As the availability of historical biodiversity data continues to grow, ensuring its usability through adherence to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) has become increasingly essential. This study focuses on solving key challenges in interpreting biodiversity data from historical texts, particularly in identifying and aligning common species names with their modern scientific counterparts. We address five main challenges: spelling variations, the invention of new terms, semantic shifts between broad and narrow naming conventions, and the renaming or reclassification of historical terms. To tackle these issues, we tested a range of large language models (LLMs) (GPT‑4, LLaMA3-405B, Mistral-8B, and Qwen3-30B-A3B) for their ability to resolve these challenges and support terminology alignment. The initial entity detection was performed using GPT-4o, which achieved a 92% success rate in detecting historical common names and correctly identified 98% of scientific terms on a test dataset. Comparative evaluation of the ability to match historical common names with modern equivalents revealed that GPT-4o consistently delivered the most accurate and nuanced outputs across four of the five challenges, demonstrating strong contextual understanding. The results highlight the potential of advanced LLMs to not only identify entities but also to interpret historical naming conventions, thereby enhancing the reusability and interoperability of biodiversity data in line with FAIR principles.

Background

Microplastics have been repeatedly detected in the human body, yet uncertainties surround their bioavailability and fate due to experimental challenges and limitations, especially regarding their nano-sized counterparts. Knowing that toxicokinetics information is essential for accurate risk assessment and management, this research aimed to (1) evaluate different sample preparation and quantification methods for nanoplastics particles in mammalian tissue, and (2) investigate the lung retention, bioavailability and fate of these particles.

Methods

In this study, rats inhaled aerosols with up to 50 mg/m 3 of Nile Red-labeled polystyrene (PS-NR) or unlabeled polyamide particles (PA-6) particles for 28 days. The tissues were analyzed for the presence of polymer particles. PS-NR were quantified in formalin-fixed tissue by confocal fluorescence laser microscopy with semi-automatic imaging analysis, and PA-6 particles were quantified in dried tissues by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS).

Results

PA-6 deposition was detected and quantified in lung and lymph nodes. Deposition of PS-NR was quantified in lungs and lung-draining lymph nodes, but no particles were detected in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The lung burdens and translocation to the draining lymph nodes were similar for both particles, and particles were still detectable after the end of the exposure periods (five weeks for PS-NR and 13 weeks for PA-6).

Conclusions

This work highlights limitations and applicability of the various methods for sample preparation, detecting and quantifying polymer particles in mammalian tissues. In addition, it provides reliable data on the internal dose of inhaled polymer particles.

On the microscopic level, biological signal transmission relies on coordinated transient structural changes in allosteric proteins that involve sensor and effector modules. The time scales and microscopic details of signal transmission in proteins are often unclear, despite a plethora of structural information on signaling proteins. Based on linear-response theory, we develop the theoretical framework to define frequency-dependent force and displacement transmit functions through proteins and, more generally, viscoelastic media. Transmit functions quantify the fraction of a local time-dependent perturbation at one site, be it a deformation, a force or a combination thereof, that survives at a distant site. They are defined in terms of equilibrium fluctuations from simulations or experimental observations. We apply the framework to our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of a bacterial histidine kinase protein extensively studied in experiments. For the isolated coiled-coil (CC) motif that connects sensor and effector modules, our analysis reveals that signal propagation through the CC is possible via shift, splay, and twist deformation modes, which is confirmed by simulations of the entire protein. Based on mutation experiments, we infer that the most relevant mode for the biological function of the histidine kinase is the splay deformation. For the β2-adrenergic receptor, a transmembrane protein involved in the G-protein signaling pathway, we compare signal transmission across its different structural domains involved in receptor activation.

