bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Photobiomodulation Treatment With the TINI Laser Device for Managing Chronic High‐Frequency Tinnitus: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Choi Ji Eun , Lee Min Young , Jung Jae Yun
Published: February 2025

Introduction

To evaluate the efficacy of the TINI laser device, a photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, for managing chronic high‐frequency tinnitus in patients with unilateral or bilateral tinnitus.

Methods

A randomised, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial was conducted with 38 participants. Subjects were divided into three groups: The TINI 1 group received eight active laser treatments over 4 weeks, the TINI 2 group received four active treatments followed by four sham treatments, and the control group received only sham treatments. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) and Tinnitus Magnitude Index (TMI) were used to assess tinnitus‐related outcomes. Psychological assessments were also conducted to measure levels of depression, stress and anxiety.

Results

Significant improvements were observed in the emotional subscale of the THI, and in the loudness and perception scores of the TMI in the TINI 1 group. The TINI 2 group showed significant reductions in TFI and TMI scores following active treatments, although these effects diminished after sham treatments. No placebo effects were observed except for TFI scores in the control group.

Conclusion

The study indicates that intermittent PBM therapy using the TINI laser may be effective in managing chronic tinnitus. Further research is necessary to explore long‐term efficacy and safety.

Trial Registration: cris.nih.go.kr identifier: PRE20240926‐004
Mismatch Between Global Importance of Peatlands and the Extent of Their Protection
Authors: Austin Kemen G. , Elsen Paul R , Coronado Euridice N. Honorio , DeGemmis Alfred , Gallego‐Sala Angela V. , Harris Lorna , Kretser Heidi E. , Melton Joe R. , Murdiyarso Daniel , Sasmito Sigit D. , Swails Erin , Wijaya Arief , Winton R. Scott , Zarin Dan
Published: February 2025

Global peatlands store more carbon than all the world's forests biomass on just 3% of the planet's land surface. Failure to address mounting threats to peatland ecosystems will jeopardize critical climate targets and exacerbate biodiversity loss. Our analysis reveals that 17% of peatlands are protected globally—substantially less than many other high‐value ecosystems. Just 11% percent of boreal and 27% of temperate and tropical peatlands are protected, while Indigenous peoples' lands encompass at least another one‐quarter of peatlands globally. Peatlands in protected areas and Indigenous peoples' lands generally face lower human pressure than outside those areas. Yet, almost half of temperate and tropical peatlands in protected areas still experience medium to high human pressure. Country submissions of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework could help catalyze actions and secure funding for peatland conservation, including support for the Indigenous stewardship that is critical to protect many of the world's highest priority peatland areas.
MCAM Expression Facilitates Melanoma–Endothelial Interactions and Promotes Metastatic Disease Progression
Authors: Braun Andreas Dominik , Mengoni Miriam , Tüting Thomas , Gaffal Evelyn
Published: February 2025

Invasive growth and metastatic dissemination represent the primary cause of death in cancer patients. In order to successfully detach from the primary tumour and establish metastases in distant tissues, cancer cells need to dynamically rewire their cell adhesion machinery. Here we revisit the potential association of MCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that was initially identified as a melanoma antigen, with disease progression. Using immunohistochemical stainings and bioinformatic analyses of published datasets, we find abundant MCAM expression both in primary and metastatic human melanomas. In additional bioinformatic analyses, we show that MCAM is highly expressed in foetal melanocytes and subsequently downregulated during melanocyte maturation. Bioinformatic inference of cellular communication networks reveals that melanoma cells with high MCAM expression more actively engage in signalling crosstalk with endothelial cells. Experimental investigations demonstrate that disruption of MCAM in melanoma cells inhibits their migration on endothelial cell surfaces in vitro and decreases their ability to develop spontaneous lung metastases in vivo. Taken together, our results could not confirm the notion that MCAM expression represents a useful biomarker for disease progression but provide evidence that MCAM expression might represent part of a reactivated embryonal transcriptional program that facilitates melanoma–endothelial cell interactions during metastatic progression.
Explorative Interaction with Materiality in Norwegian Primary School Makerspaces from the Perspective of Arts and Crafts Education
Authors: Søyland Lovise , Høibo Ingrid H. , Groth Camilla , Seitamaa‐Hakkarainen Pirita
Published: February 2025

Educational makerspaces have now been established in many Norwegian schools. Makerspace initiators promote active learning by using new and traditional materials, tools and technologies in creative activities. Arts and crafts (A&C) education shares many ideas with makerspaces, inviting pupils to explorative interaction through material engagement that promotes multiple ways of knowing. In this study, we examined primary school pupils’ explorative interaction with materiality in Norwegian educational makerspaces from an A&C education perspective. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with teachers in seven schools, asking about their practices. We also observed teachers and pupils engaging in makerspace activities in four of these schools. Our interviews revealed that science teachers have completed the crucial groundwork of initiating the building of makerspaces in Norwegian schools. We found that the teachers were highly motivated to use new materials, adding new dimensions of making for the pupils, but the materials and technologies could be utilised more constructively and exploratively and in more open‐ended processes. Science and A&C teachers could benefit from closer collaboration, developing and implementing co‐creative and explorative aspects of traditional and new materials, tools and technologies in makerspace activities. We argue that including A&C could bring new creative potential into makerspace activities, allowing pupils to craft with materials through artistic, sensorial and explorative dimensions of materiality more extensively than they currently do.
English‐Only Policies and Allegations of Racism in Nursing: Safety, Culture and Respect Prevail
Authors: Brownie Sharon , Chalmers Linda
Published: February 2025

Aims

To provide a critical analysis of the allegation that introduction of workplace English‐Only policies for nurses may be racist. To provide guidance to inform policy development in this field.

