Emergence of cooperation in the one-shot Prisoner's dilemma through Discriminatory and Samaritan AIs.

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly embedded in our lives, their presence leads to interactions that shape our behaviour, decision-making and social interactions. Existing theoretical research on the emergence and stability of cooperation, particularly in the context of social dilemmas, has primarily focused on human-to-human interactions, overlooking the unique dynamics triggered by the presence of AI. Resorting to methods from evolutionary game theory, we study how different forms of AI can influence cooperation in a population of human-like agents playing the one-shot Prisoner's dilemma game. We found that Samaritan AI agents who help everyone unconditionally, including defectors, can promote higher levels of cooperation in humans than Discriminatory AI that only helps those considered worthy/cooperative, especially in slow-moving societies where change based on payoff difference is moderate (small intensities of selection). Only in fast-moving societies (high intensities of selection), Discriminatory AIs promote higher levels of cooperation than Samaritan AIs. Furthermore, when it is possible to identify whether a co-player is a human or an AI, we found that cooperation is enhanced when human-like agents disregard AI performance. Our findings provide novel insights into the design and implementation of context-dependent AI systems for addressing social dilemmas.

Exploration of carvacrol aggregation by laser spectroscopy.

Carvacrol is an aromatic monoterpenoid found in thyme oil. Due to its implications for human health, it is important to elucidate its structure and its intramolecular interactions. We have characterised the carvacrol monomer, its complex with water, its dimer, and even its trimer in a supersonic expansion using mass-resolved laser spectroscopy techniques complemented by quantum-chemical computations. The resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation spectrum of the monomer features several transitions, which were assigned to the same conformer, confirmed by ion-dip infrared spectroscopy. However, a conclusive assignment of the infrared bands to one of the four conformations of carvacrol remains elusive. The experimental spectra for the monohydrated, the homodimer, and the homotrimer point to the detection of the lowest energy isomer in each case. Their structures are governed by a balance of intramolecular interactions, specifically hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces. Comparison with other similar systems demonstrates that dispersion interactions are key to the stabilisation of the aggregates, being present in all the structures. However, the hydrogen bonding is the dominant force as observed in the lowest-energy conformations.

Diagnostic delay in patients from the international map of axial spondyloarthritis: geographic, socio-demographic and disease-related factors.

OBJECTIVES: To assess diagnostic delay and its associated factors globally, in a large sample of patients included in the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS). METHODS: IMAS is a cross-sectional online survey (2017-2022) of 5,557 axSpA patients from 27 countries. Diagnostic delay was calculated as the difference between age at diagnosis and age at first symptom onset reported by patients. Associations between diagnostic delay and regions, sociodemographic characteristics, as well as disease-related factors were explored through univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Data from 5,327 patients who reported data on diagnostic delay in IMAS survey were analysed: 3,294 were from Europe, 752 from North America, 590 from Asia, 545 from Latin America, and 146 from Africa. Overall, patients reported a mean diagnostic delay of 7.4 years (median: 4.0) since symptom onset, with substantial variation across regions; being the highest delay in South Africa and the lowest in Asia. The variables associated with longer diagnostic delay in the final multivariable regression model were: younger age at symptom onset (b=-0.100), female gender (b = 2.274), being diagnosed by rheumatologist (b = 1.163), greater number of HCPs seen before diagnosis (b = 1.033), and history of uveitis (b = 1.286). CONCLUSION: In this global sample of axSpA patients, the mean diagnostic delay was 7.4 years, and showed significant differences across regions. Younger age at symptom onset, female gender, diagnosis made by a rheumatologist, greater number of HCPs seen before diagnosis, and the history of uveitis were the parameters associated with a longer diagnostic delay in axSpA patients.

Influence of Hydrogel and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Germination and Establishment of Chenopodium quinoa.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hydrogel and zinc oxide nanoparticles on quinoa germination and establishment. Various doses of a commercial potassium-based hydrogel (0, 5, 7, and 9 g), each dissolved in one liter of rainwater, were applied. Additionally, 1.5 g of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and pre-crushed nitrogen fertilizer, at a rate of 1.6 kg/ha, were added to the solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture. Following the application of hydrogel in the 10-linear-meter rows corresponding to each treatment area in every block, 25 seeds per linear meter of the "Blanca de Juli" quinoa cultivar were sown with a 4 cm spacing between the seeds. Subsequently, a thin layer of soil, approximately 0.5 cm thick, was used to cover the seeds. Ten seedlings were randomly selected and labeled for subsequent evaluations. The experimental design employed in this research was a completely randomized block design. The collected data underwent an analysis of variance, and the means of all the treatments were compared using Tukey's test with a 5% probability. Height and diameter evaluations of the plant neck were conducted every 45 days. The doses used in this study (5, 7, and 9 g of hydrogel per liter of water) significantly enhanced seed germination and increased the number of plants per linear meter (from 82.00 to 90.33) compared to the control dose without hydrogel (14.66), which resulted in an average of one plant per linear meter.

