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Effects of slide-board-based high-intensity interval versus moderate-intensity continuous training on aerobic and anaerobic capacity in young speed skaters

Purpose This study aimed to compare the effects of three slide-board training modalities—two high-intensity interval training protocols (HIIT1: 3 min work/2 min rest; HIIT2: 4 min work/1 min rest) and one moderate-intensity continuous training protocol (MICT: 20 min at 70% HRmax)—on aerobic and anaerobic capacities in young speed skaters. Methods Twenty-seven youth speed skaters (15 males, 12 females) were randomly assigned to HIIT1, HIIT2, or MICT groups (n = 9 each). All participants completed a 4-week intervention (3 sessions/week) using a slide-board simulator. Aerobic capacity was assessed via maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak aerobic power output (Pmax) using an incremental cycle test. Anaerobic performance was evaluated with a 30-second Wingate test, including relative peak power (RPP), relative mean power (RMP), and fatigue index (FI). Pre- and post-test data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests. Results Both HIIT1 and HIIT2 significantly improved VO2max, RPP, and RMP, and reduced FI (p < 0.05), whereas MICT showed no significant changes in any variable. HIIT2 demonstrated greater improvements in Pmax and anaerobic power metrics compared to HIIT1, though intergroup differences were not statistically significant. HIIT1 appeared to enhance fatigue resistance more effectively. Conclusion Slide-board HIIT is an effective short-term training method for enhancing aerobic fitness and anaerobic power in youth speed skaters. HIIT2 (4 + 1 structure) may be more beneficial for sprinters requiring explosive power, while HIIT1 (3 + 2 structure) may suit middle- to long-distance skaters focusing on endurance and fatigue resistance. MICT alone appears insufficient to induce meaningful physiological adaptations in a 4-week period. These findings support the use of structure-specific HIIT protocols for sport-specific conditioning in speed skating.

Ultramicroporous covalent organic framework membranes with fortified hydrogen-bond networks for high-performance desalination

Food-based multisensory stimulation ameliorates cognitive impairment after mild traumatic brain injury in male rats by modulating intestinal and brain inflammation

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often leads to cognitive impairment (CI), with neuroinflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis playing pivotal roles in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate whether food-based multisensory stimulation could ameliorate cognitive deficits in mTBI rats via modulation of the gut–brain axis. Using a rat model of mTBI, we demonstrated that food-based multisensory stimulation significantly improved spatial and recognition memory, as evidenced by performance in the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests, and reduced serum biomarkers of neurological injury (NSE, S100β). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that sensory stimuli restored microbial balance, increasing beneficial taxa such as Ruminococcaceae and reducing pathogenic genera such as Alistipes , Prevotella . Concurrently, senso.ry stimulation increased fecal and serum levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, which were associated with reduced gut and neuroinflammation. In vitro, butyrate supplementation exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects, promoting M2 microglial polarization and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). Histological analyses further revealed neuroprotective effects, preserving neuronal density in the hippocampus and cortex. These findings suggest that multisensory stimulation may mitigate CI post-mTBI by restoring gut microbiota homeostasis, enhancing butyrate production, and attenuating neuroinflammation. This non-invasive approach holds promise for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with mTBI, although further research is needed to elucidate its long-term effects and translational potential.

3D dynamic structure of a Pt nanoparticle on SrTiO3 (001) during in-situ heating atomic-resolution ADF STEM imaging

Antimicrobial use and documented infection among hospitalized adults in South American acute care facilities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

Background Despite low bacterial and fungal infection rates, increased antimicrobial use (AU) among hospitalized patients has been reported during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We evaluated whether COVID-19 was a driver of AU and documented bacterial or fungal infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in two hospitals each in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. We included hospitalized adults with and without COVID-19 admitted during the pandemic (March 2020-February 2021) as well as a cohort admitted prior to the pandemic (March 2019-February 2020) with similar age and length of hospitalization. We performed multivariable logistic regressions to compare 1) patients with COVID-19 to those without who were admitted during the pandemic, and 2) patients without COVID-19 who were admitted during the pandemic to a similar patient population before the pandemic to characterize the association of COVID-19 or admission during the pandemic with rates of AU and infections. Results A total of 1116 patients were included. During the pandemic, COVID-19 was not associated with receiving antimicrobials or receiving antimicrobials for a duration >48 hours, but it was associated with reduced likelihood of culture-positive bacterial or fungal infection (aOR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.19–0.64, p < 0.001). Compared to patients without COVID-19 admitted during the pandemic, patients admitted prior to the pandemic were more likely to have received antimicrobials (aOR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.15–2.07, p < 0.01), but there was no association with receiving antimicrobials for duration>48 hours or having a culture-positive bacterial or fungal infection. Conclusions COVID-19 was not associated with an increased likelihood of AU in this cohort of hospitalized adults.

