Abstract: Burnout is well-researched. That no scoping reviews exist on the relationship between burnout and nutrition to determine the range and depth of peer-reviewed studies on burnout, nutrition, nutrition literacy, or food literacy is unexpected. The selection was to conduct a scoping review of the past six years, as the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2023 may have significantly affected burnout and nutrition. The search undertaken involved the keywords “burnout AND nutrition AND (nutrition literacy OR food literacy)” of five primary databases (CINAHL Plus, OVID, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and one supplementary database (Google Scholar). Included are all peer-reviewed studies on burnout, nutrition, nutrition literacy, or food literacy in English published between 2020 and 2025. A 3 June 2025 search of the databases produced the included records. They are from two of the six—OVID (n = 1) and Google Scholar (n = 7). Thus, returns from several peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 are evident from a search of five primary databases and one supplementary database. The finding is that COVID-19 affected the results in various ways. Research initially focusing on burnout, when considering the relationship between burnout and nutrition regarding nutrition literacy or food literacy, may be most productive.

Abstract:

Coffee is the most popular non-alcoholic beverage in the world, and its consumption has increased over the last decades. Recent studies have identified the social and environmental factors that determine whether an individual is a coffee drinker or non-drinker. Knowing the key aroma compounds of coffee and identifying inter-individual differences in the number and type of odor-active compounds could be important to understand what guides consumers towards the choice of drinking or not drinking coffee. In this study, using the coupled Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry technique, the components of the headspace of roasted coffee beans were separated and evaluated by volunteers. Each participant had to identify and provide a personal evaluation of the pleasantness and intensity perceived for each odor molecule. The results show that individuals with normosmia perceive single molecules with a greater intensity than those with hyposmia, and that females report perceiving the odor of single molecules with a higher intensity than males. The reported pleasantness for the coffee aroma is determined by the hedonic valence attributed to each molecule in terms of pleasantness/unpleasantness. These results could be of great interest to the coffee industry, providing useful information for the development of new blends.

Abstract: Chronic stress alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, influencing corticosterone regulation and adaptive responses. Identifying distinct response patterns can provide insight into individual variability in stress adaptation. This study is aimed to assess variability in HPA axis sensitivity following chronic social defeat stress. Male C57BL6 mice were exposed to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) for 30 days. In order to evaluate integrity of negative feedback loop of HPA axis dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was used. Corticosterone levels were measured following saline or low-dose dexamethasone administration at 10 and 30 days. K-means clustering by corticosterone levels after saline and dexamethasone administration was applied to identify distinct response profiles. Behavioral testing (open field, elevated plus maze, social interaction test, partition, social defeat, forced swimming test, sucrose preference test) and qPCR analysis of HPA axis-related genes in hypothalamus (Crh, Crhr1, Crhbp, Fkbp5, Nr3c1), pituitary gland (Pomc, Crhr1, Nr3c1, Nr3c2), and corticosterone synthesis genes in adrenal glands (Cyp11a1, Cyp11b1, Hsd11b1, Mc2r, Star, Fkbp5, Nr3c1) was performed. Cluster analysis identified 3 distinct response profiles differing in baseline and dexamethasone-suppressed corticosterone levels. Clusters also exhibited differences in behavioral phenotypes and HPA axis gene expression. Cluster 1 showed low basal corticosterone and an abnormal dexamethasone suppression response, without significant Crh or Crhbp dysregulation in the hypothalamus. Cluster 2 exhibited elevated basal corticosterone, a blunted dexamethasone response, anhedonia, and reduced immobility in the forced swim test; increased Crh and reduced Fkbp5 suggest enhanced glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity and sustained hypercortisolemia. Cluster 3, characterized by normal basal corticosterone and normal dexamethasone response, showed upregulation of Crh and Crhbp, consistent with balanced and potentially adaptive HPA axis regulation under chronic stress. Corticosterone response heterogeneity reflects distinct adaptive trajectories under chronic stress. Identifying behavioral markers of these strategies may improve understanding of stress vulnerability and resilience mechanisms, with implications for stress-related disorders.

