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Understanding how subjects perceive sensory stimuli in their environment and use this information to guide appropriate actions is a major challenge in neuroscience. To study perceptual decision-making in animals, researchers use tasks that either probe spontaneous responses to stimuli (often described as "naturalistic") or train animals to associate stimuli with experimenter-defined responses. Spontaneous decisions rely on animals' pre-existing knowledge, while trained tasks offer greater versatility, albeit often at the cost of extensive training. Here, we review emerging approaches to investigate perceptual decision-making using both spontaneous and trained behaviors, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Additionally, we propose how trained decision-making tasks could be improved to achieve faster learning and a more generalizable understanding of task rules.

Frogs are an ecologically diverse and phylogenetically ancient group of anuran amphibians that include important vertebrate cell and developmental model systems, notably the genus Xenopus. Here we report a high-quality reference genome sequence for the western clawed frog, Xenopus tropicalis, along with draft chromosome-scale sequences of three distantly related emerging model frog species, Eleutherodactylus coqui, Engystomops pustulosus, and Hymenochirus boettgeri. Frog chromosomes have remained remarkably stable since the Mesozoic Era, with limited Robertsonian (i.e., arm-preserving) translocations and end-to-end fusions found among the smaller chromosomes. Conservation of synteny includes conservation of centromere locations, marked by centromeric tandem repeats associated with Cenp-a binding surrounded by pericentromeric LINE/L1 elements. This work explores the structure of chromosomes across frogs, using a dense meiotic linkage map for X. tropicalis and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) data for all species. Abundant satellite repeats occupy the unusually long (~20 megabase) terminal regions of each chromosome that coincide with high rates of recombination. Both embryonic and differentiated cells show reproducible associations of centromeric chromatin and of telomeres, reflecting a Rabl-like configuration. Our comparative analyses reveal 13 conserved ancestral anuran chromosomes from which contemporary frog genomes were constructed.

Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged the brucellae with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related Ochrobactrum spp. in the genus Brucella. This change, founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic Ochrobactrum spp. from medically compromised patients, has been automatically included in culture collections and databases. We argue that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and we advise against its use because (i) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; (ii) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or Ochrobactrum; (iii) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and (iv) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, we urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella and Ochrobactrum genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.

Introduction: Cholera remains a significant public health threat globally, but its impact can be significantly reduced with the right knowledge and correct preventive practices. Conducting a study to provide baseline data and identify knowledge gaps on cholera will benefit at-risk and vulnerable communities. This research aimed to determine the household heads' knowledge about cholera and its prevention in a barangay in the Western Philippines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire was conducted in an urban barangay in Iloilo City in Western Philippines among 252 randomly selected household heads in May 2023. Data were described, and t-Test for independent samples and one-way ANOVA were used to test for differences. Results: The majority of household heads were generally knowledgeable about cholera and its prevention, but only 51.2% knew that oral rehydrating solution (ORS) could help manage symptoms of cholera. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in knowledge about cholera and its prevention based on sex (t = 2.92; p = 0.004). Conclusions: Household heads understood well and were informed of cholera and its prevention, although there were still some misconceptions. Continuous health education and knowledge assessment are recommended to raise awareness and ensure correct and timely information dissemination regarding cholera.

Abstract The current present in a galvanic couple can define its resistance or susceptibility to corrosion. However, as the current is dependent upon environmental, material, and geometrical parameters it is experimentally costly to measure. To reduce these costs, Finite Element (FE) simulations can be used to assess the cathodic current but also require experimental inputs to define boundary conditions. Due to these challenges, it is crucial to accelerate predictions and accurately predict the current output for different environments and geometries representative of in-service conditions. Machine learned surrogate models provides a means to accelerate corrosion predictions. However, a one-time cost is incurred in procuring the simulation and experimental dataset necessary to calibrate the surrogate model. Therefore, an active learning protocol is developed through calibration of a low-cost surrogate model for the cathodic current of an exemplar galvanic couple (AA7075-SS304) as a function of environmental and geometric parameters. The surrogate model is calibrated on a dataset of FE simulations, and calculates an acquisition function that identifies specific additional inputs with the maximum potential to improve the current predictions. This is accomplished through a staggered workflow that not only improves and refines prediction, but identifies the points at which the most information is gained, thus enabling expansion to a larger parameter space. The protocols developed and demonstrated in this work provide a powerful tool for screening various forms of corrosion under in-service conditions.

