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• A creativity training course was developed for university students. • STEAM activities were incorporated to practice the creative thinking skills. • The training significantly enhanced university students' creative abilities. • The training led to a trend of increase in university students' creative self-efficacy. In this fast-paced world, we are constantly required to be adaptive and creative. In particular, creative ability is needed to solve problems in various situations. The current study aimed to develop a creativity training course for university students in which STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) activities were incorporated to practice and strengthen the creative thinking skills required across domains. 80 university students were recruited for the study. Before and after the training course (duration = 4 months), participants' creativity was measured in terms of both creative abilities and creative self-efficacy. Using a pre-posttest between-subjects design, the results showed significant improvements in tasks measuring participants' creative abilities after the training, and the increase was significantly higher than in the control group. In addition, the creativity training group tended to improve their creative self-efficacy. The current findings suggest that creativity training integrating STEAM activities could be an effective approach to foster creativity. The implications for developing effective creativity training with (in) STEAM activities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata , is known for its long-distance seasonal migration and environment-dependent phase polymorphisms. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome reference and integrate multi-omics, functional genetics, and behavioral assays to explore the genetic bases of the hallmark traits of M. separata migration. Gene family comparisons show expansion of gustatory receptor genes in this cereal crop pest. Functional investigation of magnetoreception-related genes and associated flight behaviors suggest that M. separata may use the geomagnetic field to guide orientation in its nocturnal flight. Comparative transcriptome characterizes a suite of genes that may confer the observed plasticity between phases, including genes involved in protein processing, hormone regulation, and dopamine metabolism. We further report molecular signatures that underlie the dynamic regulation of a migratory syndrome coordinating reproduction and flight. Our study yields insights into environment-dependent developmental plasticity in moths and advances our understanding of long-distance migration in nocturnal insect pests. [Display omitted] • Chromosome-level genome and gene editing system are presented for Mythimna separata • Silencing of magnetoreception-related genes disrupts the orientation of nocturnal flight • Conditional flight attenuates reproduction-flight trade-off via hormone regulation • Transcriptome profiles characterize genes underlying the phase differentiation Mythimna separata is a night-flying migrant that displays characteristic migratory syndrome. Tong et al. present its chromosome-level genome along with an efficient gene editing system. Their integrative study characterizes molecular signatures underlying the biology of nocturnal migration in terms of flight orientation, developmental plasticity, and trade-offs between flight and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight can be the first step toward creating a groundbreaking product. The Representation Change (RC) Theory and the Progress Monitoring (PM) Theory and other theories of insight have been verified through numerous studies, but they indeed are not so perfect. We put forward a Prototype Heuristic Theory of insight and explored its cognitive mechanism by this study. Based on this theory, insight would occur as soon as the critical heuristic information contained in prototypes was suddenly obtained to play an orientational role in the process of searching the right problem solution searching space. The process of prototype heuristics consists of two stages: “representations connection” stage and “relationship mapping” stage and the core process was the representations connection. Furthermore, high semantic similarity between required-function of problems and feature-function of prototypes was the prime condition for representations connection. We also developed the RC Theory and PM Theory in some extent based on our Prototype Heuristic Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal burden throughout the world is very high and it keeps escalating due to increasing numbers of immunocompromised individuals. In contrast, the drugs used in management of fungal infections are so few some with high toxicity. Furthermore, highly resistant fungal pathogens are emerging for example Candida auris , Candida glabrata , Candida gullemondii and Aspergillus species among others. Thus now, more than ever, there is a need for combined efforts and an all round search for possible solutions to curb these problems. Therefore, the role of probiotics in management of fungal infections is indispensable. In fact, the antimicrobial activity of probiotics has been screened with promising results against microbial pathogens. Although, recent reports indicated that probiotics may also contribute to protect against fungal infections, the research done in checking antifungal activity of probiotics has used varied technology. This calls for harmonization of the methods used to screen and confirm the antimicrobial activity of probiotics and other candidate microorganisms. We therefore sought to address issues of disparity in probiotic research and their outcomes. Thus this paper is in order as it comprehensively reviews' publications, provides a summary of the methods and future prospects of probiotics as antifungal agents. • Fungal pathogens are increasingly becoming a challenge in the medical field. • Eminent challenges are resistance, association with cancer and few antifungals. • Probiotics is a promising field for the challenges faced in fungal management. • The methods used to screen probiotics need harmonization. • In vitro , in vivo and randomized clinical trials warrant conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phubbing, or the act of snubbing someone in a face-to-face interaction by using a smartphone, is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the digital era. A person being phubbed can feel neglected and has an increased risk of mental illness. The present study examined how being phubbed is related to depression, mediated through self-esteem. Furthermore, this study examined the moderating effect of dispositional forgiveness on the relationship between being phubbed and depression via self-esteem. It was predicted that self-esteem would mediate the relationship between being phubbed and depression, and that this mediating effect would be stronger for individuals with low forgiveness dispositions than for individuals with high forgiveness dispositions. We recruited 995 undergraduates aged 18–20 years from three different universities in China to participate in the current study. Participants completed measures of being phubbed, self-esteem, depression, and dispositional forgiveness. The results revealed that self-esteem mediated the relationship between being phubbed and depression. Additionally, dispositional forgiveness moderated the indirect effect of being phubbed on depression through self-esteem. Unlike what was predicted, the indirect effect of being phubbed on depression was stronger for high forgiveness individuals than for low forgiveness individuals. This unanticipated orientation and other results are discussed. • Being phubbed is positively related to depression. • Self-esteem mediates the relationship between being phubbed and depression. • Dispositional forgiveness amplified the mediation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]