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This feed contains articles for bioRxiv Subject Collection "Scientific Communication And Education"
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<rdf:li rdf:resource="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.28.728385v1?rss=1"/>
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<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.09.730786v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: A Quantitative Approach to Understanding 'Wild' 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.09.730786v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
When applied to non-human animals,'wild' is a poorly defined concept despite its central role in conservation, wildlife management, and environmental policy. Numerous attempts have been made to define wildness, yet the distinction between 'wild' and 'non-wild' remains contested and inconsistently applied across disciplines and legal frameworks. A shared, empirically grounded understanding of wildness would strengthen cross-disciplinary communication, support more consistent policy and legislation, and clarify how wildness shapes human attitudes toward wildlife and nature. Here, we took a quantitative, data-driven approach to assess whether a shared understanding of wildness in animals exists within the research community. A total of 358 professionals from fields including Animal Ecology, Animal Behaviour, Conservation, and Wildlife Management completed an online survey comprising 44 wildness-related statements along established measures of attitude and acceptability toward wildlife (AATW) and nature-relatedness (NRS). Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed six components (19 statements) in the concept of 'wild': Human-mediated animal availability, Urbanisation, Independence of animals from humans, Human-wildlife perceived conflict, Individual history of wildness, and Feralisation. These factors were weakly to moderately intercorrelated, together explaining 43.91% of the variance. Mediation analysis further demonstrated that Urbanisation and Human-wildlife perceived conflict shape humans' nature-relatedness by influencing attitudes and acceptability toward wildlife. The respondents' demographic and professional backgrounds also influenced their conceptualisation of wildness. These findings suggest that while there is a shared latent structure of wildness across professional fields, it is multidimensional, with implications for developing working definitions applicable across research, policy, and practice.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Saggiomo, L., Esattore, B., Castellano Bueno, J., Masilkova, M., Sommese, A., Mazza, V., Gore, S., Chow, P. K. Y. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-11</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.06.09.730786</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Addressing the Elephant in the Room: A Quantitative Approach to Understanding 'Wild']]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-11</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.07.730654v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Development of an Exploratory Taxonomy for Veterinary Professionals' AI Query Patterns Across Clinical Stages: An Expert Panel Study 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.07.730654v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Background/ObjectivesThe integration of large language model (LLM)-based AI tools into veterinary clinical practice is rapidly increasing; however, no systematically derived taxonomy of veterinary AI query patterns has been established. This study aimed to develop and refine an exploratory taxonomy of veterinary AI query patterns across clinical stages through a structured expert-panel review process.

MethodsAn exploratory cross-sectional expert panel study was conducted. 5,372 real-world query logs from a veterinary clinical AI chatbot deployed over eight months were analyzed using AI-assisted inductive coding to derive an initial taxonomy. The taxonomy was refined through literature review and subsequently reviewed by an expert panel of 38 veterinary professionals via structured online survey across five clinical stages.

ResultsA taxonomy of 3 categories and 21 subtypes was established: Clinical Support Queries (Types A-H), Evidence-Based Research Queries (Types I-L), and Terminology and Drug Reference Queries (Types M-U). Type B (Differential Reasoning) had the highest overall frequency (57/188 first-choice responses), while Type D (Clinical Decision Support) was dominant immediately post-consultation (55.3%). Veterinary professionals with [&ge;]10 years of experience showed a higher frequency of Type G (Evidence Search) preference than those with <10 years of experience (18 vs. 4), while university-affiliated professionals demonstrated a distinct pattern dominated by Type G.

ConclusionsTo our knowledge, no published study has previously established a veterinary-specific, clinical-stage-sensitive exploratory taxonomy of AI query patterns; this study addresses that gap. The findings provide a foundational framework for designing context-aware, stage-adaptive veterinary AI systems and benchmark evaluation tools.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Huh, C., Huh, H., Ahn, J., Park, M. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-09</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.06.07.730654</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Development of an Exploratory Taxonomy for Veterinary Professionals' AI Query Patterns Across Clinical Stages: An Expert Panel Study]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-09</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.02.729548v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Expanded implementation of Fast & Fair paid peer review reduces time to first decision without reducing review quality in a biology journal 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.02.729548v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Traditional peer review is often slowed by delays in identifying willing reviewers and waiting for completed review reports. In a 2024 pilot on the journal Biology Open, we showed that Fast & Fair peer review, which uses pre-contracted paid reviewers and a structured editorial timeline, could deliver rapid, high-quality peer. Here, we report the expanded implementation of Fast & Fair at Biology Open in 2025. From 1 April 2025 onward, all direct submissions to the journal were considered for Fast & Fair peer review unless appropriate pre-contracted reviewer expertise was unavailable. Reviewers were paid {pound}220 per manuscript only if they completed the review on time, and the review met editorial quality expectations. Among peer-reviewed manuscripts submitted in 2025, Fast & Fair reduced time to first decision with reviews from a mean of 37.7 working days under conventional peer review to 5.5 working days. Reviewer commitment also improved. Fast & Fair invitations were accepted more often than conventional invitations (67% versus 23%), had lower nonresponse (13% versus 39%), and had higher completion among accepted invitations (98% versus 87%). Faster review was not associated with reduced review quality. Handling editors scored each review for usefulness in editorial decision-making. Fast & Fair produced fewer low-scoring reports than conventional peer review. Editorial behavior was also unchanged, with similar first-decision profiles and final acceptance rates (59% versus 61%). While financial sustainability remains to be tested at scale, the Fast & Fair model addresses a major bottleneck in traditional peer review by replacing ad hoc reviewer recruitment with conditional compensation, predefined quality standards and a strict editorial timeline.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Gorelick, D. A., Clark, A. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-03</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.06.02.729548</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Expanded implementation of Fast & Fair paid peer review reduces time to first decision without reducing review quality in a biology journal]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-03</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.22.727235v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Sustained Improvements in Student Outcomes Following Integration of Clinical Case Narratives in Veterinary Microbiology Curriculum 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.22.727235v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Microbiology education in veterinary curricula requires students to integrate complex foundational knowledge with clinical application, yet traditional lecture-based approaches often emphasize memorization over higher-order reasoning. In this study, we evaluated the impact of integrating clinically oriented, case-based instruction into a veterinary microbiology course within a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum. Using a quasi-experimental, multi-year design, student outcomes were compared before (2019, 2021) and after (2022-2025) implementation of case-based teaching while maintaining consistent course content, structure, and assessments. Introduction of clinical case examples was associated with significant and sustained improvements in student evaluations across multiple domains, including perceived relevance, critical thinking, and overall course value. Instructor-related evaluation metrics also improved. Student performance, measured by final course grades, increased following the intervention without evidence of grade inflation. These findings demonstrate that integrating clinically relevant case narratives into microbiology instruction enhances student engagement and student performance. This work highlights a practical and scalable strategy for improving microbiology education, particularly within veterinary and other health-professions curricula.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Eshraghi, A., Logsdon, L. K. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-01</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.22.727235</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Sustained Improvements in Student Outcomes Following Integration of Clinical Case Narratives in Veterinary Microbiology Curriculum]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-01</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.29.728775v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Forecasting novel therapeutic development in biomedical research 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.29.728775v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Early identification of promising drug research topics is challenging yet crucial for the scientific community to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics. In this work, we leverage large-scale public data from the biomedical literature to extract predictive features to identify promising therapeutic research topics at an early stage. We divide the global citation graph of biomedical literature into a time series of research topics and extract topic features based on citation activity, publication content, and measurable flocking of scientists into novel research topics. Based on these features, our machine learning model identifies research topics that in the future yield Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs years before approval (F1-score of 0.84). 80% of target drugs are predicted in advance, with 65% predicted 8 or more years before approval. This predates the start of phase 2 clinical trials in the vast majority of positive predictions. These results show this approach can efficiently flag research topics generating approved drugs several years prior to approval using public data that would have been contemporaneous at the time of prediction. Thus, reliable forecasting can be accomplished with a high-level view of the publication and citation behavior of scientists, without depending on clinical trial data that may only be deposited with a significant lag. This demonstrates that it is possible to detect early signals of future FDA approved therapies even without any specialized information about these applied research efforts.