Introduction Hypertension increases all-cause mortality, and blood pressure (BP) is a major modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal disease. Options for the treatment of [...], Half of adults in the United States have hypertension as defined by clinical practice guidelines. Interestingly, women are generally more likely to be aware of their hypertension and have their blood pressure controlled with treatment compared with men, yet hypertension-related mortality is greater in women. This may reflect the fact that the female sex remains underrepresented in clinical and basic science studies investigating the effectiveness of therapies and the mechanisms controlling blood pressure. This Review provides an overview of the impact of the way hypertension research has explored sex as a biological variable (SABV). Emphasis is placed on epidemiological studies, hypertension clinical trials, the genetics of hypertension, sex differences in immunology and gut microbiota in hypertension, and the effect of sex on the central control of blood pressure. The goal is to offer historical perspective on SABV in hypertension, highlight recent studies that include SABV, and identify key gaps in SABV inclusion and questions that remain in the field. Through continued awareness campaigns and engagement/education at the level of funding agencies, individual investigators, and in the editorial peer review system, investigation of SABV in the field of hypertension research will ultimately lead to improved clinical outcomes.

The 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has increased the mental health challenges and decreased the quality of life among students and the general adult population. However, adult learners and non-traditional students who are currently at their quarter and midlife during the pandemic, remain underrepresented in well-being research. Moreover, the unique sociocultural and historical contexts specific to generational cohorts may have an impact on the way they experience and cope with the challenges brought about by the pandemic. This study sought to determine the relationships among generational identity, mental well-being and life satisfaction among Millennial and Generation X Filipino adult learners. A total of 543 adult learners participated in this online cross-sectional study. Findings suggest that young millennials reported lower levels of mental well-being and life satisfaction compared to old millennials and Gen Xers. Moreover, mental well-being was found to be a predictor of life satisfaction among Filipino adult learners, regardless of their generational identity. Schools must implement initiatives to monitor and address mental health issues among adult learners, contextualized to quarter and midlife contexts.

Imbalanced joint load distribution across the tibiofemoral surface is a risk factor for osteoarthritic changes to this joint. Lateral wedge insoles, with and without arch support, are a form of biomechanical intervention that can redistribute tibiofemoral joint load, as estimated by external measures of knee load. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of these insoles on the internal joint contact characteristics of osteoarthritic knees during weightbearing. Fifteen adults with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the affected knee, while standing under 3 insole conditions: flat control, lateral wedge alone, and lateral wedge with arch support. Images were processed, and the surface area and centroid location of joint contact were quantified separately for the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments. Medial contact surface area was increased with the 2 lateral wedge conditions compared with the control (P ≤.012). A more anterior contact centroid was observed in the medial compartment in the lateral wedge with arch support compared with the lateral wedge alone (P =.009). Significant changes in lateral compartment joint contact outcomes were not observed. These findings represent early insights into how loading at the tibiofemoral interface may be altered by lateral wedge insoles as a potential intervention for knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary mitochondrial diseases are a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorders resulting from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) defects. COX11 encodes a copper chaperone that participates in the assembly of complex IV and has not been previously linked to human disease. In a previous study, we identified that COX11 knockdown decreased cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) derived from respiration, and that ATP levels could be restored with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ) supplementation. This finding is surprising since COX11 has no known role in CoQ10 biosynthesis. Here, we report a novel gene-disease association by identifying biallelic pathogenic variants in COX11 associated with infantile-onset mitochondrial encephalopathies in two unrelated families using trio genome and exome sequencing. Functional studies showed that mutant COX11 fibroblasts had decreased ATP levels which could be rescued by CoQ10 . These results not only suggest that COX11 variants cause defects in energy production but reveal a potential metabolic therapeutic strategy for patients with COX11 variants.

