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Friction Control via Tunable Interpenetration of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes
No full textPolyelectrolyte brushes are promising materials for achieving superlubricity, but conventional approaches requiring chemical surface grafting limit their broad applicability. Here, we demonstrate a simple, yet effective and readily scalable friction-control strategy using spherical polyelectrolyte brushes as lubricant additives. By tuning particle concentration, we precisely control the degree of polymer chain interpenetration, a key factor determining lubrication performance. Combining scattering, viscosity, and friction measurements, we identify three distinct lubrication regimes defined by brush interpenetration. Enhanced lubrication occurs at the concentration threshold separating the semidilute partly interpenetrated regime from the semidilute fully interpenetrated regime, which aligns closely with the transition between mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication. Our results point to a direct correlation between nanoscale structural transitions and macroscale friction behavior, offering a predictive framework for enhanced lubrication in diverse industrial applications
The Concentration Grid Exercise: Effects of Silent Practice and Music Distraction on Performance, Attention, Affect, and Brain Activity
No full textWe conducted two studies using the concentration grid exercise to assess the effects of practice in silence (Study 1) and practice with loud music on the background (Study 2) on performance, attention, core affective states (arousal and pleasantness), and alpha, beta, and theta brain waves. In Study 1, we recruited 12 participants, 6 males and 6 females ( M = 27.50, SD = 8.27). In Study 2, we recruited 12 participants, 6 males and 6 females ( M = 26.36, SD = 6.67). For both Study 1 and Study 2, no significant effects were observed for performance, attention, and core affect. Marginal significant effects were observed for attention and arousal, suggesting loud music was a distraction to at least some participants. Across both studies, the electroencephalogram data revealed significant differences in alpha, beta, and theta power across pre-test and post-test trials. Collectively, these findings support the neural efficiency hypothesis; in that practice leads to a more quiescent brain state in both silent-practice and music distraction conditions. These findings also suggest that the concentration grid exercise can be an appropriate tool for research and practice
Morning endurance training induces superior performance adaptations compared to afternoon training in mice
No full textEndurance performance exhibits time-of-day variation in both humans and rodents, peaking in the late active-phase. However, whether the timing of endurance training influences performance adaptations remains unclear.
To investigate, female mice were trained 5-d/week for 6-weeks at either ZT13 or ZT22, using treadmill running at 70% of each animal's maximal capacity. Endurance performance was assessed at baseline, week-3, and week-6. Secondary outcomes included blood glucose and lactate, cage activity, body composition, liver and skeletal muscle glycogen content, mitochondrial and contractile protein expression.
At baseline, late-active phase (ZT22)-tested mice exhibited significantly higher endurance capacity than early-active phase (ZT13)-tested mice (P0.05), despite lower absolute training volumes in the ZT13 group. Both training groups reduced fat-mass (ZT13: −31%,ZT22: −32%; P0.05). In skeletal muscle, ZT13-trained mice were associated with increased (P0.05) in mitochondrial content.
ZT13-training elicited superior performance adaptations despite lower absolute workloads, indicating enhanced training efficiency. These findings identify exercise timing as a biologically relevant factor influencing endurance adaptation and variability in exercise responses
Interchangeability of external player load variables from different athlete tracking systems in English Premier League soccer players
Full text linkThis study aimed to assess the interchangeability between tracking variables derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) and those of an Optical Tracking System (OTS) in elite soccer players. Twenty-six male professional outfield soccer players (age 27±4 years, height 182±6.67 cm, mass 80.73±7.74 kg) from an English Premier League (EPL) team formed the sample. Positional information was recorded using a GPS (10 Hz Apex, STATSports, Belfast, UK) and concomitantly by an OTS using six semi-automated HD cameras sampling at a frequency of 25 Hz (Second Spectrum, Los Angeles, USA). While differences exist for both total distance and high-speed running (HSR) between the GPS and OTS, the GPS was highly correlated with the OTS (r2 > 0.99). The OTS displayed the highest values across all three examined variables. Total distance was 4% higher on average when utilising the OTS, while HSR and sprint distance were 12% and 18% higher respectively. Given its importance and the differences observed, regression equations should be utilised to align GPS and OTS data to allow practitioners to evaluate running performance and optimally prepare players for the demands of the game more effectively
Aspirin-Free Prasugrel Monotherapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome
Full text linkBackground: In the presence of a potent P2Y12inhibitor such as prasugrel, the additional clinical antithrombotic benefit of aspirin is unclear. The feasibility of prasugrel monotherapy without aspirin after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been demonstrated in chronic coronary syndrome, but is yet to be assessed in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and low anatomical complexity.
