Research Foundation Research Articles

Incidence of post-COVID psychiatric disorders according to the periods of SARS-CoV-2 variant dominance: The LIFE study

This retrospective cohort study examined the incidence of post-COVID psychiatric disorders in older adults according to hospitalization status and SARS-CoV-2 variant period in Japan. Claims data, COVID-19 case-related information, and vaccination records were obtained from three Japanese municipalities. We identified individuals aged ≥65 years who had COVID-19 or other respiratory tract infection (RTI) between March 2021 and December 2022. Participants were categorized into non-hospitalized and hospitalized patients, and the study period was divided into the Alpha (March to May 2021), Delta (June to December 2021), Omicron BA.1/BA.2 (January to June 2022), and Omicron BA.5 (July to December 2022) periods. Modified Poisson regression analyses were performed to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the occurrence of psychiatric disorders (organic mental disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and insomnia) three months after COVID-19 (reference: other RTI). For overall psychiatric disorders, we analyzed 19,489 non-hospitalized patients (COVID-19: 6,728, Other RTI: 12,761) and 2925 hospitalized patients (COVID-19: 1,036, Other RTI: 1889). When compared with other RTI cases, COVID-19 cases had significantly lower IRRs for overall psychiatric disorders in both non-hospitalized (IRR: 0.59, P < 0.001) and hospitalized cases (IRR: 0. 83, P = 0.045) during the Omicron BA.1/BA.2 period, but only in non-hospitalized cases (IRR: 0.45, P < 0.001) during the Omicron BA.5 period. The incidences of the individual post-COVID psychiatric disorders varied according to disorder type, hospitalization status, and SARS-CoV-2 variant period. These findings provide a foundation for further research to explore these variations and improve the provision of psychiatric care in future epidemics.

Translating perceived affective quality attributes of soundscape from English into Korean

The primary goal of ISO 12913 series is to foster a wide-ranging international consensus and establish a universal framework for interdisciplinary and professional communication about soundscapes. However, a critical challenge arises in non-English speaking countries regarding translating Perceived Affective Qualities (PAQs) from English. This translation issue is pivotal in accurately evaluating soundscapes according to the guidelines set by ISO/TS 12913–2, as it directly affects the reliability and consistency of soundscape assessments across different linguistic and cultural contexts. To address this, the Soundscape Attributes Translation Project (SATP) was initiated, focusing on the translation and validation of soundscape PAQs across various languages, with this study specifically aiming to be translated into Korean. This study aims to translate the soundscape PAQs suggested in ISO/TS 12913–2 Method A into Korean and examine the differences in soundscape evaluation between Korean and English. The study is divided into three phases. In Phase I, we gathered a wide range of possible Korean translations for the soundscape attributes and narrowed this down to twenty-four attributes. Phase II involved a quantitative evaluation of these 24 attributes to derive the most appropriate Korean attributes for the translation of soundscape PAQ. Finally, in Phase III, a listening test was conducted to discern the differences in soundscape evaluations between Korea and the UK. This comprehensive approach led to the identification of eight Korean soundscape attributes. With these attributes, twenty-seven different soundscapes were evaluated, revealing notable differences, particularly in the interpretation of the attribute ’monotonous’ between English and Korean evaluations. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to the standardization of soundscape evaluation in Korea and lay a foundation for future soundscape research and assessment in the Korean context.

Performance Enhancement in Submersible Pump Impellers: Design and Optimization Approaches

Abstract: Submersible pumps are essential components in various industries, including water supply, wastewater management, and oil extraction. Their efficiency and reliability are crucial for ensuring consistent fluid transport. At the core of submersible pumps lies the impeller, which directly influences pump performance. This paper examines advanced design and optimization approaches to enhance the performance of submersible pump impellers. By analyzing key factors such as blade geometry, material selection, and impeller design parameters, we explore methods to improve hydraulic performance, energy efficiency, and operational stability. Experimental validation confirms the effectiveness of these approaches in achieving superior pump efficiency and longevity. This study contributes to the advancement of submersible pump technology and sets a foundation for future research in the field.

