the new knowledge and symbol through cohesive social networks can facilitate habitus transformation and produce sustained behavioral changes in cancer mitigation. Our research enriches both...

CISAT, a CoPP-Induced lncRNA, Improves Cardiac Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell Survival and Myocardial Repair via SFPQ/NRF2/p38 Redox Regulation

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cellular therapy using human cardiac mesenchymal progenitor cells (hMPCs) for regenerative medicine is hindered by poor cell survival and senescence. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators of cellular processes, yet their role in cardiac aging remains underexplored. Here, lncRNA microarray profiling identified a novel lncRNA, XLOC_002543, upregulated in hMPCs preconditioned with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), which was named CoPP-Induced and SFPQ-Associated RNA Transcript (CISAT) due to its interaction with splicing factor proline and glutamine rich (SFPQ), confirmed via RNA pull-down and immunoprecipitation. CISAT was the only highly expressed transcript among seven lnc-ANKMY1-5 variants in hMPCs, as shown by RT-PCR. Notably, CISAT expression decreased in aging/senescent hMPCs, correlating with elevated p16^INK4A, a senescence marker. Overexpression of CISAT reduced p16^INK4A levels; enhanced hMPC survival, proliferation, and migration; and...

Marking Asian American Time: Community Archives and the Asian American Drum and Bugle Corps Tradition

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this dissertation, I explore how Asian American musicians over the last century have turned to the US American musical tradition of drum and bugle corps to situate themselves within broader flows of Asian American history. Drum and bugle corps incorporate marching brass, percussion, and color guard members who perform music arrangements in parades and marching field competitions. Despite their longstanding contributions in this space, Asian Americans have often experienced exclusion from scholarly and community histories of the drum corps tradition. In response, Asian American drum corps musicians have underscored their presence in this scene through critical turns to the archives that constitute a process that I term “marking Asian American time.” What does US band music sound like when the archival contributions of Asian Americans come to the fore? And how might critical archival studies, oral histories, and ethnographic engagements illuminate the connections between historical...

Assessing the Impact of Varying HSO Cross Sections on Photochemical Models: Implications for the Spectral Characterization of Terrestrial Exoplanets

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: Characterization of exoplanet atmospheres requires a close interplay between observations, modelling, and experimental data. The accuracy of input data used in atmospheric models is essential because it impacts our interpretation of planetary spectra with retrieval codes. Molecular absorption cross sections in the UV–visible range are fundamental input parameters, determining chemical kinetics, particularly on temperate terrestrial planets. However, several atmospheric species remain poorly, or even entirely, uncharacterized. This is the case for HSO, a radical with unconstrained photolysis cross sections, often approximated by hydroperoxyl (HO 2 ). Sulphur chemistry can strongly influence the composition of rocky exoplanets, particularly in anoxic environments where volcanic SO 2 —the main source of HSO—is more efficiently photolyzed, and sulphur...

False discovery rate control for grouped hypotheses: application to miRNAome data

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bioinformatics studies often involve numerous simultaneous statistical tests, increasing the risk of false discoveries. To control the false discovery rate (FDR), these studies typically apply a statistical method called the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) method. However, BH can be overly conservative, particularly in small-sample studies, and it does not take advantage of relevant structural information among the hypotheses, such as groupings. Group structures can arise, for example, when genomic features located in close proximity are co-regulated. Recent statistical developments have yielded group-adaptive BH methods that can leverage pre-existing group information to improve statistical power while maintaining FDR control. However, these methods remain underutilized in bioinformatics practice. In this study, we illustrate the practical application of group-adaptive BH methods using a previously published, moderately scaled microRNA (miRNA) dataset. Even under simple groupings based...

Changes in Outpatient and Telehealth Visits Among Undocumented Patients.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Importance

Anti-immigration policies in 2025 may influence outpatient care and telehealth among immigrant communities. Understanding visit patterns is essential for health systems leaders to prepare for shifts in health care use and ensure preventive care.

Objective

To compare outpatient in-person and telehealth visit completion rates among patients classified as likely undocumented and those likely with legal status, before and after 2025 federal immigration policy changes.

Design, setting, and participants

This cross-sectional study analyzed electronic health record data from outpatient encounters in a public safety-net system. Documentation status was approximated using non-English primary language without a Social Security number (SSN) to classify patients with likely undocumented status and using English primary language with SSN for patients likely with legal status. Analyses compared visits from January to June 2024 and January to June 2025.

Main...

Rapid Wintertime Formation of Phenolic Secondary Organic Aerosol from Brown Carbon Photochemistry

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biomass burning (BB) is a major organic aerosol source during urban winter pollution events. BB particles are rich in brown carbon (BrC) and absorb light to produce photooxidants such as oxidizing triplet excited states of organic chromophores (3C*). In midlatitudes, semivolatile phenols (ArOH) from BB are oxidized to form phenolic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) under moderate temperatures and sunlight. Here, we explore whether phenolic SOA is also formed in a cold, relatively dark, high-latitude city during winter. We use measurements from the 2022 ALPACA field campaign in Fairbanks, Alaska, incorporated into the PACT-1D model with added emissions, partitioning, and chemistry for 34 semivolatile BB phenols. The model includes phenol oxidation in the gas phase and in two populations of particles─aqueous and organic. Despite short pollutant residence times within the polluted surface layer, simulated phenolic SOA formation is fast, generating up to 4.5 μg m-3, with 99% produced...

