Search Results (138)

Background: Access to green spaces is crucial for public health. For psychological health, the ability to pause in fascination or wondering awe (as an indicator of mindful resonance with nature) appears particularly relevant. However, it remains unclear whether non-interventional experience of nature is directly related to wellbeing or requires a mediator. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted among 491 participants (74% women; mean age 51 ± 13 years) with standardized instruments (NR-6, ENS, GrAw-7, GQ-6, WHO-5). Results: Experience of Nature (r = 0.56) and Nature-Relatedness (r = 0.55) are strongly associated with Awe/Gratitude, while only Awe/Gratitude is moderately related to Wellbeing (r = 0.42). Mediator analyses revealed that the relationship between Experience of Nature and Wellbeing is significantly mediated by Awe/Gratitude (β = 2.28, p < 0.001). This highlights the central role of this resource through which nature experiences promote wellbeing. Regression analyses confirmed Awe/Gratitude as the best predictor of Wellbeing, followed by Gratitude disposition, and sporting outside (R² = 0.25). Conclusions: Merely being in nature does not substantially affect well-being. Rather, mindful perception of nature as a space where modern public health practices, such as mindful walking, are particularly effective, is essential. From a public health and urban planning perspective, accessible, quiet, and aesthetically engaging green spaces that attract and fascinate people should be prioritized to foster such restorative experiences. Full article

Dyadic co-construction, the mutual adaptation that occurs between dogs and their owners, is often discussed in terms of cooperation and participation, yet it remains poorly defined and under-conceptualized in the literature. This review proposed that self-determination theory (SDT), with its three core psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness (attachment)—offers a valuable framework for understanding this phenomenon within a dyadic context. The objectives of this review were twofold: (1) to conceptualize co-construction in owner–dog interactions through the lens of SDT, and (2) to propose methodological approaches for studying this process, while acknowledging their current limitations. Dyadic co-construction emerges as a dynamic, evolving process of mutual influence, shaped by biopsychosocial factors, individual and shared experiences, and the physical and social environments of both human and dog, as well as the dyad as a unit. Depending on the nature of the interaction, co-construction can be beneficial or detrimental. Positive training practices and secure attachment patterns in both humans and dogs tend to foster more harmonious co-construction, whereas aversive methods and insecure attachment may hinder it. Although existing methodologies offer promising insights into this process, they often lack standardization, statistical robustness, and true bidirectionality. This review underscores the need for more integrative, longitudinal, and empirically grounded approaches to fully capture the complexity and clinical relevance of owner–dog dyadic co-construction. Full article

The burden of depression is a public health concern, and traditional treatment approaches to mental health alone may be insufficient. The effects of contact with nature on wellbeing have been shown to reduce stress and improve mood, emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties. Thus, self-guided nature-based interventions (NBIs) present a promising approach to improving mental health and wellbeing. However, there is limited evidence on the development of such interventions. This two-armed pilot randomised controlled trial aimed at determining the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a novel, 4-week, self-help NBI (Roots and Shoots©). Forty-seven participants were randomised (1:1) to either receive the Roots and Shoots intervention or a waitlist control. Participants in both conditions completed measures including wellbeing (primary outcome) and depressive symptoms, rumination, sleep and nature relatedness (secondary outcomes) at three timepoints: baseline (T0), 2 weeks (T1) and 4 weeks (T2). Those who completed the intervention period reported high acceptability and satisfaction with the intervention. The findings from this pilot study indicate potential for improvements in wellbeing following the intervention, which appears reasonably feasible and acceptable. Future research is warranted to further investigate the efficacy of this novel NBI in a larger, powered clinical trial. Full article

This study sought to quantify and characterize diverse rootstock scion interactions in cacao around graft compatibility, disease resistance, nutrient use efficiency, vigor traits, and translocation of nonstructural carbohydrates. In total, 106 grafts were performed with three scion cultivars (Matina 1/6, Criollo 22, Pound 7) and nine diverse open-pollinated seedling populations (BYNC, EQX 3348, GNV 360, IMC 14, PA 107, SCA 6, T 294, T 384, T 484). We found evidence for both local and translocated graft incompatibility. Cross sections and Micro-XCT imaging revealed anatomical anomalies, including necrosis and cavitation at the junction and accumulation of starch in the rootstock directly below the graft junction. Scion genetics were a significant factor in explaining differences in graft take, and graft take varied from 47% (Criollo 22) to 72% (Pound 7). Rootstock and scion identity both accounted for differences in survival over the course of the 30-month greenhouse study, with a low of 28.5% survival of Criollo 22 scions and a high of 72% for Pound 7 scions. Survival by rootstocks varied from 14.3% on GNV 360 to 100% survival on T 294 rootstock. A positive correlation of 0.34 (p = 0.098) was found between the graft success of different rootstock–scion combinations and their kinship coefficient, suggesting that relatedness of stock and scion could be a driver of incompatibility. Significant rootstock–scion effects were also observed for nutrient use efficiency, plant vigor, and resistance to Phytophthora palmivora. These findings, while preliminary in nature, highlight the potential of rootstock breeding to improve plant nutrition, resilience, and disease resistance in cacao. Full article