The Structure of Cilium Inner Junctions Revealed by Electron Cryo-tomography.

The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle critical for many cellular functions. Its assembly initiates at a basal body and continues as an axoneme that projects out of the cell to form a functional cilium. This assembly process is tightly regulated. However, our knowledge of the molecular architecture and the mechanism of assembly is limited. By applying electron cryotomography and subtomogram averaging, we obtained subnanometer resolution structures of the inner junction in three distinct regions of the cilium: the proximal region of the basal body, the central core of the basal body, and the flagellar axoneme. The structures allowed us to identify several basal body and axoneme components. While a few proteins are distributed throughout the entire length of the organelle, many are restricted to particular regions of the cilium, forming intricate local interaction networks and bolstering local structural stability. Finally, by knocking out a critical basal body inner junction component Poc1, we found the triplet MT was destabilized, resulting in a defective structure. Surprisingly, several axoneme-specific components were found to "infiltrate" into the mutant basal body. Our findings provide molecular insight into cilium assembly at its inner Junctions, underscoring its precise spatial regulation.

Initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic industry at Cueva Millán in the hinterlands of Iberia.

The extended period of coexistence between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe coincided with the emergence of regionally distinctive lithic industries, signalling the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic. The Iberian Peninsula was on the periphery of pioneering Upper Palaeolithic developments, with archaeological remains primarily found in northern territories. We report the discovery of an initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic industry at Cueva Millán in the hinterlands of Iberia. This industry, termed here Arlanzian, not only represents the earliest and southernmost evidence of such industries in Iberia but also lacks a direct counterpart. However, it exhibits chronological and technological parallels with the lithic industries associated with the earliest expansion of Homo sapiens throughout Eurasia. We interpret this as potential evidence of its intrusive nature, but not necessarily associated with a migration event, as more complex scenarios derived from inter-population connectivity must be also considered. The biological identity of the Arlanzian makers remains unknown, but they coexisted with declining Neanderthal groups from neighbouring territories.

Staurosporine as a Potential Treatment for Acanthamoeba Keratitis Using Mouse Cornea as an Ex Vivo Model.

Acanthamoeba is a ubiquitous genus of amoebae that can trigger a severe and progressive ocular disease known as Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK). Furthermore, current treatment protocols are based on the combination of different compounds that are not fully effective. Therefore, an urgent need to find new compounds to treat Acanthamoeba infections is clear. In the present study, we evaluated staurosporine as a potential treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis using mouse cornea as an ex vivo model, and a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted to elucidate a mechanism of action. The obtained results indicate that staurosporine altered the conformation of actin and tubulin in treated trophozoites of A. castellanii. In addition, proteomic analysis of treated trophozoites revealed that this molecule induced overexpression and a downregulation of proteins related to key functions for Acanthamoeba infection pathways. Additionally, the ex vivo assay used validated this model for the study of the pathogenesis and therapies of AK. Finally, staurosporine eliminated the entire amoebic population and prevented the adhesion and infection of amoebae to the epithelium of treated mouse corneas.