Methods

The intertwined complexities informing English‐Only policy development are explored inclusive of the complicated relationship between patient safety, human rights, cultural context, ethics and the social norms which guide manners and respect.

Results

Communication failures are confirmed as a major cause of patient harm incidences with adverse events extensively exacerbated in the absence of shared language between nurses, patients, families and the broader healthcare team. The combined global movement of nurses and increasing diversity within clinical teams points to heightened risk of communication failure.

Conclusion

Unequivocally, patient safety (inclusive of cultural safety) confirms the necessity for policies related to shared language in health. Safety‐orientated English‐Only policies are neither racist nor a breach of human rights. Whether it be in the skies, on the sea, or in a healthcare context, shared language policies and standards (most commonly English‐Only policies) are needed to protect human safety and avoid harm.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The demographic profile of most western and many developing nations has changed significantly over the last two decades adding new complexity in healthcare contexts. Need exists for shared language policy in nursing with priority to safety, human rights, respect, ethical recruitment and to the social and cultural dimensions of the workforce.
Climate change and nest predation affect shifts in timing and duration of breeding as well as reproductive success in a migratory species
Authors: Pöysä Hannu
Published: February 2025

While it is well known that the overall timing of avian breeding in northern latitudes has generally advanced due to climate change, it is still unclear how climate warming has affected the beginning, end, and duration of the breeding period and reproductive success of birds. This is because changes in the phenological breeding metrics have often been studied using ringing data that are based on successful nests only and impacts of local factors such as nest predation have not been analysed simultaneously. This study used both successful and failed nesting attempts to estimate the annual timing and duration of breeding in common goldeneyes Bucephala clangula. There was strong evidence that the beginning of breeding has advanced during 1995‒2022 but only weak evidence that the end of breeding has advanced. Consequently, the duration of the breeding period lengthened, although statistical evidence for the trend was only weak. The relative importance of climate change and nest predation in affecting the timing and duration of breeding as well as breeding success was also studied. Among‐year variation in the beginning of breeding was mainly governed by the timing of ice breakup, an indicator of climate change, whereas nest predation rate in the previous year was the main driver of the end of breeding, the duration of breeding being affected by both the timing of ice breakup and nest predation rate. Annual nest‐stage success was best explained by nest predation rate. However, final reproductive success (proportion of nest‐left ducklings that survived until independence) decreased with advancing timing of ice breakup, suggesting that climate change has negatively affected the production of independent offspring in the study population. The findings of this study underline the importance of also considering local ecological factors when analysing climate change impacts on phenological breeding metrics and breeding success of birds.
Hypoxia‐Induced Metabolic and Functional Changes in Oral CSCs: Implications for Stemness and Viability Modulation Through BNIP3‐Driven Mitophagy
Authors: Li Xin , Chaouhan Hitesh Singh , Yu Shao‐Hua , Wang I‐Kuan , Yu Tung‐Min , Chuang Ya‐Wen , Chen Kuen‐Bao , Lin Feng‐Yen , Chen Michael Yuan‐Chien , Hsu Che‐Hao , Sun Kuo‐Ting , Li Chi‐Yuan
Published: February 2025

