Browse Articles

Comparing the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ warm-up and conventional warm-up in enhancing cyclist performance and mitigating injury risk

Reduced North Pacific Deep Water formation across the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation

Abstract Today, deep waters do not form in the northern high latitudes of the Pacific Ocean, but this may not have been the case during the Pliocene. Evidence suggests there was a Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation during the warm Late Pliocene, similar to the modern Atlantic Ocean with a weak halocline in the subpolar North Pacific resulting in North Pacific Deep Water (NPDW) formation. However, much of this evidence comes from proxies that can be biased by changes in local productivity. We present a coupled Mg/Ca-δ18O record from the North Pacific which shows two distinct water masses in the Pliocene North Pacific Ocean, with NPDW colder and fresher than the underlying deeper water. Here, we show a decline in NPDW formation during glacials from 2.7 million years ago, which we suggest demonstrates the strong sensitivity of ocean gateways to sea level and ice volume change in shaping deep water circulation, and thus the climate system.

A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD

We aimed to assess the psychoeducational quality of TikTok content about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from the perspective of both mental health professionals and young adults across two pre-registered studies. In Study 1, two clinical psychologists with expertise in ADHD evaluated the claims (accuracy, nuance, overall quality as psychoeducation material) made in the top 100 #ADHD TikTok videos. Despite the videos’ immense popularity (collectively amassing nearly half a billion views), fewer than 50% of the claims about ADHD symptoms were judged to align with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In Study 2, 843 undergraduate students (no ADHD =  224, ADHD self-diagnosis =  421, ADHD formal diagnosis =  198) were asked about their typical frequency of viewing #ADHD content on TikTok and their perceptions of ADHD and were shown the top 5 and bottom 5 psychologist-rated videos from Study 1. A greater typical frequency of watching ADHD-related TikToks was linked to a greater willingness to recommend both the top and bottom-rated videos from Study 1, after controlling for demographics and ADHD diagnostic status. It was also linked to estimating a higher prevalence of ADHD in the general population and greater challenges faced by those with ADHD. Our findings highlight a discrepancy between mental health professionals and young adults regarding the psychoeducational value of #ADHD content on TikTok. Addressing this is crucial to improving access to treatment and enhancing support for those with ADHD.

Performance of wearable finger ring trackers for diagnostic sleep measurement in the clinical context

Abstract Ring-trackers are a growing consumer wearable category that provide a number of sleep metrics, yet their measurement accuracy remains poorly understood. Previous validation studies have mainly focused on healthy individuals, while a significant part of the potential present and future value lies in applications on non-healthy subjects. To enable applications in research and medical applications, rigorous evaluation of performance in clinical settings against the gold-standard polysomnography is needed. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated how the measurements of three commercially available ring trackers (Oura, SleepOn, Circul) perform against polysomnography in a university sleep lab population with a diverse set sleep-related disorders as well as sleep-unrelated medical conditions. We evaluated individual-level and group-level discrepancies of standard sleep measures and conducted an epoch-by-epoch analysis of sleep staging classification performance using a standardized analysis framework. While average group-level sleep measures are similar (e.g., TST differences between rings and gold standard were below 12 min for the Oura ring), individual-level differences often remained large. Ring-derived sleep metrics were characterized by complex bias, indicating that their correction is non-trivial. Sleep/Wake distinction of the Oura and SleepOn rings reached similar performance as previously reported for healthy individuals (~ 85% accuracy), but was worse for the Circul ring (~ 65% accuracy). Sleep stage classification (Wake, Light, Deep, REM sleep) sensitivity ranged from 0.14 (REM sleep classification of the Circul ring) to 0.58 (Light sleep classification of the SleepOn ring). Across all sleep stages, the Oura and SleepOn ring performed similarly (53.18% and 50.48% accuracy), whereas the Circul ring performed worse (35.06% accuracy). Our findings confirm recent descriptions of device-related bias and additionally uncover practical limitations in the application in a real-world sleep laboratory patient cohort. Critically, while some devices may demonstrate reasonable agreement with PSG on average, this agreement masks substantial individual-level inaccuracies, prohibiting their use in clinical sleep medicine, as accurate assessment of individual nights, including both nights with exceptionally low or high sleep quality and quantity, is essential for patient care.

Acute diacylglycerol production activates critical membrane-shaping proteins leading to mitochondrial tubulation and fission

Abstract Mitochondrial dynamics are orchestrated by protein assemblies that directly remodel membrane structure, however the influence of specific lipids on these processes remains poorly understood. Here, using an inducible heterodimerization system to selectively modulate the lipid composition of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), we show that local production of diacylglycerol (DAG) directly leads to transient tubulation and rapid fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, which are mediated by isoforms of endophilin B (EndoB) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), respectively. Reconstitution experiments on cardiolipin-containing membrane templates mimicking the planar and constricted OMM topologies reveal that DAG facilitates the membrane binding and remodeling activities of both EndoB and Drp1, thereby independently potentiating membrane tubulation and fission events. EndoB and Drp1 do not directly interact with each other, suggesting that DAG production activates multiple pathways for membrane remodeling in parallel. Together, our data emphasizes the importance of OMM lipid composition in regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Measuring attitudes towards voluntary childlessness: Indicators in European comparative surveys

