Disability risks among midlife Latino adults in the United States are strongly patterned along axes of stratification such as nativity and citizenship status. Another increasingly salient axis of inequality in disability risk is geographic context, such as U.S. state political environments. While prior research highlights the importance of specific state policies, such as Medicaid, in shaping health-related outcomes, few studies have examined how broader policy contexts and ideologies, such as policy liberalism, influence disability risk, particularly among Latino adults. This study combines data from the 2008-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) with state-level measures of overall, economic, and social policy liberalism to examine how these dimensions of policy context influence disability risks among a diverse sample of midlife working-age Latino adults ([Formula: see text] = 1,103,993). Using logistic regression models, we evaluate the associations between state policy liberalism (overall, economic, and social domains) and disability and assess differences by nativity and citizenship status. Results indicate that greater overall and economic policy liberalism were associated with lower probabilities of disability among midlife Latino adults. The magnitude of this association varied by nativity and citizenship, with U.S.-born Latino adults experiencing greater declines in disability across more liberal policy contexts compared to foreign-born Latino adults. Additionally, compared to the naturalized and non-citizens, citizens experienced greater declines in disability across more liberal policy contexts. These results suggest that state policy contexts that promote and protect social and economic supports, such as improving access to labor protections, can reduce the burden of disability, particularly among U.S.-born and citizen Latino adults. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11113-026-10022-6.
Returning citizens with substance use disorders (SUD) make numerous decisions that involve engaging in behaviors with short-term, immediate rewards (i.e. the pleasurable effects of returning to use) relative to those with longer-term, but delayed, benefits (i.e. engaging in treatment), often in the context of resource-poor and unstable environments. Successful navigation of the reentry period may require making future-oriented decisions; yet previous research suggests that incarcerated individuals and those with SUD evidence steeper rates of delay discounting, or tendency to devalue something as a function of the delay of its receipt. Episodic future thinking has been shown to reduce delay discounting and improve decision-making, suggesting it may be particularly well-suited to support healthy decision-making among justice-involved populations. The current study evaluated the implementation potential and preliminary effectiveness of an episodic future thinking intervention adapted for individuals during the reentry period to reduce delay discounting and improve related clinical outcomes. Returning citizens (n = 40) who identified as in recovery from SUD and had experienced incarceration within 12 months prior to enrollment were recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Participants received either a brief (60-min) adapted episodic future thinking intervention or a control intervention that did not activate future thinking. Both interventions were administered by a peer recovery coach in a community setting. Participants then completed weekly check-ins for up to four weeks and were assessed one month after the intervention. Findings suggest that peer-delivered episodic future thinking was feasible and acceptable, and could be delivered with fidelity. Additionally, participants in the active condition experienced significant decreases in delay discounting, significant increases in considerations of future consequences, and increases in the presence of protective factors that may support longer-term recovery. Participants in the control condition did not experience changes in clinically-relevant outcomes. Results of this study provide preliminary support for the implementation potential and effectiveness of brief, peer-delivered intervention focused on improving decision-making during the reentry period.
During public health crisis, effective information disclosure is crucial for the government to guide citizens' participation in social recovery. In this paper, we focus on the influence of the timeliness and detail of information disclosure on citizens' co-production behavior. We divide citizens' co-production behavior into online information concern behavior and offline pandemic compliance with preventive behavior. Adopting a mixed-methods design combining regression analysis and behavioral experiments, this study quantitatively analyzed more than 5,800 pieces of data from 293 prefecture-level cities and 158 citizens' experimental data. The results indicate that timely and detailed information disclosure is associated with significant effects on citizens' co-production behavior. However, due to constraints on government human resources and time, it is recommended to adopt a general content and timely disclosure policy for information concerning behavior. A detailed content but non-timely disclosure policy is recommended for citizen compliance with preventive behavior. Findings have important implications for governmental public health crisis management.
