Browse Articles

Vertical Jump and Isometric Strength in Professional Female Basketball Players: Starter vs. Non-Starter Comparison

This study examined whether differences in countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) force-time metrics exist between starters and non-starters in professional female basketball players. Twenty-two athletes (7 starters, 15 non-starters) competing in the first Spanish basketball league completed CMJ and IMTP testing using dual force plate system. CMJ variables included jump height, peak and mean braking and propulsive force, time-to-takeoff, and net impulse. IMTP variables included peak force and rate of force development (RFD) at 0−100 and 0−250 ms. Independent t-tests and Hedges’ g effect sizes were used to assess between-group differences. No statistically significant differences were observed between starters and non-starters for any CMJ or IMTP force-time metrics of interest (p > 0.05). Both groups displayed similar values in jump height, force production, and RFD, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate (g = 0.04–0.49). However, starters were significantly older than non-starters (p = 0.018), while no differences were found in body mass and height (p > 0.05). Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that, at the professional level of play, CMJ and IMTP performance characteristics are not capable of distinguishing starters from non-starters in women’s basketball. Starting status may be shaped more by competitive experience, technical proficiency, and tactical awareness. Although monitoring neuromuscular performance remains valuable, player selection and role differentiation appear to depend more on skill execution and contextual game demands than on strength characteristics alone.

Different strategies of bipeds and quadrupeds to maintain postural stability- a comparison of healthy humans and dogs via static posturography

Abstract Postural stability (PS) is the ability to maintain balance through the integration of sensory inputs from the proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular systems. This study compared PS between healthy adult humans and dogs using static posturography and investigated the effect of blindfolding on PS. Twenty-two healthy young adults and twenty-two healthy young pet dogs were assessed using a pressure measurement platform under eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The Romberg indices of 5 center of pressure (COP) parameters were calculated: mediolateral displacement (RI MLD%), craniocaudal/anteroposterior displacement (RI CCD%), COP length (RI L%), average speed (RI AS), and support surface (RI SS%). Significant differences were observed between humans and dogs for RI CCD%, RI L%, and RI AS. Humans exhibited greater reliance on visual input for balance, indicated by higher RI values for these parameters, suggesting increased instability when blindfolded. In contrast, dogs showed lower RI values, indicating less reliance on vision and more stable postural control. The lack of significant differences in RI MLD% and RI SS% suggests similar mediolateral and support surface compensatory mechanisms between species. These findings reveal fundamental mechanistic differences in how balance is maintained between the two species.

Mechanically Triggered Chemical Recyclable Polyethylene‐Like Materials

ABSTRACT Polyethylene (PE) materials are indispensable to modern infrastructure due to their exceptional thermal, mechanical, and chemical resilience. However, the same properties that make these materials durable also render them environmentally persistent and unrecyclable by conventional means, posing a critical sustainability challenge. Here, we report a mechanochemically triggered, chemically recyclable PE‐like system that enables the closed‐loop recycling of cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE). Through palladium‐catalyzed coordination copolymerization of ethylene with the cyclobutene‐fused ester (CBE) comonomer, polar PE‐like materials with tunable properties are achieved. Upon optimal mechanical activation in the presence of a radical inhibitor, the CBE units undergo ring opening, installing ester linkages into the polymer backbone. Notably, the high crystallinity of copolymers with low CBE content enables ball‐milling to achieve activation efficiency comparable to cryo‐milling. Subsequent ethanolysis of ester linkages cleanly converts the initial copolymer into multifunctional oligomers, which can be repolymerized after hydrogenation via transesterification to yield a recyclable XLPE with properties comparable to a commercial analogue. This work demonstrates a robust platform for reconciling the durability and recyclability of polyethylene, offering a transformative route toward sustainable polyolefins.

Correction: Evaluating the pentapharmacological potency of otamixaban against lung cancer CDK2, transferase, oxidoreductase and signalling proteins

The role of preparatory muscle activity in a one-step approach to vertical jumping

Regulating Both In‐Plane and Out‐Of‐Plane Supramolecular Interactions in COFs for Simultaneously Enhanced Crystallinity and Stability

ABSTRACT The demand for high‐performance applications of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) under harsh conditions drives the need for reaching both outstanding crystallinity and high stability, while these two properties necessitate contradictory structural features and are thus challenging to achieve simultaneously. We herein report a multidimensional supramolecular approach to manipulating both crystallinity and stability of COFs by harnessing in‐plane and out‐of‐plane interactions with greatly enhanced performance in applications. The introduction of triple three‐center hydrogen bonds into the linkage enhances in‐plane local rigidity and planarity, while embedding electron‐withdrawing heteroatoms into the linker mitigates out‐of‐plane electrostatic repulsion. The integration of the two structural features into a single COF results in profoundly enhanced interlayer π‐π stacking interactions, ultimately providing considerably higher crystallinity and stability than those of control COFs, as well as significantly improved performance under harsh conditions, as exemplified by palladium separation from simulated high‐level liquid waste. This work establishes a hybrid supramolecular approach to improving both crystallinity and stability of COFs toward prominent applications.

