Shape Factor Research Articles

Influence of perceived stress on professional identity among nursing students: a chain mediating role of self-control and self-directed learning ability.

A positive professional identity is key for nursing students in determining career direction and predicting future engagement in the profession. Despite its complexity and susceptibility to various influences, the factors shaping nursing students' professional identity remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate how perceived stress can directly and indirectly influence professional identity among nursing students, with self-control and self-directed learning ability as mediators. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October to December 2023, collecting data from 675 nursing students across five tertiary hospitals in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. The survey captured detailed data on sociodemographic characteristics, perceived stress, self-control, self-directed learning ability, and professional identity among the participants. Descriptive analysis and correlation matrices were used to analyze participant characteristics and assess bivariate correlations. The mediation model was analyzed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Perceived stress showed a direct and negative influence on professional identity among nursing students; self-control was shown to play a mediating role between perceived stress and professional identity; self-directed learning ability was shown to play a mediating role between perceived stress and professional identity; and self-control and self-directed learning ability were shown to play a chain mediating role between perceived stress and professional identity. Self-control and self-directed learning ability have a chain mediating role in between perceived stress and professional identity among nursing students. It suggests that nursing managers and educators can improve the self-control and self-directed learning ability of nursing students to mitigate the negative impact of perceived stress on professional identity.

Multi-Dimensional Assessment, Regional Differences, and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Water Pollution from the Perspective of Grey Water Footprint in Zhejiang Province, China

The implementation of differentiated governance for agricultural water pollution (AWP) plays a significant role in alleviating the pressure on agricultural water resources. However, research that comprehensively assesses AWP and its influencing factors from a multidimensional perspective remains relatively limited. This study utilized the grey water footprint (GWF) model to quantify the agricultural grey water footprint (AGWF), agricultural grey water footprint efficiency (AGWFE), agricultural grey water footprint intensity (AGWFI), and agricultural water pollution level (AWPL) in Zhejiang from 2010 to 2020. Subsequently, we applied the standard deviational ellipse (SDE), the kernel density estimation (KDE), and the Dagum Gini coefficient to delve into the dynamic evolution and regional disparities of these indicators. Ultimately, we leveraged both the random forest model and the panel regression model to identify and examine the key factors shaping AGWF-related indicators. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2020, in Zhejiang, both AGWF and AGWFI exhibit a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, peaking in 2012. In contrast, AGWFE has consistently increased over the years, reaching an increase of 54.56 CNY/m3 by 2020. Meanwhile, despite fluctuations, AWPL in Zhejiang shows an overall gradual decline. (2) The centroids of relevant indicators for AWP in Zhejiang are primarily located in Jinhua (for AGWF and AGWFI), Shaoxing (for AWPL), and in the area where AGWFE converge. (3) Compared to 2010, the regional disparities in AGWF and AWPL have shrunk significantly in 2020, whereas the regional differences in AGWFE and AGWFI have increased to some extent. In most years, the regional disparities in AGWF, AGWFI, and AWPL are more pronounced in Northeastern Zhejiang compared to the southwestern part. (4) The influencing factors of AGWF, AGWFE, and AGWFI exhibit significant regional heterogeneity. In Northeastern Zhejiang, the primary factors influencing them are technological innovation, resource endowment, and crop-cultivation methods. Conversely, in the southwestern region, the primary factors exerting the same influence are the application intensities of fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural film application. The primary drivers of AWPL in Zhejiang are grain yield, water resource availability, and crop-planting structure. Notably, these factors do not exhibit regional heterogeneity. The paper proposes AWP control policies from both a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective.

Changes in the Perception of Childhood in the Era of Globalization

Explores the changes in the perception of childhood under the influence of globalization. It examines the transformation of traditional concepts regarding the role and significance of childhood in English-speaking, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz cultures. The study analyzes various factors shaping these changes, including the impact of media, digital technologies, and international educational standards. Special attention is given to the challenges of preserving cultural identity and values amid globalization, as well as the influence of global trends on child-rearing practices and socialization in diverse cultural contexts.

PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS OF SENIOR ADOLESCENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION UNDER WARTIME STRESS CONDITIONS

Introduction. Researchers have always paid close attention to an educational problem of the formation and the role of psychological readiness of adolescents and students for studying at higher education institutions. After the start of a large-scale Russian military invasion in February 2022, this aspect has become particularly acute and relevant. The aim of this reveiw article is to examine the role of key subsystems of psychological readiness among students in higher education institutions under the influence of wartime conditions. Materials and methods. Based on professional review articles, this study examines the primary factors shaping a psychological readiness of an individual for higher education. The importance of this work is heightened by the ways in which these processes are significantly altered—and in some cases, become multi-complementary—under the conditions of the Russian military invasion. The study draws on psychological research conducted by leading scientists, focusing primarily on findings from the past five years. Results. The psychological readiness of first-year students for studying at higher education institutions is closely tied to their psychological adaptation to new academic conditions. This readiness is crucial for shaping graduates into professionally skilled specialists equipped to work in relevant sectors of the national economy. Research indicates that developing psychological adaptation of students is not feasible without a foundational intellectual component of psychological readiness established in earlier stages. This foundation promotes students’ creativity, the formation of self-concept („I” concept), and heightened resilience to the challenges of studying in higher education during extreme wartime conditions. Without this structure of psychological readiness, achieving higher education becomes virtually unattainable. The next important component of the system of psychological readiness of adolescents for studying at higher education institutions is personal readiness. This is a rather complex and complementary system of individual knowledge and skills. It solves practical issues of optimizing the receipt and processing of information by a adolescent, as well as readiness to discuss the achieved results with peers, the importance of these processes for the formation of self-awareness of young men and women. The third important component of university students’ psychological readiness is the operating system. First of all, this concerns not only the issues of mastering professional knowledge and technologies, but also the ability to use them in the practical professional activities of students, and later adults. Conclusion. Thus, the psychological readiness of adolescent students significantly enhances their ability to succeed in higher education. It fosters greater adaptability and resilience, particularly under the challenging conditions of wartime, supporting students in navigating their studies more effectively.

Key processes controlling the variability of the summer marine CO2 system in Fram Strait surface waters

The aim of this study was to decouple and quantify the influence of various biological and physical processes on the structure and variability of the marine carbonate system in the surface waters of the eastern part of the Fram Strait area. This productive region is characterized by its complex hydrographic and sea ice dynamics, providing an ideal set up to study their influence on the variability of the marine carbonate system. Different variables of the marine CO2 system: Total Alkalinity (TA), Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), and pH, were analysed together with temperature, salinity, sea ice extension, and chlorophyll a distribution during three consecutive summers (2019, 2020 and 2021), each of them having a unique oceanographic setting. The data revealed that TA and DIC are mostly controlled by the mixing of Atlantic water and sea ice meltwater. The combined effects of organic matter production/remineralization, calcium carbonate precipitation/dissolution, and air/sea CO2 gas exchange cause deviations from this salinity-related mixing. The scale of these deviations and the proportion between the effects observed for TA and DIC suggest interannual shifts in net primary production and dominant phytoplankton species in the area. These shifts are correlated with the sea ice extent and the spread of the Polar Surface Waters in the region. Net primary production is the main factor controlling the temporal and spatial variability of pH and pCO2 in the study area followed by the influence of temperature and, mixing of water masses expressed with salinity (seawater freshening). Surface waters of the Fram Strait area were generally undersaturated in CO2. The lowest pCO2 values, coinciding with an increase in oxygen saturation, were observed in areas of mixing of Arctic and Atlantic-derived water masses. However, as shown for 2021, a reduction of the sea ice extent may induce a westward shift of the chlorophyll maximum, resulting in pCO2 increase and pH decrease in the eastern part. This indicates that sea ice extent and associated spread of Polar Surface Waters may be important factors shaping primary production, and thus pCO2 and pH, in the Fram Strait area.