TeaserLarge-scale data analysis can use the full set of scientific citations to predict which areas of research will yield new FDA approved drugs, years in advance.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Arabi, S., Hutchins, B. I. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-06-01</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.29.728775</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Forecasting novel therapeutic development in biomedical research]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-06-01</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.28.728385v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
The Hypothesis Race Model for evaluation of research findings 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.28.728385v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST) remains the dominant paradigm for evaluation of empirical research findings in medicine and the social sciences despite concerns about frequent misinterpretations of those findings. Achievement of "statistical significance," the goal of NHST, often beckons unrealistic conclusions. Helpful would be the addition of a broader, Bayesian perspective of research in terms of progressive readjustment of hypothesis credibility from all sources of evidence. For this purpose, the Hypothesis Race Model (HRM) provides an intuitive Bayesian approach that builds upon NHST-concepts, helping to correct misunderstandings with minimal reeducation. The HRM is an extension of the Bayesian approach by Ioannidis in 2005 that helped to explain "why most published research findings are false." It is powerful enough to serve as the foundation for mathematical models to estimate and reduce the cost of empirical hypothesis testing.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kelly, R. E. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-29</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.28.728385</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[The Hypothesis Race Model for evaluation of research findings]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-29</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.24.727542v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
A Stronger Association Between Screen Time and Externalizing Problems in Typically Developing Children than in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.24.727542v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Excessive screen use is associated with childhood behavioral problems, but whether associations differ between typically developing (TD) children and those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unclear. Our cross-sectional study included 108 children aged 5-9 years (61 TD, 47 ASD). ASD was diagnosed using standardized clinical instruments. Measures included parent-reported screen time (excluding TV/DVD), cognitive ability (K-ABC), and behavioral problems (Vineland-II). Screen time and externalizing problems were associated in the TD group (Spearmans {rho} = 0.361, p < 0.01), but not in the ASD group. In the regression model, screen time ({beta} = 0.40, t = 2.60, p < 0.05), ASD status ({beta} = 0.70, t = 8.30, p < 0.001), and their interaction ({beta} = -0.34, t = -2.06, p < 0.05) significantly predicted externalizing problems. Considering the diversity within the autism spectrum, future studies with larger sample sizes should consider individual heterogeneity when examining the association between behavioral outcomes and screen time.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Miyashita, S., Hirosawa, T., Yoshimura, Y., Hasegawa, C., Tanaka, S., Miyagishi, Y., Naito, N., Kikuchi, M. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-28</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.24.727542</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[A Stronger Association Between Screen Time and Externalizing Problems in Typically Developing Children than in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-28</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.21.726463v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Beyond student outcomes: How creating Open Educational Resources benefits authors in a research coordination network 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.21.726463v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Open educational resources (OERs) contain authentic materials that benefit students, but few studies have focused on the benefits to authors of OERs. This gap needs attention considering the challenges that OER authors face, given their commitments to multiple professional activities while also being motivated to take part in OER development. It is critical to understand what benefits authors receive, to help in the continued development of these valuable educational tools. To this end, we investigated what benefits a specific group of researcher-educators perceived from investing their limited time and energy to design, create, and share authentic OERs in the OCELOTS (Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems) Research Coordination Network in Undergraduate Biology Education. Our study was based on conceptual frameworks for teaching and learning, communities of practice, and self-determination theory. We used qualitative data from a survey specifically designed to address the question of benefits perceived by OER authors, complemented with quantitative and qualitative data from existing internal evaluations of this network. In a content-analysis framework, we analyzed the open-ended responses to identify broader themes emerging about author benefits. OER authors reported improved pedagogical practice, increased visibility of research and outreach efforts, professional rewards, and increased collaborations. Authors reported gains in pedagogical knowledge and personal fulfillment as benefits that they received, along with satisfaction from contributing to their discipline and society in general. While benefits around improving pedagogical practice was the richest theme, creation of modules also generated new collaborations and helped strengthen and broaden authors professional networks. In particular, the sense of belonging to and building the community was a significant benefit, providing implications for how to support future OER development and the critical role of peer networks. We discuss connections across these themes and compare our results with related previous studies. These results indicate that sustained investment in intentionally designed, interdisciplinary networks can generate substantial and diverse benefits for the educators and researchers who create these resources.