In this research, we examine the determinants of citizens' beliefs about the severity of criminal and administrative sanctions attached to violations of COVID-19 mitigation laws in Russia, as well as extrajudicial sanctions employed in other parts of the world. Although criminological research has identified many predictors of punitive attitudes toward traditional criminal offenses, less is known about how citizens evaluate punishments for violations of newly introduced rules adopted under emergency conditions. The key explanatory variables in our study include beliefs in attribution of human behavior, self-commitment to compliance with COVID-19 mandates, trust in government, and the fear of COVID-19 infection. Data for the study come from 508 respondents from St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, who participated in an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic in May 2020. Findings suggest that citizens who believe in the free-will explanations of human nature and those who are more likely to comply with pandemic-mitigating laws feel that the punishments imposed for violating the pandemic-related laws were not severe enough. Additionally, those who trust the government's effectiveness and integrity in controlling COVID-19 are more punitive, a finding contrary to crime-related punitiveness research. Together, these findings indicate that support for sanctioning pandemic-related violations is closely tied to rule-related evaluations, including responsibility attribution, institutional trust, and personal commitment to compliance. The study contributes to criminological research by showing that established explanations of punitive attitudes may operate differently when applied to newly institutionalized crisis rules. How People Judge Punishments for Breaking Emergency RulesThis study looks at how people decide whether punishments for breaking COVID-19 rules are too harsh or not harsh enough. We focus on people in Russia and examine both formal punishments, such as fines or legal penalties, and informal responses seen in other countries. Past research has identified many factors that shape opinions about punishment for traditional crimes, however, we know less about how people judge punishments for new rules introduced during emergencies like the pandemic. In this study, we focus on several key factors: whether people believe individuals are responsible for their actions, how willing they are to follow COVID-19 rules themselves, how much they trust the government, and how worried they are about getting infected. The study is based on an online survey of 508 people in St. Petersburg, conducted during the first wave of the pandemic in May 2020. The findings show that people who believe individuals have control over their actions, and those who are more willing to follow COVID-19 rules themselves, are more likely to think that punishments were not strict enough. We also find that people who trust the government to manage the pandemic tend to support stronger punishments. This is different from what we usually see in studies of crime, where higher trust in government is often linked to less support for harsh punishment. Overall, the results suggest that support for punishing pandemic-related rule-breaking is closely tied to how people think about responsibility, their trust in institutions, and their own commitment to following the rules. The study shows that ideas we use to explain attitudes toward punishment may work differently when applied to new rules created during a crisis.
The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has fundamentally transformed the dissemination of public health and environmental messages. However, there remains a paucity of knowledge regarding how citizens value various forms of digital participation in sanitation campaigns. This study explores community preferences for online engagement in sanitation and health initiatives, specifically within the context of the Citarum River basin and Jakarta, Indonesia. A choice experiment utilizing stratified random sampling was designed to capture preferences for three distinct forms of social media interaction: liking, sharing, and commenting, with willingness to participate quantified as digital actions per week per individual. Random parameter logit and latent class models were employed to estimate preferences and uncover heterogeneity among respondents. The results indicate that consistent liking, selective sharing of targeted content, and brief acknowledgment comments were positively and significantly correlated with utility, resulting in substantial willingness to participate values of up to 32 actions/week. Segmentation analysis identified two distinct groups: digital sanitation movers, comprising 89.5% of respondents who actively support sanitation campaigns online, and silent social media viewers, representing 10.5% who exhibited weak and inconsistent engagement. Socio-demographic analysis revealed that digital intensity and campaign awareness were more significant differentiators between these groups than income or education. The findings underscore the pivotal role of location-based features, such as regional hashtags (#CitarumHarum), in enhancing the visibility of sanitation campaigns and integrating them into community identities. Policy implications suggest prioritizing visually engaging, shareable, and locally branded content for the most digitally active citizens, while concurrently developing hybrid online-offline strategies to engage less active groups. This study contributes to the field of digital health geography by elucidating how social media participation can amplify sanitation messaging and address health vulnerabilities within urban and river basin contexts.