Beta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma development

Abstract Pancreatic endocrine-exocrine crosstalk plays a key role in normal physiology and disease and can be altered by host metabolic states, such as obesity. Classically, endocrine islet beta (β) cell secretion of insulin is thought to promote the development of obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an exocrine cell-derived tumor. Here, we show that β cell expression of the peptide hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) is necessary and sufficient for obesity-associated PDAC progression in mice and that CCK expression – rather than insulin – correlates strongly with enhanced tumorigenesis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing, in silico latent-space archetypal and trajectory analysis, and experimental lineage tracing in vivo reveal that obesity induces the expansion of postnatal immature β cells, which adapt to express CCK via stress-responsive JNK/cJun signaling. Finally, obesity perturbs CCK-dependent peri-islet exocrine cell transcriptional states and enhances islet-proximal tumor formation. These results define endocrine-exocrine CCK signaling as a bona fide driver of obesity-associated PDAC development and uncover avenues to target the endocrine pancreas to subvert exocrine tumorigenesis.

Sources and preferences for nutrition information among older adults: A scoping review

A nutritionally adequate diet is essential for older adults to support healthy ageing and reduce the risk of malnutrition. With over a million older adults in the UK affected or at risk, understanding where they source nutrition information is critical for designing effective public health interventions. This scoping review mapped existing studies on the sources and preferences for nutrition information among older adults. A comprehensive search of PUBMED, Scopus, and CINAHL (March 2023; updated February 2025) yielded 8936 records, of which 15 studies reporting on 14 research projects met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported on multiple sources including magazines, family and friends, television, dietitians, general practitioners, internet and embodied knowledge (hidden and unconscious gained from personal experience). Educational level, gender, and trust were found to influence uptake and use. Further research is needed to assess the impact of these information sources and identify strategies to support older adults in making informed food choices that promote healthy ageing.

Tumor metabolic adaptation induced by L-asparaginase reveals a vulnerability to PARP1/2 inhibitor in B-cell lymphomas

Neuropeptide F-expressing neurons in Drosophila constitute centrifugal pathway to optic lobes

Neuropeptide F (NPF), the Drosophila homolog of mammalian neuropeptide Y (NPY), plays a central role in the integrative regulation of internal states and behavior by modulation of diverse processes such as feeding, sleep, learning, and stress response. In this study, we systematically map the population of NPF-expressing neurons in the adult Drosophila brain using genetic labeling, microscopic imaging, and morphological analysis. Genetic labeling with GFP reveals ~50 NPF-expressing neurons, which can be grouped into five major anatomical clusters. Each cluster exhibits distinct projection patterns targeting different brain regions, suggesting specialized roles in various behavioral domains. Morphometric analysis indicates that NPF neuronal subtypes vary in soma size, soma location and arborization patterns. Besides P1, P2 and L1 neurons, we identify two ventrolateral NPF-expressing neurons per hemisphere. While the somata of ventrolateral neurons reside in the protocerebrum, their neurites project centrifugally to the optic lobes. This anatomy positions ventrolateral neurons as a potential link between the NPF system and previously reported changes in visual attention. Collectively, the data presented here extend the morphological framework of the NPF circuit in Drosophila and may help to understand the principles by which neuromodulators orchestrate brain-wide regulation of behavior.

Dysregulation of the DNA damage response by phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides

Abstract Phosphorothioate (PS)-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are widely used to modulate gene expression in basic research and therapy. Within cells, these ASOs seed nuclear structures with unclear functions and consequences. At DNA breaks, endogenous nucleotide polymers drive the assembly of biomolecular condensates that recruit repair proteins, but the underlying mechanism(s) and effects on repair enzyme activation are poorly understood. Here, we show that ASOs bind to DNA-PKcs, ATM, and PARP1, triggering phase separation and formation of nuclear condensates containing ASOs and these essential repair enzymes. Condensates assembly is stimulated by ASO concentration and ATM activity, while limited by DNA-PKcs activity. Notably, these condensates become enzymatically active and erroneously elicit the DNA damage response in the absence of DNA damage, activating cell cycle checkpoints, disturbing endogenous repair and causing accumulation of toxic DNA lesions. These findings uncover mechanisms for ASO toxicity and the activation of DNA repair enzymes by nucleotide polymers.