Open Research StatementThe de-identified data associated with this manuscript will be permanently archived in Zenodo, upon the acceptance of the manuscript.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jithin, V., Klemens, J. A., McCulloch, L. A., Hardin, R., Seryak, L. M., Russell, A. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-24</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.21.726463</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Beyond student outcomes: How creating Open Educational Resources benefits authors in a research coordination network]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-24</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.20.726590v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Becoming Biomedical Faculty: A Longitudinal Analysis of Successful Academic Career Aspirants Career Perspectives, Motivations, and Intentions 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.20.726590v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Seismic shifts within academia over the last several decades have seen the growth of biomedical PhD recipients alongside the relative stagnation of tenure-track research-intensive faculty careers (RIFCs). This hypercompetitive academic job market has prompted interest in the paths of those who attain RIFCs. Understanding what drives recent biomedical PhDs to make their career decisions and persist toward them requires a clear picture of how career perceptions, motivations, and intentions develop and crystallize over time. Using annual in-depth interviews across nearly two decades, this report explores the evolution of career thinking and differentiation among 40 who attained a RIFC from diverse starting points to their attainment of a RIFC. Participants strategies for navigating early scientific experiences were patterned by their varied educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. Nearly half of participants did not start with or maintain stable interest in RIFCs, exhibiting changes in both PhD and postdoctoral phases. Participants highlighted six  drivers toward RIFCs including desire for independence/autonomy and contributing to knowledge/health. Our results are instructive for trainees and mentors guiding career exploration and differentiation.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jones, R. F., Hijara, C. M., Wood, C. V., Remich, R., Campbell, P. B., Skelley, A. E., Mendes, J. F., Cho, Y. K., O'Neill, D. P., McGee, R. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-21</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.20.726590</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Becoming Biomedical Faculty: A Longitudinal Analysis of Successful Academic Career Aspirants Career Perspectives, Motivations, and Intentions]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-21</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.20.726576v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Becoming Biomedical Faculty: An Analysis of Credentials among Successful Academic Career Aspirants 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.20.726576v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Understanding what is requisite for attaining a biomedical faculty career is crucial for guiding trainees preparing for these roles. For nearly two decades, we have collected accounts of biomedical training and career transitions from a large cohort through annual in-depth interviews and tracking of competencies and achievements. This paper elucidates the common and varied credentials of 40 who entered research-intensive faculty careers (RIFCs). Participants completed PhDs and postdocs in a range of research-intensive institutional settings. Developing research independence and a niche were essential to RIFC attainment, and mentors played a crucial role in this development. Counter to common assumptions, high-prestige publications and grants were not in and of themselves necessary for RIFC attainment. Our findings can aid RIFC aspirants and mentors who guide them.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Hijara, C. M., Jones, R. F., Wood, C. V., Remich, R., Skelley, A. E., Campbell, P. B., O'Neill, D. P., McGee, R. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-21</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.20.726576</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Becoming Biomedical Faculty: An Analysis of Credentials among Successful Academic Career Aspirants]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-21</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.723692v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Validation of video engagement assessments using electrodermal activity 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.723692v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Engagement is widely recognised as central to learning and academic achievement. Electrodermal activity (EDA) has emerged as an objective physiological indicator of engagement, as it measures sympathetic nervous system activation. However, the high cost of wearable EDA sensors has limited its widespread application. This study answers the call for affordable, high-temporal-resolution engagement measures by validating a video-based quantitative assessment method. Researchers collected 75 minutes of synchronised EDA and video data from 12 upper secondary students (aged 17-18) during regular instruction. Novel software was developed to analyse student movement and sound level for academically relevant content. The OpenPose AI model for pose estimation was also applied. This approach produced six distinct movement variables: two AI-based and four non-AI-based. Six linear models using varying movement variables and sound level were tested to predict tonic EDA levels. All models effectively predicted EDA levels, with non-AI-based movement metrics outperforming AI-based alternatives. The four non-AI-based movement models showed similar performance, indicating that compressed versions reduced computational time without sacrificing predictive power. These findings validate a novel, objective method for comparing engagement across learning activities on short timescales. This method is particularly useful for collaborative learning environments and enables controlling for movement and sound in quantitative classroom analyses.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Flo, E. E. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-18</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.13.723692</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Validation of video engagement assessments using electrodermal activity]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-18</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.724928v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Influence of non-content instructor talk on students' motivation-related outcomes in laboratory courses 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.724928v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) can expand undergraduates access to research and motivate students to stay in science. Yet, little research has examined how CURE instruction shapes student motivation. We leveraged a motivation-related characterization of non-content talk of 48 CURE and non-CURE instructors to predict the motivation-related outcomes of 462 students. We fit a series of multi-level models (MLM) in which we regressed students post-course scientific self-efficacy, task values, scientific identity, and science-related intentions onto instructors self-efficacy and task values-related talk, controlling for students pre-course levels. We also fit an MLM to explore whether instructors relationship-building talk (immediacy talk) was associated with students rapport with their instructor. Instructors self-efficacy talk did not affect students self-efficacy, and instructors immediacy talk had a marginally positive but non-significant association with students rapport ratings. Instructors task values talk positively influenced students scientific identity and some but not all of their task values. Instructors task values talk also positively influenced students intentions to pursue a science career, but not graduate education or research careers. Collectively, these results suggest that instructors task values talk may underpin some of the motivational effects of CURE instruction, but that task values talk need not be limited to CUREs.

HIGHLIGHTWe examine whether instructor talk predicts students motivational outcomes in CURE and non-CURE lab courses. Self-efficacy talk had no effect on student self-efficacy. Task values talk positively affected students science identity and career intentions, and some value beliefs. Immediacy talk was marginally related to student-instructor rapport.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Zajic, C. J., Dolan, E. L. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-15</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.13.724928</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Influence of non-content instructor talk on students' motivation-related outcomes in laboratory courses]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-15</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.724939v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
BioMARathons as a seasonal engagement model for marine citizen science: adapting BioBlitzes to challenging coastal environments 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.13.724939v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BioBlitzes are widely used citizen science events that combine biodiversity monitoring, public participation, and environmental awareness through short and intensive observation campaigns. However, applying this model to marine environments presents additional challenges related to safety, access, weather dependency, specialised equipment, species identification, and sustained participation. This paper presents the BioMARathon model as a case study of how BioBlitz-inspired events can be adapted to marine citizen science contexts.

