The Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) is a consortium of 21 twin studies from 5 countries (Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and United States) established to explore the nature of gene–environment interplay in cognitive, physical, and emotional health across the adult lifespan. The combined data from over 145,000 participants (aged 18 to 108 years at intake) has supported multiple research projects over the three phases of development since its inception in 2010. Phases 1 and 2 focused on launching and growing the consortium and supported important developments in data harmonization, analyses of data pooled across multiple studies, incorporation of linkages to national registries and conscription data, and integration of molecular genetic and classical twin designs. IGEMS Phase 3 focuses on developing appropriate infrastructure to maximize utilization of this large twin consortium for aging research.

The period between 450 and 350 BC is regarded as a time of significant social change during the European Iron Age, with numerous processes of transformation, instability, conflict, and mobility unfolding across the European continent. However, in contrast to other episodes of abrupt social transformation, this period has received considerably less attention: it has been understood as a starting point or a sudden change but not usually researched in its own right.

The present study begins by reviewing different European archaeological contexts, exploring how this century is usually interpreted as a significant break. Next, the focus will shift to a specific region, north-west Iberia, in order to identify changes in patterns of occupation and social dynamics. The primary objective is to examine the shift that occurred around 400 BC, identify any common pattern or trend across different regions, and assess long-term consequences. Finally, I propose a series of interpretations at different scales, aiming to raise some possible hypotheses for understanding the development of this brief yet eventful period.

Hypertension (HTN) is the primary cause of preventable cardiovascular-related deaths globally, representing the most important modifiable risk factor for preventing such deaths. Nearly 700 million of the 1.3 billion adults with HTN worldwide remain untreated, most of whom live in low-and middle-income countries, including East Africa. Barriers to the diagnosis of HTN also impact treatment adherence after diagnosis and the initiation of treatment. This scoping review used a qualitative synthesis method to describe studies examining the cultural and contextual factors influencing HTN treatment adherence in East Africa and the lived experiences of patients with HTN to gain a better understanding of these factors in the region. A total of 34 studies, 25 qualitative and 9 mixed-methods designs from five East African nations were included in the final review. Reported influencing factors are classified into individual, structural, and social factors. Lack of HTN literacy and limited risk perception were often cited as individual barriers to adherence, along with mental health challenges, including fear of stigma, while trust and HTN literacy enhanced adherence. Inconsistent healthcare delivery, lack of access, and financial constraints were the most reported structural factors. Social norms surrounding health behaviours and attitudes towards HTN treatment were identified as key determinants of adherence at the social level. The findings underscore the complex interplay of individual, structural, and social factors associated with HTN treatment adherence in East Africa, offering practical ways to enhance adherence in the region at all three levels.

Recently, Donoso, Le, Moreira, and Sun studied the asymptotic behaviour of the averages of completely multiplicative functions over the Gaussian integers. They derived Wirsing’s theorem for Gaussian integers, answered a question of Frantzikinakis and Host for the sum of two squares, and obtained a variant of a theorem of Bergelson and Richter on ergodic averages along the number of prime factors of integers. In this paper, we will show the analogue of these results for co-prime integer pairs. Moreover, building on Frantzikinakis and Host’s results, we obtain some convergences on the multilinear averages of multiplicative functions over primitive lattice points.

China accounts for over 90% of global alveolar echinococcosis (AE) cases caused primarily by Echinococcus multilocularis. If left untreated, AE can have a 10-year mortality rate of 94%. Understanding its epidemiological patterns is essential for targeted control strategies. Surveillance data from 2006 to 2020 were obtained from the Public Health Scientific Data Center, and spatial and temporal trends were analyzed using spatial autocorrelation, hot spot analysis, and centroid migration techniques. A total of 51,403 echinococcosis cases were reported from 2006 to 2020, with an average annual incidence of 0.25 per 100,000. Most cases (71.33%) occurred in individuals aged 20–60 years. High-incidence areas centred in western/northwestern provinces, including Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang, Gansu, and Ningxia. Incidence and cases increased until 2017, then declined steadily. Spatial autocorrelation revealed persistent High-High clusters in Gansu and Ningxia (2008–2018) and Xizang (2010–2020), while Low-Low clusters persisted in central/eastern China. Hotspot analysis confirmed sustained high-risk zones in western/northwestern regions. Trend surface and centroid migration showed a southward disease shift within Qinghai. Echinococcosis remains endemic in western/northwestern China, with a trend of southward expansion. Strengthened, tailored interventions are urgently needed, particularly in high-burden areas like Xizang and Qinghai.

Redistricting plays a critical role in structuring the competitive terrain of American elections and shaping the quality of democratic representation. While often viewed as a routine administrative task, the redrawing of electoral boundaries is a deeply political process that can significantly influence who runs for office, who wins, and how voters are represented. This article examines the relationship between redistricting and electoral competition, with a particular focus on how partisan gerrymandering, legal rulings, and institutional reforms have influenced the fairness and integrity of the redistricting process. Tracing its historical roots and evolution, the analysis explores how legislatures, courts, and independent commissions construct district maps and the downstream effects these configurations have on incumbent entrenchment, voter behavior, and partisan polarization. By investigating the trade-offs between fair representation and competitive elections, this article illuminates how institutional design choices shape electoral outcomes and democratic legitimacy. In doing so, it underscores the enduring significance of redistricting as a source of political contestation and reform in the ongoing struggle to strengthen American democracy.

