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Effects of muscle-tendon mechanical properties and electromyographic activity patterns on individual differences in force-power relationship
This study aimed to examine the effects of muscle-tendon mechanical properties and electromyographic activity patterns on individual differences in the force-power relationship during jumping with and without countermovement. Twenty men executed unilateral jumps using only ankle joint under the following conditions: no-countermovement jump (noCMJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) with five different loads (0, 10, 30, 50, and 70% of 1 repetition maximum (RM)). During concentric phase of each jump, mean power and electromyographic activities were measured. In addition, the power ratio of higher load conditions (50% and 70% 1RM) to lower load conditions (0% and 10% 1RM) was calculated as an indicator of individual differences in the force-power relationship. Active muscle stiffness of medial gastrocnemius muscle was calculated according to changes in estimated muscle force and fascicle length during fast stretching at three different angular velocities (100, 300, and 500 deg·s -1 ) after submaximal isometric contractions. Tendon stiffness was measured during ramp and ballistic contractions. For noCMJ and CMJ, active muscle stiffness at all angular velocities and the ratios of electromyographic activities were not significantly correlated with the power ratio. Tendon stiffness measured during ramp and ballistic contractions was significantly correlated with the power ratio for noCMJ, but not CMJ. In conclusion, individual differences in the force-power relationship during jumping without countermovement are associated with the tendon mechanical properties, whereas those with countermovement are not related to the muscle-tendon mechanical properties and electromyographic activity patterns.
Association between neighborhood socionatural environments and health satisfaction: a longitudinal mediation analysis
Three-dimensional shape cues affect human and artificial recognition systems differently
Humans and neural networks use shape and texture information differently. While humans weigh shape heavily in their ultimate classification decision, neural networks are more biased towards texture cues. Many tests of shape vs. texture bias have focused on shape recognition from an object’s external contour. However, shape information is also conveyed through internal contours, shading, and attached shadows, especially when an object is viewed from noncanonical perspectives. Using models from ShapeNet, we created datasets of 120,000 texture-substituted images of objects from many viewpoints with and without shading and attached shadows. We tested humans’ and several neural networks’ ability to classify these objects by both their shape and their texture. Humans were much better at classifying texture-substituted objects by their shape than any network, although these differences were greater when shape was defined only by the external contour than when 3D cues were included. Our findings suggest that networks’ texture bias is reduced when 3D cues are included in images. We next tested whether the inclusion of 3D cues benefitted humans and neural networks more for images of objects viewed from canonical or noncanonical perspectives. Consistent with earlier research, we found that 3D cues primarily benefitted humans for noncanonical images. For neural networks, the greatest performance gains were for canonical images. These findings suggest fundamental differences in how humans and networks use shading and attached shadows for object recognition. We argue that humans use these cues to infer objects’ 3D structures while neural networks use them as another surface-level cue like texture.
Remnant cholesterol is independently associated with liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease patients and rats
Multi-objective location-routing optimization of first-mile pre-cooling distribution center networks in the agricultural cold chain
China is both a major producer and consumer of fresh agricultural products, making cold chain logistics essential for preserving quality and reducing post-harvest loss. However, insufficient pre-cooling capacity in production areas often leads to significant quality deterioration during the first-mile stage, which has not been fully addressed in existing cold chain network design studies. To bridge this gap, this study proposes an integrated optimization framework for designing a first-mile pre-cooling distribution center (DC) network. A multi-objective nonlinear mathematical model is developed to simultaneously minimize total logistics cost and maximize product freshness. To better characterize perishability, a stage-specific freshness decay function captures the nonlinear deterioration of products before and after pre-cooling. Transportation-related carbon emissions are also incorporated to enhance environmental relevance. Given the complexity of the location-routing problem, a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to obtain Pareto-optimal solutions. An empirical case study in Shandong Province, China, is conducted under three scenarios: (1) no pre-cooling, (2) decentralized pre-cooling at origins, and (3) centralized pre-cooling at regional DCs. Results show that the centralized strategy achieves superior performance, reducing total daily cost by 3.79% and producing the lowest freshness loss compared with the no-pre-cooling baseline. In contrast, decentralized origin-side pre-cooling improves freshness preservation but increases total cost by 5.27% due to higher equipment investment and weaker route efficiency. These findings demonstrate that an integrated location-routing perspective can provide more effective first-mile cold chain planning than treating pre-cooling as an isolated facility decision.
