bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-to-onset and temporal dynamics of EEG during breath-watching meditation
Authors: Malipeddi Saketh , Sasidharan Arun , Venugopal Rahul , Tewarie Prejaas K.B. , Ravindra P.N. , Northoff Georg , Laureys Steven , Subramaniam Balachundhar , Kutty Bindu M
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Mind-body practices, such as meditation, enhance mental well-being. Research studies consistently demonstrate improved brain function and psychological well-being in meditation practitioners. A substantial body of neuroscientific evidence highlights changes in alpha and theta frequency bands during meditation among practitioners. Neurophysiological effects of meditation are reported as average power changes from resting to meditative states. However, there is a notable gap in research concerning the time-to-onset and temporal dynamics of these changes during meditation.

Method

Our study addresses this gap by recording high-density 128-channel EEG data during breath- watching meditation in three groups: meditation-naïve controls (n = 28), novice meditators (n = 33), and advanced meditators (n = 42). Meditators were trained in the Isha Yoga tradition. Real-time changes in brain power across different frequency bands were analyzed by segmenting the EEG data into 1-minute intervals. Using the first 30 seconds of breath- watching as the baseline, we calculated within-group power differences between this baseline and successive 1-minute segments (non-overlapping, non-sliding windows). For between- group comparisons, we assessed power differences among the three groups at 0.5, 3, 6, and 9 minutes.

Results

Our results indicate that time-to-onset of statistically significant increases in alpha, theta, and beta1 power, as well as decreases in delta and gamma1 power, occur around the 2-3 minute mark, with effects starting to peak between 7- and 10-minutes duration across all three groups. Statistically significant differences were observed between groups in the magnitude of these changes: advanced practitioners exhibited higher theta and theta-alpha power at all time points compared to the other groups.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that neurophysiological changes begin around 2-3 minutes after starting meditation and peak around 7-10 minutes across all three groups. However, the magnitude of these effects is greater in the advanced meditator group. As long as meditation retreats are not possible for many individuals, brief meditation practices of 7 minutes or more, delivered through digital platforms, could offer accessible, effective, and scalable solutions to improve mental well-being. This suggests a broader application of meditation practices in daily life, encouraging even those with tight schedules to incorporate such beneficial practices.
Humans can learn bimodal priors in complex sensorimotor behaviour
Authors: Zahno Stephan , Beck Damian , Hossner Ernst-Joachim , Kording Konrad
Published: February 2025

Extensive research suggests that humans integrate sensory information and prior expectations in a Bayesian manner to reduce uncertainty in perception and action. However, while Bayesian integration provides a powerful explanatory framework, the question remains as to what extent it explains human behaviour in naturalistic situations, including more complex movements and distributions. Here, we examine whether humans can learn bimodal priors in a complex sensorimotor task: returning tennis serves. Participants returned serves in an immersive virtual reality setup with realistic movements and spatiotemporal task demands matching those in real tennis. The location of the opponent’s serves followed a bimodal distribution. We manipulated visual uncertainty through three levels of ball speeds: slow, moderate, and fast. After extensive exposure to the opponent’s serves, participants’ movements were biased by the bimodal prior distribution. As predicted by Bayesian theory, the magnitude of the bias depends on visual uncertainty. Additionally, our data indicate that participants’ movements in this complex task were not only biased by prior expectations but also by biomechanical constraints and associated motor costs. Intriguingly, an explicit knowledge test after the experiment revealed that, despite incorporating prior knowledge of the opponent’s serve distribution into their behaviour, participants were not explicitly aware of the pattern. Our results show that humans can implicitly learn and utilise bimodal priors in complex sensorimotor behaviour.
Transition between light-induced attraction and repulsion of nanoparticles on a lithium niobate surface
Authors: Asché E. , Zamboni R. , Denz C. , Imbrock J.
Published: February 2025

Recent investigations have revealed a new phenomenon involving the transfer of charges between metallic as well as dielectric particles and the surfaces of photovoltaic crystals under illumination. Given its potential relevance to microfluidic and nanotrapping applications, understanding and controlling this phenomenon is of considerable interest. In this study, we examine the potential for manipulation of this charge transfer by customizing the induced electric field in terms of its strength and shape. In addition, we explore a method to mitigate this charging effect by introducing a thin layer between the crystal and the particle suspension. Specifically, we investigate the controlled trapping and repulsion of metallic micro-objects and nano-objects using a slowly increasing electric field induced by light in an iron-doped lithium niobate crystal. By employing structured light patterns with modulated amplitudes, we analyze the influence of shape and exposure of the light patterns on the dynamic movement of the particles. Our observations reveal two distinct regimes characterized by an initial attraction followed by repulsion. We present a model based on an electrical resistor-capacitor circuit that explains these two regimes and provides a good estimate of the temporal transition between them. These findings contribute to the advancement of controlled optoelectronic manipulation techniques for particles that utilize ferroelectric crystals.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Spin dynamics with realistic hydrodynamic background for relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Singh Sushant K. , Ryblewski Radoslaw , Florkowski Wojciech
Published: February 2025