TMIC-06. TUMOR ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGES DRIVE TUMOR PROGRESSION AND ARE TRANSCRIPTIONALLY SHAPED BY HISTONE MUTATIONS IN DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMA

Abstract Little progress has been made to delineate the inflammatory microenvironment in pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG). We utilize molecularly defined human samples and immunocompetent mouse models to study how tumor location and genetic driver mutations influence the tumor microenvironment (TME). We first induced tumors of each pHGG/DMG molecular subtype (H3WT, H3G34R, H3.1K27M, H3.3K27M) into both the cortical hemisphere and midline of separate mice and performed survival studies and flow cytometry. The main driving factor shaping the immune landscape and survival is the driver mutation, not tumor location. Next, we performed single cell RNA sequencing on murine H3WT cortical pHGG, H3WT DMG, H3.1 and H3.3K27M DMGs, paired with multiplex flow cytometry. H3K27M DMGs have sparse T cell infiltration and limited T cell recruiting chemokine production. The main non-neoplastic cell type in all tumors was infiltrating myeloid cells and microglia. H3WT DMGs had the greatest myeloid cell and monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) infiltration, while H3.3K27M DMGs were enriched for microglia. Disease associated gene signatures were found in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that are found in other neurodegenerative diseases, marked by down-regulation of inflammatory signaling, interferon responses, and up-regulation of metabolism-related pathways. H3.3K27M DMGs were enriched for disease-associated TAMs. These gene signatures were then identified in human pHGG/DMG scRNA sequencing data. CD16 monocytes and microglia were enriched for diseased signatures, while CD14 monocytes were pro-inflammatory. We demonstrate that reprogramming this diseased signature in mice results in increased T cell infiltration and extension of survival in H3K27M DMG. Last, through pharmacologic inhibition of CCR1 and CCR5, we demonstrate preventing TAM infiltration in DMG results in enhanced survival, comparable to radiation therapy. Together, this work provides the foundation for developing immunotherapies targeted at specific subgroups of pHGG and DMGs, such as CAR-T-cell, oncolytic viral therapy, and checkpoint blockade.

Roles of Personal Values and Information Technology Usage in Forming the University Students’ View of Environmental Sustainability: A Preliminary Regional Study of Economics and Business Students

This study focuses on two significant factors shaping university students’ perception of environmental sustainability. Those are (a) personal values, measured by the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and (b) the usage of and proficiency in information technology. Personal values have been widely used to analyze individual perspectives toward various issues, including environmental ones. As contemporary social arrangements include significant influences from social networks and mobile phone usage, overall engagement with technology becomes an essential factor affecting university student attitudes and behaviors. While the individual impact of those factors can be found in the extant literature, we look into their interaction concerning university student pro-environmental attitudes, measured by the Revised NEP (New Ecological Paradigm) Scale, and their environmental self-efficacy. Our sample comes from the population of undergraduate business and economics students from Central and Southeast Europe, specifically Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. We discuss our findings in the context of previous studies from the same regions and consider the unique socio-economic factors. The research results address Sustainable Development Goals 4 (quality education), 12 (responsible consumption and production), and 13 (climate action) by analyzing the factors contributing to university student pro-environmental attitudes and their self-efficacy in the context of their information technology usage and proficiency.

Decoding the Strands of Women Oppression in Fiction of North Eastern Women Writers: A Study of Temsula Ao’s The Night (2005), Easterine Kire’s A Terrible Matriarchy (2007) and Jahnavi Barua’s Rebirth (2010)

India had long come out of the shadows of otherisation by the West, but ironically, it had constructed its own facets of misinterpretation and otherisation of its diverse indigenous groups within the subcontinent. Northeast India is one such geographical region that have always been viewed as exotic, backward owing to the distinct cultural and traditional patterns of its numerous tribes, castes and groups, of which very little is explored by the mainstream society and hence deemed as rooted in backwardness. The region has always been entangled in the web of national, ethnic, regional identities as it seems to exist in isolation from mainland India and grapples with insurgency and the inability to accommodate long term cultural and indigenous diversity. Additionally, the cultural, ethnic ethos and norms of each indigenous group acts as an influential factor in shaping the identities of the North East Indian people. In such contexts, the women question becomes a case of double marginalisation owing to unbalanced power relations as well as patriarchal customs and rules of various indigenous groups and the perpetual militarisation and regional identity crisis in the area. The research aims to investigate the factors moulding the identity of north eastern woman from the lens of gendered subalternity, through some strong, vivid narratives with passive-strong female characters. It is an attempt to understand how the multiple social ideologies of region, ethnicity, race, gender, nation, identity overlap to delineate to hierarchal disparities in the society contributing to victimisation of women.