Physical activity, particularly when practiced in natural settings, has well-established benefits for overall health, sleep, and body composition. These effects are especially important for postmenopausal women, although research specifically targeting this population remains limited. The study evaluated a 16-week multicomponent outdoor exercise program (cardiorespiratory, strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility training) in postmenopausal women, consisting of three 60 min sessions per week. Participants were non-randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 55) and a control group (CG, n = 20). Measurements were taken at baseline and after 16 weeks, including body composition, sleep (duration and quality), and connection with nature. No significant differences were observed between groups at baseline. After the intervention, the EG and CG presented significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) in the rates of change in body mass, fat mass (FM; −9.26% and −1.21%, respectively), and visceral fat level (VFL; −13.46 points and −3.80 points). These differences were also observed for the sleep fragmentation index (p ≤ 0.01), but not for connection with nature. A significant interaction effect (p < 0.01) of time × group was observed for %FM, VFL, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Exercise duration had an effect (p = 0.043) on participants’ personal and affective identification with nature, and the time × group × medication interaction significantly influenced sleep efficiency (p = 0.034). The exercise program proved effective in reducing total and central adiposity levels; however, it did not lead to improvements in sleep duration, sleep quality, or connection with nature. Full article

Background: Amid growing concerns about climate crisis and its psychological toll, understanding how people find meaning through their connection to nature is increasingly important. The first aim of this study is to examine the association between Nature Relatedness (NR) and Meaning in Life (MIL). The second aim is to investigate if gender moderates this association and to explore how Jewish traditions influence gender differences in this relationship. Methods: A multi-methods design was employed. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling of prominent Jewish community figures, followed by snowball sampling via informant referrals. Thirty-five participants completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the NR Scale. Two questions provided qualitative insights into participants’ personal interpretations and culturally grounded meanings of NR and MIL in the context of climate change and Jewish traditions. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses assessed the main effects of NR and gender, as well as their interaction, on MLQ subscales. NR positively correlated with the MLQ Search dimension, indicating that individuals with stronger NR actively seek meaning in life. Gender moderated this relationship: NR did not correlate with MLQ Presence overall, but higher NR was linked to greater MIL presence among female participants. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses revealed gender-based variations and emphasized the role of Jewish teachings in connecting NR to cultural and religious practices. Conclusions: The findings point to the importance of cultural, religious, and gender factors in shaping the relationship between NR and MIL in a time of climate change crisis, offering implications for positive mental health research and culturally sensitive interventions. Full article

Host genetic variability is relevant to understanding how parasites modulate natural selection in wild fish populations. Coastal lagoons are transitional ecosystems where knowledge lacks on relationships between genotypic diversity with parasitism. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of genetic diversity on host health and parasitological traits in fish inhabiting a Mediterranean lagoon. Black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster were collected in August 2023 and 2024 from the Mar Menor (Iberian lagoon, SE Spain). Genetic diversity was measured as Internal Relatedness (IR: a homozygosity index from microsatellite markers). Population frequency was lower for the medium IR level. For this same category, both health indices (external body condition and internal organs) indicated a worse status. Parasite prevalence, abundance and an index of life-cycle complexity (heteroxenous species) were greater for the medium level of genetic diversity. Such results are explained under a scenario of parasite-mediated disruptive selection: a higher disease pressure against the phenotypically intermediate individuals. Two contrasting strategies were detected to better control parasitism at the host genotypic level: (1) high homozygosity, and (2) high heterozygosity, which probably reflects better immuno-competence as a phenotypic trait. From an evolutionary perspective, parasites play a crucial role in shaping genetic diversity within host populations. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to investigate animal-derived S. aureus. Objectives: This study examined the genotypic relatedness and phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus, previously sampled from nostril swabs of healthy horses from two geographically distant Brazilian states (Northeast and South), separated by over 3700 km. The study also sought to confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) strains and to characterize the isolates through molecular typing using PCR. Methods: Among 123 screened staphylococci, 21 isolates were confirmed as S. aureus via biochemical tests and PCR targeting species-specific genes (femA, nuc, coa). Results: REP-PCR analysis generated genotypic profiles, revealing four antimicrobial resistance patterns, with MDR observed in ten isolates. Six isolates exhibited cefoxitin resistance, suggesting methicillin resistance, despite the absence of the mecA gene. REP-PCR demonstrated high discriminatory power, grouping the isolates into five major clusters. Conclusions: The genotyping indicated no clustering by geographical origin, highlighting significant genetic diversity among S. aureus strains colonizing horses’ nostrils in Brazil. These findings highlight the widespread and varied nature of S. aureus among horses, contributing to a deeper understanding of its epidemiology and resistance profiles in animals across diverse regions. Ultimately, this genetic diversity can pose a public health risk that the epidemiological surveillance services must investigate. Full article