ITRAQ-based proteomics revealed the acaricidal mechanism of methyl isoeugenol against Dermatophagoides farinae

ABSTRACT Dermatophagoides farinae is a major source of allergens that are the cause of allergic diseases in humans. Methyl isoeugenol (MIE) is a naturally occurring compound in plants and its strong acaricidal toxicity has been established; however, the mechanism behind its acaricidal properties remains unclear. In this study, to investigate the action mechanism of MIE on D. farinae the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteomics method is used. Protein samples were extracted from D. farinae before and after 24 h of MIE treatment for iTRAQ technique analysis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that most differentially expressed proteins were located in the cytoplasm, impacting cytoplasmic function. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed significant enrichment of the differential proteins in the cellular autophagy signalling pathway. The autophagy-related proteins Autophagy-Related Protein 3 (ATG3) and Cathepsin L (CTSL) were up-regulated, disrupting the autophagic process. We found that the main action mechanism of MIE against D. farinae might be cellular autophagy. The transcriptional validation of six differential proteins demonstrated consistent expression trends with the proteomics data. This study reveals the acaricidal mechanism of MIE for the first time and lays the foundation for further research on D. farinae control.

Multiple instance learning for eosinophil quantification of sinonasal histopathology images: A hierarchical determination on whole slide images.

We proposed a hierarchical framework including an unsupervised candidate image selection and a weakly supervised patch image detection based on multiple instance learning (MIL) to effectively estimate eosinophil quantities in tissue samples from whole slide images. MIL is an innovative approach that can help deal with the variability in cell distribution detection and enable automated eosinophil quantification from sinonasal histopathological images with a high degree of accuracy. The study lays the foundation for further research and development in the field of automated histopathological image analysis, and validation on more extensive and diverse datasets will contribute to real-world application.

Enhancing the irrigation water productivity of rice farming: A study on sowing and irrigation practices in Pakistan

AbstractIn Pakistan's arid agricultural landscape, this 4‐year (2020–2023) study on silty loam soil examined the relationships between sowing methods, irrigation practices, rice yield and water productivity. Using a randomized split block design, no tillage (NT) with alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and a furrow‐irrigated narrow bed (NB) emerged as being consistently competitive, showing potential for sustainable rice cultivation. Key findings indicate that AWD significantly enhances water productivity (11–35%) and increases yield (2–10%) compared to conventional practices. Drip‐irrigated wide beds (WBs) conserve substantial amounts of water (73%) but may compromise rice yield (4–47%). This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic outcomes and distinct performance trends of different rice varieties. The results suggest a potential maximum yield increase of 2–22% through optimized practices, and replacing rice may increase yield by 25–231%. Conversely, the selection of improper irrigation schedules and sowing methods for the given soil and crop conditions may lead to a yield reduction of up to 47% in high‐yielding rice varieties. These findings may help to establish a foundation for further research investigating informed decision making for sowing and irrigation methods. The potential scalability of the identified technologies and further in‐depth simulation strategies across diverse agroecological zones in Pakistan holds promise for widespread adoption, enhancing the sustainability of rice farming in the region.

Performance Evaluation of Railway Infrastructure Managers: A Novel Hybrid Fuzzy MCDM Model

Modern challenges such as the liberalization of the railway sector and growing demands for sustainability, high-quality services, and user satisfaction set new standards in railway operations. In this context, railway infrastructure managers (RIMs) play a crucial role in ensuring innovative approaches that will strengthen the position of railways in the market by enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. Evaluating their performance is essential for assessing the achieved objectives, and it is conducted through a wide range of key performance indicators (KPIs), which encompass various dimensions of operations. Monitoring and analyzing KPIs are crucial for improving service quality, achieving sustainability, and establishing a foundation for research and development of new strategies in the railway sector. This paper provides a detailed overview and evaluation of KPIs for RIMs. This paper creates a framework for RIM evaluation using various scientific methods, from identifying KPIs to applying complex analysis methods. A novel hybrid model, which integrates the fuzzy Delphi method for aggregating expert opinions on the KPIs’ importance, the extended fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method for determining the relative weights of these KPIs, and the ADAM method for ranking RIMs, has been developed in this paper. This approach enables a detailed analysis and comparison of RIMs and their performances, providing the basis for informed decision-making and the development of new strategies within the railway sector. The analysis results provide insight into the current state of railway infrastructure and encourage further efforts to improve the railway sector by identifying key areas for enhancement. The main contributions of the research include a detailed overview of KPIs for RIMs and the development of a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model. The hybrid model represents a significant step in RIM performance analysis, providing a basis for future research in this area. The model is universal and, as such, represents a valuable contribution to MCDM theory.