Patient journey, disease burden, and functional disability in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in South Africa: results of International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the unmet needs of South Africans with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) focusing on the patient journey, functional disability, and health-related quality of life. METHODS: One hundred forty-six South African axSpA patients completed the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) online survey. Patient journey, functional disability, activities of daily living, and psychological stress were analyzed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, disease activity, diagnostic delay, extra-musculoskeletal manifestations, and drug therapy. RESULTS: Majority were female (82.2%) and Caucasian (89.7%) and the mean age of participants, age at onset of initial symptoms, and diagnostic delay were 44.7, 26.7, and 10.8 years, respectively. Participants reported a mean of 3.4 visits to healthcare professionals prior to a definitive diagnosis of axSpA, mostly made by rheumatologists (77.9%). Active disease (BASDAI ≥ 4) was reported by 87%, 69.9% suffered from psychological distress (general health questionnaire-12 score ≥ 3), and more than two-thirds suffered functional limitations in daily, personal, and social activities. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that active disease was more common in females [OR (95% CI) = 4.3 (1.2-15.2)] and was associated with greater functional limitation [OR (95% CI) = 1.1 (1.0-1.2)]. CONCLUSION: Of all the regions assessed in the IMAS (n = 5557 participants, 27 countries), South Africans reported the longest delay in diagnosis. The South African patient journey depicts a process burdened with diagnostic challenges and delays, coupled with patients experiencing significant personal and social limitations. These results emphasize the urgent need to establish local diagnostic and treatment guidelines for axSpA in South Africa, to reduce diagnostic delay, and to control disease activity associated with functional limitation in axSpA. Key Points • Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in South Africans is associated with significant limitations in physical, mental, and social functioning. • First study to describe the unmet needs of South African patients with axSpA.

Social Anxiety Profiles and Psychopathological Symptom Differences in Spanish Adolescents.

Research on social anxiety (SA) over the years has revealed its associations with different psychopathological symptoms. This study aims to characterize SA profiles in a sample of Spanish adolescents and explore their differences in psychopathological symptoms. Data from 1,288 Spanish students in the 15 to 18 age range (M = 16.30, SD = 0.97, 47.5% female) were collected using random cluster sampling. The Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) and the Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45) were employed. Four SA profiles were revealed by the Latent Profile Analysis (LPA): extreme SA, high SA, moderate SA, and low SA. Statistically significant differences in psychopathological symptoms were revealed by the MANOVA (effect sizes from d = -2.13 to d = -0.37). The extreme SA profile exhibited the most severe psychopathological symptoms, whereas the low SA profile displayed the mildest manifestations. Proposed interventions aim to support adolescents with SA risk profiles.

Distribution and habitat use patterns of the endangered Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) in Costa Rica.

Montane cloud forests are highly threatened ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate change. These complex habitats harbor many species that suffer the negative consequences of this global phenomenon, such as shifts in their distribution and habitat use. The Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) is the smallest and most endangered wild cat in Mesoamerica and is primarily reported in cloud forests throughout its distribution. The species is poorly understood, with no studies conducted in Central America assessing its habitat preferences. To bridge this knowledge gap, we sampled two mountain ranges in Costa Rica with camera traps and conducted an occupancy analysis to understand the anthropogenic and environmental features that influence oncilla habitat use within them. Additionally, we conducted spatial predictions of habitat use across its northern and southern range in Costa Rica to identify priority conservation areas for the species. We found that Central American clouded oncilla habitat use is driven primarily by environmental factors. Our results showed that oncillas select habitats with denser tree cover at high elevations, closer to permanent water sources, which may provide them with high prey density and a favorable habitat structure for their survival. Spatial predictions identified two main regions as conservation priority areas where threat mitigation efforts and monitoring should be implemented: the Caribbean slope of the Talamanca mountains, and the Arenal-Monteverde forest complex. The occupancy modeling approach turned out to be very useful to assess the spatial associations of the species with the environment and mapping the conservation priority areas. Future research and mitigation actions should focus on potential threats that could negatively impact Central American clouded oncilla populations and habitat use, including the role of mesopredators and feral species.

Report of an unusual association of Oropouche Fever with Guillain-Barré syndrome in Cuba, 2024.

Oropouche virus is the aetiological agent of Oropouche fever. At present, this is currently considered one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Latin America. On 27 May 2024, the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba reported the first ever outbreak of Oropouche fever. In this report, we describe three human cases of Oropouche virus infection with symptoms and signs of neurological disease and clinical diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This study offers insights regarding that Oropouche virus is a causal agent of neurological disorders and it could be involved in the etiology of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Are suicides underreported? The impact of coroners versus medical examiners on suicide reporting.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if state death investigation systems affect the reporting of suicides, particularly when comparing medical examiners to coroners. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: We used restricted-access state mortality data from National Vital Statistics System between the years 1959 to 2016. These data were matched with state-level changes in death investigation systems reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database on the Public Health Law Program: Coroner/ME Laws. STUDY DESIGN: We used difference-in-differences and event study methods for the analysis. We estimated the relative per capita changes in suicides, accidental deaths, and homicides when comparing coroner-only states with other death investigation types. Sub-analyses estimated differences by sex, race, and if coroners were required to receive training. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Not Applicable. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Coroners-only states underreported suicides by 17.4% (p < 0.05) and performed 20.4% (p < 0.05) fewer autopsies compared to states with county coroners and a state medical examiner. This pattern is consistent by sex and race. Required coroner training did not affect death determination significantly. CONCLUSION: Coroners-only states underreported suicides compared to states with county coroners and a state medical examiner. The disparity in the use of autopsies is a potential mechanism for underreporting of suicides by coroners. If all coroners-only states adopted a state medical examiner, suicide reporting would increase by 2243-3100 deaths in the United States annually.

