Browse Articles

One-minute sit-to-stand test: Reference values for the Chilean population

Introduction The one-minute sit to stand test (1min-STST) is a field test used to assess functional capacity. It is easily implementable and of significant clinical utility; however, no reference values are currently available for the Chilean population. The objective of this study was to establish reference values for the 1min-STST in a healthy Chilean population. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study involving data collection from six locations in Chile was conducted. Healthy adults between 18 and 80 years of age were recruited. The anthropometric variables, levels of physical activity, smoking status, Borg scale ratings, and number of repetitions during the 1min-STST were recorded. Reference values were determined according to sex and age range. Results Four hundred ninety-nine healthy subjects (57.5% women, n = 287; median height, 1.63 (0.14) m; weight, 72.8 (20) kg; average BMI, 27.3 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were included in the study. The median (and the lower limit of normality (LLN) values) for the 1min-STST in men ranged from 18–29 years, with 38 (LLN 27) repetitions and 23 (LLN 15) repetitions for 70–80 years. For women aged 18–29 years, 38 (LLN 28) repetitions were performed, and for women aged 70–80 years, 24 (LLN 17) repetitions were performed. Conclusions This study established reference values for the healthy adult Chilean population.

Evaluation of bond durability of different self-adhesive bioactive restorative systems to dentin

Abstract This study aimed to compare the bonding efficacy three bioactive self-adhesive restorative systems to dentin. A total of 80 permanent human molars were utilized in this study. The occlusal enamel was removed to exposed mid-coronal dentin; 40 molars were used for microshear bond strength testing, while the remaining molars were used for micromorphological analysis of restoration/dentin interface. Accordingly, 4 groups were assigned according to the used restorative materials; (G1) self-adhesive hybrid composite (surefil one), (G2) Alkasite-based material (Cention forte) without pretreatment primer, (G3) Alkasite-based material (Cention forte) with pretreatment primer (Cention primer), and (G4) resin-modified glass ionomer (fuji II LC). Then each group was divided into 2 sub-group according to testing time (n = 5); immediate (after 24 h) and delayed (after 6 months of storage in artificial saliva). Microshear bond strength testing employed a universal testing machine to quantify the force required for material fracture at the interface, followed by failure mode analysis. Interfacial micromorphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In µSBS, the outcome of Two-way ANOVA showed that, there is a statistically significant difference in “type of the restorative material” and “storage time” (p˂0.05. The output of Tukey post-hoc test revealed highest µSBS values were recorded in both immediate and delayed was recorded for Cention Forte with it’s pretreatment primer (p < 0.05). Whereas Surefil one & Cention Forte (without primer) showed the lowest µSBS results among its immediate and delayed groups (p < 0.05). Regarding the micromorphological patterns of restoration/dentin interface using SEM, there was a difference among the tested groups. This study revealed that using of primers prior to application of alkasite-based restorative material is highly recommended as this techniques seems to be the most effective in obtaining superior bond strength with dentin. Accordingly, this outcome of this study highlighting the importance of using primer in enhancing bonding to dentin, which might slightly countered the initial manufacturer’s recommendations and categorization of this type of restorations as a self-adhesive.

Quantifying the shift of public export finance from fossil fuels to renewable energy

Abstract By providing guarantees and direct lending, public export credit agencies (ECAs) de-risk and thus enable energy projects worldwide. Despite their importance for global greenhouse gas emission pathways, a systematic assessment of ECAs’ role and financing patterns in the low-carbon energy transition is still needed. Using commercial transaction data, here we analyze 921 energy deals backed by ECAs from 31 OECD and non-OECD countries (excluding Canada) between 2013 and 2023. We find that while the share of renewables in global ECA energy commitments rose substantially between 2013 and 2023, ECAs remain heavily involved in the fossil fuel sector, with support varying substantially across technologies, value chain stages, and countries. Portfolio ‘greening’ is primarily driven by members of the E3F climate club, impacting deal financing structures and shifting finance flows towards high-income countries. Our results call for reconsidering ECA mandates and strengthening international climate-related cooperation in export finance.

