Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction occurring in sensitized individuals due to exposure to allergens. Polysensitization, defined as positive reactions to multiple unrelated haptens, increases the risk of ACD development and affects patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study is to apply machine learning in order to analyze the association between ACD, polysensitization, individual susceptibility, and patients’ characteristics. Methods: Patch test results and demographics from 400 ACD patients (Study protocol Nr. 3765/2022), categorized as polysensitized or monosensitized, were analyzed. Classic statistical analysis and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were utilized to explore relationships among variables. Results: The findings revealed significant associations between patient characteristics and ACD patterns, with hand dermatitis showing the strongest correlation. MCA provided insights into the complex interplay of demographic and clinical factors influencing ACD prevalence. Conclusion: Overall, this study highlights the potential of machine learning in unveiling hidden patterns within dermatological data, paving the way for future advancements in the field. Full article

Partial discharge (PD) is the dominant insulating defect in Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS). The existing detection methods are mainly divided into built-in wire-connected disk antennas with destructive drilling and external ultra-high frequency antennas with poor anti-interference ability. This research introduces a passive wireless PD sensor implanted inside GIS on the observation window. The sensor is implemented by a sheeting branch-inductor with multiple resonances which is able to enhance detection sensitivity. A coaxially aligned readout circuit, positioned outside the GIS, interrogates the PD sensor to wirelessly obtain the PD signal. The proposed sensing scheme improves signal-to-noise ratio and ensures minimal disruption to the electric field distribution inside GIS. An experimental setup was established in a controlled laboratory environment to benchmark the multi-resonant sensor against the commercial UHF sensor. A 2.5-times enhancement of signal strength was observed. Since our sensor was implanted inside the GIS, a high signal-to-noise ratio (68.82 dB) was obtained. Moreover, we constructed a wireless calibration test to investigate the accuracy of the proposed sensor. The precision of the signal test was as high as 0.72 pC. The pulse phase distribution information was collected to demonstrate a phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) pattern. The experiment results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method and demonstrate excellent performance in PD detection. Full article

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), though identified nearly five decades ago, still remains a major challenge, being associated with significant mortality rates. The strains classified as hypervirulent, notably 027/NAP1/BI, have garnered substantial attention from researchers and clinicians due to their direct correlation with the severity of the disease. Our study aims to elucidate the significance of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile (CD) strains in the clinical and therapeutic aspects of managing patients diagnosed with CDI. We conducted a single-center prospective study, including patients with CDI from north-eastern Romania. We subsequently conducted molecular biology testing to ascertain the prevalence of the presumptive 027/NAP1/BI strain within aforementioned geographic region. The patients were systematically compared and assessed both clinically and biologically, employing standardized and comparative methodologies. The study enrolled fifty patients with CDI admitted between January 2020 and June 2020. Among the investigated patients, 43 (86%) exhibited infection with toxigenic CD strains positive for toxin B genes (tcdB), binary toxin genes (cdtA and cdtB), and deletion 117 in regulatory genes (tcdC), while the remaining 7 (14%) tested negative for binary toxin genes (cdtA and cdtB) and deletion 117 in tcdC. The presence of the presumptive 027/NAP1/BI strains was linked to a higher recurrence rate (35.56%, p = 0.025), cardiovascular comorbidities (65.1% vs. 14.2%, p = 0.016), and vancomycin treatment (55.8% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.049). The findings of our investigation revealed an elevated incidence of colitis attributed to presumptive 027/NAP1/BI. Despite the prevalence of the presumptive 027 strain and its associated heightened inflammation among the patients studied, no significant differences were observed regarding the clinical course or mortality outcomes. Full article

