Browse Articles

Multidisciplinary discussion on phenotypical characterization of metastatic breast cancer and patient pathway optimization from an expert panel across South Italian regions

Sensing ceramides by CYSLTR2 and P2RY6 to aggravate atherosclerosis

AER U-Net: attention-enhanced multi-scale residual U-Net structure for water body segmentation using Sentinel-2 satellite images

Gut microbiome and blood biomarkers reveal differential responses to aerobic and anaerobic exercise in collegiate men of diverse training backgrounds

Abstract The gut microbiome influences physiological responses to exercise by modulating inflammatory markers and metabolite production. Athletes typically exhibit greater microbial diversity, which may be associated with improved performance, but the mechanisms linking different exercise modalities to the gut microbiome are not fully understood. In this study, blood and stool samples were collected from endurance athletes, strength athletes, and non-athletic controls performing two maximal exercise tests (the anaerobic Wingate test and the aerobic Bruce Treadmill Test) to integrate serum biomarker data with gut bacterial metagenomic profiles. While most biochemical markers showed similar post-exercise trends across groups, SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) and adiponectin levels showed modality-specific responses. Strength-trained participants showed unique microbiome-biomarker associations after the Wingate test. In addition, baseline enrichment of certain bacterial taxa, including Clostridium phoceensis and Catenibacterium spp ., correlated with reduced Bruce Treadmill test response in strength-trained individuals. These findings, while requiring further validation, indicate the complex interplay between exercise type, training background, and the gut microbiome, and suggest that specific microbial species may help shape recovery and adaptation.

In science-for-policy design, one size doesn’t fit all

Perspectives of disabled adults on healthcare professionals role in promoting physical activity in China A reflexive thematic analysis

Abstract Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have been identified as key messengers for disabled adults in promoting physical activity (PA). However, few studies revealed the disabled adults’ views and preferences for HCPs in PA. This study aimed to understand disabled adults’ perceptions and experiences of the role of HCPs in promoting PA in China. Forty-one Chinese disabled adults participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews, recruited by three purposive sampling strategies: maximum variation, criterion-based and snowball sampling. Data from interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: (1) mastery beyond the medical, (2) title clarification within a HCP hierarchy, and (3) balancing medical and lay words with accessibility. Participants valued the role of HCPs in integrating PA within medical care but noted gaps such as insufficient guidance on transitioning PA to daily life, lack of diverse options, and limited support for fostering autonomy in PA quality participation. Misunderstandings about HCP roles hindered effective healthcare interactions, while clear, disability-sensitive communication was essential for building trust and fostering PA participation. This study highlights the need for HCP training to improve personalised PA guidance, role clarity, and communication skills alongside policy changes to better support disabled adults in PA participation. Additionally, future research should involve a broader sample to improve these PA strategies and assess their impact.

Chronotypes are significantly associated with emotional well-being in a general population cohort in Hungary

Abstract Chronotypes reflect individual differences in the preference for wake and sleep times within a 24-hour period. They have been linked to emotional well-being, yet findings remain inconsistent, potentially due to variations in study populations, methodologies, and measures of emotional well-being. This study aimed to clarify the contribution of chronotypes to emotional well-being while controlling for demographic variables in a large cohort of 1,120 participants from the general population in Hungary. Emotional well-being was assessed using validated self-report measures, including the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait (STAI-T), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Chronotypes were determined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Comprehensive stepwise regression analyses were performed to evaluate relationships between demographic factors, chronotypes, and emotional well-being. Statistical analyses revealed that individuals with evening chronotypes were more likely to report lower emotional well-being, even after adjusting for demographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Regression models demonstrated the unique contribution of chronotypes to emotional well-being, highlighting the vulnerability of evening types. These findings underscore the importance of considering chronotypes in understanding emotional health and suggest potential directions for chronotype-specific interventions to promote mental well-being.

Make science more collegial: why the time for ‘adversarial collaboration’ has come

Transforming waste into value: Single-step in situ synthesis of magnetic porous carbon composite adsorbents from sugarcane bagasse and iron scrap

Avian vandals demolish spring flowers

The alterations of molecular repertoire of the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in the M1 macrophage-derived inflammatory milieu

Flexible hybrid self-powered piezo-triboelectric nanogenerator based on BTO-PVDF/PDMS nanocomposites for human machine interaction

Next CERN collider has community input

Comparative study of heuristic algorithms for coordination of industrial over current relays with nonstandard characteristics in microgrid protection

Predicting the efficacy of bevacizumab on peritumoral edema based on imaging features and machine learning

USAID’s shutdown: a crisis for sub-Saharan Africa

Quasistatic tensile and flexural behaviors of fiber metal laminates after subjecting to uniaxial tensile impact loading

Abstract This study represents a novel contribution regarding the behavior of fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) under tensile impact loading. The experimental program included axial tensile-impact tests and quasi-static tensile and flexural tests after impact. The FMLs’ core consisted of an epoxy matrix reinforced with long glass fibers, and their skins had 1050 aluminum plates. Several variables were investigated, including the lay-up methods and the insertion of the [90°] layers within [Al/0°/Al] and [Al/0°/0°/Al] FML specimens. The results showed that the residual tensile load of [Al/0°/90°/0°/Al] sandwich specimens’ lay-up method was 6.65 kN, from the original ultimate load of 17.69 kN. For bending after impact, the residual load was 0.79 kN, from the original one of 1.46 kN. Although inserting the [90°] layers provided low tensile strength, it effectively blunted the propagating crack in the load’s direction under either the quasi-static tensile or the tensile-impact tests. For progressive damage, the [0°] layer showed fiber breakage and fiber-kinking, and the [90°] layer exhibited critical matrix cracking. Meanwhile, the aluminum plates exhibited a transverse crack during the delamination between the composite core and aluminum plates. During the tensile-impact test, two divisions of delamination were observed: partial delamination aside from [0°] and severe delamination with [90°].

Comparison of physical activity, sedentary time, and physical fitness among Chinese children and adolescents in Qinghai between 2019 and 2023

Manage releases of ‘forever chemicals’ in lab waste

Monitoring and deformation of deep excavation engineering based on DFOS technology and hybrid deep learning