Mycorrhizal strategy of non-native plants varies with biome and disturbance.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Predicting which non-native plant species will become established and where is critical for conserving and managing biodiversity. Theory suggests that the mycorrhizal strategy of non-native plants may predict their establishment success. Here we combine a global dataset of 440,788 vegetation plots with data on plant native status and mycorrhizal type to assess mycorrhizal strategy of non-native plants. The mycorrhizal strategy of non-native plants varies strongly across biomes. Across grassland and desert biomes, non-native species are more frequently non-mycorrhizal than native species, whereas in other biomes non-native species are more likely to be mycorrhizal, most commonly arbuscular-mycorrhizal. Disturbance type and intensity are key predictors of mycorrhizal strategy of non-native species, as mycorrhizal species are favoured by landscape modification and non-mycorrhizal species by natural and human-caused disturbance events. Facultatively mycorrhizal species are consistently...

Body position classification using wearable sensors in infants with cerebral palsy

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Infants learn through everyday interactions with the physical and social environment. For infants with cerebral palsy (CP), motor impairments may disrupt everyday learning opportunities. How can we measure real-world motor behavior and learning opportunities in infants with CP? Machine learning models have been developed to quantify body position throughout a day in infants with typical development (TD) using wearable sensor data. However, these models have not been validated in infants with motor impairments. This study assessed the validity of body position classification using machine learning and sensors in infants with CP. Ten infants with CP (7-18 months; one session each) and 19 infants with TD (4-12 months; 45 sessions) wore four inertial sensors on their legs throughout a day. Ninety minutes were video recorded and manually scored for body position in five categories: supine, prone, sitting, standing, and held. Random forest classifiers were trained to predict body position...

Investigation of STEEP Using Phase-Shift-Keying Signaling for Secure Communications

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Secret-message transmission by echoing encrypted probes (STEEP) using phase-shift-keying (PSK) constellation of asymmetric sizes is investigated, and compared with a prior scheme which is limited to binary signaling. While both schemes can yield positive secrecy rates over a wiretap channel with eavesdropping channel being stronger than user’s, PSK-STEEP is more general and results in higher secrecy rates than the prior scheme. The secrecy rate of PSK-STEEP is shown to be increasing with the size of PSK constellation in phase 1 but is maximized by a binary PSK constellation in phase 2.

Natural Snow Accumulation Gradients Mediate Environmental and Plant Trait Responses to Earlier Snowmelt in Alpine Tundra.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mountain ecosystems are experiencing rapid climate changes, with implications for biodiversity and ecosystem function. Changing snow dynamics, especially earlier melt, are influencing the timing and length of growing seasons, species phenology, and plant abundance. Because mountains are characterized by high topographical and microclimatic variation, effects of changing snow dynamics may depend on small-scale variation in topographically mediated snow accumulation. Wind-scoured areas frequently lack snow cover and thus may be less vulnerable to earlier snowmelt than areas of deep snow accumulation. Here, we test this expectation by applying black sand to accelerate snowmelt in five 400 m² plots arranged along hillslope gradients. We followed the effects of experimentally accelerated snowmelt on snow-off timing, growing season length, soil moisture, and plant community composition for 6 years. The largest changes in snow-off timing (average of 15 days earlier) and growing...

Simultaneous Transcriptomic Analysis of Both Host and Symbiont in Insect–Fungus Interactions

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Simultaneous Transcriptomic Analysis of Both Host and Symbiont in Insect–Fungus Interactions

Binding of Acetate in the S2 State of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex in Photosystem II

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Photosynthetic water oxidation is catalyzed by the Mn4CaO5 oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII), where hydrogen-bonding and ion-binding networks regulate proton transfer, substrate-water delivery, and S-state advancement. Acetate binding inhibits oxygen evolution, competes with chloride, and stabilizes the S=5/2 spin isomer of the S2 state, but its donor-side binding site remains unresolved. Here, we combine EPR spectroscopy, pH-dependent oxygen-evolution measurements, mutagenesis, and QM/MM calculations to support a donor-side acetate-binding model and determine how acetate perturbs the OEC environment. Acetate increases the ratio of the g=4.1 to g=2 S2-state EPR signals in spinach PSII membranes and cyanobacterial PSII core complexes, with stronger stabilization persisting to higher pH in spinach PSII. The D1-N87A Synechocystis PSII variant exhibits spinach-like acetate sensitivity and pH-dependent oxygen-evolution behavior, with an effective acidic pKa of...

Climate variability introduces uncertainty into future emissions pathways

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Uncertainty in long-term climate outcomes arises not only from physical processes but also from societal responses to climate variability and change. Here we embed a range of temperature anomalies into an empirically-informed, coupled climate–social model to investigate how natural temperature variability, through its influence on societal decision-making, shapes global emissions trajectories. Using Monte Carlo ensembles spanning social, political, and technological parameters, we find that anomalous mid-century warmth strengthens public support for mitigation and accelerates the timing of net-zero emissions by several years, whereas anomalous cooling delays net-zero achievement. The response scales with the magnitude and persistence of variability with stronger and longer-lasting temperature anomalies producing larger shifts in mitigation timing. Across ensembles, high-variability climates are associated with higher emissions pathways and a greater likelihood of failing to reach...

Hemi-methylated DNA opens a closed conformation of UHRF1 to facilitate its histone recognition.