For a long time, a company’s Product Development Process (PDP) was seen as supporting the operations department, although PDP decisions and mistakes have a considerable impact on market performance. This is critical even in agriculture where bad habits and practices in the PDP can lead rural producers to great losses. Therefore, this research investigates the effect of the PDP on the market performance of rural products (bananas) in the southern region of Brazil, based on two analyses: (i) how sustainability practices support the PDP phases and (ii) how the phases of the Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) mediate sustainability practices and PDP phases. This study presents a quantitative analysis using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression of data obtained from a survey of 110 rural producers who directly participate in the banana production and planning process in southern Brazil. Our results show that sustainability practices support the PDP, and we confirm that the product development and post-development phase has an effect on market performance. In addition, we identify that in the pre-development phase of the PDP, dealing with rural products (bananas), the maturity stage of the LCA mediates sustainability. In the PDP development phase, we conclude that rural families who develop economic and environmental practices with their products, which are in the market growth phase may have reduced results. As for the post-development phase of the PDP, we conclude that when companies invest in environmental and social practices, there is a complete mediation of the effect, where these practices lose strength if the product is in the introductory and maturity phases in the market. In an original matter, our study contributes to demonstrating the value of the product life cycle for the Product Development Process in agriculture using sustainability practices through a systemic approach, filling the gap in the literature due to a lack of integrated research on these areas seen. Full article

Dendritic cells (DC) along with macrophages are the main host cells of the intracellular parasite Leishmania. DC traverse a process of maturation, passing through an immature state with phagocytic ability to a mature one where they can modulate the immune response through the secretion of cytokines. Several studies have demonstrated that Leishmania inhibits DC maturation. Nevertheless, when cells are subjected to a second stimulus such as LPS/IFN-γ, they manage to mature. In the maturation process of DC, several signaling pathways have been implicated, importantly MAPK. On the other hand, Akt is a signaling pathway deeply involved in cell survival. Some Leishmania species have shown to activate MAPK and Akt in different cells. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of ERK and Akt in the maturation of monocyte-derived DC (moDC) infected with L. mexicana. moDC were infected with L. mexicana metacyclic promastigotes, and the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, the expression of MHCII and CD86 and IL-12 transcript, and secretion were determined in the presence or absence of an Akt inhibitor. We showed that L. mexicana induces a sustained Akt and ERK phosphorylation, while the Akt inhibitor inhibits it. Moreover, the infection of moDC downregulates CD86 expression but not MHCII, and the Akt inhibitor reestablishes CD86 expression and 12p40 production. Thus, L. mexicana can modulate DC maturation though Akt signaling. Full article

Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders caused by the accumulation of neoplastic T or B lymphocytes in the skin. Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive and rare form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) characterized by an erythroderma and the presence of atypical cerebriform T cells named Sézary cells in skin and blood. Most of the available treatments for SS are not curative, which means there is an urgent need for the development of novel efficient therapies. Recently, targeting cancer metabolism has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. This is due to the accumulating evidence that metabolic reprogramming highly contributes to tumor progression. Genes play a pivotal role in regulating metabolic processes, and alterations in these genes can disrupt the delicate balance of metabolic pathways, potentially contributing to cancer development. In this review, we discuss the importance of targeting energy metabolism in tumors and the currently available data on the metabolism of Sézary cells, paving the way for potential new therapeutic approaches aiming to improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from SS. Full article

The aim of this study is to analyze the resorption rate of bone graft materials after crestal sinus floor elevation, study its influencing factors, and improve the long-term success rate of implants after crestal maxillary sinus floor elevation. Measurement and analysis were conducted at six postoperative timepoints (0 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data on 31 patients from the Chenghuaxinguanghua Dental Clinic who underwent crestal maxillary sinus floor elevation, involving 38 graft sites. The materials resorption rates of the bone graft height (BH) and bone graft width (BW) were assessed. BH and BW resorption rates followed the same trend (p = 0.07), with BH and BW resorption rates decreasing with time (r_BH = −0.32, p < 0.01; r_BW = −0.18, p < 0.01), and were maximal in the 0–6 month interval, with BH and BW resorption rates of 3.42%/mth and 3.03%/mth, respectively. The average monthly BH and BW resorption rates in the 6–12 month interval rapidly decreased to 1.75%/mth and 1.29%/mth, respectively. The monthly BH and BW resorption rates in the 12–30 month intervals stabilized at 1.45%/mth (p > 0.05) and 1.22%/mth (p > 0.05), respectively. The higher the initial bone graft height (BH₀), the lower the BH resorption rates (r_BH = −0.98, p < 0.05), and the BW resorption rate was different for different graft sites (p = 0.01). The resorption rates of bone graft materials implanted through crestal maxillary sinus floor elevation decreased rapidly within the first 12 months post operation and remained stable after 12 months. BH₀ was identified as a significant factor influencing the resorption rates of bone graft materials. These results could suggest dentists should pay attention to the trend of resorption rates over time and carefully manage the initial height of bone grafts and inspire the research of new bone grafting materials for crestal maxillary sinus floor elevation. Full article

