Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Ground investigations ahead of a potential new nuclear power station at Bradwell in Essex provide evidence of extremely low uplift rates since the end of the Wolstonian / Saalian Stage. Estuarine deposits dated using amino-acid racemisation to highstands in the Ipswichian and Late Wolstonian Substage (c. MIS 5e and MIS 7) are found at very similar elevations within the same channel form beneath the Holocene salt marsh. This gives a constraint on the minimum age of the last ground displacement. It also has wider implications, suggesting either subsidence or very limited uplift of the Essex coast since either the Moreton Stadial / Drenthe Stadial or later Warthe Stadial (c. MIS 6). This is attributed either to a change in the size of the local river system or to subsidence of the adjacent sedimentary basin due to a pulse of sediment loading or loading from a larger proglacial lake than previously reconstructed.

ABSTRACT Background Low- and middle-income countries without well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems struggle to obtain accurate and complete counts of total (i.e., all-cause) mortality, especially during a pandemic. The aim of this evaluation was to assess whether rapid mortality surveillance (RMS) provided timely and useful counts of deaths to inform pandemic response, despite competing demands on government and public health responders, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first published evaluation of efforts to test the feasibility, utility, and impact of efforts to improve or establish mortality surveillance. Methods We supported 13 low- and middle-income income countries to implement RMS during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. From August to October 2021, we conducted a qualitative assessment of each country’s progress. Results Analysis of in-depth interviews with 16 respondents in 13 countries surfaced common themes related to facilitators of RMS implementation. These include 1) government ownership and buy-in; 2) data collection and digitization; 3) interagency collaboration and data sharing; 4) data analysis and interpretation; and 5) data use for decision-making. Conclusion Robust and digitalized CRVS systems can serve the rapid mortality surveillance function well. For locations where digitization and connectivity of systems are still improving, more feasible and fit-for-purpose approaches are needed. These findings should inform the development of CRVS mortality surveillance functions in low- and middle-income countries. Thumbnail Sketch WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC Accurate and timely measurements of total and excess mortality are essential to quantify the human toll of a pandemic and inform a country’s response—and are needed quickly and at a time when many other demands compete for resources. In 2020 and 2021, when the activities reported here were implemented, the availability and capacity of diagnostic testing for COVID-19 were limited in most low- and middle-income countries. This complicated the consistent diagnosis of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases, leaving few options for tracking the impact of the pandemic. Therefore, we partnered with governments to increase the use of total mortality measurement and comparison to historical averages to assess the spread of the epidemic and the impact on population health. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS Despite the value of rapid mortality surveillance (RMS) to pandemic preparedness and response, there are no other reports that deal primarily with the operational and contextual success factors and constraints that affect its implementation in a pandemic context. Here we identify and summarize local views on barriers and facilitators to establishing RMS during the COVID-19 pandemic in 13 low- and middle-income countries. Results from the evaluation of country processes found that implementation challenges were sometimes severe in the pandemic context, making government buy-in and perseverance even more essential to success. Our evaluation provided evidence of the value of measuring total and excess mortality when systems were able to be operationalized. The insights these data provided were leveraged for better response: improved targeting of limited vaccine supply, action plans that aligned with actual pandemic conditions, and evidence-informed informed risk ratings. HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICY Investments made today in the active follow-up, enumeration and registration of incident deaths and the digitalization of civil registration and vital statistics systems will bolster health security in countries currently lacking the capacity to generate timely all-cause mortality data. Data on total and excess mortality suited for pandemic preparedness and response should be timely and complete (or at least population-representative) to enable public health officials, government leaders, and policymakers to make data-informed decisions about prevention and protection measures during a pandemic. In the interim, even timely facility-based mortality data can provide some view on a pandemic’s trajectory, if not its population impact.