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

UHRF1 is an important epigenetic regulator for maintenance DNA methylation. UHRF1 recognizes hemi-methylated DNA (hm-DNA) and trimethylation of histone H3K9 (H3K9me3), but the regulatory mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that UHRF1 adopts a closed conformation, in which a C-terminal region (Spacer) binds to the tandem Tudor domain (TTD) and inhibits H3K9me3 recognition, whereas the SET-and-RING-associated (SRA) domain binds to the plant homeodomain (PHD) and inhibits H3R2 recognition. Hm-DNA impairs the intramolecular interactions and promotes H3K9me3 recognition by TTD-PHD. The Spacer also facilitates UHRF1-DNMT1 interaction and enhances hm-DNA-binding affinity of the SRA. When TTD-PHD binds to H3K9me3, SRA-Spacer may exist in a dynamic equilibrium: either recognizes hm-DNA or recruits DNMT1 to chromatin. Our study reveals the mechanism for regulation of H3K9me3 and hm-DNA recognition by URHF1.

Phosphodiesterase 4D acts downstream of Neuropilin to control Hedgehog signal transduction and the growth of medulloblastoma.

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alterations in Hedgehog (Hh) signaling lead to birth defects and cancers including medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor. Although inhibitors targeting the membrane protein Smoothened suppress Hh signaling, acquired drug resistance and tumor relapse call for additional therapeutic targets. Here we show that phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) acts downstream of Neuropilins to control Hh transduction and medulloblastoma growth. PDE4D interacts directly with Neuropilins, positive regulators of Hh pathway. The Neuropilin ligand Semaphorin3 enhances this interaction, promoting PDE4D translocation to the plasma membrane and cAMP degradation. The consequent inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) enhances Hh transduction. In the developing cerebellum, genetic removal of Neuropilins reduces Hh signaling activity and suppresses proliferation of granule neuron precursors. In mouse medulloblastoma allografts, PDE4D inhibitors suppress Hh transduction and inhibit tumor growth. Our...

Lénica Reyes Zúñiga and José Miguel Hernández Jaramillo. Los sonecitos olvidados de México. El manuscrito de Manuel García (1826–1828). PTNera Ediciones, 2026.

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lénica Reyes Zúñiga and José Miguel Hernández Jaramillo. Los sonecitos olvidados de México. El manuscrito de Manuel García (1826–1828). PTNera Ediciones, 2026.

Juan Luis Guerra’s Honest Don Giovanni: Structural Considerations in ‘Como abeja al panal’

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Juan Luis Guerra’s songs often draw from a variety of sources of inspiration, from Dominican merengue to Mozart, from Monet to García Lorca. In this article, I explore the parallels between Guerra’s “Como abeja al panal” and “Là ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovani. I argue that Guerra’s arrangement of the text and the supporting musical devices both on and beneath the surface, mirror Da Ponte’s and Mozart’s for Don Giovanni and Zerlina’s duettino. Although the voice in “Como abeja al panal” is honorable and Don Giovanni’s is decidedly not, the dramatic elements in both dialogues are supported by echoing musical structures. I conclude that, although Guerra’s protagonist is the antithesis of Da Ponte’s, the use of a structural strategy similar to Mozart’s in “Como abeja al panal,” allows Guerra to deliver a complex multilayered message of persuasion, inequality, honesty, chivalry and romantic love.

María Gembero-Ustárroz, ed. Música para mujeres en la España del siglo XVIII: Obras de Francisco de la Huerta para el Monasterio de Santa Ana de Ávila (1767-1778). Monumentos de la Música Española, Volume 87. Madrid: CSIC, 2025.

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

María Gembero-Ustárroz, ed. Música para mujeres en la España del siglo XVIII: Obras de Francisco de la Huerta para el Monasterio de Santa Ana de Ávila (1767-1778). Monumentos de la Música Española, Volume 87. Madrid: CSIC, 2025.

A Global Powerhouse: A Data-Driven Exploration of Latin America’s Contemporary Music Scenes

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article offers a comprehensive and data-driven exploration of the Latin music market’s transformation into a global cultural and economic force. It traces the evolution of Latin genres through streaming, algorithmic curation, viral trends, and artist innovation, from pioneers like Shakira and Daddy Yankee to new-generation icons such as Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Peso Pluma. Drawing from original interviews with producers and executives, industry reports (IFPI, RIAA, Luminate), and case studies from across Latin America, the United States, and Spain, the article reveals how language, genre fusion, strategic collaborations, and localized consumption patterns shape the music economy. It also analyzes the rising importance of Brazil’s and Mexico’s markets, the global traction of Música Mexicana, and the roles of independent distribution, catalog ownership, and algorithmic exposure. Special attention is given to emerging scenes in Central America and the structural, technological,...

Corridos del narcotráfico en el siglo XXI: censura y resistencia

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

En los últimos años hemos observado un incremento en el rechazo, y asedio, hacia músicos que componen y/o interpretan narcocorridos por parte de los medios de comunicación y organismos gubernamentales, por lo que este artículo pretende resaltar este punto específico de los estudios sobre el fenómeno del narcotráfico en México. Nuestro propósito no es negar las conexiones entre el crimen organizado y el narcocorrido, sino cuestionar la visión reduccionista de estas conexiones que, consideramos, se sobredimensionan en el debate público.

