Search Results (2,848)

This study examines the kalif structure, a unique and increasingly invisible component of the rural architecture in the Eastern Black Sea region that is currently under threat of extinction, along with the tradition of kalif-guarding integrated with this structure. Historically constructed to protect agricultural production from wildlife, kalifs are not merely functional shelters but also multi-layered memory objects where collective solidarity and social interaction are reproduced. A qualitative research method was adopted for the study, utilizing literature review, on-site physical documentation, and technical analysis centered on Yücehisar village in the Pazar district of Rize. Within the scope of the research, the material use and construction techniques of kalifs are detailed from an architectural perspective, and these practices are evaluated through the lens of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The findings indicate that the loss of the physical presence of kalifs due to the transition from corn to tea cultivation and rural migration signifies the dissolution of a production-based culture of living. Consequently, the study reveals the critical importance of incorporating the kalif and the act of kalif-guarding into academic literature and cultural memory within the framework of Intangible Cultural Heritage standards to preserve local identity and rural memory. Full article

This article analyzes how twentieth- and twenty-first-century Afro-Colombian women poets from the Pacific region challenge and reframe the feminization of the land and the naturalization of the Black female body within colonial and Eurocentric epistemologies. Drawing on a framework that conceptualizes body, territory, spirituality, and community as an interdependent continuum, the article conducts close textual analysis to demonstrate how these poets construct territory and the Black female body as sentient sites. These sites are simultaneously shaped by historical violence, forced displacement, extractive economies, and racialized gender constructs, while preserving ancestral knowledge and collective memory. The findings show that Valencia Córdoba develops the body–territory through metaphor and anaphora as a generative space; Grueso Romero deploys orality and the sea as transatlantic archives of ancestry and identity; and Truque articulates urban displacement as an ontological rupture that affects memory and Black subjectivity. Ultimately, the article advances the concept of body–territory as a decolonial aesthetic and analytical tool through which Afro-Colombian women’s poetry articulates environmental justice, gendered racialization, and forms of resistance within the Afrodiasporic diaspora. Full article

Background: Stunting remains a major public health problem among ethnic minority children in mountainous areas of Vietnam. Picky eating has been suggested as a potential behavioral risk factor for poor child growth, but evidence from vulnerable rural populations remains limited. This study examined the association between picky eating and stunting among ethnic minority children aged 12–35 months in Vietnam. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2025 in two communes of Phu Tho province, formerly part of Lac Son District, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam. A total of 341 children aged 12–35 months and their caregivers were included. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires on feeding practices and child characteristics. Picky eating was assessed based on caregiver-reported behaviors. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to standard procedures, and height-for-age Z-scores were calculated using the WHO Child Growth Standards. Zinc status was assessed in a subsample of children. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with stunting. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were reported. Results: The prevalence of picky eating was 39.6%, while 24.9% of children were stunted. Zinc deficiency was identified in 41.9% of children with available blood samples. In multivariable analysis, picky eating was significantly associated with increased odds of stunting (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.71–7.70). Snacking before main meals was also independently associated with stunting (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.01–3.24). In contrast, zinc deficiency was associated with stunting in crude analysis but was not statistically significant after adjustment. Other factors, including child age, sex, caregiver identity, and timing of complementary feeding, were not independently associated with stunting. Conclusions: Picky eating was common and was independently associated with stunting among ethnic minority children in this mountainous setting. These findings suggest that behavioral feeding practices, particularly picky eating and pre-meal snacking, warrant attention in nutritional programs targeting this population; however, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the direction of this relationship. Full article

The consumption of wild rodents in certain regions of Southwest China creates a potential interface for zoonotic pathogen exposure, yet the virome composition of edible rodents remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, we performed multi-organ RNA metatranscriptomic analysis of three commonly consumed rodent species (Niviventer andersoni, Berylmys bowersi, and Rattus losea) collected from Guizhou Province, analyzing five visceral organs per species. A total of 1198 viral contigs spanning 37 viral families were identified, revealing diverse viral communities across host species and tissues, with host identity emerging as a key factor shaping virome structure. Sequences related to Seoul virus were detected in the lungs of R. losea, showing high similarity to previously reported strains, and sequences closely related to porcine Rotavirus A were identified in the lung samples of N. andersoni, indicating a close phylogenetic relationship with livestock-associated viruses. While these findings do not confirm active infection or transmission, they may reflect potential environmental exposure or ecological links at the wildlife–livestock interface. Overall, this study provides a baseline characterization of the multi-organ virome of edible rodents and highlights the importance of integrated surveillance and risk assessment within a One Health framework. Full article

