Nature Communications, Published online: 18 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-67592-wAuthor Correction: Exploring the space of self-reproducing ribozymes using generative models

Publication date: January 2026 Source: Animal Behaviour, Volume 231 Author(s): E. Mortessagne, S. Bouziane, A. Meguerditchian, F. Pifferi, E. Pouydebat, D. Bovet

The rapid emergence of generative AI is transforming how employees engage with technology to perform tasks, make decisions, and create value. Despite its transformative potential, empirical findings on AI adoption remain inconsistent, particularly regarding how job characteristics shape employees’ confidence and readiness to use generative AI. Grounded in the Task–Technology Fit framework and self-efficacy theory, this research examines the curvilinear relationship between job complexity and AI self-efficacy and its subsequent effects on AI adoption readiness and behavior. We conducted two survey studies to test the proposed hypotheses using structural equation modeling. Results reveal that employees in both low- and high-complexity roles exhibit a low level of AI self-efficacy and a subsequent lower level of AI adoption behaviors compared to those in moderately complex roles. These findings challenge the assumption that highly skilled roles typically lead AI integration and instead highlight the importance of aligning task structure with AI capabilities. This study advances theory by introducing a non-linear boundary condition to technology adoption and offers practical guidance for organizations to design jobs and training programs that cultivate confidence and foster sustainable human–AI collaboration.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 19 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-33091-7The association of embryo developmental rate and morphological grading with neonatal sex ratio

Ecology and Evolution, Volume 15, Issue 12, December 2025.

Variation in ant colony queen number has repeatedly and independently evolved to be controlled by non-recombining supergenes, whose origins remain enigmatic. A new study describes an ancient gene duplication underlying queen winglessness within a younger supergene, providing novel insight into supergene evolution.

Brain and Behavior, Volume 15, Issue 12, December 2025.

Background Hypoxia and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), although the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore hypoxia- and mitochondria-related genes (HRGs and MRGs) that may be associated with RSA using integrative bioinformatics approaches and preliminary experimental validation. Methods We analyzed transcriptomic data and curated a list of HRGs/MRGs, and subsequently identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the RSA and control groups. Overlapping DEGs with HRGs and MRGs revealed candidate genes, which were further validated through machine learning and expression analysis. A nomogram was developed to predict RSA risk based on these genes. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis, immune infiltration profiling, and regulatory network analysis were performed, followed by drug prediction. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed the differential expression of genes. Results BSG and TRAK1 were identified, via bioinformatics and RT-qPCR validation, as hypoxia- and mitochondria-related genes associated with RSA. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggested that BSG and TRAK1 may be associated with biological pathways such as zinc ion homeostasis and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, although their mechanistic roles remain unclear. The nomogram exhibited strong predictive accuracy. BSG and TRAK1 were positively correlated with resting memory CD4+ T cells, with their expression regulated by transcription factors EHMT2 and SUPT5H. Drug prediction analyses, based on gene expression patterns, suggested captopril, valproic acid, and compound 7646-79-9 as potential candidates for future experimental investigation, although their mechanistic roles remain to be validated. Conclusion BSG and TRAK1 are upregulated in RSA and associated with RSA-relevant biological processes. While their functional roles require further investigation, these genes represent promising candidates for future mechanistic and clinical studies.

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2025 Source: Animal Behaviour Author(s): C. Ruth Archer, Matthew R. Carey, Charles E. Grant, Clarissa House, Amy Molotoks, Enrique del Castillo, Zeya Wagner, John Hunt

Moreira et al. introduce aphelids, single-celled parasites of algae that kill their hosts during infection.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 122, Issue 49, December 2025.

by Xinyu Wang, Huimin Liu, Xiaoman Wang, Ben Zhou, Haiqing Tang, Shanshan Pang Lysosomes are critical hubs for both cellular degradation and signal transduction, yet their function declines with age. Aging is also associated with significant changes in lysosomal morphology, but the physiological significance of these alterations remains poorly understood. Here, we find that a subset of aged lysosomes undergo enlargement resulting from lysosomal dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Importantly, this enlargement is not merely a passive consequence of functional decline but represents an active adaptive response to preserve lysosomal degradation capacity. Blocking lysosomal enlargement exacerbates the impaired degradation of dysfunctional lysosomes. Mechanistically, lysosomal enlargement is a transcriptionally regulated process governed by the longevity transcription factor SKN-1, which responds to lysosomal dysfunction by restricting fission and thereby induces lysosomal enlargement. Furthermore, in long-lived germline-deficient animals, SKN-1 activation induces lysosomal enlargement, thereby promoting lysosomal degradation and contributing to longevity. These findings unveil a morphological adaptation that safeguards lysosomal homeostasis, with potential relevance for lysosomal aging and life span.