The equations of perfect spin hydrodynamics are solved for the first time using a realistic (3+1)-dimensional hydrodynamic background, calibrated to reproduce a comprehensive set of hadronic observables, including rapidity distributions, transverse momentum spectra, and elliptic flow coefficients for Au+Au collisions at the beam energy of sNN=200GeV. The spin dynamics is governed by the conservation of the spin tensor, describing spin-1/2 particles, with particle mass in the spin tensor treated as an effective parameter. We investigate several scenarios, varying both the effective mass and the initial evolution time for the spin polarization tensor. The model predictions are then compared with experimental measurements of global and longitudinal spin polarization of Λ hyperons. Our results indicate that a successful description of the data requires a delayed initial evolution time for the perfect spin hydrodynamics of about 4fm/c (in contrast to the standard initial time of 1fm/c used for the hydrodynamic background). This delay marks a transition from the phase where spin-orbit interaction is significant to the regime where spin-conserving processes dominate. Our findings suggest that the spin-orbit dissipative interaction plays a significant role only in the very early stages of the system's evolution.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dark symmetry implication for right-handed neutrinos
Authors: Van Dong Phung , Van Loi Duong , Thi Huong Do , Tuan Duy Nguyen , Van Soa Dang
Published: February 2025

We argue that the long-standing issues of neutrino mass and dark matter can be manifestly solved in a dark gauge symmetry U(1)D that transforms nontrivially only for three right-handed neutrinos ν1,2,3R—the counterparts of known left-handed neutrinos. This theory assigns the ν1,2,3R dark charge to be D=0, −1, and +1, respectively, in order for anomaly cancelation. Additionally, it imposes an inert Higgs doublet η and two Higgs singlets ξ,ϕ with dark charge D=+1, −1, and +2, respectively. That said, the dark symmetry is broken by ϕ (by two units) down to a dark parity PD=(−1)D, for which ν2,3R and η, ξ are odd, whereas all other fields are even due to D=0. The lightest of these odd fields is stabilized by PD, which is responsible for dark matter. Neutrino masses are generated by a scotoseesaw scheme, in which the seesaw part is mediated by ν1R, while the scotogenic part is mediated by ν2,3R, for which the hierarchy of atmospheric and solar neutrino mass splittings is explained.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Neutrino-dark sector equilibration and primordial element abundances
Authors: Giovanetti Cara , Schmaltz Martin , Weiner Neal
Published: February 2025

After neutrinos decouple from the photon bath, they can populate a thermal dark sector. If this neutrino cooling occurs at a temperature above ∼100  keV, it can impact light element abundances. We calculate the changes to the YP and D/H abundances in this scenario with a suitably customized version of the public big bang nucleosynthesis code PRIMAT. If electron neutrinos significantly participate in the cooling, we find limits down to temperatures as low as 100 keV. And if the dark sector undergoes a “step” in Neff, there can be additional, ωb-dependent constraints.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Testing eccentric corrections to the radiation-reaction force in the test-mass limit of effective-one-body models
Authors: Faggioli Guglielmo , van de Meent Maarten , Buonanno Alessandra , Gamboa Aldo , Khalil Mohammed , Khanna Gaurav
Published: February 2025

In this work, we test an effective-one-body radiation-reaction force for eccentric planar orbits of a test mass in a Kerr background, which contains third-order post-Newtonian (PN) nonspinning and second-order PN spin contributions. We compare the analytical fluxes connected to two different resummations of this force, truncated at different PN orders in the eccentric sector, with the numerical fluxes computed through the use of frequency- and time-domain Teukolsky-equation codes. We find that the different PN truncations of the radiation-reaction force show the expected scaling in the weak gravitational-field regime, and we observe a fractional difference with the numerical fluxes that is <5%, for orbits characterized by eccentricity 0≤e≤0.7, central black-hole spin −0.99M≤a≤0.99M and fixed orbital-averaged quantity x=⟨MΩ⟩2/3=0.06, corresponding to the mildly strong-field regime with semilatera recta 9M<p<17M. Our analysis provides useful information for the development of spin-aligned eccentric models in the comparable-mass case.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Probing flavored regimes of leptogenesis with gravitational waves from cosmic strings
Authors: Chianese Marco , Datta Satyabrata , Miele Gennaro , Samanta Rome , Saviano Ninetta
Published: February 2025

