Science Club

Sinking marine snow particles, composed primarily of organic matter, control the global export of photosynthetically fixed carbon from the ocean surface to depth. The fate of sedimenting particles is partly regulated by their encounters with suspended objects, which leads to mass accretion and potentially alters their buoyancy, and with bacteria that can colonise the particles and degrade them. Their collision rates are typically calculated using two types of models focusing either on direct (ballistic) interception with a finite interaction range, or advective-diffusive capture with zero interaction range. Yet, since many relevant marine encounter scenarios span across both regimes, quantifying such encounters remains challenging because the two models yield asymptotically different predictions at high Péclet numbers. We reconcile the two approaches by quantifying encounters in the general case using theoretical analysis and simulations. By solving the advection-diffusion equation in Stokes flow around a sphere to model mass transfer to a sinking particle by finite-sized objects, we determine a new formula for the Sherwood number as a function of the Péclet number and the ratio of particle sizes. Contrary to the common assumption, we find that diffusion still plays a significant role in generating encounters even at high Péclet numbers. We predict that at Péclet numbers as high as 10 6 the direct interception model underestimates the encounter rate by up to two orders of magnitude. This overlooked contribution of diffusion to encounters suggests that processes affecting the fate of marine snow may proceed at a rate much higher than previously thought.

Abstract Alleles of ASIP gene (Agouti locus) in dogs determine a wide spectrum of coat colors, from red to black. Gain-of-function Ay allele is the most dominant in the range of known ASIP mutations: when all other genes affecting coat pigmentation are intact, presence of Ay allele results in red coat color. Loss-of-function a allele is the most recessive allele of this gene. When homozygous, it gives black coat color. Usually, dogs with Ay/a genotype have red coat, because a single copy of Ay allele is sufficient to fully compensate for the non-functional allele a , implying the complete dominance in this pair of alleles. However exceptions are known. In the Hungarian Puli breed there is a specific coat pigmentation type called fakó. We investigated the genetic composition of fakó dogs and found evidence that the dominance of the Ay allele over the a allele may be incomplete in these dogs. Analysis of the MC1R gene that interacts with ASIP in the hair pigmentation genetic cascade allowed us to find the variants that may be responsible for the incomplete dominance of Ay allele over a allele in Hungarian Puli dogs.

Single-cell foundation models are reshaping biology by learning transferable representations of cellular state from millions of profiles. These models support annotation, denoising, cross-modal mapping and, increasingly, prediction of responses to genetic or pharmacological perturbations. Despite this progress, most approaches treat cells as independent observations and ignore the multicellular context that governs tissue behavior. Models trained on aggregated datasets often fail to generalize to new donors, laboratories or interventions, in part because their latent spaces lack structure for composition and extrapolation. As a result, strong reconstruction performance does not guarantee accurate forecasting of system-level responses. The general problem addressed here is how to construct a scalable model that predicts multicellular, patient-level responses to interventions while preserving single-cell resolution and enabling generalization beyond observed conditions. Here we show that TRAILBLAZER, a multicellular transformer encoder coupled to an explicitly shaped hyperspherical latent space and a count-aware generative decoder, enables accurate zero-shot prediction of perturbation responses and ranking of candidate immunomodulators at patient resolution. In contrast to prior single-cell or pseudo-bulk approaches, TRAILBLAZER models tissues as coordinated systems using latent tokens that summarize and redistribute global context while maintaining near-linear scaling with group size. By organizing latent geometry around shared healthy references and calibrated mechanistic directions, the model renders vector arithmetic biologically meaningful and supports extrapolation to unseen agents. Together, these results establish a practical framework for mechanism-aware simulation of multicellular responses and suggest a path toward predictive foundation models for therapeutic discovery.

This study examined the moderating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between work environment stressors and teachers’ job satisfaction in Technical Colleges in South East Nigeria. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses were stated to guide the study. The study utilized the correlational research design. The population of the study was 360, comprised of Principals and teachers from public technical college in South-East Nigeria. The sample size was 176 respondents. A two-stage sampling procedure was employed for the study. Two instruments were used for the study. The first instrument was developed by the researcher. It was “Teachers Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (TOSJSQ)” and the COPE Inventory developed by Carver, et al (1989) was adopted for this study. The instrument Teachers Occupational Stress and Morale Questionnaire, TOSJSQ was subjected to a trial test using the Cronbach Alpha method of determining reliability. The instrument was trial tested on 30 respondents who are not part of the sample but are in the study area. The scores obtained from the trial-test was subjected to Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) alpha analysis. The result gave a value of 0.88 for TOSJSQ. Structural equation modelling (SEM) path analysis was used to answer research questions and to test all the null hypothesis at .05 level of significance. Findings of the path analysis shows a significant moderating effect of coping skills on the relationship between role stressors and teachers’ job satisfaction in technical colleges. There is no significant moderating effect of coping skills on the relationship between mistreatment and teachers’ job satisfaction. The study recommends that Problem-focused coping will help teacher to deal better with stress work situations, as such, teachers are advised to always improvise and find practical ways to solve work related problems.