Carmen García Cornejo. Cantante, concertista y precursora de la folklorología en México

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Carmen García Cornejo fue una de las sopranos mexicanas más reconocidas de las tres primeras décadas del siglo XX. Una aproximación a su trayectoria a través de la prensa nacional e internacional, revela que fue una de las cantantes más importantes de México, cantó en los escenarios más grandes del mundo, sin embargo, debido a que en la actualidad esos hechos se desconocen, surgen las preguntas ¿Cuál fue la aportación de esta cantante en la promoción de la música mexicana dentro y fuera de México? ¿Detonó el inició de la folklorología con sus acciones? Hasta hoy no existe una biografía detallada que contemple también su labor en la difusión y preservación del patrimonio musical mexicano, es por ello que el propósito de este capítulo es crear una prosopografía a partir de fuentes bibliográficas, documentales, hemerográficas, y algunas partituras de una colección musical particular existente en Zacatecas.

Chapter 4 Is Lasting Change Possible? Lessons from the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Happiness seekers tend to focus on changing their life circumstances, such as buying a new house, switching jobs, or getting married. However, people have been found to adapt to both positive and negative life changes, such as marriage, job promotion, disability, and widowhood. This process—known as hedonic adaptation—can serve as a formidable barrier to achieving lasting happiness. The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model outlines why people adapt to life changes and sheds light on how adaptation to favorable events can be forestalled and how adaptation to unfavorable events can be hastened. In this chapter, we focus on a positive change as the model’s starting point, which is associated with an immediate boost in well-being and a gradual decline back to baseline. Individuals adapt to positive life changes due to increasing aspirations and declines in the number of positive events and emotions associated with the change. Fortunately, lasting happiness change is indeed possible,...

Staying Happier

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As many happiness seekers inevitably discover, human beings are remarkably susceptible to hedonic adaptation—the process of becoming accustomed to positive life changes. Even if individuals observe short-term increases in happiness, how can they avoid the natural erosion of happiness over time? Can anyone ever stay happier? In the present chapter, we review the mechanisms underlying hedonic adaptation to positive experiences and present evidence that sheds light on how people can deliberately prevent or slow it down. We argue that the intentional, effortful use of positive activities can produce and sustain significant increases in happiness.

Making Happiness Last Using the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model to Extend the Success of Positive Interventions

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Making Happiness Last Using the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model to Extend the Success of Positive Interventions

Dominant Controls on Preferential Flow and Their Implications for Future Soil Water Fluxes

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Soil water flow, particularly preferential flow (PF), is a critical control on hydrological and biogeochemical processes, including groundwater recharge, contaminant transport, and carbon cycling. However, it remains challenging to predict PF occurrence across large environmental gradients. Here, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to estimate event‐scale soil water flow velocity and the probability of PF occurrence using high‐frequency soil moisture and precipitation data from 33 sites across the National Ecological Observatory Network. The model demonstrated high skill in predicting the binary occurrence of PF (91% F1‐score; 85% accuracy) but the performance was limited in predicting soil water velocity ( R 2 = 0.31). We found that precipitation characteristics (duration, volume, and intensity) were the most important predictors for soil water velocity. Among the non‐precipitation event variables, sand content showed relatively high predictive skill,...

Mental health economics: A prospective study on psychological flourishing and associations with healthcare costs and sickness benefit transfers in Denmark

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background Escalating healthcare expenditures highlight the need to identify modifiable predictors of the use and costs of healthcare and sickness benefit transfers. We conducted a prospective analysis on Danish data to determine the costs associated with flourishing as compared to the below threshold level of flourishing. Methods We used data from a 2016 Danish survey of 3508 adults, which was linked to Danish register data. Flourishing was assessed with a validated psychological well-being scale. A two-part regression model was used to predict 2017 costs while adjusting for 2016 costs, demographic variables, and health status, including psychiatric morbidity and health behaviours. Costs are expressed in USD PPP. Results Applying criteria from prior literature, the prevalence of flourishing in Denmark (measured in 2016) was 34.7%. Flourishing was associated with significantly lower healthcare costs ($-687.7, 95% CI = $-1295.0, $-80.4) and sickness benefit transfers...

Identified charged hadron production in Au plus Au collisions at √s_NN=54.4GeV with the STAR detector

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Identified charged hadron production in Au plus Au collisions at √s_NN=54.4GeV with the STAR detector

Compactness of Commutators of Smoothing Pseudodifferential Operators and Pointwise Multiplication with Functions in the Space XMO

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The space CMO is a proper subspace of BMO typically employed in harmonic analysis to prove compactness results for commutators. It has been shown, however, that there exists another space XMO, which is also a proper subspace of BMO but larger than CMO, so that the commutators of pointwise multiplications by its members with certain pseudodifferential operators of order zero (associated with singular integral operator of Calderón-Zygmund type) still produce compact operators on Lebesgue spaces. The purpose of this article is to proved the analogous result for smoothing pseudodifferential operators of finite order (associated with fractional integral operators).

First Observation of Deuteron-Λ Correlations at RHIC

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Precise experimental information on hyperon-nucleon interactions is scarce but of paramount importance to our understanding of the inner structure of compact stars. In this Letter, we report the first experimental results of correlation functions between deuterons (d) and Λ hyperons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0 GeV measured by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A clear enhancement at small relative momenta has been observed in the correlation function. Through a Bayesian inference analysis, the source size parameters as a function of collision centrality and the spin-dependent strong interaction parameters (scattering length f_{0} and effective range d_{0}) are extracted using the Lednický-Lyuboshitz formalism. The derived doublet spin state parameters (f_{0}, d_{0}) lead to a novel method to precisely determine Λ separation energy for the weakly bounded hypertriton _{Λ}^{3}H.