Heart failure represents a primary cause of hospitalization and mortality in both developed and developing countries, often necessitating heart transplantation as the only viable recovery path. Despite advances in transplantation medicine, organ rejection remains a significant post-operative challenge, traditionally monitored through invasive endomyocardial biopsies (EMB). This study introduces a rapid prototyping approach to organ rejection monitoring via a sensor-integrated flexible patch, employing electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for the non-invasive, continuous assessment of resistive and capacitive changes indicative of tissue rejection processes. Utilizing titanium-dioxide-coated electrodes for contactless impedance sensing, this method aims to mitigate the limitations associated with EMB, including procedural risks and the psychological burden on patients. The biosensor’s design features, including electrode passivation and three-dimensional microelectrode protrusions, facilitate effective monitoring of cardiac rejection by aligning with the heart’s curvature and responding to muscle contractions. Evaluation of sensor performance utilized SPICE simulations, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, alongside experimental validation using chicken heart tissue to simulate healthy and rejected states. The study highlights the potential of EIS in reducing the need for invasive biopsy procedures and offering a promising avenue for early detection and monitoring of organ rejection, with implications for patient care and healthcare resource utilization. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasingly serious global carbon emissions and environmental challenges, new energy vehicles (NEVs), as important low-carbon means of transport, play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable development. However, green technological innovation is under considerable pressure from economic policy uncertainty (EPU), and the exact effects are not well understood. Using panel data on listed companies’ green technological innovation from 2012 to 2022, this study examines the relationship between EPU and green technological innovation in Chinese NEV enterprises. The findings reveal that rising EPU has a significant negative impact on green technological innovation in these companies; however, company ESG performance and government financial subsidies can effectively mitigate this negative impact. Notably, in provinces where public environmental concerns are high, the moderating effect of government subsidies is weaker; while facing EPU, NEV manufacturers rely more on government subsidies for green technological innovation than do parts manufacturers. These findings provide critical insights for guiding NEV enterprises in coping with EPU, advancing green technological innovation, and offering appropriate support and incentives to policymakers. Full article

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 15–39 years) diagnosed with cancer have unique medical and psychosocial needs. These needs could be better addressed through research that is focused on the topics that matter most to them. However, there is currently no patient-oriented research agenda for AYA cancer in Canada. This manuscript describes the early development and project protocol for a priority-setting partnership (PSP) for establishing the top 10 research priorities for AYA cancer in Canada. This project follows the PSP methodology outlined by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) to engage patients, caregivers, and clinicians in research prioritization. The steps of a JLA PSP include establishing a steering group and project partners, gathering uncertainties, data processing and verifying uncertainties, interim priority setting, and a final priority setting workshop. The AYA cancer PSP will result in a top 10 list of research priorities identified by Canadian AYA patients, caregivers, and clinicians that will be published and shared broadly with the research community. The first steering group meeting was held in April 2023, and the project is ongoing. The establishment of a patient-oriented research agenda for AYA cancer will catalyze a long-term and impactful research focus and ultimately improve outcomes for AYA patients with cancer in Canada. Full article

The Zanhuang Complex is situated on the eastern margin of the Trans-North China Orogen, with the Huangcha Pluton being a constituent of this complex. To ascertain the nature of the approximately 2.5-billion-year-old Huangcha Pluton, crucial evidence for understanding its extensional setting was sought through petrogenesis and dating investigations. LA-ICP-MS dating of zircon from the granite yielded an age of (2488 ± 6) Ma. Primarily composed of porphyritic monzonite with sporadic melanocratic enclaves, the Pluton’s phenocrysts are predominantly feldspar with minor quartz. The granite exhibits high SiO₂ content (72.64%–74.16%) and alkali levels, with Na₂O + K₂O ranging from 7.59% to 9.07%, classifying it as a shoshonitic series with a slightly peraluminous feature. Enrichment in large-ion lithophile (LIL) elements (Rb, Th, and U) and depletion in Sr, V, Cr, Co, and Ni were observed, with high Rb/Sr and Ga/Al ratios ranging from 0.73 to 2.72 and 2.75 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.11 × 10⁻⁴, respectively. The rock exhibits high εNd(t) values, ranging from −0.06 to 0.88, with TDM2 ages falling between 2.79 and 2.87 billion years. Zircon grains display ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios ranging from 0.281266 to 0.281412 and εHf(t) values spanning from 0.96 to 6.18, calculated using the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age. It is suggested that the Huangcha Pluton represents A-type granite formed via anatexis of the Neoarchean TTG in an extensional setting following orogenic processes. The formation of the Huangcha Pluton further corroborates the stabilization of the North China Craton towards the end of the Neoarchean. This finding supports the hypothesis that the North China Craton may belong to the Rae-family cratons, sharing similar magmatic and tectono-metamorphic records around ~2.5 billion years ago. Full article

