This work explores exotic signatures from confining dark sectors that may arise in the e + e - collision mode at the Future Circular Collider. Assuming the Higgs boson mediates the interaction between the Standard Model and the dark sector, dark quarks can be produced in e + e - collisions. The ensuing strong dynamics may lead to semi-visible jet final states, containing both visible and invisible particles. We investigate semi-visible jets with different fractions of invisible states, and enriched in leptons and photons. When the invisible component is large, selections based on kinematic features, such as the missing energy in the event, already provide good signal-to-background discrimination. For smaller invisible fractions, the reduced missing energy makes these signals more similar to Standard Model events, and we therefore employ a graph neural network jet tagger exploiting differences in jet substructure. This machine learning strategy improves sensitivity and enhances the discovery prospects of Higgs boson-induced semi-visible jets at the Future Circular Collider. Our results show that the proposed strategy can effectively probe a wide parameter space for the models considered, and a variety of signatures, constraining the Higgs boson exotic branching ratios into dark quarks at the permille-level.
Major advances have been made in understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the Dark Triad - Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy - yet existing research remains fragmented and rarely examines these traits as an integrated construct. Previous studies have identified structural and functional brain correlates of individual components, but findings are often inconsistent and isolated. This systematic review addresses this gap by synthesizing evidence from 16 empirical studies with a total sample of N = 4246 participants. Integrating results from neuroimaging, lesion, and genetic research, the review provides the first comprehensive overview of the neural architecture of the Dark Triad. The findings indicate a shared core of heightened striatal reward sensitivity, alongside distinct neural profiles: Machiavellianism is associated with enhanced prefrontal and insular activity, psychopathy with deficits in amygdala-orbitofrontal circuits, and narcissism with altered default mode network functioning related to self-referential processing. Overall, the Dark Triad is best understood as emerging from distributed, interacting neural systems rather than isolated brain regions.
This Letter presents a novel cosmic-ray scattering experiment employing a resistive plate chamber muon tomography system. By introducing the scattering angle between incident and outgoing cosmic-ray tracks as a key observable, this approach enables simultaneous studies of secondary cosmic-ray composition and searching for new physics. During a 63-day campaign, 1.18 million cosmic ray scattering events were recorded and analyzed. By performing combined template fits to the observed angular distribution, particle abundances are measured-for example, resolving the electron component at ∼2% precision. Furthermore, constraints are established on elastic muon-dark matter (DM) scattering cross sections for muonphilic dark matter. At the 95% confidence level, the limit reaches 1.61×10^{-17}  cm^{2} for 1 GeV slow DM, demonstrating the sensitivity limit to light muon-coupled slow DM, in scenarios where a strongly interacting dark matter component is captured and thermalized within Earth, leading to large surface densities.
A new scheme for detecting wavelike dark matter (DM) using Rydberg atoms is proposed. Recent advances in trapping and manipulating Rydberg atoms make it possible to use Rydberg atoms trapped in optical tweezer arrays for DM detection. We propose to prepare a large ensemble of Rydberg atoms and to observe the excitations between Rydberg states by the DM-induced effective electric field. A scan over DM mass is enabled with the use of the Zeeman and diamagnetic shifts of energy levels under an applied external magnetic field. Taking dark-photon DM as an example, we demonstrate that our proposed experiment can have high enough sensitivity to probe previously unexplored regions of the parameter space of dark-photon coupling strengths and masses.
Trichoscopy enhances diagnostic accuracy in primary cicatricial alopecias (PCA), yet comparative data on its application across diverse skin phototypes remain limited. The aim of this study was to characterize trichoscopic features across various forms of PCAs and compare findings between fair and dark phototypes. This is a descriptive, multicenter international study analyzing trichoscopic patterns in 1102 patients with PCAs across a range of ethnic backgrounds and skin phototypes. The absence of follicular openings was the most consistent trichoscopic finding across all phototypes. Notable variations in trichoscopic patterns were observed based on skin color. In both fair and dark phototypes, signs of clinical and trichoscopic activity were predominantly observed within the first five years of disease duration, when inflammation is typically more pronounced. Clinicians should be aware of trichoscopic variations both between and within the same PCA according to the phototype. Such awareness enhances the recognition and interpretation of trichoscopic features, particularly during the early and active stages of the disease, and helps guide the selection of optimal biopsy sites across PCA subtypes in both fair and dark skin. This approach can ultimately facilitate histopathological confirmation and support clinical decision-making.