Cosmic strings radiate detectable gravitational waves in models featuring high-scale symmetry breaking, e.g., high-scale leptogenesis. In this Letter, for the first time, we show that different flavored regimes of high-scale leptogenesis can be tested with the spectral features in cosmic string-radiated gravitational waves. This is possible if the scalar field that makes right-handed neutrinos massive is feebly coupled to the Standard Model Higgs. Each flavored regime, sensitive to low-energy neutrino experiments, leaves a marked imprint on the gravitational waves spectrum. A three-flavor and a two-flavor regime could be probed by a characteristic fall-off of the gravitational wave spectrum at the LISA-DECIGO-ET frequency bands with preceding scale-invariant amplitudes bounded from above and below. We present gravitational waves windows for flavored regimes of leptogenesis testable in the upcoming experiments. We also provide the first construction of a leptogenesis framework where a testable distinction of flavor regimes is possible without constraining the flavor structure of the theory.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Exact results for scaling dimensions of neutral operators in scalar conformal field theories
Authors: Antipin Oleg , Bersini Jahmall , Sannino Francesco
Published: February 2025

We determine the scaling dimension Δn for the class of composite operators ϕn in the λϕ4 theory in d=4−ε taking the double scaling limit n→∞ and λ→0 with fixed

λ

n

via a semiclassical approach. Our results resum the leading power of n at any loop order. In the small λn regime we reproduce the known diagrammatic results and predict the infinite series of higher-order terms. For intermediate values of λn we find that Δn/n increases monotonically approaching a (λn)1/3 behavior in the λn→∞ limit. We further generalize our results to neutral operators in the ϕ4 in d=4−ε, ϕ3 in d=6−ε, and ϕ6 in d=3−ε theories with O(N) symmetry.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Diffusion transients in motility-induced phase separation
Authors: Nayak Shubhadip , Bag Poulami , Ghosh Pulak K. , Li Yunyun , Zhou Yuxin , Yin Qingqing , Marchesoni Fabio , Nori Franco
Published: February 2025

We numerically investigate normal diffusion in a two-dimensional athermal suspension of active particles undergoing motility-induced phase separation. The particles are modeled as achiral Janus disks with fixed self-propulsion speed and weakly fluctuating orientation. When plotted versus the overall suspension packing fraction, the relevant diffusion constant traces a hysteresis loop with sharp jumps in correspondence with the binodal and spinodal of the gaseous phase. No hysteresis loop is observed between the spinodal and binodal of the dense phase, as they appear to overlap. Moreover, even under steady-state phase separation, the particle displacement distributions exhibit non-Gaussian normal diffusion with transient fat (thin) tails in the presence (absence) of phase separation.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Self-Consistent Current Response Theory of Unjamming and Vibrational Modes in Low-Temperature Amorphous Solids
Authors: Vogel Florian , Baumgärtel Philipp , Fuchs Matthias
Published: February 2025

We study amorphous solids with strong elastic disorder and find an unjamming instability that exists, in a harmonic model built using Euclidean random matrices (ERMs). Employing the Zwanzig-Mori projection operator formalism and Gaussian factorization approximations, we develop a first-principles, self-consistent theory of transverse momentum correlations in athermal disordered materials, extending beyond the standard self-consistent Born approximation. The vibrational anomalies in glass at low temperatures are recovered in the stable solid limit, and floppy modes lacking restoring forces are predicted in unstable states below the jamming transition. Near the unjamming transition, the speed of sound v0⊥ vanishes with ∝−ε, where ε denotes the distance from the critical point. Additionally, the density of states develops a plateau, independent of ε above a frequency ω* which vanishes at the transition, ω*∝|ε|. We identify a characteristic length scale in the unjammed phase, λ−⊥∝1/ε, indicating the distance over which injected momentum remains correlated. We confirm the theoretical predictions with numerical solutions of a scalar ERM model, demonstrating overall good qualitative and partly quantitative agreement.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
The impact of sentiment on the collaboration between prefabricated building construction enterprises and internet platforms: a MA-RDEU evolutionary game model
Authors: Liu Ziyi , Wu Zebin , Gu Jianglin
Published: February 2025

Purpose

During the cooperation process between prefabricated building construction enterprises (PBCEs) and Internet platforms (IPs), the sentiments of both parties influence their behavioral strategies. They are the key to improving the informatization and operational efficiency of the prefabricated building industry chain (PBIC).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces mental accounting theory and rank-dependent expected utility theory to construct the MA-RDEU game model, exploring the evolutionary mechanism between sentiment and behavioral strategies of PBCEs and IPs.

Findings

The study indicates that (1) a mixed strategy equilibrium can be achieved when both parties have no sentiments. (2) PBCEs and IPs are more likely to achieve an optimal equilibrium for cooperation if the latter is optimistic. In contrast, pessimism may lead both parties to prioritize self-interest when only one party has a sentiment. (3) The combined impact of sentiments and behavioral strategies on decision-making is significant: the influence of sentiments from PBCEs or IPs on the optimal strategy for achieving cooperation is contingent upon the behavioral strategies of the other party; different behavioral strategies of IPs or PBCEs can have varying effects on sentiments when both parties have sentiments. (4) The influence of external factors on the sentiments and behavior strategies of PBCEs and IPs is apparent. PBCEs and IPs should concurrently consider the combined influence of external factors and sentiments to contribute to the realization of cooperation between the two parties. Additionally, government supervision is an effective means to restrain “free-riding” behavior.