A sponge city is an established urban stormwater management approach that effectively reduces urban runoff and pollutant discharges. In order to plan and design, estimate costs, and evaluate the performance of urban sponge city systems, it is essential to calculate the storage scale. In this context, a sponge city storage scale and calculation method based on a multifactor spatial overlay was designed, utilising the starting area of the Dafeng Hi-tech Development Zone in Yancheng City, China, as an illustrative example. The indicators for assessing the impact of sponge city systems on river plain networks are constructed based on four aspects: land planning, building density, water surface rate and green space rate. The relative importance of each indicator was determined based on the necessity of controlling runoff from land parcels and the appropriateness of facility construction. The annual runoff control rate of the 39 low-impact development control units in the study area was calculated using ArcGIS through multifactor spatial overlay mapping and weighting. The results showed that (1) the Geographic Information System (GIS)overlay technology can effectively assist in the decomposition of LID scales; (2) data can be derived, including the design storage volume and other basic control scale indicators for each unit. The study results are expected to serve as a reference for the preparation of special low-impact development plans in the river plain network area of China and the promotion of the construction of a sustainable blue–green system in the city. Full article

In order to reduce energy consumption in buildings, this study used olive pruning sawdust (OTPS) instead of natural sand in the production of lightweight mortars. Different percentages of natural sand substitution were tested: 0, 10, 25, and 50% by volume of sand over 7 and 28 days of curing time. Additionally, the influence of a chemical pretreatment in an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide on the OTPS was also evaluated to mineralize the wood before its addition to the mortar mixture. Mortars with OTPS incorporations were characterized by volumetric shrinkage, bulk density, and capillary water absorption. Mechanical behavior was tested through compression and flexural tests. The addition of this byproduct decreased bulk density and increased mortar porosity. Pretreating olive pruning sawdust with an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide was effective for wood mineralization, resulting in physical and mechanical properties superior to mortars without pretreatment. The results showed that a maximum addition of 10% by volume of OTPS treated with calcium hydroxide solution produced lighter mortars with similar mechanical properties to the control mortar. Adding higher amounts of pretreated olive pruning (25–50% by volume) led to a more pronounced deterioration of mechanical properties. Full article

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of newborn brain damage stemming from a lack of oxygenated blood flow in the neonatal period. Twenty-five to fifty percent of asphyxiated infants who develop HIE die in the neonatal period, and about sixty percent of survivors develop long-term neurological disabilities. From the first minutes to months after the injury, a cascade of events occurs, leading to blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening, neuronal death and inflammation. To date, the only approach proposed in some cases is therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Unfortunately, TH is only partially protective and is not applicable to all neonates. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the basic molecular mechanisms of brain damage in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and on the different therapeutic strategies in HI that have been used and explores a major limitation of unsuccessful therapeutic approaches. Full article

To reduce anemia among adolescent girls, factors that influence the consumption of iron-rich foods/IRF have not been investigated, and neither has a tool been developed to assess its determinants. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behaviour/eTPB, this study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing individual and environmental factors that could influence IRF intake among Senegalese adolescent girls aged 10–19 years old. First, eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were held in different regions to identify salient beliefs related to each of the four constructs of the eTPB. Information from FGDs was used to develop a questionnaire that was administered to the first group (n = 200) of girls. Principal component and exploratory factorial analyses were then performed to identify latent factors for each construct. A modified version of the tool was administered to the second sample of girls (n = 400), and confirmatory factorial analyses were conducted. Hancock and Muller’s H reliability index was computed on the final model. Most metrics for fit indices were respected, and the H value was satisfactory. This study proposes a tool that could be used to explore determinants of the consumption of IRF among adolescent girls. Full article