The BioMARathon extends the conventional BioBlitz format into a longer, seasonal, and distributed engagement model designed specifically for marine and coastal environments. The paper describes the conceptual foundations of the model in the Janus Engagement Framework, which informed both the design of the BioMARathon and the adaptation of the MINKA citizen science observatory to better support participation, validation, feedback, and continuity over time. BioMARato Catalunya, launched in 2021, is presented as the founding implementation of the model and as the basis for later replication in Portugal.

Between 2021 and 2025, BioMARato Catalunya showed continued growth in participation, observations, and taxonomic coverage, while also contributing to the detection of non-indigenous species, first regional records, and climate-related ecological impacts. Beyond biodiversity outcomes, the case suggests that extending participation across a season, distributing activities through local mobilising organisations, and combining expert validation with visible feedback mechanisms can support recurrent participation, retention, and community reactivation in marine citizen science. Rather than offering a formal causal evaluation, this article contributes practical lessons for the design of citizen science initiatives in challenging environments.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Linan Moyano, S., Companys Oliva, B., Alvarez Sanchez, A., Turo Silanes, M., Rodero, C., Salvador Costa, X., Piera, J. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-15</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.13.724939</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[BioMARathons as a seasonal engagement model for marine citizen science: adapting BioBlitzes to challenging coastal environments]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-15</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.09.723946v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Evaluating longitudinal ecological models linking scientific production to population-level indicators: a global case study in mental health research 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.09.723946v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BackgroundQuantifying the alignment between scientific production and population-level indicators remains a persistent methodological challenge in health research evaluation. While longitudinal ecological models have been increasingly used to explore associations between research output and societal outcomes, their feasibility, interpretability, and structural limitations have not been systematically examined.

MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal ecological meta-research analysis integrating global bibliometric data on mental health publications with country-level indicators of mental disorders, mental health infrastructure, and subjective well-being. Analyses were stratified by World Bank income groups and implemented using a three-step framework comprising income specific linear regression models, random-effects meta-analyses, and meta-regressions to assess association patterns, heterogeneity, and potential moderators.

ResultsScientific production was highly concentrated in high-income countries. Income-stratified regression models revealed divergent association patterns across contexts, with inverse associations observed in higher income groups and predominantly positive coefficients in low-income countries. Meta-analyses showed extreme between-group heterogeneity for most indicators, yielding largely attenuated pooled estimates. Only one subjective well-being indicator retained a significant pooled association.

ConclusionsLongitudinal ecological models linking scientific production to population-level indicators can identify broad association patterns and structural asymmetries but are strongly constrained by contextual heterogeneity and data availability.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Acosta-Monterrosa, A. A., Hernandez-Paez, D. A., Visconti-Lopez, F. J., Kalokoh, S., Lozada-Martinez, I. D. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-15</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.09.723946</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Evaluating longitudinal ecological models linking scientific production to population-level indicators: a global case study in mental health research]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-15</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.06.723173v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Making Course Structure Visible in a Multi-Instructor Graduate Genomics Course: A Course-Level Evaluation of Standardized Learning Supports 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.06.723173v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Graduate-level genomics courses require students to integrate dense material across subfields, concepts and methods. In modular, multi-instructor courses, students may struggle because the coherence between lectures can be difficult to navigate, while the course structure may be visible to instructors. We evaluated a 2025 navigation redesign of BIO322, a graduate genomics course at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, while preserving course content, multi-instructor teaching, modular organization and assessment framework. The redesign includes introducing a standardized self-learning guide, expanded syllabus, enriched online quiz feedback, and added support for a final group research proposal. Using anonymized course evaluation scores from 2021-2025 and aggregated learning management system access data from 2023-2025, we examined student experience and resource use. In 2025, five of six course evaluation items reached their highest observed BIO322 scores, while one, lecture-specific score remained within the previous range. The consolidated self-learning guide was accessed by nearly all students, whereas access to optional readings declined across the course sequence, despite comparatively stable page views per accessing student. These course-level findings are consistent with improved perceived navigability following the introduction of standardized learning support. However, some students continued to report difficulty identifying priorities and connections among course components, indicating that challenges in perceived course coherence remained for part of the cohort despite the redesign.

Practitioner PointsO_LIMaking course structure explicit may improve students perceived navigability in multi-instructor graduate genomics courses.
C_LIO_LIA centralized self-learning guide can broaden access to preparatory guidance without changing core course content or assessment.
C_LIO_LIOptional learning supports may be used unevenly, so resource availability should not be assumed to translate into uniform resource access.
C_LI
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ SAITOU, M., Diblasi, C. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-08</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.06.723173</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Making Course Structure Visible in a Multi-Instructor Graduate Genomics Course: A Course-Level Evaluation of Standardized Learning Supports]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-08</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.04.722777v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Ethnobotanical survey of plant mosquito repellents: Knowledge, utilization, and application methods for malaria prevention in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.04.722777v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BackgroundMalaria remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, particularly in rural areas where access to conventional vector control tools is limited. Communities often use locally available plants as mosquito repellents, but documentation of the specific plants used, their utilization levels, and application methods in the Rwenzori region are limited. This study aimed to identify the types of plants used locally to repel mosquitoes, assess the level of utilization of plant-based mosquito repellents, and determine the methods of application employed by communities.

MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2024 in the seven districts and one city of the Rwenzori region, Western Uganda. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 173 household heads. Data were collected using a pre-tested, translated (Runyoro, Rutooro, Lukonzo) KoboCollect questionnaire and analyzed descriptively with SPSS version 23.

ResultsEighty-six percent of respondents reported using plant-based mosquito repellents, with 55% relying exclusively on plants. The most used plants were Cymbopogon citratus (citronella/lemon grass, 39.9%), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary, 25.7%), and Eucalyptus spp. (24.3%). The primary application method was planting repellent plants around the house (51.4%), followed by hanging injured plant parts in windows and doorways (28.4%). Other methods included burning or crushing plant parts and applying extracts/oils.