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), like several solid tumours, contain heterogeneous subpopulations of a small subset of cancer cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), that are highly relevant to cancer metastasis and invasive properties. CSCs have also shown a high capacity to survive against various stressful environments, such as hypoxia. However, the molecular underpinnings behind the high potential of CSCs to survive under this stress remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the significance of autophagy systems in oral CSC maintenance and survival under stress conditions. Human OSCC cell lines OECM‐1 and OECM‐1 CSCs were cultured in different hypoxic time periods for proliferation and cytotoxicity analyses. The stemness property of CSCs is evaluated by sphere formation, transwell and wound healing assays protein expression of stemness, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition markers. Mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial ROS generation, mitochondria dynamics, mitophagy, and mitochondrial metabolism (glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation [OXPHOS]) were examined by western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and XF‐seahorse assays, respectively. Under hypoxia, oral CSCs showed a higher proliferation rate with increased invasion/migration/EMT properties than OECM‐1 cells. Further, hypoxia‐induced BNIP3‐driven mitophagy was activated in OECM‐1 CSCs than in OECM‐1 cells, which also triggered a metabolic shift towards OXPHOS, and BNIP3/‐L silencing by siRNA significantly attenuated OECM‐1 CSCs stemness features. TCGA data analyses also revealed a higher BNIP3 expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma patients' tumour samples associated with lower patient survival. Collectively, our results revealed a BNIP3/‐L‐driven autophagy contributes to the OECM‐1 CSCs stemness features under hypoxia, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy involving BNIP3 and autophagy inhibition in oral CSCs.
Inter‐ and Intraindividual Relations Between Agentic, Communal Self‐Enhancement and Hedonic, Eudaimonic Well‐Being: Feedback and Mediation Mechanisms
Authors: Li Jiangyong , Qi Huaiyuan , Huang Huiqing , Wang Junyi , Chen Xuhai , Luo Yangmei
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Researchers seldom consider the interplay between self‐enhancement (SE) and well‐being at both inter‐ and intraindividual levels. Previous studies have primarily focused on agentic SE and hedonic well‐being, often neglecting communal SE and eudaimonic well‐being. This study aims to address these gaps by examining the reciprocal relationship between both agentic and communal SE and both hedonic and eudaimonic well‐being. Self‐esteem is identified as a potential mediator in these relationships at both inter‐ and intraindividual levels.

Method

Using experience sampling, 172 participants (Mage = 24.25, 75% female) responded to smartphone prompts four times daily for 10 days, yielding 5925 observations. Data were analyzed with Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling.

Results

At the intraindividual level, stronger SE predicted increased hedonic and eudaimonic well‐being within a short period (about 4 h). This enhanced well‐being, in turn, was related to stronger SE, creating a positive feedback loop. At the interindividual level, higher agentic and communal SE correlated with greater well‐being. Self‐esteem mediated the reciprocal associations between SE and well‐being at both levels.

Conclusion

These findings offer new insights into the dynamics of SE and well‐being, supporting the positive link between SE and well‐being in everyday life, emphasizing the mediating role of self‐esteem across different analysis levels.
Portable IoT device for tire text code identification via integrated computer vision system
Authors: Zhang Haowei , Gao Kang , Hou Yue , Domaneschi Marco , Noori Mohammad
Published: February 2025

The identification of tire text codes (TTC) during the production and operational phases of tires can significantly improve safety and maintenance practices. Current methods for TTC identification face challenges related to stability, computational efficiency, and outdoor applicability. This paper introduces an automated TTC identification system founded on a robust framework that is both user‐friendly and easy to implement, thereby enhancing the practical use and industrial applicability of TTC identification technologies. Initially, instance segmentation is creatively utilized for detecting TTC regions on the tire sidewall through You Only Look Once (YOLO)‐v8‐based models, which are trained on a dataset comprising 430 real‐world tire images. Subsequently, a computationally efficient rotation algorithm, along with specific image pre‐processing techniques, is developed to tackle common issues associated with centripetal rotation in the TTC region and to improve the accuracy of TTC region detection. Furthermore, a series of YOLO‐v8 object detection models were assessed using an independently collected dataset of 1127 images to optimize the recognition of TTC characters. Ultimately, a portable Internet of Things (IoT) vision device is created, featuring a comprehensive workflow to support the proposed TTC identification framework. The TTC region detection model achieves a segmentation precision of 0.8812, while the TTC recognition model reaches a precision of 0.9710, based on the datasets presented in this paper. Field tests demonstrate the system's advancements, reliability, and potential industrial significance for practical applications. The IoT device is shown to be portable, cost‐effective, and capable of processing each tire in 200 ms.
Care Workers' Mobilization During Public Services Reform: Opportunities and Institutionalized Gender Relations
Authors: Dussault Joëlle
Published: February 2025

This article presents an analysis of the structuring effect of public policy and gender relations on the activism of care professionals working in progressively privatized public services. More specifically, it looks at how care professionals responded to the 2015 health and social services sector reform in Quebec, Canada. It argues that workers in caring professions, such as nursing and social work, had a limited capacity to take advantage of the political opportunities created by the reform because of the prevailing gradual privatization and gender relations structuring this sector. By considering gender relations as an antecedent factor that cuts across organizational and institutional dimensions and, thereby, contributes to shaping political opportunities, this paper stresses the relevance and importance of relations of domination to understand how people organize and attempt to act individually and collectively within institutional spaces.
Canadian Democracy at Risk? A Wakeup Call From the Perspective of English‐Speaking Citizens
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Gaspard Valere
Published: February 2025

At first glance, Canada is a resilient democracy. It has so far resisted international trends of democratic decline, it has not had any major populist upheavals aside from the Freedom Convoy in 2022, and no extremist parties are in parliament. However, if we look at public opinion data, we find widespread democratic disillusionment. An online representative survey of English‐speaking Canadians shows that more than 30% of the respondents indicate that they have no trust in democracy, more than 40% claim that the government controls what they can say, nearly 50% do not feel represented by government, and two thirds of the sample feel some sort of moral decay. These numbers illustrate a concerning gap between the preoccupations of large parts of English‐speaking Canadians and the institutions of representative democracy—especially since disillusionment can weaken democratic safeguards and increase the likeliness of a surge of populist politicians.