Expression of Concern: Neuroprotective effect of hydrogen-rich saline against neurologic damage and apoptosis in early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage: Possible role of the Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway

CD47 as a prognostic biomarker and potential immunotherapy target in penile squamous cell carcinoma

Sustainable Ammonia Electrosynthesis Coupled With Glycerol Valorization via an Adaptive Tri‐Component Catalyst

ABSTRACT Electrochemical nitrate reduction represents a promising route for sustainable ammonia (NH 3 ) production, yet its practical deployment is constrained by the limited efficiency of state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts and immature system architectures. Here, we report a generalist copper–nickel–tungsten tri‐component tandem electrocatalyst via a sequential microwave‐hydrothermal deposition route. Under pulsed electrolysis conditions, the catalyst delivers a remarkable Faradaic efficiency of 97.1% and a record‐high ammonia yield rate of 43.87 mg h −1 cm −2 . Online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) identifies key intermediates and associated pathways, while density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the cooperative roles of each component: the copper component facilitates nitrate adsorption and deoxygenation, the nickel component promotes water dissociation for steady *H supply, and the tungsten component serves as a dynamic *H reservoir. This synergy efficiently suppresses hydrogen evolution and enhances ammonia selectivity. Furthermore, coupling with glycerol valorization (to formic acid) as the anodic reaction demonstrates the potential for energy‐efficient ammonia electrosynthesis. Collectively, this work offers both design strategies and mechanistic understanding for next‐generation multi‐component tandem electrocatalysts targeting advanced nitrogen‐based chemical synthesis.

Expression of Concern: The hidden costs of inflation: A critical analysis of industrial development and environmental consequences

Distinct functional networks derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell neuronal activity

Experiences of HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix

Since July 2022, Australian guidelines have recommended that anyone eligible for cervical screening be offered a choice between using a self-collected vaginal sample or a clinician-collected cervical sample for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing. This study explored cervical screening among 555 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, 261 who had screened since the policy change (‘recently screened’). Participants were recruited for an online survey between December-2023 and April-2024. Over half of recently screened participants were offered a choice of collection methods (n = 151, 58%). Of those offered the choice, 67% chose to screen using self-collection (n = 101). In total, 46% (n = 118) of recently screened participants used self-collection, either themselves at home (n = 41, 35%) or the clinic (n = 48, 41%) or assisted by a healthcare provider without a speculum (n = 29, 24%). Among those who collected their own sample (n = 89), the main reasons were it was less embarrassing, they felt in control of their body, and it was less scary. However, only 55% of these participants felt they had enough information to make an informed decision between collection methods. Over half of recently screened participants reported having a clinician-collected sample with a speculum (n = 133, 51%). The majority were not offered a choice of collection method (61%, n = 81), however 38% (n = 50) were and chose a clinician-collected sample. The main reasons for choosing a clinician-collected sample included always having had it done by a healthcare provider, wanting the healthcare provider to have a look or believing the healthcare provider would collect a better sample. This study highlights a preference for HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, including those who already participate in cervical screening. It reinforces the importance of offering all eligible participants a choice of collection methods and supporting informed decision-making.

A multicenter retrospective study of plasma d‑dimer levels for evaluating treatment response in multiple myeloma

Piezoelectric Polarization Optimized Photocharge Separation and Surface Proton Cycling for Efficient Pure Water Splitting

ABSTRACT The simultaneous production of hydrogen (H 2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) from pure water represents an ideal solar‐to‐chemical pathway for sustainable fuel and oxidant generation. However, conventional photocatalysts face intrinsic limitations, including sluggish carrier dynamics and insufficient power for water oxidation. Herein, we unveil an intramolecular electron transfer pathway from cyano groups to hydroxyl groups in C 3 N 5 that creates a high‐performance piezo‐photocatalyst for water splitting. The hydroxyl/cyano groups direct electron‐hole flow, optimizing the surface potential and dipole moment (DM) for a stronger piezoelectric response. Interestingly, the piezoelectric polarization induced by mechanical strain in MCN‐8 enhances its H + desorption ability to facilitate a rapid adsorption‐reaction‐desorption process. In situ infrared spectroscopy results indicate that MCN‐8 generates key substances such as ·O 2 − and ·OOH, clarifying the water oxidation process. Thus, the rates of H 2 and H 2 O 2 release by its piezo‐photocatalysis were 4.14 mmol g −1 h −1 and 1.39 mmol g −1 h −1 , respectively. Under simulated outdoor sunlight and ultrasonic conditions, the as‐fabricated MCN‐8/PVDF‐HFP composite film retains its ability to produce H 2 and H 2 O 2 . This strategy of enhancing the piezo‐photocatalytic performance through surface group modulation provides a new idea for the development of highly efficient and multifunctional water decomposition catalysts.