Abstract: The study of human population dynamics at a country level is a critical topic. Understanding population trends in a given country can be highly valuable for designing policies related to birth control, economy, urban planning, among others. In this work, we analyze data from eight countries whose population growth tends to follow a logistic pattern over time. In particular, we focus on the carrying capacity parameter, and observe how this value can change its interpretation. We define a socio-economic asymptotic value, and claim that this value plays the role of a socio-economic carrying capacity in some of the countries under study. Each country within this study present different socioeconomic conditions, densities and population size. However, the sigmoidal growth seems to be present in all of them. This work invites the community to think different about the traditional carrying capacity definition.

Abstract: Background: Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been linked to depression, a growing public health concern. However, few studies have examined whether this relationship differs by urban and rural residence, despite geographic disparities in diet and mental health. This study investigates whether the association between FV intake and depression varies by area of residence among U.S. adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, a nationally representative survey of adults aged ≥18 years (n = 156,256,279). FV intake was categorized as < 1 time/day or ≥1 time/day. Depression was based on self-reported diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), including interaction terms for FV intake and residence (urban vs. rural). Results: Low FV intake was associated with higher odds of depression (fruit: OR = 1.17; vegetables: OR = 1.10). Significant interactions by residence were observed. Low fruit intake was linked to depression in both urban (OR = 1.15) and rural (OR = 1.21) areas. Low vegetable intake was significant only in urban residents (OR = 1.10). Conclusions: Low FV intake is associated with higher odds of depression disorder, with differences by geographic context. Higher fruit intake was protective across areas, while vegetable intake was only associated with depression in urban residents. Public health strategies should prioritize interventions that reflect the unique characteristics of each community to address both dietary behaviors and the broader structural factors influencing mental health.

Abstract: Dogs can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with infectious diseases, but their ability to distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections has not been fully established. In this study, eight naïve dogs began training with either symptomatic or asymptomatic Delta samples; seven reached the testing phase and were then evaluated on the alternate group to assess cross-generalization. Training initially used a yes/no protocol but was adapted to a line-up design after poor performance. When presented with novel Delta samples, dogs significantly discriminated them from controls, achieving a mean sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 51%, with no difference between training groups. In contrast, performance dropped when dogs were tested with asymptomatic Omicron samples from vaccinated individuals, with a mean sensitivity of 55%. These results show that dogs can generalize across symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases for the Delta variant but fail to detect Omicron reliably, likely due to altered VOC profiles in vaccinated individuals. While proof-of-concept feasibility was demonstrated with a line up protocol for detecting asymptomatic scent, detection dogs should not currently be recommended for large-scale screening, but findings underscore the need for standardized protocols and variant-specific retraining.

Abstract: There are many studies showing an association between fitness and/or sporting skill and better cognitive performance than is seen for unfit/unskilled individuals. One mechanism proposed for these effects is increased neural plasticity, meaning better cognitive performance could be the result of a more trainable brain. Here, we investigated performance on a visual search task to see if there was a training benefit associated with fitness or sporting skill and to supplement previous findings for a motor learning task which showed better initial performance in sporting individuals but no learning-related differences. No significant benefit was associated with fitness or sporting skill either for task performance or task learning. The only significant difference was likely indicative of reduced non-specific learning in two of the three sport/exercise groups, possible due to prior improvement in these skills as a result of fitness or sporting skill. The findings suggest a need for specificity in selecting use of training when aiming to produce cognitive benefits. This would also benefit from better assessment of sport-specific and sport/fitness general effects on cognitive performance.

Abstract: The circadian clock enables organisms to anticipate daily recurring events and syn-chronize their internal rhythms with environmental cues, such as light, aligning with the day/night cycle. Central to the molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock and light sensing are the Period (Per) 1 and 2 genes. While the roles of Per2 in astrocytes and neurons have been characterized, the specific contributions of Per1 remain less understood. Pre-vious research has shown that Per2 in neurons, but not astrocytes, influences phase shifts, whereas the regulation of circadian period involves Per2 in both cell types. In this study, we investigated the role of Per1 in neurons and astrocytes in modulating circadian period and phase shifts. Using an Aschoff Type I protocol (constant darkness) combined with 15-minute light pulses at circadian times (CT) 10, 14, and 22, we found that the absence of Per1 in neurons—but not in astrocytes—significantly affected both the circadian period and phase advance shifts in response to light at CT22.