Related Articles

Béland, D., G. P. Marchildon, A. Medrano, and P. Rocco. (2024). “Policy Feedback, Varieties of Federalism, and the Politics of Health‐Care Funding in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.” Politics & Policy 52, no. (1): 51–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12575.

Denis, C. (2007). “Canadians in Trouble Abroad: Citizenship, Personal Security, and North American Regionalization.” Politics & Policy 35, no. (4): 648–663. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2007.00078.x.

Stockemer, D., and S. Parent. (2014). “The Inequality Turnout Nexus: New Evidence from Presidential Elections.” Politics & Policy 42, no. (2): 221–245. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12067.
Design of a Vacuum Dryer Based on Experimental Data From Atmospheric Drying
Authors: Sabatini Michel , Havlik Jan , Dlouhy Tomas
Published: February 2025

This article investigates the influence of operating pressure on heat transfer in indirect dryers, focusing on the possibility of using data gathered from atmospheric experiments for the design and operation of a vacuum dryer, thereby simplifying the design process. The penetration model describing indirect drying was used to determine the drying rate for both atmospheric and vacuum conditions. A relation between operating pressure and the overall heat transfer coefficient for indirect dryers was found and described by an equation in the form of a power function. The proposed solution was experimentally verified on an experimental horizontal paddle dryer where a series of experiments were carried out with porous cereal feed pellets with an initial moisture content ranging from 22.6%db to 35.3%db for both the atmospheric and vacuum drying. In this way, it is possible to predict the value of the overall heat transfer coefficient, drying rate, and drying curve for vacuum drying according to the results of experiments performed at atmospheric pressure. The number and complexity of experimental verification tests required for the design of a new dryer can thus be significantly reduced. The proposed equation can also be used for optimization of the drying process of an existing dryer, which can reduce drying time and save energy.
Revisiting Dimensionless Parameters Quantifying Film Cooling
Authors: Lee Chien-Shing , Shih Tom I-P. , Straub Douglas , Weber Justin
Published: February 2025

The adiabatic effectiveness of film cooling (η) has been characterized by the density (DRh) and blowing (BRh) ratios. In this study, dimensional analysis and computations based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) were performed to identify and examine parameters needed to quantify η, where film cooling is crossflow-fed instead of plenum-fed. The test problem studied is film cooling of a flat plate, where the cooling air, issuing through 30-deg inclined circular holes, is fed from a cooling channel whose flow direction is perpendicular to the direction of the hot-gas flow. For this test problem, dimensional analysis shows an additional blowing ratio is needed, denoted as BRc, to quantify η, where BRc is the ratio of the mass flux through the film-cooling hole to the mass flux in the cooling channel upstream of the film-cooling hole. RANS results with and without conjugate heat transfer obtained by varying the mass flowrate in the cooling channel, while keeping DRh and BRh constant (DRh = 1.9 and BRh was either 0.75 or 1.0), show reducing mass flowrate in the cooling channel by one-half, which doubles BRc (from 2.6 to 5.2) to slightly affect the discharge coefficient through the film-cooling holes (<5%) but up to 85% on laterally averaged η and up to 25% on overall cooling effectiveness. RANS results also show the flow mechanisms induced by BRc that affect η. The RANS results of this study were validated by comparing with experimental data.
THE EFFECTS OF CASING PROFILE ON THE AERODYNAMICS OF INTEGRATED INTERMEDIATE TURBINE DUCTS
Authors: Hou Jiangdong , Duan Xiaozhi , Kang Ziyu , Yu Yi , Zhou Chao
Published: February 2025

To reduce the engine's length and weight, the concept of integrated intermediate turbine duct (IITD) is proposed, in which the first row of the low-pressure turbine vanes are replaced by the turning struts in ITD. The effects of the casing profile on the flow features and loss mechanism in the IITD are investigated by experimental, numerical and theoretical methods. In the baseline case, the casing passage vortex at the exit of the IITD is featured with two branches, which is caused by the entrainment effect of the suction side leg of horseshoe vortex near casing. By making the casing profile upstream of the leading edge more downward convex, the thickness of the casing boundary layer can be reduced, and the horseshoe vortex is weakened. The structure of the exit casing secondary flow is thus more integral. In the IITD with higher mean rise angle, the entrainment effect has the ability to reduce the low-momentum fluid and suppress the separation on the suction surface. A method of controlling the casing secondary flow is proposed accordingly. To analyze the loss mechanism, the loss is broken down into the parts generated by mean vortex and turbulence theoretically. The casing boundary layer acceleration can lead to larger velocity gradient and loss caused by mean vortex. While the turbulent dissipation will be reduced on the other hand. Large turbulent dissipation can also be generated when the mixing between the casing secondary flow and wake is enhanced.
Enhancing chemical vapor deposition growth and fabrication techniques to maximize hole conduction in tungsten diselenide for monolithic CMOS integration
Authors: Singh Jatin Vikram , Disiena Matthew N. , Nibhanupudi S. S. Teja , Watanabe Nicholas T. , Ahn JaeHyun , Kim Dong-Won , Roy Anupam , Banerjee Sanjay K.
Published: February 2025

