@article {pmid40470745,
year = {2025},
author = {Avilés, JM and de la Cruz, C and González-Medina, E and Villegas, A and Valencia, J and Masero, JA},
title = {Body size as a mediator of climatic effects: Insights from a long-term study of social Iberian magpies.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {106},
number = {6},
pages = {e70130},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.70130},
pmid = {40470745},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {2PR02A080//Junta de Extremadura/ ; IB18089//Junta de Extremadura/ ; IPR99A020//Junta de Extremadura/ ; PRI09A057//Junta de Extremadura/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Body Size/physiology ; Male ; Female ; *Climate Change ; Reproduction ; *Passeriformes/physiology ; *Climate ; Time Factors ; },
abstract = {The importance of considering body size in assessing evolutionary responses to climatic change is increasingly recognized, as body size correlates with morphological, physiological, and ecological traits that are climate-sensitive and influence fitness. However, the role of body size in mediating climatic effects in vertebrates remains poorly understood. Here, we examined structural body-size responses to natal and adult-experienced climate in a social bird and assessed whether body size mediates the direction of climatic effects. Using 26 years of data on cooperatively breeding Iberian magpies Cyanopica cooki, we found that adult males reared in late spring nests were smaller than those hatched earlier in the breeding season. This pattern was driven by smaller females, which reproduced later and produced smaller sons. Larger males born in hottest years had lower lifetime fledgling production, while larger males experiencing hotter springs as adults produced more fledglings over their lifetime. Additionally, larger males born in driest years or raised in nests with many brood mates had shorter lifespans. Despite a significant increase in temperature in the study area over 26 years, the average tarsus length of males has not changed, likely due to opposing effects of natal and adult climate on body size. Our findings illustrate how inherited body size mediates climatic effects at different life stages, with these effects acting in contrasting directions on fecundity, resulting in apparent trait stasis despite ongoing climate warming.},
}

Animals
*Body Size/physiology
Male
Female
*Climate Change
Reproduction
*Passeriformes/physiology
*Climate
Time Factors

@article {pmid40467686,
year = {2025},
author = {Shawky, EM and Hamdy, R and Elgindi, MR and Baky, MH},
title = {UPLC-HRMS-MS profiling of Ludwigia adscendens subsp. diffusa aerial parts and investigation of the anti-inflammatory effect.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {19718},
pmid = {40467686},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; *Plant Extracts/pharmacology/chemistry ; Phytochemicals/pharmacology/chemistry/analysis ; Animals ; Mice ; Flavonoids ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; },
abstract = {Ludwigia adscendens subsp. diffusa (Forssk.) P.H. Raven, also known as L. stolonifera, is an aquatic herb belonging to family Onagraceae and widely distributed in canals and drains in the Nile Delta, Egypt. The main goal of the current study is to investigate the metabolic profile of L. adscendens aerial parts using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS/MS) and investigation of its anti-inflammatory activity. A total of 168 metabolites were identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis in negative and positive modes belonging to several phytochemical classes including phenolics (57), flavonoids (26), terpenoids (25), sterols (23), fatty acids (11), coumarins (7) organic acids (5), sugar derivatives (5), lactones (4), acids (3), and glycoside (2). The UPLC-MS analysis of L. adscendens revealed identification of a diverse array of phytochemicals which contribute to its potential pharmacological properties. The identification of bioactive metabolites in L. adscendens aerial parts including gallic acid, quercetin, ellagic acid, and betulinic acid can impart biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated for L. adscendens methanol and ethyl acetate extract using nitric acid inhibition assay revealing IC50 of 26.4 and 23.9 µg/ml, respectively, compared to resveratrol as a standard anti-inflammatory with IC50 value of 14.2 µg/ml. These findings can highlight the importance of L. adscendens aerial parts as a potential source of bioactive metabolites.},
}

*Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology/chemistry
*Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
*Plant Extracts/pharmacology/chemistry
Phytochemicals/pharmacology/chemistry/analysis
Animals
Mice
Flavonoids
RAW 264.7 Cells

@article {pmid40463953,
year = {2025},
author = {Eibner-Gebhardt, MW and Fleischer, RC and Campana, MG},
title = {A historical Hawaiian Avipoxvirus genome reconstructed from an 1898 museum specimen.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {4},
pages = {112153},
pmid = {40463953},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Avipoxvirus is an avian pathogen that likely contributed to the declines and extinctions of endemic Hawaiian birds since its 19th century introduction. We surveyed 719 DNA libraries, including 639 representing 440 Hawaiian bird specimens, for evidence of Avipoxvirus infection. We reconstructed a 5.2× Avipoxvirus genome from an 1898 Hawaii 'amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) specimen. Its sequence matched an extant Hawaiian Avipoxvirus strain, supporting the strain's persistence in Hawaii over the last century. We identified the earliest molecularly verified case of Avipoxvirus in the Hawaiian Islands in an 1887 'alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) specimen and reconstructed a partial Avipoxvirus genome from this specimen. Both specimens' Avipoxvirus strains were most closely related to canarypox virus, suggesting that introduced passerines may be the source of Avipoxvirus in Hawaiian endemic land birds. These findings clarify the origins and evolution of Avipoxvirus in Hawaii and provide evidence for the broader role of pathogens in driving biodiversity loss.},
}

@article {pmid40455535,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, J and Palmeri, TJ},
title = {Modeling the dynamics of real-world perceptual expertise.},
journal = {Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1037/xlm0001496},
pmid = {40455535},
issn = {1939-1285},
support = {//National Science Foundation/ ; //Vanderbilt University/ ; },
abstract = {Novices are faster to verify categories at intermediate ("basic") levels of abstraction (bird) than superordinate (animal) or subordinate (blue jay) levels, whereas experts are equally fast at subordinate and intermediate levels. One explanation ("entry-level hypothesis") is that for novices, categorization at intermediate levels is faster because it is the "entry level" into conceptual knowledge; experts become as fast at the subordinate level because the subordinate level becomes an alternative entry level. An alternative explanation ("differentiation hypothesis") is that for novices, categorization at intermediate levels is faster because that level is more differentiated and informative, not that it happens first; experts become as fast at the subordinate level because representations of objects at that level become more differentiated. We evaluated these hypotheses by fitting the diffusion decision model to accuracy and response time data from online participants with various psychometrically measured levels of birding expertise. We identified the alternative hypotheses with diffusion decision model parameters: Differences in nondecision time across category levels are arguably associated with the entry-level hypothesis, whereas differences in drift rate are arguably associated with the differentiation hypothesis. We fitted the diffusion decision model using a Bayesian hierarchical framework to estimate individual differences in model parameters across conditions. Behaviorally, we replicated the entry-level shift online. Theoretically, we found that differences in categorization speed across levels of expertise were captured by differences in both drift rate and nondecision time across levels. These results provide insights into the changes in representations and processes with the development of perceptual expertise. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).},
}

@article {pmid40452390,
year = {2025},
author = {Xin-Li, and Lingling-Hu, and Weimin-Song, and Qian-Lu, },
title = {Safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of periorbital skin photoaging.},
journal = {Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-7},
doi = {10.1080/14764172.2025.2513380},
pmid = {40452390},
issn = {1476-4180},
abstract = {Periorbital skin photoaging is a common cosmetic problem.Presently, conventional treatment methods cannot achieve satisfactory results. Periorbital skin aging may benefit from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. However, there is little experimental evidence on the safety and efficacy of PRP in the treatment of periorbital skin photoaging. To examine the safety and efficacy of PRP injection in the treatment of periorbital skin photoaging, PRP was injected into the periorbital skin of 20 patients, and patient satisfaction was assessed at the first month (M1), the second month (M2), and the third month (M3) after treatment. Two experienced dermatologists independently evaluated the patient's skin before and after treatment according to internationally accepted guidelines. The objective indicators of skin hydration, melanin index, erythema index, skin brightness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity, and skin thickness were measured. Some subjective indicators, including pigmentation around the eyes, suborbital wrinkles, and static crow's feet, were significantly improved. Some objective indicators, including skin brightness, skin thickness, and collagen strength, were also significantly improved. Eye bags and TEWL slightly improved, but the differences were not statistically significant. The overall patient satisfaction with the treatment was high, no serious complications were noted, and the recovery profile was favorable. PRP injection was safe and effective for the treatment of periorbital skin photoaging.},
}

@article {pmid40448730,
year = {2025},
author = {Lamien-Meda, A and Harl, J and Lieber, A and Unterköfler, MS and Eigner, B and Wortha, LN and Müller, F and Heddergott, M and Fuehrer, HP},
title = {Molecular analysis of blood-associated pathogens in common ravens (Corvus corax) from Germany.},
journal = {Parasitology research},
volume = {124},
number = {6},
pages = {56},
pmid = {40448730},
issn = {1432-1955},
mesh = {Animals ; Germany/epidemiology ; *Crows/parasitology ; Prevalence ; *Bird Diseases/parasitology/epidemiology ; *Haemosporida/isolation & purification/genetics/classification ; Trypanosomatina/isolation & purification/genetics/classification ; *Blood/parasitology ; Filarioidea/isolation & purification/genetics/classification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Common ravens (Corvus corax) are intelligent scavengers that adapt to diverse environments, playing a key ecological role, but their health and ecosystem contributions can be affected by parasites. This study investigates the prevalence and diversity of blood parasite infections in common ravens using molecular techniques. Blood samples (n = 42) were collected from dead common ravens in Germany and screened for filarioid nematodes, trypanosomatids, and haemosporidian parasites. The results showed that 26.2% of the common ravens were PCR-positive for at least one parasite, with some cases of mixed infections. Filarioid nematodes were found in 16.7%, trypanosomatids in 4.8%, and haemosporidian parasites in 16.7% of the common ravens. Sequencing revealed the presence of four Leucocytozoon CytB lineages and one Haemoproteus lineage. The findings suggest that common ravens in Germany are often infected with diverse avian blood parasites, with a higher prevalence of filarioid nematodes. Further research is needed to confirm the circulation of these parasites in the common raven population and to identify the specific filarioid nematode species present in Germany.},
}

Animals
Germany/epidemiology
*Crows/parasitology
Prevalence
*Bird Diseases/parasitology/epidemiology
*Haemosporida/isolation & purification/genetics/classification
Trypanosomatina/isolation & purification/genetics/classification
*Blood/parasitology
Filarioidea/isolation & purification/genetics/classification
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA

@article {pmid40442496,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhojani-Lynch, T and Shah-Desai, S and Bichet, JC and Magalhães, B and Poupard, K},
title = {Real-World Evidence on the Routine Use, Efficacy, and Safety of a Hyaluronic Acid-Based Dermal Filler in the Periorbital Region.},
journal = {Aesthetic plastic surgery},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40442496},
issn = {1432-5241},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The appearance of the periorbital region is essential in facial aesthetic perception and is a frequent concern of patients seeking rejuvenation. TEOSYAL® PureSense Redensity 2 (R2) has a 10-year track record of effectively and safely treating the under-eye area, specifically the tear trough.

METHODS: A prospective, observational study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of R2 in a real-world setting for aesthetic indications. Participants received at least one treatment injection with R2, and investigators followed their routine injection techniques and indications. The primary endpoint was the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score recorded 3 months post-injection. Secondary efficacy outcomes included subject and investigator satisfaction, as well as GAIS scores at later timepoints. Safety was monitored by documenting common treatment responses (CTRs) and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS: The 136 subjects enrolled in EYELIGHT received 958 initial injections, of which 451 (47.1%) were performed with R2: 89 (35.3%) tear trough, 61 (24.2%) palpebromalar groove, 45 (17.9%) outer canthus, 38 (15.1%) crow's feet, and 19 (7.5%) brow. A GAIS improvement of more than 70% was achieved for the tear trough and remaining periorbital indications, with most subjects reporting satisfaction with treatment (84.3%). Treatment effect was observed up to 12 months post-injection. All CTRs were mild or moderate and resolved within a month. No severe AEs were reported.

CONCLUSION: Real-world evidence confirmed the 10-year long success of R2 as an effective and safe treatment of the tear trough. Based on this evidence, its use extends beyond the tear trough, showing effectiveness and safety in the whole periorbital area.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .},
}

@article {pmid40425099,
year = {2025},
author = {Helal, ZH and Soriano, NF and Chung, DH and Lee, DH and Tocco, N and Gazeyoglu, F and Hyeon, JY and Risatti, GR},
title = {Molecular epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Raptors, Connecticut, USA, 2022: A case series with whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.},
journal = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {105769},
doi = {10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105769},
pmid = {40425099},
issn = {1567-7257},
abstract = {West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, circulates in an enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes, with raptors serving as key amplifying hosts. Despite their importance in WNV surveillance, complete genome sequences from raptors remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of WNV in raptors from Connecticut, USA. Samples were collected in 2022 from the brain tissue of deceased red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, Cooper's hawks, a peregrine falcon, and American crows. Complete protein-coding sequences (CDSs) of 19 WNV isolates were obtained using multiplex tiling reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) developed in this study and Illumina iSeq100 sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses revealed our sequences were grouped into two monophyletic clusters and two singletons within lineage 1, showing genetic similarities to WNV strains detected in mosquitoes in New York (2012-2015) rather than earlier strains from Connecticut (1999-2008). Bayesian analysis indicated at least four independent introductions, with the estimated time to the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) for Clusters 1 and 2 in April 2009 and February 2010, respectively. The mean substitution rate was 4.30 × 10[-4] substitutions/site/year. All sequences contained the T249P mutation in NS3, which has been linked to reduced virulence in avian models. These findings provide valuable reference data for future WNV genomic surveillance studies, emphasizing the role of raptors as sentinel species and the need for ongoing genomic surveillance to monitor WNV evolution, transmission, and potential public health risks.},
}

@article {pmid40418245,
year = {2025},
author = {Hunter, H and Blackburn, G and Ashton, BJ and Ridley, AR},
title = {Group size affects spontaneous quantity discrimination performance in wild Western Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis).},
journal = {Animal cognition},
volume = {28},
number = {1},
pages = {41},
pmid = {40418245},
issn = {1435-9456},
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Discrimination, Psychological ; Female ; Reward ; *Passeriformes/physiology ; Social Behavior ; Western Australia ; },
abstract = {Animals may benefit from the ability to discriminate between quantities in their environment; for example, when choosing between foraging patches differing in food availability or assessing the size of rival groups. Numerous studies utilising spontaneous quantity discrimination tasks have found that a wide range of species possess the ability to discriminate between quantities, with large interspecific differences being found in these capabilities. However, the causes of variation in quantity discrimination have received less attention, particularly when considering intraspecific variation. Here, we use a spontaneous quantity discrimination task to (i) investigate if Western Australian magpies possess quantity discrimination abilities, and (ii) determine the factors that underlie individual variation in this ability. We found that magpies were able to discriminate between two discrete quantities of a food reward and chose the larger quantity of food more often than expected by chance, with their accuracy increasing as the difference between the two quantities of food items increased (i.e. as the ratio decreased). Individual performance on the assay was significantly affected by group size, with individuals from smaller groups choosing the larger quantity of food more often than individuals from larger groups when presented with the 2 vs. 5 combination. This group size difference may arise because individuals from smaller groups benefit more from enhanced quantity discrimination abilities compared to individuals from larger groups due to the greater risk of competition and loss of resources from intergroup conflict with larger groups. Our study is the first to investigate and identify group size as a source of intraspecific variation in spontaneous quantity discrimination abilities and highlights the importance of considering the causes of individual variation in cognitive performance.},
}

Animals
Male
*Discrimination, Psychological
Female
Reward
*Passeriformes/physiology
Social Behavior
Western Australia

@article {pmid40411979,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, L and Han, Y and Yan, H and Zhang, C and Li, X and Liang, J and Tang, C and Wu, W and Deng, W and Xie, G and Guo, W},
title = {Decreased left brain specialization in bipolar disorder patients and its association with neurotransmitter and genetic profiles: A longitudinal study.},
journal = {Asian journal of psychiatry},
volume = {109},
number = {},
pages = {104539},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104539},
pmid = {40411979},
issn = {1876-2026},
abstract = {Brain specialization plays a crucial role in human behavior and cognition. Previous studies have suggested abnormal specialization in psychiatric disorders; however, the specialization patterns of bipolar disorder (BD) and the effects of medication on these changes remain unclear. According to Crow's hypothesis regarding the key role of language in the origin of psychoses, BD patients (BDPs) may exhibit abnormal language-related specialization. Here, we aimed to explore brain specialization alterations of BDPs before and after pharmacological treatment. The autonomy index, based on resting-state images, was used to assess brain specialization in 82 BDPs and 88 healthy controls (HCs). Among patients, 43 BDPs who underwent 3 months of pharmacological treatment completed the follow-up. Using autonomy index as input, support vector regression (SVR) analysis was conducted to predict treatment response. Additionally, we conducted cross-sample correlation analyses between autonomy index and genetic profiles or the densities of neurotransmitter receptors/transporters. At baseline, BDPs exhibited reduced autonomy index in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) relative to HCs. However, no significant alterations were observed following pharmacological treatment. Using autonomy index, the SVR model could predict treatment response for BDPs with a correlation coefficient of 0.705. Brain specialization patterns were correlated with six genes and neurotransmitters including dopaminergic (D1R, D2R, and DAT) and serotonergic (5-HT2A) transmission. In line with Crow's hypothesis, we found reduced brain specialization in a key node of the language network (LN) in BDPs. We also provided potential genetic and biological mechanisms underlying BD.},
}

@article {pmid40410321,
year = {2025},
author = {Ghochani, G and Aghajani, A and Rajabi, MT and Zand, A and Yaseri, M and Rafizadeh, SM},
title = {Comparison of Two Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A Preparations (Masport and Dysport) for Upper Face Rhytides: A Randomized Clinical Trial.},
journal = {Aesthetic plastic surgery},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40410321},
issn = {1432-5241},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Botulinum neurotoxin type A has played a key role in the treatment of facial rhytides. We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of Masport and Dysport as botulinum toxin type A preparations in the treatment of upper face rhytides.

METHODS: A double-blind randomized, clinical trial was conducted on adults with at least mild severity (scale 1) for lateral canthal (crow's feet), glabellar, and frontal lines at maximum contraction positions (dynamic status), regardless of their static scales (rest position). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Masport or Dysport. Rhytides in each area were scaled at baseline and at post-injection weeks 2, 8, 12, and 16. Self-satisfaction were assessed at follow-ups.

RESULTS: For both groups, a decrease in dynamic rhytides was observed at week 2 compared to baseline (all Ps < 0.05). Although dynamic rhytides increased again in subsequent follow-ups, they remained significantly lower than baseline levels until week 12 (all Ps < 0.05). By week 16, no differences were observed compared to baseline (all Ps > 0.05). While at week 2, both dynamic and static scales were higher in the Masport group (all Ps < 0.05), this difference did not persist for most of them at weeks 12 and 16. Satisfaction scores were similar between the groups throughout all follow-ups (all Ps > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The onset and duration of action for Masport and Dysport are similar in the treatment of upper face rhytides at equal doses. While Dysport may initially show a stronger effect than Masport in treating upper face rhytides, this advantage does not persist in the long term.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .},
}

@article {pmid40408204,
year = {2025},
author = {Kwiatkowski, J and Krawiec, K},
title = {Staged Self-Supervised Learning for Raven Progressive Matrices.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning systems},
volume = {PP},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1109/TNNLS.2025.3561069},
pmid = {40408204},
issn = {2162-2388},
abstract = {This study presents and investigates abstract compositional transformers (ACTs), a class of deep learning (DL) architectures based on the transformer blueprint, designed to handle abstract reasoning tasks that require completing spatial visual patterns. We combine ACTs with choice-making modules and apply them to Raven progressive matrices (RPMs), logical puzzles that require selecting the correct image from the available answers. We devise a number of ACT variants, train them in several modes and with additional augmentations, subject them to ablations, demonstrate their data scalability, and analyze their behavior and latent representations that emerged in the process. Using self-supervision allows us to successfully train ACTs on relatively small training sets, mitigate several biases identified in RPMs in past studies, and achieve SotA results on the two most popular RPM benchmarks.},
}

@article {pmid40407737,
year = {2025},
author = {De León-Hernández, A and Martínez-Hernández, A and Bolivar-Tellería, I and Bosch-Sánchez, A and Cabrera-Padilla, MF and López-López, CO},
title = {A Method for Custom-Contoured Cushion Fabrication Based on Pressure Mapping for Wheelchair Users to Prevent Pressure Ulcers: Feasibility Quasi-Experimental Study.},
journal = {JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {e68612},
doi = {10.2196/68612},
pmid = {40407737},
issn = {2369-2529},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers constitute a major health care burden, characterized by significant morbidity, diminished quality of life, and elevated treatment costs. Wheelchair users are predisposed to pressure ulcers due to sustained ischial and sacral interface pressures resulting from prolonged periods of sitting. Implementation of pressure-relieving interventions, including specialized seating systems engineered to redistribute load and augment the weight-bearing surface area, is critical for mitigating the risk of pressure ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate a methodology for the custom fabrication of pressure relief cushions, through the user-cushion interface pressure mapping to reduce high-pressure areas and increase contact area in wheelchair users.

METHODS: First, a validation study was carried out with 7 healthy volunteers. The pressure was determined with an FSA sensor (BodiTrak BT1510, Vista Medical Manufactures), and the cushion profile was obtained through a linear relation with pressure values. In the second phase, 10 cushions for wheelchair users were manufactured and tested. The resulting data from buttock pressure using a flat foam, Jay X2 (gel-foam), ROHO high profile (air), and customed-contoured cushions were analyzed and compared using the following 4 variables: peak pressure, peak pressure index, mean pressure, and contact area.

RESULTS: In the validation study, the statistically significant difference between the flat and the custom-contoured cushion showed a better performance in pressure relief for the custom cushion (mean pressure 27.3, SD 4.5 mm Hg and 34.6, SD 3.5 mm Hg; P<.001). Regarding the study with wheelchair users, custom-contoured cushions had lower peak pressure (mean 91.3, SD 36 mm Hg), peak pressure index (mean 69.5, SD 33.7 mm Hg), and mean pressure (34.2, SD 17.4 mm Hg) against flat, Jay X2, and ROHO high profile cushions (P<.005). The contact area (mean 1457.6, SD 254.1 cm2) was greater for the contoured cushion (P<.001) than for flat and ROHO high profile (Permobile) cushions; nevertheless, it was not significantly different from Jay X2 (P=.59).