The global energy transition is leading to a new division of labor in renewable energy production and economic activity in the associated value chains. As trade in renewable energy becomes more technologically feasible and economically viable, it is likely that different countries will focus on different steps in the energy transition value chains, such as the green hydrogen and lithium battery value chains. While industrialized countries are mainly looking to source low-cost renewable energy and critical raw materials in the Global South to green their industries, the benefits for developing countries are less clear. We ask what kind of green industrial policies would be relevant for developing countries to reap more benefits of the global energy transition than reinforcing traditional patterns of commodity exports to the global North. For this, we link the recent debate on green industrial policy to new concepts of developmentalist thinking. We develop a framework to relate specific policies to two distinct neo-developmentalist approaches: one more oriented towards domestic economic diversification and income redistribution, the other one more towards technologically upgrading green energy-linked exports to global markets, thus advancing the economic complexity of the country. Applying recent concepts of industrial policy, we take a broad stance and include macroeconomic and financial policies. We demonstrate that this framework can be used to evaluate green transition strategies and outcomes of countries in the global South with different degrees of economic complexity and size regarding their contribution to economic development.

Green hydrogen (GH2) ambitions vary significantly across Latin America, despite the region’s favourable conditions for production. This article investigates the contrasting trajectories of GH2 sector development in Chile and Peru – two countries with similar natural endowments but divergent levels of engagement. Drawing on a political economy perspective, the article develops a theoretical typology based on the interaction between state capacity and business positioning. It identifies four ideal-type configurations of state-business relations: cooperative, contentious, business-driven/project-based, and non-alignment/non-development. This typology offers a heuristic tool for analysing different pathways of engagement with GH2. Using a comparative case study design grounded in documentary analysis and 17 expert interviews, the article shows that Chile follows a cooperative model, where a high-capacity state and a supportive business sector jointly advance GH2 development through strategic coordination, public investment, and international partnerships. In contrast, Peru exemplifies a business-driven, fragmented approach, shaped by low state capacity, institutional volatility, and the influence of a powerful fossil fuel sector. The findings highlight the importance of state-business configurations in shaping green industrial policy in the Global South and point to future research avenues including the role of fossil sector resistance, external actors, and civil society mobilization.

Would the energy transition mean more of the same for Latin American economies? Classic political economy of development contended that latecomer economic progress was not the outcome of free trade and comparative advantage, that linkages with the domestic economy mattered, and that peripheral capitalism was not doomed to fail. In its possibilist sense, “dependent development” was both diagnosis -of common structural challenges and diverse national paths- and possibility. At the era of global energy transition, we find this overarching perspective of economic development to be still enlightening. The papers collected in this special issue draw on diverse conceptual frameworks within structuralist development theories, especially on renewed concepts of (green) industrial policy and developmentalism, and on a differentiated understanding of the creation of linkages at different scales, a so-called developmental extraction. The contributions analyze development ideas and state action in response to, as well as opportunities and challenges deriving from the energy transition. Analytically, papers cover growth governance, development finance, and industrial policy, which we conceptualize as the main contributing factors to the transition, with case study research focused on new renewable energy and critical mineral policy sectors. Our political economy of peripheral development is interdisciplinary, centered on understanding Latin American varieties of state (in)action in shaping the energy transition economy.

Does studying mainstream microeconomics cause individuals to behave more like the textbook version of homo economicus? Most studies suggesting a positive answer have used student samples and focused on self-interested behaviors in collective dilemma situations. In our study, we conducted an online “beauty contest” experiment with a sample of 1019 academic economists in Russia. The Russian case is of particular interest in this context, as the country's economic discipline is markedly divided between those who associate themselves with “Western” science—typically having received standard training in mainstream economics—and those who reject it in favor of a native intellectual tradition. The latter group usually openly denies the universal applicability of theories that describe economic life as an interaction between rational, self-interested agents. We leverage this division by examining variations in beauty contest game strategies within the group of academic economists rather than across disciplines, thereby reducing unobserved heterogeneity. We analyze whether those who embrace the international economic mainstream make choices closer to equilibrium compared to those who reject it and specifically describe homo economicus as an inadequate model of human behavior. The results show no statistical association: Economists who rely on theories assuming common knowledge of rationality did not expect more rational behavior from their colleagues.