Long-term divergent selection from a common founder population for a single trait—antibody response to sheep erythrocytes 5 days post-injection—has resulted in two distinct lines of White Leghorn chickens with a well-documented difference in antibody titers: high (HAS)- and low (LAS)-antibody selected lines. Subpopulations—high (HAR)- and low (LAR)-antibody relaxed—were developed from generation 24 of the selected lines to relax selection. The objective of the current experiment was to determine if this long-term selection and relaxation of selection impacted the growth of two organs important to chicken immunity: the spleen and the bursa of Fabricius. Spleens and bursae were obtained from ten chickens per line at nine timepoints (E18, D0, D6, D13, D20, D35, D49, D63, and D91) throughout their rapid growth phase and presented as a percent of body weight. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. For the spleen, all lines consistently increased in size relative to body weight to D49, followed by a consistent decline. All lines had a similar growth pattern, but HAS spleens grew faster than LAS spleens. For the bursa, LAS was smaller than the other three lines as an embryo and also smaller than HAS through D63. In the selected lines, bursa weight peaked at D35, whereas the relaxed lines peaked at D49. By D91, there was no difference between lines. Artificial and natural selection, represented by the long-term selected and relaxed antibody lines, resulted in differences in the growth patterns and relative weights of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Full article

The expansion of pathogen distribution may result in a new threat to the host. The braconid Syntretomorpha szaboi Papp is an obligate parasite that targets Apis cerana, the Eastern honeybee, engaging in endoparasitism by ovipositing eggs inside the host bee. Although S. szaboi has been documented in India and in various regions across China, its epidemiological data are notably lacking. In this study, we summarized the distribution of S. szaboi based on the available literature and described the symptoms of infested honeybee workers. We also investigated the infestation rate in 36 apiaries in Zhejiang Province, China, after a new occurrence of the parasite was reported in these regions in 2020. A rapid increase in infestation rate was found from the year 2021 to 2022, reaching 53.88% at the colony level of the sampled colonies in the Jinhua and Wenzhou apiaries. The infestation rate at an individual level in positive colonies reached an average of 26%. A monthly survey showed high seasonal variation in S. szaboi infestation, with the peak occurring from May to August. These results suggest that S. szaboi poses a great threat to A. cerana. Further research is needed to elucidate its epidemiology and pathology and to develop disease prevention and control strategies. Full article

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are non-metastasizing and locally aggressive soft-tissue mesenchymal neoplasms. Those that become enlarged often become locally invasive and cause significant morbidity. DTs have a varied pattern of clinical presentation, with up to 50–60% not growing after diagnosis and 20–30% shrinking or even disappearing after initial progression. Enlarging tumors are considered unstable and progressive. The management of symptomatic and enlarging DTs is challenging, and primarily consists of chemotherapy. Despite wide surgical resection, DTs carry a rate of local recurrence as high as 50%. There is a consensus that contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or, alternatively, computerized tomography (CT) is the preferred modality for monitoring DTs. Each uses Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), which measures the largest diameter on axial, sagittal, or coronal series. This approach, however, reportedly lacks accuracy in detecting response to therapy and fails to detect tumor progression, thus calling for more sophisticated methods. The objective of this study was to detect unique features identified by deep learning that correlate with the future clinical course of the disease. Between 2006 and 2019, 51 patients (mean age 41.22 ± 15.5 years) who had a tissue diagnosis of DT were included in this retrospective single-center study. Each had undergone at least three MRI examinations (including a pretreatment baseline study), and each was followed by orthopedic oncology specialists for a median of 38.83 months (IQR 44.38). Tumor segmentations were performed on a T2 fat-suppressed treatment-naive MRI sequence, after which the segmented lesion was extracted to a three-dimensional file together with its DICOM file and run through deep learning software. The results of the algorithm were then compared to clinical data collected from the patients’ medical files. There were 28 males (13 stable) and 23 females (15 stable) whose ages ranged from 19.07 to 83.33 years. The model was able to independently predict clinical progression as measured from the baseline MRI with an overall accuracy of 93% (93 ± 0.04) and ROC of 0.89 ± 0.08. Artificial intelligence may contribute to risk stratification and clinical decision-making in patients with DT by predicting which patients are likely to progress. Full article

Periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are among the most prevalent diseases in humans. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease, characterized by inflammation of the gingiva caused by the accumulation of dental plaque. Salivary diagnostics are becoming increasingly popular due to the variation in saliva composition in response to pathological processes. We used a metabolomics approach to investigate whether a specific saliva metabolic composition could indicate preclinical stage of gingivitis. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy was used to obtain the salivary metabolite profiles of 20 healthy subjects. Univariate/multivariate statistical analysis evaluated the whole saliva metabolite composition, and the Full-Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS) was employed as a classification parameter. Identifying a signature of specific salivary metabolites could distinguish the subjects with high FMBS scores but still within the normal range. This set of metabolites may be due to the enzymatic activities of oral bacteria and be associated with the early stages of gingival inflammation. Although this analysis is to be considered exploratory, it seems feasible to establish an FMBS threshold that distinguishes between the absence and presence of early inflammatory alterations at the salivary level. Full article

This article proposes a new approach to the nature of a core set within fantasy fiction that regards it as a speculative literature of the exploration of subjectivity, one which at its limit conjectures fresh possibilities for the subjective world. To motivate acceptance of this proposed approach, I begin by surveying the existing state of debate in the critical field. I notice the emergence of widening agreement on the idea that fantasy is a literature of the impossible. I then develop the logical implications of this widening agreement in the critical field, arguing that it entails a representational definition of fantasy literature, which implies a modal approach to the core set that defines this literary order. I suggest that the marvellous mode, the kind of writing which represents the impossible, is a broad class that includes other speculative literatures, and that what differentiates these is the referential world within which the impossible happens. The aim here is to break up monolithic conceptions of the impossible, while pointing to a motivation for developing an understanding of the specificity of a core set of fantasy texts that proceeds by way of contrasts. After explaining why I am extremely skeptical about the definition of science fiction as a “literature of the possible”, I probe descriptions of the difference between fantasy and sci-fi. I propose that whereas some science fiction is a literature of conjectural objectivity, guided by the “cognitive novum”, a significant group of fantasy texts is a literature of speculative subjectivity, guided by an “affective novum”. Full article

The Indo-Pacific, a vast biogeographic of Earth, is influenced by both the Indian and East Asian monsoons. Despite its geographical importance, this region has been less studied compared to East Asia and India. Here, we present speleothem records from southern Thailand that cover the last 1500 years, including a hiatus during the Little Ice Age, providing insights into the interactions among climate dynamics, human influences, and ecological responses to climate change. Notably, our records lack the characteristic cold and warm periods observed in other regions, such as the Dark Ages Cold Period and Medieval Warm Period, which may reflect the complexity of the tropical climate system or the region’s unique topography. The analysis reveals a link between ENSO multi-decadal variability and hydroclimate conditions in southern Thailand, as evidenced by speleothem δ¹⁸O. Furthermore, a comparison between speleothem δ¹³C and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicates significant vegetation changes in the last three decades, corresponding with increased atmospheric CO₂ levels and expansion of agricultural land due to human activities during the Current Warm Period. Additionally, our study suggests that an abrupt increase in sea surface temperatures may enhance vegetation growth in the Indo-Pacific by influencing atmospheric circulation and increasing precipitation. Full article

Personality is widely observed in animals and has important ecological and evolutionary implications. In addition to being heritable, personality traits are also influenced by the environment. Population density commonly affects animal behavior, but the way in which it shapes animal personality remains largely unknown. In this study, we reared juvenile crayfish at different population densities and measured their personality traits (shyness, exploration, and aggression) after reaching sexual maturity. Our results showed repeatability for each behavior in all treatments, except for the shyness of females at medium density. There was a negative correlation between shyness and exploration in each treatment, and aggression and exploration were positively correlated in medium- and high-density females. These indicate the presence of a behavior syndrome. On average, the crayfish raised at higher population densities were less shy, more exploratory, and more aggressive. We found no behavioral differences between the sexes in crayfish. These results suggested that population density may affect the average values of behavioral traits rather than the occurrence of personality traits. Our study highlights the importance of considering population density as a factor influencing personality traits in animals and, therefore, might help us to understand animal personality development. Full article