CONCLUSIONS: The main finding is that the buttock pressure mapping method produces custom-contoured cushions that, compared with commercial cushions, have good pressure distribution and increased contact area. These results suggest that pressure mapping is a good alternative for manufacturing affordable custom-contoured cushions that can prevent the development of pressure ulcers.},
}

@article {pmid40403206,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, C and Wang, Z and Peng, Y and Xiao, W},
title = {An improved Red-billed blue magpie feature selection algorithm for medical data processing.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0324866},
pmid = {40403206},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Algorithms ; Humans ; *Data Mining/methods ; Machine Learning ; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods ; },
abstract = {Feature selection is a crucial preprocessing step in the fields of machine learning, data mining and pattern recognition. In medical data analysis, the large number and complexity of features are often accompanied by redundant or irrelevant features, which not only increase the computational burden, but also may lead to model overfitting, which in turn affects its generalization ability. To address this problem, this paper proposes an improved red-billed blue magpie algorithm (IRBMO), which is specifically optimized for the feature selection task, and significantly improves the performance and efficiency of the algorithm on medical data by introducing multiple innovative behavioral strategies. The core mechanisms of IRBMO include: elite search behavior, which improves global optimization by guiding the search to expand in more promising directions; collaborative hunting behavior, which quickly identifies key features and promotes collaborative optimization among feature subsets; and memory storage behavior, which leverages historically valid information to improve search efficiency and accuracy. To adapt to the feature selection problem, we convert the continuous optimization algorithm to binary form via transfer function, which further enhances the applicability of the algorithm. In order to comprehensively verify the performance of IRBMO, this paper designs a series of experiments to compare it with nine mainstream binary optimization algorithms. The experiments are based on 12 medical datasets, and the results show that IRBMO achieves optimal overall performance in key metrics such as fitness value, classification accuracy and specificity. In addition, compared with nine existing feature selection methods, IRBMO demonstrates significant advantages in terms of fitness value. To further enhance the performance, this paper also constructs the V2IRBMO variant by combining the S-shaped and V-shaped transfer functions, which further enhances the robustness and generalization ability of the algorithm. Experiments demonstrate that IRBMO exhibits high efficiency, generality and excellent generalization ability in feature selection tasks. In addition, used in conjunction with the KNN classifier, IRBMO significantly improves the classification accuracy, with an average accuracy improvement of 43.89% on 12 medical datasets compared to the original Red-billed Blue Magpie algorithm. These results demonstrate the potential and wide applicability of IRBMO in feature selection for medical data.},
}

*Algorithms
Humans
*Data Mining/methods
Machine Learning
Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods

@article {pmid40389693,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Zhan, P},
title = {Eye-tracking-based hidden Markov modeling for revealing within-item cognitive strategy switching.},
journal = {Behavior research methods},
volume = {57},
number = {6},
pages = {175},
pmid = {40389693},
issn = {1554-3528},
support = {24YJA190019//the MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences/ ; 31900795//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Markov Chains ; *Problem Solving/physiology ; *Eye-Tracking Technology ; *Cognition/physiology ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Adult ; *Eye Movements/physiology ; },
abstract = {Identifying cognitive strategies in problem-solving helps researchers understand advanced cognitive processes and their applicable contexts. Current methods typically identify strategies for each item of Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, capturing only between-item cognitive strategy switching (CSS). Although within-item CSS is recognized, methods to dynamically identify and reveal it are lacking. This study introduces the concept of an eye movement snippet, a basic unit for studying within-item CSS, along with a new eye-tracking process measure that quantifies the sequence length of alternatives viewed in a snippet. Combined with hidden Markov modeling, we propose a new method for dynamically identifying within-item cognitive strategies and revealing their switching. Using eye-tracking data from a matrix reasoning test, we demonstrate the value of the proposed method through a series of analyses. The results indicate that during problem-solving: (1) participants predominantly used two strategies-constructive matching and response elimination; (2) there is a high probability of switching from constructive matching to response elimination, but not vice versa; (3) more difficult items lead to more frequent strategy switching; (4) frequent strategy switching decreases time spent in the matrix area and on problem-solving planning; (5) frequent strategy switching correlates with incorrect answers for some items; and (6) frequent strategy switching increases total response time. Additionally, within-item CSS showed three distinct patterns as the test progressed, with significant differences in participants' intelligence levels and total test time among the patterns. Overall, the proposed method effectively identifies within-item cognitive strategies and their switching in matrix reasoning tasks.},
}

Humans
*Markov Chains
*Problem Solving/physiology
*Eye-Tracking Technology
*Cognition/physiology
Male
Female
Young Adult
Adult
*Eye Movements/physiology

@article {pmid40380315,
year = {2025},
author = {Malin, KJ and Vance, AJ and Moser, SE and Zemlak, J and Edwards, C and White-Traut, R and Koerner, R and McGrath, J and McGlothen-Bell, K},
title = {The impact of social determinants of health on infant and maternal health using a reproductive justice lens.},
journal = {BMC pregnancy and childbirth},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {577},
pmid = {40380315},
issn = {1471-2393},
support = {1K23NR021043-01A1/NR/NINR NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Social Determinants of Health/statistics & numerical data ; Pregnancy ; *Maternal Health/statistics & numerical data ; *Infant Health/statistics & numerical data ; Infant, Newborn ; United States/epidemiology ; *Social Justice ; Infant ; Adult ; Infant Mortality ; Prenatal Care/statistics & numerical data ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions continue to rise in the United States (US). Social determinants of health (SDOH) are recognized as significant contributors to infant and maternal health, underscoring the need for use of research frameworks that incorporate SDOH concepts. The Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT) theoretical framework is rooted in reproductive justice (i.e. reproductive rights and social justice-based framework) and emphasizes both structural and social determinants as root causes of health inequities. The impact of SDOH on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity can often be traced to structural determinants unique to the US, including slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, and the GI Bill.

AIMS: Using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 8 database, we aimed to evaluate relationships between SDOH (as guided by the ROOTT Framework) and maternal and infant health outcomes.

METHODS: Data were analyzed from 11 states that included the SDOH supplement in their PRAMS 8 data collection. We used bivariate analyses to examine relationships between SDOH measures guided by the ROOTT framework (e.g. abuse during pregnancy, access to prenatal care, housing stability and education) and maternal morbidity (i.e., gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes) and infant outcomes (i.e., preterm birth, NICU admission, breastfeeding). Pre-identified covariates were controlled for in the logistic and linear regression models.

RESULTS: Preterm birth, NICU admission, breastfeeding, and maternal morbidities were significantly associated with SDOH measures linked to structural determinants in the US. Abuse during pregnancy, access to prenatal care, housing, and education were all significantly associated with poorer infant health outcomes in the final regression models. Women who received prenatal care beginning in the 3[rd] trimester were twice as likely to develop gestational hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS: SDOHs rooted in structural determinants are important predictors of poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. Evaluating health outcomes using a reproductive justice framework reveals modifiable risk factors, including access to stable healthcare, safety, and housing. Comprehensive healthcare provision must ensure early and consistent access to healthcare and resources for safety and housing stability to support maternal and infant health.},
}

Humans
Female
*Social Determinants of Health/statistics & numerical data
Pregnancy
*Maternal Health/statistics & numerical data
*Infant Health/statistics & numerical data
Infant, Newborn
United States/epidemiology
*Social Justice
Infant
Adult
Infant Mortality
Prenatal Care/statistics & numerical data

@article {pmid40378360,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhavnani, S and Ranjan, A and Mukherjee, D and Divan, G and Prakash, A and Yadav, A and Lal, C and Gajria, D and Irfan, H and Sharma, KK and Todkar, S and Patel, V and McCray, G},
title = {A non-specialist worker delivered digital assessment of cognitive development (DEEP) in young children: A longitudinal validation study in rural India.},
journal = {PLOS digital health},
volume = {4},
number = {5},
pages = {e0000824},
pmid = {40378360},
issn = {2767-3170},
abstract = {Cognitive development in early childhood is critical for life-long well-being. Existing cognitive development surveillance tools require lengthy parental interviews and observations of children. Developmental Assessment on an E-Platform (DEEP) is a digital tool designed to address this gap by providing a gamified, direct assessment of cognition in young children which can be delivered by front-line providers in community settings. This longitudinal study recruited children from the SPRING trial in rural Haryana, India. DEEP was administered at 39 (SD 1; N = 1359), 60 (SD 5; N = 1234) and 95 (SD 4; N = 600) months and scores were derived using item response theory. Criterion validity was examined by correlating DEEP-score with age, Bayley's Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) cognitive domain score at age 3 and Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) at age 8; predictive validity was examined by correlating DEEP-scores at preschool-age with academic performance at age 8 and convergent validity through correlations with height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), socioeconomic status (SES) and early life adversities. DEEP-score correlated strongly with age (r = 0.83, 95% CI 0.82 0.84) and moderately with BSID-III (r = 0.50, 0.39 - 0.60) and CPM (r = 0.37; 0.30 - 0.44). DEEP-score at preschool-age predicted academic outcomes at school-age (0.32; 0.25 - 0.41) and correlated positively with HAZ and SES and negatively with early life adversities. DEEP provides a valid, scalable method for cognitive assessment. It's integration into developmental surveillance programs could aid in monitoring and early detection of cognitive delays, enabling timely interventions.},
}

@article {pmid40372593,
year = {2025},
author = {Loconsole, M and Schnell, AK and Garcia-Pelegrin, E and Clayton, NS},
title = {Uncertainty monitoring in Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius).},
journal = {Animal cognition},
volume = {28},
number = {1},
pages = {37},
pmid = {40372593},
issn = {1435-9456},
mesh = {Uncertainty ; Animals ; Male ; *Metacognition ; Female ; Decision Making ; Memory, Short-Term ; Choice Behavior ; *Passeriformes ; Reward ; },
abstract = {Metacognition- namely the capacity to reflect on one's own cognitive processes - provides animals with numerous evolutionary advantages. Metacognition abilities encompass enhanced decision-making in uncertain situations, more efficient resource management, error detection and correction, and improved problem-solving skills. Here, we investigate how Eurasian jays, Garrulus glandarius, monitor uncertainty through a working memory food-retrieval task. In this task, a desirable food item is hidden under one of two cups, which are then shuffled either once (easy treatment) or several times (difficult treatment). The jays then choose to either engage in locating the food or opt out by selecting a third cup that offers a less preferred food reward. Our findings reveal that the difficulty of the task significantly influenced the jays' choice, with a higher tendency to opt out during difficult trials. Individual performance analysis revealed that when jays that typically opted out of difficult trials chose to engage instead, they exhibited significant accuracy. This suggests their decisions were guided by a confidence assessment of their knowledge. Overall, our study indicates that Eurasian jays possess metacognitive abilities that enable them to evaluate their own certainty and make strategic decisions based on perceived task difficulty and confidence in their knowledge. These capabilities likely confer advantages in natural settings, such as caching behaviours, allowing jays to make well-informed decisions about when to store or retrieve food based on environmental cues and internal assessments of uncertainty.},
}

Uncertainty
Animals
Male
*Metacognition
Female
Decision Making
Memory, Short-Term
Choice Behavior
*Passeriformes
Reward

@article {pmid40368805,
year = {2025},
author = {Tokuda, T and Yoshioka, N and Tanaka, A and Kojima, S and Yamaguchi, K and Yanagiuchi, T and Ogata, K and Takei, T and Nakama, T},
title = {Comparison of Stent Strategy and Drug-Coated Balloon After JETSTREAM for Severely Calcified Femoropopliteal Artery Disease (CORVUS Study).},
journal = {Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1253/circj.CJ-25-0087},
pmid = {40368805},
issn = {1347-4820},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study compared procedural complications, patency, and adverse events between a stent strategy and drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment after using the JETSTREAM atherectomy device for severely calcified femoropopliteal (FP) lesions.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed multicenter data from 588 patients who underwent endovascular therapy for severely calcified de novo FP lesions between April 2018 and December 2023 at 8 centers in Japan. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the revascularization method: stent strategy and DCB after JETSTREAM atherectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare primary patency, clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), and the occurrence of acute limb ischemia (ALI)/major amputation at 1 year. After PSM, 82 matched pairs of patients were identified, with no significant intergroup differences in baseline characteristics. The rates of primary patency, CD-TLR, ALI, and major amputation were similar between the 2 groups. However, the rate of distal embolization was significantly higher in the DCB after JETSTREAM group. (18.3% vs. 1.2%; P<0.001) Baseline characteristics had no interaction effects on the association between the 2 strategies and the 1-year restenosis risk.

CONCLUSIONS: DCB after JETSTREAM atherectomy demonstrated comparable safety, except for distal embolization, and high efficacy in patients with severely calcified FP lesions, suggesting that it may be an alternative revascularization method to the stent strategy.},
}

@article {pmid40357133,
year = {2025},
author = {Giri, T and Garcia-Pelegrin, E},
title = {Opportunistic Tool Use by Two Unexpected Corvid Species.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {e71314},
pmid = {40357133},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {This Nature note reports the first documented instance of tool use in Sunda crows (Corvus enca) and provides additional evidence of this ability in house crows (Corvus splendens). At Singapore Zoo (December 2023), individuals from both species spontaneously manipulated a hooked stick to extract food rewards from enclosed containers. This observation extends the catalogue of tool-using corvids. We briefly review tool use across the corvid family and examine competing hypotheses regarding its evolution, including inherited predisposition from a tool-using ancestor and the development of general physical intelligence with food caching as a potential precursor. Our findings suggest that the cognitive foundation for tool use may be conserved across the corvid family, with expression contingent upon environmental demands rather than species-specific adaptations. This work contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the evolutionary origins of complex problem-solving in birds and the potential role of general physical intelligence in corvid cognition.},
}

@article {pmid40341629,
year = {2025},
author = {Piao, JZ and Lee, JH and Hu, KS and Kim, HJ},
title = {Positional Relationship Between the Orbicularis Oculi and Zygomaticus Complex Muscles by Ultrasonography: New Anatomical Insights for Crow's Feet Injection.},
journal = {Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ca.24290},
pmid = {40341629},
issn = {1098-2353},
support = {NRF-RS-2023-00279373//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; },
abstract = {The orbicularis oculi muscle (OOc) is strongly associated with facial aging as its contraction causes the formation of crow's feet. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection is a representative treatment targeting muscle. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the anatomical relationship between the OOc and the zygomaticus complex muscles, and to visualize the distribution of the facial nerve that innervates the OOc, thereby providing reference data for BoNT injections targeting that muscle. The positional relationships and overlapping ranges between the OOc, zygomaticus minor (Zmi), and zygomaticus major (ZMj), and their distances from the skin, were measured on four different perpendicular planes using ultrasonography. Specimens of the OOc were stained with modified Sihler's stain. The mean distances between the lateral canthus horizontal plane (LCHP) and the zygomaticus complex muscles superior margin were 20.0, 17.9, 22.8, and 20.8 mm in perpendicular planes LC (lateral canthus), OR (orbital rim), M (midpoint of the frontal process of zygomatic bone), and J (Jugale point), respectively. The mean distances between the OOc and the skin were 4.9, 4.8, 5.5, and 4.7 mm in those perpendicular planes. The mean distances between the zygomaticus complex muscles and the OOc were 3.0, 3.1, 4.5, and 4.1 mm. The authors propose new insights for crow's feet injection based on anatomical information obtained from ultrasonography and Sihler's staining, which should contribute to minimizing complications and improving the efficacy of BoNT administration.},
}

@article {pmid40341248,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, J and Tang, J and Wang, Z and Munir, S and Jiao, R and Li, J and Chao, K and Wan, Q and Wang, L and Ye, C},
title = {Extraction, analysis, and antifungal activity study of algae antibiotic active substances in plateau lakes.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0319853},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0319853},
pmid = {40341248},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Antifungal Agents/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry ; *Lakes ; Polyphenols/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry ; Fusarium/drug effects ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chlorella vulgaris/chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; },
abstract = {This study was carried out to assess the inhibitory activity of algae in plateau lakes against plant pathogenic fungi, and further conduct preliminary research and analysis on their antifungal active ingredients, in order to provide a certain basis for the development and utilization of algal secondary metabolite as anti-plant pathogenic fungal agents. Different solvent extraction methods using water, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and methanol were conducted to extract polyphenol metabolites from Ulothrix, Chlorella vulgaris, and Microcystis pseudofilamentosa Crow. The composition of the extracts was analyzed based on the UPLC-MS/MS detection platform, and the antifungal activity was determined. The results showed that the content of polyphenol metabolites extracted from Ulothrix using methanol was the highest, followed by ethyl acetate and ethanol. The water extraction method resulted in the highest loss of polyphenolic metabolites. Three species of Fusarium oxysporum were used as indicator fungus to determine the antifungal activities of algae extracts. The three types of algae extracts showed good antimicrobial effects on F. oxysporum. The polyphenol metabolites extracted from Ulothrix using methanol demonstrated the strongest antifungal activity, with up to 20 mm in diameter of inhibition zone. The metabolite with the weakest antifungal activity was M. pseudofilamentosa Crow, with an 8-mm diameter of inhibition zone. Based on the UPLC-MS/MS detection, 242 polyphenol metabolites were initially identified in the methanol extracts of the three algae, including 160 phenolic acids, 32 flavonoids, 17 flavonols, 7 dihydroflavones, 2 dihydroflavonols, 2 chalcones, 2 flavanols, 5 flavonoids, 5 lignans, and 10 coumarins. Principal component analysis, fold change analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were used to conduct differential metabolite screening and related metabolic pathway enrichment. The methanol extract samples of the three algae were mainly classified into two categories. Ten important differential metabolites and 15 important metabolic pathways were obtained. In addition, the methanol extracts of Ulothrix contained the largest variety of phenolic acid compounds, with a total of 75 phenolic acid compounds detected, which was followed by C. vulgaris, with 44 phenolic acid compounds detected, and M. pseudofilamentosa Crow, with 37 phenolic acid compounds. Compared with phenolic acid compounds, the quantitative differences of other polyphenols were smaller. Based on these results and those from the antifungal experimental analysis, phenolic acids in algae polyphenol metabolites are the main antifungal active ingredients.},
}

*Antifungal Agents/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry
*Lakes
Polyphenols/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry
Fusarium/drug effects
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Chlorella vulgaris/chemistry
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

@article {pmid40340778,
year = {2025},
author = {Waddington, JL},
title = {From genetics and cerebral asymmetry, through motor dysfunction intrinsic to psychosis, to early intervention: elaborating the seminal contributions of Timothy J. Crow.},
journal = {Psychological medicine},
volume = {55},
number = {},
pages = {e143},
doi = {10.1017/S0033291725001254},
pmid = {40340778},
issn = {1469-8978},
}

@article {pmid40340205,
year = {2025},
author = {Labbe, D and Alsajjan, H and Abdulshakoor, A},
title = {Comparison of classic vs double concentrated dose botulinum toxin injections in the treatment of crow's feet.},
journal = {Annales de chirurgie plastique et esthetique},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.anplas.2025.03.005},
pmid = {40340205},
issn = {1768-319X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: When it comes to administering botulinum toxin for treating rhytids, a standard approach is usually used by most providers in terms of dose concentration. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of a classic, none double concentrated dose vs. a double concentrated dose for treating crow's feet.

METHOD: We have injected the orbicularis oculi in a series of 10 patients with the left side as a control side using the classically concentrated dose (2 units per 0.5cm[3]) compared to the double concentrated dose on the right (2 units per 0.25cm[3]). The injections were administered using an auto-injecting syringe.

RESULTS: On control day 14, we noticed that the majority of patients had a more apparent reduction in wrinkles on the left-classically concentrated-side (wrinkling appeared to be more prominent on the double concentration right side). A benefit noticed in some patients was a more symmetrical appearance of periorbital rhytids and sometimes the eyebrows with the uneven doses.