Originality/value

Finally, based on the above conclusions, the paper proposes measures to improve the construction of service-oriented IPs and establish a mechanism for monitoring and adjusting risk sentiments. Meanwhile, this paper also indicates that under the combined effect of the government, PBCEs and IPs, the influence of external factors on sentiments can be maintained within a controllable scope and the risks of uncertainty can be mitigated.
The impact of ethical leadership and code of ethics on employee integrity, mediated by job satisfaction in Uganda’s public sector
Authors: Kyambade Mahadih , Namatovu Afulah
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study examines the relationships between ethical leadership, code of ethics, job satisfaction and employee integrity in Uganda’s public sector. Specifically, it investigates the direct effects of ethical leadership and code of ethics on integrity and explores job satisfaction’s mediating role in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a three-wave survey of 600 Ugandan public sector employees. Data collection occurred from November to December 2020. The final sample consisted of 398 respondents, with a response rate of 66.3%. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS 23.0 for structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results confirmed that ethical leadership and the code of ethics positively relate to employee integrity. Additionally, job satisfaction was found to positively relate to integrity. Importantly, job satisfaction mediates the relationships between both ethical leadership and integrity and between the code of ethics and integrity.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that public sector organizations should enhance ethical leadership practices and implement strong codes of ethics to foster employee integrity. Moreover, boosting job satisfaction can further strengthen the positive effects of leadership and ethics on integrity.

Originality/value

This study adds to the limited research on the mediating role of job satisfaction in the ethical leadership-integrity and code of ethics-integrity relationships, particularly in the public sector context of a developing country like Uganda.
Thermal-fluid coupling analysis of aviation wet friction clutch with wavy separation spring
Authors: Wei Yanan , Bao Heyun , Li Qingyang , Huang Zezong
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Thermal failure and incomplete separation often occur in aviation wet friction clutches. The purpose of this study is to improve the performance and reliability of the clutch, considering the influence of lubricating oil, in this paper, the finite element method is used to simulate the friction pair of clutch with separation spring.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the influence of lubricating oil, based on computational fluid dynamics principle and applying multiple reference frame method, simulation is carried out in FLUENT software to study the distribution of flow field and temperature field of clutch friction pair and separation spring under the condition of maximum relative speed of 3000 r/min.

Findings

The middle friction pair has more oil distribution, while the two sides have less oil distribution, and the highest oil volume exceeds that of the lowest by a factor of 3.49. Under the influence of lubricating oil distribution and component heat conduction, the temperature of the separation spring on both sides is higher than that of the separation spring in the middle. The axial temperature distribution law of the friction pair is the same as that of the separation spring, and the difference of the highest temperature between the friction pair is 136.41°C.

Social implications

The heat generation of the clutch is studied to improve the performance of the clutch and ensure the safety of the helicopter.

Originality/value

By analyzing the temperature and flow field of a wet friction clutch with a separation spring, engineers can help provide the service life and reliability of the clutch friction pair.
Artificial intelligence affordances for urban mobility
Authors: Li Mingye , Molla Alemayehu , Duan Sophia Xiaoxia
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been touted as one of the viable solutions to address urban mobility issues. Despite a growing body of research on AI across various sectors, its use in the mobility sector remains underexplored. This study addresses this limitation by investigating AI applications and identifying the AI material properties and use cases that offer mobility-specific affordances.

Design/methodology/approach

Although AI applications in mobility are growing, academic research on the subject has yet to catch up. Therefore, we follow a systematic review and analysis of practitioner literature. We conducted a comprehensive search for relevant documents through Advanced Google and OECD databases and identified 173 sources. We selected 40 sources published between 2015 and 2022 and analysed the corpus of evidence through abductive qualitative analysis technique.

Findings

The analysis reveals that mobility organisations are implementing various AI technologies and systems such as cameras, sensors, IoT, computer vision, natural language processing, robotic process automation, machine learning, deep learning and neural networks. These technologies offer material properties for sensing mobility objects and events, comprehending mobility data, automating mobility activities and learning from mobility data. By exploiting these material properties, mobility organisations are integrating urban mobility management, personalising and automating urban mobility, enabling the smartification of infrastructure and asset management, developing better urban transport planning and management, and enabling automatic driving.