ConclusionPlant-based mosquito repellents are widely used in the Rwenzori region. This study documents community knowledge and practices that could inform future integrated vector management strategies. Further research is needed to evaluate the entomological and epidemiological effectiveness of the plant repellents that are most used plants and the methods commonly applied.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mugisa, T., Kimera, E., Ikiriza, A., Kakongi, N., Meble, K., Andinda, M., Idehen, C., Anyanwu, C., Ungokore, H. Y., Igwe, M. C. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-07</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.04.722777</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Ethnobotanical survey of plant mosquito repellents: Knowledge, utilization, and application methods for malaria prevention in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-07</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.05.722947v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
With great power comes great responsibility: how scientific supervisors shape the wellbeing of early-career researchers 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.05.722947v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Scientific supervision is central to the experience of early-career researchers (ECRs), yet its role in shaping wellbeing and retention remains underexamined from the ECR perspective. We analyzed 2,604 anonymous survey responses from predoctoral, postdoctoral and former researchers across 65 countries. Overall, 76% of respondents reported that their supervisors attitude had a moderate or severe impact on mental health. Although most entered academia for vocational reasons, negative experiences with supervisors were among the most frequently reported reasons for leaving among former researchers (48%), comparable to job insecurity and financial instability. Harm was most often associated with poor communication, disregard for wellbeing, micromanagement and competitiveness. In contrast, ECRs valued supportive rather than boss-like supervision, regular communication, realistic expectations and respect for personal time. These findings identify supervisory behavior as a major and modifiable determinant or ECRs wellbeing and retention, and highlight the need for stronger institutional accountability, mentor training and funding incentives that recognize mentorship as a core component of research culture.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Simon Martinez de Goni, X., Marin-Pena, A. J., Corrochano-Monsalve, M., Bozal-Leorri, A. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-07</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.05.05.722947</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[With great power comes great responsibility: how scientific supervisors shape the wellbeing of early-career researchers]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-07</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.29.721520v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
The compounding costs of being female in academia: Individual-based modelling of career progression and interventions 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.29.721520v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We develop a novel individual-based population dynamics model of academic career progression, using 15 years of data from over 1,000 academics from one university. Our model improves on previous models, which, by homogenising career progression, may underestimate the costs of being female.

We find multiple effects that compound to slow career progression for women. Women are hired at lower ranks than men, then face the sticky floor problem of getting stuck at the bottom for longer. Further, individuals in STEM fields are promoted more quickly; this disproportionately affects women who are more prevalent in non-STEM fields.

Our model reveals age is more complicated than others have found with ODE-based models. Women are older when hired, and promotions favour the young; hence age costs women more. Finally, the probability of attrition rises with years spent at the same rank, regardless of gender. Since women are promoted slower, they experience higher attrition rates.

We also deploy our model to test possible interventions. We find just hiring more women will not work. A more nuanced set of interventions is required. Gender parity will only be achieved at the highest ranks if hiring rates are jointly equalised across gender, academic rank, and discipline.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Gibson, L., Brower, A., MacDonald, L. T. A. o. T., James, A. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-05-03</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.29.721520</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[The compounding costs of being female in academia: Individual-based modelling of career progression and interventions]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-05-03</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.22.719980v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Reference-free compound identification using computational prediction of molecular properties and multi-dimensional spectrometric measurements: a fentanyl case study 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.22.719980v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Mass spectrometry is used to identify chemicals to which humans are exposed, but it cannot directly determine molecular structures. Instead, structures are inferred by matching experimental spectra to libraries of spectra constructed from analyses of pure reference compounds. However, the chemical space of human exposures far exceeds the amount of experimental library spectra. Here, we evaluate a  reference-free strategy for confident identification of unknown molecules. Using fentanyl as a case study, we created a suspect library of over 1 billion computationally predicted fentanyl analogs and predicted molecular properties through machine learning, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory. Multi-dimensional spectra from a blinded analysis of a mock fentanyl tablet were matched with the predicted library, yielding an average of three candidate structures per measured analog, with six exact identifications. This work emphasizes the promise of reference-free molecular measurements for assessing human exposure by merging computational predictions with high-dimensional measurements.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Harrilal, C. P., Hollerbach, A. L., Ciesielski, D., Schultz, K. J., Overstreet, R., Rice, P. S., King, E., Nguyen, J., Ross, D. H., Lin, V. S., Deng, G. Y., Brayfindley, E., Webb-Robertson, B.-J., Raugei, S., Ibrahim, Y. M., Ewing, R. G., Metz, T. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-27</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.22.719980</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Reference-free compound identification using computational prediction of molecular properties and multi-dimensional spectrometric measurements: a fentanyl case study]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-27</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.20.718838v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Participant engagement and feedback in microbiome projects: a case of AWI-Gen 2 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.20.718838v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Returning individualized microbiome results in ways that are ethical, comprehensible, and useful remains under-explored in African settings. We nested a multi-site, mixed-methods study within the AWI-Gen Wave 2 gut microbiome sub-study of 1,801 women aged 42 - 86 years to engage the participants and provide feedback. All (1,001) participants from Agincourt and Soweto (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya) were invited to feedback meetings: 496 from Agincourt, 87 from Soweto, and 195 from Nairobi responded. Engagement strategies were tailored by site (small-group and home-based sessions, visual metaphors, Foldscopes, and local-language delivery). Using semi-structured discussions and structured observations analysed thematically in MAXQDA under COREQ, five cross-cutting themes emerged: (1) understanding of microbiome reports, (2) emotional responses to feedback, (3) perceived health relevance, (4) trust in research institutions, and (5) suggestions for improving engagement. Culturally grounded explanations and local-language facilitation enhanced comprehension and perceived relevance; English-heavy sessions were associated with more confusion. Most participants expressed satisfaction and described planned or enacted dietary and lifestyle changes, while frustration centred on long delays between sampling and feedback. Trust increased with transparency and individualized return of results but was often conditional on minimizing burdensome procedures such as repeat blood sampling (phlebotomy) and ensuring timely feedback. Engagement was feasible and low-cost (approximately USD 29-59 per participant) with site-specific resource needs. Limitations included constrained generalizability beyond the three study sites. Returning individualized microbiome findings in community settings in Africa is acceptable, feasible, and can motivate health-promoting behaviours when delivered promptly and in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.