CONCLUSION: We found that injecting a double concentrated dose of botulinum toxin does not necessarily mean better reduction in the appearance of wrinkles even with the retrograde injection technique. However, certain implications may be found in tailoring the dosing of botulinum toxin depending on the needs of the patient on opposite sides of the face as opposed to unifying the dose for both sides.},
}

@article {pmid40339952,
year = {2025},
author = {Perales, A and Aviño, J and Diaz-Martinez, A and Conde-Agudelo, A and Romero, R and Rojo, L and Serra, V},
title = {Prenatal exposure to vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth is not associated with abnormal psychopathological and cognitive profiles in dichorionic twins at 6 to 9 years of age: a follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial.},
journal = {American journal of obstetrics and gynecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajog.2025.04.056},
pmid = {40339952},
issn = {1097-6868},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Current evidence indicates that administration of vaginal progesterone to women with a twin gestation and a short cervix reduces the risk of preterm birth occurring at early gestational ages and of neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, the potential long-term effects of prenatal administration of vaginal progesterone for preventing preterm birth on the psychopathological and cognitive profiles of twins remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychopathological and cognitive profiles at 6 to 9 years of age of surviving children born to mothers who participated in a randomized controlled trial that compared two different daily doses of vaginal progesterone (200 mg and 400 mg) to placebo to prevent preterm birth in dichorionic twin gestations.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a follow-up study from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups (placebo, vaginal progesterone 200 mg/day, and vaginal progesterone 400 mg/day administered from 20 to 34 weeks of gestation or delivery, whichever came first; randomization ratio 1:1:1). The Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6 to 18 questionnaire and the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices test of non-verbal intelligence were applied to the participating mothers and their surviving children aged 6 to 9 years, respectively. The participant mothers, questionnaire collector, and database organizer were blinded to the intervention received in the original trial. The primary outcomes were behavioral, emotional, and social problems evaluated by the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6 to 18 -18 questionnaire, and the intelligence coefficient percentile evaluated by the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices test. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis using descriptive and analytical tests. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 206 children born to 104 mothers (35.4% of those included in the original randomized controlled trial) were included in the study: 75 were exposed to vaginal progesterone 200 mg/d, 63 to vaginal progesterone 400 mg/d, and 68 to placebo. Overall, there were no significant differences in maternal sociodemographic, pregnancy and neonatal characteristics between participants and non-participants in the follow-up study, as well as between the three participating study groups. The mean scores of the 11 psychopathological syndrome scales evaluated by the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6 to 18 questionnaire among children exposed to vaginal progesterone 200 mg/d, 400 mg/d or 200 & 400 mg/d were not significantly different to those among children exposed to placebo. There were no significant differences in the mean total Child Behavior Checklist score between the vaginal progesterone groups (31.08 ± 22.58 for the 200 mg/d group, 37.48 ± 28.59 for the 400 mg/d group, and 34.00 ± 25.60 for the 200 & 400 mg/d group) and the placebo group (34.60 ± 25.55) (P=0.38, 0.54, and 0.87, respectively). The mean percentiles of the Raven's test were slightly higher among children exposed to vaginal progesterone 200 mg/d (63.11 ± 27.03) and 400 mg/d (60.40 ± 31.51) than among those exposed to placebo (59.40 ± 30.64) although these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.44 and 0.85, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Exposure to 200 or 400 mg/day of vaginal progesterone in the second half of pregnancy for preterm birth prevention, had no effect on the psychopathological and cognitive profiles of dichorionic twins at 6-9 years of age.},
}

@article {pmid40338023,
year = {2025},
author = {Banks, S and Ware, IV and Dunson, A and Sibert, D and Nakayama, DK},
title = {Tragedy and Healing: The Impact of Two Black Surgeons in the Jim Crow South.},
journal = {Journal of the American College of Surgeons},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/XCS.0000000000001437},
pmid = {40338023},
issn = {1879-1190},
abstract = {In 1956, as racial conflict in the South reached a murderous climax, Thomas H. Brewer, Sr (1894-1956), a prominent Black physician and civic leader in Columbus, Georgia, was shot and killed by a White businessowner. When his assailant was released without charges, many of the town's Black physicians and professionals left town, fearing for their safety and unwilling to live under Jim Crow. In 1964, M. Delmar Edwards (1926-2009), graduating surgery resident at the nearby Tuskegee Veterans Administration Hospital, asked two White surgeons in Columbus-Seaborn Roddenbery, III, and Abraham Conger-to serve as preceptors over his last two years of training, a requirement for board certification. They agreed, and Edwards joined their practice. Edwards filled the void left by Brewer's death. He overcame White-only restrictions to the hospital medical staff, segregated wards, and professional shunning. He eventually served in leadership roles for the hospital, including chair of the department of surgery and vice president of the hospital system. Over the next decades, he encouraged more than 70 Black physicians to settle in Columbus as full members of the city's professional community. Their stories separated by only eight years, Brewer and Edwards embodied an inflection point in the civil rights movement: the transition between murderous injustice and the integration of the Black community into the social and political mainstream of the South brought on by a Supreme Court decision, an Act of Congress, and changes in the hearts of the American people.},
}

@article {pmid40334748,
year = {2025},
author = {Pinar-Martí, A and Ayala-Aldana, N and Ruiz-Rivera, M and Lertxundi, N and Subiza, M and González-Safont, L and Vioque, J and Riaño-Galán, I and Rodríguez-Dehli, C and Iglesias-Vázquez, L and Arija, V and Fernández-Barrés, S and Romaguera, D and Pascual-Rubio, V and Fabregat-Sanjuan, A and Healy, D and Basagaña, X and Vrijheid, M and Guxens, M and Foraster, M and Julvez, J},
title = {Maternal prenatal nut and seafood consumption and child neuropsychological function from 4 to 15 years of age: a population-based cohort study.},
journal = {The American journal of clinical nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.032},
pmid = {40334748},
issn = {1938-3207},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of maternal diet in early brain development is critical, as pregnancy represents a period of significant vulnerability and growth for the developing brain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between maternal nuts, total seafood and large fatty fish consumption during pregnancy and offspring neuropsychological function up to 15 years, considering the potential mediation of omega-3 fatty acids.

METHODS: This study was part of the Spanish Childhood and Environment (INMA) birth cohort, following 1737 mother-child pairs from pregnancy to age 15. Maternal diet was evaluated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, while children's neuropsychological function was measured through standardized computer-based tests. Attention (hit reaction time and its variability, HRT and HRT-SE) was measured with the Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test and the Attention Network Test. Working memory (detectability in 2-back, d2', and 3-back tasks, d3') was evaluated using the N-back task. Fluid intelligence was assessed with Raven's Progressive Matrices and the Test of Primary Mental Abilities. Linear mixed-effects regression models assessed the association of nuts, seafood and large fatty fish with neuropsychological outcomes, while generalized structural equation modelling was used for mediation analyses.

RESULTS: Higher maternal nut consumption was significantly linked to improved attention (HRT-SE β = -0.05, 95%CI = -0.09; -0.00) and working memory (d2' β = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.00; 0.09, and d3' β = 0.06, 95%CI = 0.02; 0.11) in offspring. Greater consumption of large fatty fish was associated with better attention (HRT-SE β = -0.06, 95%CI = -0.10; -0.02; and HRT β = -0.04, 95%CI = -0.08; -0.00) and fluid intelligence (β = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.02; 0.13). Omega-3 fatty acids mediated 8-14% of these effects on attention.

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal diet at pregnancy and omega-3 intake may support long-term cognitive development in children and adolescents.},
}

@article {pmid40334149,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, JH and Sherry, AD and Bazyar, S and Sutera, P and Radwan, N and Phillips, RM and Deek, MP and Lu, J and Dipasquale, S and Deville, C and DeWeese, TL and Song, DY and Wang, H and Hobbs, RF and Malek, R and Dudley, SA and Greco, SC and Antonarakis, ES and Marshall, CH and Denmeade, S and Paller, CJ and Carducci, MA and Pienta, KJ and Oz, OK and Ramotar, M and Leenstra, JL and Park, SS and Abramowitz, MC and Desai, N and Berlin, A and Stish, BJ and Tang, C and Tran, PT and Kiess, AP},
title = {Outcomes of Radium-223 and Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy Versus Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancers: The RAVENS Phase II Randomized Trial.},
journal = {Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {JCO2500131},
doi = {10.1200/JCO-25-00131},
pmid = {40334149},
issn = {1527-7755},
abstract = {PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have shown progression-free survival (PFS) benefits of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) without androgen deprivation therapy for oligometastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (omCSPC). Most patients with bone metastatic (BM) omCSPC recur with additional bone disease after MDT. We hypothesized the BM-targeting alpha-emitter radium-223 dichloride (Ra223) could target subclinical bone disease and delay progression.

METHODS: This is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label phase II RCT. Eligible men with recurrent omCSPC with ≥one bone metastasis (≤three on conventional imaging and/or ≤five on molecular imaging) were randomly assigned (1:1) to stereotactic ablative radiation (SABR) MDT alone or SABR MDT with Ra223 (six cycles). Primary end point was composite PFS.

RESULTS: From August 9, 2019, to March 2, 2023, 64 patients were randomly assigned, 33 to SABR MDT and 31 to SABR MDT/Ra223 balancing for key covariates. Most SABR MDT/Ra223 patients (87%) received six cycles of Ra223. The median PFS was 11.8 months with SABR MDT and 10.5 months with SABR MDT/Ra223 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.42 [95% CI, 0.79 to 2.56]; P = .24). Seven patients (11%) experienced grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (no grade 4 or 5), 2 of 33 (6%) with SABR and 5 of 30 (17%) with SABR MDT/Ra223. Patients with high-risk (HiRi) pathogenic mutations in ATM, BRCA1/2, RB1, or TP53 had worse PFS (HR, 5.95 [95% CI, 1.83 to 19.3]; P = .003). Greater T-cell receptor (TCR) unique productive rearrangements were prognostic for improved PFS independent of the treatment arm (aHR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21 to 0.96]; P = .04).

CONCLUSION: Adding Ra223 to SABR MDT in BM omCSPC does not delay progression of disease. We provide evidence for an HiRi mutational signature and TCR repertoire as prognostic biomarkers in omCSPC treated with SABR MDT, highlighting the importance of collecting biological correlates in RCTs for omCSPC.},
}

@article {pmid40320498,
year = {2025},
author = {Smirnova, AA and Cheplakova, MA and Kubenko, KN},
title = {Some Hooded crows (Corvus cornix) understand how a loose string works.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {15569},
pmid = {40320498},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {23-28-00364//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Crows/physiology ; *Behavior, Animal/physiology ; },
abstract = {In a loose-string task an out-of-reach tray baited with food can only be retrieved by simultaneously pulling on both ends of a string threaded through the loops on the tray. This task is used to assess an animal's ability to cooperate, with each animal only having access to one end of the string. Some studies use the loose-string task in a pre-training phase, during which animals are individually taught to pull both ends of the string. Usually, no additional tests are conducted to determine whether the animals have understood how the loose string works. It is conceivable that a lack of knowledge of the causal basis of the loose-string task could make it more challenging to grasp how the partner can assist with it. Here, we tested whether Hooded crows could acquire some knowledge of the causal basis of the loose-string task. Prior to the critical test (Phase 3), the birds were presented with two different tasks (Phase 1 and Phase 2) to allow them to acquire some knowledge of the causal basis of the task. The results may indicate that, as a consequence of the experience gained, some crows may have begun to understand how the loose string works.},
}

Animals
*Crows/physiology
*Behavior, Animal/physiology

@article {pmid40319179,
year = {2025},
author = {Rajan, P and Goswami, D and Vanlalhmuaka, and Datta, S and Rabha, B and Kamboj, DV},
title = {Acoustic behaviour and flight tone frequency changes in adult Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {15499},
pmid = {40319179},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/physiology ; *Culex/physiology ; *Flight, Animal/physiology ; Female ; Male ; Wings, Animal/physiology ; Acoustics ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {Species-specific wingbeat frequency of mosquitoes has already been shown to be useful in species identification. However, mosquito identification using their fundamental wingbeat frequency requires proper evaluation along with its morphological and ecological characters. An acoustic study was carried out on four species of laboratory reared mosquitoes Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles crawfordi, and Armigeres subalbatus. However, a detailed study on wingbeat frequency and its variation at different points of the adult life stages was conducted for Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Recorded wingbeat beat frequency during the different point of adult life stages was analyzed using the Raven Pro 1.6.1 sound analysis software. Result showed that there was a significant difference in the fundamental frequency between four study species (F = 81.62; df = 151; p < 0.001). Wingbeat frequency of Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus observed to be low immediately after emergence from the pupal stage and gradually became peak during the swarming stage which is considered as the species' fundamental frequency. These change in wingbeat frequency during the early adult stages leads to uncertainty in species identification based on the fundamental frequency. Swarming and pairing activities in Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus exclusively depends on the convergence between male first harmonics (M1) and female second harmonics (F2) of their fundamental frequency and make combined harmonic frequency at 1400-1500 Hz. Interestingly, this study observed that the frequency of adult male and early stages of female did not converge at the M1-F2 harmonics, thereby preventing successful mating. It thus infers that the wingbeat frequency of active male and female have significant role in the selection of potential mates within the species.},
}

Animals
*Aedes/physiology
*Culex/physiology
*Flight, Animal/physiology
Female
Male
Wings, Animal/physiology
Acoustics
Species Specificity

@article {pmid40316871,
year = {2025},
author = {Veit, W and Browning, H and Garcia-Pelegrin, E and Davies, JR and DuBois, JG and Clayton, NS},
title = {Dimensions of corvid consciousness.},
journal = {Animal cognition},
volume = {28},
number = {1},
pages = {35},
pmid = {40316871},
issn = {1435-9456},
mesh = {*Consciousness ; Animals ; Animal Welfare ; *Crows ; },
abstract = {Corvids have long been a target of public fascination and of scientific attention, particularly in the study of animal minds. Using Birch et al.'s (2020) 5-dimensional framework for animal consciousness we ask what it is like to be a corvid and propose a speculative but empirically informed answer. We go on to suggest future directions for research on corvid consciousness and how it can inform ethical treatment and animal welfare legislation.},
}

*Consciousness
Animals
Animal Welfare
*Crows

@article {pmid40309632,
year = {2025},
author = {Yusuf, MA and Ranjan, R and Adhikary, D and Moureen, A and Hakim, M},
title = {Association of Paternal Diabetes With Hemorrhagic Stroke in Bangladeshi Women: The MAGPIE Study.},
journal = {Health science reports},
volume = {8},
number = {5},
pages = {e70809},
pmid = {40309632},
issn = {2398-8835},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) accounts for ~10% of all first-time strokes, with an increasing incidence in Asia and a scarcity of information available about sex-related differences. This study investigates the independent predictors of HS among Bangladeshi women.

METHODS: The Multidimensional Approach of Genotype and Phenotype in Stroke Etiology (MAGPIE) study is a Bangladeshi observational study that recruited nationwide HS patients between 2022 and 2024. We utilized univariate analysis to identify risk patterns in the data sets, whereas a multivariate logistic regression (LR) analysis identified the independent predictors of HS in women.

RESULTS: We evaluated a total of 1080 hemorrhagic patients with female predominance (59.5%) and similar age of onset to males (p = 0.38). Although males had significantly higher rates of hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.008), chronic constipation (p = 0.03), and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), females were found to have significantly higher body mass index (23.1 ± 3.1 vs. 21.4 ± 2.9; p < 0.001) and paternal diabetes (9.6% vs. 4.8%; p = 0.004) compared to male. Further, the age-adjusted multivariate LR model found paternal diabetes (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.5, p = 0.007) as a potential independent predictor of HS in females compared to males. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.67 (95% CI 0.63-0.70, p < 0.001) with 67.7% sensitivity and 58.2% specificity presents the goodness of fit of the model.

CONCLUSION: Bangladeshi women with a history of paternal diabetes have a 2.1-fold heightened risk of HS than men.},
}

@article {pmid40308392,
year = {2025},
author = {Elhaddad, M and Carrillo-Kashani, A and Tavakalyan, K and Massaband, BD},
title = {Dufourmentel Rhomboid Flap for Plantar Charcot Midfoot Ulcer: A Novel Reconstructive Approach.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {17},
number = {3},
pages = {e81484},
pmid = {40308392},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {Chronic plantar ulcers in Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CNO) present a significant challenge in limb salvage due to biomechanical instability, poor tissue quality, and high mechanical stress at weight-bearing sites. Traditional surgical techniques, such as exostectomy and tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL), effectively redistribute plantar pressure but often fail to provide durable soft tissue coverage. This study describes the first documented use of a Dufourmentel rhomboid flap for reconstructing a chronic plantar midfoot ulcer in a 59-year-old female with CNO and poorly controlled diabetes. The patient presented with a non-healing ulcer over a prominent osseous deformity, complicated by advanced neuropathy and a rocker-bottom foot. Surgical intervention included TAL, exostectomy, and meticulous wound debridement, followed by primary closure using a Dufourmentel flap to achieve tension-free, durable coverage. Postoperatively, the patient was managed with strict immobilization using a total contact cast and transitioned to a Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker (CROW) boot. Despite partial non-compliance with weight-bearing restrictions, the wound healed completely by six months, with no recurrence. This case highlights the Dufourmentel flap as an innovative and effective reconstructive option for complex plantar ulcers in CNO, offering enhanced soft tissue resilience and long-term stability. The integration of TAL, exostectomy, and biomechanically optimized wound closure provides a comprehensive approach to limb salvage in high-risk diabetic patients. Further research is warranted to evaluate the flap's long-term outcomes and broader applicability in Charcot foot reconstruction.},
}

@article {pmid40308131,
year = {2025},
author = {Aplin, L and Crates, R and Flack, A and McGregor, P},
title = {Social learning and culture in birds: emerging patterns and relevance to conservation.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {380},
number = {1925},
pages = {20240128},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2024.0128},
pmid = {40308131},
issn = {1471-2970},
support = {//Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)/ ; //New South Wales Local Land Services under the Commonwealth of Australia's National Landcare program/ ; //Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Social Learning ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Birds/physiology ; *Social Behavior ; *Culture ; },
abstract = {There is now abundant evidence for a role of social learning and culture in shaping behaviour in a range of avian species across multiple contexts, from migration routes in geese and foraging behaviour in crows, to passerine song. Recent emerging evidence has further linked culture to fitness outcomes in some birds, highlighting its potential importance for conservation. Here, we first summarize the state of knowledge on social learning and culture in birds, focusing on the best-studied contexts of migration, foraging, predation and song. We identify extensive knowledge gaps for some taxa but argue that existing evidence suggests that: (i) social learning and culture are taxonomically clustered and that (ii) reliance on social learning in one behavioural domain does not predict reliance across others. Together, we use this to build a predictive framework to aid conservationists in species-specific decision-making under imperfect knowledge. Second, we review evidence for a link between culture and conservation in birds. We argue that understanding which behaviours birds are likely to learn socially can help refine conservation strategies, improving the trajectories of threatened populations. Last, we present practical steps for how consideration of culture can be integrated into conservation actions including reintroductions, translocations and captive breeding programmes.This article is part of the theme issue 'Animal culture: conservation in a changing world'.},
}

Animals
*Social Learning
*Conservation of Natural Resources
*Birds/physiology
*Social Behavior
*Culture

@article {pmid40304112,
year = {2025},
author = {Coban, I and Erkmen, FY and Aktaş, GD},
title = {Dynamic Periocular Wrinkle Patterns: An Anatomical Study on Young Adults.},
journal = {Journal of cosmetic dermatology},
volume = {24},
number = {5},
pages = {e70215},
pmid = {40304112},
issn = {1473-2165},
support = {294//Scientific Research Projects Board of Izmir Democracy University/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Skin Aging/physiology ; Male ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Photography ; *Face/anatomy & histology ; Healthy Volunteers ; Eyelids/anatomy & histology ; Observer Variation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Adult ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aging causes facial wrinkles, especially dynamic wrinkles related to mimic movements, predisposing areas to static wrinkles from a young age, notably in the periorbital region. This study aims to analyze dynamic wrinkle patterns on periorbital skin during mimic movements in healthy young adults to identify wrinkle precursor regions.

METHODS: Dynamic periorbital wrinkle patterns were analyzed in 184 healthy adults (93 females, 91 males) aged 18-24 years. Standardized facial photographs were taken at rest and during various mimic movements. The periorbital region was divided into superior, inferior, lateral, and medial subregions; wrinkle patterns were classified and analyzed. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were assessed.

RESULTS: In the upper periorbital region, the most common wrinkle pattern was oblique lines extending from the medial and lateral canthus to the upper corners (Type 3, 56%). Inferiorly, the most common pattern was a linear wave from the lateral canthus to the lateral margin (Type 3, 25.5%). Medially, no specific pattern (Type 6, 33.2%) and an arrowhead-like motif directed toward the medial canthus (Type 2, 20.7%) were prevalent. Laterally, radial waves extending from the lateral canthus to the lateral brow tip were most common (Type 1, 34.8%). The absence of a distinct wrinkle pattern in the medial region was more common in men than in women (48.4% vs. 17.6%). Males were more likely to have wrinkle patterns consisting of oblique short lines in the inferolateral direction in the inferior region (Type 2, 31.2%). Miniature crow's feet-like wrinkles were more common in females.