Reproductive incompatibility and fitness components in Neoleucinodes elegantalis races (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from three Solanaceae hosts

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is a Neotropical Solanaceae pest that has evolved into four host races due to host plant association. In this study, prezygotic and postzygotic isolation were evaluated in parental and F1 generations collected from Solanum lycopersicum (S. 1), S. quitoense (S. q) and S. betaceum (S. b), representing medium size (S. 1, S. q) and large size genitalia races (S. b). 617 adults were obtained in the laboratory and 106 copulated. One spermatophore per female was found in the bursa copulatrix, suggesting monoandry. Crosses between adults mostly occurred assortatively. A third of the female's eggs laid occurred, but females from ♀. b x ♂ S. 1, ♀. 1 x ♂S. b and S. 1 x S. 1 did not. In the cross, ♀. 1 x ♂ S. q and its reciprocal F1 progeny developed into larvae. Reproductive success only occurred in three crosses: S. q x S. q, ♀. q x ♂ S. b and its reciprocal progeny. All the progeny from these crosses reached adulthood. The parental...

Taxonomic identification accuracy from BOLD and GenBank databases using over a thousand insect DNA barcodes from Colombia

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Recent declines of insect populations at high rates have resulted in the need to develop a quick method to determine their diversity and to process massive data for the identification of species of highly diverse groups. A short sequence of DNA from COI is widely used for insect identification by comparing it against sequences of known species. Repositories of sequences are available online with tools that facilitate matching of the sequences of interest to a known individual. However, the performance of these tools can differ. Here we aim to assess the accuracy in identification of insect taxonomic categories from two repositories, BOLD Systems and GenBank. This was done by comparing the sequence matches between the taxonomist identification and the suggested identification from the platforms. We used 1,160 COI sequences representing eight orders of insects from Colombia. After the comparison, we reanalyzed the results from a representative subset of the data from the subfamily...

Biogeography of tropical dry forest soils

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tropical dry forest is a biome characterized by prolonged dry seasons which harbors an exceptionally rich floristic biodiversity. Yet it is among the most threatened biomes and its belowground diversity remains poorly documented. Here, we analyzed the soil environmental DNA with metabarcoding to quantify the belowground diversity and composition of 11 tropical dry forest sites across four biogeographic regions in Colombia, and we provide a comparative analysis of the biogeographic drivers of soil biodiversity, including soil properties, climate, and spatial factors. We found that the soil microbial communities of tropical dry forests had high proportions of taxa associated with dry conditions, such as Actinomycetota, Glomeromycetes, and Amoebozoa, compared to other tropical forests. Soil mesofauna consisted mainly of ants, termites, and earthworms, with few enchytraeids. The soil microbial alpha and beta diversity were primarily driven by soil physicochemical and climatic drivers,...

Three new species of the genus Ripipteryx from Colombia (Orthoptera, Ripipterygidae)

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Three new species of Ripipteryx Newman (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Ripipterygidae) are described from Colombia; namely Ripipteryxdiegoi sp. n. (Forceps Group) and Ripipteryxguacharoensis sp. n. (Marginipennis Group) from Parque Nacional Natural Cueva de los Guacharos in Huila, and Ripipteryxgorgonaensis sp. n. (Crassicornis Group) from Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona in Cauca. Ripipteryxdiegoi sp. n. is characterized by the antennae black with white spots on flagellomeres 3-7, male subgenital plate with median ridge forming a bilobed setose process, epiproct produced laterally near its base and phallic complex with virga thickened distally and not reaching beyond the membrane. Ripipteryxguacharoensis sp. n. is characterized by the antennae thick with white spots present dorsally on flagellomeres 1-4 and 8, epiproct narrow and triangular, uncus reduced and lacking a distal hook, phallic complex with a concave ventral plate and a dorsal elevation in the middle extended to the virga,...

Taxonomic identification accuracy from BOLD and GenBank databases using over a thousand insect barcodes from Colombia

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Recent declines of insect populations at high rates have resulted in the need to develop a quick method to determine their diversity and to process massive data for the identification of species of highly diverse groups. A short sequence of DNA from COI is widely used for insect identification by comparing it against sequences of known species. Repositories of sequences are available online with tools that facilitate matching of the sequences of interest to a known individual. However, the performance of these tools can differ. Here we aim to assess the accuracy in identification of insect taxonomic categories from two repositories, BOLD Systems, and GenBank. This was done by comparing the sequence matches between taxonomist identification and the suggested identification from the platforms. We used 1160 sequences in eight orders of insects from Colombia. After the comparison, we reanalyzed the results from a representative subset of the data from the subfamily Scarabaeinae...

Biogeography of tropical dry forest soils

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The tropical dry forest is a tropical biome characterized by prolonged dry seasons, and harbors an exceptionally rich floristic biodiversity. Yet it is among the most threatened biomes and its belowground diversity remains poorly documented. Here, we analyzed the soil environmental DNA with metabarcoding to quantify the belowground diversity and composition of 11 tropical dry forest sites across four biogeographic regions in Colombia, and we provide a comparative analysis of the biogeographic drivers of soil biodiversity, including soil properties, climate, and spatial factors. We found that the soil microbial communities of tropical dry forests had high proportions of taxa associated with dry conditions, such as Actinomycetota, Glomeromycetes, and Amoebozoa, compared to other tropical forests. Soil mesofauna consisted mainly of ants, termites, and earthworms, with few enchytraeids. The soil microbial alpha and beta diversity were primarily driven by soil physicochemical and climatic...

