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4D printing of shape-memory polymer-based floating tablets via fused deposition modelling: Transformable helical structure to tablet-like form
Get PDFThe integration of four-dimensional (4D) printing technology into pharmaceutical manufacturing has introduced a transformative approach to drug delivery systems, offering flexible alternatives to improve drug bioavailability. This study advanced the field by developing an innovative 4D-printed floating drug delivery system using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and a temperature-responsive polymer, polylactic acid (PLA). Unlike traditional methods and previous literature that relied on external devices or encapsulation, our approach utilised the shape-memory properties of PLA to create helical structures that transform into tablet-like forms when heated and subjected to an external force. Under gastric conditions, these structures reverted to their original shape, allowing them to float and release drugs over an extended period. In this work, eight helical models (M1 to M8), were designed and fabricated with varying geometric parameters, including helix diameter, number of helical turns, and top/base height, to assess their geometric accuracy, shape-memory performance, drug-loading efficiency, floatability, and release behaviour. Results showed that models with smaller helix diameters and fewer turns exhibited superior shape recovery, with the highest observed at 79.5% for Model M1 (1.0 mm helix diameter, two helical turns, and 0.5 mm top/base height). Meanwhile, models with larger diameters showed higher drug-loading capacities. Additionally, the drug-loaded models demonstrated significant shape-recovery and floating performances, suggesting the potential for prolonging drug release for up to 12 h. These findings highlight the potential of 4D printing in developing advanced drug delivery systems, providing new insights into how this technology can improve drug administration and drug delivery through shape-changing tailored systems
From virtual trainers to companions? Examining how digital agency types, anthropomorphism, and support shape para-social relationships in online fitness
Get PDFThe role of virtual trainers in online fitness has increasingly captured the attention of consumers and brands as digital technology becomes more interwoven with daily life. This study extends the para‐social relationship theory by developing and testing a research model through five studies that simulate online fitness interactions. In Study 1, we examine the model and find that three characteristics (interactivity, authenticity, and companionship) positively influence consumers' social perceptions (perceived warmth and competence), para‐social relationship building, and intentions to continue using the service. Our findings also reveal that the moderating roles of coach types (human vs. avatar vs. agent) in Study 2, anthropomorphic appearance levels (high vs. low) in Study 3, and the nature of support provided (emotional vs. technical) in Study 4 significantly affect users' social perceptions and their intentions to continue using the service. Interestingly, compared to humans and avatars, using agent coaches requires greater authenticity to strengthen the para‐social relationship. When using lowanthropomorphic digital agents and avatars, building para‐social relationships more effectively promotes consumers' continued usage intentions. Additionally, the relationship between para‐social relationship building and continued usage intentions was stronger in the emotional support group than in the technical support group. In Study 5, we found that continued usage intention positively affects online fitness subscription behaviors. These findings have implications for integrating digital agencies to enhance consumer experience and engagement in health‐focused digital environments, especially for physical fitness service providers and platform course designers
Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti/The Maori Merchant of Venice (The Merchant of Venice, film, dir Don C. Selwyn, Aotearoa/New Zealand 2002)
No full textTe Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti/The Maori Merchant of Venice (2002) is Aotearoa/New Zealand’s first Shakespeare feature film and the first film ever with dialogue solely in te reo Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Don C Selwyn, the film’s director, adapted the screenplay from Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones’s 1946 translation of The Merchant of Venice. The film followed Selwyn’s 1991 staged production of Jones’s translation. Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti attempts to reclaim Shakespeare for te Ao Māori (the Māori world). At the same time, the film draws attention to less easily resolved dilemmas of colonisation behind its idyllic surface
Going WILD keeps developmental theories in context
No full textBard et al call for increased inclusivity in developmental science. In agreement with this need, we highlight the need to examine the origins of our developmental theories. We build on their work by demonstrating that a failure to examine the metaphysical commitments to culture of our theories can lead to erroneous assumptions as well as constraining research on development
Biomarkers for Sarcopenia: Imaging, Clinical, and Nutritional Biomarkers and the Age-Related Decline in Skeletal Muscle Health
No full textIntroduction
Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, is linked to morbidity and mortality, but there are knowledge gaps in its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Finding diagnostic, monitoring, and risk biomarkers has been highlighted as a research priority. Imaging biomarkers can objectively measure muscle tissue composition and have potential as diagnostic, monitoring, and risk biomarkers. Commonly-measured clinical and nutritional biomarkers—with known importance for muscle health—may be useful as risk biomarkers. Investigating associations between nutritional biomarkers and muscle health may also highlight micronutrients with utility in preventive or treatment strategies.