CONCLUSION: This study presents a new classification of dynamic wrinkle patterns in the periorbital region in young adults, highlighting sex differences.},
}

Humans
Female
*Skin Aging/physiology
Male
Young Adult
Adolescent
Photography
*Face/anatomy & histology
Healthy Volunteers
Eyelids/anatomy & histology
Observer Variation
Reproducibility of Results
Adult

@article {pmid40303116,
year = {2024},
author = {Sohier, C and Breman, FC and Vervaeke, M and De Regge, N},
title = {West Nile Virus Monitoring in Flanders (Belgium) During 2022-2023 Reveals Endemic Usutu Virus Circulation in Birds.},
journal = {Transboundary and emerging diseases},
volume = {2024},
number = {},
pages = {4146156},
pmid = {40303116},
issn = {1865-1682},
mesh = {Animals ; Belgium/epidemiology ; *West Nile virus/isolation & purification ; *Bird Diseases/epidemiology/virology ; *West Nile Fever/veterinary/epidemiology/virology ; Birds ; *Flavivirus Infections/veterinary/epidemiology/virology ; *Flavivirus/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {The recent emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in some European countries has triggered an increase in animal and human cases across Europe. Wild birds, serving as key reservoirs for WNV and USUV, often act as crucial indicators for the introduction and spread of these viruses. Currently, there is no durable large-scale monitoring for WNV in Belgium, and specific monitoring for USUV is lacking. In Flanders, passive WNV monitoring in birds has been in place for many years, while initial efforts to initiate active monitoring started in 2022. Here, we present the results of a limited study conducted during the vector seasons of 2022 and 2023 in Flemish bird populations to actively and passively monitor the prevalence of WNV and additionally assess the presence of USUV. Several real-time reverse transcription-PCR tests were employed for virus detection, revealing the absence of WNV-RNA during both vector seasons. Conversely, USUV-RNA was identified in 2022 through active surveillance, affecting two (5.5%) out of 36 birds (Corvus corone), and in passive surveillance, impacting eight (72.7%) out of 11 birds (Turdus merula [6] and Rhea pennata [2]). In 2023, active surveillance was more extensive and identified 16 (7.2%) USUV-RNA positive birds (Buteo buteo [1], T. merula [14] and Athene noctua [1]) out of 222 examined birds, while passive surveillance detected two (7.1%) positive birds (T. merula [1], and Larus marinus [1]) out of 28. Viral sequence information was obtained from seven USUV-positive birds using whole genome sequencing or Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis placed all identified strains within the Africa 3 lineage. This restricted WVN monitoring effort in Flanders did not reveal WNV presence, but found indications of an endemic USUV circulation in Belgium. It is crucial to intensify monitoring efforts for WNV in the coming years, considering its endemic status in several European countries and its expanding geographical range in northern Europe.},
}

Animals
Belgium/epidemiology
*West Nile virus/isolation & purification
*Bird Diseases/epidemiology/virology
*West Nile Fever/veterinary/epidemiology/virology
Birds
*Flavivirus Infections/veterinary/epidemiology/virology
*Flavivirus/isolation & purification

@article {pmid40284799,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Cui, Q and Hou, Y and He, S and Zhao, W and Lancuo, Z and Sharshov, K and Wang, W},
title = {Metagenomic Insights into the Diverse Antibiotic Resistome of Non-Migratory Corvidae Species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.},
journal = {Veterinary sciences},
volume = {12},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284799},
issn = {2306-7381},
support = {2022-HZ-812//the program of science and technology international cooperation project of Qinghai province/ ; },
abstract = {Antibiotic resistance represents a global health crisis with far-reaching implications, impacting multiple domains concurrently, including human health, animal health, and the natural environment. Wild birds were identified as carriers and disseminators of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A majority of studies in this area have concentrated on migratory birds as carriers for the spread of antibiotic resistance over long distances. However, there has been scant research on the resistome of non-migratory Corvidae species that heavily overlap with human activities, which limits our understanding of antibiotic resistance in these birds and hinders the development of effective management strategies. This study employed a metagenomics approach to examine the characteristics of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in five common Corvidae species inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The ARGs were classified into 20 major types and 567 subtypes. Notably, ARGs associated with multidrug resistance, including to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramins, tetracyclines, beta-lactam, and bacitracin, were particularly abundant, with the subtypes acrB, bacA, macB, class C beta-lactamase, and tetA being especially prevalent. A total of 5 types of MGEs (166 subtypes) were identified across five groups of crows, and transposase genes, which indicated the presence of transposons, were identified as the most abundant type of MGEs. Moreover, some common opportunistic pathogens were identified as potential hosts for these ARGs and MGEs. Procrustes analysis and co-occurrence network analysis showed that the composition of the gut microbiota shaped the ARGs and MGEs, indicating a substantial association between these factors. The primary resistance mechanisms of ARGs in crows were identified as multidrug efflux pumps, alteration of antibiotic targets, and enzymatic inactivation. High-risk ARGs which were found to potentially pose significant risks to public health were also analyzed and resulted in the identification of 81 Rank I and 47 Rank II ARGs. Overall, our study offers a comprehensive characterization of the resistome in wild Corvidae species, enhancing our understanding of the potential public health risks associated with these birds.},
}

@article {pmid40303696,
year = {2023},
author = {Ito, S and Bosch, J and Aguilar-Vega, C and Isoda, N and Martínez-Avilés, M and Sánchez-Vizcaíno, JM},
title = {Development of an Effective Oral Vaccine Dissemination Strategy against Classical Swine Fever for Wild Boar in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.},
journal = {Transboundary and emerging diseases},
volume = {2023},
number = {},
pages = {9484441},
pmid = {40303696},
issn = {1865-1682},
mesh = {Animals ; *Classical Swine Fever/prevention & control/epidemiology ; Swine ; Japan/epidemiology ; Administration, Oral ; *Sus scrofa ; *Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage/immunology ; *Classical Swine Fever Virus/immunology ; },
abstract = {In September 2018, classical swine fever (CSF) reemerged in Japan after more than a quarter of a century. After the first notification on a pig farm, wild boars positive for CSF were found continuously in the surrounding area. Gifu was the first prefecture in Japan to disseminate oral vaccines to wild boars in March 2019, with vaccines spread to approximately 14,000 sites between 2019 and 2020. While these diligent measures seemed to have shown some effectiveness, several vaccine spray sites remained without wild boar emergence. Based on the vaccine dissemination records from these periods, this study conducted a statistical analysis to propose more effective vaccine dissemination sites. First, a generalized linear mixed model was used to identify factors correlated with wild boar emergence. Then, two spatial interpolation methods, inverse distance weighted (IDW) and Kriging, were adopted to create a probability map of wild boar emergence for the entire Gifu Prefecture. The analysis showed a positive correlation between wild boar emergence and the appearance of raccoons, raccoon dogs, and crows as well as road density and wild boar distribution index. In particular, raccoon (OR: 1.83, 95%CI: 1.25-2.68, p < 0.001), raccoon dog (OR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.25-2.66, p < 0.001), and medium level road density (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.04-2.39, p = 0.04) were strongly correlated with wild boar emergence. The spatial interpolation approach resulted in better prediction accuracy for the Kriging method than for IDW by the root mean square error, but both approaches identified a high wild boar appearance probability area in southeastern Gifu and a low appearance probability area in central Gifu. Here we have demonstrated a tool to effectively disperse oral vaccine to wildlife.},
}

Animals
*Classical Swine Fever/prevention & control/epidemiology
Swine
Japan/epidemiology
Administration, Oral
*Sus scrofa
*Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage/immunology
*Classical Swine Fever Virus/immunology

@article {pmid40278933,
year = {2025},
author = {Beauchamp, G and Bakley, TD and Fitzpatrick, JW and Barve, S},
title = {Food, weather, and population density, not number of helpers, drive overwinter survival in Florida Scrub-Jays.},
journal = {Oecologia},
volume = {207},
number = {5},
pages = {68},
pmid = {40278933},
issn = {1432-1939},
mesh = {Animals ; Population Density ; *Weather ; Florida ; Seasons ; *Passeriformes/physiology ; },
abstract = {Survival is affected by many ecological factors including food, weather, population density, and predation pressure, but documenting survival rates together with all these associated variables requires long-term observational and ecological data from a large, marked population. We used 33 years of data on Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) demography, local weather, and food availability to assess determinants of jay survival during the non-breeding season (September to February). We used the known-fate model from program MARK to analyze the probability of survival for breeders and juveniles while independently testing multiple covariates. Breeder survival increased when territory size was larger, decreased when local population density was higher, and did not vary with mean daily minimum temperature in the winter. Juvenile survival slightly increased with mean daily minimum temperature in the winter but showed no association with territory size or local population density. For both breeders and juveniles, odds of survival increased with presence of both breeders in the territory and higher acorn availability, and decreased with higher total winter rainfall. Neither breeder nor juvenile survival was correlated with number of helpers or juveniles in the group. Our results emphasize the importance of environmental variables in driving adult and juvenile survival in this declining endangered bird.},
}

Animals
Population Density
*Weather
Florida
Seasons
*Passeriformes/physiology

@article {pmid40278429,
year = {2025},
author = {Heled, E and Levi, O and Strobinsky, E and Zeilig, G},
title = {Non-Verbal Working Memory in Post-Stroke Motor Aphasia: A Pilot Study Using the Tactual Span.},
journal = {Neurology international},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/neurolint17040058},
pmid = {40278429},
issn = {2035-8385},
abstract = {Background: Working memory (WM) impairment is a potential consequence of motor aphasia resulting from left-hemisphere ischemic stroke. While verbal WM has been studied extensively in this disorder, research regarding non-verbal modalities remains limited, particularly visuospatial WM, tactile WM, and the relationship between them. Additionally, language impairments limit the ability to assess WM in aphasia patients, highlighting the necessity of non-verbal diagnostic tools in clinical practice. The current study's objectives were to compare tactile and visuospatial WM in patients with post-stroke motor aphasia and to validate the one-hand version of the Tactual Span task as a clinical measure of WM. Methods: A total of 29 participants-14 with post-stroke motor aphasia and 15 healthy controls-completed a battery of cognitive tests, including the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices Test, the Visuospatial Span, the Tactual Span, and a visual 1-Back task. Results: There was significantly lower performance across all WM tasks in the aphasia group compared to the controls. Additionally, the Tactual Span successfully discriminated between patients and controls, showing sensitivity estimates of 92.9% and a specificity of 66.7%, with a cut-off score of 4.5 (AUC = 0.91), for the forward stage. The backward stage revealed a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 73.3%, with a cut-off score of 3.5 (AUC = 0.83). Conclusions: The findings may suggest that non-verbal WM impairment in post-stroke aphasia affects both visuospatial and tactile modalities similarly. Furthermore, the Tactual Span appears to be sensitive to left-hemisphere stroke damage, suggesting its potential utility as a clinical tool for WM assessment in patients with motor aphasia.},
}

@article {pmid40271352,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, H and Zhang, D and Zhu, Y and Ma, H and Xiao, H},
title = {Emotions spread like contagious diseases.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1493512},
pmid = {40271352},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {Emotional contagion, that is, the spontaneous synchronization of emotions among individuals, is the basic mechanism of social cohesion and survival of different species. Emotional contagion can be observed in humans and many animals, and it has become an effective means to protect individuals from danger. The study of emotional contagion in different animals is of evolutionary significance, and in human society, emotional contagion has an important impact on mental health and group behavior. However, the existing research still has obvious shortcomings in the similarities and differences of cross-species emotional contagion, the communication dynamics in virtual space and the infectious effect of positive emotions. This paper reviews the mechanisms of emotional contagion in different species, such as rodents, nonhuman primates, dogs, crows and zebrafish, highlighting evolutionary conservatism and species-specific adaptation, and analyzes the role of human children's behavioral mimicry in its early development. Furthermore, we extend the discussion of emotional contagion to virtual social networks, revealing the unique communication mechanism in online environment. In addition, by combing the sociological model and the emerging neurocognitive model, the complex process of emotional contagion can be explained more comprehensively. Through multidisciplinary perspective, it provides systematic theoretical and empirical support for us to understand emotional contagion.},
}

@article {pmid40269659,
year = {2025},
author = {Emmerich, E and Alcantara, E and Úngari, L and O'Dwyer, L and Pérez-Ponce de León, G and Silva, R},
title = {First integrative assessment of Ochetosoma heterocoelium (Travassos, 1921) (Digenea: Ochetosomatidae) parasite of Bothrops moojeni Hoge, 1966 (Reptilia: Viperidae) from Brazil.},
journal = {Journal of helminthology},
volume = {99},
number = {},
pages = {e57},
doi = {10.1017/S0022149X25000343},
pmid = {40269659},
issn = {1475-2697},
mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Phylogeny ; *Bothrops/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; *Trematoda/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure ; DNA, Helminth/genetics/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; *Trematode Infections/veterinary/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Mouth/parasitology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Esophagus/parasitology ; Venomous Snakes ; },
abstract = {Ochetosoma heterocoelium (Travassos, 1921) was collected from the mouth and oesophagus of a pit viper, Bothrops moojeni Hoge, 1966 in São Sebastião do Paraíso Farm (21°51'48.26" S, 48°26'56.78" W), municipality of Boa Esperança do Sul, São Paulo State, Brazil. In this study, we provide the first molecular characterisation of this digenean using 28S rDNA and COI sequences, and its phylogenetic position within the Plagiorchiida is assessed. Furthermore, new morphological features are added to the diagnosis of the species, and scanning electron microscopy photomicrographs are presented. Sequences of the 28S rRNA gene of O. heterocoelium were successfully obtained and aligned with 35 digenean species belonging to Plagiorchiida. Only three congeners - O. aniarum (Leidy, 1890), O elongatum (Seo et al. 2024), and O. kansense (Crow, 1913) - have been sequenced for this molecular marker. The newly sequenced individuals of O. heterocoelium are 98.7% and 99.4% similar to O. aniarum and O. kansensis, respectively, and Ochetosoma is not recovered as a monophyletic group. Dasymetra nicolli Holl and Allison, 1935 and Lechriorchis tygarti Talbot, 1933 are nested with Ochetosoma.},
}

Animals
Brazil
Phylogeny
*Bothrops/parasitology
RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics
*Trematoda/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure
DNA, Helminth/genetics/chemistry
DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry
*Trematode Infections/veterinary/parasitology
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics
Mouth/parasitology
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Esophagus/parasitology
Venomous Snakes

@article {pmid40268688,
year = {2025},
author = {Buniyaadi, A and Prabhat, A and Bhardwaj, SK and Kumar, V},
title = {Role of melatonin in physiological mitigation of sleep disruption in an unnatural temporal environment.},
journal = {Journal of neuroendocrinology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70035},
doi = {10.1111/jne.70035},
pmid = {40268688},
issn = {1365-2826},
support = {//Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi/ ; },
abstract = {Illuminated nights reduce melatonin peak and disrupt sleep. Using this as the basis of the present experimental paradigm, we investigated whether nocturnal melatonin levels were crucial for sleep regulation in a diurnal vertebrate. Acclimated Indian house crows (Corvus splendens) were randomly segregated into three groups of 12 each. For the next 10 days, one group was maintained on 12 L:12 D, as before (LD control); for the other two groups, the absolute darkness was replaced with dim light at night (dLAN; L = ~150 lux, D = ~6 lux). Under dLAN, half an hour before light off time, the LD control and one dLAN group received intraperitoneally 200 μL of vehicle (0.75% physiological saline), while the other dLAN group received a similar 200 μL vehicle but containing melatonin at a dose of 50 μg bird[-1] day[-1]. Under dLAN, exogenous melatonin elevated nocturnal AANAT mRNA and plasma melatonin levels and induced changes in diurnal expressions of clock genes (PER2, CRY1, BMAL1, NPAS2, REVERB) in the pineal gland and hypothalamus, and of genes encoding melatonin receptors (MEL1a, MEL1b) and epigenetic modifiers (HAT1, HDAC2, HDAC4, DNMT3a) in the hypothalamus. Elevated nocturnal melatonin levels bettered sleep with positive effects on the hypothalamic expression of genes associated with nocturnal sleep (cytokine pathway: TLR4, TNFα, IL-1β, NOS1; calcium pathway: CAMK2, SIK3) and awake (ACHM3, EGR1, HOMER1a, OREXIN) states, and with neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity (BDNF, EGR1, CREB). These suggested the role of melatonin in mitigation of the dLAN-induced sleep disruption. Nocturnal melatonin peak levels are a crucial component of the regulatory transcriptional pathways underlying the daily wake-sleep pattern, with far-reaching implications for sleep-related issues in diurnal species including perhaps humans inhabiting an over-lit environment with pervasive light pollution.},
}

@article {pmid40264843,
year = {2025},
author = {Sadik, AS and Datta, AK},
title = {Nesting on Cell Phone Towers: An Inexplicable Breeding Strategy by Asian Woollynecks Ciconia episcopus in Bangladesh.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {e71353},
pmid = {40264843},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The Asian Woollynecks were once thought to be a rare winter migrant to the wetlands of Bangladesh, and until very recently, only a few incidents of nesting had been observed. New information shows expanding populations across their habitat, though little is known about their movement ecology, breeding ecology and preferences for artificial nest sites. In this paper, we documented some crucial nesting and breeding information on this species. We used camera traps as a means of passive monitoring and identified Large-billed crow Corvus macrorhynchos and House crow Corvus splendens as potential nest predators. Three nests were found in artificial structures, where anthropogenic activity, like disturbances during cell phone tower maintenance, or predators limit the breeding success of Asian Woollynecks.},
}

@article {pmid40257903,
year = {2025},
author = {Havoc, RC and Woody, WD},
title = {The shrouded self: Racial passing as a tool of survival in early 20th century psychology.},
journal = {History of psychology},
volume = {28},
number = {2},
pages = {170-178},
doi = {10.1037/hop0000277},
pmid = {40257903},
issn = {1939-0610},
abstract = {Josiah Moses faced repeated rejections from academic positions during 1905-1911 because of his Jewish identity, which at that time was viewed as his race. In 1911, after changing his name, Josiah Morse was hired at the University of South Carolina during the time of explicitly antisemitic Jim Crow. In this article, we reveal the deceptive tactics Moses/Morse used to pass as a White person who was not Jewish with the support of his former doctoral advisor, G. Stanley Hall. We conclude with the examination of the consequences of passing and Morse's influence in psychology and other communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).},
}

@article {pmid40251059,
year = {2025},
author = {Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, C and Němec, P and Paré, M and Wylie, DR and Lefebvre, L},
title = {How do big brains evolve?.},
journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2025.03.008},
pmid = {40251059},
issn = {1872-8383},
abstract = {In both birds and mammals, variation in brain size predominantly reflects variation in mass or volume of the pallium (neocortex) and, to a lesser extent, of the cerebellum, suggesting convergent coevolution of brains and cognition. When brain measures are based on neuron counts, however, a surprisingly different picture emerges: The number of neurons in the cerebellum surpasses those in the pallium of all mammals (including humans and other primates) and in many but not all birds studied to date. In particular, parrots and corvids, clades known for cognitive abilities that match those of primates, have brains that contain more pallial than cerebellar neurons. Birds and mammals may thus have followed different evolutionary routes of pallial-cerebellar coordination behind enhanced cognitive complexity.},
}

@article {pmid40247751,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, H and Zha, P and Liu, Y and Zhang, W and Meng, H and Di, T},
title = {Study on Moisturizing Effect of Dendrobium officinale, Sparassis crispa, and Their Compound Extracts.},
journal = {Journal of cosmetic dermatology},
volume = {24},
number = {4},
pages = {e70189},
doi = {10.1111/jocd.70189},
pmid = {40247751},
issn = {1473-2165},
mesh = {Filaggrin Proteins ; *Dendrobium/chemistry ; Humans ; Aquaporin 3/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Extracts/pharmacology/chemistry ; Hyaluronic Acid/metabolism ; Hyaluronan Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Claudin-1/metabolism/genetics ; Epidermis/drug effects/metabolism ; *Polysaccharides/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Emollients/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recently, natural plants have been widely developed and applied in moisturizing cosmetics. Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (D. officinale) is known as one of the "Nine Immortals" of Chinese herbal medicine, whereas Sparassis crispa (Wulf.) Fr. (S. crispa) is known as the "king of mushrooms"; both of which have excellent biological activity.

AIMS: To explore the effects of D. officinale polysaccharide (DOP) with different molecular weights and S. crispa on the expression of moisturizing-related genes and verify the moisturizing performance of their complex.

METHODS: PCR was carried out to explore the aquaporin 3 (AQP3), hyaluronic acid synthetase1 (HAS1), HAS2, and HAS3 genes expression. Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis was used to test the protein level expression of hyaluronic acid (HA), AQP3, claudin-1, and filaggrin (FLG) influenced by moisturizing composition in a reconstructed epidermis skin model. The ability of samples to resist cell drying damage was evaluated by a cell drying damage model. Furthermore, this study validated the effect of the compositions during their application in cosmetics through tests of skin moisture content, crow's feet, and skin elasticity.

RESULTS: The results showed that DOP with molecular weights of 100 k-500 kDa (Dalton) had higher effects on AQP3 gene expression compared to that with molecular weights of 10 k-100 kDa and 1 k-10 kDa. Additionally, the extract of S. crispa significantly promoted the expression of HAS1, HAS2, and HAS3 genes, which are genes encoding hyaluronic acid synthesis. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HA, AQP3, claudin-1, and FLG were significantly increased as a result of the moisturizing composition consisting of DOP (100 k-500 kDa) and S. crispa. The application of the moisturizing composition markedly increased the skin moisture content, improved eye wrinkles, and enhanced skin elasticity.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study proved that D. officinale and S. crispa had good moisturizing effects, and as natural plant humectants, they may have broad applications in future moisturizing cosmetics.},
}

Filaggrin Proteins
*Dendrobium/chemistry
Humans
Aquaporin 3/genetics/metabolism
*Plant Extracts/pharmacology/chemistry
Hyaluronic Acid/metabolism
Hyaluronan Synthases/genetics/metabolism
Claudin-1/metabolism/genetics
Epidermis/drug effects/metabolism
*Polysaccharides/pharmacology/chemistry
*Emollients/pharmacology

@article {pmid40242372,
year = {2025},
author = {Elman, C and Feltey, KM and Wittman, B and Stevens, C and Hartsough, MB},
title = {How the Struggle for Public Health in the Jim Crow South Reflected and Reinforced Systemic Racial Health Inequality.},
journal = {Du Bois review : social science research on race},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {93-117},
pmid = {40242372},
issn = {1742-058X},
support = {P2C HD065563/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AG034424/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The twenty-first century COVID-19 epidemic revealed a U.S. public health system that countenanced health inequities and a U.S. public that resisted disease containment policies. This crisis, however, was only the most recent chapter in a longer struggle in the United States to institutionalize public health. We focus on two early twentieth-century public health campaigns in the American South, the unhealthiest U.S. region at the time. Black southerners-denied basic health, political, economic, and social rights under a rising Jim Crow regime-self-organized health services networks, including through the Tuskegee Woman's Club, the Negro Organization Society of Virginia, and the Moveable School (1890s-1915). Around the same time, a philanthropic project, the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission (RSC, 1909-1914), seeded state-level public health agencies in eleven southern states, thereby installing public health in a top-down manner. We use archival data sources to explore key similarities and differences in the public health concerns and coalition-building approaches of each campaign and southern resistance to their efforts. We find Black-led campaigns often blurred the color line to form coalitions that provided services to the underserved while tackling environmental health risks at the community level. In contrast, RSC affiliates in southern states, as directed by RSC administrators, provided health services as short-term public dispensaries. Services reached Black and White communities willing to participate but in a manner that did not overtly challenge Jim Crow-era practices. Southern resistance to public health expansion persisted under each approach. The legacies of these struggles remain; the political-economic and ideological forces that limited public health expansion while marginalizing Black community health efforts reverberate in public health inequities today.},
}

@article {pmid40242340,
year = {2025},
author = {Aota, I and Takano, M and Izawa, EI},
title = {Effects of a short-term removal of the dominant male on vocalization in captive groups of large-billed crows (Corvus macrorynchos).},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {4},
pages = {241458},
pmid = {40242340},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Dominance hierarchy is widespread among group-living animals as a conflict resolution strategy to avoid the cost and risk of fights among individuals. Dominance signals are well-known mechanisms that allow individuals to assess their opponent's fighting ability without physical contact, thereby maintaining dominance relationships. In fission-fusion societies, where group composition is fluid, dominance status can shift depending on the current group members. In such situations, vocal signals may be particularly useful as dominance signals due to their easy modification by the signaller. In this study, we investigated the relationship between rank-dependent behaviours and rank ascending by temporarily removing individuals from captive groups of large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos). We removed either the first-ranked or third-ranked individuals from the group for 1 day and compared the behaviours of the remaining group members before the removal, during the removal and after the removed individuals rejoined the group. We found that the number of sequential ka calls, which is assumed to be a status signal, increased only during the removal of first-ranked individuals and decreased after they rejoined the group. These results suggest that sequential ka calls serve as dominance signals, and the subordinates flexibly adjust their vocalization depending on the presence of high-ranked individuals.},
}