Composición temporal de dípteros en un relicto de bosque seco tropical en Huila

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

El Bosque seco tropical (BST) es uno de los ecosistemas más amenazado a nivel mundial. La mayoría de estudios de artropofauna en BST se han enfocado en órdenes de insectos como Coleoptera, Lepidoptera e Hymenoptera, pero pocos han trabajado Diptera, a pesar de ser un grupo hiperdiverso y con varios roles tróficos. Este trabajo aporta una revisión exhaustiva de este orden para un relicto de BST en Colombia, localizado en la Ecoreserva La Tribuna, Neiva, Huila. Se buscó identificar los dípteros de la Ecoreserva, estimar riqueza y abundancia, y analizar índices de recambio de familias. Para esto, se ubicaron trampas Malaise en tres comunidades vegetales (Bosque interno, Chaparral y Lote 2) por cinco meses. Se recolectaron 16 997 individuos en 54 familias, de estas 19 familias se registran por primera vez con distribución en el Huila. Las familias que dominaron la riqueza y abundancia en las tres comunidades vegetales fueron Phoridae, Sciaridae, Cecidomyiidae, Ceratopogonidae, Sarcophagidae...

Facilitation influences when trees grow, but not growth rate in a dry temperate forest

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: Accurately predicting the role of forests in the global carbon cycle requires a detailed understanding of the factors mediating the timing and magnitude of radial stem growth. While weather conditions and topo‐edaphic factors play a critical role in mediating short‐term woody growth, biotic factors can also drive radial growth dynamics, yet their importance is often overlooked. To better understand how weather and neighbouring trees drive patterns of intra‐annual stem growth, we installed automated dendrometer bands on two tree species ( Pinus ponderosa , Quercus kelloggii ) in a dryland ecosystem for 2 years. We evaluated differences in radial growth dynamics between the two species...

Integrating experimental and observational approaches facilitates scaling species interactions to biodiversity patterns

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: To investigate how niche and fitness differences determine the outcome of species interactions and shape local biodiversity patterns, research has typically focused on either simplified experimental systems that test specific mechanisms or observational studies where processes are inferred from functional trait or phylogenetic patterns. While each approach has yielded valuable insights, both have drawbacks, and few studies have integrated these approaches to connect mechanistic processes with observed biodiversity patterns. To this end, we paired a 3‐year neighbour removal experiment involving 22 species pairs with spatial point pattern analyses conducted in 8 spatially explicit 2 m × 2 m plots arrayed across a stress‐resource gradient in the alpine tundra of Colorado. By employing this dual approach of experiment...

Tree diversity–soil organic carbon relationships strengthen under colder and more arid conditions

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an essential role in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation in forest ecosystems. While experimental studies have shown that plant diversity usually increases SOC, it remains unclear whether this positive relationship holds in natural ecosystems across varying climatic conditions. Using a global dataset of 15 large and long-term monitored natural forest sites spanning a wide latitudinal range, we assess the relationship between tree diversity and SOC within and across sites in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. We found an overall positive relationship between tree taxonomic diversity and SOC. The relationships between tree taxonomic or functional diversity and SOC became stronger under colder and more arid conditions. Additionally, tree functional composition was linked to SOC only within a subset of sites in more arid climates. These findings suggest that warmer and more humid conditions increase decomposition, offsetting...

ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN AN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL ALPINE LANDSCAPE

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN AN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL ALPINE LANDSCAPE

Habitat-specific trends in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in European plant communities over a century

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite widespread concern over global biodiversity loss, the balance between gains and losses within local plant communities remains contentious, largely due to a scarcity of integrative, long-term and large-scale analyses across different habitats and multiple facets of biodiversity. Here, we analyse 57,390 vegetation-plot time series of vascular plants across Europe to quantify the average and habitat-specific trends in taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic, and gamma diversity, alongside with changes in threatened Red List, non-native, and specialist versus generalist species. We find that, over the last 100 years, plant communities gained on average 0.7% in vegetation cover and 0.2% in species number per year, associated with gains in functional and phylogenetic diversity, non-native, Red List, and generalist species. Diversity changes are most pronounced in mire and wetland communities. Differences among habitat types and habitat-change trajectory (stable, successional,...

Isolation and characterization of the aconitate hydratase 4 (Aco4) gene from soybean

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aconitase catalyzes the reversible isomerization of two tricarboxylic acids, citrate and isocitrate, during the Krebs cycle. Five aconitase genes, namely, Aco1, Aco2, Aco3, Aco4, and Aco5, have been identified in soybean. Previously, Aco4 was mapped on chromosome 11. The purpose of this investigation was to isolate and sequence the candidate gene for Aco4. We mapped the Aco4 gene to a 148 kb region on chromosome 11 that contained 19 predicted genes. One of these, Glyma.11G080600, codes for aconitate hydratase. Sequencing of two isozyme variants (A-line and B-line) for Glyma.11G080600 revealed three synonymous and two non-synonymous substitutions. Perhaps, the two non-synonymous substitutions resulted in a variable isozyme pattern between the variants. Glyma.11G080600 contains a catalytic domain and a swivel domain that are known to catalyze isomerization of citrate to isocitrate and swiveling conformational change in the enzyme mechanism, respectively. Conservation of both the...

