Comparative transcriptome analysis provides novel insights into the evolution of enhanced cold tolerance in the northward invasion of the eel goby, Taenioides sp.

Introduction Low-intake dehydration is associated with higher mortality and poor health outcomes in older adults. Contributing factors (physiological, physical and cognitive decline, incontinence worries and reduced social drinking) may be exacerbated by illness, unfamiliar environment and routines in hospitalised older adults. We conducted a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate dehydration prevalence amongst hospitalised adults (≥65 years) at admission.MethodsWe included studies of hospitalised participants measuring serum osmolality or osmolarity. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched (inception to July 2024). Inclusion, data extraction and risk of bias were assessed independently in duplicate. Data were described and synthesised in random effects meta-analysis (Meta-XL 5.3) and synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM). Subgrouping assessed associations between dehydration prevalence and renal impairment, cognitive impairment, diabetic status, dependence, ethnicity, age, sex and economic status.Results19 studies (of 13 097 assessed) reported the most reliable low-intake dehydration measures (directly measured osmolality >300 mOsm/kg, calculated osmolarity using Khajuria Krahn equation >300 mmol/L). 14 398 hospitalised participants were included of whom 5039 (35%) were dehydrated at or near admission. While meta-analysis suggested 23% (95% CI 17% to 30%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) moderate-quality evidence) were dehydrated, heterogeneity was high (I2 98%) and different meta-analytic models suggested higher prevalence. Likely prevalence was a quarter to a third of hospitalised older adults. Subgrouping was generally not feasible, but SWiM suggested higher prevalence may be associated with impaired cognition, diabetes, renal impairment, and perhaps higher dependency. Limited evidence suggested dehydration prevalence reduced only slightly during hospitalisation.ConclusionsBetween a quarter and a third of older adults have low-intake dehydration on hospital admission, varying with patient characteristics. Supporting older adults to drink well in hospital may be the appropriate response given high prevalence and severe health consequences. Trials are needed to assess effectiveness of in-hospital interventions to support drinking and improve health outcomes.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021293763.

Navigation in unfamiliar or crowded environments poses significant safety challenges for visually impaired individuals, often leading to collisions or falls. This research presents the Design and Implementation of an Intelligent and Multi-Sensory Assistive Walking Stick, an embedded system engineered to enhance the autonomy and safety of the user. The system integrates an Arduino-based microcontroller with a suite of sensors to provide a comprehensive spatial awareness framework. Specifically, ultrasonic sensors are utilized for long-range obstacle detection, Infrared (IR) sensors are deployed to monitor ground-level changes such as stairs or potholes, and a moisture sensor is integrated at the base to detect hazardous wet surfaces. The intelligence of the device lies in its real-time data processing, which categorizes hazards based on proximity and elevation. Feedback is delivered through a dual-mode notification system consisting of variable-frequency haptic vibrations and auditory cues, allowing the user to differentiate between distant obstacles and immediate dangers. Experimental results demonstrate a detection accuracy of 95% for obstacles within a 2m range and a response latency of less than 100 ms, significantly reducing navigation errors compared to traditional aids. This research concludes that the multi-sensory approach significantly improves navigation confidence and reduces the physical risks associated with traditional white canes.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine displaced millions of children who face acute stress and require rapid adaptation to unfamiliar environments, potentially affecting lifelong health outcomes. This qualitative study explored factors influencing dietary acculturation and eating habits of Ukrainian children resettled in Finland. Five focus groups were conducted in August 2024 with 16 mothers and 12 children (aged 8-13 years) recruited through the Ukrainian Association in Finland. Interviews were conducted in Ukrainian, and transcripts were analysed in English using ATLAS.ti software, applying a socio-ecological framework to identify drivers and barriers across societal, school, family, and child levels. Major barriers included financial constraints and unfamiliar mixed ingredients in school meals at societal and school levels; strict adherence to Ukrainian food practices, unstructured snacking, and stress eating at family level; and resistant food preferences and picky eating at child level. Key drivers were affordable fresh produce and fish availability, free school lunches, and immigrant support; mandatory meal attendance, repeated exposure, and early food education; transition to bicultural eating patterns and adopting Finnish parental practices; and gradual food tasting and increased vegetable and fish consumption. Age-dependent patterns emerged as both barriers and drivers, with younger children showing less entrenched preferences and stronger peer conformity, facilitating dietary change, while older children's established tastes hindered acculturation. Dietary acculturation is shaped by multi-level factors, including children's age, family practices, food policy, and Finland's supportive context. Quantitative studies are needed to confirm findings across socio-ecological levels.