@article {pmid40242334,
year = {2025},
author = {Husby, M and Slagsvold, T},
title = {The Neophobia Hypothesis: nest decoration in birds may reduce predation by corvids.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {4},
pages = {250427},
pmid = {40242334},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Many birds suffer heavily from nest predation, selecting several behaviours to avoid the risk. Corvids are among the most serious nest predators. However, they are also among the most neophobic of any birds. We suggest that nesting birds may take advantage of this fear by decorating the nest with anthropogenic materials that are novel to the predators (termed the Neophobia Hypothesis). They may also add large, conspicuous feathers that may indicate a site where a bird has recently been killed. In a study in the field, we found that territorial Eurasian magpies Pica pica waited for a longer period to remove eggs from artificial nests decorated with a shiny metal teaspoon, or with large, white feathers compared to adjacent artificial control nests with no decoration. On a landfill, where the birds had become more habituated to forage among anthropogenic material, common ravens Corvus corax also avoided nests decorated with a teaspoon or with feathers. The study supports the hypothesis that birds may suffer less nest predation by corvids if they decorate the nest with anthropogenic material or with large feathers.},
}

@article {pmid40238963,
year = {2025},
author = {Nelson, M},
title = {Honoring Dr. Jay Siwek and 75 Years of American Family Physician.},
journal = {American family physician},
volume = {111},
number = {4},
pages = {293},
pmid = {40238963},
issn = {1532-0650},
}

@article {pmid40233941,
year = {2025},
author = {Mole, J and Ruffle, JK and Nelson, A and Chan, E and Shallice, T and Nachev, P and Cipolotti, L},
title = {A right frontal network for analogical and deductive reasoning.},
journal = {Brain : a journal of neurology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/brain/awaf062},
pmid = {40233941},
issn = {1460-2156},
support = {089231/A/09/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; //Department of Health's National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre's/ ; //National Brain Appeal/ ; MR/X00046X/1//Guarantors of Brain and the Medical Research Council/ ; },
abstract = {Two of the most well-studied types of reasoning are analogical reasoning (AR) and deductive reasoning (DR). Yet, our understanding of the relationship between reasoning abilities and their neuroanatomical basis remains surprisingly limited. We aimed to conduct fine-grained anatomical mapping of performance on tests of AR, DR and fluid intelligence (Gf), in a large sample of patients with unilateral focal frontal or posterior lesions and healthy controls. We assessed 247 prospectively recruited patients using two new tests: the Analogical Reasoning Test (ART) and the Deductive Reasoning Test (DRT); and the best-established measure of Gf: Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM). Non-parametric Bayesian stochastic block modelling was used to reveal the community structure of lesion deficit networks, disentangling functional from confounding pathological distributed effects. ART and DRT performance was significantly impaired in patients with frontal lesions [ART: F(2,238) = 18.93; P < 0.001; Frontal group worse than Posterior group and healthy controls, both P < 0.001; DRT: F(2,387) = 18.491; P < 0.001; Frontal group worse than healthy controls, P < 0.01]. Right frontal effects were evident on both tests. Thus, on the ART, right frontal patients were more impaired than left (P < 0.05). On the DRT, right frontal patients were more impaired than left frontal patients on questions with indeterminate solutions (P < 0.05) but not on questions with determinate ones. Non-parametric Bayesian stochastic block modelling implicated a right frontal network in ART and DRT performance. Strikingly, we found that this network was also implicated in performance on RAPM. Our study represents the most robust investigation of AR and DR in the focally injured brain. Our findings imply that a right frontal network is critical. The ART and DRT appear to be promising new clinical tests, capable of evaluating reasoning abilities and identifying right frontal lobe dysfunction.},
}

@article {pmid40226647,
year = {2024},
author = {Ceolato-Martin, C and Chevallier-Collins, C and Clément, JP and Charles, E and Lacroix, A and Ranoux, D},
title = {OnabotulinumtoxinA in Resistant Depression: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Facial Injection Sites (OnaDEP Study).},
journal = {Depression and anxiety},
volume = {2024},
number = {},
pages = {1177925},
pmid = {40226647},
issn = {1520-6394},
mesh = {Humans ; *Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Male ; Female ; *Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; *Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy ; Adult ; *Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {Background: OnabotulinumtoxinA (OnaA) injection in glabella area appears to be a promising treatment for major depression. However, one major concern of placebo-controlled studies on botulinum toxin injections is to ensure adequate blinding. Patients and Methods: In this context, all subjects of this trial received the active product (OnaA). After randomization, 58 patients with resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) received OnaA either in the glabella area (N = 29) or in the crow's feet area (N = 29). Subjects were blinded to the supposedly effective area against resistant depression and the examiner was not aware of the injected area. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of responders (50% or greater decrease in MADRS [Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale] score from baseline) in glabella group versus crow's feet group at week 6 after the OnaA injection. Results: The number of responders was significantly higher in the glabella group than in the crow's feet group with 13 responders out of 29 patients (44.8%) in the glabella group and five out of 28 patients (17.9%) in the crow's feet group (p=0.029). The rate of psychomotor agitation as measured by item 9 of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), associated with a shorter span of psychiatric disorder, was a potent positive predictive factor of positive response to treatment. Conclusion: We conclude that OnaA injected in the glabella muscles is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for MDD. We suggest that patients with a high score at item 9 of the HAM-D might be a subgroup of best responders. We assume that OnaA may act as a modulator of the activity of the primary sensorimotor cortex and then of the amygdala. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03484754.},
}

Humans
*Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage/pharmacology
Male
Female
*Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant/drug therapy
Middle Aged
*Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy
Adult
*Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage
Treatment Outcome

@article {pmid40223762,
year = {2025},
author = {Grossmann, D and Srivastava, S and Winkler, V and Brenner, S and Gupta, KJ and Paliwal, A and Singh, K and De Allegri, M},
title = {Determinants of outpatient healthcare-seeking behaviors among the rural poor affected by chronic conditions in India: a population-based cross-sectional study in seven states.},
journal = {Global health action},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2480413},
doi = {10.1080/16549716.2025.2480413},
pmid = {40223762},
issn = {1654-9880},
mesh = {Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; India/epidemiology ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Chronic Disease/therapy/epidemiology ; *Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; *Rural Population/statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult ; *Ambulatory Care/statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Poverty ; Health Services Accessibility ; Aged ; Insurance, Health ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: A rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) increases demand for outpatient healthcare. Yet, evidence on preferences and barriers to healthcare services for India's most disadvantaged population, the target of India's largest public health insurance scheme (PM-JAY), is lacking.

OBJECTIVE: We explore determinants of outpatient healthcare-seeking behavior among PM-JAY eligible individuals with CNCDs in rural areas of seven states.

METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from a household survey (conducted between November 2019 and March 2020), we employed multilevel multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with seeking care from informal (home treatment, pharmacies, traditional healers), formal public, or formal private providers, compared with no care. Anderson's behavioral model informed the selection of independent variables.

RESULTS: Of 51,820 individuals, 5,061 (9.8%) reported a chronic condition. Despite their disease, 1,168 (23.1%) reported not using regular outpatient care. Another 2,421 individuals (48.0%) used formal private, 922 (18.3%) used formal public, and 535 (10.6%) used informal care. Predictors of formal private care were higher socioeconomic status (RRR = 2.441, 95% CI [1.61, 3.70]) and health insurance coverage (RRR = 1.478, 95% CI [1.12, 1.95]). Residents of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Gujarat were more likely to use formal public care (RRR = 23.915, 95% CI [9.01, 63.44]). Suffering from Major CNCDs or experiencing limitations in daily activities increased the probability of using healthcare across all options.

CONCLUSION: Future research should explore the reasons for non-utilization of chronic care and the preference for private providers. Policies to enhance public healthcare utilization and expand insurance for outpatient care could improve access and reduce health inequities.},
}

Humans
Cross-Sectional Studies
India/epidemiology
Male
Female
Adult
Chronic Disease/therapy/epidemiology
*Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data
Middle Aged
*Rural Population/statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
*Ambulatory Care/statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
Poverty
Health Services Accessibility
Aged
Insurance, Health

@article {pmid40221436,
year = {2025},
author = {Al-Matarneh, FM},
title = {Integrating hybrid bald eagle crow search algorithm and deep learning for enhanced malicious node detection in secure distributed systems.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {12647},
pmid = {40221436},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {A distributed system comprises several independent units, each planned to track its tasks without interconnecting with the rest of them, excluding messaging services. This indicates that a solitary point of failure can reduce a method incapable without caution since no single point can achieve all essential processes. Malicious node recognition is a crucial feature of safeguarding the safety and reliability of distributed methods. Numerous models, ranging from anomaly recognition techniques to machine learning (ML) methods, are used to examine node behaviour and recognize deviances from usual patterns that may designate malicious intent. Advanced cryptographic protocols and intrusion detection devices are often combined to improve the flexibility of these methods against attacks. Moreover, real-time observing and adaptive plans are vital in quickly identifying and answering emerging attacks, contributing to the complete sturdiness of safe distributed methods. This study designs a Hybrid Bald Eagle-Crow Search Algorithm and Deep Learning for Enhanced Malicious Node Detection (HBECSA-DLMND) technique in Secure Distributed Systems. The HBECSA-DLMND technique follows the concept of metaheuristic feature selection with DL-based detection of malicious nodes in distributed systems. To accomplish this, the HBECSA-DLMND technique performs data normalization using the linear scaling normalization (LSN) approach, and the ADASYN approach is employed to handle class imbalance data. Besides, the HBECSA-DLMND method utilizes the HBECSA technique to choose a better subset of features. Meanwhile, the convolutional sparse autoencoder (CSAE) model detects malicious nodes. Finally, the dung beetle optimization (DBO) method is employed for the parameter range of the CSAE method. The experimental evaluation of the HBECSA-DLMND methodology is examined on a benchmark WSN-DS database. The performance validation of the HBECSA-DLMND methodology illustrated a superior accuracy value of 98.99% over existing approaches.},
}

@article {pmid40216860,
year = {2025},
author = {Si, S and Jiang, X and Su, Q and Carin, L},
title = {Detecting implicit biases of large language models with Bayesian hypothesis testing.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {12415},
pmid = {40216860},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; *Language ; Humans ; Bias ; Large Language Models ; },
abstract = {Despite the remarkable performance of large language models (LLMs), such as generative pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), across various tasks, they often perpetuate social biases and stereotypes embedded in their training data. In this paper, we introduce a novel framework that reformulates bias detection in LLMs as a hypothesis testing problem, where the null hypothesis [Formula: see text] represents the absence of implicit bias. Our framework leverages binary-choice questions to measure social bias in both open-source and proprietary LLMs accessible via APIs. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach by integrating classical statistical methods, such as the exact binomial test, with Bayesian inference using Bayes factors for bias detection and quantification. Extensive experiments are conducted on prominent models, including ChatGPT (GPT-3.5-Turbo), DeepSeek-V3, and Llama-3.1-70B, utilizing publicly available datasets such as BBQ, CrowS-Pairs (in both English and French), and Winogender. While the exact Binomial test fails to distinguish between no evidence of bias and evidence of no bias, our results underscore the advantages of Bayes factors, particularly their capacity to quantify evidence for both competing hypotheses and their robustness to small sample size. Additionally, our experiments reveal that the bias behavior of LLMs is largely consistent across the English and French versions of the CrowS-Pairs dataset, with subtle differences likely arising from variations in social norms across linguistic and cultural contexts.},
}

Bayes Theorem
*Language
Humans
Bias
Large Language Models

@article {pmid40216706,
year = {2025},
author = {Jyani, G and Gedam, P and Sharma, S and Dixit, J and Prinja, S},
title = {Financial Viability of Private Hospitals Operating Under India's National Health Insurance Scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).},
journal = {Applied health economics and health policy},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40216706},
issn = {1179-1896},
support = {F.NO.T.11011/02/2017-HR/3176774//Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Private hospitals account for 46% of all hospitals empanelled in India's national health insurance scheme and contribute to 54% of all the hospitalizations under it. However, insufficient package prices are often cited as a constraint to viable hospital operations. This study assesses the financial viability of establishing such hospitals at district level, with a focus on determining the break-even threshold by forecasting the financial trajectory of hospitals.

METHODS: By utilizing primary data from 27 district hospitals across nine states in India on cost of providing healthcare services, a blend of bottom-up and top-down micro-costing methods was used to estimate financial cost across input resource categories, including land procurement, building construction, human resources, equipment, drugs, consumables, maintenance, and overheads. Revenue from inpatient services was estimated using healthcare provider payment rates under India's largest tax-funded health insurance scheme, coupled with patient volume data stratified by distinct diseases across different specialties. Revenue projections from outpatient services were extrapolated as a fixed proportion of their inpatient counterparts. A 10-year evaluation framework was employed to forecast the hospital operations using revenue-expenditure perspective. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to assess the extent of variations in the output owing to varying bed-occupancy levels and doctor-to-bed ratios.

RESULTS: For a model 100-bed private hospital operating at district level, the average annual expenditure and revenue are projected to be at Indian Rupee (₹)85.27 million (US $1.03 million) and ₹104.36 million (US $1.26 million), respectively, for the initial 10 years. Human resources constitute the primary share (40%) of total expenditure, followed by spending on drugs and consumables (20%). A sequential evaluation of annual revenue and expenditure reveals that hospitals reach breakeven by their fourth operational year, subsequently transitioning into a profitable phase.

CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests a viable financial trajectory for private hospitals at district level, following the pricing structure of government-sponsored health insurance scheme.},
}

@article {pmid40215319,
year = {2025},
author = {Schmidbauer, P and Hahn, M and Nieder, A},
title = {Crows recognize geometric regularity.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {15},
pages = {eadt3718},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adt3718},
pmid = {40215319},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Crows/physiology ; Animals ; Humans ; *Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology ; },
abstract = {The perception of geometric regularity in shapes, a form of elementary Euclidean geometry, is a fundamental mathematical intuition in humans. We demonstrate this geometric understanding in an animal, the carrion crow. Crows were trained to detect a visually distinct intruder shape among six concurrent arbitrary shapes. The crows were able to immediately apply this intruder concept to quadrilaterals, identifying the one that exhibited differing geometric properties compared to the others in the set. The crows exhibited a geometric regularity effect, showing better performance with shapes featuring right angles, parallel lines, or symmetry over more irregular shapes. This performance advantage did not require learning. Our findings suggest that geometric intuitions are not specific to humans but are deeply rooted in biological evolution.},
}

*Crows/physiology
Animals
Humans
*Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology

@article {pmid40212605,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, X and Liang, W and Zhang, Y},
title = {Host personality and seasonal parasitism risk do not account for egg rejection behavior in the azure-winged magpie.},
journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife},
volume = {26},
number = {},
pages = {101056},
pmid = {40212605},
issn = {2213-2244},
abstract = {Brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts and many host birds have evolved a range of anti-parasitism strategies, including egg recognition and egg rejection. Recent studies have shown that host egg rejection behavior can vary according to personality traits and parasitism risk. However, these relationships have not been clearly determined. The aim of this study was to further investigate the influence of seasonal parasitism pressure and host personality traits on egg rejection behavior in the azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus). Our results showed no significant difference in the proportion of egg rejection between hosts with low (before the arrival of cuckoos) and high (after the arrival of cuckoos) parasitism pressure. In addition, no significant difference was detected in the proportion of egg rejection between bold individuals (shorter flight initiation distance, FID) and shy individuals (longer FID). We hypothesized that the relatively weak effect of the presence or absence of cuckoos on this species could be attributed to their inherently strong egg recognition abilities. Moreover, the quantification of host behavior along a single personality axis (boldness-shyness) may be insufficient to capture behavioral differences that arise from the combined effects of various personality traits. Our study provides novel insights into the influence of seasonal parasitism risk and personality traits on host egg rejection behavior.},
}

@article {pmid40208017,
year = {2025},
author = {Gwee, CY and Metzler, D and Fuchs, J and Wolf, JBW},
title = {Reconciling Gene Tree Discordance and Biogeography in European Crows.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e17764},
doi = {10.1111/mec.17764},
pmid = {40208017},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {WO 14262-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; INST 86/2050-1 FUGG//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; ERCStG-336536 FuncSpecGen/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; },
abstract = {Reconstructing the evolutionary history of young lineages diverging with gene flow is challenging due to factors like incomplete lineage sorting, introgression, and selection causing gene tree discordance. The European crow hybrid zone between all-black carrion crows and grey-coated hooded crows exemplifies this challenge. Most of the genome in Western and Central European carrion crow populations is near-identical to hooded crows, but differs substantially from their Iberian congeners. A notable exception is a single major-effect colour-locus under sexual selection aligning with the 'species' tree. To understand the underlying evolutionary processes, we reconstructed the biogeographic history of the species complex. During the Pleistocene carrion and hooded crows took refuge in the Iberian Peninsula and the Middle East, respectively. Allele-sharing of all-black Western European populations with likewise black Iberian crows at the colour-locus represents the last trace of carrion crow ancestry, resisting gene flow from expanding hooded crow populations that have homogenised most of the genome. A model of colour-locus introgression from an Iberian ancestor into hooded crow populations near the Pyrenées was significantly less supported. We found no positive relationship between introgression and recombination rate consistent with the absence of genome-wide, polygenic barriers in this young species complex. Overall, this study portrays a scenario where few large-effect loci, subject to divergent sexual selection, resist rampant and asymmetric gene exchange. This study underscores the importance of integrating population demography and biogeography to accurately interpret patterns of gene tree discordance following population divergence.},
}

@article {pmid40204817,
year = {2025},
author = {Bharath, S and Vasuki, A},
title = {Adaptive energy loss optimization in distributed networks using reinforcement learning-enhanced crow search algorithm.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {12165},
pmid = {40204817},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Modern power distribution network incorporates distributed generation (DG) for numerous benefits. However, the incorporation creates numerous challenges in energy management and to handle the challenges it requires advanced optimization techniques for an effective operation of the network. Unlike traditional methods such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and standard Crow Search Algorithm (CSA), which suffer from premature convergence and limited adaptability to real-time variations, Reinforcement Learning Enhanced Crow Search Algorithm (RL-CSA) which is proposed in this research work solves network reconfiguration optimization problem and minimize energy losses. Unlike conventional heuristic methods, which follow predefined search patterns, RL-CSA dynamically refines its search trajectory based on real-time feedback, ensuring superior convergence speed and global search efficiency. The novel RL-CSA enables real-time adaptability and intelligent optimization for energy loss reduction in distributed networks. The proposed model validation is performed on the IEEE 33 and 69 Bus test systems considering diverse performance metrics such as power loss reduction, voltage stability, execution time, utilization efficiency for DG deployment, and energy cost minimization. Comparative results show that RL-CSA achieves a 78% reduction in energy losses, limiting power loss to 5 kW (IEEE 33-Bus) and 8 kW (IEEE 69-Bus) whereas traditional models converge at higher loss levels. The execution time is optimized to 1.4 s (IEEE 33-Bus) and 1.8 s (IEEE 69-Bus), significantly faster than GA, PSO, and CSA, making RL-CSA more efficient for real-time power distribution applications. By balancing exploration-exploitation using CSA while adapting search parameters through reinforcement learning, RL-CSA ensures scalability, improved DG utilization (98%), and better voltage stability (< 0.005 p.u.), making it a robust and intelligent alternative for modern smart grid optimization.},
}

@article {pmid40199999,
year = {2025},
author = {Chandralekha, M and Jayadurga, NP and Chen, TM and Sathiyanarayanan, M and Saleem, K and Orgun, MA},
title = {A synergistic approach for enhanced eye blink detection using wavelet analysis, autoencoding and Crow-Search optimized k-NN algorithm.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {11949},
pmid = {40199999},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {RSPD2024R697//King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; },
mesh = {*Blinking/physiology ; Humans ; *Electroencephalography/methods ; *Wavelet Analysis ; *Algorithms ; Machine Learning ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Deep Learning ; Adult ; },
abstract = {This research endeavor introduces a state-of-the-art, assimilated approach for eye blink detection from Electroencephalography signals. It combines the prominent strategies of wavelet analysis, autoencoding, and a Crow-Search-optimized k-Nearest Neighbors to enhance the performance of eye blink detection from EEG signals. This procedure is initiated by escalating the robustness of EEG data through jittering, which integrates noise into the dataset. Consequently, the wavelet transform is highly demanded during feature extraction in identifying the essential time-frequency components of the signals. These features are further distilled using an autoencoder to provide a dense, yet informative representation. Prior to introducing these features into the machine learning system, they were adjusted. Evidently, the hyperparameters of the k-Nearest Neighbors model have been fine-tuned using Crow Search Algorithm, inspired by the hunting characteristics of crows. This optimization method actively samples the search space to balance exploration and exploitation to identify the optimal configuration for the model. The k-NN model that has been optimized using the proposed method demonstrates significantly higher performance in the eye blink detection process in comparison to the deep learning models when equipped with decorous feature extraction and fine tuning. The effectiveness of the developed system has been ascertained according to the assessment indices such as accuracy, classification reports, and confusion matrix. Thus, the present work offers an optimal method of detecting the eye blink from the EEG signals assisting in the development of further EEG applications including user interfaces, fatigue level identification, and neurological disorders analysis through the enhancement of signal processing and optimization methods. It becomes evident after a detailed evaluation that conventional machine learning algorithms if implemented with correct feature extraction and fine-tuning surpass the deep learning approaches including the frameworks composed of Convolutional Neural Network and Principal Component Analysis and empirical mode decomposition by approximately 96% across all datasets. This proves the advantage of optimized traditional Machine Learning models over the Deep Learning models in realistic EEG-based eye blink detection.},
}