Precipitation legacy effects on gross N mineralization and nitrification rates in a Pinyon-Juniper dryland under altered precipitation

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Changes in precipitation patterns can influence soil nitrogen (N) cycling by altering the timing and extent of moisture availability. Arid conditions, associated with more frequent and severe droughts, can increase soil inorganic N concentrations when diffusion constraints decouple N sources and sinks, making this N susceptible to loss. Further, shifts in precipitation patterns in one season can “carry over” N into subsequent seasons, known as precipitation legacies. However, how these legacies increase soil N availability through changes in inorganic N production (i.e., gross N mineralization and nitrification) remain unclear. We manipulated the amount and timing of precipitation in a pinyon–juniper dryland by either adding or excluding precipitation during the winter or summer months and then measured the effects on inorganic N production using isotope pool dilutions. Excluding precipitation in the winter wet season—the most severe drought imposed—reduced average (± std. error)...

Postfire recovery trajectories of bulldozed versus burned chaparral eight years postfire

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundWe examined vegetation diversity, structure, and composition on and off fuel breaks established during a 2013 wildfire in California chaparral shrublands. Vegetation was sampled 8 years following the fire to identify any persistent changes in structure or composition caused by this fire management activity, with implications for postfire vegetation recovery.ResultsWhile species diversity and cover of lifeforms did not differ on and off fuel breaks, species composition and regeneration strategy of dominant shrubs differed significantly. Sites in fuel breaks were dominated by fast-growing subshrubs that regenerate from seeds and are more readily dispersed into sites—species that are typical indicators of the coastal sage scrub community. Sites off fuel breaks were characterized by a mix of resprouting and seeding shrubs typically associated with the chaparral community.ConclusionsFuel breaks established by bulldozers during wildland firefighting have impacts on chaparral...

An extraverted behavior intervention improves immune gene expression

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Social connection is critical to both psychological well-being and optimal immune function. The present study tested whether a behavioral intervention to increase social connection (promoting extraverted behavior) might reduce a threat-related immunoregulatory gene expression program known as the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA). The CTRA is characterized by elevated inflammatory gene expression and reduced innate antiviral gene expression in response to beta adrenergic signaling and has been associated with adverse social conditions such as loneliness and ostracism. METHODS: In an 8-week intervention (with 6-week behavior change protocol), participants from a campus community (N = 119; 87 % undergraduate; 9 % graduate; 4 % staff) were randomized to act more extraverted (sociable; Extraversion condition) or track routine daily activities (Control condition). Participants reported on psychological outcomes and provided...

Genome-wide CRISPR screen reveals PEX11B as a host restriction factor against ORFV through membrane fluidity regulation.

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Host-pathogen interactions are shaped by cellular restriction factors that direct antiviral defenses. We built the first ovine genome-wide CRISPR knockout library in sheep testis (OA3.Ts) cells, targeting all protein-coding genes. Using this platform, we identified PEX11B, a peroxisomal membrane regulatory protein, as a strong restriction factor against orf virus (ORFV) infection. Removing PEX11B increased viral susceptibility and triggered severe cytopathic effects with membrane fusion and syncytia formation. Mechanistic studies showed that PEX11B knockout harmed peroxisomal integrity and disrupted lipid metabolism. This led to greater plasma membrane fluidity, creating a proviral environment that allowed more viral entry and replication. These results reveal a new antiviral function for PEX11B in blocking viral infection and underscore the importance of peroxisomal regulation in host-virus interactions.

Human 2.0? AI and the Future of Well-Being, Connection, and Personal Growth: A Narrative Review

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This narrative review examines research on artificial intelligence (AI), including rule-based systems, natural language processing models, and large language models, in relation to well-being, social connection, and personal growth. After briefly tracing the history of AI, we review evidence from AI-facilitated well-being interventions, educational applications, interpersonal skill development, AI-mediated communication, and AI companionship. In clinical and nonclinical settings, structured AI applications show some short-term benefits for anxiety, stress, loneliness, self-esteem, learning, and social confidence, while emerging evidence suggests that AI companions may provide temporary emotional support and a sense of connection. However, findings across these domains are not consistent and appear to depend on how AI is used, the structure of the interaction, the type of feedback provided, and the broader context. Important risks include emotional dependence, overreliance, reduced...

Individual Differences in the Affective Experience of Writing a Gratitude Letter: Who Benefits Most?

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study merged archival data from three separate experiments to investigate the typology of individuals who benefit most and least from gratitude letter writing interventions (N = 487). First, k-means clustering of pre- to post-intervention changes in affect revealed three distinct groups: Buffered, Mixed Feelings, and Backfired. The Buffered cluster comprised individuals who, on average, experienced decreases in negative affect (e.g., less frustration) but no changes in positive emotions (e.g., joyful). The Mixed Feelings cluster experienced increases in positive affect, alongside self-conscious emotions, particularly indebtedness, which became more closely aligned with uplifting emotional states following the intervention. The Backfired cluster experienced decreases in positive feelings and increases in negative affect. Next, differences in individual characteristics across clusters indicated that those in the Buffered cluster were relatively more neurotic, had higher...

Quantitative Cerebrovascular Analysis for Improved Prediction of Post-Stroke Complications

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has transformed the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, a substantial proportion of AIS patients experience poor outcomes despite successful recanalization, often due to severe neurological deterioration or life-threatening complications. Early identification of these high-risk patients remains a major unmet need. In this study, we developed and validated machine-learning (ML) models that integrate automated quantitative brain arterial morphology and collateral grading with demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging variables to predict major post-EVT complications and early neurological outcomes. Using a prospectively collected database of 727 AIS patients that underwent EVT, we developed ML models to incorporate patient-specific vascular morphometry with conventional clinical, laboratory, and imaging data to predict emergence of early neurological deterioration (END), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), malignant brain...