Long-term intensive golf training induces reconfiguration of brain structural covariance networks

Long-term motor training is thought to reshape brain organization, yet how golf expertise influences large-scale brain networks remains unclear. Using T1-weighted MRI and an individualized structural covariance network (SCN) approach, we compared 20 expert golfers, 20 novice golfers, and 20 non-golfer controls. Experts showed higher global clustering coefficient and local efficiency than novices, indicating enhanced modular processing. At the nodal level, experts exhibited increased clustering in regions supporting visual–sensorimotor integration (e.g., right supramarginal gyrus, Heschl’s gyrus, and left middle temporal pole), alongside reduced global efficiency in the left calcarine cortex and altered path length in the right cerebellum. Importantly, the clustering coefficient mediated the association between training duration and stroke accuracy. These cross-sectional findings suggest that extensive golf training is linked to a brain network reconfiguration that favors local specialization over global integration—potentially supporting the refined sensorimotor control required in elite performance. This study advances understanding of experience-dependent neuroplasticity by integrating individualized network analysis with behavioral outcomes in motor expertise.

Towards cross-domain few-shot modulation classification: a feature transformation graph neural network approach

Substituent‐Induced Secondary Interactions Reprogram Ion Permselectivity in Cationic Covalent Organic Framework Membranes

ABSTRACT Precise modulation of ion permselectivity in synthetic membranes is crucial for advancing separation and energy conversion technologies. Here, we demonstrate that neutral substituents can reprogram the intrinsic ion selectivity of cationic covalent organic framework (COF) membranes by introducing secondary local interactions that compete with long‐range Coulombic forces. Using triaminoguanidinium‐based COFs as a model system, we systematically varied both the number and type of substituents on 1,3,5‐trialdehyde linkers. The introduced substituents generated secondary interactions that modulated the primary Coulombic interactions between guanidinium cations and Cl – counterions. When two or more hydroxyl groups were present on the aldehyde linkers, these interactions immobilized anions and inverted the effective surface potential from positive to negative, thereby switching the transport polarity from anion‐ to cation‐selective behavior. In contrast, methoxy substitution weakened Coulombic interactions, enhancing anion selectivity. This tunable control over the local chemical microenvironment enabled programmable and reversible ion permselectivity without altering the permanent framework charge. Leveraging this mechanism, we achieved record‐high ionic thermoelectric performance, 25.9 W m −2 for a single membrane and 39.1 W m − 2 for a stacked configuration under a 50 K temperature gradient. This work establishes substituent‐mediated secondary interactions as a general and powerful strategy for programming ion transport, bridging biological selectivity principles with the design of adaptive COF‐based membranes for energy harvesting and separation.

Associations between physical activity, fitness, cognitive and academic performance in Swedish adolescents: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Background Adolescence is a crucial phase for the development of cognitive abilities linked to academic performance. Factors such as physical activity (PA) and fitness have been hypothesized to be linked to these outcomes, although the evidence is inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the associations between PA, fitness, academic, and cognitive performance in the same sample of adolescents. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1139 Swedish adolescents (mean age 13.4 years) participated. We assessed PA (accelerometry), cardiovascular fitness (submaximal ergometer test), cognitive performance (computer-based test assessing episodic and working memory with 3 tests per domain), and academic performance (grades in math and language, Swedish). We utilized multilevel mixed models to explore associations and structural equation modeling to perform mediation analyses. Results We found a weak positive association between cardiovascular fitness and math grades (b: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.26 β: 0.18), language grades (b: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.25 β: 0.13), and cognitive performance (b: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.02 β: 0.11). Further, cognitive performance scores mediated 40% of the associations between fitness and math, and language grades. Adolescents with parents with short education (≤12 years of education) or foreign-born had lower fitness levels and grades in math and language (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Fitness was the only significant factor associated with cognitive and academic performance, although the association was weak. Given our findings of low fitness and academic performance among adolescents with parents with short education or parents born abroad, future studies should tailor their interventions to ensure the inclusion of these groups.

Noninvasive hemodynamic assessment of aortic coarctation: multimodal imaging based-computational fluid dynamics

Confining a Single Water Molecule Through Molecular Crystal Engineering for Water Oxidation

ABSTRACT Hydrogen‐bonded water clusters (H 2 O) n obscure the intrinsic reactivity of monomeric H 2 O (n = 1) by restricting molecular reorientation. Elucidating the catalytic behavior of isolated water remains a key challenge in aqueous‐phase chemistry. Here, we address this by designing a molecular crystal that uniformly confines single water molecules in identical tetrahedral cavities. This platform, CB‐H 2 O , exhibits exceptional activity for photocatalytic H 2 O‐to‐H 2 O 2 conversion, achieving 7.03 mmol g − 1 h − 1 with pure water, representing an 11.6‐fold enhancement over cavity‐deficient controls and being markedly superior to existing photocatalytic systems. This performance advantage is directly attributed to the crystallographically defined monomeric water, as verified by isotopic labelling and in‐situ spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations further demonstrate that cavity confinement eliminates hydrogen‐bond reorganization penalties, substantially lowering the activation barrier for water oxidation. Our work establishes monomeric‐water catalysis as a distinct and efficient paradigm, showcasing molecular crystal engineering as a versatile approach to tailoring water‐involved reactions for sustainable catalysis.