Abstract: The understanding of cancer has been dominated by a tumor-centric paradigm. However, growing evidence suggests that the host's nervous system plays an active role in the disease's trajectory. Research on the "top-down" influence of stress on tumor growth and the "bottom-up" influence of cancer on neurological function has advanced in parallel, but a synthesis integrating these axes into a unified model remains a critical gap.

Abstract: In their natural habitat, male Betta splendens are territorial resource defenders, whereas females are non-territorial opportunistic foragers. This ecological difference suggests that males may be more capable of delaying gratification for food rewards. The present study examined impulsive choice in Betta splendens through two experiments comparing preferences for a Smaller-Sooner (SS) reward (1 pellet immediately) versus a Larger-Later (LL) reward (3 pellets after 15 s). In Experiment I, males were significantly more likely to develop a stable preference for the LL option, whereas females were equally likely to choose either reward. These findings indicate that most males demonstrated spontaneous behavioral self-control without specialized training, while females were collectively indifferent. Experiment II investigated whether dopamine modulates this behavior by administering oral L-Dopa (60 mg/kg) to males before trials. Using the same procedures, only 30% of L-Dopa-treated males stabilized on the LL reward, compared to 70% choosing the SS option; control males were equally likely to stabilize on either reward. These results suggest that elevated dopaminergic activity increases impulsive choice in males. Future studies should examine dopamine agonists and antagonists, as well as female responses, to further clarify dopamine’s role in reward valuation and self-control in Betta splendens.

Abstract: Animal welfare assessments increasingly aim to quantify enclosure use and activity to support naturalistic behavior and improve Quality of Life (QoL). Traditionally, this is achieved through manual observations, which are time-consuming, subject to observer bias, and limited in temporal resolution due to short observation periods. Here, we compared manual tracking using ZooMonitor with automated pose estimation (SLEAP) in a mother–son pair of black-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at Aalborg Zoo. Manual observations were collected on six non-consecutive days (median daily duration: 62 min, mean: 66 min, range: 52–90 min) and visualized as spatial heatmaps. Pose estimation was applied to the same video footage, tracking four body parts to generate corresponding heatmaps. Across most days, the methods showed strong agreement (overlap 83–99%, Pearson’s r = 0.93–1.00), with both highlighting core activity areas on the floor near the central climbing structures and by the door with feeding gutters. Both methods also produced comparable estimates of time spent active, with no significant difference across days (p = 0.952). These results demonstrate that computer vision technology can provide a reliable and scalable tool for monitoring enclosure use and activity, enhancing the efficiency and consistency of zoo-based welfare assessments while reducing reliance on labor-intensive manual observations.

Abstract: The self is increasingly understood in contemporary cognitive and psychological research not as a static substance but as a dynamic "gestalt"—a complex, processual pattern in constant interaction with its environment. Traditional reductionistic approaches are limited in explaining this dynamic. In response to this challenge, this article introduces the Resonance-Inference Model (RIM). This meta-theoretical framework integrates concepts from synergetics, predictive processing, and fractal affect logic to explain the self-organization of the mind. It conceptualizes psychological disorders as rigid, pathological patterns and therapeutic change as a phase transition to a more flexible state. A central aspect is the active, formative role of the narrative self-pattern, which catalyzes sustainable transformations through the revision of the internal predictive model. This is complemented by a spiritual dimension, understood in the context of Frankl's logotherapy and Längle's existential analysis as a higher-level, value-based predictive model. The RIM thus offers a holistic perspective that is not limited to symptom relief but enables the reorganization of the self for a coherent and meaningful life.