Background: The litchi fruit borer, Conopomorpha sinensis (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), is a devastating pest affecting litchi and longan production across Asia. Although a reference mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been published, its utility is limited by the lack of precise geographical data and raw sequencing data. Methods: In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitogenome of C. sinensis collected from Taiwan using a hybrid assembly of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies. Results: The assembled mitogenome is 17,301 bp in length with a mean sequencing depth of 19,155-fold, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and an AT-rich control region. Notably, we identified a rare tRNA gene rearrangement (trnR-trnA-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF) that deviates from the ancestral lepidopteran ditrysian pattern. Comparative analysis revealed a 94.65% overall sequence identity with the reference mitogenome, though the PCGs remained highly conserved at 99.35%. Variant analysis demonstrated that this divergence is predominantly driven by structural variations (228 indels) rather than nucleotide substitutions (2 SNPs) across the entire mitogenome; furthermore, 94.7% of the indels were identified in the control region and intergenic spacers. Subtle differences in codon usage were also observed in the ND6 start codon (ATT vs. ATA) and COX1 stop codon (TAA vs. T). Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses robustly clustered the Taiwan specimen within the C. sinensis clade. Molecular dating estimates that the Conopomorpha lineage originated during the Late Cretaceous (~77.23 Ma). Notably, the divergence between the Taiwan specimen and the reference lineage was estimated to be negligible (<0.01 Ma) within the protein-coding regions, demonstrating a high degree of purifying selection that maintains coding-sequence stability across geographically distinct specimens, even as substantial variation accumulates in non-coding genomic regions. Conclusions: These findings provide high-resolution genomic resources and a temporal framework for the evolutionary study of Gracillariidae, offering foundational tools for targeted pest management. Full article

Mistreatment is a pervasive and normalized feature of medical culture. In medical residencies, it functions as a structural rite of passage that shapes professional socialization. While the prevalence of mistreatment is documented, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring its role as a mechanism of identity construction. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of mistreatment among internal medicine residents in Medellín, Colombia, through the lens of ritual theory and symbolic violence. A particularistic ethnographic study was conducted with 12 residents selected via theoretical sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a reflexive field journal. Rigor was ensured using investigator triangulation and analytical bracketing to manage researchers’ biases. The training process follows a three-stage rite. (1) Separation: Symbolic violence and social pressure to specialize frame general medicine as “mediocre,” turning admission into a “battlefield” where self-worth is tied to success. (2) Marginalization (Liminality): Residents endure systemic mistreatment, including sleep deprivation (3.5 h rest cycles), public ridicule (“pimping”), and physical/verbal abuse (e.g., being hit with stethoscopes or called “testicles/jerks”). This stage is governed by a “purificatory logic” where suffering is internalized as a meritocratic requirement. This leads to high morbidity, with clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. (3) Integration (Postliminality): Professional autonomy and financial stability act as a “redemption” that justifies past suffering. Mistreatment is not an isolated interpersonal issue but a structurally embedded ritual and a core element of the hidden curriculum. It reinforces toxic hierarchies and a “tyranny of merit” that obscures structural barriers. These findings offer analytically transferable insights for global medical education, calling for a deconstruction of ritualized violence to foster more humanistic training environments. Full article