IMPORTANCEMicrobiome studies rarely return individualized results in low-resource settings due to concerns about appropriate feedback and associated costs. This gap risks eroding trust and diminishing research impact. In three African communities, tailored feedback on gut microbiome profiles was provided to 778 women. By documenting a costed, multi-site engagement model and the themes influencing acceptance and actionability, this work offers a practical framework for ethically returning complex -omics results at scale in underrepresented populations - advancing scientific equity and strengthening community trust in microbiome research.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Nkera-Gutabara, C., Olubayo, L. A. I., Oduaran, O. H., Kisiangani, I., Khoza, S., Gama, K., Maritze, M., Mabunda, C., Keya, D., Adetunji, K. E., Tollman, S., Micklesfield, L. K., Mohamed, S. F., Gomez-Olive, F. X., Tluway, F., Ramsay, M., Bhatt, A. S., Hazelhurst, S., Maghini, D. G., AWI-Gen Collaborative Centre,, MADIVA Research Hub ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-22</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.20.718838</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Participant engagement and feedback in microbiome projects: a case of AWI-Gen 2]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-22</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.17.719279v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
ReviewBench: An Extensible Framework for Benchmarking Human and AI Manuscript Review 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.17.719279v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWThe volume of scientific manuscripts is rising faster than the available pool of expert reviewers, and AI tools are emerging as a possible response, ranging from frontier large language models applied directly to peer review to purpose-built multi-agent systems. Scalable, standardized benchmarks are needed to regularly evaluate how these tools compare to one another and to human reviewers. We present ReviewBench, an open-source, venue-agnostic framework that compares human and AI reviews across structure, alignment with a papers major claims, impact, and critique category. We apply ReviewBench to 145,021 review comments from human reviewers, frontier large language models (GPT-5.2, and Gemini 3 Pro), and Reviewer3.com (R3), a multi-agent peer review system. The dataset spans papers in computer science (ICLR 2025, n = 1,000), social science (Nature Human Behaviour, n = 142), and life science (eLife, n = 1,000). Across disciplines, AI reviews are more structured and engage more directly with a papers major claims, with R3 more often surfacing consequential comments, defined as comments capable of undermining those claims. When restricting to critical comments, however, human reviewers rank first on consequential rate on more individual papers than any AI source, despite a lower average. We identify a bimodal reviewer distribution with peaks near 0% and 100%, indicating that many reviewers outperform AI on this metric, but a substantial fraction of reviewers near 0% brings the average down. Critique typing demonstrates systematic differences, where humans emphasize contribution and clarity, while AI emphasizes validity, sufficiency, and transparency. Together, these findings argue against framing AI as a replacement for human review and instead support a complementary model in which AI scales technical verification of major claims while human judgment remains essential for evaluating contribution and shaping editorial decisions.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Khalil, N. N., Reed, T. J., Ciccozzi, M. R. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-20</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.17.719279</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[ReviewBench: An Extensible Framework for Benchmarking Human and AI Manuscript Review]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-20</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.16.719004v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Inclusive Biology Curriculum Interventions Can Reduce High School Students' Bioessentialist Beliefs 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.16.719004v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) students continue to face violence, exclusion, and barriers at school, including in STEM education. A key underexamined factor in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts is the content of the life science curriculum, which is uniquely positioned to reinforce or refute bioessentialist, binary, and heteronormative biases. Outdated science curricula not only conflict with current scientific evidence but can also perpetuate beliefs that contribute to sexism and LGBTQIA+ marginalization. To address this, we designed four gender and sexual diversity (GSD)-inclusive biology activities, aligned with NGSS standards, and informed by inclusive curriculum frameworks. Using a mixed-methods approach, we studied 127 high school students who participated in two or more inclusive biology activities. Surveys conducted before and after implementation showed significant reductions in essential, binary beliefs about sex and gender, and increases in affirming attitudes toward sex and gender diversity. Interviews conducted after implementation further revealed differences between LGBTQIA+ and straight students conceptualizations of biological sex. Our findings demonstrate that even brief curriculum interventions can shift student attitudes, although we hope future studies will explore the impact of sustained interventions. Updating life science instruction is essential for educational equity and scientific accuracy.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Blake, C. K., Ewa, O. S., Eckles, E. B. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-19</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.16.719004</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Inclusive Biology Curriculum Interventions Can Reduce High School Students' Bioessentialist Beliefs]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-19</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.15.718791v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Statistical invisibility of working equids in Mexico: Dissecting the gap between global diagnostics and official data (1970-2022). 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.15.718791v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BackgroundWorking equids are fundamental to the socioeconomic structure of Mexicos small-scale agricultural sector, which accounts for 71.2% of the countrys active Agricultural Production Units (APUs). Despite their critical role in human rural livelihoods, food security, and sustainable development, these animals face systemic "statistical invisibility" within national and international productive frameworks. This study evaluates the long-term population dynamics and geographical distribution of working equids to analyze their current status amidst agricultural modernization.

MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted using national census data from 1970 to 2022 provided by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (INEGI). Population trends for horses, donkeys, and mules were calculated using the Average Annual Variation Rate (AAVR). The severity of population declines was classified according to an adaptation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Finally, national census records from INEGI, Agri-food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP) and The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) were contrasted with FAOSTAT database estimates to identify reporting discrepancies.

ResultsBetween 1970 and 2022, the total equine population in Mexico decreased by 76.5%, falling from 6.8 to 1.6 million. However, a "paradox of modernization" was identified: while total numbers plummeted, the proportion of equids used specifically for work reached a historical peak of 81% in 2022, effectively having doubled from the 44% recorded in 2007. While donkeys and mules have suffered drastic total reductions (87% and 88%, respectively), working horses experienced a resilient 37% recovery between 2007 and 2022 (+3.71% AAVR). Furthermore, a staggering 710.8% discrepancy was found between national census data and FAOSTAT estimates, representing an overestimation of 11.3 million animals in international records.