Abstract: Nicotine addiction has become an increasingly major problem within all age groups, especially teenagers. This study investigates the behavioral effects of nicotine on Drosophila melanogaster larvae across conditioning, exposure, and withdrawal phases. Larvae were divided into five groups: a negative control (0% nicotine), a conditioned group exposed to 0.5 mL of 0.01% nicotine for 48 hours, and a sudden exposure group subjected to acute treatment. Both conditioned and sudden groups were subdivided into high-dose (2 mL, 0.01%) and low-dose (1 mL, 0.01%) subgroups. Over a two-hour observation period, we recorded locomotion time, stillness, movement speed, feeding, sleep, and responses to light and touch. Larval size was measured before and after each phase. During conditioning, Group 2 larvae showed moderate motion and signs of tolerance. During exposure, ANOVA revealed a highly significant group effect for motion time (F(2, 9) = 192.000, p < 0.001), with Tukey HSD showing that sudden-exposure larvae moved on average 40.0 minutes longer than both conditioned and control groups (p < 0.001), and for speed (F(2, 9) = 49.024, p < 0.001) with sudden-exposure larvae significantly faster than the other groups. Withdrawal phase analyses showed significant motion reductions (F(2, 9) = 39.000, p < 0.001), with sudden-exposure larvae moving 15.0 minutes less than conditioned (p = 0.0003) and 20.0 minutes less than controls (p < 0.001), as well as slower withdrawal speeds (F(2, 9) = 15.356, p = 0.0013). These results confirm that chronic low-dose nicotine conditioning mitigates—but does not eliminate—acute behavioral disruptions and withdrawal suppression seen after sudden exposure, offering quantitative insight into the neurobehavioral dynamics of nicotine tolerance and sensitivity in Drosophila.

Abstract: Caffeine, one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances, is known to modulate central nervous system activity, but its developmental and neurotoxic effects remain insufficiently understood. The zebrafish (Danio rerio), a valuable vertebrate model for toxicological and neurobehavioral research, provides an efficient system to evaluate the impact of caffeine exposure during early development. This review investigates the dose-dependent effects of caffeine on zebrafish larvae, focusing on neurobehavioral alterations, oxidative stress markers, and developmental outcomes. Behavioral assays revealed significant changes in locomotor activity, anxiety-like responses, memory performance, and sleep patterns, suggesting alterations in neural circuitry and associated cognitive and physiological processes, suggesting altered neural circuitry. Biochemical analyses indicated increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and modulation of antioxidant defense enzymes, highlighting oxidative stress as a potential mechanism underlying caffeine-induced toxicity. Furthermore, embryonic exposure was associated with developmental anomalies, including delayed hatching and morphological deformities at higher concentrations. Collectively, this review article highlights that caffeine exposure can disrupt neurobehavioral function, induce oxidative imbalance, and impair normal development in zebrafish, supporting its use as a model for assessing the neurotoxicological risks of psychoactive substances.

Abstract: This research proposal investigates how cultural differences influence the interpretation and use of emotionally ambiguous emojis in digital communication, with a comparative focus on Japan and China across three distinct age groups. Despite the widespread adoption of emojis as substitutes for non-verbal cues in digital communication, significant gaps exist in understanding how culturally nuanced interpretation of ambiguous emojis operates within East Asian contexts. Current research tends to focus on broad East-West comparisons with limited attention to subtle variations between specific East Asian societies. This study addresses this gap by examining how Hofstede's cultural dimensions interact with generational differences to shape interpretation of ambiguous emojis within the specific contexts of Japanese and Chinese international school communities. Using a mixed-methods approach with stratified sampling of 180 participants (90 from Japan, 90 from China) comprising students (16-18 years) and their parents, this research employs both quantitative surveys measuring interpretation across semantic differential scales and qualitative interviews exploring contextual meaning-making. The findings will clarify how senders' intended meanings diverge from receivers' interpretations across cultural and generational boundaries, providing valuable insights for improving cross-cultural digital communication in our increasingly interconnected world.

Abstract:

Objective: Preterm birth has been associated with an elevated risk of a broad range of neurodevelopmental impairments, including attentional deficits. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the existing evidence on sustained and selective attention in school-aged children born preterm. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included assessments of sustained and/or selective attention in children aged 5–12 years born before 37 weeks of gestation. Data from 15 studies (sustained attention) and 12 studies (selective attention) were analyzed using random-effects meta-analyses. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed based on gestational age. Results: Preterm-born children showed significantly poorer performance in sustained (Hedges’ g = -0.31, p < .001) and selective attention (Hedges’ g = -0.27, p < .001) compared to term-born controls. While sustained attention deficits were consistent across all gestational age subgroups, selective attention deficits were more pronounced in very early and early preterm-born children. Moderate to late preterm-born children showed less impairment in selective attention tasks. Conclusion: Preterm birth is associated with measurable and persistent deficits in both sustained and selective attention, with greater vulnerability in children born before 32 weeks of gestation. These findings underscore the importance of implementing early monitoring and intervention strategies specifically designed to support attentional development in this high-risk population.