Background: Family-centered care (FCC) is a foundational principle in pediatric healthcare, yet its implementation in culturally specific contexts remains poorly understood. In Saudi Arabia, Islamic values, collective family structures, and gendered caregiving norms shape how mothers engage with pediatric intensive care in ways that existing Western-derived FCC models do not fully capture. The aim of this study was to explore Saudi mothers’ experiences of family-centered care during their children’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions, focusing on perceived barriers, cultural negotiations, and evolving advocacy strategies. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 17 Saudi mothers whose children had been admitted to PICUs across major hospitals in Saudi Arabia within the preceding 12 months. Semi-structured interviews lasting 40–70 min were conducted in Arabic using a pilot-tested, 15-item guide. Data were analyzed through Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was strengthened through member checking, reflexive journaling, negative case analysis, and investigator triangulation. Reporting adheres to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Result: Five interconnected themes emerged: (1) confronting crisis and uncertainty, (2) renegotiating maternal identity, (3) brokering culture within biomedicine, (4) forging trust with care teams, and (5) evolving into advocates. These themes trace a developmental arc from initial disorientation through progressive empowerment, shaped at every stage by culturally grounded resources and constraints. Mothers functioned as cultural brokers performing invisible labor that healthcare systems neither recognized nor supported. Conclusions: Saudi mothers in PICUs engage in sophisticated cultural mediation between family systems and biomedical institutions under conditions of acute stress. Findings underscore the need for structurally embedded cultural responsiveness in PICU policy, including continuous cultural assessment, care-team continuity, and family advocacy support. Full article

Pour point depressants (PPDs) based on functionalized polyolefins were obtained and evaluated for their efficiency in pour point reducing of Kumkol waxy crude oil (Kazakhstan), which contains 15.2 wt.% paraffin and has a pour point of +17 °C. An ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR-505A) was treated through grafting of maleic anhydride (MA-g-PO) and then converted into three different derivatives that had an identical polymer backbone: an ester-functionalized, an amide-functionalized, and a combined ester–amide additive. The obtained products were tested at 500 g/t through kinematic viscosity measurements, equilibrium and kinetic interfacial tension analysis, pour point determination, cooling curve analysis, and optical microscopy. The ester derivative reduced the pour point by 7 °C, the amide derivative did so by 5 °C, and the combined additive achieved a 10 °C pour point reduction and a more than twofold decrease in kinematic viscosity at 0 °C. Interfacial tension measurements and adsorption kinetics allowed us to assume that ester groups govern macromolecular solubility and diffusion mobility, while amide groups enhance adsorption affinity at paraffin crystal surfaces. Their combined action shifts crystallization from a collective to a dispersed regime. These findings establish structure–activity relationships between polar group architecture and PPD efficiency. Full article

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumours, yet the molecular programs underlying WHO grade 1 subtypes—particularly transitional diploid tumours—remain insufficiently defined, partly due to the scarcity of biologically faithful in vitro models. Here, we report the establishment of a long-term, genetically unmanipulated grade 1 meningioma cell line (H8T-MG) maintained under normoxic conditions in serum-containing, growth-factor-supplemented medium, together with a complementary long-term primary culture (H16T-MG), and provide an integrated descriptive and functional characterization of these models, combined with a subtype-restricted transcriptomic analysis of diploid transitional grade 1 tumours versus normal meninges. Both cultures preserved the dual meso-neuroectodermal identity characteristic of meningothelial cells, exhibiting stable adherent growth, preserved contact inhibition and a coherent immunocytochemical profile, expressing vimentin, α-SMA, nestin, connexin-43 and cannabinoid receptors—reported here for the first time in grade 1 meningioma cultures—highlighting cannabinoid-related pathways as potential targets for exploration. Transcriptomic analysis identified 51 differentially expressed genes, revealing a coherent inflammatory–metabolic programme characterised by downregulation of IL-17 and TNF signalling, cytokines and chemokines (IL6, CCL2, SELE, S100A8), together with reduced extracellular-matrix and cytoskeletal activity. In parallel, the enrichment of arachidonic acid metabolism, cytochrome-P450/xenobiotic pathways, retinol metabolism and oxidative/epoxygenase activity indicated a lipid/xenobiotic-oriented metabolic shift distinctive of this subtype. Protein–protein interaction analysis identified four hub genes—ASPN, SELE, ACKR1 and ABCB1—integrating ECM remodelling, endothelial–immune modulation and xenobiotic transport, reinforcing an immune-attenuated, metabolically adapted tumour landscape. Collectively, these findings provide the first integrated in vitro and transcriptomic characterisation of diploid transitional meningiomas, underscore the value of biologically stable models for early-stage meningioma research, and support the value of histological and ploidy stratification in grade 1 meningioma biology. Full article