In 2023 Israeli Arabs (i.e., Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel) constituted 22% of Israel's working-age population. In that same year, Israeli Arabs constituted 25% of Israel's employed physicians of working age - up significantly from 8% in 2010. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess whether, and to what extent, there is an Arab-Jewish income differential among Israeli physicians; 2) assess the extent to which any such differential can be attributed to Arab-Jewish differences in the demographic, geographic, and/or work-related characteristics of the medical workforce; and 3) explore the policy implications of the key findings. The analysis utilized the Central Bureau of Statistics' 2022 Population and Housing Census, which included data on 7,089 physicians, of whom 1,333 were Arab and 5,756 were Jewish or other (hereafter "Jewish"). The main income variable examined was "Total annual gross income from work". In 2022, the average annual physician income for Arab physicians was 26% less than for Jewish physicians (NIS 358 thousand vs. NIS 483 thousand). Arab physicians were more likely to be under age 40 (71% v. 28%), male (77% v. 52%), residents of the North region (48% v. 7%), in non-supervisory roles (87% v. 75%), and generalists or family practitioners (33% v. 22%). Controlling for age and sex, via regression analysis, reduced the income differential to 1%. This major reduction was due to Arab physicians being markedly younger than Jewish physicians. Further controlling for regional distribution and work characteristics (managerial status, specialty status/type, and months worked) did not change the ethnicity differential, but did markedly reduce the coefficients of the age variables. The 2022 Arab-Jewish income differential among physicians was due predominantly to differences in age composition. The differential could potentially shrink in the decades ahead, as more Arab physicians reach the ages at which physician incomes are at their highest. However, as part of the effect of age on income is mediated by work characteristics, the extent to which the wage gap will shrink will depend in part on the extent to which Arab physicians will secure prestigious residency training slots and managerial positions. Health system leaders can play an important role in promoting such developments. In particular, steps should be taken to increase the representativeness of Arabs in Israeli medical schools.
Given the critical role of knowledge in prevention and management of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures, a culturally adapted instrument to assess osteoporosis-related knowledge among citizens is essential for patient education. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) for Portuguese adults aged 50 years and older. The study involved two phases: translation and cross-cultural adaptation, and evaluation of measurement properties. An expert committee developed a pre-final Portuguese OKAT, which was tested in adults aged 50-74 years, recruited from primary care and from a blood donation centre. Reliability was assessed via internal consistency (α, ω, KR-20), test-retest reproducibility (r, ICC), and item-level agreement (Cohen's Kappa). Item difficulty, discrimination, and readability were also evaluated. Known-groups validity was examined by comparing scores across sex, age, education, and prior osteoporosis diagnosis. Phase A identified five items with semantic or conceptual challenges, resolved through expert consensus. In phase B, 153 participants (mean age 62 ± 7 years; 54% female) completed the Portuguese OKAT, showing borderline acceptable to acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.698; ω = 0.700; KR-20 = 0.698) and good test-retest (n = 20) reliability (ICC = 0.84; r = 0.84; Cohen's Kappa = 0.375-0.89, with four items yielding non-computable or negative values). Item difficulty and discrimination were appropriate, and readability was suitable (Flesch Reading Ease = 68.35). Women had statistically higher knowledge scores, but no significant differences were found for age, education, or prior diagnosis groups. The Portuguese version of OKAT demonstrated generally acceptable psychometric performance, supporting its use in adults aged ≥50y. Future research should confirm these findings in more diverse and representative populations.
Participatory health research has gained importance in general practice research in Germany. This paper is based on a study examining the implementation of a public advisory board established in 2022 by the Institute of General Practice at Erlangen University Hospital. We focus on the perspectives of participating citizens, their experiences, expectations, and motivation regarding their involvement. The article highlights key success factors for participatory formats in general practice research from the viewpoint of those involved and provides practical recommendations for their implementation and long-term integration. Data was collected using methodological triangulation, combining participant observations of 16 advisory board meetings and five semi-structured interviews with board members. Sociodemographic data was also collected. The qualitative data was analysed using the content-structuring approach to qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz, employing a category system developed both deductively and inductively. Participants described their involvement as meaningful, enriching, and intrinsically motivated. They emphasised a desire to share their personal experiences, gain insight into research processes, and endorse the societal relevance and applicability of research. Simultaneously, some members wished for more specific opportunities regarding participation and a clearer definition of their roles within the format. Although financial compensation was not an issue of primary concern to participants, it was still seen as a gesture of appreciation. Moreover, especially the composition of the board, the distribution of roles, communication pathways, and feedback on outcomes proved to be crucial for acceptance and effectiveness of the format from the citizens' perspective. The findings indicate that citizens are willing to engage in general practice research if transparent structures, feedback mechanisms, and flexible opportunities for involvement are established. For participation to be effective in the long run, institutional and financial support, clear definitions of roles, and continuous reflection on participatory practices are essential.