“They never appear on TV and if they have, I might have missed that moment.” How publics in South Africa and Germany view visible scientists

Academic interest in scientists who regularly appear in the media dates back to Rae Goodell’s seminal book “The visible scientists”, in which she lists distinct characteristics of visible scientists, including being controversial, articulate, colorful, and reputable as a scientist. Visible scientists thus share relevant media-related characteristics that stand out in their portrayal as a group and are reminiscent of other celebrities’ characteristics. However, questions arise: what is special about the celebrity being a scientist? How many and what types of scientists fall into this category? What are the peers’ and the public’s expectations towards the social role of the visible scientist? To date, work on visible scientists has focused on theorizing them in the context of the relationship between science and its publics and empirical studies have mainly sought to characterize visible scientists and focused on single countries. This paper fills research gaps on the public perception of and expectations towards visible scientists as well as comparative studies by surveying publics in Germany and South Africa. Our data shows that Goodell’s criteria also apply to how respondents see and expect visible scientists to be. Interestingly though, a majority of non-responses to the request to name up to three visible scientists currently living in the respective country demonstrates that, overall, scientists are rather invisible to the public. Visible scientists remain a rare phenomenon despite changing media environments and a recent pandemic. In conclusion, we suggest that “visibility” (rather than “celebrity”) is the more appropriate term to refer to the temporary phenomenon of scientists who become visible in the public sphere.

Impact of land prices on corporate carbon emission intensity

Polycotton waste textile recycling by sequential hydrolysis and glycolysis

Abstract As a result of the current high throughput of the fast fashion collections and the concomitant decrease in product lifetime, we are facing enormous amounts of textile waste. Since textiles are often a blend of multiple fibers (predominantly cotton and polyester) and contain various different components, proper waste management and recycling are challenging. Here, we describe a high-yield process for the sequential chemical recycling of cotton and polyester from mixed waste textiles. The utilization of 43 wt% hydrochloric acid for the acid hydrolysis of polycotton (44/56 cotton/polyester, room temperature, 24 h) results in a 75% molar glucose yield from the cotton fraction, whereafter the hydrolysate solution is easily separated from the solid polyester residue. The reaction is scalable, as similar results are obtained for experiments performed at 1 mL, 0.1, and 1.0 L and even in a 230 L pilot plant reactor, where mixed postconsumer polycotton waste textile is successfully recycled. The residual polyester is successfully converted via glycolysis to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate in 78% isolated yield (>98% purity).

The impact of Daylight Saving Time on dog activity

While most studies on Daylight Saving Time (DST) focus on human sleep and well-being, there is a dearth of understanding of how this sudden, human-mitigated change affects the routines of companion animals. The objective of this study was to assess how DST influenced the morning activity pattern of dogs (Canis familiaris). We used accelerometers to record activity in 25 sled dogs and 29 caregiver-companion dog dyads located in or near Ontario, Canada during the Fall Back time shift. We looked at morning onset activity based on sunrise time (both groups), handler arrival time (sled dogs), and caregiver Got-up Time (companion dogs), and compared pre-DST measures with the three days following DST. We found that sled dogs were less active around sunrise in all post-DST days compared to pre-DST, as sunrise coincided with handler arrival time before DST but not after. Companion dogs showed no change in morning activity based on sunrise times before and after DST. On the Sunday of DST, sled dogs were more active before handlers arrived, but their activity returned to pre-DST levels in the following two days. Caregiver and companion dog activities did not change on the day of DST. After DST, caregivers woke up earlier on weekdays, but companion dogs maintained their pre-DST activity patterns. Overall, we found that sled dogs took one day to adjust to a change in handler arrival time yet neither companion dogs nor their caregivers showed any morning activity difference after the Fall Back DST transition. In summary, our findings highlight the importance of flexible routines and gradual changes in helping dogs adjust to abrupt schedule modifications, offering valuable insights for optimizing dog care practices during time shifts.