Approach and Main Findings
Associations between imaging biomarkers of skeletal muscle tissue composition (contractile volume and intra- and inter-muscular fat) and muscle strength were explored in the Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures of Translational Aging Laboratory Testing cohort. Results showed that skeletal muscle contractile volume (muscle volume minus intramuscular fat) was more strongly related to muscle strength than intra- or inter-muscular fat.
Associations between clinical (haemoglobin, ferritin, albumin, creatinine, HbA1c) and nutritional biomarkers (vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, folate) and muscle mass, strength, and physical performance were explored in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging cohort. Here, serum creatinine, Hba1c, and biomarkers of iron status were associated with skeletal muscle health, particularly in men.
Associations between plasma and dietary vitamin C, and muscle strength and physical performance, were explored in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk cohort. Plasma vitamin C was associated with muscle strength and physical performance, particularly in women. Based on these results, a protocol was developed for an intervention trial investigating the effect of vitamin C on skeletal muscle health in older women.
Conclusion
This research provides novel insight into potential biomarkers for sarcopenia that should be further investigated prospectively, and through intervention trials, to support these findings
Comparison of recruitment to an RCT via online advertising and face-to-face methods: Secondary analysis of SNAP3 trial data
Get PDFTraditional trial recruitment strategies can prove expensive, time consuming and inefficient. Potential benefits of social media recruitment have included reduced costs and shorter recruitment periods compared to traditional methods. No studies have previously taken place to specifically assess the effectiveness of using social media to recruit pregnant women who smoke for involvement in clinical trials aimed at promoting smoking cessation. In this study, we directly compare the characteristics of participants recruited to the same study via traditional and social media routes. The purpose of the current secondary analysis is to compare the demographics and smoking behaviours of pregnant women who smoke recruited to the SNAP3 study of smoking cessation interventions in pregnancy via social media versus traditional methods
Timing and Spectral Evolution of the Magnetar 1E 1841-045 in Outburst
No full textWe present timing and spectral analyses of Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and IXPE observations of the magnetar 1E 1841−045 covering 82 days following its 2024 August bursting activity as well as radio observations utilizing MeerKAT and Effelsberg. We supplement our study with a historical NuSTAR observation and all 2024 preoutburst NICER observations. The outburst is marked by an X-ray flux enhancement of a factor of 1.6 compared to the historical level, predominantly driven by a newly formed nonthermal emitting component with a photon index Γ = 1.5. This flux showed a 20% decay at the end of our monitoring campaign. The radio monitoring did not reveal any pulsed radio emission with an upper limit of 20 mJy and 50 mJy ms on the mean flux density and single pulse fluence, respectively. We detect a spin-up glitch at outburst onset with Δν = 6.1 × 10−8 Hz and Δ ν ̇ = − 1.4 × 1 0 − 14 Hz s−1, consistent with the near universality of this behavior among the continuously monitored magnetars. Most intriguingly, the 1E 1841−045 2-10 keV pulse profile is markedly different compared to preoutburst: it shows a new, narrow (0.1 cycle) peak that appears to shift toward merging with the main, persistently present, pulse. This is the second case of pulse-peak migration observed in magnetars after SGR 1830−0645, and the two sources exhibit a similar rate of phase shift. This implies that this phenomenon is not unique and might present itself in the broader population. The newly formed peak for 1E 1841−045 is nonthermal, with emission extending to ≳20 keV, in contrast to the case of SGR 1830−0645. Our results are consistent with an untwisting magnetic field bundle with migration toward the magnetic pole, perhaps accompanied by plastic motion of the crust
Understanding plasmid transfer in bacterial biofilms
Get PDFAntimicrobial resistance remains an enormous challenge, with the horizontal transfer of resistance genes between species a major contributor to the evolution of resistance. Most bacteria exist in polymicrobial biofilm communities, and biofilms have been suggested to encourage plasmid persistence and promote horizontal gene transfer. However, much current knowledge is based on experiments conducted using planktonic bacteria that are not representative of real-world bacterial communities. It remains unclear which environmental drivers impact horizontal gene transfer within polymicrobial biofilms, or which genes are involved in plasmid acquisition.