Methods and Results: ASET-Japan is a single-arm study investigating the safety of prasugrel 12-month monotherapy with a locally approved dose (loading 20 mg; maintenance 3.75 mg), started immediately after successful PCI using platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting SYNERGY stents. The primary ischemic endpoint is a composite of cardiac death, spontaneous target vessel myocardial infarction, or definite stent thrombosis; the primary bleeding endpoint is Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) Type 3 and 5 bleeding. ASET-Japan recruited 101 NSTE-ACS patients from 11 Japanese sites. The mean (±SD) age was 69.1±12.3 years and 36.6% had a PRECISE-DAPT score >25. The mean anatomical SYNTAX score was 7.9±4.7. At 1 year, the primary ischemic endpoint occurred in 1 patient (1.0%; cardiac death). Two BARC Type 3a bleeding events occurred (2.0%): 1 due to a gastric ulcer and 1 to a descending colon malignancy.
Conclusions: Low-dose (3.75 mg/day) prasugrel monotherapy started immediately after SYNERGY stent deployment was feasible and safe in selected NSTE-ACS patients
Defining three principles for credible evidence synthesis and reviews in health professions education
Full text linkAs reviews become increasingly central to informing educational practice and guiding research in health professions education, the need for methodological clarity and quality has grown. This Commentary highlights three foundational principles – alignment, rigor, and transparency – that underpin high-quality reviews, regardless of type. We illustrate how these principles apply across commonly used review types, including systematic, scoping, realist, and narrative reviews. By aligning the research question with the appropriate review methodology, employing rigorous processes for evidence collection and synthesis, and maintaining transparency in methodological reporting, review teams can produce credible, transferable, and dependable findings. Embracing these principles not only enhances the trustworthiness of reviews but also supports stakeholders in applying synthesized knowledge effectively, ultimately advancing evidence-informed decision-making in health professions education
Impact of flunitrazepam on Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) microbiome dynamics
No full textThis study explored the effects of flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine, on the microbiome diversity of Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae). By examining the microbial shifts throughout developmental stages, the research contributes valuable data to the field of forensic entomotoxicology. Two colonies of 500 adults were fed minced beef liver, spiked and non‐spiked with 25 mg of flunitrazepam, and reared under controlled conditions (24°C, relative humidity of 45%, 12:12 light–dark cycle). Following oviposition, egg clusters were transferred, and the experiment was carried out in triplicate under the same experimental conditions. A total of 54 specimens, including all developmental stages, were collected for microbiome investigation via Illumina MiSeq. Both colonies had a 19‐day development cycle from eggs to teneral. However, flunitrazepam‐fed specimens were heavier, particularly during the pupa and teneral stages. Microbiome analysis revealed significant differences in diversity and composition between the colonies and across developmental stages. Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria) dominated the control adults, while Bacteroidota and Bacillota (Firmicutes) were more prevalent in flunitrazepam‐fed adults. Additionally, Enterobacterales, Lactobacillales, and Morganellaceae showed notable variations across different stages. This study highlights the significant impact of flunitrazepam on the microbiome dynamics of C. vicina , revealing notable morphological changes related to the specimens' weight toward the end of the development cycle and alterations in microbiome composition. These findings have important implications for forensic entomotoxicology, particularly in the accurate estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI)
Ritual returns
No full textThis chapter examines the intersection of commemoration and commodification in UK Halloween festivals, tracing their evolution from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to modern-day events shaped by commercial imperatives and cultural memory. Drawing on two case studies – Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland and Paisley Halloween Festival in Scotland – it explores how death, folklore and the supernatural are repackaged as public spectacle and tourist economy. While these events invoke authentic heritage symbols, they simultaneously participate in global consumer culture, blurring the lines between sacred ritual and market-driven entertainment. Situating these developments within the broader frameworks of dark event tourism, occulture and heritage commodification, this chapter offers a critical lens on how seasonal festivals function as both acts of remembrance and engines of economic growth
Psychological violence in intimate relationships: stressor interactions and psychological outcomes
No full textThis study aimed to develop the Psychological Abuse in Intimate Relationships Scale (PAIRS), a psychometrically sound measure capturing the multifaceted nature of psychological abuse, and to examine its dimensions and associations with trauma-related psychological outcomes. An initial item pool was created by reviewing 16 existing scales in the psychological abuse literature. Seventy-one items were generated and tested in a pilot study (n = 337). In the second phase, data were collected online from 1,012 ever-partnered women. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Promax rotation examined the dimensional structure of PAIRS. ANOVAs compared women exposed to psychological abuse alone versus those also exposed to physical and/or sexual violence. Hierarchical regressions examined the associations between psychological abuse and peri-trauma distress and PTSD. The PAIRS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.98), and its subscales showed high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.80–0.95). EFA revealed a dominant unrotated factor, indicating a coherent psychological abuse construct. The rotated solution yielded eight interrelated factors, reflecting its multifaceted structure. Psychological abuse explained the largest proportion of variance in peri-trauma distress and PTSD. While psychological abuse alone was significantly associated with peri- and post-trauma outcomes, the severity of impairment was substantially amplified when it co-occurred with physical and/or sexual violence, consistent with cumulative and multiplicative effects. The PAIRS is a reliable and valid tool for capturing the multidimensional nature of psychological abuse. It offers important clinical and research utility by identifying specific abusive behavior patterns. Future research should validate the PAIRS in more diverse populations