Antagonistic Effects of Actin-Specific Toxins on Salmonella Typhimurium Invasion into Mammalian Cells.

Competition between bacterial species is a major factor shaping microbial communities. It is possible but remains largely unexplored that competition between bacterial pathogens can be mediated through antagonistic effects of bacterial effector proteins on host systems, particularly the actin cytoskeleton. Using Salmonella Typhimurium invasion into cells as a model, we demonstrate that invasion is inhibited if the host actin cytoskeleton is disturbed by actin-specific toxins, namely, Vibrio cholerae MARTX actin crosslinking (ACD) and Rho GTPase inactivation (RID) domains, Photorhabdus luminescens TccC3, and Salmonella's own SpvB. We noticed that ACD, being an effective inhibitor of tandem G-actin-binding assembly factors, is likely to inhibit the activity of another Vibrio effector, VopF. In reconstituted actin polymerization assays and by live-cell microscopy, we confirmed that ACD potently halted the actin nucleation and pointed-end elongation activities of VopF, revealing competition between these two V. cholerae effectors. These results suggest that bacterial effectors from different species that target the same host machinery or proteins may represent an effective but largely overlooked mechanism of indirect bacterial competition in host-associated microbial communities. Whether the proposed inhibition mechanism involves the actin cytoskeleton or other host cell compartments, such inhibition deserves investigation and may contribute to a documented scarcity of human enteric co-infections by different pathogenic bacteria.

A tale of two languages: charting Chinese parents’ beliefs about and engagement with Chinese and English language learning

ABSTRACT This study investigates Chinese parental beliefs about and engagement with their children’s Chinese and English language learning in Yinchuan, China, utilizing the theory of planned behaviour as an analytical framework and a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from 879 parents reveals a strong preference for Chinese language education based on its perceived utility, cultural identity, and socioeconomic returns, contrasting with an ambivalent stance towards English. Qualitative insights highlight the influences of nationalism, anti-Western sentiments, and the COVID-19 pandemic on parental attitudes. These findings underscore the dominance of top-down language policies and societal expectations in shaping parental choices, often leading to contradictions between expressed attitudes and realized engagement. Perceived behavioural control emerges as a critical factor, with parents navigating challenges such as resource limitations, policy instability, and the dynamics of child autonomy. This study offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of parental involvement and the factors shaping language learning priorities, thus contributing to the growing body of literature on language education in China. These findings can inform language education policies and practices, emphasizing the need for accessible home-based resources, cultural understanding, and open dialogue to support effective and equitable language learning outcomes for Chinese children.

Assessing the impact of ecological, climatic, and socioeconomic factors on age-specific malaria incidence in India: a mixed-model approach using the Global Burden of Disease Study (2010–2019)

BackgroundMalaria continues to be a critical public health concern in India, predominantly driven by complex interplays of ecological, climatic, and socioeconomic factors.MethodsThis study aimed to assess the association between climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and malaria incidence across India from 2010 to 2019, utilizing data from the Global Historical Weather and Climate Data for climate metrics and the Global Burden of Disease Study for malaria incidence rates. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) with a Poisson distribution were employed to analyze the data, adjusting for socio-economic status, as indexed by the Human Development Index (HDI).ResultsThe results indicated a declining trend in both the number of malaria cases and age-specific incidence rates (ASIR) over the study period. In 2010, India reported approximately 20.7 million cases with an ASIR of 1688.86 per 100,000 population, which significantly reduced to 9.8 million cases and an ASIR of 700.80 by 2019. High malaria incidence was consistently observed in the states of Jharkhand and Odisha, whereas Sikkim reported the lowest numbers. Statistical analysis identified significant associations between malaria incidence and both temperature deviations and precipitation levels, with variations also linked to HDI, suggesting better detection and reporting capabilities in more developed areas.ConclusionThe study underscores the critical interactions between climatic variables and socio-economic factors in shaping the trends of malaria incidence across India. These findings highlight the necessity for adaptive, localized public health strategies that integrate environmental monitoring with socio-economic data to efficiently predict and manage malaria outbreaks.