Bridging the Art and Science: A Symposium Honoring Prof. Luis M. Liz-Marzán for the Dong Qin ACS Award in Nanochemistry.

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This Nano Focus article summarizes the symposium honoring the inaugural Dong Qin ACS Award in Nanochemistry at the ACS Spring 2026 meeting. The event celebrated the first recipient, Prof. Luis M. Liz-Marzán, and honored the legacy of Prof. Dong Qin. Key themes included data-driven and machine-learning-assisted synthesis, the engineering of chiral and asymmetric nanostructures for biomedical sensing, therapeutic delivery at the nano-bio interface, and high-throughput single-particle characterization techniques. Ultimately, the symposium showcased a future in which nanochemistry is increasingly automated, predictive, and biologically integrated.

How Chanting Enhances Well-Being: The Roles of Vocalization, Repetition, and Concentration

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

How Chanting Enhances Well-Being: The Roles of Vocalization, Repetition, and Concentration

Online Change-Point Detection for Functional Data

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this article, we propose a CUSUM-type online change-point detection procedure for monitoring a change in the mean function of dependent functional data. Our method is fully nonparametric and does not require dimension reduction for the functional observations. For the proposed sequential monitoring scheme, we provide the limiting distribution of the CUSUM monitoring statistic under the null hypothesis of no change, which yields the threshold to control the global false alarm rate asymptotically. Furthermore, we show that the proposed sequential test has an asymptotic power one. The method is illustrated by means of Monte Carlo simulation studies and an application to a real dataset. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Subtype-specific neutralizing antibodies promote antigenic shift during influenza virus co-infection

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reassortment between different influenza strains occurs when they co-infect the same host cell. The emergence of a reassortant virus depends on both its intrinsic fitness and extrinsic factors, including preexisting humoral immunity. The generation of pandemic strains, such as H2N2 and H3N2, and zoonotic influenza A viruses, such as H5N6, H5N8, and H7N9, in birds is suggested to be the result of extensive selection by preexisting antibodies. To further explore the role of humoral immunity in reassortment, we generated two divergent fluorescent protein-expressing viruses and used strain-specific and cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to assess the impact of cross-immunity on reassortment. Our results indicate that all mAbs altered the genotypic diversity and significantly reduced the release of progeny virions in co-infected cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, antibody transfer studies in mice revealed protection from challenge with divergent pathogenicity...

Pathways to Self-Compassion: The Effects of Self-Kind Behaviors and Self-Kind Thoughts on Self-Compassion and Well-Being

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pathways to Self-Compassion: The Effects of Self-Kind Behaviors and Self-Kind Thoughts on Self-Compassion and Well-Being

Size and oxidation state tracking of dynamic Rh catalysts on rutile TiO 2 by ambient-pressure XPS

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rhodium supported on titania (Rh/TiO 2 ) is an active catalyst for the reverse water gas shift reaction, yet the nature of the active sites for this reaction and others remain under debate due to the dynamic nature of the Rh coordination. Rhodium supported on titania (Rh/TiO 2 ) is an active catalyst for the reverse water gas shift reaction, yet the nature of the active sites for this reaction and others remain under debate. Single atom Rh sites have frequently been proposed as key sites, making it essential to monitor size changes of Rh species under in situ conditions to establish the structure–function relationship. However, surface-sensitive in situ measurements of nanosized particles remain experimentally challenging and have focused on metal oxide single crystal model systems. Here, we apply ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) to Rh/TiO 2 powdered catalysts under oxidizing and reducing environments. We find size-dependent binding energy shifts in...

Solidarity and Social Justice in the midst of covid-19

Sat, 8 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Solidarity and Social Justice in the midst of covid-19

Uniformization of Bounded Domains and Rigidity of Bergman Metrics

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This dissertation investigates rigidity in several complex variables through the study of intrinsic metrics on bounded domains in Cn. In particular, it focuses on geometric and analytic characterizations of the unit ball using the Carathéodory, Kobayashi, and Bergman metrics. These metrics are biholomorphically invariant and play a central role in understanding the complex geometry of domains independently of coordinate representations. The work is motivated by classical results of Lempert and Lu, as well as more recent developments concerning strongly pseudoconvex domains and curvature rigidity. The first main contribution concerns the Kähler structure of the Carathéodory metric on bounded strongly pseudoconvex domains. Lempert proved that on bounded convex domains the Carathéodory and Kobayashi metrics coincide, and an important consequence is that the Kobayashi metric is Kähler if and only if the domain is biholomorphic to the unit ball. More recently, Zimmer extended this...

Traversing Minecraft Through Story: Examining Fictional Story as a Cognitive Structuring Tool for Spatial Memory

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Spatial memory and navigation are critical for learning and interacting within complex environments, yet less is known about tools and conditions that support specific processes involved in the encoding and organization of large-scale spatial information. The present study investigated whether fictional story could serve as a cognitive structuring tool to support object-location memory in a large-scale virtual environment. A total of 120 undergraduate students completed the Minecraft Memory and Navigation (MMN) task and were randomly assigned to a fictional story, non-fictional narrative, or silent condition during passive route learning. Outcomes included object accuracy, object sensitivity (d′), spatial location accuracy, and object-location binding accuracy. Results indicated that fictional story did not significantly improve overall spatial memory performance relative to the other conditions. However, a marginal effect emerged for spatial location accuracy, with participants...

Movement and Nutritional Ecology of the Navel Orangeworm, Amyelois Transitella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)