Abstract: Since the earliest studies on human eye-movements, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that observers fixate the center of visual stimuli more than their periphery, regardless of visual content. Subsequent research suggested only little effect of typical biases in experimental setups, such as observer’s position relative to the screen or the relative location of the cue marker. While comparative studies of the screen center vs. stimulus center revealed that both conspire in the process, much of the prior art is still confounded by experimental details that leave the origins of the center-bias debatable. We thus propose methodological novelties to rigorously test the effect of the *stimulus center*, isolated from other factors. In particular, eye movements were tracked in a free-viewing experiment after stimuli were presented at a *wide range of horizontal displacements* from a counterbalanced cue marker in a wide visual field. Stimuli spanned diverse natural scene images to allow inherent biases to surface in the pooled data. Various analyses of the first few fixations show robust bias toward the center of the stimulus, independent of its position on the display, but affected by its distance to the cue marker. Center bias is thus a tangible phenomenon related to the *stimulus*.

Abstract: Order effects, where decision makers resolve dilemmas differently depending on the order in which cases are presented, are well established in the psychology of moral decision-making. Yet case order effects have rarely been studied in a legal context. Given the integral importance of consistency and precedent to the law, we sought to test for the existence of order effects in legal decisions. Participants across 5 studies (total n=1,023) were given pairs of life-or-death legal cases to decide, consisting of one decision generally viewed positively in isolation, and one decision negatively viewed, with the order of presentation being varied (positive before negative vs. negative before positive). Studies included civil and criminal cases and individual and group decision making. Results demonstrated that the case order effects previously seen in the moral context also held in the legal context. Order effects were asymmetric, with responses to one case remaining stable while responses to the other being labile depending on order presented. A particularly novel finding was of responses to labile cases becoming less, rather than more, similar to responses to preceding cases. Order effects can be readily triggered in the context of legal decision making suggesting legal precedent may be partially dependent on the order in which cases are determined. The asymmetric and previously undiscovered direction of order effects is not consistent with existing salience or consistency type theories which predict effects to be symmetrical and/or more similar to previous cases.

Abstract: This study presents an innovative approach based on the Von Bormann protocol for the early training of explosive detection dog puppies, focusing on the use of olfactory imprinting from the first days of life. Through an experimental design with puppies, the impact of early exposure to microtraces of explosives on the neurocognitive and olfactory development of dogs was explored. The results demonstrated that puppies trained using this protocol showed superior ability in detecting explosives, achieving performance levels comparable to conventionally trained adult dogs in less time. This approach also improved their resistance to working under stress, motivation, and accuracy in challenging operational conditions. The conclusions suggest that intervention during the critical imprinting period can accelerate the development of highly effective operational dogs in the detection of explosives.

Abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has emerged as a genetically tractable model for decoding the neural and molecular underpinnings of behavior. Traditional methods of behavioral analysis are limited in scalability, resolution, and reproducibility, especially in high-throughput and longitudinal studies. Recent advances in machine learning have revolutionized the field, offering powerful tools for automated behavior tracking, posture estimation, phenotype classification, and neural decoding. This review systematically categorizes and evaluates the growing repertoire of machine learning models applied to C. elegans behavioral analysis, including handcrafted classifiers, deep neural networks, graph models, connectome-constrained simulators, and recurrent neural networks. It highlights their applications in decoding locomotion, aging, egg-laying, mating, sensory-guided navigation, and internal state transitions. Furthermore, it discusses the computational architecture, accuracy, interpretability, and translational relevance of these tools. Moreover, the review also addresses challenges such as model generalizability, reproducibility, and integration into lab workflows. The integration of machine learning into behavioral neuroscience underscores its transformative potential with C. elegans acting as a central model system linking the fields of biology and artificial intelligence.