ConclusionsThe persistence and recent recovery of working equids reflect a "resilience of necessity" for approximately 500,000 APUs that depend exclusively on animal traction and packing due to economic constraints and complex topography. These findings challenge the narrative of total agricultural mechanization and highlight an urgent need for evidence-based public policies that address the statistical invisibility of working equids as indispensable drivers of rural sustainability and food security.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Garcia-Seco, E., Diaz, M. A., Tadich Gallo, T., Toribio, R. E., Galindo Maldonado, F., Hernandez-Gil, M. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-17</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.15.718791</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Statistical invisibility of working equids in Mexico: Dissecting the gap between global diagnostics and official data (1970-2022).]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-17</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.14.718420v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Community needs for FAIR pathogen data 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.14.718420v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BackgroundDatasets related to infectious diseases are essential for public health decision-making, yet their reuse remains limited by persistent barriers to data sharing and integration. Achieving data that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) is widely recognized as essential for accelerating scientific discovery and enabling coordinated responses to emerging threats, but the needs of the global pathogen data community have not been systematically characterized.

AimThis study, conducted by the Pathogen Data Network (PDN), aims to identify infrastructural and educational priorities among stakeholders working with infectious disease-related data in order to guide community-responsive support for data sharing and interoperability.

MethodsA cross-sectional stakeholder survey was disseminated to a well-defined expert population within PDN networks and via open professional channels. A total of 136 responses from researchers, healthcare professionals, bioinformaticians, and educators were analyzed descriptively to identify prioritized barriers, training needs, and preferred support mechanisms.

ResultsRespondents consistently identified structural constraints as the primary impediments to effective data use, including limited funding (74%), data-aggregation challenges (68%), and a shortage of skilled personnel (52%). Respondents identified bioinformatics for infectious disease research (68%) as the highest priority for training, followed by guidance on using the integrated pathogen data and tools portal provided by the PDN, the Pathogens Portal (51%). The Pathogens Portal was also ranked as the most essential PDN resource (72%). Preferred training formats included virtual short courses (68%) and webinars (66%). Notably, while researchers emphasized technical subjects like machine learning, educators prioritized foundational case studies.

ConclusionThese findings provide an evidence-based diagnostic of community needs and suggest that barriers to FAIR pathogen data are predominantly systemic rather than purely technological. The survey framework and openly available dataset offer a reusable template for assessing needs in other communities and regions. By aligning training, infrastructure development, and outreach with empirically identified priorities, organizations supporting infectious disease research can strengthen the interoperability and reuse of data and establish a benchmark for future community-driven improvements.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ van Geest, G., Thomas-Lopez, D., Feitzinger, A. A., Weissgold, L. A., Halabi, S., Cuesta, I., Hjerde, E., Gurwitz, K. T., Arora, N., Neves, A., Palagi, P. M., Williams, J. J. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-15</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.14.718420</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Community needs for FAIR pathogen data]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-15</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.13.718177v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Are you represented? Subjective vs objective skin color determination for healthcare and research purposes. 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.13.718177v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Despite questionable accuracy, subjective methods to categorize skin color are heavily relied upon in research and medicine. Objective skin color determination is expensive requiring specialized instrumentation and interpretation. We compare three subjective approaches, i) Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale (FST), ii) Pantone SkinTone Guide (PST) and, iii) Monk Skin Tone Scale (MST), with objectively measured skin color from a spectrophotometer in 87 volunteers to understand the limitations of each method. In agreement with others, we show that the popular FST questionnaire correlates poorly with the objective approach. However, PST color swatches provide good correlation with spectrophotometer measurements. PST consists of 110+ swatches that are inexpensive and easy to use, however, similar to other reports, the volunteers found the number of swatches overwhelming and/or excessive. We found that the recently introduced MST is not representative of reality with only 3 of the 10 color groups representing our volunteers and published populations of volunteers. In future, we propose using 9 color swatches to split the spectrum of human skin color into 10 groupings (Nottingham Skin Categories - NSC) that are representative of the global population. This new approach would be easy to implement and inexpensive in research, healthcare and cosmetics settings, and maps directly to objective, quantitative, measures taken with a spectrophotometer. For the testing and development of new optical devices, NSC would provide increased comparability between studies and ensure studies are representative of local/global populations. In the clinic NSC would be useful for dermatology, photodynamic therapy and dosage assessment for topical medicine, for example.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Setchfield, K. J., Kuppur Narayana Swamy, S. K., Setchfield, E. J., Morgan, S. P., Somekh, M. G., Wright, A. J. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-14</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718177</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Are you represented? Subjective vs objective skin color determination for healthcare and research purposes.]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-14</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.13.718109v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
SIGHT: an immersive Virtual Reality platform for reinforced learning of optics and functional neuroanatomy of vision 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.13.718109v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive and interactive learning environments that can improve student engagement and 3D visualization. However, its application in medical education is mostly limited to clinical settings and its potential for better understanding complex concepts, or empathy with the patients, remains underexplored. Here, we describe SIGHT (Simulated Immersive Guidance for Human Training), an immersive VR application, designed to teach core concepts in the physics and functional neuroanatomy, or neurophysiology of human vision. Its two integrated learning modules allow first-person experience of normal and pathological conditions: the optics module enables users to manipulate lenses, experience refractive errors such as myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism and correct them through appropriate lens selection; the neurophysiology module allows learners to navigate the visual pathways from the retina to the visual cortex and to simulate lesions, experiencing the corresponding visual field deficits. User authentication and interactive evaluation steps provide analytical feedback of the experience and learning process. A pilot group of medical students reported high usability, engagement and deeper understanding of the vision-related concepts, showing how the approach of SIGHT can support experiential learning in medical education.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Malik, Z., Fornia, L., Grunig, J., Scalisi, D., Marchesi, F., Zanchetta, G. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-14</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718109</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[SIGHT: an immersive Virtual Reality platform for reinforced learning of optics and functional neuroanatomy of vision]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-14</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.10.717672v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
The Common Fund Data Ecosystem (CFDE) 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.10.717672v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The NIH Common Fund Data Ecosystem (CFDE) integrates data resources from 18 NIH Common Fund programs for discovery and integrative analysis. These programs generate valuable but heterogeneous datasets that can be difficult to discover, access, and reuse. CFDE aims to provide a collaborative, community-built infrastructure that links and enriches Common Fund programs. We describe the evolution, structure, and core technologies of CFDE, including practical approaches that support submission, integration, visualization, and public release of multimodal data. Training programs and workforce initiatives lower barriers to adoption. CFDE has devised solutions to critical issues facing cross-program initiatives, including data scale and heterogeneity, dataset integration, and long-term sustainability. We demonstrate the utility of linking Common Fund resources through integrative tools and cross-dataset queries to yield insights that would otherwise be infeasible. Collectively, CFDE shows that a standards-driven, federated approach enhances and unifies cross-disciplinary resources, fostering collaboration and data-driven discovery.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jurgens, J. A., Bueckle, A., Vora, J., Maurya, M. R., Mohseni Ahooyi, T., Zheng, E., Stear, B., Wang, D., Ree, C., Ramachandran, S., Nekrutenko, A., Brandes, M., Thaker, S., Katz, D. H., Munoz-Torres, M. C., Diamant, I., Chun, H.-J. E., Simmons, J. A., Tasian, S. K., Jenkins, S. L., Evangelista, J. E., Dodia, H., Saha, S., Lindquist, M. A., Gajjala, V., Nemarich, C., Zhen, J., Ross, K. E., Byrd, A. I., Shilin, A., Metzger, V. T., Bologa, C. G., Srinivasan, S., Jang, D., Kumar, P., Taub, L. D., Levanto, M. P., Petrosyan, V., Anandakrishnan, M., Kim, M., Clarke, D. J. B., Ivich, A., Crichton, D. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-12</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.10.717672</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[The Common Fund Data Ecosystem (CFDE)]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-12</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.07.716944v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
The power of naming: shorter and simpler species names draw more attention 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.07.716944v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
If youve ever complained about a species name thats a mouthful--say, the soldier fly Parastratiosphecomyia stratiosphecomyioides or the myxobacterium Myxococcus llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogochensis--youre in very good company. But could the readability of binomial scientific names cause more than complaints? Could it influence how much species are studied and talked about? We examined a random sample of 3,019 species names spanning 29 phyla/divisions. We tested whether name length and reading difficulty are associated with species representation in the scientific literature (measured via literature mentions) and their visibility to the public (measured via Wikipedia pageviews). Both species name traits showed significant negative relationships with literature mentions and Wikipedia reads. Increasing name length from 10 to 30 characters is associated with a 66% decrease in expected mentions and a 65% decrease in Wikipedia reads, while shifting from the most to the least readable name in the dataset corresponds to 53% and 76% decreases. These patterns are consistent with something familiar: the fickleness of human attention, responding to features of the world that are far from rational. While creativity in naming is a cherished part of taxonomy, a touch of orthographic restraint may ultimately benefit both science and the species themselves--especially among understudied uncharismatic taxa.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mlynarek, J., Heard, S. B., Mammola, S. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-08</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.07.716944</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[The power of naming: shorter and simpler species names draw more attention]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-08</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.04.716449v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
Traditional Physical Practice Participation and Vision-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents: The Serial Mediating Roles of Exercise Self-Efficacy and Visual Function Anomalies 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.04.716449v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
PurposeThis study examined the association between traditional physical practice participation and vision-related quality of life among junior secondary school students and tested the mediating roles of exercise self-efficacy and visual function anomalies within a serial mediation framework.