Integrative analysis of multi-omics data reveals importance of collagen and the PI3K AKT signalling pathway in CAKUT.

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) is the leading cause of childhood chronic kidney failure and a significant cause of chronic kidney disease in adults. Genetic and environmental factors are known to influence CAKUT development, but the currently known disease mechanism remains incomplete. Our goal is to identify affected pathways and networks in CAKUT, and thereby aid in getting a better understanding of its pathophysiology. With this goal, the miRNome, peptidome, and proteome of over 30 amniotic fluid samples of patients with non-severe CAKUT was compared to patients with severe CAKUT. These omics data sets were made findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) to facilitate their integration with external data resources. Furthermore, we analysed and integrated the omics data sets using three different bioinformatics strategies: integrative analysis with mixOmics, joint dimensionality reduction and pathway analysis. The three bioinformatics analyses provided complementary features, but all pointed towards an important role for collagen in CAKUT development and the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway. Additionally, several key genes (CSF1, IGF2, ITGB1, and RAC1) and microRNAs were identified. We published the three analysis strategies as containerized workflows. These workflows can be applied to other FAIR data sets and help gaining knowledge on other rare diseases.

Recording provenance of workflow runs with RO-Crate.

Recording the provenance of scientific computation results is key to the support of traceability, reproducibility and quality assessment of data products. Several data models have been explored to address this need, providing representations of workflow plans and their executions as well as means of packaging the resulting information for archiving and sharing. However, existing approaches tend to lack interoperable adoption across workflow management systems. In this work we present Workflow Run RO-Crate, an extension of RO-Crate (Research Object Crate) and Schema.org to capture the provenance of the execution of computational workflows at different levels of granularity and bundle together all their associated objects (inputs, outputs, code, etc.). The model is supported by a diverse, open community that runs regular meetings, discussing development, maintenance and adoption aspects. Workflow Run RO-Crate is already implemented by several workflow management systems, allowing interoperable comparisons between workflow runs from heterogeneous systems. We describe the model, its alignment to standards such as W3C PROV, and its implementation in six workflow systems. Finally, we illustrate the application of Workflow Run RO-Crate in two use cases of machine learning in the digital image analysis domain.

The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics.

A genomic database of all Earth's eukaryotic species could contribute to many scientific discoveries; however, only a tiny fraction of species have genomic information available. In 2018, scientists across the world united under the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), aiming to produce a database of high-quality reference genomes containing all ~1.5 million recognized eukaryotic species. As the European node of the EBP, the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) sought to implement a new decentralised, equitable and inclusive model for producing reference genomes. For this, ERGA launched a Pilot Project establishing the first distributed reference genome production infrastructure and testing it on 98 eukaryotic species from 33 European countries. Here we outline the infrastructure and explore its effectiveness for scaling high-quality reference genome production, whilst considering equity and inclusion. The outcomes and lessons learned provide a solid foundation for ERGA while offering key learnings to other transnational, national genomic resource projects and the EBP.

Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury Post Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI): A Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has dramatically changed the approach to treating aortic stenosis, particularly for patients unsuitable for surgical aortic valve replacement. Nevertheless, the possibility of quick deterioration of kidney function, known as acute kidney injury (AKI), post operation is considered one of the complications. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to determine the incidence of AKI in adults post TAVI. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study focuses on patients who underwent the TAVI procedure at the King Faisal Cardiac Center at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from May 2016 to December 2022. Acute kidney injury post TAVI was defined based on RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage kidney disease) criteria. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were used to compare clinical and demographic characteristics between patients who developed AKI with those who did not, using an alpha of 5%. RESULTS: The study involved 103 adult patients. Among them, 11 (10.7%) developed AKI post TAVI within seven days of the procedure, while 92 (89.3%) did not. Findings also revealed that patients with hyperlipidemia and a previous history of kidney diseases faced a higher risk of AKI post TAVI. Despite its valuable insights, the study has limitations due to its retrospective nature and small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the importance of identifying patients with hyperlipidemia and pre-existing kidney conditions and closely monitoring renal function. While some preventive methods did not significantly impact AKI occurrences, further research is needed to refine preventive strategies.