*Blinking/physiology
Humans
*Electroencephalography/methods
*Wavelet Analysis
*Algorithms
Machine Learning
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Neural Networks, Computer
Deep Learning
Adult

@article {pmid40195903,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, F and Yu, C and Guo, S and Wang, X and Li, J and Li, Z},
title = {The risk perception and response of Azure-winged magpies: On the aspect of feeding behaviour and alarm calls.},
journal = {The Journal of animal ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.70044},
pmid = {40195903},
issn = {1365-2656},
support = {2022YFC3202104//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BK20211151//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China/ ; },
abstract = {Prey are expected to effectively perceive predation cues, recognise predators and adopt appropriate anti-predator strategies to enhance their chances of survival. Species with high cognitive abilities tend to be better at these processes, while empirical research is still lacking. The role of cognition in avoiding predation requires further investigation, especially in species with complex social structures and communication systems. Azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) have demonstrated great talents in cognitive tasks. We conducted model presentation and playback experiments to test their predator detection and information transmission in the wild. We found that magpies exhibited distinct responses according to the model type (pigeon, falcon and cat) and eye condition of models (covered or uncovered). Individuals postponed the visit to the feeder and took less food in response to predator and eye-uncovered models. The cat model was perceived as a higher risk, and magpies would emit alarm calls with a wider bandwidth, a higher frequency of 5%, and a higher frequency of 95%. We also found that the playback of alarm calls could induce different anti-predator behaviours from conspecifics. Our study examined how Azure-winged magpies perceive information and make decisions to avoid predators. It indicates that the alarm calls of Azure-winged magpies function in encoding and sharing information, providing an in-depth understanding of complex vocal communication and risk cognition in birds.},
}

@article {pmid40188266,
year = {2025},
author = {Asha, MM and Ramya, G},
title = {Predator crow search optimization with explainable AI for cardiac vascular disease classification.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {11692},
pmid = {40188266},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Humans ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/classification/diagnosis ; *Artificial Intelligence ; Algorithms ; Reproducibility of Results ; },
abstract = {The proposed framework optimizes Explainable AI parameters, combining Predator crow search optimization to refine the predictive model's performance. To prevent overfitting and enhance feature selection, an information acquisition-based technique is introduced, improving the model's robustness and reliability. An enhanced U-Net model employing context-based partitioning is proposed for precise and automatic left ventricular segmentation, facilitating quantitative assessment. The methodology was validated using two datasets: the publicly available ACDC challenge dataset and the imATFIB dataset from internal clinical research, demonstrating significant improvements. The comparative analysis confirms the superiority of the proposed framework over existing cardiovascular disease prediction methods, achieving remarkable results of 99.72% accuracy, 96.47% precision, 98.6% recall, and 94.6% F1 measure. Additionally, qualitative analysis was performed to evaluate the interpretability and clinical relevance of the model's predictions, ensuring that the outputs align with expert medical insights. This comprehensive approach not only advances the accuracy of CVD predictions but also provides a robust tool for medical professionals, potentially improving patient outcomes through early and precise diagnosis.},
}

Humans
*Cardiovascular Diseases/classification/diagnosis
*Artificial Intelligence
Algorithms
Reproducibility of Results

@article {pmid40187177,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, W and Zhang, X and Shao, J and Wang, Y},
title = {Altruistic behavior in Chinese children with hearing impairment: Associations with power cognition and word comprehension.},
journal = {Acta psychologica},
volume = {255},
number = {},
pages = {104981},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104981},
pmid = {40187177},
issn = {1873-6297},
abstract = {Altruistic behavior is a crucial manifestation in the socialization process of preschool children with hearing impairment, yet research on this topic among Chinese children remains limited. This study investigated the effects of power cognition and word comprehension on altruistic behavior in preschool-aged children with hearing impairment. A sample of 64 children, including both hearing-impaired and typically developing children, completed altruistic behavior tasks, power cognition tasks, word comprehension tasks, and the Raven's Combined Test. The results revealed that: (1) Children with hearing impairment exhibited significantly lower levels of altruistic behavior compared to typically developing children; (2) Both power cognition and word comprehension were positively correlated with altruistic behavior in children with hearing impairment; (3) Word comprehension mediated the relationship between power cognition and altruistic behavior in children with hearing impairment.},
}

@article {pmid40184381,
year = {2025},
author = {Ong, K and Norris, DR},
title = {Experimental evidence demonstrating how freeze-thaw patterns affect spoilage of perishable cached food.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {4},
pages = {e0319043},
pmid = {40184381},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Freezing ; *Feeding Behavior/physiology ; *Passeriformes/physiology ; },
abstract = {For the small number of temperate and boreal species that cache perishable food, previous research suggests that increasing freeze-thaw events can have a negative impact on fitness by degrading the quality of cached food. However, there is no experimental evidence that directly links freeze-thaw events to cache quality. To examine how the timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of freeze-thaw events influenced cached food mass loss, a proxy for caloric content, we conducted a series of month-long laboratory experiments by placing simulated caches (raw chicken placed between two pieces of black spruce Picea mariana bark) in programmable freezers. Freeze-thaw treatments were modelled after weather data from Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, where a population of Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis), a species that caches perishable food for overwinter survival and to support late-winter breeding, has declined by > 70% since the 1980s. First, we found no evidence that an increased frequency of freeze-thaw events influenced mass loss, suggesting that microstructural damage caused by crystal reformation does not significantly influence cache quality. Instead, our experimental results demonstrated that mass loss was positively influenced by longer individual thaws, which likely reflects increased microbial growth, oxidation, and progressive drip loss. We also found that caches lost more weight when subjected to early freeze-thaw events compared to late freeze-thaw events. Finally, we show that milder freezes led to less mass loss and, unexpectedly, warmer than average thaws post-freeze also led to less mass loss. Our results suggest that longer thaw periods post-freezing and milder freezes cause or lead to significantly increased spoilage of perishable cached food. All of these temperature-related conditions are closely associated with long-term changes in climate and, thus, the effects on cache degradation reported in these experiments should be applicable to species caching perishable food in the wild.},
}

Animals
*Freezing
*Feeding Behavior/physiology
*Passeriformes/physiology

@article {pmid40180641,
year = {2025},
author = {Fielding, MW and Yates, LA and Buettel, JC and Stojanovic, D and Brook, BW},
title = {Carcass use by mesoscavengers varied across modified landscapes in the absence of top carnivores.},
journal = {Oecologia},
volume = {207},
number = {4},
pages = {60},
pmid = {40180641},
issn = {1432-1939},
support = {FL160100101//Australian Research Council/ ; CE170100015//Australian Research Council/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Carnivora ; *Feeding Behavior ; Raptors ; *Crows/physiology ; Australia ; },
abstract = {The decomposition of carrion is crucial to the functioning and nutrient cycling of ecosystems, and many species use this high-quality resource. However, the availability and reliability of carrion differs across environments. Modified landscapes, such as farms and roads, often produce a high density of carcasses, with disproportionate benefits for generalist mesoscavengers that can tolerate, or are attracted to, human presence. In this study, we placed carcasses strategically across two large islands in southern Australia and used camera traps to investigate how different scavengers locate and use carrion in forested, farmland and roadside habitats. Forest ravens, an avian generalist, were the dominant scavengers across all three habitat types but were three times more likely to discover carcasses deployed in modified landscapes. Raptors were twice as likely to discover and use carcasses in farmland habitats, indicating enhanced scavenging opportunities in these areas. The discovery rate and use of carcasses by feral cats did not differ between habitat types. In this setting, differences in carrion use between diurnal and nocturnal scavengers are potentially due to the absence of top mammalian carnivores (Tasmanian devils and quolls). Diurnal scavengers, such as forest ravens and raptors, followed expected habitat preferences, albeit with greater access to carrion due to increased persistence. However, feral cats demonstrated no preference for carcasses across habitats, likely due to the reduced landscape of fear. Overall, our study underscores the important role of native mammalian carnivores in structuring scavenger communities and further validates the value of trophic rewilding to restore key ecological functions.},
}

Animals
*Ecosystem
Carnivora
*Feeding Behavior
Raptors
*Crows/physiology
Australia

@article {pmid40171387,
year = {2025},
author = {Nishikawa, K and Idogaki, H},
title = {Effect of oral intake of heat-killed Fructobacillus fructosus OS-1010 on human skin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.},
journal = {Bioscience of microbiota, food and health},
volume = {44},
number = {2},
pages = {122-127},
pmid = {40171387},
issn = {2186-6953},
abstract = {Fructobacillus spp. comprise a large genus of fructophilic lactic acid bacteria whose growth characteristics differ from those of other common lactic acid bacteria. The genus has been extensively investigated microbiologically and phylogenetically. However, knowledge regarding Fructobacillus nutritional benefits remains unclear. In particular, Fructobacillus fructosus OS-1010 (OS-1010) was recently shown to act on intestinal cells to release extracellular vesicle exosomes that act on distant target cells. The released exosomes reportedly enhanced the expression of longevity-associated genes and intracellular mitochondrial activity in muscle cells. OS-1010 is expected to be a functional ingredient that improves the function of distant tissues such as muscles and skin upon oral intake. This study examined the effects of the oral intake of heat-killed OS-1010 on human skin in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of healthy participants. Significant improvement in skin elasticity was observed after eight weeks of oral OS-1010 intake. Furthermore, although no significant difference was found between the two groups in a wrinkle-related parameter, the OS-1010 group demonstrated improvements in the percentage wrinkle area and overall average wrinkle depth of crow's feet, which were not observed in the placebo group. These results indicate that OS-1010 can contribute to the improvement in skin conditions.},
}

@article {pmid39533155,
year = {2025},
author = {Lara Green, R and Joanne Carrington, S and Shaw, DJ and Kessler, K},
title = {Investigating visual perspective taking and belief reasoning in autistic adults: A pre-registered online study.},
journal = {Autism : the international journal of research and practice},
volume = {29},
number = {4},
pages = {920-933},
doi = {10.1177/13623613241290880},
pmid = {39533155},
issn = {1461-7005},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; *Theory of Mind ; *Autistic Disorder/psychology ; Middle Aged ; *Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology ; Reaction Time ; Adolescent ; *Visual Perception ; },
abstract = {As many autistic individuals report mentalizing difficulties into adulthood, the current pre-registered study investigated potential differences in belief reasoning and/or visual perspective taking between autistic and non-autistic adults. The Seeing-Believing task was administered to 121 gender-balanced participants online (57 with a self- reported diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition and 64 without), as well as Raven's Progressive Matrices (on which the groups did not significantly differ) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Non-autistic adults replicated previous findings with this task, revealing slower responses to belief-reasoning than to perspective-taking trials. Autistic adults did not show significantly slower or more error-prone performance during perspective taking and/or belief reasoning. In fact, the autistic group committed significantly fewer mistakes, including fewer altercentric intrusions. The main group difference in response times was a steeper increase with increasing angular disparity between self and other in the autistic group. We discuss our findings in terms of differences in self-other control, but emphasise that our findings cannot be explained in terms of simplistic deficit-based notions of autism and suggest that autistic adults might favour slightly different strategies when judging another's perspective or belief.Lay abstractMany autistic individuals report difficulties in social situations, where they are required to think about what goes on in others' minds. These states of the mind can include how others perceive the world around them, their beliefs, or their desires. While research has shown that autistic children could be delayed in developing their full capacity in this regard, less is known about how adults process others' experiences and beliefs. Here we used a novel task and asked adults to participate online. Participants self-reported whether they had been diagnosed with autism or not and we split them into two groups depending on their response. We also asked participants to fill in a self-report questionnaire about social preferences and habits and we also asked them to conduct a test of their nonverbal reasoning ability. Importantly, the autistic and the non-autistic groups did not differ in their nonverbal reasoning abilities, and on our task, we observed that the autistic group committed fewer mistakes than the non-autistic group. Autistic participants were particularly fast and made fewer mistakes on those responses that overlapped with their own view and belief of reality. In conclusion, our findings do not support a simple view of autism in terms of deficits in either social or more general thinking abilities. Instead, autistic adults might favour slightly different ways of thinking about other's experiences and beliefs that is more firmly linked to their own experience and knowledge.},
}

Humans
Male
Female
Adult
Young Adult
*Theory of Mind
*Autistic Disorder/psychology
Middle Aged
*Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology
Reaction Time
Adolescent
*Visual Perception

@article {pmid40168984,
year = {2025},
author = {van Hasselt, SJ and Martinez-Gonzalez, D and Mekenkamp, GJ and Vyssotski, AL and Verhulst, S and Beckers, GJL and Rattenborg, NC and Meerlo, P},
title = {Sleep pressure causes birds to trade asymmetric sleep for symmetric sleep.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.008},
pmid = {40168984},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Sleep is a dangerous part of an animal's life.[1][,][2][,][3] Nonetheless, following sleep loss, mammals and birds sleep longer and deeper, as reflected by increased electroencephalogram (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA; ≈1-5 Hz spectral power) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.[4][,][5] Stimulating a brain region during wakefulness also causes that region to sleep deeper afterwards,[6][,][7][,][8][,][9] indicating that NREM sleep is a local, homeostatically regulated process.[10][,][11] Birds and some marine mammals can keep one eye open during NREM sleep,[12][,][13] a behavior associated with lighter sleep or wakefulness in the hemisphere opposite the open eye-states called asymmetric and unihemispheric NREM sleep, respectively.[13][,][14][,][15][,][16][,][17][,][18][,][19][,][20][,][21][,][22][,][23] Closure of both eyes is associated with symmetric NREM or REM sleep. Birds rely on asymmetric and unihemispheric sleep to stay safe.[17][,][24][,][25] However, as sleeping deeply with only one hemisphere at a time increases the time required for both hemispheres to fulfill their need for NREM sleep, increased sleep pressure might cause birds to engage in symmetric sleep at the expense of asymmetric sleep.[26][,][27] Using high-density EEG recordings of European jackdaws (Coloeus monedula), we investigated intra- and inter-hemispheric asymmetries during normal sleep and following sleep deprivation (SD). The proportion of asymmetric sleep was lower early in the sleep period and following SD-periods of increased sleep pressure. Our findings demonstrate a trade-off between the benefits of sleep and vigilance and indicate that a bird's utilization of asymmetric sleep is constrained by temporal dynamics in their need for sleep.},
}

@article {pmid40159384,
year = {2025},
author = {Kocourek, M and Zhang, Y and Sandberg, L and Stehlík, P and Polonyiová, A and Olkowicz, S and Straková, B and Pavelková, Z and Hájek, T and Kušta, T and Lučan, RK and Kverková, K and Němec, P},
title = {Cellular scaling rules for brains of the galliform birds (Aves, Galliformes) compared to those of songbirds and parrots: Distantly related avian lineages have starkly different neuronal cerebrotypes.},
journal = {Brain, behavior and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-28},
doi = {10.1159/000545417},
pmid = {40159384},
issn = {1421-9743},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Songbirds, especially corvids, and parrots are remarkably intelligent. Their cognitive skills are on par with primates and their brains contain primate-like numbers of neurons concentrated in high densities in the telencephalon. Much less is known about cognition and neuron counts in more basal bird lineages. Here, we focus on brain cellular composition of galliform birds, which have small brains relative to body size and a proportionally small telencephalon and are often perceived as cognitively inferior to most other birds.

METHODS: We use the isotropic fractionator to assess quantitatively the numbers and distributions of neurons and nonneuronal cells in 15 species of galliform birds and compare their cellular scaling rules with those of songbirds, parrots, marsupials, insectivores, rodents and primates.

RESULTS: On average, the brains of galliforms contain about half the number of neurons found in parrot and songbird brains of the same mass. Moreover, in contrast to these birds, galliforms resemble mammals in having small telencephalic and dominant cerebellar neuronal fractions. Consequently, galliforms have much smaller absolute numbers of neurons in their forebrains than equivalently sized songbirds and parrots, which may limit their cognitive abilities. However, galliforms have similar neuronal densities and neuron counts in the brain and forebrain as equally sized non-primate mammals. Therefore, it is not surprising that cognitive abilities of galliforms are on par with non-primate mammals in many domains.

CONCLUSION: Comparisons performed in this study demonstrate that birds representing distantly related clades markedly differ in neuronal densities, neuron numbers and the allocation of brain neurons to major brain divisions. In analogy with the concept of volumetric composition of the brain, known as the cerebrotype, we conclude that distantly related birds have distinct neuronal cerebrotypes.},
}

@article {pmid40131252,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, S and Liao, W and Zhou, Y and Peng, C and Wang, J and Zhang, Z},
title = {Normative modeling of brain morphometry in self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.},
journal = {Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)},
volume = {35},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhaf064},
pmid = {40131252},
issn = {1460-2199},
support = {82302293//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024NSFSC1782//Science and Technology Foundation of Sichuan Province/ ; KYTZ2023036//Talent Introduction Research Projects of Chengdu University of Information Technology/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Male ; Child ; *Brain/pathology/diagnostic imaging ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Adolescent ; *Epilepsy, Rolandic/pathology/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; },
abstract = {Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes is the most common pediatric epilepsy, characterized by an age-dependent onset that typically arises during childhood brain development and is followed by remission at puberty. However, the heterogeneity in children's brain development at the individual level complicates the challenge of personalized treatment. Our goal is to quantify individual deviations from the normative range of brain morphometric variation in children with Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and to assess their associations with clinical manifestations and cognitive functions. We have developed sex-specific normative models on regional subcortical volume, cortical thickness, and surface area data from 457 healthy children sourced from two datasets. These models were then utilized to map the brain morphometric deviations of children with Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (n = 187) and sex- and age-matched healthy controls (n = 108) from another dataset. In the Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes group, children exhibited a higher proportion of regions with infra-normal deviations in subcortical volumes, the number of regions with normative deviations correlated with disease duration, seizure frequency, and Raven's total score. Our findings suggest that a few extreme distributions of heterogeneous brain morphometric deviations are present in a minority of individuals, emphasizing the need to monitor brain abnormalities throughout the course of the disease.},
}

Humans
Female
Male
Child
*Brain/pathology/diagnostic imaging
*Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Adolescent
*Epilepsy, Rolandic/pathology/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology
Child, Preschool
Electroencephalography

@article {pmid40129562,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, W and Liu, H},
title = {Urticaria-Like Hypersensitivity Reaction Following Botulinum Toxin Injection: A Case Report of Possible Interaction with β-Lactam Antibiotics.},
journal = {International medical case reports journal},
volume = {18},
number = {},
pages = {367-371},
doi = {10.2147/IMCRJ.S510203},
pmid = {40129562},
issn = {1179-142X},
abstract = {Botulinum toxin serotype A (BTX-A) is commonly used for treating facial dynamic wrinkles. The clinical safety of BTX-A has been proven, and it has few side effects; despite this, BTX-A has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. This case raises concerns about a possible interaction between botulinum toxin serotype A (CBTX-A) and β-lactam antibiotics, contributing to the limited literature on hypersensitivity reactions. Herein, we described the case of a 35-year-old woman who was injected with Chinese botulinum toxin serotype A (CBTX-A) to treat crow's feet. The treatment was performed after the patient had taken cefprozil for an upper respiratory tract infection. Subsequently, the patient developed urticaria-like symptoms that completely resolved within 24 hours after administration of antihistamines. This case emphasises the need for careful medication history review before botulinum toxin administration, especially in patients receiving β-lactam antibiotics, as hypersensitivity reactions may occur.},
}

@article {pmid40127088,
year = {2025},
author = {Richman, SN and Tomback, DF and Grevstad, N and Kobobel, D},
title = {Dining with wolves: Are the rewards worth the risks?.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {3},
pages = {e0319565},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0319565},
pmid = {40127088},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Wolves/physiology ; Animals ; *Crows/physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Reward ; Colorado ; Passeriformes/physiology ; Predatory Behavior ; },
abstract = {Where wild populations of gray wolves (Canis lupus) occur in North America, common ravens (Corvus corax) and, in western regions, black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) (Family Corvidae), show up quickly at wolf kills and scavenge carcasses, often feeding near wolves. Ravens and magpies also visit wolf enclosures at gray wolf sanctuaries in Colorado, USA, and attempt to take food from wolves, but there is no information regarding how often they obtain food or are injured or killed. Working at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide, Colorado, we asked whether ravens and magpies associate with gray wolves at feeding time; what proportions of ravens and magpies obtain food per enclosure; whether individual wolves react differently to the birds; and if the birds are harmed by interacting with wolves. We also examined the effects of food type, amount, and air temperature on bird numbers. We counted raven and magpie numbers in wolf enclosures and wolf and bird behaviors during daily feeding tours across 20 visits and within eight wolf enclosures per visit. Wolf reactions within each enclosure were categorized as chasing or ignoring birds or removing food. Cumulatively, across all dates and enclosures, 33% of ravens and 43% of magpies obtained food within each enclosure. Because birds were not individually marked, these percentages could be higher. Individual wolves differed in responses to ravens and magpies but most often ignored bird presence. We found no effect of food type on bird numbers but a trend in reward probability with greater food amount for ravens. There were, however, statistically significant negative relationships between daily maximum and average temperature and raven numbers, and significant positive relationships between daily minimum and average temperature and magpie numbers. We conclude that dining with wolves represented a successful foraging strategy with low risk to ravens and magpies.},
}

*Wolves/physiology
Animals
*Crows/physiology
Feeding Behavior
Reward
Colorado
Passeriformes/physiology
Predatory Behavior

@article {pmid40124943,
year = {2025},
author = {Lopez-Rodriguez, B and Sharma, N and Li, Z and van der Kolk, R and van der Boom, J and Scholte, T and Chang, J and Gröblacher, S and Esmaeil Zadeh, I},
title = {Magic Silicon Dioxide for Widely Tunable Photonic Integrated Circuits.},
journal = {ACS photonics},
volume = {12},
number = {3},
pages = {1321-1328},
doi = {10.1021/acsphotonics.4c01373},
pmid = {40124943},
issn = {2330-4022},
abstract = {Integrated photonic circuits have transformed data communication, biosensing, and light detection and ranging and hold wide-ranging potential for optical computing, optical imaging, and signal processing. These applications often require tunable and reconfigurable photonic components, most commonly accomplished through the thermo-optic effect. However, the resulting tuning window is limited for standard optical materials, such as silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. Most importantly, bidirectional thermal tuning on a single platform has not been realized. For the first time, we show that by tuning and optimizing the deposition conditions in inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICPCVD) of silicon dioxide, this material can be used to deterministically tune the thermo-optic properties of optical devices without introducing significant losses. We demonstrate that we can deterministically integrate positive and negative wavelength shifts on a single chip, validated on amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC), silicon nitride (SiN), and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platforms. This enables the fabrication of a novel tunable coupled ring optical waveguide (CROW) requiring only a single heater. In addition, we observe up to a 10-fold improvement of the thermo-optic tunability and demonstrate athermal ring resonators with shifts as low as 1.5 pm/°C. The low-temperature deposition of our silicon dioxide cladding can be combined with lift-off to isolate the optical devices, resulting in a decrease in thermal crosstalk by at least 2 orders of magnitude. Our method paves the way for novel photonic architectures incorporating bidirectional thermo-optic tunability.},
}

@article {pmid40119198,
year = {2025},
author = {Hahn, LA and Fongaro, E and Rose, J},
title = {Neuronal correlates of endogenous selective attention in the endbrain of crows.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {470},
pmid = {40119198},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {Freigeist Fellowship 93299//Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung)/ ; Freigeist Fellowship 93299//Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung)/ ; Freigeist Fellowship 93299//Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung)/ ; Project A19 of the collaborative research center SFB1280 Projektnummer 316803389//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Project A19 of the collaborative research center SFB1280 Projektnummer 316803389//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Crows/physiology ; *Attention/physiology ; *Neurons/physiology ; *Memory, Short-Term/physiology ; Male ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Cognition/physiology ; },
abstract = {The ability to direct attention and select important information is a cornerstone of adaptive behavior. Directed attention supports adaptive cognitive operations underlying flexible behavior, for example in extinction learning, and was demonstrated behaviorally in both mammals and in birds. The neural foundation of such endogenous attention, however, has been thoroughly investigated only in mammals and is still poorly understood in birds. And despite the similarities at the behavioral level, cognition of birds and mammals evolved in parallel for over 300 million years, resulting in different architectures of the endbrain, most notably the absence of cortical layering in birds. We recorded neuronal signals from the nidopallium caudolaterale, the avian equivalent to mammalian pre-frontal cortex, while crows employed endogenous attention to perform change detection in a working memory task. The neuronal activity profile clearly reflected attentional enhancement of information maintained by working memory. Our results show that top-down endogenous attention is possible without the layered configuration of the mammalian cortex.},
}

Animals
*Crows/physiology
*Attention/physiology
*Neurons/physiology
*Memory, Short-Term/physiology
Male
Behavior, Animal/physiology
Cognition/physiology

@article {pmid40111497,
year = {2025},
author = {Suresh, M and Maragatharajan, M},
title = {Optimized ensemble model for accurate prediction of cardiac vascular calcification in diabetic patients.},
journal = {Acta diabetologica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40111497},
issn = {1432-5233},
abstract = {AIM: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major threat to diabetic patients, with cardiac vascular calcification (CVC) as a key predictive factor. This study seeks to improve the prediction of these calcifications using advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms. However, current ML and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods face challenges such as limited sample sizes, insufficient data, high time complexity, long processing times, and significant implementation costs.