MethodsA four-wave time-lagged survey was conducted among 1,579 students in Grades 7-9 from schools implementing traditional physical practice activities. Variables were assessed at two-week intervals. Mediation effects were tested using the bias-corrected percentile bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples.

ResultsThe total effect of traditional physical practice participation on vision-related quality of life was significant ({beta} = 0.591, p < .001). After including the mediators, the direct effect remained significant ({beta} = 0.404, 95% CI [0.348, 0.457]), accounting for 68.36% of the total effect. The total indirect effect was significant ({beta} = 0.187, 95% CI [0.160, 0.218]), representing 31.64% of the total effect. The indirect effect via exercise self-efficacy was significant ({beta} = 0.088, 95% CI [0.068, 0.112], 14.89%), as was the indirect effect via visual function anomalies ({beta} = 0.065, 95% CI [0.048, 0.086], 11.00%). The serial mediation pathway through exercise self-efficacy and visual function anomalies was also significant ({beta} = 0.034, 95% CI [0.025, 0.045], 5.75%). All confidence intervals excluded zero, supporting partial mediation.

ConclusionTraditional physical practice participation was associated with vision-related quality of life both directly and indirectly through exercise self-efficacy and visual function anomalies, including a significant serial mediation pathway. The findings highlight the combined psychological and functional mechanisms underlying adolescents vision-related quality of life.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Zhang, X., Liu, Z., Long, J. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-04-07</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.04.04.716449</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[Traditional Physical Practice Participation and Vision-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents: The Serial Mediating Roles of Exercise Self-Efficacy and Visual Function Anomalies]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-04-07</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
<item rdf:about="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.25.713611v1?rss=1">
<title>
<![CDATA[
AI in Practice: A Multilingual Survey of 2025 BioHackathon Participants 
]]>
</title>
<link>
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.25.713611v1?rss=1
</link>
<description><![CDATA[
This dataset arises from a multilingual survey of AI use among participants and community members in the DBCLS BioHackathon 2025 in Japan. The questionnaire, offered in English, Japanese, and Thai, asked about how often respondents use AI tools, what they use them for, obstacles they encounter, institutional support, satisfaction, and concerns. Additional items captured role, institution type, work country, and other demographics, totaling 105 responses. The dataset includes both raw anonymized responses and a cleaned, standardized English-only version suitable for quantitative analysis, along with the full questionnaire, a data dictionary for cleaned dataset, and a translation lookup table. Free-text answers were screened and redacted to remove URLs, names, and other potentially identifiable information. Together, these materials provide a community-level view of AI practice in genomics, bioinformatics, software development, and related areas, and can support work on AI adoption, policy, and methods for analyzing survey data on AI use in science.
]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ Sriwichai, N., Feriau, L., Tongyoo, P., Noda, Y., Gyoji, H., Noisagul, P., Goto, S., Steinberg, D., Wangsanuwat, C. ]]></dc:creator>
<dc:date>2026-03-27</dc:date>
<dc:identifier>doi:10.64898/2026.03.25.713611</dc:identifier>
<dc:title><![CDATA[AI in Practice: A Multilingual Survey of 2025 BioHackathon Participants]]></dc:title>
<dc:publisher>Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</dc:publisher>
<prism:publicationDate>2026-03-27</prism:publicationDate>
<prism:section></prism:section>
</item>
</rdf:RDF>