Originality/value

The study contributes a mid-range theory of the affordances of AI for mobility (AI4M) at the infrastructure, operation and service levels. This contribution extends the existing understanding of AI and offers an interconnected perspective of AI affordances for further research. For practitioners, the study provides insights on how to explore AI in alignment with organisational goals to collectively transform urban mobility to be affordable, efficient and sustainable.
Moderating effect of math anxiety and the mediating role of student self-efficacy on the nexus between cognitive awareness and student math performance
Authors: Asare Bright , Arthur Yarhands Dissou , Al-hassan Abdul-Mumin
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of math anxiety and the mediating role of self-efficacy on the nexus between cognitive awareness and student math performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study adopted a descriptive-correlational design utilizing a structured questionnaire. The study data was obtained from undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor of science in mathematics Education with a total of 2,672 students and a sample size of 348 students using purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques and analyzed using structure equation modeling (SEM) run from Amos Graphics (ver. 23).

Findings

This study’s findings revealed that cognitive awareness and student self-efficacy had positively influenced math performance. Moreover, cognitive awareness had a positive direct and statistically significant effect on self-efficacy. Moreover, students’ self-efficacy partially mediates the nexus between cognitive awareness and math performance. Finally, math anxiety positively moderates the nexus between cognitive awareness and math performance.

Practical implications

Based on this study’s findings, teachers should encourage students to keep math journals where they record their thoughts, strategies and reflections on problem-solving approaches to enhance their awareness of their cognitive processes. Moreover, self-efficacy should be strengthened through mastery experiences, positive feedback and promoting a growth mindset. Ultimately, boosting self-efficacy will lead to better math performance, creating a positive cycle of confidence and achievement.

Originality/value

There is a shortage of empirical studies that examine how math anxiety moderates and self-efficacy mediates the nexus between cognitive awareness and student math performance. Moreover, the concept of this paper can provide a new look into the interplay between cognitive awareness, math anxiety, self-efficacy and math performance.
Adopt or not? The determinants of health information adoption in online question-and-answer communities
Authors: Wu Qingxiao , Yang Xuejie , Su Kaixiang , Khakimova Aida , Gu Dongxiao , Zolotarev Oleg
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The landscape of health information acquisition has shifted from offline to online, and online question-and-answer (Q&A) communities have emerged as prominent sources of health information; however, it is unclear how users identify satisfactory health information. This paper identifies factors that influence users’ adoption of health information in the context of online Q&A communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and opinion leader theory, we construct a research model to examine how information quality (complexity, image structure and emotional change) and source credibility (authentication status, follower number) affect health information adoption behavior. We verify the hypotheses by Poisson regression and zero-inflation Poisson regression using the data collected from an online Q&A community.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that both information quality and source credibility positively affect users’ adoption of health information.

Originality/value

This research can assist designers and managers of online Q&A communities to better comprehend users’ health information needs and their preferences for adoption. This enhanced understanding can facilitate the provision of superior online health information.
Individual asynchrony promotes population‐level tree growth stability
Authors: Li Jingye , He Fangliang
Published: February 2025

Community‐level stability is widely considered to increase with species richness and asynchrony. However, it is not well understood to what extent population‐level stability may be regulated by population size and within‐population asynchrony among individuals.

Using a large set of global tree‐ring data, we quantified the effects of population size and within‐population tree growth asynchrony on the temporal stability of population‐level tree growth rate. We also examined the relationship between the global distributions of within‐population tree growth asynchrony and population‐level tree growth stability.

The results showed that population‐level tree growth stability asymptotically increased with population size and quickly levelled off at an average population size of 26. After population size was controlled, population‐level tree growth stability increased with within‐population tree growth asynchrony (R2 = 0.54). Globally, population‐level tree growth stability was 52% higher than individual‐level tree growth stability on average. This percentage varied considerably across climate zones and was highest in the Tropical zone (84%) due to its highest within‐population asynchrony, while lowest in the Dry zone (34%) due to its lowest asynchrony.

Synthesis. Our results indicate that individual asynchrony plays a primary role in stabilizing population‐level tree growth rate, followed by population size. This finding highlights the importance of individual‐level differences in alleviating environmental stresses on forest growth.
Multiple Chaperone DnaK–FliC Flagellin Interactions are Required for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Flagellum Assembly and Indicate a New Function for DnaK
Authors: Molinari Gabriella , Ribeiro Sara S. , Müller Katrin , Mayer Benjamin E. , Rohde Manfred , Arce‐Rodriguez Alejandro , Vargas‐Guerrero Juan José , Avetisyan Albert , Wissing Josef , Tegge Werner , Jänsch Lothar , Brönstrup Mark , Danchin Antoine , Jahn Martina , Timmis Kenneth N. , Ebbinghaus Simon , Jahn Dieter , Borrero‐de Acuña José Manuel
Published: February 2025