Thermo-mechanical fatigue behavior and life prediction of selective laser melted inconel 718

The thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) property and corresponding damage mechanisms of selective laser melted (SLM) Inconel 718 superalloy were investigated systemically. The results show that the TMF life under in-phase (IP) loading is lower than that under out-of-phase (OP) loading, and the life difference gradually decreases with decreasing the strain amplitude. The fatigue cracks mainly exhibit inter-granular cracking characteristics under IP loading, and the δ phase embedded to the grain boundary promotes the creep cavity formation and then causes the fatigue crack propagation. While under OP loading, the fatigue crack is mainly characterized by trans-granular cracking, the oxidation induced crack extends from the specimen surface to the interior. A parameter, known as the shape factor k, has been discovered to exhibit high stability in temperature variations. Given the high stability of the k value and the quantitative relationship between stress and plastic strain range across different loading modes, a rapid prediction method for TMF hysteretic energy based on low cycle fatigue (LCF) has been proposed. Finally, combined with the energy cumulative damage model, the TMF life is successfully predicted. This approach significantly reduces the experimental quantity and complexity required for the TMF life prediction process, demonstrating substantial industrial application value.

Numerical study of the effect of partial undulations of horizontal isothermal walls on the behavior of a binary fluid in a modified horizontal rectangular cavity

The influence of partial sinusoidal undulations on the horizontal, isothermal, impermeable walls of a modified horizontal rectangular cavity,with a shape factor , filled with a binary fluid heated from the bottom or top, on the hydrodynamic, mass and thermal behavior of the considered fluid, was numerically studied. Computational fluid dynamics based on finite element methods was used to establish the numerical simulation of the differential equations governing the coupling of natural convection and thermodiffusion. The numerical results show that the partial undulation of the horizontal walls affects the hydrodynamic behavior of the binary fluid, leading to species migration towards the perfectly insulated vertical walls of the cavity. The numerical control of the mass field of the studied fluid clearly shows that the intensity of species separation towards the two vertical walls increases with bottom heating and with increasing length of the undulated portion and the undulation amplitude . The variation of the length of the undulated portion and the amplitude of the undulation also have an impact on the heat transfer presented by the Nusselt number .

Analytical Model for Contaminant Transport in the CGCW and Aquifer Dual-Domain System Considering GMB Holes

Composite geomembrane cut-off walls (CGCW) have been widely used for the remediation of polluted sites, especially where the environmental conditions are complex. Accurate predictions of the GMB hole leakage and CGCW performance are essential for engineering design and cost control. This paper establishes empirical equations to predict the leakages through the CGCWs based on the numerical models. Additionally, an analytical solution for contaminant migration through the CGCW is proposed considering the effects of GMB holes. The accuracy of the established equations and analytical solution is verified by the numerical models. The key effects of the GMB thickness (TG), head loss (HG), cut-off wall hydraulic conductivity (kG), hole radius (rG) and shape on the leakage and CGCW performance are investigated. The results show that compared with other hole shapes, the leakage through the circular hole is lowest. This is mainly because the shape factor for the circular hole is 1.15–1.3 times lower than that for other shapes of holes with the same area. Additionally, the effects of the hole geometric properties and head loss on the CGCW performance can be more significant when the cut-off wall hydraulic coefficient is small. For example, the breakthrough time differences between the cases with rG = 0.005 m and 0.05 m are 0.8 and 5.0 years when kG = 10−10 and 10−9 m/s, respectively. This is because the impermeability of the CGCW is good when kG is small. This will weaken the impacts of the hole geometric properties on the leakage. The proposed empirical equations and analytical solution can provide effective suggestions for the design of the CGCW in different GMB hole cases.