Community violence and crime in Arab society in Israel have risen substantially, to the point of becoming one of the most distressing issues for Arab citizens. While many studies have examined the extent of social violence, few have examined its relationship with emotional health, and the mediating role of stress has not been the topic of any scientific investigation. Based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among 941 adult Israeli Arab citizens, the current study assesses the ramifications of community violence on the emotional health of the Arab population in Israel. A mediation model was found to fit the data comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.901, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.039, standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) = 0.050), where stress was found to mediate the association between exposure to violence and depression (95% CI = 0.17, 0.30) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.18, 0.31), as well as between threat of violence and depression (95% CI = 0.02, 0.24) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.02, 0.25). Stress also mediated the association between worry about social crime and violence and depression (95% CI = 0.04, 0.25) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.04, 0.26), as well as between the attitudes that more should be done about social crime and violence and depression (95% CI = 0.03, 0.19) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.03, 0.19). The findings suggest that stress plays a central role in the association between community violence and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Arab citizens in Israel.
Digital participation depends not only on the formal availability of online engagement channels but also on how citizens interpret the safety, usefulness, and feasibility of participation. This article examines whether willingness to engage digitally is shaped more strongly by procedural platform cues or by underlying behavioral beliefs about security, efficacy, and personal capability. Using a survey of 500 adults in South Korea and a 2 × 2 survey-embedded vignette experiment, the study varies participation threshold (50 vs. 500 supporters) and response specificity (generic response vs. concrete action plan and timeline). The direct experimental effects are small and statistically non-significant, indicating no detectable moderate shift in stated willingness within this vignette design. In contrast, baseline participation intention, perceived outcome efficacy, and digital ability are consistently associated with scenario-based willingness to participate, while security trust is positively associated with baseline readiness to engage. The findings suggest that digital participation is better understood as a behavioral decision shaped by perceived risk, expected consequences, and self-assessed capability than as a simple response to procedural design alone.
In March of 2025 the UK's first Marine Citizen Science Week recruited Citizen Scientists from around the country to participate in a series of activities exploring the ecology and biodiversity of rocky shorelines at sites on the northeast and southwest coastlines of England. To investigate the 'unseen' microbial biodiversity the organisers instructed participants to collect microorganisms from seawater using sterile pressure driven filtration units; these were sent to a laboratory for DNA extraction and metabarcoding analysis. DNA was extracted from material collected on the filter membranes and used in PCR amplification to generate 16S rRNA gene amplicons (bacterial) and 18S rRNA gene amplicons (protozoal). Each amplicon was ligated with a unique barcode and compiled into sequencing libraries, which were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION platform. The data sets for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing reads have been uploaded as raw fastq files to the publicly accessible NCBI Sequencing Read Archive. The data sets provide an overview of the bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities present in seawater collected from two geographically distinct rocky shore environments.
This study examines how belonging, identity orientations, social comparison patterns, and perceived discrimination are associated with life satisfaction among Turkish migrants in the Netherlands. The analysis is based on cross-sectional survey data from 1,006 respondents. Ordered logit models are used to assess the associations between identity orientations, comparison patterns, perceived discrimination, and two outcomes: life satisfaction and sense of belonging to the Netherlands. The results indicate that identifying as Dutch or as a world citizen, as well as placing greater importance on comparisons with Dutch natives, is positively associated with both life satisfaction and host-country belonging. In contrast, emphasizing comparisons with origin-based reference groups and reporting higher levels of perceived discrimination are negatively associated with these outcomes. Participation in non-governmental organizations and longer residence in the Netherlands are positively associated with belonging. These patterns are robust across model specifications. The findings highlight the role of cognitive and evaluative dimensions of integration, alongside socio-economic factors, in understanding migrant well-being.