Animal mobility is central to pastoral livelihoods and regional trade in West Africa, but it also facilitates the spread of transboundary animal diseases such as Peste des petits ruminants (PPR). In Nigeria, PPR outbreaks recur regularly, yet surveillance and control remain limited in the absence of routine animal-movement tracking. Here, we assess and compare movement-informed control options for PPR using a reconstructed livestock mobility network from a one-time market survey conducted in three northern Nigerian states. We simulate transmission on this network and evaluate three intervention strategies: (i) targeting vulnerable villages, (ii) targeting the links that connect movement communities, and (iii) targeting villages belonging to the network backbone. Across scenarios, backbone-based targeting consistently produced the largest reductions in network connectivity and epidemic outcomes, outperforming strategies focused on vulnerable nodes or inter-community links. These results suggest that backbone-informed control could provide a practical, resource-efficient pathway to strengthen PPR control in settings where routine movement data are scarce.

Publication date: February 2026 Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 67 Author(s): Devayani Joshi, Alexa Tompary, Aaron Kucyi

Scientific Reports, Published online: 19 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-24933-5Deciphering the molecular basis of skin color variation through transcriptomics and machine learning

Winans et al. show how plasmid transfer can reorganize bacterial communities into dense aggregates, conferring antibiotic and phage tolerance to otherwise sensitive host cells. Conjugation-dependent aggregation also leads to reduced host cell dispersal, identifying a biofilm-specific trade-off that may be broadly important for the evolution of plasmid conjugation rate.

Objective Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by pain, stiffness, and limited mobility, substantially impairing quality of life. Vibration therapy has gained attention as a promising nonpharmacological intervention for KOA management. However, existing systematic reviews report inconsistent findings regarding its efficacy and safety. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence from published systematic reviews to provide a comprehensive evaluation of vibration therapy in KOA. Methods A systematic search was conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Web of Science, and Embase, with the search completed in January 2025. Eligible systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, examining the effects of vibration therapy in KOA were included. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts, assessed full text eligibility, and extracted data on study characteristics, interventions, and clinical outcomes. The methodological quality of the included reviews was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) tool, and reviews were categorized as high, moderate, or low quality. Study overlap was evaluated using the Corrected Covered Area (CCA) method to quantify redundancy. Findings were synthesized qualitatively, focusing on outcomes related to pain intensity, physical function, functional mobility and KOA-related disability. Results Six systematic reviews published between 2015 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria, of which five included meta-analyses. In total, 22 unique primary trials were cumulatively analysed. The average AMSTAR-2 score was 65.7%, ranging from 56% (moderate) to 81% (high quality). The CCA analysis revealed a high degree of overlap (15%) across the reviews, indicating redundancy in primary studies but also reinforcing consistency in evidence. Commonly reported outcomes included the Visual Analogue Scale, muscle strength, Berg Balance Scale, Six Minute Walk Test, Timed Up and Go test, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The majority of reviews reported favourable effects of vibration therapy on WOMAC physical function and pain intensity, while fewer reviews supported improvements in functional performance and muscle strength. Conclusion Vibration therapy appears to be a promising adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for KOA, particularly for improving physical function and knee pain. However, inconsistent evidence regarding its effects on functional performance and muscle strength underscores the need for further high-quality research. Future studies should determine optimal vibration parameters and explore underlying mechanisms to establish evidence based clinical guidelines. Review Registration PROSPEROCRD42024620119.

Adachi et al. show that elephant seals in poor condition forage less efficiently and compensate by devoting more time to foraging at the expense of sleep.