Replies to comments by J. I. Borráz et al. (see record 2026-84572-001) on the viewpoint presented by D. S. Chester et al. (see record 2026-29451-001) that the term "dark" is stigmatizing, sensationalistic, imprecise, and problematic. Borráz et al. pivot away from the concerns of Chester et al. by (a) suggesting without evidence or detail that this term can be used "responsibly" and (b) highlighting the growth in the use of the term "dark" in research publications. Chester et al. have four broad replies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Light intensity is an important factor in designing functional areas in poultry housing, as it influences behavioral activity. However, its influence on dustbathing behavior remains unclear. This study investigated whether laying hens prefer to dustbathe in brighter or darker areas, in combination with either a dark or light colored dustbathing substrate (i.e., peat or sand), using a preference test. Twenty-four hens, housed in pairs, were tested in three successive rounds (n = 8/ round) during which they were given a choice out of four different compartments containing sand at 5 lux, peat at 5 lux, sand at 100 lux, and peat at 100 lux. Dustbathing behavior and duration were recorded via video, and visits to the compartments were registered by RFID. Hens showed a clear preference for dustbathing in peat at 100 lux, as they performed more dust baths in this combination compared to sand at 100 lux, peat at 5 lux, and sand at 5 lux (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P < 0.001, respectively). Hens visited the compartments with sand at 100 lux more often than those with sand at 5 lux (P = 0.02), while no other differences in visit frequency were found. Visit frequency substantially exceeded dustbathing events, suggesting that compartment visits may also reflect the motivation to explore or forage. Our findings provide a first indication that substrate preference and light intensity may interact to reinforce dustbathing behavior, which provides practical guidance for designing dustbathing areas in commercial housing systems.
Defocused background is the major source degrading the quality of wide-field fluorescence imaging. Here, we report an optical sectioning method based on the characteristics of background fluorescence under two complementary illumination patterns and dark-channel dehazing. The method is physically interpretable, deconvolution-free, and easy to implement on all epi-fluorescence microscopes. Three-dimensional imaging of mitochondria, mouse liver neuronal tissue, and zebrafish blood vessels demonstrates its superior 3D imaging capability for thick samples with high fidelity and a large field of view.
Actinomycetes are soil-dwelling microorganisms known for the production of natural pigments, which serve as alternatives to synthetic dyes. In this study, the effects of natural light and total dark conditions on pigment production in Streptomyces sp. VITGV38 (MCC 4869) were examined, and the extracted pigment-related compounds were subjected to pharmacokinetic analysis, molecular docking studies, and evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The Streptomyces strain was cultured under complete darkness and natural (light/dark) conditions to compare pigment yield and bioactivity. Antioxidant activity of the crude pigment extract was determined by the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Antibacterial activity of the pigment extract was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was conducted to identify individual compounds of the pigment extract. Molecular docking of the pigment-related compounds was performed using AutoDock Vina, and their pharmacokinetic properties were predicted using SwissADME. After 21 days of culturing the strain under light conditions, the pigment extract at 100 µg/ml concentration showed the maximum antioxidant activity of 83.73% with an IC50 value of 0.143 µg/ml, indicating strong antioxidant capacity. The antibacterial activity of the pigment extract was higher when the strain was cultured dark conditions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified seven major compounds in the pigment extract: n-hexadecanoic acid, tetracosane, pentadecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, indole, benzo(h)quinoline-2,4-dimethyl, and 2-piperidinone. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong interactions of the pigment-related compounds with potential protein targets. SwissADME analysis showed that the pigment-related compounds have favorable drug-like properties. Streptomyces sp. VITGV38 is a promising source of bioactive pigments with potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities. While culturing the strain under natural light conditions enhanced the antioxidant capacity and yield of the pigment, culturing under dark conditions enhanced the antibacterial activity of the pigment. These findings highlight the multifaceted potential of Streptomyces sp. VITGV38 for developing natural antimicrobial agents.