Tungsten diselenide, WSe2, is attractive as a channel material for p-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistors (PMOSFETs) using transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanosheets for ultimate CMOS scaling. For practical applications, it is necessary to demonstrate good quality devices on as-grown, large-area chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown TMD films, rather than on small, exfoliated flakes from bulk crystals, and without requiring transfers to secondary substrates. This article reports on the growth optimization of large-area WSe2 and efforts to achieve higher hole conduction, which is more challenging than electron conduction since most TMDs tend to be n-type due to defects. Achieving low contact resistance and high drive currents is vital, but the intrinsic defects within the grown material dominate the carrier mobilities and effectively make TMDs more n-type due to chalcogen vacancies in devices fabricated at high temperatures. We have, therefore, developed salt-assisted growth strategies at different growth temperatures using atmospheric pressure CVD (APCVD). Furthermore, we identified optimal APCVD growth and PMOSFET fabrication recipes to achieve high hole conduction. With growth and fabrication optimization, we can achieve drive currents of 10 μA/μm in back-gated PMOSFETs at Vd = −2 V in as-grown WSe2, akin to their exfoliation-based counterparts. We also have seen evidence of both hole and electron ambipolar conduction even with high work function source/drain contact metals, signifying that contact engineering will be vital to suppress the electron branch and improve hole conduction.
Immediate Effects of Overnight Long-Haul Travel on Physical and Cognitive Performance and Sleep in Professional Male Rugby Union Players (a 2-Part Study)
Authors: Uchiyama Kanon , Peeling Peter , Halson Shona L. , Reid Machar , Wallman Karen , Walsh Jennifer , Russell Suzanna , Thomas Simon , Girard Olivier
Published: February 2025

Background: Travel can disrupt sleep and reduce perceived recovery in athletes. While the impact of travel on physical performance has been studied, its effect on cognitive performance remains unexplored. Purpose: This study investigated the consequences of overnight long-haul travel on physical (part I) and cognitive performance (part II) in professional rugby players traveling overseas for competition. Methods: In part I (n = 24), vertical-jump performance was assessed across 5 mornings surrounding travel (HOME, TRAVEL, and AWAY 1, 2, and 3). In part II (n = 24), mental fatigue and psychomotor vigilance (defined as the ability to respond to stimuli effectively) were assessed across 3 days (HOME, TRAVEL, and AWAY 1). Sleep was monitored on all nights preceding performance assessment using activity monitoring. Results: Compared with HOME, TRAVEL reduced sleep quantity (part I. −219 [112] min; part II, −334 [233] min; both P < .001) and elevated in-flight mental fatigue (part II, +12 [18]; P < .05). Psychomotor vigilance was impaired during TRAVEL (+8% [6%] in valid response latencies ≤500 milliseconds; P < .001), and reactive jump strength was reduced at AWAY 1 (−7% [10%] in drop jump; P < .001). While psychomotor vigilance was restored by AWAY 1 (after hotel sleep), reactive jump strength remained diminished until AWAY 3 (−12% [9%] in drop jump compared with HOME; P < .001) after travel. Conclusion: For teams traveling on long-haul journeys overnight for competition, it is recommended to arrive more than 3 days before matches to enable sufficient physical and cognitive recovery at the new destination to optimize performance away from home.
“It Is Our Space”: The Formation of Diasporic Families’ Community Cultural Wealth Through Ethnic Sport Participation
Authors: Shin NaRi , Park Doo Jae , Yu Wenyuan
Published: February 2025

In this study, we aimed to understand the formation of cultural assets within diasporic families through participation in ethnic sport. Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework guided the study. An interpretive qualitative approach was employed to examine Korean diasporic families in the United States whose children are involved in Taekwondo, a Korean ethnic sport. Data were collected through interviews and observations. Our analysis revealed the development of four forms of Community Cultural Wealth: linguistic, familial, navigational, and resistant capitals, along with the newly identified transnational capital. These forms were developed and nurtured through learning ethnic language, cultural practices and heritages, bonding with families, building cultural ownership, and developing self-confidence and self-protection skills. We propose advancing the use of the Community Cultural Wealth framework in sport management and offer implications for optimizing the use of ethnic sport to create more inclusive and diverse spaces for diasporic communities’ sport participation.
Evaluation of the Application of BOth Sides Up Ball Training Combined With Resistance Training in Joint Stability Improvement Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Teenage Athletes
Authors: Cao Xiaodong , Liu Junlian , Zhao Jinwei , Feng Shuolei , Zhao Zijian
Published: February 2025