The DnaK (Hsp70) protein is an essential ATP‐dependent chaperone foldase and holdase found in most organisms. In this study, combining multiple experimental approaches we determined FliC as major interaction partner of DnaK in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Implementing immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy techniques DnaK was found extracellularly associated to the assembled filament in a regular pattern. dnaK repression led to intracellular FliC accumulation and motility impairment, highlighting DnaK essentiality for FliC export and flagellum assembly. SPOT–membrane peptide arrays coupled with artificial intelligence analyses suggested a highly dynamic DnaK–FliC interaction landscape involving multiple domains and transient complexes formation. Remarkably, in vitro fast relaxation imaging (FReI) experiments mimicking ATP‐deprived extracellular environment conditions exhibited DnaK ATP‐independent holdase activity, regardless of its co‐chaperone DnaJ and its nucleotide exchange factor GrpE. We present a model for the DnaK‐FliC interactions involving dynamic states throughout the flagellum assembly stages. These results expand the classical view of DnaK chaperone functioning and introduce a new participant in the Pseudomonas flagellar system, an important trait for bacterial colonisation and virulence.
detectEVE: Fast, Sensitive and Precise Detection of Endogenous Viral Elements in Genomic Data
Authors: Brait Nadja , Hackl Thomas , Lequime Sebastian
Published: February 2025

Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are fragments of viral genomic material embedded within the host genome. Retroviruses contribute to the majority of EVEs because of their genomic integration during their life cycle; however, the latter can also arise from non‐retroviral RNA or DNA viruses, then collectively known as non‐retroviral (nr) EVEs. Detecting nrEVEs poses challenges because of their sequence and genomic structural diversity, contributing to the scarcity of specific tools designed for nrEVEs detection. Here, we introduce detectEVE, a user‐friendly and open‐source tool designed for the accurate identification of nrEVEs in genomic assemblies. detectEVE deviates from other nrEVE detection pipelines, which usually classify sequences in a more rigid manner as either virus‐associated or not. Instead, we implemented a scaling system assigning confidence scores to hits in protein sequence similarity searches, using bit score distributions and search hints related to various viral characteristics, allowing for higher sensitivity and specificity. Our benchmarking shows that detectEVE is computationally efficient and accurate, as well as considerably faster than existing approaches, because of its resource‐efficient parallel execution. Our tool can help to fill current gaps in both host‐associated fields and virus‐related studies. This includes (i) enhancing genome annotations with metadata for EVE loci, (ii) conducting large‐scale paleo‐virological studies to explore deep viral evolutionary histories, and (iii) aiding in the identification of actively expressed EVEs in transcriptomic data, reducing the risk of misinterpretations between exogenous viruses and EVEs.
On the Design of Islamic Blended Microfinancing for Refugee Entrepreneurship: An Institutional Logic Perspective
Authors: Jatmiko Wahyu , Azizon A. , Sukmana Raditya
Published: February 2025

Uncovering apt policy for refugee self‐reliance is intricate. Refugee entrepreneurship is often hailed as the way forward for such an objective as it deciphers ‘Canvas Ceiling’. However, the lack of financing for unfeasible and unbankable refugee entrepreneurs prevents this from materialising. This article proposes Islamic blended microfinance for refugee entrepreneurship, integrating state support, the private sector, the philanthropic funds, and Islamic values. Our model differs as it is developed through the lens of the competing logic discussed in the institutional theory. Understanding competing institutional logic is crucial as blended finance involves various agents with distinct moral preferences that are often overlooked by policymakers. We test our model in the spatial context of Indonesia, the home of microfinance and blended Islamic finance. The findings outline that the logics of the three agents and religion (Islam) can converge in contextuality and temporality dimensions. A key to attaining this equilibrium is to meticulously design the payoff between the private sector with market logic and the philanthropic institutions with universal community logic, making them contingent on the state of the economy.
Astrocytic Hevin/SPARCL‐1 Regulates Cognitive Decline in Pathological and Normal Brain Aging
Authors: Cabral‐Miranda Felipe , Araujo Ana Paula Bergamo , Medinas Danilo Bilches , Gomes Flávia Carvalho Alcantara
Published: February 2025

Dementia, characterized by loss of cognitive abilities in the elderly, poses a significant global health challenge. This study explores the role of astrocytes, one of most representative glial cells in the brain, in mitigating cognitive decline. Specifically, we investigated the impact of Hevin (also known as SPARC‐like1/SPARCL‐1), a secreted glycoprotein, on cognitive decline in both normal and pathological brain aging. By using adeno‐associated viruses, we overexpressed Hevin in hippocampal astrocytes of middle‐aged APP/PSEN mice, an established Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Results demonstrated that Hevin overexpression attenuates cognitive decline, as evidenced by cognitive tests, increased pre‐ and postsynaptic markers colocalization, and altered expression of synaptic mediators, as revealed by proteomic profiling. Importantly, Hevin overexpression did not influence the deposition of Aβ plaques in the hippocampus, a hallmark of AD pathology. Furthermore, the study extended its findings to middle‐aged wild‐type animals, revealing improved cognitive performance following astrocytic Hevin overexpression. In conclusion, our results propose astrocytic Hevin as a potential therapeutic target for age‐associated cognitive decline.
Reduction of DNA Topoisomerase Top2 Reprograms the Epigenetic Landscape and Extends Health and Life Span Across Species
Authors: Zhu Man , Ma Meng , Luo Lunan , Li Feiyang , Zheng Jiashun , Pan Yan , Yang Lu , Xiao Ying , Wang Ziyan , Xian Bo , Zheng Yi , Li Hao , Yang Jing
Published: February 2025