Sesame Detection in Food Using DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: A Sensitive, Rapid, and Cost-Effective Colorimetric Approach.

Food safety control is a key issue in the food and agriculture industries. For such purposes, developing miniaturized analytical methods is critical for enabling the rapid and sensitive detection of food supplements, allergens, and pollutants. Here, a novel bioanalytical methodology based on DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and colorimetric detection was developed to detect the presence of sesame (a major allergen) through sesame seed DNA as a target, in food samples. The presence of sesame DNA induces controlled nanoparticle aggregation/desegregation, resulting in a color change (from blue to red) proportional to sesame DNA concentration. The incorporation of multicomponent nucleic acid enzymes (MNAzymes) in this strategy has been carried out to perform an isothermal signal amplification strategy to improve the sensitivity of detection. Also, open-source software for color analysis was used to ensure an unbiased visual color-change detection, enhancing detection accuracy and sensitivity and opening the possibility of performing a simple and decentralized analyte detection. The method successfully detected the presence of sesame DNA in sesame seed, sesame oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. In brief, the developed approach constitutes a simple and affordable alternative to perform a highly sensitive detection of DNA in food without complex methodologies or the requirement of expensive instrumentation.

Content Validation of the Self-Medication Scale and Trust in Online Resources: Deepening Digital Access to Health.

(1) Background: The rise of online health resources and AI has reshaped the diagnosis and treatment of disease, altering the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals and encouraging self-medication. However, questionnaires validated in the literature on self-medication seem to lack questions on the possible causes that induce such behaviors, including items that explore trust toward websites and artificial intelligence. The aim of this study is to design and validate the content of a questionnaire designed to assess self-medication in health professionals, delving into the underlying etiologies, the pharmacological categories involved and the degree of confidence placed in clinical assessments derived from AI tools. (2) Methods: Validation study of the content of an instrument consisting of two phases: 1. The content validation phase involved evaluation by a selected group of health experts, who, using a Likert-type scale, analyzed the clarity, coherence and relevance of the items. 2. Pilot study of health professionals who have indicated the practice of self-administration of medications. (3) Results: In the first phase of the study, the experts considered most of the questionnaire items to be clear, representative and consistent with the construct to be measured. In its second phase, the preliminary results of our pilot study suggest a significant trend toward self-medication among healthcare workers, along with a strong inclination to use online resources to search for health-related information. (4) Conclusions: The development of a validated instrument to measure the influence of the different causes that lead healthcare personnel to practice self-medication, guaranteeing validity and efficacy, allows us to establish strategies to reduce this growing problem.

Mn-ferrite nanoparticles as promising magnetic tags for radiofrequency inductive detection and quantification in lateral flow assays.

Lateral flow assays are low-cost point-of-care devices that are stable, easy to use, and provide quick results. They are mostly used as qualitative screening tests to detect biomarkers for several diseases. Quantification of the biomarkers is sometimes desirable but challenging to achieve. Magnetic nanoparticles can be used as tags, providing both visual and magnetic signals that can be detected and quantified by magnetic sensors. In the present work, we synthesized superparamagnetic MnFe2O4 nanoparticles using the hydrothermal coprecipitation route. MnFe2O4 presents low magnetic anisotropy and high saturation magnetization, resulting in larger initial magnetic susceptibility, which is crucial for optimizing the signal in inductive sensors. We functionalized the coprecipitated nanoparticles with citric acid to achieve colloidal stability in a neutral pH and to provide carboxyl groups to their surface to bioconjugate with biomolecules, such as proteins and antibodies. The nanomaterials were characterized by several techniques, and we correlated their magnetic properties with their sensitivity and resolution for magnetic detection in radiofrequency inductive sensors. We considered the NeutrAvidin/biotin model of biorecognition to explore their potential as magnetic labels in lateral flow assays. Our results show that MnFe2O4 nanoparticles are more sensitive to inductive detection than magnetite nanoparticles, the most used nanotags in magnetic lateral flow assays. These nanoparticles present high potential as magnetic tags for the development of sensitive lateral flow immunoassays for detecting and quantifying biomarkers.