Antibiotic consumption and medication cost in diabetic patients: Insights from Iran health insurance organization (IHIO) claims data

Background The rising prevalence of diabetes is increasing the healthcare costs especially when associated with infection. We aimed to assess the antibiotic consumption and medication costs in diabetes. Methods We performed a retrospective claims-based study using Iranian Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) dataset from 24 provinces during 2014–2017. Systemic antibacterials were quantified in defined daily doses and diabetic patients were stratified into “No antibiotic” (NAb) and quartiles of cumulative antibiotic exposure (Q1–Q4). A dominant antidiabetic regimen was assigned when ≥80% of a patient’s diabetes prescriptions came from one drug class or combination. Inflation-adjusted annual medication costs were modelled with log-link Gamma generalized linear models. Results The study comprised 1,704,182 individuals (62.0% women). Biguanides alone were most common dominant diabetes regimen (40%), whereas penicillin accounted for 35.8% of all antibiotic dispensing. Mean annual medication costs were 93 USD for women and 138 USD for men; however, after adjustment men incurred slightly lower costs than women. Compared with the NAb group, costs rose progressively with antibiotic exposure, reaching an adjusted mean ratio (MR) 3.17 (95%CI 3.09–3.25) in Q4. Relative to biguanide monotherapy, costs were markedly higher for regimens biguanides + insulins (MR 5.75, 5.54–5.97) or insulins alone (MR 5.53, 5.38–5.68). Conclusion Quantifying the joint impact of antidiabetic regimens and antibiotic use on treatment costs highlights key factors driving healthcare expenditures. These findings can inform targeted antibiotic stewardship strategies and guide reimbursement policy to optimize resource allocation and reduce the financial burden on both patients and insurers.

Visualizing molecular diffusion direction and processes in the solid state via dichromatic fluorescent cocrystalization transformation

Patients’ perceptions of home-based imaging diagnostics: A qualitative study

Expanding access to diagnostic services through home-based imaging represents a promising strategy to reduce barriers to healthcare, particularly by eliminating the need for patient travel. For this model to be viable, diagnostic equipment must be portable, and its success depends in part on patient acceptance. Despite the growing implementation of home imaging services, there is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding patient perceptions of this modality across different exam types. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the perceptions of patients who underwent home-based imaging diagnostics. This qualitative interview study was conducted with patients who underwent home-based imaging diagnosis. The interviews were conducted by phone between May and July 2024, with up to three contact attempts. When necessary, a proxy answered on behalf of the patient. Aspects such as positive and negative points, reliability, preference, preparation, and quality of care were analyzed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive analysis. Thirty-four patients and their proxies participated in the study, with the majority of patients being older adults. Four types of imaging exams were performed in the home setting. Participants’ perceptions were predominantly positive, emphasizing the convenience of avoiding travel, the high quality of care provided, confidence in the accuracy of the exams, and the quality of the equipment used. However, some concerns emerged, such as fear in receiving professionals at home, the need for faster result access, and better home infrastructure for exams. The insights gained from this study provide valuable guidance for the development of regulatory frameworks and operational strategies for home-based imaging services. By addressing the identified needs and concerns of end users, these findings can support the improvement of public policies, while also informing on how to effectively plan and manage such services to enhance satisfaction, adherence, and broader implementation.

Femtosecond concerted rotation of molecules on a 2D material interface

Abstract Interfaces between molecules and 2D materials exhibit energy-driven functionalities, wherein charge transfer directs molecular motion. Unlike equilibrium systems, where molecular assemblies settle into static configurations, continuous energy input can drive transient, collective molecular rearrangements. Here, we reveal ultrafast spectroscopic fingerprints of a collective rotational response of molecules on a 2D material following photoexcitation. Our results suggest that photoinduced charge transfer reshapes the interfacial energy potential, giving rise to macroscopic, unidirectional molecular rotation and the formation of a homochiral molecular arrangement. Using a multiplexed ultrafast photoemission spectroscopy approach, we simultaneously track electronic states, atomic positions, and orbital wavefunctions with femtosecond and sub-Ångström resolution. Multimodal valence and core electron emission analysis disentangles the intertwined electronic-structural dynamics of the molecule and the 2D material, revealing the dynamic modulation of charge distribution and intermolecular forces that drive collective molecular motion. Our findings open a pathway for designing energy-driven molecular systems with tunable interfacial dynamics, with potential applications in chiral engineering and active matter systems.

Coupling coordination between ecological environment quality and public health of residents in the Yellow River Basin, China: A modified coupling coordination model approach

The continuous development of industrial technology has led to significant environmental pollution and climate change, both of which have severely impacted human health. Investigating the coupling coordination between ecological environment quality (EEQ) and public health of residents (PHR) is beneficial for enhancing public health and promoting sustainable development. This study uses panel data from 55 cities within urban agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin, China (YRBC) from 2011 to 2022 to construct evaluation index systems for both EEQ and PHR. The entropy method is first employed to quantify the development levels of these systems. Subsequently, a modified coupling coordination degree (CCD) model is applied to evaluate the coordination between the two systems. Furthermore, the study utilizes the Dagum Gini coefficient, Kernel density estimation, and Markov chains to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of CCD. The Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) is finally used to empirically test the factors influencing regional differences in CCD. The findings reveal that both EEQ and PHR levels in the YRBC exhibited an overall upward trend during the study period, although PHR showed declines in certain years. The CCD demonstrated a steady increase across the entire sample and within all three major regions. Analysis using the Dagum Gini coefficient indicates a narrowing disparity in CCD, with the Gini coefficient decreasing from 0.0617 in 2011 to 0.0536 in 2022. Kernel density estimation suggests that the CCD distribution curve has shifted rightward, becoming higher and steeper, indicative of reduced absolute differences in coupling coordination levels. QAP regression analysis reveals that factors such as regional disparities in per capita GDP significantly influence CCD regional disparities.