To explore the definition of minimally invasive major hepatectomy (MIMH) through an international expert survey and to establish a difficulty-based classification. The definition of MIMH remains heterogeneous. While the classical definition (≥3 segments) has been widely accepted, technically demanding procedures such as right anterior sectionectomy (RAS) and right posterior sectionectomy (RPS) are increasingly regarded as "technically major," yet consensus is lacking. A systematic review (2011-2024) identified 61 articles defining MIMH. Based on these findings, a web-based survey was distributed to 185 international liver surgeons between January and April 2025. The questionnaire evaluated expert opinions on the MIMH definition and the subjective difficulty of various laparoscopic anatomic resections (score 1-10). A total of 112 surgeons responded (65% response rate). Most (89.3%) agreed that MIMH should include technically major resections, while 10.7% supported the classical definition alone. Among respondents who supported the inclusion of technically major hepatectomy, 80.0% specified RAS and RPS as technically major. Surgeons from large-volume centers (>75 minimally invasive hepatectomies per year) showed the strongest agreement (96.9%) and 93.5% identifying RAS/RPS as technically major. Subjective difficulty scores ranged from 3 for left hepatectomy to 7 for RAS, extended RPS, and central bisectionectomies, with others scoring 5-6. The international survey demonstrates a strong expert consensus for redefining MIMH to include technically major resections, specifically RAS and RPS. These findings provide a necessary foundation for future consensus updates and difficulty-informed clinical guidelines across minimally invasive liver surgery.
This study aimed to clarify the structure of the individual matching support process within Team Orange, a community-based dementia support initiative in Japan. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we qualitatively examined semi-structured interviews with seven coordinators who facilitate matching between people living with dementia and community supporters. We also analysed 14 implementation reports documenting actual support cases from community comprehensive support centres in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Analysis identified seven themes constituting a cyclical support process: 'diverse triggers for initiating matching', 'assessing needs and evaluating support potential', 'safe and sustainable support coordination', 'building trust relationships to facilitate matching', 'reaching consensus among people living with dementia, families and supporters', 'implementing individual matching support' and 'reviewing and readjusting toward sustainable support'. These findings suggest that individual matching is not simply a combination of volunteer activities, but rather a support process in which the coordinator's clinical reasoning and relational coordination cyclically support the agency of people living with dementia, family members and supporters. This practice has the potential to serve as an implementation model that flexibly connects informal community resources with individuals whose needs fall outside the scope of formal care services.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal waters are an increasing ecological and socio-economic concern in Northwestern Patagonia (NWP). One widely accepted mechanism proposes that reduced freshwater input weakens water-column stratification and increases residence time, allowing nutrient-rich oceanic waters to intrude and favor HAB development. Here, we demonstrate that riverine controls exerted on HABs extend beyond low-flow conditions to include shifts in the timing and magnitude of high-flow pulses. Using long-term hydro-meteorological records, satellite-based data, and a citizen science water quality time series from the Puelo River, we assess how peak freshwater inputs modulated the conditions leading up to a diatom HAB (Thalassiosira cf. pseudonana) in the Reloncaví Fjord (41.5°S) in November 2023. Based on inference from spring 2022 and 2024 monitoring, such discharge peaks provide short-lived windows of enhanced nutrient availability, characterized by elevated reactive silica (> 100 µmol L⁻¹), dissolved iron (> 0.3 µmol L⁻¹) and nitrogen-rich nutrient ratios (N:P > 16). An anomalous high-turbidity pulse, usually dampened by downstream lake regulation, suggests threshold effect of meltwater inputs, which likely gave this taxon a competitive advantage. Antecedent conditions also include a sustained winter runoff effect on stratification and exchange flow, followed by an unusually dry early spring, weakening stratification during the period of increased solar radiation, both preconditioning the system for the HAB.
Objectives Early prediction of neurological outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is critical for guiding treatment decisions. Machine learning (ML) model and grey-white matter ratio (GWR), both derived from brain computed tomography (CT), can be used to predict the neurological outcome. However, their relative performance shortly post-return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and whether combining the ML model with prehospital information can improve predictive performance remains unclear. This study aimed (1) to compare the predictive performance for poor neurological outcome between the ML model and manually measured GWR in the early phase after ROSC in patients with OHCA, and (2) to assess the predictive ability of the combination of the ML model and prehospital information. Methods This single-center retrospective study included adult patients who underwent brain CT within two hours post-ROSC. The endpoint was consecutive coma post-ROSC. Three slice levels (basal ganglia, centrum semiovale, high convexity) of brain CT images were used to generate the ML model and the GWR. Residual Network 101 (ResNet-101) with transfer learning was constructed in the ML model. Results Among the 143 cases, 88 patients had a persistent coma, and 55 awoke from coma. Across 10 repeated five-fold cross-validations, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for predicting persistent coma between the three-slice ensembled ML model and the average GWR were not significantly different (ML model: 0.796 (interquartile range (IQR): 0.737-0.826), GWR: 0.821 (IQR: 0.763-0.854); p = 0.121). In the regression analysis, the AUC of the model based on prehospital information was 0.846 (95% CI: 0.772-0.92), which improved to 0.905 (95% CI: 0.856-0.953) after adding the ML score. Conclusion The ML model achieved moderate predictive performance, with no significant difference compared with the conventional GWR method. The combination of the ML model and prehospital information could improve predictive performance.