This study focuses on a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China, utilizing a large permanent plot established in the Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve. By integrating data from a full-stem census and total station surveying, we analyzed the phylogenetic structure of the plant community as a whole and across different life-history stages (saplings, juveniles, and adults) while quantitatively assessing microtopographic variables and an interspecific competition index. The results indicate that the overall community in the Yaoluoping plot exhibited a weakly overdispersed pattern, and key microtopographic factors—including aspect, terrain position index (TPI), terrain ruggedness index (TRI), roughness, and flow direction—significantly influenced the evolution of phylogenetic structure. Distinctions were also observed among saplings, juveniles, and adults in phylogenetic structuring across life-history stages. Specifically, saplings displayed a higher degree of phylogenetic clustering, significantly influenced by density, elevation, TPI, and flow direction—suggesting that environmental filtering predominates at this stage, possibly due to lower environmental tolerance, limited dispersal ability, and conspecific negative density dependence. In contrast, juveniles and adults showed a more dispersed phylogenetic structure, with density, interspecific competition, aspect, TRI, TPI, and roughness significantly correlated with phylogenetic patterns, indicating that competition and niche differentiation become increasingly important as trees mature and establish within the community. Interspecific competition was found to play a crucial role in community structuring: the competition index was generally negatively correlated with the net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) in juveniles and adults, implying that intense competition leads to the exclusion of some species and reduces overall diversity, with the strength and significance of competitive effects differing across stages. This study enhances our understanding of the complex interplay between microtopography and interspecific competition in shaping the phylogenetic structure and diversity of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, elucidates the coupled mechanisms among microtopography, phylogenetic structure, and competition, and provides a scientific basis for forest conservation and management. Full article

This study develops and provides psychometric validity of a new multidimensional measure of connection to nature (CTN)—the DEEP Connection to Nature Scale. Addressing limitations of existing scales, the new scale attempts to emphasize self-integration with nature while capturing the three commonly accepted aspects of connection to nature—Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral. Using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses across a sample of 1152 and 657 adults, respectively, a four-factor structure was validated: Depth of identity, Emotional connection, Experiential connection, and Presence within nature. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, convergent validity with existing CTN measures, and predictive validity for pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Notably, the DEEP CTN Scale explained more variance in PEB (30%) compared to two widely used unidimensional measures. Specifically, people who are high Emotional connection and high Presence within nature report more PEB. These relationships remain robust when controlling for relevant covariates. As a point of comparison, predictive validity was conducted with a composite score of psychological well-being. People who are high in Presence within nature and low in Emotional connection report higher well-being. In sum, the DEEP CTN scale is a psychometrically sound, theory-driven measure that addresses key limitations of previous scales. As such, we hope it offers researchers and practitioners a tool to better understand and cultivate meaningful connections with nature. Full article

Tsuga forrestii Downie, a vulnerable species endemic to China, is confined to small, fragmented habitats in the northwestern Yunnan and southwestern Sichuan Provinces, China. Understanding the current status of its communities and populations is crucial for protecting existing natural forest resources. We surveyed 33 plots in Yunnan and Sichuan, where T. forrestii is the primary dominant species. We analyzed their community characteristics including vertical stratification, species diversity, and population structure, and classified them into four distinct forest types: (1) Tsuga forrestii evergreen coniferous forest; (2) Tsuga forrestii-Lithocarpus variolosus evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest; (3) Tsuga forrestii-Quercus guyayifolia evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest; (4) Tsuga forrestii-Abies forrestii evergreen coniferous forest. These forests exhibited a multilayered vertical structure, and T. forrestii as a dominant species appeared in the arborous and shrub layers, and the associated taxa were mainly species of Abies, Lithocarpus, Quercus, Castanopsis, and Rhododendron. No significant differences in species richness or diversity indices or phylogenetic relatedness metrics among the forest types were found. The maximum age of the remaining wild specimens was 344 years, with individuals under 20 years or over 170 years old being rare. The average growth rate of T. forrestii, based on ring width, fluctuated over time, and the range of mean values was 0.92 to 3.31 mm/year. Established seedlings/saplings were rare and mainly found in unstable microhabitats. These findings highlight the poor regeneration and a decline in its populations. Improving its regeneration status is crucial to maintaining its population status. Full article