The prevalence of voluntary childlessness is rising in Europe, likely accompanied by growing social acceptance. However, more evidence is needed on how to measure this acceptance in comparative surveys. This study examines two dimensions of voluntary childlessness: prescriptive and proscriptive. The aim of this study is to show how the two dimensions differ in measuring voluntary childlessness and to highlight the factors that shape these attitudes. Findings reveal that socio-demographic variables relate differently to the two dimensions of the acceptance of voluntary childlessness for men and women. At the macro level, lower gender inequality predicts higher acceptance of voluntary childlessness across both dimensions. Conversely, higher childlessness rates are associated with favourable attitudes only in the prescriptive dimension, while country-level religiosity does not predict either dimension. The study underscores the importance of distinguishing between dimensions of voluntary childlessness, as different factors shape their acceptance. Additionally, no differences emerge in attitudes toward voluntary childlessness for males and females.

Analysis of the characteristics of mixed infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children

A cysteine-less and ultra-fast split intein rationally engineered from being aggregation-prone to highly efficient in protein trans-splicing

Abstract Split inteins catalyze protein trans -splicing by ligating their extein sequences while undergoing self-excision, enabling diverse protein modification applications. However, many purified split intein precursors exhibit partial or no splicing activity for unknown reasons. The Aes123 PolB1 intein, a representative of the rare cysteine-less split inteins, is of particular interest due to its resistance to oxidative conditions and orthogonality to thiol chemistries. In this work, we identify β-sheet-dominated aggregation of its N-terminal intein fragment as the origin of its low (~30%) splicing efficiency. Using computational, biochemical, and biophysical analyses, we characterize the fully active monomeric fraction and pinpoint aggregation-prone regions. Supported by a crystal structure, we design stably monomeric mutants with nearly complete splicing activity. The optimized CLm intein (Cysteine-Less and monomeric) retains the wild-type’s ultra-fast reaction rate and serves as an efficient, thiol-independent protein modification tool. We find that other benchmark split inteins show similar precursor aggregation, suggesting that this general phenomenon arises from the intrinsic challenge to maintain the precursor in a partially disordered state while promoting stable folding upon fragment association.

mRNA extracted from frozen buffy coat samples stored long term in tubes with no RNA preservative shows promise for downstream sequencing analyses

Transcriptomics is an important OMICs method that is often unavailable in biobank research. Frozen blood samples are routinely collected and stored in medical biobanks, but transcriptional studies have been limited due to technical difficulties of extracting high-quality RNA from blood frozen in standard tubes (without RNA preservatives). We aimed to determine whether biobanked buffy coat samples stored at -80°C for up to 23 years could be successfully used for mRNA sequencing. We used a CryoXtract CXT 350 to remove frozen sample cores, which were immersed in RNA preservative during thawing prior to RNA extraction. RNA sequencing was then performed on extractions from pooled samples as well as from 23 buffy coat samples from prospective colorectal cancer cases and 23 matched controls included in the population-based, prospective Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study (NSHDS). For all samples, two library preparation methods were used (Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA poly-A selection and Illumina Stranded Total RNA with Ribo-Zero Globin). RNA yields of over 1 µg were obtained from the majority of NSHDS samples (mean = 2.57 µg), and over 92% of samples had RIN values of ≥ 6, indicating suitability for downstream analyses. In conclusion, we developed a method for successfully extracting and sequencing high-quality mRNA from frozen buffy coat samples stored long term in tubes with no RNA preservative.

Comparison of mechanical resuscitation by an LV Impella device to extracorporeal resuscitation using VAECMO in a large animal model

Abstract Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is an effective treatment for cardiac arrest (CA). Percutaneous left ventricular (LV) assist devices such as the Impella ECP (intravascular CPR [ICPR]) have been proposed as a less invasive alternative. The aim of this study was to explore the haemodynamic differences between ECPR and ICPR using a large animal model of electrically induced CA. Fourteen juvenile female German landrace pigs (72.4 ± 9.8 kg) were subjected to electrically induced CA for 5 mins followed by either ECPR (veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [VA-ECMO]) or ICPR (Impella ECP). Haemodynamic parameters and echocardiographic ventricular function indicators were monitored. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) was continued until five hours after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), when the devices were removed. Resuscitation outcomes and the haemodynamic effects of ECPR and ICPR were compared. The cannulation time for ECMO (469 ± 129 s) was significantly longer than the time for Impella device implantation (153 ± 64 s, p < 0.001). ECPR facilitated ROSC in 6/6 animals, whereas ICPR facilitated ROSC in 6/8 animals (p = 0.19). Echocardiography revealed no difference in LV or right ventricular (RV) dysfunction between the ECPR- and ICPR-treated animals after resuscitation (LV-global longitudinal strain [GLS] 3 h post-ROSC: ICPR: − 16.5 ± 5.6% vs. ECPR: − 13.7 ± 5.9%, p = 0.99; RV-GLS 3 h post-ROSC: ICPR: − 15.9 ± 3.3% vs. ECPR: − 17.3 ± 10.6%, p = 0.99). MCS using VA-ECMO and the Impella device both provided effective haemodynamic support during CA and post-ROSC in this large animal model. Despite LV unloading conferring a hypothetical advantage for ICPR, no significant differences in myocardial recovery were observed.