Variable stressor exposure shapes fitness within and across generations

Abstract Environmental variation has long been considered a key driver of evolutionary change, predicted to shape different strategies, such as genetic specialization, plasticity, or bet-hedging to maintain fitness. However, little evidence is available with regards to how the periodicity of stressors may impact fitness across generations. To address this gap, I conducted a reciprocal split-brood experiment using the freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and an ecologically relevant environmental stressor, ultraviolet radiation (UVR). I exposed one group to constant and another group to fluctuating UVR conditions. Despite receiving the same dose of UVR, the first experimental generation displayed significant treatment-by-genotype interactions with respect to survival and reproductive output, as well as a delayed reproductive maturity under fluctuating UVR conditions. In the following experimental generation individuals exposed to fluctuating UVR exhibited higher fitness than those in a constant UVR regime. The ancestral conditions, i.e., maternal environment, however affected the survival probability and reproductive output, but did not significantly influence the maturation date. Overall, I demonstrate that the delivery of a stressor, not just its intensity, can have profound fitness consequences across generations, with important implications for seasonal succession of genotype–phenotype patterns in natural environments.

Engineering synthetic signaling receptors to enable erythropoietin-free erythropoiesis

Abstract Blood transfusion plays a vital role in modern medicine, but frequent shortages occur. Ex vivo manufacturing of red blood cells (RBCs) from universal donor cells offers a potential solution, yet the high cost of recombinant cytokines remains a barrier. Erythropoietin (EPO) signaling is crucial for RBC development, and EPO is among the most expensive media components. To address this challenge, we develop highly optimized small molecule-inducible synthetic EPO receptors (synEPORs) using design-build-test cycles and genome editing. By integrating synEPOR at the endogenous EPOR locus in O-negative induced pluripotent stem cells, we achieve equivalent erythroid differentiation, transcriptomic changes, and hemoglobin production using small molecules compared to EPO-supplemented cultures. This approach dramatically reduces culture media costs. Our strategy not only addresses RBC production challenges but also demonstrates how protein and genome engineering can introduce precisely regulated cellular behaviors, potentially improving scalable manufacturing of a wide range of clinically relevant cell types.

European ILD registry algorithm for self-assessment in interstitial lung diseases (eurILDreg ASA-ILD)

Background and aims Predicting progression and prognosis in Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), especially Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (PPF), remains a challenge. Integrating patient-centered measurements is essential for earlier and safer detection of disease progression. Home monitoring through e-health technologies, such as spirometry and oximetry connected to smartphone applications, holds promise for early detection of ILD progression or acute exacerbations, enabling timely therapeutic interventions. Methods The European ILD Registry Algorithm for Self-Assessment in ILD (eurILDreg ASA-ILD), developed by all eurILDreg principal investigators, includes questionnaires on symptom burden, respiratory infections, and quality of life (EQ5D VAS, K-BILD, LCQ). The algorithm also incorporates spirometry and oxygen saturation measurements, both at rest and during exercise (one-minute sit-to-stand test, 1STST). This ASA-ILD algorithm is integrated into the patientMpower Ltd. smartphone application, used for patient-led monitoring, research, and clinical care since 2016, and available on both Apple and Android platforms. Discussion For patient-centered measurements, participants in the multicenter eurILDreg study will receive a patientMpower account, a handheld clinical-grade spirometer (Spirobank Smart, MIR, Italy), and a pulse oximeter (Nonin Medical, Inc. Plymouth, MN, USA), along with usage instructions. Artificial intelligence software (ArtiQ) will analyze spirometry maneuvers in real-time, ensuring compliance with recent ERS/ATS criteria and providing automated feedback. Pulse oximetry is integrated into the exercise testing within the application, following an automated in-app protocol developed with clinician involvement for safety and accuracy. The application will send reminders to participants to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) according to the study protocol. Conclusion This study is designed to explore the potential of e-Health technologies, such as home monitoring via spirometry and oximetry, integrated with the eurILDreg ASA-ILD algorithm and patientMpower app, to improve early detection and management of ILD. A pilot trial showed promising adherence to spirometry, indicating that digital health interventions could enhance patient care and outcomes in ILD. Trial registration The ethics committee of the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen has approved the eurILDreg and this substudy with the protocol reference number 111/08. The research was conducted strictly according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Patients were included into the registry upon having signed the informed consent. The eurIPFreg and eurIPFbank are listed in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02951416). EurILDreg is registered in German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS 00028968.