Numerous studies have investigated the ecological impacts of escaped aquaculture fish. Whether people can objectively obtain this information through large language model (LLM) artificial intelligence (AI) systems, which are currently gaining increased traction across the globe, is a question of interest to those engaged in or concerned with aquaculture and aquatic ecology. In this study, the reliability of LLM-based AI systems for assessing the ecological impact of the escape of farmed fish is explored, providing reference data for further research on the application of LLM AI systems in aquaculture and aquatic ecology. The results reveal that the answers provided by the AI systems were largely consistent with the findings from the scientific literature on fish ecological invasion, and they included information regarding resource competition, disease transmission, genetic pollution, water quality deterioration, and disruption of the aquatic ecological structure and function. However, the responses of the AI systems did not mention certain aspects discussed in the literature concerning the ecological risks of the escape of farmed fish, including the difficulty in predicting the potential impact of their escape, the influence of the ecological background information of the receiving water area before the escape, and the potential positive impact of fish already established in the wild. This finding suggests that the responses of the AI systems to the questions posed may have leaned towards more general and widely relevant answers while neglecting more specialized but less-discussed details. Therefore, the reliability of the AI ​​consulting in this study is questionable.

Deep-sea transportation is faced with complex navigation environments, long voyages, limited emergency response resources, and interacting safety risks. Existing studies have mainly focused on individual risk factors, while the correlations and coupling effects among different factors have received insufficient attention. To identify the key risk factors affecting deep-sea transportation safety, this paper proposes a novel key factor identification model based on complex network theory. Firstly, 34 risk factors affecting deep-sea transportation safety are selected from five aspects using a literature analysis method. Secondly, a weighted directed network of risk factors is constructed based on complex network theory. Then, to evaluate the node importance, six node importance evaluation indicators are established, and a node importance evaluation method is proposed by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), and gray relational analysis (GRA). Key risk factors are then determined according to the node importance evaluation results. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified through a case study. The results show that the top five most critical risk factors are risk of leakage, emergency speed, physical and chemical properties of the cargoes, sense of personnel safety duty, and seasonal route. The findings can provide practical support for maritime authorities, shipping companies, and safety managers in formulating targeted prevention, control, and emergency response measures for deep-sea transportation safety.

Opisthorchis viverrini infection remains an important public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly among rural populations in Northeast Thailand. Despite control efforts, transmission remains uninterrupted due to persistent behavioral and environmental factors. To better understand the longitudinal patterns of opisthorchiasis after selective praziquantel treatment, this study aimed to determine the incidence and reinfection rates in the study population and identify risk factors associated with O. viverrini infection. Based on a prospective study, the status of opisthorchiasis was monitored in a cohort of participants (n = 612) in Northeast Thailand using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) and O. viverrini antigen detection in urine by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The baseline prevalence of O. viverrini infection was 41.0% by urine antigen assay, compared to 8.1% by FECT. Over the 24-week study period, the calculated incidence of infection was 64.6/100 person-years, and the reinfection rate after PZQ treatment, as measured by urine ELISA, was 63.7/100 person-years. Based on FECT, a tenfold lower incidence (7.5/100 person-years) and reinfection rate (5.9/100 person-years) were observed. Risk factor analysis identified raw fish consumption in the previous 6 months (aRR = 7.52; p < 0.001), frequent raw fish consumption (>10 times per month) (aRR = 3.60; p < 0.001), and previous praziquantel treatment aRR = 1.49; p = 0.032) as significant risk factors for infection. The results demonstrated that the persistence of opisthorchiasis prevalence is driven mainly by the incidence of infection and reinfection after chemotherapy, as assessed by urine antigen assay and FECT. Behavioral risk factors, particularly the consumption of raw fish, remain the primary risk of parasite transmission. Therefore, comprehensive intervention measures consisting of sensitive diagnostics, drug treatment, and culturally appropriate interventions are required.