Alcohol consumption and oral human papillomavirus infection among men living with HIV: a cross-sectional study from the ULACNet 201 trial
Key functions for the transferability of a French school-based health promotion intervention
The “ Alliance for Health ” intervention is a French evidence-based initiative targeting teachers and after-school care staff, aimed at supporting the development of health-promoting environments for primary school pupils. Its initial implementation in 101 schools and 97 municipalities (randomly assigned to receive different levels of training and support) demonstrated promising outcomes. Yet, a critical question remains for broader implementation: under what conditions can the intervention achieve optimal transferability in new contexts? To address this issue, the key functions ( i.e., intervention’s transferable components) were identified and distinguished from their forms ( i.e. , adaptable activities that can be tailored to specific contexts), as conceptualized within the FIC (Functions/Implementation/Context) model. The key functions were co-constructed through an iterative, collaborative process, based on qualitative data (semi-structured interviews conducted with intervention recipients and institutional actors involved in implementation) and on knowledge exchange between project leaders and researchers from various disciplines, following established methods. Seven key functions were identified, covering 4 main dimensions: institutional support (macro-level social influences on health determinants); empowerment of teachers and after-school care staff (inter-professional training and provision of support and resources, micro and meso levels), adaptation to institutional and recipients’ needs and constraints (micro level); and operational alignment and coherent coordination (meso and micro levels). These findings provide actionable recommendations to guide future implementation strategies, supporting the intervention’s replication or scale-up by clarifying which components must remain consistent and which can be adapted to maintain fidelity while enhancing transferability.
Apple production under changing climate conditions in major producing countries
The influence of job content and autonomy on psychological well-being through work identity and job crafting among pharmacists in Pakistan
Background Psychological well-being of pharmacists is necessary for safe and effective healthcare delivery, particularly in high-stress environments. The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of job content on psychological well-being among the registered pharmacists in Pakistan along with the mediating roles of work identity and job crafting. Methods Data were collected from 564 licensed pharmacists on standardized instruments for psychological well-being (Ryff’s PWB Scale), job content (Karasek’s JCQ), work identity, and job crafting behaviors. Structural equation modeling using RStudio tested the direct, indirect, and serial mediation effects, with bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals. Results Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model reliability (e.g., Job Crafting α = 0.94, CR = 0.96; PWB α = 0.66, CR = 0.85). Bivariate correlations showed that psychological well-being was moderately associated with job crafting (r = 0.49, p < 0.01) and strongly with work identity (r = 0.57, p < 0.01). SEM analysis showed that Job content had no significant direct effect on well-being (β = −0.0362, p = 0.56), two significant indirect effects were observed: via work identity (β = 0.1397, p < 0.05) and job crafting (β = 0.1295, p < 0.05). The sequential pathway; Job content → work identity → job crafting → psychological well-being also yielded a smaller but significant effect (β = 0.0278, p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that work identity and job crafting may mediate the relationship between job content and psychological well-being; however, these results should be interpreted cautiously given the model fit limitations.
Effect of different washing and post-curing protocols on the fracture resistance of 3D-printed pediatric crowns after thermal cycling
Transformational leadership and teacher resilience in Chinese Universities: The chain mediating role of perceived organisational support and work engagement
In the context of global changes in higher education, the development mechanism of teachers’ professional resilience, as a key psychological capital for maintaining education quality and institutional core competitiveness, needs to be systematically examined. Based on the organisational context of Chinese higher education institutions, this study integrates the social exchange theory and the job requirement-resource model to construct a chain-mediated theoretical framework of transformational leaders’ influence on teachers’ professional resilience through the sense of organisational support and work engagement. Based on 712 college teachers’ multi-temporal tracking data, a bias-corrected Bootstrap structural equation modelling test found that transformational leadership had a significant positive drive on teachers’ professional resilience (total effect β = 0.72, 95% CI=[0.63, 0.81]), of which 44.4% originated from the direct effect (β = 0.32), and 36.1% was independently transmitted through the work-input mediated path (β = 0.26, 95%CI=[0.19, 0.33]), and 19.4% mediated by the chain of “transformational leadership → sense of organisational support (β=0.62) → work engagement (β=0.41) → professional resilience (β=0.55)” (effect size β = 0.14, 95%CI=[0.10, 0.20]). This study empirically reveals the sequential transmission mechanism of “leadership behaviour - perceived organisational support - work engagement - psychological resilience generation”, to clarify the internal mechanism of the stepwise transformation from emotional support to behavioural activation, and to provide a theoretical paradigm and a practical path for colleges and universities to enhance teachers’ resilience through leadership development and organisational support system reconfiguration.