Monitoring Volcanic Plumes and Clouds Using Remote Sensing: A Systematic Review

Volcanic clouds pose significant threats to air traffic, human health, and economic activity, making early detection and monitoring crucial. Accurate determination of eruptive source parameters is crucial for forecasting and implementing preventive measures. This review article aims to identify the most common remote sensing methods for monitoring volcanic clouds. To achieve this, we conducted a systematic literature review of scientific articles indexed in the Web of Science database published between 2010 and 2022, using multiple query strings across all fields. The articles were reviewed based on research topics, remote sensing methods, practical applications, case studies, and outcomes using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our study found that satellite-based remote sensing approaches are the most cost-efficient and accessible, allowing for the monitoring of volcanic clouds at various spatial scales. Brightness temperature difference is the most commonly used method for detecting volcanic clouds at a specified temperature threshold. Approaches that apply machine learning techniques help overcome the limitations of traditional methods. Despite the constraints imposed by spatial and temporal resolution and optical limitations of sensors, multiplatform approaches can overcome these limitations and improve accuracy. This study explores various techniques for monitoring volcanic clouds, identifies research gaps, and lays the foundation for future research.

Rotating Target Detection Using Commercial 5G Signal

Passive radar detection emerges as a pivotal method for environmental perception and target detection within radar applications. Through leveraging its advantages, including minimal electromagnetic pollution and efficient spectrum utilization, passive radar methodologies have garnered increasing interest. In recent years, there has been an increasing selection of passive radar signal sources, and the emerging 5G has the characteristics of a high-frequency band, high bandwidth, and a large number of base stations, which give it significant advantages for use in passive radar. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce a passive radar target detection method based on 5G signals and design a rotating target speed measurement experiment. In the experiment, this paper validated the method of detecting rotating targets using 5G signals and evaluated the measurement accuracy, providing a research foundation for passive radar target detection using 5G signals and detecting rotating targets such as drone rotors.

Intellectual Capital and Bank Stability in Saudi Arabia: Navigating the Dynamics in a Transforming Economy

This research investigates the influence of intellectual capital on the stability of banks in the evolving context of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector. Against the backdrop of rapid economic reforms under Vision 2030 and the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this research incorporates specific metrics related to these contexts and provides a nuanced analysis of how intellectual capital and its components (human capital efficiency (HCE), structural capital efficiency (SCE), and capital employed efficiency (CEE)) affect the financial stability of Saudi banks. This research analyzes a decade-long panel dataset for ten major Saudi banks from 2012 to 2022, utilizing both fixed-effects and cross-section random-effects models to discern the impact of intellectual capital on bank stability. The findings reveal a positive overall influence of intellectual capital on bank stability; however, individual components present a complex relationship, with CEE showing a positive association and HCE and SCE demonstrating unexpected negative correlations with bank stability. The research identifies leverage (LEV) as a significant factor negatively impacting stability. Operational efficiency (OPEF) and size (SIZE) also negatively affect stability. Surprisingly, macroeconomic indicators and bank size exhibit non-significant effects on bank stability. Similarly, the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was found to be non-significant, suggesting a resilient banking environment or the presence of effective mitigating strategies. As Saudi Arabia continues its ambitious economic transformation, this research underscores the critical role of effectively managed intellectual capital in ensuring the banking sector’s stability. It provides a foundation for ongoing research in this vital area.