Leading-edge tubercles provide a bio-inspired modification for regulating the hydrodynamic performance of marine propellers, but their controllable generation on complex three-dimensional blades remains insufficiently studied. This study develops a parametric modeling method for tubercled leading-edge propellers based on the David Taylor Model Basin (DTMB) 4383 geometry. The method combines B-spline smooth reconstruction with a Gaussian envelope function to control tubercle radial peak position and height. After validation with publicly available open-water experimental data, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is applied to uniform and locally targeted tubercled models. The results show that leading-edge tubercles modify the suction-side low-pressure region and redistribute local blade loading. The radial peak position mainly controls the concentration region of the pressure disturbance, whereas peak height affects its intensity. At the design advance coefficient, moving the target peak from r/R = 0.26 to r/R = 0.92 decreased the thrust coefficient by 0.77% and increased the torque coefficient by 1.75%. For a fixed target position, increasing the maximum amplitude ratio from 0.05 to 0.80 increased the thrust and torque coefficients by 0.25% and 0.88%, respectively. These findings indicate that tubercle design should balance radial position and protrusion height.

Cacao genetic resources in Peru are largely uncharacterized. Knowledge of their genetic structure is needed for their conservation and use. Indigenous on-farm cacao trees (n = 390) from the Departments of Amazonas (n = 130), Ayacucho (n = 76), Cajamarca (n = 1), Cusco (n = 110), Madre de Dios (n = 10), Piura (n = 59), San Martín (n = 3) and Ucayali (n = 1) in Peru were fingerprinted with 192 single nucleotide polymorphic markers. Identity, group differentiation, phylogenetic, multivariate and ancestry analyses were conducted. Four new populations were identified guided by phylogenetic, accepted ancestral backgrounds of reference samples and least admixture among samples. The cacao from these eight Departments were variably mixed containing both pure members of new populations and admixed samples with these new populations and Amelonado, Contamana, Criollo, Curaray, Guiana, Iquitos, Marañon, Nacional, Nanay and Púrus. The findings of this study suggest that while the cacao germplasm is genetically related across different departments, each region harbors its own distinct genetic composition. The Clade IV (Chuncho 2) population was associated with the Contamana cluster and Clade I (Chuncho 1) was associated with Purus cluster. Clades II (Awajun) and III (Porcelana) were associated with the Nacional cluster. The ancestry of the economically desired CCN 51 cultivar was revealed to be better assigned as 15% Amelonado, 13% Criollo, 25% Iquitos and 45% Awajun. The results of this study will improve the understanding of the genetic landscape in Peru, enhance genebank collections in Peru and enable the differentiation of the fine flavour industry in Peru. The new groups of cacao identified in this study will help understand the genetic structuring of cacao and represent a valuable new resource to search for valuable traits for breeding and commercialization programmes in the fine flavour cacao industry in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of suspicious breast lesions (BI-RADS 4/5) is crucial for appropriate clinical management. The International Academy of Cytology (IAC) Yokohama System standardizes fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology reporting, but its performance and the role of independent clinical predictors within this specific high-risk cohort require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of FNA using the Yokohama system and to identify independent predictors of malignancy in patients with BI-RADS 4 and 5 lesions. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 104 female patients with BI-RADS 4/5 breast lesions at two tertiary hospitals in Vietnam. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided FNA with subsequent histopathological examination as the gold standard. Diagnostic performance metrics were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of malignancy. Of the 104 lesions, 53 (51.0%) were confirmed to be malignant. FNA cytology, interpreted with the Yokohama System, demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.5%, specificity of 96.1%, and an overall accuracy of 94.2%. In the multivariate analysis, only two factors emerged as strong, independent predictors of malignancy: older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.13 per year, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19; p < 0.001) and larger tumor size (aOR 1.10 per mm, 95% CI: 1.04-1.16; p = 0.001). Notably, the predictive value of a BI-RADS 5 classification was not statistically significant after this adjustment (p = 0.540). However, given the small BI-RADS 5 subgroup (n = 11), this non-significant result should not be interpreted as evidence of its lack of clinical utility, as the analysis was likely underpowered for this specific variable. CONCLUSION: FNA cytology, when interpreted using the IAC Yokohama System, is a highly accurate and reliable tool for the initial evaluation of BI-RADS 4 and 5 breast lesions. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that older age and larger tumor size are strong, independent predictors of malignancy in this high-risk cohort, highlighting the need to integrate these clinical parameters to optimize risk stratification.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic interpretation competency among critical cardiac care nurses remains inadequate despite technological advances, creating patient safety concerns and alarm fatigue. Traditional nursing education utilizing didactic knowledge transmission has proven insufficient for developing time-critical electrocardiographic interpretation skills. Rapid cycle deliberate practice emerges as an innovative methodology integrating deliberate practice principles, immediate feedback, and psychologically safe environments through pause-coach-resume mechanisms. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews utilized Tanner's clinical judgment model as the questioning framework, supplemented by field observations. Interviews explored experiences around the noticing-interpreting-responding-reflecting continuum, with analysis conducted using NVivo software following van Manen's methodology. RESULTS: Four interconnected themes emerged: shifting perceptual focus from fragmented data perception toward holistic pattern recognition; shifting cognitive models from mechanical matching toward integrating intuition and evidence; evolving response patterns from hesitant reactivity toward confident proactivity; and redefined professional role encompassing new professional identity, ethical responsibility, and continuous learning commitment. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis through Tanner's clinical judgment framework suggested perceived multidimensional shifts within critical cardiac care nurses' clinical judgment processes, as reflected in participants' descriptions of changes transcending technical skill acquisition to encompass reconceptualizations of clinical reasoning, professional identity, and ethical responsibility. Notably, the psychologically safe environment created through the pause-coach-resume mechanism appeared central to enabling these perceived shifts. These findings indicate that effective competency development requires educational approaches addressing cognitive, behavioral, and identity dimensions simultaneously, with implications for institutional integration of rapid cycle deliberate practice into staff development and future longitudinal investigation of its effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (IPP-LARC) is vital for reducing unintended pregnancies and improving maternal health. Despite extensive research in Ethiopia, evidence remains fragmented. The primary objective of this scoping review was to systematically map and synthesize the available evidence on IPP-LARC in Ethiopia and identify research gaps to inform future interventions. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following the JBI framework. Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Hinari, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources. Studies reporting on IPP-LARC in Ethiopia were included. Data were charted and synthesized narratively. Two independent reviewers screened studies using Rayyan. Findings were presented in graphical, tabular, and narrative formats, adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 845 records were identified through database searches and other strategies, of which 42 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 42 employed quantitative designs, two were implementation-focused quality improvement studies, one used a mixed-methods approach, and one was purely qualitative. Thematic focus varied: 16 studies assessed IPP-LARC uptake, 12 examined IPP-IUCD uptake, seven evaluated intention or acceptance of LARC, one evaluated IPP-IUCD acceptance and uptake, one assessed informed choice, one examined receipt of IPPFP counseling, one explored barriers and facilitators, and one focused on knowledge and attitude. Reported uptake of immediate postpartum family planning ranged from 20.0% to 53.2%, with variation influenced by socio-demographic, service-related, psychosocial, and relational factors. CONCLUSION: Evidence on IPP-LARC in Ethiopia highlights consistent determinants but is constrained by methodological and contextual gaps. Research remains dominated by cross-sectional, woman-centered studies, with limited attention to male engagement, community-level platforms, and qualitative insights. Addressing these gaps through rigorous, gender-inclusive, and context-sensitive intervention research is essential to strengthen shared decision-making and improve contraceptive uptake.