Adolescent athletes participating in sports involving sudden directional changes, pivoting, and jumping frequently sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is often required, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combining BOth Sides Up (BOSU) ball exercises with conventional resistance training in the recovery of joint stability and function after ACLR in adolescent athletes. Thirty adolescent athletes (ages 14–18) who underwent ACLR were randomly allocated to either the control group receiving traditional postoperative rehabilitation (n = 15) or the intervention group combining BOSU ball training with resistance exercises (n = 15). Joint stability, proprioception, strength, and functional outcomes were assessed before the procedure, as well as 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation using the KT-1000 arthrometer, Y-balance test, isokinetic dynamometry, and the ACL-Return to Sport after Injury ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale. The intervention group demonstrated notably better anterior-posterior knee joint stability (P < .05) than the control group at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups after the surgery, greater reach distances in the Star Excursion Balance Test (P < .05), higher quadriceps and hamstring strength ratios (P < .05), and superior ACL-RSI scores (P < .01). Incorporating BOSU ball training with resistance exercises appears to be more effective than traditional rehabilitation alone in enhancing joint stability and neuromuscular control after ACLR in adolescent athletes. These results provide evidence supporting the incorporation of unstable surfaces into a comprehensive rehabilitation program to optimize recovery and safe return to sports.
KLF2 maintains lineage fidelity and suppresses CD8 T cell exhaustion during acute LCMV infection
Authors: Fagerberg Eric , Attanasio John , Dien Christine , Singh Jaiveer , Kessler Emily A. , Abdullah Leena , Shen Jian , Hunt Brian G. , Connolly Kelli A. , De Brouwer Edward , He Jiaming , Iyer Nivedita R. , Buck Jessica , Borr Emily R. , Damo Martina , Foster Gena G. , Giles Josephine R. , Huang Yina H. , Tsang John S. , Krishnaswamy Smita , Cui Weiguo , Joshi Nikhil S.
Published: February 2025

Naïve CD8 T cells have the potential to differentiate into a spectrum of functional states during an immune response. How these developmental decisions are made and what mechanisms exist to suppress differentiation toward alternative fates remains unclear. We employed in vivo CRISPR-Cas9–based perturbation sequencing to assess the role of ~40 transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic modulators in T cell fate decisions. Unexpectedly, we found that knockout of the TF
Klf2
resulted in aberrant differentiation to exhausted-like CD8 T cells during acute infection. KLF2 was required to suppress the exhaustion-promoting TF TOX and to enable the TF TBET to drive effector differentiation. KLF2 was also necessary to maintain a polyfunctional tumor-specific progenitor state. Thus, KLF2 provides effector CD8 T cell lineage fidelity and suppresses the exhaustion program.
Ultrastable supported oxygen evolution electrocatalyst formed by ripening-induced embedding
Authors: Shi Wenjuan , Shen Tonghao , Xing Chengkun , Sun Kai , Yan Qisheng , Niu Wenzhe , Yang Xiao , Li Jingjing , Wei Chenyang , Wang Ruijie , Fu Shuqing , Yang Yong , Xue Liangyao , Chen Junfeng , Cui Shiwen , Hu Xiaoyue , Xie Ke , Xu Xin , Duan Sai , Xu Yifei , Zhang Bo
Published: February 2025

The future deployment of terawatt-scale proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) technology necessitates development of an efficient oxygen evolution catalyst with low cost and long lifetime. Currently, the stability of the most active iridium (Ir) catalysts is impaired by dissolution, redeposition, detachment, and agglomeration of Ir species. Here we present a ripening-induced embedding strategy that securely embeds the Ir catalyst in a cerium oxide support. Cryogenic electron tomography and all-atom kinetic Monte Carlo simulations reveal that synchronizing the growth rate of the support with the nucleation rate of Ir, regulated by sonication, is pivotal for successful synthesis. A PEMWE using this catalyst achieves a cell voltage of 1.72 volts at a current density of 3 amperes per square centimeter with an Ir loading of just 0.3 milligrams per square centimeter and a voltage degradation rate of 1.33 microvolts per hour, as demonstrated by a 6000-hour accelerated aging test.
A scientific field, misled
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s
Charles Piller
Atria/One Signal, 2025. 352 pp.
Authors: Elliott Carl
Published: February 2025

Fraud undermines Alzheimer’s disease research
Underwater light show heralds highest energy neutrino
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: February 2025

Event promises “new energy window on the universe”
Retirement-age scientists just keep working
Authors: Langin Katie
Published: February 2025

Desire to retain professional identity keeps Ph.D.s from stepping aside, survey shows
Successful posthospitalisation oncology workflow implementing LACE+ score to stratify and reduce readmissions within a safety-net hospital
Authors: Pabon Cindy M , Wong Janine , Perez Marcela , Jimenez-Abarca Jessica , Xiao Lianchun , Jackson Lymesia , Park Anne , Lankford Anjali , Akula Vinita , Datar Saumil , Hopper Taylor , Alkhatib Yaser , Earles Terri , Patel Tejal
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients with advanced cancers visit the emergency room and get hospitalised frequently, with potentially half of these visits being avoidable. Our institution provides comprehensive, low-cost cancer treatment to a safety-net population in Texas. We performed a retrospective review of hospital readmission patterns amongst our oncology patients and developed a posthospitalisation workflow to reduce readmissions.