This study examines the impact of a light-cycle shift regimen on corneal and conjunctival tissues in menopausal rats and evaluates the protective role of combined hormone therapy. Twenty-four menopausal female albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 8) following a 10-day acclimatization period. Group 1 (Control+Saline) was maintained under a 12:12 light/dark cycle. Light-cycle shift regimen was induced in Groups 2 and 3 using a rotating 7-day light-exposure sequence repeated over 21 days; this protocol consisted of 24 h of continuous light, 72 h of inverted dark-light timing, and 72 h of standard light-dark conditions. Groups 1 and 2 received saline, while Group 3 received 17β-Estradiol and drospirenone daily via oral gavage. After 31 days, eyes were enucleated for histological and immunohistochemical analyses of corneal, conjunctival, and palpebral tissues, including caspase-3 (Cas-3), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and PERIOD-2 (PER2) expression. Light-cycle shift regimen (Group 2) significantly increased corneal thickness (p < 0.001), conjunctival inflammation, and vascular congestion, with marked upregulation of Cas-3 and TNF-α and downregulation of PER2. Hormone therapy (Group 3) attenuated these effects, showing reduced corneal edema, diminished inflammatory infiltration, and partial normalization of molecular markers. Shifting light-dark cycles may aggravate inflammatory and apoptotic changes in the ocular surface during menopause. Estrogen-progestin therapy attenuates these alterations by modulating the expression of the circadian-associated protein PER2 and maintaining structural integrity. These findings suggest that hormone therapy may offer potential benefits for preserving ocular surface homeostasis in menopausal women experiencing sleep or circadian rhythm disturbances.
The increasing reliance on fossil fuels for global energy production has intensified greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable energy alternatives. Hydrogen is considered a promising green fuel due to its high energy density and conversion efficiency. Among various production pathways, microalgae-based biohydrogen generation via biophotolysis is particularly attractive owing to its high biomass productivity, adaptability to diverse water sources, flue gas mitigation potential, and low land requirements.This study investigates the effects of key microalgal growth parameters on biohydrogen production by Chlorella sp. through biophotolysis. The impacts of nitrogen purging during the transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions, different photoperiod regimes (continuous illumination, continuous darkness, and a light-dark cycle), glucose supplementation (5, 10, and 15 g L⁻1), and temperature (25, 30, and 35 °C) were systematically evaluated. Microalgal cell density was monitored during hydrogen production to elucidate its relationship with hydrogen yield. Initial experiments were conducted in 10 mL test tubes to identify optimal conditions, which were subsequently applied to scale-up experiments in a 1000 mL jacketed reactor. Nitrogen purging significantly enhanced hydrogen production by removing oxygen and activating hydrogenase, resulting in a peak hydrogen concentration of 11 ppm. Continuous illumination yielded higher hydrogen levels than darkness and light-dark cycling. Glucose addition substantially increased hydrogen production, with the highest yield observed at 15 g L⁻1 (30 ppm). An optimal temperature of 30 °C also maximized hydrogen production. Under these conditions, hydrogen production increased as cell density decreased due to metabolic shifts. Scale-up experiments achieved a 405-fold increase in hydrogen yield, demonstrating the scalability potential of the process. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing algal growth conditions to balance microalgal growth and biohydrogen production for future industrial applications.
Light-based biofortification can enhance the micronutrient content of sprouts under controlled environments. To evaluate the effect of light intensity and the light/dark phase on chia (Salvia hispanica), sprouts were grown in darkness for 3 days and then exposed to three light intensities (50, 100, and 150 μmol/m2/s) and two light/dark phases (12/12 h and constant light) for 48 h. Natural light and darkness were also assessed. Medium-intensity constant light was the optimal treatment for boosting micronutrients overall; it increased pro-vitamin A content by 4.5-fold compared to natural light (from 13.5 to 61.4 μg/g FW). Several minerals (copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulfur, and zinc) also increased (by between 1.5- and 1.3-fold) under this light regime. It was estimated that 137-176 g of biofortified chia sprouts may theoretically meet vitamin A requirements. This demonstrates that light intensity and phase differentially reshape chia micronutrients and provide a cost-effective approach for their optimization.
Woody breast (WB) is a prominent growth-related defect affecting chicken meat quality and animal welfare and may contribute to economic loss through carcass condemnation. This study aimed to characterize truckload-level patterns involving WB-type condemnation during whole-bird inspection at a federally inspected abattoir in Alberta, Canada, and to further examine its associations with other rejection causes and potential contributing factors. Data from 13,849 truckloads representing 112 growers (April 2021-March 2024) were analyzed. Rejections due to dead-on-arrival (DOA) and condemnations recorded during postmortem inspection totaled 1.56% of broilers, with subcutaneous issues (0.77%), DOA (0.36%), WB-type condemnation (0.18%), ascites (0.11%), and dark-colored carcasses (0.08%) being the primary causes. Liver conditions (0.05%) and respiratory issues (0.03%) frequently co-occurred with WB-type condemnation, DOA, and ascites, with their within-load proportions often exceeded the respective medians when occurring together. These conditions were more common during cold seasons and in raised without antibiotics (RWA) systems, whereas subcutaneous issues were more prevalent during warm seasons and in systems not strictly limited to RWA. Higher average body weight and relatively younger age were associated with increased DOA, ascites, and WB-type condemnation even within the commercially targeted range. Greater within-load weight heterogeneity was also associated with condemnation causes, particularly respiratory and liver conditions. Clear-off loads showed higher proportions of WB-type condemnations and dark-colored carcasses, but lower rates of subcutaneous issues. These findings describe truckload-level patterns of association and may help inform management strategies to reduce condemnation burden, including WB-related defects.