Temporal variations of biological nitrogen fixation and diazotrophic communities associated with artificial seaweed farms

Diazotrophic communities contribute inorganic nitrogen for the primary productivity of the marine environment by biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). They play a vital role in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen in the marine ecological environment. However, there is still an incomplete understanding of BNF and diazotrophs in artificial seaweed farms. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigated the temporal variations of BNF associated with Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis, as well as the diazotrophic communities associated with macroalgae and its surrounding seawater. Our results revealed that a total of 13 strains belonging to Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were identified as N2-fixing bacteria using azotobacter selective solid medium and nifH gene cloning. Subsequently, BNF and diazotrophic communities were characterized using the acetylene reduction method and high-throughput sequencing of the nifH gene, respectively. The results showed that nitrogenase activity and nifH gene abundance of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis varied significantly among four different cultivation periods, i.e., Cultivation Jan. (CJ), Cultivation Feb. (CF), Cultivation Mar. (CM), Cultivation Apr. (CA). Among them, the nitrogenase activity and nifH gene abundance of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis in CM were significantly higher than those in CJ, CF, and CA, indicating that the BNF of eiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis was markedly enhanced. Combined with the data on environmental factors, it was found that the low concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in CM might considerably boost the BNF of epiphytic bacteria in G. lemaneiformis. The sequencing results of the nifH gene showed that the α-diversity of diazotrophic communities associated with G. lemaneiformis and seawater in CM was higher than that in other cultivation periods. In addition, the diazotrophic communities on G. lemaneiformis were significantly different in CJ, CF, CM, and CA, and they were significantly diverse from diazotrophic communities in seawater. LEfSe analysis indicated that Rhodobacterales, Hyphomonadaceae, Robiginitomaculum, and Robiginitomaculum antarcticum within α-proteobacteria played a remarkable role in BNF in response to nitrogen nutrient deficiency. Taken together, these results provide a unique insight into the interaction between macroalgae and its epiphytic bacteria and lay a foundation for further research on the mechanism of action of nitrogen-cycling microorganisms associated with macroalgae.

A Transcriptomic Analysis Sheds Light on the Molecular Regulation of Wood Formation in Populus trichocarpa during Drought Stress

Wood is an abundant and essential renewable resource whose production is threatened in some parts of the world by drought. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying wood formation during drought is critical to maintaining wood production under increasingly adverse environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated wood formation in black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) during drought stress. The morphological changes during drought stress in P. trichocarpa included the wilting and drooping of leaves, stem water loss, and a reduction in whole plant biomass. The water embolism rate indicated that the water transport in stems was blocked under drought conditions. An anatomical analysis of the xylem and cambium revealed that drought stress changed the structure of vessel cells, increased lignin accumulation, and decreased the cambium cell layers. We subsequently identified 12,438 and 9156 differentially expressed genes from stem xylem and cambium tissues under well-watered and drought conditions, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that these genes were mainly involved in hormone signal transduction and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. To further explore the molecular mechanism of wood formation in response to drought, we analyzed the expression patterns of the genes involved in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose biosynthesis in xylem and the genes involved in cambial activity in the cambium. To better understand the regulatory networks governing xylem development and cambium activity in response to drought, we analyzed the MYB (138), AP2 (130), bHLH (89), and NAC (81) transcription factor families to shed light on the interactions between the TFs in these families and the genes they regulate. Identifying the key genes that regulate wood formation in P. trichocarpa during drought provides a genetic foundation for further research on the molecular regulatory networks and physiology underpinning wood formation during drought stress.

Annual outcomes study out from NAATP

FoRSE, the research foundation of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), will release its annual summary report at this week's annual meeting, which ADAW will cover in person. The report provides NAATP members, as well as the public, with descriptive and graphic reports of the impact of addiction treatment. This will give them insight into how effective their programs are, compared to others across the country. The 42 page report, a copy of which was obtained by ADAW, is stunning in terms of content and presentation. The report is free. The focus is on outcomes. For anyone who has ever been asked “Does treatment work?” or “Does your treatment program work?” this report is invaluable. It breaks down the answers and includes the how and why. We asked Annie Peters, Ph.D., NAATP's director of research and education, for the top takeaways from the report. Her response.