This study explored the relationship between the physical activity (PA) environment, nature affinity and wellbeing. An online survey was used incorporating the Nature-Relatedness Scale (NR-6), EQ-5D health questionnaire, WHO-5 wellbeing questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF), with additional questions on PA environment and connection to place (n = 179). Statistical analyses were conducted using generalised linear mixed effects and quantile regression. PA in nature was correlated with wellbeing, with each additional bout of PA in nature associated with an increase in EQ-5D score of 3.13 and an increase in WHO-5 score of 5.62, (p = 0.0058, η_p² = 0.074; p < 0.0001, η_p² = 0.089, resp. (medium effect sizes)). PA indoors was also positively associated with physical and psychological wellbeing (p = 0.0192, η_p² ₌ 0.018; p = 0.0009, η_p² = 0.03, resp. (small effect sizes)), but PA in nature had a greater effect than PA indoors on both physical (p = 0.008) and psychological wellbeing (p = 0.001). There was a significant interaction between nature-relatedness and PA in nature on wellbeing (p = 0.0002), indicating a difference in the association between nature-relatedness and both physical and psychological wellbeing, i.e., there was a greater effect of PA in nature on wellbeing in those with greater nature-relatedness. Nature-relatedness was also associated with physical activity in nature (p ≤ 0.0001). Full article

The semi-humid evergreen broadleaved forest (SEBF) is the zonal vegetation type of western subtropical regions in China. Under human and natural disturbance, the area of SEBFs is severely shrinking, with remaining fragments scattered across mountains of the Central Yunnan Plateau. To explore the mechanisms of community assembly and species maintenance in the severely fragmented SEBFs, we selected three sites—Jinguangsi Provincial Nature Reserve, Huafoshan Scenic Area, and Qiongzhusi Forest Park—across the range of this vegetation type, and sampled a total of 42 plots of forest dominated by Castanopsis orthacantha Franch., the most widely distributed community type of SEBFs. We compared the species richness and composition of the communities of different age classes, employed the net relatedness index to characterize the phylogenetic structure of communities, and used Mantel tests and partial Mantel tests to quantify the impacts of spatial distance, age class, and habitat factors (including climate, topography, and soil) on species turnover across different spatial scales (i.e., intra- and inter-site) for trees, shrubs, and herbs, respectively. The results indicated the following: (1) In the young stage, the C. orthacantha communities exhibited a species richness statistically lower than those in middle-aged and mature communities. Notably, the difference in species richness among age classes was merely significant for shrub and herb species. Moreover, the phylogenetic structure changed towards over-dispersion with increasing community age. (2) The age class of the community played a pivotal role in determining taxonomic β diversity in the tree layer, while climate and soil factors significantly influenced β diversity in the shrub and herb layers of the communities. (3) Environmental filtering emerged as the predominant force shaping community assembly at the intra-site scale, whereas spatial distance was the primary determinant at the inter-site scale. Meanwhile, dispersal limitation versus biological interaction seemed to dominate the community dynamics of the C. orthacantha communities in the early versus middle and old ages, respectively. Our results highlight the variability in community assembly processes across different spatial and temporal scales, providing insights into the priority of the conservation and restoration of severely degraded zonal SEBFs. Expanding research to broader scales and other SEBF types, as well as considering the impacts of climate change and human activities, would provide further insights into understanding the mechanisms of community assembly and effective conservation strategies. Full article

Transformers have made a significant breakthrough in natural language processing. These models are trained on large datasets and can handle multiple tasks. We compare monolingual and multilingual transformer models for semantic relatedness and verse retrieval. We leveraged data from the original QurSim dataset (Arabic) and used authentic multi-author translations in 22 languages to create a multilingual QurSim dataset, which we released for the research community. We evaluated the performance of monolingual and multilingual LLMs for Arabic and our results show that monolingual LLMs give better results for verse classification and matching verse retrieval. We incrementally built monolingual models with Arabic, English, and Urdu and multilingual models with all 22 languages supported by the multilingual paraphrase-MiniLM-L12-v2 model. Our results show improvement in classification accuracy with the incorporation of multilingual QurSim. Full article

In white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), closely related females form social groups, avoiding other social groups. Consequently, females infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are more likely to infect social group members. Culling has been used to reduce CWD transmission in high-risk areas; however, its effectiveness in removing related individuals has not been assessed. We analyzed 11 microsatellites and a mitochondrial DNA fragment to assess: (1) the genetic structure in white-tailed deer in Minnesota, USA and (2) the effectiveness of localized culling to remove related deer. For (1), we genotyped deer culled in 2019 and 2021 in three CWD management zones, and deer collected in between zones. For (2), we only included culled deer, defining “culled groups” as deer obtained in the same township-range-section and year. We compared mean relatedness among deer from the same culled group (intra-group relatedness) and among deer from different culled groups (inter-group relatedness). We did not find evidence of genetic structure, suggesting that an outbreak in any of the management zones could naturally spread to the others. Culling removed deer that were on average more related than expected by chance (intra-group relatedness > inter-group relatedness), and most highly-related deer were culled in the same bait site. Full article