The role of soil microorganisms in supporting multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality) remains poorly understood across diverse environmental conditions. Here, we investigate 484 soils from 27 European countries spanning a range of climatic and edaphic contexts. We assess the contribution of climate, soil properties, and soil microbiome traits (i.e., the relative abundance of co-occurring taxa) to explain six key functional proxies related to soil structure, biochemical activity, and productivity. We find the highest multifunctionality values in grasslands, woodlands, loamy and acidic soils, and temperate humid regions, and the lowest in croplands, alkaline soils, and drier regions. Soil properties explain 12–31% of variation in multifunctionality, with microbial biomass and nitrogen content emerging as the strongest predictors. The soil microbiome accounts for 2–14% of unique variance in multifunctionality but explains more than 25% of variation in enzymatic activities and primary productivity in clay-rich soils and soils originating from temperate dry regions. Specific taxa, particularly within Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and the fungal genus Mortierella consistently emerge as strong predictors of ecosystem multifunctionality. Our findings highlight that ecosystem multifunctionality is jointly shaped by soil properties and microbial communities. We argue that specific taxa hold potential as context-dependent indicators for multifunctionality monitoring across environmental gradients.

The Western honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) is among the most important commercial pollinators in agriculture, but also plays a central role as pollinator in natural ecosystems. The globally occurring brood disease American foulbrood (AFB), caused by the gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae , poses a serious threat to colony health and productivity. Early and accurate diagnosis is therefore essential to effectively contain disease outbreaks. This study aimed to develop a rapid, sensitive point-of-care test in lateral flow format for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of the clinically relevant P. larvae genotypes ERIC I and II. To achieve this aim, two target antigens were selected, produced recombinantly or purified, and used to generate monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies formed the basis for the development of two sandwich ELISAs and, building on this, a duplex lateral flow assay. Both immunoassay formats were evaluated with infected larvae samples. The results showed high specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy, allowing reliable detection of P. larvae and differentiation between the genotypes ERIC I and II, thereby providing a valuable addition to existing diagnostic methods. In particular, the lateral flow assay enables rapid on-site diagnosis, facilitating timely intervention, and thus supports effective measures to control the spread of the disease.

Background

Despite the availability of effective LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering drugs, only a minority of patients achieves the guideline-recommended treatment targets. This analysis describes treatment pathways of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in Germany.

Methods

Health claims data were used to identify patients at high or very-high cardiovascular risk who received a LLT prescription 2016–2022. Treatment pathways and the time to switch or discontinue LLT were analysed for statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid (BA), and PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i).

Results

Out of 3,487,827 insured persons, 247,529 met the inclusion criteria. The most frequent first-line LLT were statins in 96.3%. Ezetimibe, BA, and PCSK9i were first-line LLT in only 0.9%, 0.061%, and 0.046%, respectively. Only few patients experienced a change in their treatment regimen following LLT initiation. Prescriptions of BA and PCSK9i were mainly second-, third-, or fourth-line add-on treatment. Termination of treatment with BA and PCSK9i was less frequent compared to statins and ezetimibe. The median time to treatment discontinuation was 1.45, 1.04, 0.60, and 2.45 years for statins, ezetimibe, BA, and PCSK9i, respectively, and the median time to switch therapy was 4.81 and 4.87 years for ezetimibe and PCSK9i, respectively (median not reached for statins and BA).

Conclusions

Changes in LLT were only observed in a minority of patients. BA and PCSK9i were switched more frequently than statins and ezetimibe. BA was discontinued earlier, and PCSK9i later than the other agents. Continued efforts to maintain long-term adherence and overcome therapeutic inertia are needed to realise the potential of available LLT with proven cardiovascular benefit.

High-spin states in molecular systems hold significant interest for applications ranging from optoelectronics to quantum technologies. Spin states generated in intramolecular singlet fission are of particular relevance, yet the mechanisms controlling triplet-pair formation are not fully understood – especially the involvement of quintet states in luminescence at room temperature remains experimentally elusive. Here, we investigate high-spin state formation and emission in dimers and trimers comprising multiple diphenylhexatriene units. We demonstrate the formation of pure quintet states in all these oligomers, with quintet-mediated emission dominating delayed fluorescence up to room temperature. By distinguishing between the formation of weakly exchange-coupled triplet pairs and triplet excitons generated by intersystem crossing, we identify the methylated trimer as the only oligomer exhibiting exclusively the desired singlet fission route. These findings establish quintet-mediated delayed emission as a distinct spin-selective pathway and show how molecular structure directs high-spin formation, opening opportunities for room-temperature molecular quantum technologies.