A unified deep learning application framework for forensic shoeprint analysis under data-limited conditions
Effect of dietary Ca:P ratio on ionized calcium and calcium homeostasis in cats with early-stage chronic kidney disease
The aim of the study was to compare two renal foods with different Ca:P ratios on manifestation of hypercalcemia and regulation of calcium homeostasis in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nine cats (11.0 ± 2.0 y) with naturally-occurring IRIS Stage I or II CKD were fed a senior wellness food for 28-days, then randomized into two groups and fed either a food providing 1.8 g/Mcal Ca, 1.3 g/Mcal P, and Ca:P ratio of 1.4:1 (MOD-Ca:P), or a food providing 2.4 g/Mcal Ca, 1.3 g/Mcal P, and Ca:P ratio of 1.8:1 (HIGH-Ca:P) for 56 days. After a 28-day washout period, cats were crossed over to the other test food. Blood and urine samples were collected at the end of the prefeed/washout and on days 28 and 56 of each study period. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model with fixed effects of Diet, Day, Period and associated interactions. At baseline, mean ionized calcium (iCa; 1.26 ± 0.03 mmol/L) was within the normal reference interval (1.10–1.40 mmol/L). Serum total Ca, phosphorus, calcitriol, and fractional excretion of calcium were not affected by diet and diet by day interaction ( P > 0.050). There was a trend for increased fibroblast growth factor 23 ( P = 0.058) and serum iCa ( P = 0.067) in cats fed HIGH-Ca:P compared with MOD-Ca:P food, although iCa remained within the normal reference interval. Parathyroid hormone was reduced when cats were fed HIGH-Ca:P compared with cats fed MOD-Ca:P ( P = 0.020), although concentrations were within the normal reference interval throughout the study. Fractional excretion of phosphorus was reduced when cats were fed HIGH-Ca:P compared with MOD-Ca:P ( P = 0.050). Serum Cr and SDMA were higher on days 28 and 56 compared with baseline ( P < 0.002). Higher dietary Ca and a higher Ca:P ratio may not be the sole drivers of hypercalcemia in cats with progressive CKD. However, the observed alterations in calcium homeostatic mechanisms warrant further research to identify strategies for mitigating hypercalcemia risk.
SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin attenuates retinal oxidative stress and damage in diabetic mice
Correction: A non-canonical function of zebrafish telomerase reverse transcriptase is required for developmental hematopoiesis
Downregulated m⁵C regulator NSUN6 enhances proliferation, migration and affects immune regulation in ovarian cancer
Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) remains one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, largely due to late diagnosis and high metastatic potential. RNA 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C) modification has emerged as a key regulatory mechanism in cancer biology, yet the role of m⁵C-related genes such as NSUN6 in OC remains poorly understood. In this study, we first obtained three OC datasets and one m5C-related dataset from the GEO database and identified differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) using Venn diagram analysis. Kaplan Meier plotter showed that NSUN6 was the only regulator significantly associated with patient prognosis. Additionly, Western Blot, Online database analysis and immunohistochemical staining evaluation showed that NSUN6 was significantly downregulated in OC and negatively correlated with tumor stage, metastasis and survival. Next, we overexpressed NSUN6 in OC cell lines. CCK8, wound healing and Transwell assays demonstrated that NSUN6 overexpression inhibited OC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Rescue experiments confirmed NSUN6-mediated suppression of AKT phosphorylation. In vivo xenograft models confirmed the tumor-suppressive effect of NSUN6, showing reduced tumor burden in both intraperitoneal and subcutaneous models. Bioinformatic analyses revealed enrichment in immune-related pathways and correlations with immune infiltration markers, which were further validated using ovarian cancer clinical samples. Collectively, our results demonstrate that NSUN6 is downregulated in OC and suppresses OC proliferation, migration, and invasion by inhibiting AKT activity, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in OC.