DNA topoisomerases are essential molecular machines that manage DNA topology in the cell and play important roles in DNA replication and transcription. We found that knocking down the enzyme topoisomerase Top2 or its mammalian homolog TOP2B increases the lifespan of S. cerevisiae, C. elegans, and mice. TOP2B reduction also extends the health span of mice and alleviates the pathologies of aging in multiple tissues. At the cellular/molecular level, TOP2B reduction alleviates the major hallmarks of aging, including senescence, DNA damage, and deregulated nutrient sensing. We observed that TOP2B reduction changes the epigenetic landscape of various tissues in old mice toward that of the young animals, and differentially downregulates genes with active promoter and high expression. Our observations suggest that Top2 reduction confers pro‐longevity effect across species possibly through a conserved mechanism and may be a promising strategy for longevity intervention.
Navigating Endodontic Care: Perspectives Among Dentists Managing Older Adults—A Qualitative Study
Authors: Hamadani Payman , Chandler Nicholas P. , Daniel Ben K. , Friedlander Lara T.
Published: February 2025

Using a qualitative approach, this study explored the perspectives and practices among New Zealand general dental practitioners (GDPs) providing endodontic care to older adults. Semi‐structured questions guided focus group discussions with 18 GDPs who had varied practice experience and characteristics. Transcribed data were analysed and using reflexivity, six primary themes emerged to provide context: philosophies towards managing older adults; confidence; pulpal diagnosis; treatment planning; informed consent; and referral to an endodontist. GDPs were philosophically positive towards older people with endodontic problems although pulp diagnosis could be difficult. Age‐related changes in the pulp‐dentine complex, medical conditions, mobility difficulties, and finances frequently complicated treatment decisions. Confidence, consent processes, and specialist referral were mostly managed on an individual basis. Ongoing professional development to update practice is essential for GDPs to holistically manage a growing and heterogeneous older population when they present with signs and symptoms of pulp and periapical disease.
Baicalein Inhibits Tumor Property of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Through the Inactivation of the E2F Transcription Factor 1/Mediator Complex Subunit 7 Axis
Authors: Song Pinghui , Shen Naiying , Wu Zhongkun , He Sha
Published: February 2025

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. Baicalein, a natural compound, can regulate multiple cellular processes in various cancer types. In this study, we investigated the role of baicalein in regulating HCC and explored its potential mechanism. The expression of mediator complex subunit 7 (MED7) and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) was analyzed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction or Western blotting assay. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell colony formation assay and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assay. Cell migration was analyzed by transwell assay and wound‐healing assay. Cell invasion was analyzed by transwell assay. Angiogenic ability of HCC cells was assessed by tube formation assay. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were performed to validate the association between E2F1 and MED7. The xenograft mouse model assay was conducted to determine the effects of baicalein and E2F1 overexpression on tumor formation. Immunohistochemistry assay was used to determine positive expression rates of proteins. Upregulation of MED7 and E2F1 expression was observed in both HCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of MED7 suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation. Transcriptional activation of MED7 by E2F1 was demonstrated in HCC cells. Overexpression of MED7 mitigated the effects induced by E2F1 depletion in HCC cells. Additionally, baicalein treatment effectively inhibited the tumor property of HCC cells by decreasing E2F1 expression in both in vitro and in vivo models. Baicalein inhibited the tumor property of HCC cells through the inactivation of the E2F1/MED7 axis, highlighting its potential clinical application in the treatment of HCC.
Moderate Day‐To‐Day Variation in First‐Morning Urine Total Luteinizing Hormone Levels Supports the Use of a Single Determination to Identify Imminent Puberty
Authors: Demir And , Hero Matti , Juul Anders , Main Katharina M.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

We aimed to study the daily variation in first‐morning urinary total luteinizing hormone (U‐LH) determination and validate it as a noninvasive method for analyzing age‐ and pubertal stage‐related changes in LH immunoreactivity (LH‐ir) levels to predict imminent onset of central puberty.

Methods

We determined three consecutive first‐morning total U‐LH along with spot serum LH and follicle‐stimulating hormone concentrations in 354 children (160 boys aged 2.8–17.8 yr and 194 girls aged 2.6–18.0 yr) with known pubertal stages. The samples were analyzed using an immunofluorometric assay (Delfia, PerkinElmer, Finland). The net day‐to‐day variation (net CV%) in U‐LH‐ir levels was calculated by subtracting the inter‐assay CV% of the assay reported by the manufacturer from the gross inter‐assay CV% calculated from three consecutive samples. U‐LH‐ir levels were classified as prepubertal (< 0.60 IU/L), highly likely pubertal (0.60–0.99 IU/L), and pubertal (≥ 1.00 IU/L).