Repeated evolution on oceanic islands: comparative genomics reveals species-specific processes in birds

Understanding the interplay between genetic drift, natural selection, gene flow, and demographic history in driving phenotypic and genomic differentiation of insular populations can help us gain insight into the speciation process. Comparing patterns across different insular taxa subjected to similar selective pressures upon colonizing oceanic islands provides the opportunity to study repeated evolution and identify shared patterns in their genomic landscapes of differentiation. We selected four species of passerine birds (Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs/canariensis, Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus and Dark-eyed/island Junco Junco hyemalis/insularis) that have both mainland and insular populations. Changes in body size between island and mainland populations were consistent with the island rule. For each species, we sequenced whole genomes from mainland and insular individuals to infer their demographic history, characterize their genomic differentiation, and identify the factors shaping them. We estimated the relative (Fst) and absolute (dxy) differentiation, nucleotide diversity (π), Tajima’s D, gene density and recombination rate. We also searched for selective sweeps and chromosomal inversions along the genome. All species shared a marked reduction in effective population size (Ne) upon island colonization. We found diverse patterns of differentiated genomic regions relative to the genome average in all four species, suggesting the role of selection in island-mainland differentiation, yet the lack of congruence in the location of these regions indicates that each species evolved differently in insular environments. Our results suggest that the genomic mechanisms involved in the divergence upon island colonization—such as chromosomal inversions, and historical factors like recurrent selection—differ in each species, despite the highly conserved structure of avian genomes and the similar selective factors involved. These differences are likely influenced by factors such as genetic drift, the polygenic nature of fitness traits and the action of case-specific selective pressures.

Transformation of trading patterns in global agricultural markets

The article analyses the key aspects of changes in international agricultural trade patterns, with the main emphasis on the analysis of modern factors shaping the agricultural market situation. The analysis of international trade is conducted in the context of the need to ensure food security and counteract various exogenous shocks (decreasing crop yields, escalating geopolitical conflicts, food crises). This analysis has allowed us to formulate the main determinants that will have a decisive impact on international agricultural trade in the future. It has been established that as a result of international trade, global demand for agricultural land has decreased, and imports are increasingly used by developing countries to solve food security problems. It is shown that geopolitical restrictions and climatic shocks are a key factor influencing global supply chains and changing patterns of international trade in agricultural raw materials and food. The uncertainties that have arisen make it difficult to adequately forecast global flows of agricultural exports and imports, while the current agricultural policies of countries around the world remain virtually unchanged. In prospective studies of international agricultural trade, considerable attention should be paid to issues of supply stability.

Groundwater quality in Sargodha City, Pakistan: Comprehensive research of geochemical modeling, groundwater quality assessment, and risk evaluation

Groundwater, an indispensable global resource, faces escalating contamination threats, jeopardizing human health and environmental sustainability. This study offers detailed insights into the quality of the groundwater, its drinking suitability, and associated human health risks in Sargodha City, Pakistan. Employing hydrogeochemical analysis, inverse geochemical modeling, groundwater quality index, and human health risk evaluation, this research highlights widespread exceedances of WHO drinking water standards, particularly in TDS, EC, TH, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, NO3–N, and As levels, signifying that a significant portion of the groundwater is unfit for consumption. Hydrochemical facies analysis reveals a dominance of the Na–Cl type. Water–rock interactions, cation exchange, and anthropogenic influences are the primary factors shaping groundwater hydrochemistry in the region. Saturation indices and inverse geochemical modeling demonstrated intricate geochemical processes involving both mineral precipitation and dissolution. Notably, the GWQI reveals a diverse spectrum of water quality, with 50% of the samples exhibiting excellent to good quality, 29% falling into the poor to extremely poor category, and 21% deemed unfit for drinking. Health risk assessment reveals alarming carcinogenic risks from As, affecting children (70.8%) and adults (83.35%), while 8.3% of the samples indicate non-carcinogenic risks. Conversely, NO3–N presents acceptable non-carcinogenic risks across all samples. The total hazard index spans between 0.14 and 1.90 for adults and 0.16 to 2.23 for children, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of children. This study advances the understanding of groundwater contamination dynamics in urbanized regions, offering insights to safeguard public health and ensure sustainable water management in areas with similar hydrogeochemical conditions.