ABSTRACT Phoenician colonization brought significant cultural and environmental challenges for displaced groups across the Mediterranean Sea. Establishing new settlements required adapting Levantine practices to unfamiliar environments and raw materials. A paradigmatic example of such a community establishment occurred on the island of Ibiza (Balearic Islands, Spain), where a distinctive building tradition emerged, characterized by the use of mudbrick architecture. This paper presents a geoarchaeological study of earthen building materials from Eivissa, the principal site that flourished in the 7th century BC and has remained inhabited to the present day. Our methodology – combining archaeological analysis with geochemical and petrographic characterization – allows us to identify different raw material sources and construction recipes, reflecting how Phoenicians could have adapted to Ibiza’s specific environmental conditions. The results shed light on the development of the island’s mudbrick architecture and the probable challenges faced by Phoenician communities in preserving their traditional building techniques.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme developed in 1973, represents a government-led effort to strengthen social cohesion and enhance the personal and professional growth of young Nigerians across diverse regions. While the program has contributed to social integration and skill-building among young graduates, its cognitive and mental health effects remain underexplored. This review investigates how the NYSC experience impacts the cognitive growth and psychological well-being of Nigerian youths. We explore the effects of relocation, unfamiliar environments, and service demands on learning processes, emotional adaptation, and stress. This review identifies both the positive and negative psychological outcomes of the scheme. Findings indicate that while the program encourages independence, resilience, and intergroup learning, it can also expose participants to anxiety, emotional fatigue, and adjustment difficulties, especially in insecure or resource-poor regions. We recommend that mental health support be integrated into the NYSC structure, and that future policy reforms consider the psychological needs of corps members. This review adds to our understanding of how the NYSC scheme influences not just social identity, but also cognitive and emotional development in a key demographic.

ABSTRACT This article explores how accounting ideas travel to unfamiliar environments and instigate new modes of calculation therein. The empirical focus is on the food balance sheet, a key calculative technology in the realm of food security. Drawing on Said's four‐stage schema for analyzing the movement of theories and ideas, this investigation traces the journeying of the balance sheet to the field of food security from the First World War, culminating in the institutionalization of the food balance sheet as a standardized and universal practice from the late 1940s. The study reveals the conditions that facilitated acceptance of the balance sheet idea in a new field—specifically, its alignment to the problem of managing the national and global supply of food, as well as the presence of individual actants who recognized its utility for communicating and addressing the problem of food insecurity during periods of global conflict and humanitarian crisis. These key individuals emanated from the United States, the dominant power in an age of internationalism. It is shown that conceptual traveling involved the jettisoning of core elements of the accounting construction of the balance sheet, but also their selective reimportation once the balance sheet became domesticated in its new location. The article offers original insights to the forces that generate calculative innovations in epistemic communities beyond accounting.

ABSTRACT Objectives Immigrant women often face compounded stressors as they age in a culturally unfamiliar environment, yet little is known about how their social networks influence aging anxiety in non-Western settings. Drawing on social capital and acculturation frameworks, this study adopts a person-centered approach to identify typologies of immigrant women’s social networks and examines their association with aging anxiety among middle-aged and older immigrant women in South Korea. Design Using data from the 2021 National Survey of Multicultural Families in Korea, 3,358 immigrant women aged 45 and older were analyzed. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) identified distinct social network types, and these types were utilized as an independent variable for assessing the relationship with aging anxiety. Results LCA identified five classes: Integrated Support, Co-Ethnic-Dominant, Korean-Dominant, Mixed-Moderate Network, and Network-Limited. In multivariable regression models adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health covariates (reference = Network-Limited), membership in each group was associated with significantly lower aging anxiety, with the Co-Ethnic-Dominant showing the largest association. An age × group interaction revealed that the Korean-Dominant exhibited only a stronger negative association between age and anxiety, indicating an age-graded pattern in which older members of that group reported comparatively lower anxiety. Conclusion The results supported the important association between social connectedness and lower aging anxiety among immigrant women. Also, these findings offer an in-depth understanding of how specific network types, particularly how Korean-Dominant and Co-Ethnic-Dominant networks are associated with mental health outcomes within a culturally homogeneous society. The findings underline the need for policy and practical interventions that foster both bonding and bridging relationships among immigrants.