Method

Following discharge, oncology patients were risk stratified based on their Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Charlson comorbidity index score and Emergency department visits+index in the past 6 months. The higher the score, the quicker the outpatient oncology follow-up. In addition to addressing acute issues related to hospitalisation, patients were also able to receive newly translated resources while in clinic.

Results

The preintervention 30-day-readmission rate was 17.3% (June 2022–December 2022) (95% CI 13.4% to 21.8%). Meanwhile, the postintervention 30-day-readmission rate was 14.7% (June 2023–December 2023) (95% CI 10.9% to 19.2%). While a 2.6% reduction in readmissions was achieved, this decrease was not statistically significant (−2.6%; 95% CI −8.4% to 3.2%; p value=0.375). Emergency use utilisation decreased from 90% to 15%.

Conclusions

Our team was able to facilitate and coordinate outpatient care for oncology patients following hospitalisation. The expedited care allowed providers to ensure that the care plan after hospitalisation was well understood and accessible to the patient. Furthermore, language-appropriate resources were provided to patients at that time. Our intervention was feasible, easy to implement and quick to produce tangible improvements in patient care. More time is needed to determine whether this will create a statistically significant impact on readmission rates.
Kinetic Studies of Zirconium Catalyzed Ring-opening Copolymerization of Epoxide and Cyclic Anhydride
Authors: Hanrahan Kate Valerie Marshall , Meyers Cassie Marie , Vos Cyler Willem , Lin Jian-Bin , Kozak Christopher M.
Published: February 2025

Zirconium(IV) isopropoxide complexes supported by the ligands 2-pyridylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenolate), L1, 2-pyridylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-tert-amylphenolate), L2, and N,N-dimethyl-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenolate)ethylenediamine, L3 (1 – 3) when combined with cocatalyst, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride (PPNCl), were assessed for the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and phthalic anhydride (PA). Complex 1, when combined with DMAP, resulted in the highest polyester conversions and selectivity demonstrating the best activity for CHO/PA ROCOP. Kinetic studies with complex 1 determined an overall second-order rate law with a first-order dependance in CHO and catalyst concentrations, and a zero-order dependance in PA concentration. Moderate molar mass polymers with narrow dispersities were obtained and the polymers showed decomposition temperatures above 180 °C and glass transition temperatures of 43 °C.
Imaging the Female Urethra: US and MRI in Cystic and Solid Pathologic Conditions
Authors: Saidman Julia Mariel , Aineseder Martina , Garratt Joanie , Wang Mindy X. , Ahmed Imran , Elsayes Khaled M. , Gomez Mariangeles , Rendón Yugcha Fausto Omar , Chacón Carolina Rosa Beatriz , Ocantos Jorge Alberto
Published: February 2025

Radiologists play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing cystic and solid pathologic lesions of the female urethra at US and MRI, aiding in accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and improving patient outcomes by providing essential information to urologists and gynecologists.
Enhancing Filtration Efficiency via Nanofibrillation of Polypropylene Fibers for Advanced Slurry Depth Filters in Semiconductor Manufacturing
Authors: Bae Sanghyun , Ju Gyungbin , Jang Yunseo , Cho Jeongmok , Lee Manhee , Suk Daniel Eumine
Published: February 2025

The chemical mechanical polishing process utilizes a slurry of fine abrasive particles for planarizing the wafer surface. However, any particulate matter in the slurry that is much larger than the abrasives can cause manufacturing defects such as micro-scratch during the polishing process. Thus, efficient filtration methods are essential to remove these “large” particles from the slurry. Here, we develop a depth filter with a multi-stage pore structure, which is made by using approximately 600 nm thick polypropylene nanofibers produced by the melt-blown method. Unlike conventional filters made of micrometer-thick fibers, the nanofiber filter dramatically increases filtration efficiency and reduces the pressure drop across the filter. While the filtration efficiency of the conventional microfiber filter is 79%, the nanofiber filter reaches 95%. The improved efficiency is attributed to the reduced pore size and enhanced porosity of nanofiber-based media, and along with fewer dead zones compared to the microfiber-based fabric. The polypropylene nanofiber filter significantly improves the slurry quality, reducing the large particle concentration and manufacturing defects in semiconductor manufacturing.
Objective Assessment of the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among Individuals With Lymphedema and Lipedema: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Vanaki Amirparsa , Fallah Amirhossein , Rahimidanesh Negin , Ashnaei Arian , Naghadian Moghaddam Mohammad Mahdi , Shahrabi Farahani Mohammad , Soltanipur Masood , Yarmohammadi Hossein
Published: February 2025

Background: One of the main challenges in managing lymphedema and lipedema is the lack of valid and reliable objective measures for diagnosis and follow‐up. This study was aimed at gathering evidence regarding the objective measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among these populations.