This study explores how youth masculinities are constructed in Eswatini’s high schools. Using hegemonic masculinity theory as an analytical lens, data were coded to identify patterns of dominance, strength, and gender hierarchy, thereby highlighting the study’s original contribution to understanding the local manifestation of hegemonic masculinity and advancing theoretical knowledge in this context. Data were collected through a qualitative case study approach involving 36 adolescents aged 16 to 18, comprising equal numbers of 18 boys and 18 girls, from six coeducational high schools. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed that hegemonic masculinity shapes perceptions of gender roles, often promoting aggression in boys and marginalising girls. Sports, especially rugby, are key symbols of masculinity, emphasising strength, dominance, and competitiveness, while girls are excluded from these activities, reinforcing gender inequalities. Institutional practices like task allocation and disciplinary methods further sustain stereotypes, influencing youth identities within cultural and peer pressure contexts. The findings highlight persistent gendered power dynamics and stereotypes that perpetuate inequality. The study makes a significant contribution to the scientific literature by demonstrating how hegemonic masculinity manifests uniquely in Eswatini’s educational and cultural context, thus extending regional studies and providing insights for broader applications. It recommends gender-transformative curricula, increased girls’ participation in male-dominated sports, and gender-neutral disciplinary practices to foster more inclusive, equitable environments. Full article

Plant genotypes can vary in multiple functional traits due to adaptation to heterogenous environments. However, whether such variation can extrapolate to effects on soils and further on performance of subsequent plants, thus generating a genotypic variation in soil legacy, remains unclear. In this study, we studied how plant genotypic variation impacts soil legacy when exposed to aboveground insect herbivores. We used 11 wild genotypes of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) experimentally exposed to leaf beetles (Galerucella tenella) to condition live soil. We then replaced the conditioning plants with naïve plants to examine soil legacy effects on growth and resistance on the subsequent plant genotype (referred to as the focal genotype) against the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis. This allowed us to test the extent to which plant genotypic variation in soil legacy is altered by aboveground herbivory. We found an overall positive soil legacy effect of woodland strawberry, indicated by 69.9% higher belowground biomass of the subsequent focal genotype grown in conditioned soil compared to in unconditioned soil. We also observed a genotype-dependent soil legacy effect on performance of S. littoralis indicated as relative growth rates reduced by 37.9% on the subsequent focal genotype in soil conditioned by the focal genotype itself compared to by other genotypes, though the legacy effect was cancelled out when conditioning genotypes were exposed to G. tenella herbivory. A genotypic variation was further detected in soil legacy on the efficiency of conversion of ingested food by S. littoralis caterpillars feeding on the focal genotype. However, the genotypic variation was only present when the focal genotype was excluded from the conditioning genotypes at the exposure of G. tenella herbivory. Collectively, our study shows a conditional plant genotype-dependent soil legacy effect on herbivore resistance (measured as herbivore performance) rather than on plant growth, and the magnitude of the legacy effects depends on both the identity of the conditioning genotypes and the measures of the herbivore resistance. The findings of this study provide new insights into how plant genotypes or herbivory affects soil feedback on plant growth and herbivore resistance. Full article