Social transmission of the animal-human relationship from mother to offspring has been found in horses, but we do not know whether it exists in cattle or other farmed animals. Vertical social transmission could facilitate a good animal-human relationship in calves raised by cows that have a good relationship with humans. We investigated the effect of a person interacting gently with foster cows on the later reactions of their foster calves toward humans. A total of 33 foster calves in 2 batches were assigned to 2 different treatments: 18 calves could observe a handler stroking and talking to their foster cow, and 15 calves only experienced the handler's presence and talking. Each calf experienced the respective treatment 5 times per week during the first 3 wk of life for 5 min/d. During the treatments, we recorded the behavior of the cows to assess whether they perceived the situation as positive. After the treatment period, we assessed the avoidance distance (AD) of the calves toward the handler and toward a less familiar person (the helper) in the home pen and the approach behavior and AD toward the handler in an unfamiliar environment. At ~6 mo of age, we assessed the AD toward the handler and the helper of all available calves in the home pen. During the treatments, the cows displayed few behavioral signs of enjoyment, such as neck stretching or ear hanging. At 3 wk of age, we found no effect of the treatment on the calves' AD toward the handler or helper in the home pen, nor a significant effect on the AD or approach behavior toward the handler in the unfamiliar environment. The AD at ~6 mo of age did not differ between the treatments. Calves that had the possibility to observe gentle interactions between a person and their foster cow did not have a better animal-human relationship than the calves experiencing the person's presence and talking alone. Because the cows did not show behavior indicative of enjoyment, the transmission of a positive animal-human relationship was impossible. In addition, direct learning effects might have occurred during the experiment, masking the effect of the treatment. Therefore, further investigations would be useful.

This article examines the inclusion of children with visual impairments in primary education through three interrelated dimensions: (1) the essential conditions required for successful school participation of a visually impaired child; (2) the specific roles and activities of Inclusive Resource Center (IRC) professionals in supporting such inclusion; and (3) the behavioral characteristics of blind children in play, communication, and learning, and their influence on peer relationships within the classroom environment. Particular attention is given to key success factors, including effective collaboration between parents and school staff, teachers’ readiness to understand the unique circumstances of families raising children with visual impairments, and the importance of empathy, sensitivity, and professional tact in communication with parents. Another critical prerequisite for successful inclusion is the preparation of sighted students for the arrival of a blind peer, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom culture. The study emphasizes that IRC specialists should not position themselves as absolute authorities in the education and rehabilitation of blind children. Instead, through continuous collaboration with schools, they can enhance their professional competence, deepen their understanding of children’s behavioral patterns across various activities, and provide context-sensitive support when necessary. Furthermore, the article addresses specific behavioral responses of blind children in unfamiliar environments, strategies for creating comfortable and inclusive educational conditions for both visually impaired and sighted students, and the developmental benefits that blind children gain from meaningful inclusion characterized by real-life interaction and peer communication.

Polylactic acid micro-nano luminescence fibers with spider-web structure for fluorescence indication to acid gases.