Methods: Scopus, PubMed, and Embase were searched for observational studies investigating the objective measures of CRF among individuals with lipedema and lymphedema. Both primary and secondary lymphedema were included. Different CRF measures reported by the included articles were determined, and the main outcomes regarding these measurements were extracted. The meta‐analysis was performed to compare the pooled mean 6‐min walk test (6MWT) between individuals with lower limb lymphedema and lipedema using STATA software (Version 17.0).

Results: Eight articles were included, and the majority of participants were female. Four distinct objective measures of CRF were reported among the included articles, including hemodynamic indices, spirometry indices, VO2 peak, and 6MWT. The mean VO2 peak was significantly lower among women with breast cancer–related lymphedema; however, there was no correlation between affected limb volumes and the VO2 peak. The meta‐analysis revealed a lower mean 6MWT among individuals with lipedema compared to lymphedema (pooled difference: 37.71 [confidence interval (CI): 5.19–70.22], p value: 0.02, I2: 0%). Also, there was a significant relationship between 6MWT and subjective measures of CRF, such as the Short Form 36 (SF‐36) physical function score, in one included article.

Conclusion: While limited evidence exists on the objective measures of CRF among individuals with lymphedema and lipedema, there might be a significant difference in 6MWT between these two groups.
Hazelnut Origin and Roasting Conditions Affect the Shelf Life of Chocolate With Whole Nuts
Authors: Rothkopf Isabell , Perren Rainer , Ziegleder Gottfried
Published: February 2025

Chocolate bars with whole nuts are a popular type of chocolate. However, their shelf life is limited by the roasted hazelnuts, which can become rancid or cause fat bloom, a whitish layer on the chocolate surface. Both are thought to be related to the nut oil that rises to the surface. Surface oil is prone to rancidity due to contact with oxygen. In addition, when the nuts are used in chocolate, the surface oil can be washed off by the chocolate during mixing or can migrate into and through the chocolate to become visible as fat bloom. Although fat bloom tends to occur on only a few nuts in a bar, the presence of fat bloom on just one nut is enough to reduce enjoyment because consumers associate it with mold. In this study, the influence of origin and roasting conditions on both quality changes was investigated. Hazelnuts of caliber 11–13 mm harvested from two different regions of Turkey, namely, Akçakoca and Ordu, were subjected to four different roasting conditions. The roasting process was performed either at low temperature for a long time (at 142°C for 30 or 50 min) or at high temperature for a short time (at 200°C for 7 or 9.5 min) in an industrial scale roaster (capacity of 50 kg per batch). Assessment of oxygen consumption and hexanal headspace measurement, both indicative of rancidity, showed increased oxidative stability for nuts roasted at the lower temperature. Roasted nuts from all roasting trials were used to produce various nut chocolate bars for storage tests. During these storage tests, the development of fat bloom was quantified using the DigiEye colorimetric measurement system, which is a box with defined lighting conditions and a fixed and calibrated digital camera. Images taken with this system were used to evaluate the whiteness index, an indicator of fat bloom. The migration of oil from the roasted hazelnuts into liquid cocoa butter was studied in a model system. Higher oxygen consumption and hexanal formation could be clearly related to the higher roasting temperature of 200°C. Oil migration in the model system as well as in the chocolate bars was independent from the roasting conditions, but hazelnuts from Ordu showed a higher oil release than those from Akçakoca. Fat bloom formation was clearly related to the storage temperature of the chocolate bars but independent of the origin of the hazelnuts and the roasting conditions. However, in individual bars with the same production processes, hazelnuts of the same origin and roasting conditions showed fat bloom only on some nuts and not on all, indicating that there are additional factors affecting fat bloom formation.
Differentiating the whole urine and urine supernatant protein profiles of preterm infants via urine proteomics
Authors: Zhang Lulu , Wang Xueyan , Wu Dan , Zheng Jun , Ding Fangrui
Published: February 2025

Introduction Urine proteomics plays an important role in the screening of biomarkers for infant diseases. However, there is no unified standard for the selection of urine samples for urine proteomics. It is also unclear whether there are differences in proteomics between whole urine and urine supernatant. Therefore, the urine of preterm infants was used as the research sample to explore the differences in protein profiles between the whole urine and urine supernatant of preterm infants by proteomics.
Methods
Urine samples were collected from five preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks at their corrected gestational age of 37 weeks. Each preterm urine was divided into whole urine and supernatant. Urine protein was extracted and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS /MS).
Results The two groups of urine samples did not show significant clustering in the principal component analysis. A total of 2607 proteins were detected in the two groups of urine samples, of which 82 proteins were unique to whole urine samples and 56 proteins were unique to urine supernatant samples. The molecular functions, the main biological processes and subcellular localization of the differential proteins were analyzed. In other neonatal-related diseases, there was no significant difference in protein enrichment between whole urine and urine supernatant.
Conclusions
This study analyzed the differences between whole urine and urine supernatant in urine proteomics of preterm infants. In neonatal-related diseases, there is no significant difference in urinary protein biomarkers between whole urine and urine supernatant.