Regulation of the cryptocurrency market by legislation of Hungary

The article is devoted to the study of the regulation of the cryptocurrency market in Hungary, the regulatory consolidation of property rights to cryptocurrency values. A comparative analysis of the regulation of this issue under the legislation of the EU and directly of Hungary was also carried out. Because it is the regulatory framework and court precedents on the territory of the EU that form the basis for the formation of the domestic framework for the regulation of Hungary’s crypto market. It is also important to clearly define Bitcoin and Blockchain as a special kind of thing in Hungarian civil law. The authors paid special attention to the innovation in the tax sphere of Hungary. Virtual currencies, especially cryptocurrencies, and the technology behind them and their constant development pose a serious challenge to the legislator. The task is further complicated by the fact that cryptocurrencies have a number of unique characteristics that distinguish them from one another. The study focuses on issues related to taxation, mainly based on the norms of the current legislation of Hungary. A study of the appearance, concept and social acceptance of money, a presentation and a detailed analysis of each financial function lead to an analysis into the world of cryptocurrencies. The article also argues that each of the payment documents in the form of cryptocurrency can act as digital currencies or cannot perform monetary functions. When writing the article, special attention was paid to digital money of the central bank, which can revolutionize it, as a digital form of legal tender. Nowadays, most countries (for example, England) are experimenting with central bank digital money for its implementation. In theory, central bank digital money can replace traditional money and payment services (eg bank accounts, bank deposits). The advantage of the system is that it would reduce the cost of bank funding and it is also new for monetary policy. Central bank regulation of digital money will be one of the most important issues in the coming years. Due to the extreme volatility of the field under consideration, the authors consider it important to note that this article can only provide a brief and concise overview of the regulatory and tax regulation of the cryptocurrency market under Hungarian law. And this analysis has a positive foundation for further research and comparison with the domestic legal base of cryptocurrency market regulation under the legislation of Ukraine.

A fully haplotype-resolved and nearly gap-free genome assembly of wheat stripe rust fungus

Stripe rust fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is a destructive pathogen of wheat worldwide. Pst has a macrocyclic-heteroecious lifecycle, in which one-celled urediniospores are dikaryotic, each nucleus containing one haploid genome. We successfully generated the first fully haplotype-resolved and nearly gap-free chromosome-scale genome assembly of Pst by combining PacBio HiFi sequencing and trio-binning strategy. The genome size of the two haploid assemblies was 75.59 Mb and 75.91 Mb with contig N50 of 4.17 Mb and 4.60 Mb, and both had 18 pseudochromosomes. The high consensus quality values of 55.57 and 59.02 for both haplotypes confirmed the correctness of the assembly. Of the total 18 chromosomes, 15 and 16 were gapless while there were only five and two gaps for the remaining chromosomes of the two haplotypes, respectively. In total, 15,046 and 15,050 protein-coding genes were predicted for the two haplotypes, and the complete BUSCO scores achieved 97.7% and 97.9%, respectively. The genome will lay the foundation for further research on genetic variations and the evolution of rust fungi.

Prospective Evaluation of the Peripheral Perfusion Index in Assessing the Organ Dysfunction and Prognosis of Adult Patients With Sepsis in the ICU.

Background: The peripheral perfusion index (PI) reflects microcirculatory blood flow perfusion and indicates the severity and prognosis of sepsis. Method: The cohort comprised 208 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with infection, among which 117 had sepsis. Demographics, medication history, ICU variables, and laboratory indexes were collected. Primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality and 28-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included organ function variables (coagulation function, liver function, renal function, and myocardial injury), lactate concentration, mechanical ventilation time, and length of ICU stay. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the associations between the PI and clinical outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the associations between the PI and organ functions in the sepsis and nonsepsis groups. Result: The PI was negatively associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15 to 0.55), but was not associated with 28-day mortality. The PI was negatively associated with the coagulation markers prothrombin time (PT) (β -0.36, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.13) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (β -1.08, 95% CI -1.86 to 0.31), and the myocardial injury marker cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (β -2085.48, 95% CI -3892.35 to 278.61) in univariate analysis, and with the PT (β -0.36, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.13) in multivariate analysis. The PI was negatively associated with the lactate concentration (β -0.57, 95% CI -0.95 to 0.19), mechanical ventilation time (β -23.11, 95% CI -36.54 to 9.69), and length of ICU stay (β -1.28, 95% CI -2.01 to 0.55). Sensitivity analyses showed that the PI was significantly associated with coagulation markers (PT and APTT) and a myocardial injury marker (cTnI) in patients with sepsis, suggesting that the associations between the PI and organ function were stronger in the sepsis group than the nonsepsis group. Conclusion: The PI provides new insights for assessing the disease severity, short-term prognosis, and organ function damage in ICU patients with sepsis, laying a theoretical foundation for future research.