Author Correction: Pressure-induced charge amorphisation in BiNiO3

Identification of distinct profiles of glioblastoma through the immunocapture of extracellular vesicles from patient plasma

Glioblastoma (GBM), a primary brain tumor, exhibits intratumoral heterogeneity and dynamic spatial-temporal changes. GBM-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), reflecting tumor characteristics, present potential as liquid-biopsy markers for early diagnosis and monitoring. This study aims to evaluate molecular signatures of plasma-derived EVs from GBM patients using a conventional flow cytometer. EVs have been isolated from glioma patients and healthy controls (HCs) plasma using density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU). EVs were evaluated by bead-based multiplex analysis in a conventional flow cytometer. Principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering, and correlation analysis provided comprehensive insights into EV characteristics. EVs successfully isolated were visualized in transmission and scanning electron microscopy (STEM). Bead-based multiplex analysis in flow cytometer detected the level of 37 EV surface markers, including tumor-related, cancer stem cell, endothelial cell, and immune cell- specific antigens. PCA identified the EV surface markers that are most significant for differentiating the subjects, and hierarchical clustering revealed four distinct clusters based on EV surface marker levels. EV molecular signature demonstrated considerable heterogeneity across patient clusters. The presence of CD29 emerged not only as a defining factor for a cluster of patients, but also served as a marker to differentiate patients from HCs.

ERG1A K+ channel increases intracellular calcium concentration through modulation of calsequestrin1 in C2C12 myotubes

In-situ X-ray scattering observation of colloidal epitaxy at the gas-liquid-solid interface

AI recommendation vs. crowdsourced recommendation vs. travel expert recommendation: The moderating role of consumption goal on travel destination decision

This research investigates the effects of recommender type (AI versus crowdsourcing versus travel expert) and consumption goal (utilitarian versus hedonic) on consumer responses to travel destination recommendation email advertisements. Across two experiments, findings reveal that consumers held the most favorable attitude toward email advertisements featuring travel expert recommendations compared to crowdsourced or AI-generated suggestions. Notably, this study highlights the moderating role of consumption goal type (utilitarian vs. hedonic) in shaping attitudes toward the recommendation source. Specifically, consumers preferred ads featuring AI-generated recommendations for utilitarian travel goals (e.g., business trips), while for hedonic travel goals (e.g., romantic getaways), they favored ads with crowdsourced suggestions. Through serial mediation (Study 1) and moderated serial mediation (Study 2), this research further elucidates the underlying psychological mechanisms driving these effects.

Financial burden of out of pocket nonpharmacological therapies in an Austrian multiple sclerosis cohort

A mid-infrared Brillouin laser using ultra-high-Q on-chip resonators

Differential gene expression patterns in Niemann-Pick Type C and Tay-Sachs diseases: Implications for neurodegenerative mechanisms

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of rare genetic conditions characterized by the impaired function of enzymes responsible for lipid digestion. Among these LSDs, Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) and Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) may share a common gene expression profile. In this study, we conducted a bioinformatics analysis to explore the gene expression profile overlap between TSD and NPC. Analyses were performed on RNA-seq datasets for both TSD and NPC from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Datasets were subjected to differential gene expression analysis utilizing the DESeq2 package in the R programming language. A total of 147 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were found to be shared between the TSD and NPC datasets. Enrichment analysis was then performed on the DEGs. We found that the common DEGs are predominantly associated with processes such as cell adhesion mediated by integrin, cell-substrate adhesion, and urogenital system development. Furthermore, construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using the Cytoscape software led to the identification of four hub genes: APOE, CD44, SNCA, and ITGB5. Those hub genes not only can unravel the pathogenesis of related neurologic diseases with common impaired pathways, but also may pave the way towards targeted gene therapy of LSDs.In addition, they serve as the potential biomarkers for related neurodegenerative diseases warranting further investigations.

Characterization, mechanical strength, rheological properties and life cycle assessment of fully recycled concrete through geopolymer technology

Dynamically adaptive soft metamaterial for wearable human–machine interfaces

Abstract Our bodies continuously change their shape. Wearable devices made of hard materials, such as prosthetic limbs worn by millions of amputees every day, cannot adapt to fluctuations in the shape and volume of the body caused by daily activities, weight gain or muscle atrophy. We report a meta-material (Roliner) that is a dynamically adaptive human-machine interface for wearable devices. In this work, we focus on prosthetic limbs as the first application of Roliner. Roliner is made of silicone elastomers with embedded millifluidic channels that can be pneumatically pressurized. Roliner can reconfigure its material properties (behave like silicone or polyurethane with different shore hardness in different areas and times) and volume/shape based on the preference of the amputee in real-time, acting as a spatiotemporally adaptive meta-material. Preclinical studies of Roliner have demonstrated non-inferiority in operation and improved comfort for amputees.