METHOD: To predict CVC in diabetic patients, the Simple linear iterative clustering based Ensemble Artificial Neural Network (SLIC-EANN) model is proposed in this paper. In this research article, certain biochemical, imaging, and clinical data are used that are captured from Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) dataset. The proposed model employs preprocessing techniques such as image normalization, image resizing, and image augmentation to clean and simplify the input images. Then Localization of the cardiac vascular calcification is done using the simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) algorithm. The ensemble artificial neural network (EANN) classifies calcification severity by integrating outputs from three machine learning techniques Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Boosting (GB), and Decision Tree (DT).

RESULTS: This method achieves an accuracy of 98.7% and an error rate of 1.3%, outperforming existing techniques.

CONCLUSION: A comprehensive analysis is conducted in this research article that concludes that the proposed model achieved better prediction performances of calcification in diabetic patients.},
}

@article {pmid40109883,
year = {2025},
author = {Palaniyappan, L and Liddle, PF},
title = {Seminal Contributions of Timothy J. Crow.},
journal = {Psychological medicine},
volume = {55},
number = {},
pages = {e75},
pmid = {40109883},
issn = {1469-8978},
mesh = {Humans ; History, 20th Century ; *Schizophrenia/history ; Psychotic Disorders/history ; History, 21st Century ; },
abstract = {We recall the life and work of Timothy J. Crow, whose contributions provided great insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and continue to shape many questions in the field. We compile his key works relating to psychotic disorders, focusing on the trajectory of his theoretical stance. Our account is interlaced with our own interpretation of the evidence that influenced Crow's arguments over the years as well as his scientific method. Crow has had a significant impact on the neuroscience of schizophrenia. Many of his observations are still valid and several questions he raised remain unanswered to date.},
}

Humans
History, 20th Century
*Schizophrenia/history
Psychotic Disorders/history
History, 21st Century

@article {pmid40109554,
year = {2025},
author = {Menge, BA},
title = {Impacts of Birds vs. Invertebrate Predators on Rocky Intertidal Community Structure.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {e71121},
pmid = {40109554},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Most studies of species interactions in rocky intertidal communities focus on invertebrate predators and herbivores interacting with sessile invertebrates and macrophytes. However, shorebirds are usually a conspicuous presence on rocky shores and eat sessile and mobile invertebrate prey, often including invertebrate predators and herbivores. Inspired by classic studies of strong bird predation effects in rocky intertidal habitats in Washington state (USA) and South Africa, I tested the effects of bird and invertebrate (sea stars, whelks) predation at multiple sites, wave exposures, and zones on the central Oregon coast from spring 1996 to fall 1997. To gain insight into the effects of birds relative to the effects of invertebrate predators, I used a crossed design, with bird exclusions (present and absent) and invertebrate predator removal (present and reduced). Compared to Washington state and South Africa, birds had little effect on the abundance of sessile or mobile prey in wave-exposed mid, wave-exposed low, and wave-protected mid zones at 2-4 sites. I suggest that differences between Oregon results and those in Washington and South Africa were driven by differences in bird abundance associated with whether the study site had resident colonies of shorebirds (primarily gulls, crows, and oystercatchers). That is, offshore islands often have resident breeding colonies such as in the Washington and South African studies, while sites in this study were all on the mainland where gulls were mostly transient visitors, while resident oystercatchers were usually limited to one or two pairs per site. Comparison with other marine and terrestrial experimental tests suggests that top-down effects of birds often vary in strength, and thus, future investigations should seek to understand the factors that underlie this variation.},
}

@article {pmid40103280,
year = {2025},
author = {Pennington, L and Potts, L and Murray, J and Geytenbeek, J and Laws, K and Sargent, J and Clarke, M and Swettenham, J and Lachkovic, J and Martin, C and McColl, E},
title = {The UK C-BiLLT: Validity and reliability of an online assessment of spoken language comprehension for children with severe motor disorders.},
journal = {International journal of language & communication disorders},
volume = {60},
number = {2},
pages = {e70025},
doi = {10.1111/1460-6984.70025},
pmid = {40103280},
issn = {1460-6984},
support = {GN2742//Action Medical Research/ ; //Great North Children's Hospital Foundation/ ; //Peter Sowerby Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Male ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Language Tests ; *Comprehension ; Infant ; United Kingdom ; Language Development Disorders/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Psychometrics ; Motor Disorders/diagnosis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Current UK measures of early spoken language comprehension require manipulation of toys and/or verbal responses and are not accessible to children with severe motor impairments. The Computer-Based Instrument for Low motor Language Testing (C-BiLLT) (originally validated in Dutch) is a computerized test of spoken language comprehension that children with motor disorders control using their usual response methods.

AIMS: To create a UK version of the C-BiLLT, evaluate its validity and reliability, and assess its practicability for children with motor disorders.

METHODS & PROCEDURES: The C-BiLLT was translated into British English and items were adapted to ensure familiarity to UK children. A total of 424 children (233 females, 191 males) aged 1:6-7:5 (years:months) without developmental disabilities were recruited from North East England. Children completed the UK C-BiLLT and Preschool Language Scales 5 (PLS-5) for convergent validity evaluation and either the visual reception subtest of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) (children aged 1:8-5:5) or Ravens Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) (ages 5:6-7:5) to assess divergent validity. A total of 33 children completed the UK C-BiLLT within 4 weeks of initial assessment for test-retest reliability assessment (intraclass correlation coefficient-ICC). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis examined structural validity. A total of 24 children (10 female, 14 male; aged 4-12 years) with non-progressive motor disorders who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), rated the UK C-BiLLT's ease of use and completed British Picture Vocabulary Scales (BPVS) and CPM as for convergent and divergent validity testing.

OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Internal consistency was high for children without motor disorders (α = 0.96). Exploratory factor analysis extracted two factors, together explaining 68% of the total variance. Test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.95; 0.90-0.98 95% confidence interval-CI). UK C-BiLLT scores correlated highly with PLS-5 (r = 0.91) and MSEL (r = 0.81), and moderately with CPM (r = 0.41); and increased across full-year age-bands (F(6, 407) = 341.76, p = < 0.001, η[2] = 0.83). A total of 19 children with motor disorders rated the UK C-BiLLT as easy/ok to use; two judged it hard; three declined to rate the ease of use. Their UK C-BiLLT scores correlated highly with BPVS (r = 0.77) and moderately with CPM (r = 0.57).

The UK C-BiLLT is a valid, reliable measure of early spoken language development and is potentially practicable for children with motor disorders. It may facilitate international research on the language development of children with motor disorders and evaluation of intervention at the national level.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Young children with motor disorders have difficulties accessing standardized assessments of language comprehension that require children to handle objects or to speak a response. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study demonstrates the validity and reliability of a UK translation of the C-BiLLT and suggests that the measure is feasible for children with motor disorders who use AAC and have a reliable method of response via computer access. What are the potential or clinical implications of this work? The UK C-BiLLT is a useful addition to the limited tools currently available to assess early spoken language comprehension of children with motor disorders.},
}

Humans
Female
Male
Child
Child, Preschool
Reproducibility of Results
*Language Tests
*Comprehension
Infant
United Kingdom
Language Development Disorders/diagnosis
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
Psychometrics
Motor Disorders/diagnosis

@article {pmid40102499,
year = {2025},
author = {Alabduallah, B and Al Dayil, R and Alkharashi, A and Alneil, AA},
title = {Innovative hand pose based sign language recognition using hybrid metaheuristic optimization algorithms with deep learning model for hearing impaired persons.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {9320},
pmid = {40102499},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {KSRG-2024- 238//King Salman Center for Disability Research/ ; },
mesh = {*Sign Language ; Humans ; *Deep Learning ; *Algorithms ; *Gestures ; *Persons with Hearing Disabilities ; Hand/physiology ; },
abstract = {Sign language (SL) is an effective mode of communication, which uses visual-physical methods like hand signals, expressions, and body actions to communicate between the difficulty of hearing and the deaf community, produce opinions, and carry significant conversations. SL recognition (SLR), the procedure of automatically identifying and construing gestures of SL, has gotten considerable attention recently owing to its latent link to the lack of communication between the deaf and the hearing world. Hand gesture detection is its domain, in which computer vision (CV) and artificial intelligence (AI) help deliver non-verbal communication between computers and humans by classifying the significant movements of the human hands. The emergence and constant growth of DL approaches have delivered motivation and momentum for evolving SLR. Therefore, this manuscript presents an Innovative Sign Language Recognition using Hand Pose with Hybrid Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms in Deep Learning (ISLRHP-HMOADL) technique for Hearing-Impaired Persons. The main objective of the ISLRHP-HMOADL technique focused on hand pose recognition to improve the efficiency and accuracy of sign interpretation for hearing-impaired persons. Initially, the ISLRHP-HMOADL model performs image pre-processing using a wiener filter (WF) to enhance image quality by reducing noise. Furthermore, the fusion of three models, ResNeXt101, VGG19, and vision transformer (ViT), is employed for feature extraction to capture diverse and intricate spatial and contextual details from the images. The bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) classifier is implemented for hand pose recognition. To further optimize the performance of the model, the ISLRHP-HMOADL model implements the hybrid crow search-improved grey wolf optimization (CS-IGWO) model for parameter tuning, achieving a finely-tuned configuration that enhances classification accuracy and robustness. A comprehensive experimental study is accomplished under the ASL alphabet dataset to exhibit the improved performance of the ISLRHP-HMOADL model. The comparative results of the ISLRHP-HMOADL model illustrated a superior accuracy value of 99.57% over existing techniques.},
}

*Sign Language
Humans
*Deep Learning
*Algorithms
*Gestures
*Persons with Hearing Disabilities
Hand/physiology

@article {pmid40087823,
year = {2022},
author = {Burgers, TA and Vanderwerff, KJ},
title = {Vision and Radar Steering Reduces Agricultural Sprayer Operator Stress without Compromising Steering Performance.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural safety and health},
volume = {28},
number = {3},
pages = {163-179},
doi = {10.13031/jash.15060},
pmid = {40087823},
issn = {1074-7583},
abstract = {HIGHLIGHTS: Stress was measured in professional sprayer operators who, while working, drove manually and with vision or radar steering. Vision and radar steering reduced the average operator stress rate by 48% relative to manual steering. The use of automatic guidance could have a dramatic positive effect on the health of sprayer operators. Sprayer steering performance was reported for professional operators and both vision and radar guidance for the first time.

ABSTRACT: Self-propelled agricultural sprayer operators work an average of 15 h d[-1] in peak season, and steering is the task that causes the operator the most stress because of the large number of stimuli involved. Automatic guidance systems help reduce stress and fatigue for operators by allowing them to focus on tasks other than steering. Physiological signals like skin conductance (electrodermal activity, EDA) change with stress and can be used to identify stressful events. The objective of this study was to determine if using a commercially available vision and radar guidance system (VSN[®], Raven Industries) reduces agricultural sprayer operators' stress compared to when they are steering manually. Four male professional sprayer operators participated in this study. Each operator performed his job duties normally in GPS-guidance-planted fields, at his self-selected speed, except to drive some passes manually and others with VSN in the same field. EDA was measured with an Empatica E4 wristband, and stressful events were quantified. Machine data (e.g., speed, RTK-GPS, and VSN metrics) were collected from each sprayer via CAN logs. The steering type, stress rate (e.g., stressful events min[-1]), and steering performance (cross-track error standard deviation, XTE SD) were determined for each pass. In total, 51 passes (23 manual, 28 VSN) in six fields were analyzed. Operators using VSN had a significant reduction (48% lower, p < 0.001) in their stress rate compared to when they were steering manually. There was no significant difference in the XTE SD for the steering type. The use of an automatic guidance system such as VSN could have a dramatic positive effect on the health of sprayer operators, especially during the long workdays of the peak spraying season, and could reduce the negative effects that stress and fatigue have on steering performance, mistakes, and accidents.},
}

@article {pmid40084976,
year = {2025},
author = {Heled, E and Levi, O},
title = {The effect of age and fluid intelligence on working memory in different modalities among elderly individuals: a moderated mediation analysis.},
journal = {Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-15},
doi = {10.1080/13825585.2025.2474472},
pmid = {40084976},
issn = {1744-4128},
abstract = {Working memory (WM), the capacity to temporarily hold and manipulate information, is evaluated using the span paradigm, which consists of forward and backward recall tasks to assess storage and manipulation, respectively. In accordance with the dedifferentiation theory, which suggests that different cognitive abilities compensate for the decline of others during the aging process, the current study aimed to examine whether fluid intelligence mediates the relationship between forward and backward recall across verbal, visuospatial, and tactile modalities while including age as a moderator. A total of 106 healthy older adults aged 60-89 years underwent the Digit Span, Visuospatial Span, Tactual Span, and Raven Colored Progressive Matrices Test. We found positive correlations between forward and backward recall in all three span tasks. Additionally, the tactile and visuospatial moderated mediation models were significant, whereas the tactile model seemed more robust. However, the verbal model was found to be non-significant. These findings suggest that storage and manipulation are associated across different modalities, but fluid intelligence becomes a more significant factor as age progresses, thus compensating for WM decline. Nevertheless, this pattern varies between modalities, indicating a WM modality-specific differentiation dependent on the cognitive load. Our findings have implications for understanding cognitive aging processes and theoretical frameworks concerning WM.},
}

@article {pmid40079980,
year = {2024},
author = {Burgers, TA and Kamarei, K and Vora, M and Horne, M},
title = {An Automated On-The-Go Unloading System Reduces Harvest Operator Stress Relative to Manual Operation.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural safety and health},
volume = {30},
number = {3},
pages = {89-106},
doi = {10.13031/jash.15992},
pmid = {40079980},
issn = {1074-7583},
mesh = {Humans ; Adult ; *Automation ; *Occupational Stress/prevention & control ; Male ; Workload ; Farmers ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Crop Production/methods ; Young Adult ; },
abstract = {HIGHLIGHTS: Stress was measured in harvest operators who performed on-the-go unloading manually and with an automated system. Automated unloading reduced the average grain cart and combine operator stress rate by 18% and 12%, respectively, compared to manual operation. Harvest operators usually worked more than 9 hours and often worked more than 12hours per workday during harvest. The use of automated unloading systems could positively affect the health of harvest operators.

ABSTRACT: On-the-go unloading improves harvest operational efficiency, but it requires skilled labor because it is challenging and stressful to balance numerous concurrent tasks. Harvest automation reduces workload, stress, and fatigue. The objective of this study was to determine if using a commercially available, automated on-the-go unloading system (Raven Cart Automation[TM], RCA, Raven Industries) would reduce operator stress compared to manual operation. Nine grain cart tractor operators and six combine operators participated in this study. Operators performed their typical harvest operation, except to alternate on-the-go unloading using RCA or operating manually. Skin conductance (electrodermal activity) was measured with an Empatica E4 wristband, and stressful events were quantified. Machine data was collected from the tractor and combine via CAN logs. Over 200 total unload events were analyzed. Grain cart and combine operators using RCA had an 18% (p = 0.022) and 12% (p = 0.18) reduction in stress rate, respectively, compared to operating the grain cart tractor manually. RCA reduced the tractor cross-track error standard deviation by 2.5 cm on straight passes (p < 0.0001). The use of an automated on-the-go unloading system reduces operator stress during harvest and could positively affect the health of operators, especially during the long harvest workdays.},
}

Humans
Adult
*Automation
*Occupational Stress/prevention & control
Male
Workload
Farmers
Female
Middle Aged
Crop Production/methods
Young Adult

@article {pmid40079265,
year = {2025},
author = {Burger, NFV and Nicolis, VF and Botha, AM},
title = {Evaluating long-read assemblers to assemble several aphididae genomes.},
journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bib/bbaf105},
pmid = {40079265},
issn = {1477-4054},
support = {CSRU180414320893//National Research Foundation of South Africa/ ; WCT2001/02//South African Winter Cereal Industry Trust/ ; },
mesh = {*Aphids/genetics ; Animals ; *Genome, Insect ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Software ; },
abstract = {Aphids are a speciose family of the Hemiptera compromising >5500 species. They have adapted to feed off multiple plant species and occur on every continent on Earth. Although economically devastating, very few aphid genomes have been sequenced and assembled, and those that have suffer low contiguity due to repeat-rich and AT-rich genomes. With third-generation sequencing becoming more affordable and approaching quality levels to that of second-generation sequencing, the ability to produce more contiguous aphid genome assemblies is becoming a reality. With a growing list of long-read assemblers becoming available, the choice of which assembly tool to use becomes more complicated. In this study, six recently released long-read assemblers (Canu, Flye, Hifiasm, Mecat2, Raven, and Wtdbg2) were evaluated on several quality and contiguity metrics after assembling four populations (or biotypes) of the same species (Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia) and two unrelated aphid species that have publicly available long-read sequences. All assemblers did not fare equally well between the different read sets, but, overall, the Hifiasm and Canu assemblers performed the best. Merging of the best assemblies for each read set was also performed using quickmerge, where, in some cases, it resulted in superior assemblies and, in others, introduced more errors. Ab initio gene calling between assemblies of the same read set also showed surprisingly less similarity than expected. Overall, the quality control pipeline followed during the assembly resulted in chromosome-level assemblies with minimal structural or quality artefacts.},
}

*Aphids/genetics
Animals
*Genome, Insect
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods
Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods
Software

@article {pmid40075987,
year = {2025},
author = {Ciebiera, O and Czechowski, P and Morelli, F and Rubacha, S and Jerzak, L},
title = {Adaptation of Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) to Urban Environments: Population Dynamics and Habitat Preferences in Zielona Góra (Poland) over 23 Years.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani15050704},
pmid = {40075987},
issn = {2076-2615},
abstract = {This study investigates the changes in population size, distribution, and habitat preferences of the Eurasian magpie Pica pica in Zielona Góra over 23 years, emphasising the effects of urbanisation and habitat transformation. A comprehensive survey conducted in 2022 identified 953 magpie pairs, with an average density of 8.8 pairs/km[2] across the current administrative boundaries of Zielona Góra (without forests), and 27.7 pairs/km[2] in strictly urbanised zones. The highest densities were observed in the old town (36.5 pairs/km[2]) and residential blocks (34.5 pairs/km[2]), while peripheral areas, like allotment gardens and industrial zones, showed significantly lower densities. The nests were predominantly located in coniferous trees, especially spruces, marking a shift from the previously favoured poplars. The mean nest height was 11.8 m, varying by habitat type, with the highest nests found in the old town and parks. Environmental factors, such as proximity to trash bins, water sources, and tall trees, were significant predictors of nest density and placement. These findings underscore the magpie's adaptability to urban environments, influenced by the availability of anthropogenic resources, habitat structure, and surrounding urban features.},
}

@article {pmid40075929,
year = {2025},
author = {Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E and Švažas, S and Bea, A and Šneideris, D and Villanúa, D and Butkauskas, D and Prakas, P},
title = {Molecular Confirmation of Raptors from Spain as Definitive Hosts of Numerous Sarcocystis Species.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani15050646},
pmid = {40075929},
issn = {2076-2615},
abstract = {Most raptors are flagship and umbrella species acting as ecosystem engineers. Research on avian parasites in raptors is therefore of interest. There is a lack of studies on Sarcocystis in naturally infected raptors. In the present work, we aimed to identify Sarcocystis spp. in intestinal scrapings of the raptors from Spain. Sarcocystis spp. were identified in 82.5% of the intestinal samples studied by nested PCR and sequencing of the partial ITS1 region and 28S rRNA. A total of nine known Sarcocystis species, S. arctica, S. columbae, S. cornixi, S. glareoli, S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. cf strixi, S. turdusi, and Sarcocystis sp. ex Corvus corax, and three genetically new organisms, Sarcocystis sp. Rod6, Sarcocystis sp. Rod7, and Sarcocystis sp. 22AvEs1, were identified in the intestines of raptors. This study is the first report of Sarcocystis spp. in the intestines of eleven raptor species from Spain. Furthermore, the new potential definitive hosts have been determined for seven Sarcocystis species. Co-infection of Sarcocystis spp. has also been observed, with more than one species found in 72.5% of birds. Nine different Sarcocystis species were identified in the intestinal samples of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). In conclusion, raptors play an important role in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp.},
}

@article {pmid40065382,
year = {2025},
author = {Rudaitytė-Lukošienė, E and Rehbein, S and Calero-Bernal, R and Butkauskas, D and Prakas, P},
title = {Morphological and molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis capracanis, Sarcocystis cornagliai and Sarcocystis rossii n. sp. infecting the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex).},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {96},
pmid = {40065382},
issn = {1756-3305},
mesh = {*Sarcocystis/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; *Sarcocystosis/veterinary/parasitology ; Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Austria ; *Goats/parasitology ; Goat Diseases/parasitology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/veterinary ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics/chemistry ; Diaphragm/parasitology ; Myocardium/ultrastructure ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The cyst-forming coccidia of the genus Sarcocystis (Sarcocystidae) are widespread protists of mammals, particularly of domestic and wild ruminants. Research on genus Sarcocystis in wild members of the subfamily Caprinae is, however, rather limited. Sarcocystis in the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) have only been investigated in depth once and then solely by morphological techniques. In the current investigation we aimed to morphologically and genetically characterise Sarcocystis species of Alpine ibex in Austria.