In this study, a multispecies biofilm conjugation model was developed to monitor the movement of pHYCTX14, a clinically relevant conjugative plasmid, between Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Using this model, the impact of a range of chemicals, including food preservatives and antimicrobials, on the rate of plasmid movement was investigated. The results indicated that the chemicals tested had very different impacts on conjugation efficiency, with the lowest conjugation efficiency obtained for experiments conducted under stress from sodium nitrite, and the highest obtained for experiments conducted under stress from copper sulphate.
Using a massively parallel transposon mutagenesis approach, TraDIS-Xpress, genes involved in the acquisition of pHYCTX14 in E. coli and S. Typhimurium were also identified. Key genes identified to be involved in plasmid acceptance included those associated with energy production, bacterial membrane structure, efflux and RNA polymerase recycling.
This work describes the development of a multispecies biofilm conjugation model to explore how external stress factors can influence the rate of plasmid movement within biofilms, and the use of TraDIS-Xpress to investigate the genes involved in host plasmid acceptance.
These experiments have laid the groundwork for further investigations into the evolution of antimicrobial resistance within multispecies biofilms and into developing a detailed insight into the host-plasmid interplay.
Keywords: Biofilms, antimicrobial resistance, plasmids, horizontal gene transfer, conjugation, TraDIS-Xpres
A PESTEL-SWOT Matrix Analysis of Sustainable Aquafeed Sector: A Case of Kenya's Fish Feed Sector
No full textGlobal demand for seafood continues to rise, positioning aquaculture as a critical pathway for improving food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods. In Kenya, the aquaculture sector remains constrained by structural challenges, with fish feed accounting for 60%–70% of production costs and limiting sectoral growth, particularly for smallholder farmers. This review critically analyzes Kenya's fish feed sector through an integrated PESTEL-SWOT framework, drawing on a scoping review of academic literature, policy reports, and sector development studies. The paper highlights key macro-level drivers, including fragmented policy implementation, dependency on imported ingredients, and climate-related risks, and connects these with internal industry dynamics such as innovation gaps and regional disparities in aquafeed accessibility. It presents a conceptual model illustrating how external and internal factors interact to shape aquafeed sector outcomes, positioning Kenya's experience within a broader Sub-Saharan Africa aquaculture context. The review identifies missed opportunities in scaling insect- and microalgae-based feed innovations, constrained by regulatory, technical, and market barriers. The discussion offers actionable recommendations for researchers, policymakers, donors, investors, and industry stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of integrated policy reforms, investment in local aquafeed technology development, and regional collaboration to strengthen feed supply resilience and address production bottlenecks
The promise of community-driven preprints in ecology and evolution
Get PDFPublishing preprints is quickly becoming commonplace in ecology and evolutionary biology. Preprints can facilitate the rapid sharing of scientific knowledge establishing precedence and enabling feedback from the research community before peer review. Yet, significant barriers to preprint use exist, including language barriers, a lack of understanding about the benefits of preprints and a lack of diversity in the types of research outputs accepted (e.g. reports). Community-driven preprint initiatives can allow a research community to come together to break down these barriers to improve equity and coverage of global knowledge. Here, we explore the first preprints uploaded to EcoEvoRxiv (n = 1216), a community-driven preprint server for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, to characterize preprint use in ecology, evolution and conservation. Our perspective piece highlights some of the unique initiatives that EcoEvoRxiv has taken to break down barriers to scientific publishing by exploring the composition of articles, how gender and career stage influence preprint use, whether preprints are associated with greater open science practices (e.g. code and data sharing) and tracking preprint publication outcomes. Our analysis identifies areas that we still need to improve upon but highlights how community-driven initiatives, such as EcoEvoRxiv, can play a crucial role in shaping publishing practices in biology