Most private sector employees have access to defined contribution retirement plans while public sector employees often may choose defined benefit or defined contribution plans. This research utilized a survey of faculty to analyze retirement plan satisfaction. Advice from a financial planner was positively associated with satisfaction with portability. Retirement plan knowledge was negatively associated with satisfaction with the decision period. Selection of a defined benefit plan was positively related to four aspects of satisfaction and negatively related to regret. Financial planners assisting individuals who face such choices should acknowledge the decision's challenges and evaluate the client's level of retirement planning knowledge. Focusing on long-term goals and the client's investment and mobility risk tolerance may be helpful, especially after market corrections.

The unexpected occurrence of the COVID-19 outbreak has undeniably disrupted the normalcy of life. Stress has become an important concern in education since the COVID-19 outbreak. This descriptive-correlational online survey administered in August 2020 utilized the COVID-19 Perceived Stress Scale (COVID-19 PSS-10) to assess the COVID-19 perceived stress among employed Filipino teachers. Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tested for differences while Spearman's rho was used to analyze the correlation between variables. Results demonstrated that more than half of teachers experienced moderate COVID-19 stress. Females experienced significantly higher COVID-19 stress compared to males. A negative correlation was noted between self-rated health and COVID-19 stress while a positive correlation was found between the perceive risk of getting COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 stress. This study highlights that steps must be undertaken to help teachers deal with the stress of the COVID-19 crisis as well as they must be provided or taught with stress management interventions during this pandemic. This study could be used as a baseline for future research to assess the impact of COVID-19 stress among professional teachers.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting new and unforeseen pressures and has resulted in substantial disruption in the lives of the people across the globe. Although there is a budding body of literature on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and psychological well-being, little research has been published among Filipino graduate students in the context of a pandemic. This descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional research examined the relationship of resilience on COVID-19 perceived stress, anxiety, and fear. Two-hundred and three graduate students participated in the online survey conducted in the last week of August 2020. Four self-reported questionnaires were used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics and correlational analysis were performed. Results indicated that the composite scores of the COVID-19 stress, anxiety, and fear were 2.81 (SD=0.605), 3.94 (SD=0.686), and 3.03 (SD=1.004) respectively. The composite score on the resilience scale was 3.33 (SD=0.496). COVID-19 stress and fear had a significant inverse correlation with resilience. Resilience has a protective influence on COVID-19 fear and is pivotal to cope with COVID-19 stress. Educational institutions may need to cultivate and harness the resilient trait of graduate students in the midst of pandemic and other stressful events to help combat negative mental states and undesirable psychological consequences.