Organisms regulate cell size and shape to function efficiently. Aberrant cell morphogenesis is commonly associated with disease, yet gene-regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. CISTR-ACT was the first lncRNA involved in inter- chromosomal proximities and Mendelian disease, and it is associated with mean corpuscular volume (red blood cell size). Here, functional dissection of CISTR-ACT ’s DNA- and RNA-encoded mechanisms by in vitro and in vivo perturbations reveals that CISTR-ACT regulates cell size across cell types and species. CISTR-ACT ’s locus is embedded in a stable inter- chromosomal environment which contains cell size genes that are regulated by CISTR-ACT in trans. CISTR-ACT ’s RNA also has function and directly interacts with transcription factor FOSL2 to guide its regulation of cell morphogenesis and cell-cell adhesion genes. In the absence of CISTR-ACT , the FOSL2-chromatin binding is perturbed. Our study exemplifies how a functionally conserved lncRNA regulates cell size with multiple modes of action and ultimately contributes to clinically relevant phenotypes.

The controlled activity of active entities interacting with a passive environment can generate emergent system-level phenomena, positioning such systems as promising platforms for potential downstream applications in targeted drug delivery, adaptive and reconfigurable materials, microfluidic transport, and related fields. The present work aims to realise an optimal mixing of two segregated species of passive particles by introducing a small fraction of active particles ( by composition) with adaptive and intelligent behaviour, directed by a trained Artificial Neural Network-based agent. While conventional run-and-tumble particles can induce mixing in the system, the smart active particles demonstrate enhanced performance, achieving faster and more efficient mixing. Interestingly, an optimal mixing strategy doesn’t involve a uniform dispersion of active particles in the domain, but rather limiting their motion to an eccentrically placed zone of activity, inducing a global rotational motion of the passive particles about the system centre. A transition in the directionality of the passive particles’ motion is observed along the radius towards the centre, likening the active particles’ motion to an ellipse-shaped void with a defined surface speed. Situated at the intersection of active matter and machine learning, this work highlights the potential of integrating adaptive learning frameworks into traditional models of active matter.

This study compares the ability of the cytokinin (CK) trans ‐zeatin ( t Z) and the CK sugar conjugate 6‐(3‐methoxybenzylamino)purine‐9‐arabinoside (BAPA) to induce resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis thaliana . Treatment with either t Z or BAPA significantly reduced bacterial growth after a later infection. This chemically induced resistance (IR) required the CK receptor AHK3, highlighting its critical role in mediating resistance by t Z and BAPA. This is remarkable as these compounds show either high or no affinity for this CK receptor, respectively. Surprisingly, t Z, but not BAPA, induced the expression of CK response genes, including ARR5 , suggesting divergent mechanisms of action. Resistance caused by both compounds was abolished in the npr1 mutant, underpinning the functional relevance of the salicylic acid (SA) signalling pathway. Transcriptomic analysis showed that both BAPA and t Z triggered the expression of distinct sets of genes associated with SA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but not with jasmonic acid (JA) signalling. BAPA and, to a lesser extent, also t Z activated pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) signalling genes, including genes responsible for PTI signal amplification ( PREPIP2 ) and pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signalling ( PH1 , IDL6 ). This supported the hypothesis that the PTI pathway mediates the protective effect. Similarities and differences of chemically triggered IR by t Z and BAPA, as well as their potential for application, are discussed.

This study analyzes how individuals evaluate their peers' performance in a high-stakes tournament in response to being randomly assigned to an age homogenous or heterogenous group using data from two TV shows. The data also allow us to explore expert evaluations because it contains objective ratings from an independent expert. Additionally, this study investigates how age-diverse groups affect individual performance in professional golf tournaments. The results show that peer and expert evaluations as well as individual performance are lower in age-diverse groups. Further evidence suggests that these effects occur when group members are unfamiliar but fade away once group members have gotten to know each other.

Objective

Routine Outcome Monitoring and Feedback (ROM) systems have been widely implemented to improve outcomes of psychotherapy. While their additive effects are robust, effect sizes remain modest, and research indicates differential effectiveness. This study investigates how therapeutic dyads perceive the influence of ROM systems on both intrapersonal and interactive therapeutic processes to identify potential barriers and opportunities for a personalisation of feedback in therapy.