Xiaoqinglong decoction mitigates nasal inflammation and modulates gut microbiota in allergic rhinitis mice

IntroductionAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a respiratory immune system disorder characterized by dysregulation of immune responses. Within the context of AR, gut microbiota and its metabolites have been identified as contributors to immune modulation. These microorganisms intricately connect the respiratory and gut immune systems, forming what is commonly referred to as the gut-lung axis. Xiaoqinglong Decoction (XQLD), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, is widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for the clinical treatment of AR. In this study, it is hypothesized that the restoration of symbiotic microbiota balance within the gut-lung axis plays a pivotal role in supporting the superior long-term efficacy of XQLD in AR therapy. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to investigate the impact of XQLD on the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota in a murine model of AR.MethodsAn ovalbumin-sensitized mouse model to simulate AR was utilized, the improvement of AR symptoms after medication was investigated, and high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiota composition.ResultsXQLD exhibited substantial therapeutic effects in AR mice, notably characterized by a significant reduction in allergic inflammatory responses, considerable alleviation of nasal symptoms, and the restoration of normal nasal function. Additionally, following XQLD treatment, the disrupted gut microbiota in AR mice displayed a tendency toward restoration, showing significant differences compared to the Western medicine (loratadine) group.DiscussionThis results revealed that XQLD may enhance AR allergic inflammatory responses through the regulation of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in mice, thus influencing the dynamics of the gut-lung axis. The proposal of this mechanism provides a foundation for future research in this area.

Investigating 55 years of mass shooter statements in the United States: A study of perpetrators’ stated motivations and their association with attack severity

ABSTRACT Mass shootings are a prevalent and terrible problem in the U.S. As a foundation for communication-focused research into the media-related causes and effects of mass shooters’ stated grievances, and guided by the model of intuitive-morality and exemplars (MIME), we content-analyzed N = 178 statements from 119 U.S. perpetrators who committed mass shootings between 1966 and 2021 to identify the motivations they communicated for their attacks. Findings revealed that mass shooters who communicated any motivation – possibly indicative of their rationalizations – killed and injured more people than those who did not communicate their motivation(s). Overall, shooters most often described their motivations as driven by power and relatedness concerns. Those who expressed ingroup-loyalty and relatedness motivations injured the most people, while power-motivated shooters injured the fewest.

Looking for It: Language, Literacy, and History in Place

Within this article, we explore how teachers, researchers, and community members—including youth—worked in collaborative conversations and place-based projects to explore the languages, stories, and histories of their local Georgia communities. By examining the process of “looking for it,” as one youth researcher puts it, this article explores three inquiry practices Georgia youth use to identify and sustain community language and literacy practices: personal storytelling, walking histories, and breaking bread. These community literacies resulted in youth having a stronger sense of self and community and understanding the relationship between them. Additionally, the practices spurred critical thinking, historical inquiry, and socioemotional learning. Community exploration through community literacies created the foundation for place-based language, literacy, and history research to take root and flourish.

Macro-scale relationship between body mass and timing of bird migration

Clarifying migration timing and its link with underlying drivers is fundamental to understanding the evolution of bird migration. However, previous studies have focused mainly on environmental drivers such as the latitudes of seasonal distributions and migration distance, while the effect of intrinsic biological traits remains unclear. Here, we compile a global dataset on the annual cycle of migratory birds obtained by tracking 1531 individuals and 177 populations from 186 species, and investigate how body mass, a key intrinsic biological trait, influenced timings of the annual cycle using Bayesian structural equation models. We find that body mass has a strong direct effect on departure date from non-breeding and breeding sites, and indirect effects on arrival date at breeding and non-breeding sites, mainly through its effects on migration distance and a carry-over effect. Our results suggest that environmental factors strongly affect the timing of spring migration, while body mass affects the timing of both spring and autumn migration. Our study provides a new foundation for future research on the causes of species distribution and movement.