Nurses play a key role in management and care services to maintain patient safety; however, with the emergence of COVID-19, the number of nurses still continues to decline. Due to the on-going problem that even novice nurses may see as a major challenge, this study aims to identify whether nursing graduates are willing to participate in the care of COVID-19 patients. The study is cross-sectional where a total of 146 conveniently chosen nursing graduates currently enrolled in Nursing Review Centers in the Philippines preparing to take the Nurse Licensure Examination. The data were collected using Google forms from August to September 2020 using a four-part questionnaire which includes demographic information sheet, COVID-19 Perceived Risk Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and questions pertaining to their willingness to care for COVID-19 patients. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman rho were used to analyze the data. After gathering the information from the participants, the results had ultimately shown that the majority of the participants (86.3%) are willing to care for COVID-19 patients. The ones with the most significant positive correlation with willingness were age (p = 0.008), self-reported health (p = 0.000), self-reported knowledge about COVID-19 (p = 0.001), and interest to become a Registered Nurses (p = 0.000). Based on these results, the majority of the participants had been willing to care for patients with COVID-19, although the factors that influence were associated with their willingness differ. Keywords: COVID-19, nursing graduates, willingness Abstrak Kesediaan Lulusan Mahasiswa Keperawatan dalam Memberikan Perawatan Pasien COVID-19. Perawat memainkan peran kunci dalam manajemen dan pelayanan perawatan untuk menjaga keselamatan pasien; namun dengan munculnya COVID-19 jumlah perawat semakin berkurang. Masalah ini masih berlangsung dan dianggap sebagai tantangan besar bahkan oleh perawat pemula, oleh karena itu penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi apakah lulusan keperawatan bersedia berpartisipasi dalam perawatan pasien COVID-19. Studi ini menggunakan metode cross-sectional dan dilakukan pada 146 lulusan keperawatan yang terdaftar di Pusat Tinjauan Keperawatan (Nursing Review Centers) di Filipina dan sedang bersiap untuk mengikuti ujian lisensi perawat (Nurse Licensure Examination). Data dikumpulkan menggunakan formulir Google dari Agustus hingga September 2020 menggunakan kuesioner empat bagian yang meliputi lembar informasi demografi, Skala Persepsi Risiko COVID-19, Skala Ketakutan terhadap COVID-19, dan pertanyaan terkait kesediaan mereka untuk peduli terhadap pasien COVID-19. Statistik deskriptif seperti frekuensi, persentase, mean, dan standar deviasi serta statistik inferensial seperti Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, dan Spearman rho digunakan untuk menganalisis data. Setelah mengumpulkan informasi dari para peserta, hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas peserta (86,3%) bersedia merawat pasien COVID-19. Korelasi positif yang paling signifikan dengan kemauan adalah usia (p = 0,008), laporan kesehatan diri (p = 0,000), pengetahuan yang dilaporkan sendiri tentang COVID-19 (p = 0,001), dan minat menjadi registered nurse (p = 0,000). Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, mayoritas peserta telah bersedia merawat pasien COVID-19, meskipun faktor yang memengaruhi kesediaannya berbeda-beda. Kata Kunci: COVID-19, kesediaan, lulusan keperawatan

This paper presents a collective self-study that examines what student teachers and a teacher educator learned from our collective work during the initial Covid-19 shutdown. Using a theory of collaborative inquiry grounded in Brené Brown's work on resiliency and vulnerability, we examined our work during this time of great struggle. We learned how severe challenges prompted us to enhance our practices and reimagine typical roles while thinking critically and creatively about teaching and learning.

Background: Studies have shown that various factors influence students' success in nursing school and the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE). Such factors should be studied as foundations of the nursing programs. Problems with proficiency in the language used by the instructor to teach curricular courses may be considered a barrier to effective learning and academic success. Purpose: This study ascertained the influence of English language proficiency on the academic performance of students in professional nursing courses and the NLE. Methods: This study employed a retrospective descriptive correlational study design. Secondary analysis of existing research data sets of 141 nursing students in one nursing school in the Philippines was performed. Pearson's r was used to determine the correlation between variables. Results: Findings showed that there were significant correlations between academic performance and the Verbal Ability subscale of the Nursing Aptitude Test (p=0.003) and the three English courses included in the nursing curriculum (p=0.000). There were also significant correlations between the NLE ratings and Verbal Ability (p=0.000) and the three English courses (p=0.000). Conclusion: English language proficiency is an important factor in determining the academic and licensure success of nursing students. Nursing schools must ensure that approaches in improving students' English language proficiency must be well integrated into the undergraduate nursing program.

In nursing education, it is expected that theory underlies practice. However, studies have indicated nursing students still experience theory and practice gap. This study attempted to determine the relationship between theoretical classroom instruction and Related Learning Experienc es (RLE) of nursing students. Using existing data set of nursing graduates in a Philippine Nursing University for a five-year cohort (N=653), this study employed a descriptive correlational research design. Pearson's correlation and simple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that a significant relationship existed between theoretical classroom instruction and RLE performance of nursing students. Theoretical classroom instruction explained 64% of the variance in RLE. This study highlights the importance of good theoretical instruction in predicting the performance of nursing students in the practicum or RLE component of nursing education and training. Success in the didactic portion significantly contributes to the success of the practical part of the nursing curriculum. Nursing academic institutions must continually strive to promote the transfer of learning from classroom to actual care setting to help bridge the gap between theory and practice.