Urbanization is linked to mental health challenges, while urban nature is increasingly recognized for its restorative benefits. Yet, access to these benefits remains unequal. Latin American (LA) immigrants—a small but growing population in Canadian cities—may face distinct barriers to engaging with natural spaces, despite often relying on public resources for mental health and belonging. This study explores how urban nature contributes to well-being among LA immigrants in Vancouver, Canada. We conducted 30 semi-structured walking interviews in summer 2024 with participants who had lived in the city for one to ten years. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we examined how interactions with urban nature related to mental health and belonging, and the barriers that shaped these experiences. Nature supported mental health through five pathways: intrinsic qualities, meaningful activities, mindful engagement, personal reflection, and contrast with urban life. Belonging was fostered through engagement, cultural adaptation, and new traditions. However, structural and cultural barriers—including unfamiliar weather, limited prior nature experience, and exclusionary norms—restricted access and reduced benefits. Participants emphasized contemplative, reflective experiences over physical activity or socializing. Urban nature emerged as a space of negotiation where participants actively “tamed” unfamiliar environments to build connection and meaning—highlighting the need for inclusive, culturally responsive nature spaces. • Walking interviews explored Latin American immigrants' nature interactions. • Mental health linked to mindful engagement, contrast, and meaningful activities. • Belonging emerged through engagement, adaptation, and new traditions. • Barriers included climate, nature inexperience, and exclusionary social norms.

Background: Hospitalization in preschool children often causes anxiety due to unfamiliar environments, medical procedures, and separation from parents. Anxiety that is not managed properly may affect children's psychological well-being and recovery process. One non-pharmacological intervention that can be used to reduce anxiety in children is play therapy. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of Animal Food Match play therapy on anxiety levels of children aged 5–6 years who experience hospitalization. Method: This study used a quantitative research design with a pre-experimental approach using a one-group pretest-posttest design. The research was conducted in the pediatric inpatient ward of Imanuel Hospital, Bandar Lampung. The sample consisted of 30 children aged 5–6 years who experienced hospitalization and were selected using Porpusive sampling technique. Data were collected using an anxiety observation questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with a significance level of 95% (α = 0.05). Results: The results showed that the mean anxiety score before intervention was 1.23 and decreased to 0.03 after the intervention, with a mean difference of 1.20. The Wilcoxon test showed a Z value of -5.108 and a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores. Conclusion: Animal Food Match play therapy has a significant effect in reducing anxiety levels in children aged 5–6 years who experience hospitalization. Suggestion: Nurses are recommended to apply play therapy as a nursing intervention to reduce anxiety in hospitalized children.

Mothers with infants in intensive care face the challenge of adapting to an unfamiliar environment. They often experience fear for their babies' survival while hoping that both their needs and those of their infants will be met. This study aims to examine the effect of religious attitudes on the parenting beliefs of mothers whose newborns are receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted from May 2023 to March 2024. The study population consisted of 252 mothers whose babies were hospitalized in the NICU of a hospital in a province in northern Türkiye. A Sociodemographic Data Form, the Ok-Religious Attitude Scale (OK-RAS), and the NICU Parental Beliefs Scale (NICU-PBS) were used to collect the data. The mothers' mean scores were 33.37±3.66 on the OK-RAS and 69.29±2.99 on the NICU-PBS. A moderate positive correlation was found between the two scales (r =.668, P <.05). This result indicates that higher maternal religious attitude scores are associated with higher NICU parental belief scores. The OK-RAS score had a significant positive effect on the NICU-PBS (β=.373, t =4.362, P <.001). The results of this study reveal that religious attitudes significantly affect mothers' parenting beliefs. It is recommended that nurses adopt a holistic support approach when caring for newborns in the NICU, taking into account the religious and emotional needs of mothers.

Abstract English proficiency and communication confidence are vital for graduates entering internationalized workplaces. This study investigates how self-esteem and social exposure factors predict Thai university students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in English during internships. The participants were 312 final-year undergraduate students undertaking internship programs in the workplace. To address the research objectives, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the effects of self-esteem, father’s education level, number of foreign friends, and time spent using English on social media on students’ WTC in three communication contexts: with strangers, acquaintances, and friends. The findings indicate that self-esteem consistently and significantly predicts WTC across all contexts. On the other hand, social exposure factors, particularly having foreign friends and frequent use of English online, play a more important role in unfamiliar environments, such as communication with strangers. The results support integrated frameworks of second language communication, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between personal and environmental variables. This study contributes to language learning theory and offers practical implications for teachers, educators, and those involved in enhancing students’ self-esteem and promoting authentic language exposure both online and in-person, which can increase their WTC in English.