METHODS: Sarcocysts detected in the diaphragm and myocardium muscles were morphologically described using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Isolated sarcocysts were molecularly identified and characterised at the level of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and cytochrome c oxidase I gene (cox1). The obtained sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTS: Three Sarcocystis species, namely S. capracanis, S. cornagliai and S. rossii n. sp., were found in Alpine ibex. For the first time, we genetically characterised S. cornagliai, which is most closely related to Sarcocystis species that are transmitted by corvid birds. Sarcocysts of S. rossii n. sp. were found to be ribbon-shaped, with pointed tips. Hair-like protrusions about 5 μm in length were observed on sarcocyst walls. Observation of toluidine blue-stained semi-thin sections revealed that the sarcocyst of S. rossii n. sp. was thin-walled. Using TEM, cyst walls were observed to be similar to type 7a, with thin hair-like villar protrusions on the cyst wall, which were filled with many fine electron-dense granules. The ground substance layer was particularly thin, measuring 0.2-0.4 μm. The cox1 sequences of S. rossii n. sp. had the highest similarity to those of Sarcocystis arieticanis and Sarcocystis hircicanis. Sarcocystis rossii n. sp. had a close phylogenetic relationship with species that use canids as definitive hosts.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the role of the Alpine ibex as an intermediate host of three Sarcocystis species and sets a new host record for S. capracanis. It also provides the first molecular data on Sarcocystis from Alpine ibex and on S. cornagliai. In addition, a new species, S. rossii, was identified and described. Phylogenetic analyses suggested corvid birds and canids as potential definitive hosts for S. cornagliai and S. rossii n. sp., respectively.},
}

*Sarcocystis/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/ultrastructure
*Sarcocystosis/veterinary/parasitology
Animals
*Phylogeny
*RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics
Austria
*Goats/parasitology
Goat Diseases/parasitology
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/veterinary
DNA, Protozoan/genetics/chemistry
Diaphragm/parasitology
Myocardium/ultrastructure

@article {pmid40052146,
year = {2025},
author = {Lingstädt, F and Apostel, A and Rose, J},
title = {"Distribution of dominant wavelengths predicts jackdaw (Corvus monedula) color discrimination performance".},
journal = {Frontiers in physiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1543469},
pmid = {40052146},
issn = {1664-042X},
abstract = {Color vision is an important perceptual ability in most species and a crucial capacity underlying any cognitive task working with color stimuli. Birds are known for their outstanding vision and tetrachromacy. Two jackdaws were trained to indicate whether they perceive two colors as same or different. The dominant wavelengths of the experimental colors were assessed to relate the birds' performance to the physical qualities of the stimuli. The results indicate that the differences or similarities in dominant wavelengths of the colors had a strong influence on the behavioral data. Colors related to a reduced discriminatory performance were colors of particularly close wavelengths, whereas differences in saturation or brightness were less relevant. Overall, jackdaws mostly relied on hue to discriminate color pairs, and their behavior strongly reflected the physical composition of the color set. These findings show that when working with color stimuli, not only the perceptual abilities of the particular species, but also the technical aspects concerning the color presentation have to be considered carefully.},
}

@article {pmid40048071,
year = {2025},
author = {Takakura, Y and Otsuki, M and Takagi, R and Houkin, K},
title = {A feasibility pilot study comparing tablets and smartphones for an app-based speed training program in older people: an open-label, randomized controlled PROBE trial.},
journal = {Cognitive processing},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40048071},
issn = {1612-4790},
abstract = {This feasibility pilot study examined whether the device type (tablet or smartphone) influences the effectiveness of a brain training program for older adults. Forty-four community-dwelling participants were randomly assigned to the tablet or smartphone group using a stratified block randomisation protocol based on age and sex. Each participant completed 12 supervised training sessions, each lasting approximately 40 min, over 3 to 4 months. Cognitive assessments included general intelligence, attention, memory, and executive function. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the effects of the device type and time (pre- vs. post-intervention). Of the 44 participants, 36 completed the program. No main or interaction effects were observed for device type. However, significant improvements over time were found in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Frontal Assessment Battery, time required to complete Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, visual cancellation, and Trail-Making Test Part A. These results suggest comparable near-transfer benefits in attention and executive functions across tablets and smartphones. However, neither device produced far-transfer gains in memory measures. These findings underscore the feasibility and potential cost-effectiveness of smartphone-based training interventions for supporting cognitive health in later life.Trial Registration: Registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry on October 15, 2020 (UMIN000042123).},
}

@article {pmid40046655,
year = {2025},
author = {},
title = {Editor's Note: The war on good research: Debating research ethics and methods on the basis of Jay Levy's The war on people who use drugs: The harms of Sweden's aim for a drug-free society (Routledge, 2017).},
journal = {Nordisk alkohol- & narkotikatidskrift : NAT},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {14550725241298435},
pmid = {40046655},
issn = {1458-6126},
}

@article {pmid40044491,
year = {2025},
author = {Hussain, A and Ali, MJ},
title = {Lacrimal History - Part 39: Doyens of Dacryology Series - Jeffrey Jay Hurwitz (1944-2022).},
journal = {Seminars in ophthalmology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-3},
doi = {10.1080/08820538.2025.2474341},
pmid = {40044491},
issn = {1744-5205},
}

@article {pmid40040463,
year = {2025},
author = {Llewellyn, M},
title = {Ali Smith's queer autobiocritical aesthetics.},
journal = {Journal of lesbian studies},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-17},
doi = {10.1080/10894160.2025.2461903},
pmid = {40040463},
issn = {1540-3548},
abstract = {Ali Smith's allusive relationship to the literary and cultural canon is a prominent feature of her writing life. Smith's works offer a rich and diverse perspective on the magpie-like appreciation of cultural mo(ve)ments as accretive and cumulative sites of creative re/construction. But they also provide a sense of the writer as reader, thinker and re-visioner of personalised literary and cultural canons including not only books but paintings, films and music. In this essay, I explore Smith's work through what I term the "autobiocritical" - that is literary texts which serve to play with notions of identity, authorial positioning and critical approaches via an allusive, metafictional and theoretically informed exploration of fiction, form and self-representation. The essay focuses on Smith's Artful (2012) in which I suggest she engages in a complex process of homage and adaptation that is invested in the queering of the acts of reading, re-reading and critical perspective. Smith's subversive approach to the nature of critical analysis when divested of personality, character and readerly interaction presents a degree of cynicism and scepticism about the role of the aesthetic when anaesthetised from the quirks and individualities of character and of reading - that are central to Smith's aesthetic.},
}

@article {pmid40038068,
year = {2025},
author = {Gogola, JV and Joyce, MK and Vijayraghavan, S and Barnum, G and Wildenberg, G},
title = {NSF Workshop Report: Exploring Measurements and Interpretations of Intelligent Behaviors Across Animal Model Systems.},
journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology},
volume = {533},
number = {3},
pages = {e70035},
doi = {10.1002/cne.70035},
pmid = {40038068},
issn = {1096-9861},
support = {//Neuronex: The fabric of the primate neocortex and the origin of mental representations, NSF 2015276/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Intelligence/physiology ; *Models, Animal ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Neurosciences/methods ; Brain/physiology ; },
abstract = {Defining intelligence is a challenging and fraught task, but one that neuroscientists are repeatedly confronted with. A central goal of neuroscience is to understand how phenomena like intelligent behaviors emerge from nervous systems. This requires some determination of what defines intelligence and how to measure it. The challenge is multifaceted. For instance, as we begin to describe and understand the brain in increasingly specific physical terms (e.g., anatomy, cell types, activity patterns), we amplify an ever-growing divide in how we connect measurable properties of the brain to less tangible concepts like intelligence. As our appreciation for evolutionary diversity in neuroscience grows, we are further confronted with whether there can be a unifying theory of intelligence. The National Science Foundation (NSF) NeuroNex consortium recently gathered experts from multiple animal model systems to discuss intelligence across species. We summarize here the different perspectives offered by the consortium, with the goal of promoting thought and debate of this ancient question from a modern perspective, and asking whether defining intelligence is a useful exercise in neuroscience or an ill-posed and distracting question. We present data from the vantage points of humans, macaques, ferrets, crows, octopuses, bees, and flies, highlighting some of the noteworthy capabilities of each species within the context of each species' ecological niche and how these may be challenged by climate change. We also include a remarkable example of convergent evolution between primates and crows in the circuit and molecular basis for working memory in these highly divergent animal species.},
}

Animals
Humans
*Intelligence/physiology
*Models, Animal
Behavior, Animal/physiology
Neurosciences/methods
Brain/physiology

@article {pmid40038036,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, J and Yang, X and Gong, Q and Liu, T and Tu, H and Lu, X and Yang, F and Ji, R and Hu, L},
title = {Ocular surface side effects of botulinum toxin type A injections in the treatment of lateral canthal wrinkles (Crow's Feet).},
journal = {Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {102389},
doi = {10.1016/j.clae.2025.102389},
pmid = {40038036},
issn = {1476-5411},
abstract = {PURPOSE: This study investigates the impact of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNT-A) injections for lateral canthal wrinkles on the ocular surface.

METHODS: A total of 30 patients (30 eyes) who received BoNT-A injections were followed over a three-month period. Evaluations included tear meniscus height (TMH), strip meniscometry test, fluorescein tear film break-up time (FTBUT), corneal staining score, meibomian gland orifice and meibum quality score. Observations were recorded at baseline, one week, one month, and three months post-injection.

RESULTS: Upper and total eyelid meiboscore, meibomian gland orifice obstruction, and meibum quality score peaked at three months post-injection, while FTBUT was shortest during the same period, with significant differences observed across time points (P < 0.05). Post-hoc analysis indicated a significant reduction in FTBUT between baseline and three months (P = 0.048). Corneal staining scores were highest at one week, with significant differences across time points (P < 0.001); post-hoc analysis revealed a significant difference between one week and three months (P = 0.037). No significant changes were found in TMH or strip meniscometry test score (P = 0.374, P = 0.732).

CONCLUSIONS: BoNT-A injections may temporarily compromise ocular surface stability by decreasing tear film stability, disrupting meibomian gland function, and causing corneal epithelial disruption.},
}

@article {pmid40033487,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, MH and Kuan, YH and Tu, PC and Chan, YE and Su, TP},
title = {Differential involvement of trait impulsivity, fluid intelligence, and executive function in creativity among euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.},
journal = {Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/JCMA.0000000000001221},
pmid = {40033487},
issn = {1728-7731},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: While anecdotal evidence suggests a link between bipolar disorder and heightened creativity, empirical studies are scarce, and the underlying cognitive mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between trait impulsivity, executive function, fluid intelligence, and creativity among euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

METHODS: Euthymic outpatients with bipolar disorder and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Creativity was assessed using the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults and the Chinese Word Remote Associates Test, which examined divergent thinking and convergent thinking, respectively. Trait impulsivity was measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, while cognitive flexibility was evaluated using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Fluid intelligence was assessed using Raven's Progressive Matrices. General linear models were used to assess the associations between these cognitive measures.

RESULTS: Fifty-seven euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and fifty-six controls were recruited. Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder exhibited comparable overall creativity to controls but underperformed in convergent thinking. General linear models confirmed a negative association between trait impulsivity and creativity, primarily observed in patients with bipolar disorder. Cognitive flexibility positively correlated with creativity among patients with bipolar disorder, independent of fluid intelligence.

CONCLUSION: Our study showed that euthymic patients with bipolar disorder do not have heightened creativity. The findings underscore the importance of considering trait impulsivity and cognitive factors in understanding creativity in bipolar disorder.

LAY SUMMARY: Bipolar disorder (BD) is often linked to creativity, but scientific evidence on this connection is limited. Some individuals with BD may have creative strengths, while others struggle with cognitive challenges. This study explored how impulsivity, cognitive flexibility, and fluid intelligence affect creativity in euthymic patients with BD. Creativity was assessed by measuring divergent thinking (generating many different ideas) and convergent thinking (problem solving ability). The results showed that patients with BD do not have heightened creativity compared to healthy individuals. Importantly, higher impulsivity was linked to lower creativity, while better cognitive flexibility was associated with greater creativity in BD. The findings suggest that while BD does not enhance creativity, certain cognitive traits-such as lower impulsivity and stronger cognitive flexibility-may support creative thinking.},
}

@article {pmid40031162,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, Q and Chen, D and Yuan, B},
title = {Multi-Viewpoint and Multi-Evaluation with Felicitous Inductive Bias Boost Machine Abstract Reasoning Ability.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on image processing : a publication of the IEEE Signal Processing Society},
volume = {PP},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1109/TIP.2025.3530260},
pmid = {40031162},
issn = {1941-0042},
abstract = {Great efforts have been made to investigate AI's ability in abstract reasoning, along with the proposal of various versions of RAVEN's progressive matrices (RPM) as benchmarks. Previous studies suggest that, even after extensive training, neural networks may still struggle to make decisive decisions regarding RPM problems without sophisticated designs or additional semantic information in the form of meta-data. Through comprehensive experiments, we demonstrate that neural networks endowed with appropriate inductive biases, either intentionally designed or fortuitously matched, can efficiently solve RPM problems without the need for extra meta-data augmentation. Our work also reveals the importance of employing a multi-viewpoint with multi-evaluation approach as a key learning strategy for successful reasoning. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the unique role of metadata by demonstrating that a pre-training model supervised by meta-data leads to an RPM solver with improved performance. Codes are available in: https://github.com/QinglaiWeiCASIA/RavenSolver.},
}

@article {pmid40024953,
year = {2025},
author = {Xia, Y and Ye, Y and Liu, M and Wang, Y and Shang, L and Wang, P and Sun, H},
title = {Impact of high lodine and fluoride intake on children's IQ in rural China.},
journal = {European journal of nutrition},
volume = {64},
number = {2},
pages = {104},
doi = {10.1007/s00394-025-03617-w},
pmid = {40024953},
issn = {1436-6215},
mesh = {Humans ; China ; Child ; Female ; Male ; *Fluorides/urine/analysis/administration & dosage ; *Rural Population/statistics & numerical data ; *Intelligence/drug effects ; *Iodine/urine/administration & dosage ; Intelligence Tests ; Drinking Water/chemistry ; Cognition/drug effects ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Excessive intake of both fluorine and iodine can lead to various health effects. The potential influence of excessive fluorine and iodine intake on the intelligence of school-age children has become a notable concern.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between urinary fluoride (UF) levels, urinary iodine (UI) levels, and intelligence quotient (IQ).

METHODS: This study involved 711 children aged 8 to 12 from rural Jiangsu, China. Water iodine levels were measured using As[3+]-Ce[4+] catalytic spectrophotometry, while UI levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Fluoride levels in urine and drinking water were measured using the ion-selective electrode method. Children's cognitive function, evaluated through IQ scores, was assessed using the Combined Raven's Test. The results were considered significant at the P < 0.05 level.

RESULTS: The average IQ score was 107.6, the median UF was 281 µg/L, and the median UI was 1.39 mg/L. The correlation coefficient (β) and confidence interval (95%CI) for UF and UI on IQ were - 3.34 (-4.14, -2.43) and - 3.31 (-4.19, -2.41), respectively (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). UF > 1.4 mg/L and UI ≥ 300 µg/L were negatively correlated with IQ scores in all school-age children (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), with β and 95% CIs of -3.59 (-5.45, -1.74), -4.06 (-5.91, -2.21), respectively. The interaction term (UF > 1.4 mg/L: UI ≥ 300 µg/L) was negatively correlated with IQ scores in all (P = 0.041) and female school-age children (P = 0.007), with β and 95%CIs of -4.43 (-8.66, -0.19) and - 8.87 (-15.16, -2.40), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: High levels of both fluoride and iodine intake negatively affect the IQ of school-age children. Monitoring and regulating these elements in children's diets is essential to prevent cognitive impairment.},
}

Humans
China
Child
Female
Male
*Fluorides/urine/analysis/administration & dosage
*Rural Population/statistics & numerical data
*Intelligence/drug effects
*Iodine/urine/administration & dosage
Intelligence Tests
Drinking Water/chemistry
Cognition/drug effects

@article {pmid40022279,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Chen, Z and Cai, Z and Ao, W and Li, Q and Xu, M and Zhou, S},
title = {Exploring Graph Theory Mechanisms of Fluid Intelligence in the DLPFC: Insights From Resting-State fNIRS Across Various Time Windows.},
journal = {Brain and behavior},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {e70386},
pmid = {40022279},
issn = {2162-3279},
support = {//the National Natural Science Foundation Project of China/ ; //Humanity and Social Science Research Project of Jiangxi Educational Committee/ ; //Technology Planning Project of Health Commission of Jiangxi Province/ ; //Graduate Innovation Special Fund of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/ ; //Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Innovation Team Development Program/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Intelligence/physiology ; Male ; Female ; *Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods/standards ; Adult ; Young Adult ; *Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex/diagnostic imaging/physiology ; Time Factors ; Functional Neuroimaging/methods/standards ; Rest/physiology ; Brain Mapping/methods ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Brain imaging technologies can measure fluid intelligence (gF) levels more directly, objectively, and dynamically, compared to traditional questionnaire scales. To clarify the temporal mechanisms of graph theory in measuring gF, this study investigated the relationship between graph theoretical indicators in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and gF levels under various time windows.

METHODS: Using 30-min resting-state fNIRS (rs-fNIRS) data and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices from 116 healthy participants, the relationship between individual gF levels and DLPFC brain signals was analyzed using average degree (AD) and global efficiency (Eglob).

RESULTS: AD and Eglob in the resting-state DLPFC were significantly negatively correlated with the RAPM score. Considering the effectiveness and efficiency of gF measurement, a 2-min data collection might suffice, while for Eglob, more than 15-min collection was more effective.

CONCLUSION: These findings help clarify brain indicators and demonstrate the effectiveness of rs-fNIRS in intelligence measurement, providing a theoretical and practical basis for portable and objective gF assessment .},
}

Humans
*Intelligence/physiology
Male
Female
*Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods/standards
Adult
Young Adult
*Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex/diagnostic imaging/physiology
Time Factors
Functional Neuroimaging/methods/standards
Rest/physiology
Brain Mapping/methods

@article {pmid40020660,
year = {2025},
author = {Linderoth, T and Deaner, L and Chen, N and Bowman, R and Boughton, RK and Fitzpatrick, SW},
title = {Translocations spur population growth but fail to prevent genetic erosion in imperiled Florida Scrub-Jays.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.058},
pmid = {40020660},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Land and natural resource use in addition to climate change can restrict populations to degraded and fragmented habitats, catalyzing extinction through the reinforced interplay of small population size and genetic decay. Translocating individuals is a powerful strategy for overcoming direct threats from human development and reconnecting isolated populations but is not without risks.[1] Habitat Management Plan analyses under section 7 of the U.S. Endangered Species Act determined that multiple subpopulations of Federally Threatened Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens, hereafter FSJ) belonging to a metapopulation on Florida's west coast were declining demographic sinks, occupying areas where agriculture and fire suppression had degraded and fragmented the habitat.[2] In order to increase the viability of the overall metapopulation, 51 FSJs from five of these small subpopulations in areas to be mined were translocated throughout 2003-2010 into a larger site of more contiguous, recently restored habitat at the core of the metapopulation, which contained a small resident population.[3] Prior to translocations and for nearly two decades afterward, this core population, referred to as the M4 core region (CR) population, was extensively monitored, yielding a nearly complete pedigree. We used this pedigree, along with temporal genomic analyses and simulations, to show that translocations coupled with habitat restoration generated rapid population growth, but high reproductive skew increased inbreeding and led to genetic erosion. This mechanistic understanding of mixed conservation outcomes highlights the importance of monitoring and the potential need for genetic rescue to offset consequences of reproductive skew following translocations, regardless of demographic recovery.},
}