Insect biodiversity documentation remains strikingly uneven, with significant knowledge gaps persisting for various taxa and regions. Butterflies (Papilionoidea), recognized as reliable bioindicators and flagship species, face such gaps in some West African countries, particularly Burkina Faso (BF). This study presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date checklist of butterflies in BF, compiling records from 29 diverse sources, including published literature, online databases, citizen science platforms and private collections. Our analysis reveals 220-225 butterfly species for BF, the presence of 5 of them being uncertain. This represents a 40% increase over previous compilations, including 47 new records for the country. We highlight pronounced disparities in research effort, with for instance Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae consistently underrepresented compared to Nymphalidae and Pieridae, probably because of sampling biases and intrinsic species ecological characteristics. Spatial analysis revealed limited and uneven geographic coverage, with vast areas, particularly northern BF, remaining largely unexplored. We discuss challenges related to data accessibility, taxonomic inconsistencies, and the impact of national security on biodiversity research. This synthesis not only significantly expands BF's known butterfly diversity but also underscores the deep need for building sustained and diversified research efforts, and local capacity to address remaining knowledge gaps in a country where entomological exploration still promises numerous discoveries. La connaissance de la faune entomologique demeure remarquablement inégale, avec des lacunes particulières pour certains taxons et régions. Les papillons (Papilionoidea), reconnus comme des bioindicateurs fiables et des espèces drapeaux, sont particulièrement sujet à de telles lacunes dans certains pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, tel que le Burkina Faso. Cette étude présente la liste la plus complète et à jour des papillons du Burkina Faso, compilant des données provenant de 29 sources différentes, incluant la littérature publiée, des bases de données en ligne, plateformes de science participative et des collections privées. Notre analyse recense entre 220 et 225 espèces de papillons pour le Burkina Faso, la présence de cinq d’entre elles étant incertaine. Ceci constitue une augmentation de 40% par rapport aux compilations antérieures, incluant 47 nouvelles occurrences pour le pays. Nous mettons aussi en évidence des disparités prononcées dans l’effort de recherche, les Lycaenidae et les Hesperiidae étant par exemple sous-représentés par rapport aux Nymphalidae et Pieridae, probablement en raison de biais d’échantillonnage et de caractéristiques écologiques intrinsèques des espèces. L’analyse spatiale révèle une couverture géographique limitée et inégale, de vastes zones, notamment le nord du Burkina Faso, restant largement inexplorées. Nous discutons des défis liés à l’accessibilité des données, aux incohérences taxonomiques et à l’impact de la situation sécuritaire du pays sur la recherche. Cette synthèse élargit considérablement la diversité de papillons connue du Burkina Faso, et souligne également le profond besoin d’efforts de recherche soutenus et diversifiés, ainsi que de renforcement des capacités locales, pour combler les lacunes de connaissances restantes dans un pays où l’exploration entomologique promet encore de nombreuses découvertes. El conocimiento sobre la diversidad de insectos se distribuye de manera desigual y aún presenta importantes vacíos de información, particularmente en determinados taxones y regiones geográficas. En cuanto a las mariposas (Papilionoidea), se observan también dichos vacíos en algunos países de África Occidental, particularmente en Burkina Faso; a pesar de que son reconocidas como bioindicadores fiables y especies bandera. En este estudio se compilan registros de 29 fuentes diferentes, entre ellas, literatura disponible, base de datos en línea, plataformas de ciencia ciudadana y colecciones privadas. Los resultados de nuestros análisis revelan la presencia aproximada de 220 a 225 especies de mariposas en Burkina Faso, dentro de las cuales la presencia de cinco es incierta. Este estudio resalta un aumento del 40% de la riqueza especifica del país en comparación a compilaciones precedentes, además incluye 47 nuevos registros de especies para el país. Paralelamente, este estudio destaca disparidades importantes respecto a los esfuerzos de investigación: los Lycaenidae y Hesperiidae suelen estar subrepresentados en comparación a los Nymphalidae y Pieridae. Esto puede deberse al sesgo de muestreo y las características ecológicas intrínsecas de las especies. Adicionalmente, el análisis espacial revela una cobertura geográfica limitada y dispareja, con grandes zonas inexploradas, particularmente al norte de Burkina Faso. En este estudio también se discuten los desafíos para la investigación ligados a la accesibilidad de los datos, incoherencias taxonómicas y al impacto de la situación de seguridad del país. Mediante este estudio se amplía significativamente el conocimiento sobre la diversidad de mariposas de Burkina Faso. Igualmente, se resalta la necesidad de implementar esfuerzos de investigación diversos, constantes y estratégicamente articulados, así como de fortalecer las capacidades locales para resolver dichas brechas de conocimiento, en un país donde la exploración entomológica aún ofrece un amplio potencial para nuevos y significativos descubrimientos.