Novelty signals in the brain drive exploration and learning. While the perceived novelty of a stimulus is known to depend on previous experience, it remains elusive how generalization between familiar and novel stimuli impacts novelty computation. Specifically, existing models of novelty computation fail to account for the effects of stimulus similarities that are abundant in naturalistic tasks. Here, we present a biologically plausible model that captures how stimulus similarities modulate novelty signals in the brain and influence novelty-driven exploration. By applying our model to two publicly available datasets, we show (1) how generalization across similar visual stimuli affects novelty responses in the mouse visual cortex and (2) how generalization across nearby locations impacts mouse exploration in an unfamiliar environment. Our model explains distinct neural and behavioral signatures of novelty, makes mechanistic predictions about synaptic plasticity rules in novelty-computing circuits, and enables theory-driven experiment design.

Children's loneliness is a recognized mental health concern that remains under-researched and often framed through adult-centric theories. This qualitative study explores how 10-year-old children attribute causes to loneliness. Using visual vignettes and focus group discussions within a social constructivist framework, the study creates a familiar and supportive environment for children to share their thoughts. The findings support previous research suggesting that children in early adolescence commonly attribute loneliness to external factors such as peer exclusion and unfamiliar environments, in contrast to their older peers, where internal attributions prevail. Thematic analysis identified patterns of rejection, isolation, and emotional disconnection. Vignettes enabled participants to engage critically supporting ethical and empowering research practices. The results contribute to the refinement of developmental models of loneliness by incorporating children's own perceptions and by providing insights that may inform preventative mental health strategies and school-based interventions aimed at improving mental wellbeing in childhood and adolescence.

The international higher education sector is characterized by the mobility of international students, who undergo transitions in unfamiliar cultural environments that may negatively affect their academic experiences and overall well-being. Culture shock often arises from insufficient knowledge of, and limited understanding about, the norms of the host culture, as well as cultural gaps between international students and the host country. Drawing on a netnographic study of YouTube vlogs by a purposive sample of international students in the Philippines, this paper examines their experiences of culture shock. The findings indicate that international students act as active agents in adapting to these experiences. The study recommends further research adopting nuanced phenomenological perspectives on international students’ cross-cultural experiences to inform the design of responsive interventions that promote cross-cultural adaptation. This recommendation is grounded in scholarly arguments that successful cross-cultural adaptation among international students enhances their overall satisfaction in the host country as well as their academic performance—outcomes that are particularly critical for emerging players in the global higher education market, including the Philippines.

Summary: The Hualien County Disaster Medical Team, established in 2018, aims to enhance disaster response efficiency. Experiences from several major earthquakes and a train derailment in 2021 revealed that personnel had spent much time locating supplies in complex disaster settings. Applying Lean Management principles, we developed “modular tactical medical belt bags” and “tactical belts” to facilitate the location of supplies, aiming to reduce time and improve operational efficiency by: 1. Regularly checking the inventory and expiration date. 2. Categorizing disaster supplies into modular tactical kits (Triage, Injection, Trauma, Immobilization, and Personal Items Kits). For saving time, tactical kits are fully replaced rather than restocked item-by-item when some items are exhausted. 3. Utilizing tactical belts. The belt, equipped with essentials like a radio and tape, allows responders to keep critical items readily accessible. Modular kits effectively reduced the time spent retrieving supplies in disaster settings. Tactical belts saved an average of 2 minutes in locating items. Initially, tactical kits were restocked by logistics, taking an average of 5–7 minutes. Later, the process was changed from refilling bags to exchanging used bags for fully stocked ones, giving responders instant access to necessary supplies. This adjustment increased user satisfaction from 82% to 93%. Every second counts. Applying lean management to DMAT logistics design - “Modular Tactical Medical Waist Bag” and “Tactical Belt” - reduces the time consumed in inventory management, enables faster acquisition of necessary items in unfamiliar environments, and improves the efficiency of disaster medical response.

Impact of written and audiovisual techniques for reducing pre-procedural anxiety in primigravidae before ultrasonography: Results from the EQUANIMITY study.