Evaluation of the genotoxic and transformation potential induced by asbestos compared to cleavage fragments

The mycobacterial ABC transporter IrtAB employs a membrane-facing crevice for siderophore-mediated iron uptake

Brief social presence improves delayed memory for online lecture content

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of videoconferencing platforms became ubiquitous in postsecondary education around the world, making it crucial to understand how to maximize the efficacy of synchronous online classes. Given that social information can act as a motivation and improve memory, the current study tested the hypothesis that brief social presence during an online class would act as a social reward that would increase delayed memory for lecture information. Undergraduate students attended a mock synchronous class during which they viewed a pre-recorded science lecture, and social presence was manipulated by having participants turn on their cameras before and after the lecture (high social presence) or having cameras remain off during the entire class (low social presence). After 24 hours, participants completed a surprise memory test for the lecture material and a subjective experience survey about the class. As predicted, participants in the high social presence condition demonstrated higher recognition memory for the lecture content and gave higher ratings of enjoyment and feeling part of a group compared to participants in the low social presence condition. These findings suggest that enhancing social presence in virtual environments may be leveraged to boost academic performance in university students.

Optimizing dental implant identification using deep learning leveraging artificial data

Multi-modal framework for battery state of health evaluation using open-source electric vehicle data

Comparison of observational methods to identify and characterize post-COVID syndrome in the Netherlands using electronic health records and questionnaires

Background Some of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 suffer from post-COVID syndrome (PCS). However, an uniform definition of PCS is lacking, causing uncertainty about the prevalence and nature of this syndrome. We aimed to improve understanding of PCS by operationalizing different classifications and to explore clinical subtypes. Methods We used data from Nivel Primary Care database from 2019–2020 which consists of electronic health records (EHR) from general practices (GPs) combined with sociodemographic data for n = 10,313 individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2. In addition, data from n = 276 individuals who had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 in 2021, collected via a longitudinal survey, was used. In the GP-EHR data, we operationalized two classifications of PCS (based on symptoms and diagnosis recorded in GP-EHR data and healthcare utilization 3–12 months after acute infection) to calculate frequency and characteristics and compared this to the survey results. In a subgroup of the EHR data we conducted community detection analyses to explore clinical subtypes of PCS. Results The frequency of PCS was 15% with on average 4.6 symptoms for which the GP was consulted using the narrow definition and 32% with on average 6.8 symptoms for the broad definition. Across all methods and classifications, the mean age of individuals with PCS was around 53 years and they were more often female. There were small sex differences in the type of symptoms and overall symptoms were persistent for 6 months. The community detection analysis revealed three possible clinical subtypes. Discussion We showed that frequency rates of PCS differ between methods and data sources, but characteristics of the affected individuals are relatively stable. Overall, PCS is a heterogeneous syndrome affecting a substantial group of individuals who need adequate care. Future studies should focus on care trajectories and qualitative measures such as quality of life of individuals living with PCS.

Investigate physiological and psychological responses to environment scenes, elements and components in different urban settings

Convergent evidence for the temperature-dependent emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants

Abstract Research on silicon (Si) biogeochemistry and its beneficial effects for plants has received significant attention over several decades, but the reasons for the emergence of high-Si plants remain unclear. Here, we combine experimentation, field studies and analysis of existing databases to test the role of temperature on the expression and emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants. We first show that Si is beneficial for rice under high temperature (40 °C), but harmful under low temperature (0 °C), whilst a 2 °C increase results in a 37% increase in leaf Si concentrations. We then find that, globally, the average distribution temperature of high-Si plant clades is 1.2 °C higher than that of low-Si clades. Across China, leaf Si concentrations increase with temperature in high-Si plants (wheat and rice), but not in low-Si plants (weeping willow and winter jasmine). From an evolutionary perspective, 77% of high-Si families (>10 mg Si g −1 DW) originate during warming episodes, while 86% of low-Si families (<1 mg Si g −1 DW) originate during cooling episodes. On average, Earth’s temperature during the emergence of high-Si families is 3 °C higher than that of low-Si families. Taken together, our evidence suggests that plant Si variation is closely related to global and long-term climate change.