Autistic symptoms occur across the psychosis spectrum and are linked to poorer cognitive, social, and clinical outcomes. Although prior studies have mainly examined gray matter, the relationship between autistic symptoms and white matter microstructure remains unclear in early psychosis. We examined node-wise white matter alterations associated with autistic symptom severity using diffusion tensor imaging. We included 126 participants: 48 at clinical high risk for psychosis, 46 with first-episode psychosis, and 32 controls. Autistic symptoms were assessed in the early psychosis group using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Autism Severity Score. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were derived from diffusion tensor imaging data, and automated fiber quantification extracted node-wise measurements across five tracts. Group differences were examined using age- and sex-adjusted linear regression, and associations with autistic symptoms were evaluated in the early psychosis group using generalized additive models (GAM) adjusted for age, sex, and PANSS positive and general scores. Compared with controls, the early psychosis group showed increased mean diffusivity across tracts, whereas fractional anisotropy did not differ significantly. In GAMs, autistic symptom severity showed no significant global association with fractional anisotropy but showed spatially heterogeneous associations. Mean diffusivity showed significant positive global and spatially varying associations with autistic symptom severity, particularly in the cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and arcuate fasciculus. Autistic symptoms in early psychosis were associated with predominantly mean diffusivity-based white matter alterations. These preliminary cross-sectional findings identify potential imaging correlates of autistic symptoms and require replication in larger longitudinal studies.
In closely related sympatric species with similar ecologies, the adaptive significance of body colour is generally expected to be similar. Here, we explore the evolutionary drivers and maintenance mechanisms behind identical colour variants in two ecologically comparable centipede species. Location: Japan [excluding the Nansei Islands]. Taxon: Centipedes. We collected georeferenced photographic records of Scolopendra mutilans and S. japonica through citizen science, assessed phenotypes (red-legged or yellow-legged) and mapped their distributions. We analysed predators and prey from photographs and occurrence records using spatial point pattern models and realised climatic niche analysis. The two species showed broadly overlapping ranges, predators, prey and climatic niches. In contrast, co-occurrence patterns of phenotypic variation differed markedly: in S. mutilans, the two colour variants were sympatric nationwide, whereas in S. japonica they co-occurred in restricted Pacific coastal areas. Within S. mutilans, the variants differed in associated predator species, and their realised climatic niches showed significant but small differences. Within S. japonica, the realised niche of the red-legged variant was fully nested within that of the yellow, with neither prey nor predator differences detected. Colour diversity of S. mutilans and S. japonica is probably maintained by distinct mechanisms. In S. mutilans, the red- and yellow-legged variants show slightly divergent realised climatic niches; however, how these climatic factors generate leg-colour variation remains unclear. Conversely, photographic data provide strong evidence for differential selection by distinct predator groups, suggesting that this variation is maintained through locally divergent anti-predator adaptations. In S. japonica, the restricted distribution and nested niche of the red-legged variant, possibly from a recent introduction, suggest it is not maintained by the same selective pressure observed in S. mutilans. More broadly, similar phenotypic variation in closely related species may be shaped by different evolutionary processes, including ecological selection and stochastic or historical contingency.