The participation of youth in sports has been rapidly growing over the years and has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. Physical activity is highly important for mental development among children, however, there are also rising risks of sports-related injuries. The purpose of the article has been to analyse the common injuries which are experienced by the youth and highlight a pattern in these injuries. Multiple patterns have been seen within the study, as the injuries are seen to be more common among men than women due to their high participation in the field of sports, whereas thigh and knee-related injuries are also seen to be exceptionally common compared to other forms. A sports medicine perspective is crucial for developing strategies, and therefore, different pieces of past literature have been studied that focus on proper monitoring and interventions that can ensure the long-term well-being of the youth.

The study of caves requires strategies that allow for the analysis of their geometry and structural patterns at a three-dimensional level. The proper construction of their digital models allows us to treat them as structured data models, to which we can associate and georeference records related to geomorphodiversity, biodiversity, cultural heritage, environmental impact, and the environment. This allows us to analyze all this information, also considering its geospatial component.

Boron is a trace element with multifaceted chemical and biological properties that underpin its emerging relevance in human health and medicinal chemistry. Although present in organisms at very low concentrations, boron participates in key physiological processes, including mineral metabolism, bone homeostasis, hormonal regulation, immune modulation, and redox balance. Its unique electronic structure-characterized by electron deficiency and the ability to form multi-center bonds-gives rise to diverse allotropic, cluster, and coordination chemistries, enabling the formation of biologically active complexes and therapeutic agents. Dietary boron, derived mainly from plant-based foods, is efficiently absorbed and predominantly excreted by the kidneys, showing a strong correlation between intake and urinary levels. Current evidence suggests beneficial effects of boron on bone mineral density, cognitive function, inflammation, antioxidant defenses, and metabolic regulation, although the precise molecular mechanisms remain partially understood. In medicinal chemistry, a broad spectrum of boron-containing compounds-including borates, boronic acids, boronated amino acids, carboranes, and metallacarboranes-has gained clinical and preclinical importance. These compounds serve as enzyme inhibitors, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents, metabolic modulators, and critical boron carriers in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which leverages the neutron-capture properties of 10B for targeted cancer treatment. Advances in synthesis, functionalization, and nanocarrier design have expanded the therapeutic potential of boron-based molecules. Ongoing research aims to optimize their selectivity, biodistribution, safety, and diagnostic integration. Overall, boron represents a versatile and rapidly developing component of modern biomedical science, with promising implications for oncology, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and precision medicine.

Background: Neoplastic diseases constitute a major public health challenge globally and in Poland. Despite the implementation of population-based screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, participation rates in Poland remain unsatisfactory. Early detection is the most effective tool for reducing cancer mortality, yet it relies heavily on public awareness and health literacy. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes of adult residents of the Podkarpackie and Małopolskie voivodeships (south-east Poland) regarding screening tests, and to analyze the influence of sociodemographic factors on health behaviors. Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a diverse group of 288 adults (192 women and 95 men). The research tool was an original questionnaire containing 30 items regarding knowledge of screening types (mammography, cytology, colonoscopy), screening guidelines, and risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test (p<0.05). Results: While general awareness of screening is high (99.7% of respondents recognized the terms), specific knowledge regarding frequency and age criteria is lacking. Education level proved to be the strongest predictor of adequate knowledge (p<0.001). A significant misconception regarding smoking was observed in the 50–65 age group, where many respondents believed smoking does not increase lung cancer risk. The main perceived barriers were low availability and lack of promotion. Conclusions: There is a critical need for targeted educational campaigns, particularly addressing men and individuals with lower education levels. The misconceptions prevalent in the 50–65 age group require immediate rectification to improve the effectiveness of lung cancer prevention.

ABSTRACT This study examined how contextual factors influence match-running performance in elite women’s soccer, with a focus on differences between starters (i.e. players who began the match) and nonstarters (i.e. players who entered the match as substitutes and played for at least 5 minutes). A total of 95 women’s players from four teams competing in the Brazilian Women’s First Division were monitored across 60 matches using 10-Hz GPS devices. Running performance was analyzed in both absolute and relative terms (m·min−1) across five speed zones, PlayerLoad, accelerations, and decelerations metrics. The contextual variables examined included opponent level, match location, number of days between matches, and the momentary point-difference. Starters covered greater absolute distances, while nonstarters exhibited higher relative demands in moderate- to high intensity zones and accelerations. Starters displayed higher relative distances in low intensity running. As part of the positional comparison, midfielders covered the greatest total distance, while external defenders and forwards performed more high-intensity actions. Central defenders had the lowest physical demands across all metrics. Nonstarters showed greater sprinting distances in matches against stronger opponents when playing at home. The momentary point-difference also influenced physical performance, with more balanced matches associated with reduced running outputs across positions and roles. Additionally, greater running outputs were observed in matches with ≤4 days of recovery, especially in low-to-moderate intensity zones. Performance staff should adopt role-specific and context-approach training strategies, considering starter status and match contextual demands to prescribe compensatory training loads in elite women’s soccer.