Correction on: Liepina-Leimane I, Jurgensone I, Barda I, Kokorite I and Aigars J (2026) Diverging temporal trends and environmental drivers of dominant cyanobacteria in the Gulf of Riga, 1976-2024. Front. Mar. Sci. 12:1713992. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1713992 There was a mistake in Figure 7 as published. The two bottom rows of the heatmap incorrectly display another set of summer correlation values (DIN/DIP at a specific layer in stations 165, 101A, 119, 121) instead of the intended winter DIN and DIP values. This occurred due to a data mix-up during plot processing in R. The corrected Figure 7 appears below.The original version of this article has been updated.The Figure 5 and Figure 6 were in the wrong order in the PDF and HTML version of this paper (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1713992/full). This error was flagged by the authors during the proof stage but was not resolved. Note that the captions are in a correct order. The order has now been corrected.The original version of this article has been updated.Reminder: Figures, tables, and images will be published under a Creative Commons CC-BY license and permission must be obtained for use of copyrighted material from other sources (including re-published/adapted/modified/partial figures and images from the internet). It is the responsibility of the authors to acquire the licenses, to follow any citation instructions requested by third-party rights holders, and cover any supplementary charges.Adding/removing text Text insertion in the Introduction. In the second-to-last paragraph of the Introduction, the phrase "odd formatting" has been inserted to replace the correct term "runoff" into the main text: "Moreover, seasonal shifts in riverine odd formating have been observed in recent decades (Käyhkö et al., 2015), altering timing and magnitude of nutrient inflow to coastal areas. This redistribution of river runoff has altered salinity, stratification, and turbidity (Aigars et al., 2024). Consequently, the combined effect on cyanobacterial bloom intensity and species composition in the Gulf of Riga remains unresolved.". This was a comment by authors during proof stage and was meant regarding formatting. It should not have been included by production team in the main text.A correction has been made to the section [Introduction, Paragraph 6, line 180 : "Moreover, seasonal shifts in riverine runoff have been observed in recent decades (Käyhkö et al., 2015), altering timing and magnitude of nutrient inflow to coastal areas. This redistribution of river runoff has altered salinity, stratification, and turbidity (Aigars et al., 2024).Consequently, the combined effect on cyanobacterial bloom intensity and species composition in the Gulf of Riga remains unresolved. [insert corrected paragraph]"The original version of this article has been updated.contact the journal's editorial office.

Hematological analyses are widely used to assess the health and physiological status of animals, including fish. Automated hematology analyzers enable rapid and reproducible hematological measurements; however, their application in fish requires species-specific analytical validation due to the presence of nucleated blood cells. This study evaluated the analytical performance of the Sysmex XN-1000V hematology analyzer operated under avian settings (PLT-F channel), in juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), one of the cornerstone species of Mediterranean marine aquaculture. Analytical validation included assessment of precision, linearity, carryover, and sample stability. Results were compared with manual reference methods (hemocytometer counts and blood smear-based estimates). In addition, the influence of two anticoagulants (lithium heparin and K₂EDTA) was examined, and the analyzer's ability to detect lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes in non-erythroid cell population was evaluated. The analyzer showed good precision for most parameters (CV < 5%), although higher variability was observed for granulocyte percentage. Linearity was excellent (R2 ≥ 0.98), and carryover remained below 1% for all variables. Sample stability was significantly better at 4 °C than at room temperature (25 °C), supporting refrigerated storage for up to 24 hours prior to analysis. Comparison with manual reference methods revealed strong correlations and agreement for red blood cell counts and hematocrit, whereas discrepancies were identified in non-erythroid cells differentials. Among anticoagulants, lithium heparin yielded more consistent and reliable results than K₂EDTA. Erythrocyte-related parameters showed the highest analytical reliability, whereas the leucocyte differentiation within the non-erythroid fraction required complementary microscopic evaluation, particularly when assessing LPS-induced inflammatory changes. Overall, the Sysmex XN-1000V demonstrated suitable analytical performance for routine hematological assessment in gilthead seabream when operated under avian settings. These findings support its application in aquaculture health monitoring programs, provided that appropriate anticoagulants are used, samples are promptly processed or refrigerated, and automated results are complemented by microscopic review when leukocyte counts are suspected.