Method

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 participants (9 outpatients and their therapists) who had used the Greifswald Psychotherapy Navigation System (GPNS) during their treatment. Data were analysed using Kukartz's method of qualitative content analysis.

Results

Eight main categories emerged: (1) structure and use of feedback discussions, (2) reflection and competence development in patients and therapists, (3) reflection and competence change in patients and therapists, (4) patient empowerment, (5) applicability, satisfaction and perceived usefulness, (6) treatment adjustment and changes, (7) reflection on the psychotherapeutic process and (8) therapeutic alliance.

Conclusion

Overall, the therapeutic dyads agreed on positive influences of the GPNS on intrapersonal competencies and their therapeutic alliance. However, results indicate a differential effectiveness, and clinicians underestimated the benefits their patients reported. To confirm causal mechanisms and optimise feedback applications, further experimental studies are warranted.

In phytochromes, photoisomerization of the chromophore and subsequent structural relaxations lead to the functionally essential secondary structure transition of the tongue, a phytochrome‐specific protein segment. The coupling mechanism between chromophore and protein structural changes is yet not understood, but electric field changes are discussed to play an important role. In this work, electric field changes in the chromophore binding pocket (CBP) are confirmed to propagate over long distances through the protein and alter the electric field in the tongue region. An experimental‐theoretical approach to analyze local electric fields using Stark reporters has been further developed. These are nitrile groups introduced site‐specifically into the protein via noncanonical amino acids. The functional integrity of the variants is checked by crystallography and various spectroscopies. For the first time, functionally intact variants with substitutions in the tongue are generated. Based on frequency shifts and relative intensities of the nitrile stretching modes, hydrogen‐bonding and noncovalent electric field contributions are separated. The field changes originating in the CBP are transduced to the tongue along a pathway via Phe192. Given a proper direction of the net electric field vector in the tongue region, the magnitude of the field may be sufficient to destabilize the tongue structure.

In this “Provocation Article”, we argue that the sole focus of personnel selection research and practice on job performance criteria represents a substantial limitation. While job performance remains a key outcome, employee well‐being is also relevant—both as an intrinsic value and as a predictor of important organizational outcomes such as turnover, absenteeism, and citizenship behavior. Given the solid evidence on individual differences and work‐related factors that influence employee well‐being, and drawing on ethical, legal, and economic arguments, we call for a paradigm shift: Well‐being should be treated as an explicit criterion in personnel selection. We outline five practical pathways for integrating well‐being into selection systems, including the use of well‐being‐related traits (which should be carefully matched to job‐specific demands), person–environment fit approaches, simulation‐based tools, communicating well‐being priorities to applicants, and using selection insights to inform onboarding and support. We also discuss four key challenges, such as the risk of discriminatory practices, balancing multiple criteria, and faking. Finally, we sketch a research agenda to guide future work on well‐being‐focused selection. Overall, we advocate for multi‐criteria selection systems that promote not only organizational performance but also human flourishing.

The increasing threat of soil degradation presents significant challenges to soil health, especially within agroecosystems that are vital for food security, climate regulation, and economic stability. This growing concern arises from intricate interactions between land use practices and climatic conditions, which, if not addressed, could jeopardize sustainable development and environmental resilience. This review offers a comprehensive examination of soil degradation, including its definitions, global prevalence, underlying mechanisms, and methods of measurement. It underscores the connections between soil degradation and land use, with a focus on socio‐economic consequences. Current assessment methods frequently depend on insufficient data, concentrate on singular factors, and utilize arbitrary thresholds, potentially resulting in misclassification and misguided decisions. We analyze these shortcomings and investigate emerging methodologies that provide scalable and objective evaluations, offering a more accurate representation of soil vulnerability. Additionally, the review assesses both physical and biological indicators, as well as the potential of technologies such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics for enhanced monitoring and forecasting. Key factors driving soil degradation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, industrial activities, and extreme climate events, are thoroughly examined. The review emphasizes the importance of healthy soils in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly concerning food and water security, ecosystem health, poverty alleviation, and climate action. It suggests future research directions that prioritize standardized metrics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and predictive modeling to facilitate more integrated and effective management of soil degradation in the context of global environmental changes.