Dual-responsive coloration of Janus droplets via total internal reflection and interference applied as single-use freezing indicators

Optimized fault-tolerant data processing module for high-reliability CNN accelerator

Convolutional neural networks have become the foundation of image-inference tasks, with systolic array architectures providing enhanced computational performance and efficiency. However, the numerous processing elements (PEs) involved introduces significant challenges in terms of hardware overhead and reliability, which typically exhibit a trade-off relationship. Enhancing the efficiency and reliability of individual PEs can effectively address these challenges and substantially improve the overall performance of systolic array systems. We propose a module that can be implemented in PEs by integrating local binary patterns and min-max operations to reduce both power consumption and hardware size. This approach reutilizes the optimized architecture for fault detection, thus effectively minimizing the testing overhead. Our method enhances the overall system reliability by implementing a fault-PE bypass mechanism, thereby ensuring a robust operation. Experimental results show that the proposed module reduces the hardware area by 29.03% compared with previous circuits when synthesized with the Nan Gate 45 nm library. Furthermore, its dynamic power consumption is 13.72% lower compared with that of existing circuits when implemented on a field-programmable gate array. The results of a fault-injection experiment show that the proposed module reduces errors by up to 33.57% compared with previous circuits and that its test coverage exceeds 94%, with stuck-at 1 faults on PE input registers.

Post-treatment SIV control is associated with specific features of viral persistence before and after treatment interruption

Experimental study on the inhibitory effect of bolting position on crack propagation in cavity-containing sandstone

This study systematically investigated the effects of seven bolt anchorage positions on the mechanical behavior and failure of single-hole sandstone specimens using uniaxial compression tests and PFC 2D simulations, with emphasis on crack-propagation suppression. The results showed that: (1) Anchorage position strongly influenced the stress-strain response, mechanical parameters, crack initiation, and final failure morphology. When the bolt passed through the cavity center (1#) or was tangent to the cavity crown (2#), both strength and stiffness decreased, the pre-peak response showed multiple stress drops, and post-peak failure remained brittle. By contrast, anchoring 12–18 mm from the cavity center (3#–4#) increased strength and E , and the post-peak response shifted from brittle to more ductile (plastic-like) behavior. Position 3# yielded the best overall performance, with peak strength, E , secant modulus, and crack initiation stress increasing by 42.72%, 44.61%, 71.93%, and 44.39%, respectively. (2) Failure patterns depended on bolt location: near-cavity anchoring promoted stress concentration and a V-shaped crown collapse; intermediate anchoring (3#–5#) produced a distinct partitioned failure between upper and lower regions; more distant anchoring (6#–7#) increased damage severity and led to more complex fracture morphologies. (3) Simulations indicated that position 3# achieved the highest energy storage capacity ( K max  = 0.91) and the greatest resistance to instability, whereas position 2# showed the lowest capacity ( K min = 0.29) and the highest failure susceptibility. Positions 4#–5# formed a favorable range in which higher bolt axial forces generated a localized displacement field that inhibited crack growth and confined the damage zone. These findings show that selecting an appropriate anchorage position can markedly improve stiffness, load capacity, and crack resistance of cavity-containing sandstone, providing quantitative guidance for bolt layout in engineering practice.

Electron confinement-enhanced green InP-based quantum dots for active-matrix LEDs displays

Abstract The facet-selective growth of shells on green InP-based quantum dots result in their inferior electron confinement capabilities, posing a challenge for the realization of completely cadmium-free quantum dot light-emitting diode displays. Here, we develop a surface energy homogenization strategy based on ligand adsorption using n-octylamine and diphenylphosphine selenide, effectively suppressing selective growth of ZnSe on the InP (111) facet, resulting in strongly electron-confined InP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots with a quantum yield exceeding 92% and a full-width at half-maximum of 35 nm. The resulting quantum dot light-emitting diodes achieve a peak external quantum efficiency of 23.50% and a luminance exceeding 1.4 × 10 5  cd m -2 , with a 107.5-fold increase in device lifetime. Utilized asymmetric wettability-mediated assembly strategy, we achieved quantum dot arrays with an impressive resolution of 8460 PPI. Furthermore, integrating the quantum dots into an active-matrix LED display, we successfully demonstrate the display of both static and dynamic images.