This article presents the first quantitative study into coronal stop deletion in Surinamese Dutch. It maps the frequency and conditioning of word-final [t]-deletion in the Dutch spoken by 22 Creole women in five speech settings and compares these data to results of previous studies on European Dutch. A multivariate analysis of 7,418 tokens of word-final /t/ preceded by an obstruent indicates that [t]-deletion is a highly frequent phenomenon in Surinamese Dutch, strongly influenced by both the segment following the final stop and the formality of the speech setting. The age of the speaker, the morphological status of /t/, the segment preceding the final stop, the frequency of the word containing the final stop, and the cluster length are also observed to be relevant, but the impact of these factors is much smaller and highly dependent on the phonetic context. Interestingly, the conditioning of [t]-deletion diverges from the one observed in European Dutch in some respects, which, along with the observed age effect, substantiates the idea that an endoglossic Dutch norm is developing in Suriname and that there are fundamental differences between Surinamese and European Dutch.*

In this cross-sectional study of 136 antimicrobial prescriptions at a rehabilitation hospital with recent implementation of electronic medication order entry and no mandatory requirements, we found incomplete documentation of both indication (37%) and duration (75%). An accompanying survey identified potential solutions including reminders, improved choice architecture, and forced functions.

Scholars debate whether the presence of multiple parties in the legislature stabilizes dictatorships or promotes their demise. We show that authoritarian regimes face a dilemma: allowing for multipartism reduces the risk of bottom-up revolt, but facilitates protracted top-down democratization. Concessions to the opposition diminish the long-term benefits of authoritarian rule and empower regime soft-liners. We test our theory in Latin America—a region with a broad range of autocracies —using survival models, instrumental variables, random forests, and two case studies. Our theory explains why rational autocrats accept multipartism, even though this concession may ultimately undermine the regime. It also accounts for democratic transitions that occur when the opposition is fragmented and without a stunning authoritarian defeat.

How do social hierarchies affect patterns of discrimination in democratic contexts? While studies of identity politics in diverse societies often focus on relations between groups formed around parallel identities like ethnicity, these same societies often feature hierarchical identities that rank individuals into stratified groups. This paper examines how culturally embedded caste identities, inherited at birth, continue to shape everyday life. Drawing on an original survey of 2,160 Senegalese citizens, we show that caste remains a salient axis of perceived discrimination despite its formal abolition over a century ago. Individuals from occupational caste and slave-descended backgrounds are significantly more likely to report experiences of exclusion such as the denial of basic services. Most respondents attribute caste-based discrimination to cultural norms rather than economic competition, religious instruction, or biological differences. Moreover, we find that high-status individuals systematically overreport tolerant attitudes in face-to-face interviews with lower-status enumerators, suggesting that social desirability can obscure the extent of status-based attitudes. These findings shed light on the persistence of caste hierarchies and their impact on citizenship in societies otherwise considered tolerant and democratic. These findings contribute to research on identity politics by highlighting the need to distinguish between ranked and unranked forms of social difference.

Based on morphological and molecular data, we describe a new species of Diaphorocleidus parasitizing the nasal cavities of Tetragonopterus argenteus from the Lima Campos weir, municipality of Icó, state of Ceará, Brazil. Diaphorocleidus radius n. sp. resembles other congeners in the morphology of the accessory piece, all by having a bifurcated accessory piece (pincer-shaped), composed of two subunits articulated. However, the new species can be easily distinguished from all congeners by the morphology of the sclerotized structures of the haptor (ventral anchor with well-developed superficial root, ornamented deep root, recurved blade, elongated and lightning-shaped tip; and ventral bar robust, plate-shaped, truncated in lateral ends). Phylogenetic analyses of LSU rDNA and COI mtDNA sequences, conducted using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood, placed Diaphorocleidus radius n. sp. within Diaphorocleidus, grouping it with species parasitizing acestrorhamphid hosts. Genetic distances between Diaphorocleidus radius n. sp. and other congeneric species such as D. armillatus and D. forficata showed clear differentiation. Both molecular markers support the distinctiveness of Diaphorocleidus radius n. sp., consistent with its recognition as a new taxon.

This study examines how Americans conceptualize democracy and whether their support for democratic principles remains consistent across different trade-offs. Using a conjoint experiment, we test whether citizens act as principle holders—maintaining support for democratic norms regardless of circumstances—or benefit seekers who prioritize material outcomes over liberal democratic norms. Our findings reveal that while respondents generally prefer democratic principles including rule of law, political equality, and freedom of expression, these preferences are moderated by economic well-being. When presented with scenarios featuring economic disadvantage, support for traditional democratic principles declines markedly. This context dependency challenges conventional survey measures of democratic attitudes, as we observe substantial divergence between participants’ self-reported understandings of democracy and their revealed preferences when forced to navigate trade-offs. These results help to explain why campaign appeals framing democracy as “on the ballot” proved ineffective in the 2024 US presidential election, as voters facing economic hardship privileged material concerns over abstract democratic principles. Our findings contribute to debates about democratic backsliding by demonstrating that economic conditions play a crucial role in shaping citizens’ commitment to democratic governance, with implications for understanding populist mobilization and the resilience of democratic norms during periods of economic uncertainty.