Study on the impact of Kinesiophobia after Total Knee Arthroplasty on the rehabilitation of patients during hospitalization: A pilot study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of kinesiophobia following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) on the rehabilitation outcomes of patients during hospitalization, includes examining the trends in resting pain levels at various time points post-surgery, the trends in active flexion of the knee at various time points post-surgery, and the effects of kinesiophobia on the timing of first postoperative ambulation, the duration of postoperative hospital stay, and the results of the two-minute walk test on the day of discharge. Postoperative kinesiophobia in patients was identified using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), with 33 patients scoring >37 points and 35 patients scoring ≤37 points. Resting Pain levels were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at various time points, including upon return to the ward (T1), the first (T2), second (T3), third (T4), fifth(T5) postoperative days, and the day of discharge (T6). Furthermore, active flexion of the knee joint was measured at different time points for both groups, including the first (T1*), third (T2*), and fifth (T3*) postoperative days, and the day of discharge (T4*). The first time out of bed activities of the two groups of patients were compared, along with the results of the 2-Minute Walk Test (2-MWT) on the day of discharge. The pain scores of patients in the kinesiophobia group at different time points after surgery were worse than those in the non-kinesiophobia group (P<0.05). There were significant time effects (F = 131.297;P<0.01), inter-group effects (F = 15.016; P<0.01), and interaction effects (F = 5.116; P<0.05). The active knee flexion of patients in the kinesiophobia group at different time points after surgery were worse than those in the non-kinesiophobia group (P<0.05).There were significant time effects (F = 628.258;P<0.01), inter-group effects (F = 16.546; P<0.01), and interaction effects (F = 66.025; P<0.01). Patients in the kinesiophobia group delayed getting out of bed for the first time (35.39±9.82vs28.77±9.81hours; P<0.01), had shorter activity time (4.12±1.36vs5.80±1.96minutes; P<0.01) and distance (19.12±3.36vs30.17±5.64meters;P<0.01), and experienced higher pain scores during activity (6.30±1.10vs5.48±0.95scoresP<0.05). Additionally, patients in the kinesiophobia group walked shorter distances in the 2-MWT test on the day of discharge compared to the non-kinesiophobia group (37.60±5.76vs50.68±5.37meters;P<0.05), and had longer hospitalization time (8.11±1.31vs50.68±5.37days; P<0.05). In short, compared to patients without kinesiophobia, the presence of kinesiophobia after TKA surgery significantly impacts the efficacy of early rehabilitation exercises during hospitalization. This impact is observed in pain perception, knee joint mobility, the 2-minute walk test, etc. Early identification of patients with kinesiophobia after TKA and timely intervention are necessary and beneficial.

Powertrain configuration design for two mode power split hybrid electric vehicle

Abstract Hybrid transmissions have attracted great attention in the automotive industry due to their energy-saving, low-emission properties, and have become a focus of research and development. This paper presents a new method to design the configuration of two mode power split hybrid transmission using the combination of the simple planetary gear trains (PGT). For this purpose, the hybrid transmission structure is divided into two substructures, which achieve different operation modes respectively. Then the output of one substructure is reconnected with the components of another substructure to obtain the complete hybrid transmission configuration. In addition, by adding additional shifting elements, the hybrid configurations can also realize the fixed gear mode as a traditional automatic transmission. As a result, 38 hybrid transmissions are obtained, and the kinematic analysis of a new configuration is performed for the subsequent optimization. Furthermore, using this decomposition and recombination method, the hybrid transmissions with multiple PGTs and different operation modes can be synthesized by changing the predefined modes.