Functional genomics of human skeletal development and the patterning of height heritability.

Underlying variation in height are regulatory changes to chondrocytes, cartilage cells comprising long-bone growth plates. Currently, we lack knowledge on epigenetic regulation and gene expression of chondrocytes sampled across the human skeleton, and therefore we cannot understand basic regulatory mechanisms controlling height biology. We first rectify this issue by generating extensive epigenetic and transcriptomic maps from chondrocytes sampled from different growth plates across developing human skeletons, discovering novel regulatory networks shaping human bone/joint development. Next, using these maps in tandem with height genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals, we disentangle the regulatory impacts that skeletal element-specific versus global-acting variants have on skeletal growth, revealing the prime importance of regulatory pleiotropy in controlling height variation. Finally, as height is highly heritable, and thus often the test case for complex-trait genetics, we leverage these datasets within a testable omnigenic model framework to discover novel chondrocyte developmental modules and peripheral-acting factors shaping height biology and skeletal growth.

Unraveling global species richness patterns of the Lysmatidae family: a multi-scale and multi-hypothesis ecological approach

While diversity gradients are well-explored in macroecology, factors shaping species richness at broad scales remain debated. We investigated the species richness of the decapod family Lysmatidae across 4 spatial scales: realm, province, ecoregion, and local (2° × 2° grid cells). We tested 4 ecological hypotheses: physiological stress (PSH), resource availability (RAH), habitat heterogeneity (HHH), and anthropogenic impact (AIH). Occurrence data (52 Lysmatidae species) and environmental variables (salinity, temperature, primary productivity, bathymetry, coral richness, anthropogenic impact index) were obtained from online databases and literature. Fifteen regression models, incorporating spatial filters, were tested to assess the hypotheses. The highest Lysmatidae species richness occurred in the Tropical Atlantic and Central Indo-Pacific realms. Richness varied with scale, with the highest values in the transition between the tropical and subtropical zones. Bathymetry was associated with Lysmatidae richness across all scales, especially at local and ecoregional scales, while coral richness was related to province and realm scales. HHH explained Lysmatidae richness patterns at the realm scale. Variables related to PSH and AIH were associated with richness at the ecoregion and province scales. Our study emphasized the importance of scale in biodiversity research, influencing richness patterns in Lysmatidae, and pointed to bathymetry, coral richness, and temperature range as the main drivers of richness. As this study showed a relationship between Lysmatidae richness, coral richness, and temperature at 3 spatial scales, this family may be susceptible to the effects of climate change, such as tropicalization of subtropical zones and defaunation of tropical ecosystems, including coral reefs.

Unveiling Detoxifying Symbiosis and Dietary Influence on the Southern Green Shield Bug Microbiota.

The Southern green shield bug, Nezara viridula, is an invasive piercing and sucking pest insect that feeds on crops and poses a threat to global food production. Insects live in close relationships with microorganisms providing their host with unique capabilities, such as resistance to toxic plant metabolites. In this study, we investigated the resistance to and detoxification of the plant metabolite 3-nitropropionic acid by core and transient members of the N. viridula microbial community. Microbial community members showed a different tolerance to the toxin and we determined that six out of eight strains detoxified 3-nitropropionic acid. Additionally, we determined that 3-nitropropionic acid might interfere with the biosynthesis and transport of L-leucine. Moreover, our study explored the influence of diet on the gut microbial composition of N. viridula, demonstrating that switching to a single-plant diet shifts the abundance of core microbes. In line with this, testing pairwise microbial interactions revealed that core microbiota members support each other and repress the growth of transient microorganisms. With this work, we provide novel insights into the factors shaping the insect gut microbial communities and demonstrate that N. viridula harbours many toxin-degrading bacteria that could support its resistance to plant defences.