Examining the influence of user experience on functional value, satisfaction, and usage intention in OTT video platforms
With the widespread availability of high-speed networks and smart devices, OTT video platforms have become a primary channel for entertainment and information. This study investigates how user experience (UX) dimensions—convenience/fluency, interaction, emotional experience, and service-quality experience—shape functional value, satisfaction, and usage intention in OTT video platforms. Based on survey data from 230 users (21 items measured on seven-point Likert scales), a PLS-SEM analysis was conducted using SmartPLS 3 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The model demonstrated acceptable fit (SRMR = 0.075) and acceptable predictive performance, with R² values of 0.522 for functional value, 0.760 for satisfaction, and 0.339 for usage intention, and Q² values indicating moderate-to-high predictive relevance. Results show that convenience/fluency positively influences functional value, satisfaction, and usage intention. Interaction exerts a direct positive effect on usage intention but not on functional value or satisfaction. Emotional experience enhances functional value, satisfaction, and usage intention, with satisfaction partially mediating its effect on intention. Service-quality experience positively influences functional value and satisfaction but does not show a significant direct effect on usage intention. Its association with usage intention appears to operate indirectly through evaluative pathways. Furthermore, functional value positively influences satisfaction but does not show a significant direct effect on usage intention, whereas satisfaction serves as a significant predictor of usage intention. These findings clarify the UX-driven pathways underlying the adoption of OTT video platforms and explain why service quality and functional value alone may not translate into usage intention without satisfaction. From a practical perspective, OTT platforms should prioritize seamless performance, emotionally engaging content, and interactive features, while maintaining reliable service delivery as a basic condition for strengthening functional value and satisfaction.
Active vibration sensing unveils material features with a gentle touch
Detection of placenta accreta spectrum and prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with placenta previa using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging: A retrospective cohort study
Background Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), an abnormal placental invasion into the myometrium or beyond the uterine serosa, is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placenta previa is the most significant individual risk factor for PAS, and Ultrasonography (US) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used to detecting PAS. However, limited data exist on the effectiveness of US and MRI in predicting maternal and neonatal morbidity. This study evaluated the utility of these imaging modalities, not only in detecting PAS but also in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 150 pregnant women with placenta previa who underwent US and MRI at a tertiary hospital between December 2019 and December 2023. PAS was diagnosed clinically or histopathologically after delivery. The predictive performance of US, MRI, and their combination was assessed using McNemar’s test, receiver operating characteristic analysis, and trend analysis. Results Forty-one patients were diagnosed with PAS. The PAS group had significantly higher rates of prior caesarean section, maternal hemorrhagic outcomes, and neonatal complications than the non-PAS group. PAS-suspected on US group also showed increased estimated blood loss (EBL) and number of transfusion units administered, as well as a higher incidence of transfusion requirement, use of intrauterine balloon tamponade, hysterectomy, preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation, neonatal ventilatory support and 1-minutes Apgar scores (AS) <7 compared to those with PAS-unsuspected on US group. PAS-suspected on MRI group had a significantly increased number of transfusion units administered and higher rates of hysterectomy, maternal ICU admission, preterm birth and neonatal complications. US plus MRI yielded progressively higher detection rates, outperforming either modality alone. A linear trend was observed in the increase of adverse perinatal outcomes when PAS was suspected on both US and MRI. Conclusions US and MRI showed complementary strengths. US, but not MRI, is informative for predicting higher EBL, transfusion requirement, and use of intrauterine balloon tamponade, whereas MRI, but not US, predicts maternal ICU admission, preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation, NICU admission, and 5-minute AS <7. Combining both imaging modalities yields better performance than either modality alone in detecting PAS and predicting adverse perinatal outcomes.