Results

On average, the gross and net inter‐assay CV% values for different U‐LH concentrations measured on three consecutive mornings were 37.6% and 32.7%, respectively. Despite this level of day‐to‐day variation, only 3.6% of the test results for boys and 4.9% for girls were inconsistent in classifying total U‐LH‐ir levels as prepubertal, peripubertal, or pubertal. Our results showed that the activation of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐gonadal hormone axis, which signals the onset of puberty, occurs at a similar age in both boys and girls, confirming our earlier findings that the timing of this process is independent of sex. Further, our findings confirmed that the onset of pubertal gonadotropin secretion in boys occurs already at a testicular volume of 1 to 2 mL, well before clear clinical signs of puberty.

Conclusions

A single first‐morning total U‐LH measurement appears to be a valid clinical test for classifying children or adolescents into prepubertal, peripubertal, and pubertal groups. This study validates the recently reported finding that the timing of central puberty onset is sex‐independent. The duration between the initial activation of gonadotropin secretion and the first clinical signs of puberty was longer in boys than in girls.
Peri‐Implant Health and Perfusion Parameters in Patients After Microvascular Jaw Reconstruction: A Clinical Cohort Study
Authors: Katz Marie Sophie , Ooms Mark , Heitzer Marius , Bock Anna , Vohl Nils , Kniha Kristian , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate perfusion parameters and clinical features of healthy implants and implants affected by peri‐implant disease in patients who had undergone microvascular jaw reconstruction.

Methods

A total of 25 patients with 92 implants placed in microvascular transplants were included. Of these, 68 implants showed healthy peri‐implant tissue, 12 were affected by peri‐implant mucositis, and 12 were diagnosed with peri‐implantitis. Peri‐implant perfusion was measured mesially and distally at the implant shoulder using laser Doppler flowmetry and tissue spectrophotometry (LDF‐TS), followed by a clinical evaluation, including measurement of probing depths, bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index, biotype, type of implant, the restoration and the presence of keratinized tissue. Perfusion parameters were compared between the healthy implants and the implants with peri‐implant disease based on the conventional BOP–based diagnosis of peri‐implantitis, and the associations between the perfusion values and clinical measurements were analyzed. Optimal cut‐off values for predicting peri‐implantitis were calculated with receiver operating characteristics.

Results

The mean relative amount of hemoglobin and mean blood flow were significantly different between healthy implants and implants with peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, there are interindividual differences that appear to influence blood flow values as well. When a linear mixed regression model was applied, including the patient as a random variable, the difference in blood flow was no longer statistically significant (p = 0.400). Still, the optimal cut‐off value of mean blood flow for predicting peri‐implantitis was determined to be > 46.5 AU (AUC = 0.788; p < 0.001; CI = 0.695–0.881; sensitivity = 1.00, specificity = 0.60).

Conclusion

Implants in microvascular flaps are particularly vulnerable to peri‐implant disease. Risk factors are the lack of keratinized peri‐implant tissue, fixed restorations, bone‐level implants, and high plaque levels.

As a noninvasive and objective method, LDF‐TS can contribute to risk assessment by evaluating perfusion parameters and help detect the early onset of peri‐implant disease.
Evaluating the therapeutic quality of prehabilitation programmes in patients scheduled for colorectal surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Jetten Evy E. J. , Franssen Ruud F. W. , Voorn Melissa J. J. , Falz Roberto , Busse Martin , Bongers Bart C. , Janssen‐Heijnen Maryska L. G. , Hoogeboom Thomas J.
Published: February 2025

Aim

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether the therapeutic quality of exercise prehabilitation programmes is associated with their effectiveness to preoperatively improve aerobic fitness and reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in patients scheduled for colorectal surgery.

Method

Three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) were systematically searched (up to October 2023) for randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of prehabilitation before colorectal resection. Methodological quality and therapeutic quality were assessed using, respectively, the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and the i‐CONTENT tool. Studies were divided into four subgroups based on the estimated risk of bias and risk of ineffectiveness.

Results

Fourteen studies were included, comprising 986 patients. Meta‐analysis showed that, in general, prehabilitation improved preoperative aerobic fitness but did not improve postoperative outcomes. No differences were found between the four subgroups; however, only one study (7%) had a low risk of bias in combination with a low risk of ineffectiveness.

Conclusion

The fact that only one study had a low risk of bias in combination with a low risk of ineffectiveness precluded us from establishing an association between therapeutic quality and the effectiveness of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes. The quality of future prehabilitation research with exercise interventions should be improved by using an assessment tool during the design phase of prehabilitation programmes.