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Aerobic fitness and body composition independently relate to inhibitory control in preadolescent children
Abstract Aerobic fitness and body composition are modifiable factors that independently relate to inhibitory control, with higher aerobic fitness associated with enhanced performance and higher body fat associated with poorer inhibitory control in children. This study examined these factors as independent predictors of behavioral and neuroelectric outcomes during a Go/NoGo task. One hundred and two preadolescent children (mean age: 10.07 ± 0.67 years) completed VO 2 peak assessments and DXA scans before performing a Go/NoGo task while ERPs were recorded. Linear regressions and mixed-effects models examined main and interaction effects of fat-free aerobic fitness (FFVO 2 peak) and body fat percent on behavior, N2 and P3 amplitude and latency across seven midline electrode sites. Higher aerobic fitness was associated with greater NoGo accuracy, while body composition was unrelated to behavioral performance. Aerobic fitness showed topographic interactions with N2 and P3 amplitude during the Go task and with N2 amplitude during the NoGo task, reflecting greater neural resource allocation at fronto-central and centro-parietal sites. Body composition showed a topographic interaction with NoGo P3 latency, with higher body fat associated with shorter latencies. These findings demonstrate dissociable topographic effects of aerobic fitness and body composition on inhibitory control, suggesting distinct pathways of neurocognitive influence in preadolescent children.
Delayed astrocyte development impairs Sema6a-Plxna2/4-mediated astrocyte-neuron crosstalk and causes depressive-like behavior
Abstract Neural functions and circuit formation rely on intricate crosstalk among various cell types during critical periods. Disruptions or delays in this crosstalk between neurons and astrocytes lead to abnormal neural functions and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the lack of robust mouse models to study the crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons thus renders unclear the implications of impeding such interactions. In this study, we demonstrate that Egfr knockout during the critical period of neuronal maturation results in a transient absence of astrocytes, with recovery observed in adult mice. This model thus provides a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of impaired astrocyte-neuron communication during development. Mechanically, we show that loss of Egfr disrupts the Egfr-pERK-Epb41l2 signaling axis, which in turn prevents glial progenitor cells from migrating outward. More importantly, Egfr deficiency during the critical period compromises astrocyte-neuron communication via the Sema6a-Plxna2/4 ligand-receptor pair. This impaired intercellular crosstalk reduces neuronal dendritic complexity and excitability, ultimately culminating in depressive-like behaviors in adult mice.
FKBP10 may affect the malignant phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells through the ECM/WNT signaling pathway
Morphogenic colloids
Spatial variability of soil boron in a boron-rich agricultural plain using GIS
Epigenomic modifications define chromatin states to regulate cell-free DNA fragmentomics
Trigger-based conditional selective unlearning with elastic weight consolidation
Imaging of gate-controlled suppression of superconductivity via the Meissner effect
Abstract It was recently discovered that supercurrents flowing through thin superconducting nanowires can be quenched by applying a gate voltage to a nearby gate electrode. This gate control of supercurrents, known as the GCS effect, could enable superconducting transistor logic. Here, we report that the GCS also manifests in a suppression of Meissner screening, establishing the phenomenon as a genuine feature of superconductivity that is not restricted to transport. Using a scanning nitrogen-vacancy (NV) magnetometer at sub-Kelvin temperatures, we image the nanoscale spatial region of GCS suppression in micron-size niobium islands. Our observations are compatible with a microscopic hot-spot model of quasiparticle generation and diffusion, and in conflict with other candidate mechanisms such as Joule heating or an electric field effect. Our work introduces an alternative means for studying quasiparticle dynamics in superconducting nanostructures, and showcases the power of local imaging techniques for understanding emergent condensed matter phenomena.
Socioeconomic status assessment in Lebanese primary health care centers: development and validation of the SES-PHC scale
Abstract Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases, yet validated context-specific tools for primary health care centers (PHCCs) remain limited. In Lebanon, overlapping crises have exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerability, prompting this validation study among Lebanese patients with chronic diseases attending PHCCs. This cross-sectional study enrolled 370 adults with at least one chronic disease from eight PHCCs operated by the Order of Malta Lebanon between June and August 2024. Participants completed the SES Composite (SES-C), the Arabic-translated InCharge Financial Distress–Financial Well-Being (IFDFW) scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Because the SES-C showed poor sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.546) and low internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.579), a new scale, the SES-PHC, was developed using iterative principal component analysis. The final seven-item instrument, comprising four IFDFW items and three SES-C items, demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.755), strong structural validity (KMO = 0.838; two factors explaining 61.491% of the variance), and strong convergent validity with the IFDFW ( r = 0.852, p < 0.001). Higher SES was associated with older age, better psychological well-being, and private insurance, supporting the SES-PHC as a valid tool for identifying vulnerable patients in Lebanese PHCCs.
Raphia hookeri seed-inspired weakly anisotropic nanocomposites
Collective surfing of single cells on a chemo-attractant wave using multiscale Eulerian velocity vector field
Coulomb interaction-stabilized isolated narrow bands with Chern numbers $${{\mathcal{C}}} > 1$$ in twisted rhombohedral trilayer-bilayer graphene
Soil property–driven prediction of heavy metal uptake by Anethum graveolens L. in sewage sludge–amended soils toward sustainable biomass utilization
Escape-induced temporally correlated noise driven crossover in growth kinetics and universality class
Knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-efficacy in pap smear adherence intent: a cross-sectional study
Engineering microbial consortia for distributed signal processing
Identifying the factors and causes of homelessness tendency: a qualitative study in Tehran
Abstract Homelessness is a major social challenge worldwide, with negative consequences for health and social welfare. This qualitative study, using conventional content analysis, aimed to identify factors contributing to homelessness in Tehran, Iran, in 2023. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with homeless individuals in neighborhoods and shelters. Participants were purposefully selected to ensure maximum diversity. The data were analyzed using the Granheim and Lundman method. The factors and reasons for the tendency towards homelessness can be classified into two levels: individual and social-environmental level. The subcategories at the individual level included: drug addiction, negative childhood experiences, and behavioral/psychological problems. Social‑environmental subcategories included social and communication issues, family conflicts and violence, and unsafe living environments. Homelessness has multiple causes at both micro and macro levels. Reducing its burden requires policymakers and social planners to address both individual and social factors through intersectional cooperation and targeted planning.