Background/Objective: Our current knowledge regarding ethnic/racial differences in the incidence of and risk factors for eating disorder onset is relatively limited. We examined whether the baseline prevalence and incidence of onset of any eating disorder over follow-up and the risk factors that predict future onset of any eating disorder differ for various ethnic/racial groups. Methods: Data were collected from females across a wide age range (N = 1952; White = 61%, Hispanic = 17%, Asian = 14%, Black = 5%, and Native American = 3%; M baseline age = 19.7, SD = 5.7; baseline age range: 13–64) who completed self-report questionnaires and a diagnostic interview at baseline and then annually over 3 years. We ran two chi-square tests that examined how ethnicity/race were related to eating disorders at baseline and future onset as well as a series of logistic regression models that tested whether baseline risk factors and prodromal symptoms were differentially related to future eating disorder onset across ethnic/racial groups. Results: The diagnostic prevalences as well as the predictive relationship of a risk factor and a prodromal symptom with eating disorder onset were very similar across ethnic/racial groups, with only one instance where the magnitude of the predictive effects differed across two ethnic/racial groups; lower zBMI was predictive among White women, whereas higher zBMI was predictive among Black women. Conclusions: Overall, risk factors and prodromal symptoms are similar across the examined ethnic/racial groups, suggesting that we can implement the same prevention programs for women with the same risk factors, regardless of their ethnic/racial identities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Soil microbiomes in agroecosystems are natural reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), creating conditions for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) to clinically relevant bacteria. Southern West Siberia—a globally significant grain-producing region—lacks metagenomic characterization of its soil resistome. This study aimed to establish the first baseline profile of resistome and mobilome composition for West Siberian agricultural soils. Methods: Twelve composite soil samples were collected from agroecosystems under seven crop types across diverse soil types in southern West Siberia (September 2022). Shotgun metagenomics was performed on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. Taxonomic profiling used Kraken2/Bracken; ARG annotation used Prokka/DeepARG (identity ≥ 70%, probability score ≥ 0.8); while MGE characterization used Platon, HMMER v3.3.2, and Prokka-based integrase annotation. Resistome load was normalized to the single-copy housekeeping gene rpoB; ARG–MGE associations were defined as co-localization within 10 kb on the same contig. Results: Microbial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota and Bacillota, with a stable core of Streptomycetaceae, Nitrobacteraceae, and Sphingomonadaceae. Normalized resistome load (N/rpoB 2.30–5.37) indicated moderate anthropogenic pressure. Dominant ARGs included efflux pumps (emrA, drrA, tetA, bcr, fsr), target modification (lnrL), and lipid A modification (arnA) genes. Class 1 integron integrase (intI1/rpoB 0.64–1.59) was detected in all 12 samples, exceeding unity in 9 of 12. ARG–MGE co-localizations were found in 11 of 12 samples. In sample Mg_155, genes emrA–emrB and bcr (NODE_16) and arnA and lnrL (NODE_6) were each independently associated with distinct prophage IntA integrase copies within Pseudomonas contigs, documenting multiple parallel horizontal transfer events encompassing resistance to five antibiotic classes. Conclusions: This work establishes the first metagenomic baseline of resistome and mobilome for West Siberian agroecosystems. The obtained data indicate moderate anthropogenic pressure on soil microbiomes, consistent with temperate agricultural systems with limited organic fertilizer input. The detected ARG–MGE co-localizations and evidence of prophage-mediated transfer of resistance determinants beyond their natural hosts suggest that mobilization potential in the region warrants consideration in future AMR monitoring programs. Full article

WSNs are a core technology that enables real-time sensing and data collection in most applications; however, because of the uncontrollable nature of their open deployment environments, they are susceptible to severe security risks. The node clone attacks are the most dangerous: a malicious individual physically captures a legitimate sensor and steals its stored credentials and introduces several replica nodes into the network. These clones have legitimate identities, and hence, the clones act as legitimate members and can disrupt data streams, disrupt routing and affect general network reliability. Addressing this menace is not easy since sensor equipment has limited resources. Carefully, detection algorithms have to be energy efficient, friendly to memory, and usable in a large network. In the given paper, it is suggested to implement a detection framework that consists of a combination of Spatial Distributive Clustering (SDC) and a Block Ensemble Neural Network (BENN). SDC clusters node features based on spatial layout and behavioral patterns, which minimizes redundancy of data and enhances the quality of information that is inputted by the classifier. BENN then undergoes an ensemble-based classification to be able to differentiate cloned and legitimate nodes. Validation of the experimental results of the SDC-BENN framework with conventional classification metrics indicates that it can be used to ensure a high detection rate with minimal communication overhead, which is of high benefit in terms of enhancing the security of WSNs. Full article

Securing users’ endpoint devices is a highly important part of organizations’ overall security posture. The vast majority of cyber attacks either begin with endpoint compromise or use it as an effective method for lateral movement and privilege escalation. In this article we propose a new methodology for quantitatively assessing the overall security provided by operating systems, based on implemented mitigations of MITRE ATT&CK techniques. The proposed approach enables reproducible scenario-based comparisons of operating system security and can support security-oriented decision-making in organizational endpoint protection strategies. Moreover, it allows for quantitative assessment of operating systems under specific cyber attack scenarios, expressed as collections of adversaries’ utilized ATT&CK techniques, facilitating comparison across multiple operating systems under identical scenarios. We apply this methodology to Qubes OS and Windows 11, showcasing measurable differences in how both operating systems mitigate cyber threats. Full article