Economic uncertainty has multiple forms, including risk and ambiguity. Risk describes lotteries with well defined probabilities, whereas ambiguity describes cases where probabilities are not known. Given choices between risky and ambiguous alternatives, most decision makers prefer the known uncertainty of risk. This relationship, known as ambiguity aversion, holds even when both options have the same quantitative levels of uncertainty. Despite the prevalence of ambiguity in the natural world, the psychological and neural mechanisms that produce ambiguity aversion are not well understood. Here, we developed a nonhuman primate task to study ambiguity attitudes in the lab. We showed that the animals are strongly ambiguity averse, even when they could learn the true values of the ambiguous options through repeated trials. Then, to understand why they were ambiguity averse, we examined points of subjective equivalence between risky gambles and ambiguous alternatives. These experiments demonstrated that when the potential outcomes were large, the animals judged the probability of getting the better outcome far below the true probability of 0.5. Interestingly, we observed the opposite in small value gambles: the animals were overly optimistic about their chances of getting the better reward, even though the true probability was still 0.5. These inconsistent judgments about probabilities suggest that the animals do not hold consistent beliefs, and that the lack of consistent beliefs leads to suboptimal economic outcomes. These results provide a platform to study the neurophysiological bases of real-world decision making.

This pilot study investigates the relationship between stress situations and speech fluency in virtual reality environments. It aims to analyze how different stress scenarios, classified into low-, medium-, and high-stress environments, can affect speech rate, increase syllable/word repetitions, and lead to hesitations in university students. Previous research has established connections between stress situations and speech fluency, highlighting that stress can negatively influence behavior, cognitive processes, and communicative performance across various contexts, including oral presentations. An experiment was conducted with 30 participants randomly divided into three groups. Each group was exposed to different virtual stress environments (low/medium/high) during simulated oral presentations. A virtual reality platform was created to establish controlled environments and monitor the participants’ fluency in real time. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test revealed that participants in the low-stress virtual environment performed better, achieving higher word and syllable production. In contrast, the high-stress virtual environment demonstrated an increase in disfluencies and hesitations. Results emphasize the impact of stress situations on oral communication, advocating for the use of virtual reality technology as a means of preparing individuals for challenging speaking scenarios. This approach has the potential to enhance speech fluency as a result of targeted practice in stress-inducing environments; that is to say, alleviating anxiety and improving overall communicative efficacy.

by Fang Ye, Zhiyi Zhang, Binghao Zhang, Xinyu Li, Jiaxi Deng, Qian Miao, Peiruo Ning, Yunlin Chi, Geng Chen, Zhangsong Wu, Qian Wang, Lezhi Xu, Ningjie Gong, Bangning Cheng, Zhigang Ma, Chungen Qian, Lizhe Zhu, Xin Pan, Yang Du The hydroxycarboxylic acid receptors (HCAR2 and HCAR3), also known as prototypical metabolite-sensing receptors, are key targets for treating dyslipidemia and metabolic disorders. While HCAR2 activation, but not HCAR3 activation, is associated with side effects of cutaneous flushing, the structural features and ligand preferences of HCAR3 remain less understood. Here, we used Sf9 cells to express HCAR3-Gi and HCAR2-Gi complexes, and present cryo-EM structures of HCAR3-Gi complexes with agonists compound 6O (3.31 Å), D-phenyllactic acid (3.05 Å), IBC293 (3.26 Å), and acifran (3.18Å), as well as HCAR2-Gi complex with agonist acifran (2.72 Å). Our findings reveal the mechanism behind 6O’s highest affinity to HCAR3, attributed to its full occupation of both R1 and R2 regions of the orthosteric binding pocket. Moreover, combined with cAMP assay in HEK-293 cells, we have elucidated that the ligand selectivity between HCAR3 and HCAR2 depended on π–π interaction with F1073.32 (L1073.32 in HCAR2) and ligand-binding pocket size difference, facilitated by key residues difference V/L832.60, Y/N862.63, and S/W9123.48. Collectively, these structural insights lay the groundwork for developing HCAR3-specific drugs, potentially avoiding HCAR2-induced adverse effects.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 19 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-21644-9Influence of coal liquefaction residues as fine aggregate substitution on asphalt mixture performance and adsorption characteristics

Ecology and Evolution, Volume 15, Issue 12, December 2025.

Recent theories propose that the structure of a navigator’s cognitive map is determined by the predictive relationships they experience while navigating. Here, Pecirno and Keinath show that neural representations of space in the mouse hippocampus exhibit several hallmarks consistent with these predictive theories.

Brain and Behavior, Volume 15, Issue 12, December 2025.