Various studies have validated the impact of ghrelin on different stages of memory formation. We evaluated the effect of blocking the constitutive activity of the ghrelin functional receptor (GHS-R1a) in the rat amygdala by injecting a GHS-R1a inverse agonist, [D-Arg, D-Phe, D-Trp, Leu] substance P (D-SP)] on the consolidation and retrieval of passive avoidance memory. Meanwhile, the effect of intra CA1 injection of D-SP was assessed on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Two guide cannulas were placed in the right and left basolateral nuclei of the amygdala, stereotaxically. Animals received D-SP (50 and 500 ng/rat) or saline in the amygdala at post-training, or pre-test stages to investigate memory performance. Two other groups of animals received D-SP (500 ng/rat) or saline in the hippocampal CA1 area. An intact group without any injections was also included. The input/output (I/O) functions and the induction of LTP were measured. The results showed that post-training injection of D-SP significantly reduced step-through latency and increased the duration of staying in the dark room. The pre-test injection of D-SP significantly reduced step-through latency and increased the number of entries into the dark room. D-SP significantly decreased the slope and amplitude of the I/O fEPSP. Moreover, the slope and amplitude of fEPSP were reduced significantly in these groups following the induction of LTP. The results show a positive role of the constitutive activity of GHS-R1a in the amygdala for the consolidation and probably retrieval of memory and for LTP induction in the hippocampus.
Achieving ultrahigh-Q resonances in all-dielectric metasurfaces remains challenging, as conventional electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) designs rely primarily on intra-unit-cell bright-dark mode coupling and overlook the role of lattice-level interactions. Here, we demonstrate a lattice-mediated, phase-retarded coupling mechanism that introduces a previously unexplored channel for suppressing radiative loss and sharpening the transmission resonance. Tailoring the lattice constant and polarization direction reveals a strong lattice asymmetry effect, where the directional perturbation further enhances dark-mode reinforcement. The mechanism achieves an ultrahigh Q-factor of 1580, near-unit transmission, and a figure of merit of 284 in EIT-type dielectric metasurface sensors for near-infrared refractive-index sensing. This work establishes a distinct and generalizable design pathway for low-loss resonant metasurfaces, with broad implications for compact NIR photonics, biosensing, gas detection, LiDAR, and surveillance systems.
Light exposure is an important factor influencing the Escherichia coli survival in agricultural soils. This study evaluated the combined effects of soil moisture and light exposure on the survival of E. coli in agricultural soil under a controlled diurnal environment. For this, soil mesocosms were inoculated with E. coli TVS353 and maintained at three moisture levels (100%, 75%, and 50% field capacity (FC)) and two light conditions (diurnal and complete dark), with a 14 h day at 25 ℃ and a 10 h night at 15 ℃. Soil samples were enumerated for E. coli on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, 56, and every 7 days thereafter, and survival dynamics were analyzed using linear mixed-effect analysis and a biphasic microbial survival model. Across all treatments, E. coli declined significantly over time (p <0.0001). Overall, E. coli survived up to 140 days under higher soil moisture levels (100% and 75% FC) and in dark conditions, whereas survival was 63 to 70 days at 50% FC in the diurnal environment. Biphasic survival modeling revealed higher initial inactivation rate constants under low-moisture and low-light exposure conditions. This study represents one of the first attempts to quantitatively assess the effect of light exposure on E. coli survival in agricultural soils across varying moisture levels.
The relationship between the behavior of inhaled particulate matter and the inflammatory response in the lungs is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the localization of Asian sand dust (ASD) particles intratracheally instilled into the lungs and the responded activation of NF-κB. One hour after intratracheal ASD administration, quantitative analysis of NF-κB in the nuclei of lung tissues, translocation of NF-κB protein, and ASD localization were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry (bright field), dark field observation, and Raman technique. ASD exposure induced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in type II alveolar epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages, and neutrophils within the alveolar wall. Dark field observation and Raman analyses revealed that the ASD components Fe2O3, TiO2, and SiO2 were detected in or near these cells in which immunoreactive NF-κB was present. These results indicate that this combined technique, which takes advantage of Raman spectroscopy, may better evaluate the spatial relationship between the localization of particulate matter and the organ's early inflammatory response.
Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) can deliver high-contrast, video-rate, non-contact imaging of tumor-targeted contrast agents with the potential to guide surgeries excising solid tumors. However, it has been met with skepticism for wide-margin excision due to sensitivity and resolution limitations at depths larger than ~ 5 mm in tissue. To address this limitation, fast-sweep photoacoustic-ultrasound (PAUS) imaging is proposed to complement NIRF. In an exploratory in vitro feasibility study using dark-red bovine muscle tissue, we observed that PAUS scanning can identify tozuleristide, a clinical stage investigational imaging agent, at a concentration of 20 µM from the background at depths estimated to be of up to ~ 34 mm, highly extending the capabilities of NIRF alone. The capability of spectroscopic PAUS imaging was tested by direct injection of 20 µM tozuleristide into bovine muscle tissue at a depth of ~ 8 mm. Experimental results demonstrate that multi-point laser fluence compensation and strong clutter suppression enabled by the unique capabilities of the fast-sweep approach greatly improve spectroscopic accuracy and the PA detection limit and strongly reduce image artifacts. Thus, the complementary NIRF-PAUS approach can be promising for comprehensive pre- (with PA) and intra- (with NIRF) operative solid tumor detection and wide-margin excision in optically guided solid tumor surgery.
A 46-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in remission since 2014 presented with progressive dizziness, fatigue, and dark-colored urine. Laboratory workup revealed hemoglobin levels of 5.9 g/dL, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hyperbilirubinemia, low haptoglobin, and a positive direct Coombs test for IgG, C3, and poly-specific antibodies, confirming warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA). Immunoglobulin profiling showed low IgM and IgA with high-normal IgG, suggesting chronic immune dysregulation, whereas abdominal imaging revealed mesenteric calcifications, raising concern for residual lymphomatous tissue potentially driving ongoing autoimmune activation. Despite corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), persistent hemolysis necessitated four units of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions and escalation to rituximab, after which gradual clinical stabilization was achieved, highlighting the refractory nature of wAIHA in the setting of previous lymphoproliferative malignancy. Serial monitoring of hemoglobin, reticulocyte count, and LDH throughout the clinical course demonstrated dynamic trends consistent with partial but meaningful immunosuppression, underscoring the value of longitudinal laboratory surveillance in guiding therapeutic escalation decisions. The presence of mesenteric calcifications, combined with a skewed immunoglobulin profile, provided important structural and immunologic clues to the underlying pathophysiology, illustrating how multimodal diagnostic evaluation can reveal occult contributors to delayed autoimmune phenomena even in the absence of overt malignancy recurrence. This case underscores the importance of recognizing delayed AHA in NHL survivors and the necessity of long-term hematologic surveillance, periodic cross-sectional imaging, and a low threshold for multidisciplinary consultation even after prolonged remission.
Sex differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasingly recognized, not only in symptom presentation but also in underlying neurobiology and response to environmental factors. However, current diagnostic practices and animal models are male-centric, overlooking female-specific phenotypes and mechanisms. We conducted a multimodal, cross-species study to assess sex-dependent ASD phenotypes. In high-functioning adults with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls, we evaluated self-reported autistic traits, self-reported sensory sensitivity, and clinician-observed behaviors using standardized tools: Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). In parallel, we assessed behavioral phenotypes in a paternal 15q11-q13 duplication mouse model (15q dup/+) using open-field, light-dark transition, and augmented reality-based behavioral assays. Among humans, individuals with ASD showed greater self-reported sensory sensitivity and autistic traits than TD individuals. Within the ASD group, female participants reported greater self-reported sensory sensitivity and exhibited lower clinician-rated impairments (ADOS-2) than male participants, despite comparable self-reported autistic traits. No sex differences were found among TD individuals. In contrast, female 15q dup/+ mice exhibited heightened light-related sensory reactivity and reduced exploratory behavior under bright light. These findings suggest that sex differences in light-related sensory reactivity may be more readily detected through behavioral measures in animal models. Our findings underscore the importance of considering sex as a biological and behavioral variable in ASD research. Cross-species, phenotype-oriented approaches that integrate human and animal data may uncover subtle phenotypic variations and enhance sex-informed diagnostics and interventions.