Journals
2025 EN
Testa Raphael Gustavo · Moraes Adeluci · Nagafuchi Aline Giselle
+4 more
ABSTRACT Objectives This study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in the nutritional status of school‐age children in five cohorts with a two‐year follow‐up, encompassing a span of 7 years. Methods Utilizing a mixed longitudinal design, we implemented five cohorts with a two‐year follow‐up, encompassing a span of 7 years. The study's total sample comprised 101 school‐age children (51 females and 50 males), aged between 6 and 11 years at the commencement of the follow‐up. Anthropometric variables were obtained following standardized procedures. Subsequently, the Body Mass Index (BMI) was derived using the formula BMI = body mass (kg)/(height) 2 . Nutritional status was classified according to established cutoff points for age and sex. Results The prevalence rates for overweight, obesity, and underweight were found to be 22%, 10%, and 5%, respectively. Notably, the presence of overweight at the initiation of the follow‐up exhibited a significant association with the development of obesity after a two‐year period ( χ 2 = 5.325, p = 0.021). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis indicated that participants classified as “overweight” at the outset of the study were 4.7 times more likely (95% CI = 1.156–19.754) to develop obesity compared to their eutrophic counterparts. Conclusion The study establishes a clear link between overweight status and the medium‐term development of obesity in school‐age children, aged between 6 and 11 years. These findings underscore the need for early intervention strategies and targeted preventive measures to address this concerning health issue.
Journals
2025 EN
Han Y. Catherine · Nowinski Cindy J. · Dworak Elizabeth M
+4 more
Abstract Background Executive Function (EF) has multiple components (e.g., attention, inhibitory control, etc.) which can be differentially affected by AD/ADRD. Specific EF deficits can be early indicators of cognitive impairment, providing clues about etiology and likelihood of disease progression. The NIH Mobile Toolbox (MTB) includes adapted, self‐administered measures from the NIH Toolbox® (NIHTB) on a smartphone that are brief, sensitive, and easy‐to‐use for tracking cognitive functioning across the lifespan. The primary scores produced for MTB EF measures (Arrow Matching; Shape‐Color Sorting) are rate‐based scores (# correct/time to complete), which have been shown to be reliable and valid (Novack et al., 2024). In the current study, we expand on these measures by investigating a series of secondary scores (anticipation errors, error rate, and median response time for incorrect and correct responses) towards a more comprehensive EF assessment. Method Participants were administered the MTB in person on study‐provided iOS smartphones and completed the NIHTB measures on study‐provided iPads (Study 1: n = 92, aged M=49.27, SD=17.65). Participants also completed external measures intended to assess convergent validity (e.g., D‐KEFS, WCST) and divergent validity (e.g., PPVT‐5, NIHTB PV). Another group of participants completed the NIHTB in person and MTB remotely using their own Android/iOS smartphone no more than 14 days after the first session (Study 2: n = 1021, aged M=43.97, SD=21.24). Result Across studies, there was a significant relationship between all novel scores in both tasks and age ( ρ = [.27,.60], p s < .05); older individuals made more anticipation and total errors and were slower to make correct and incorrect responses. Most scores showed significant, expected correlations against concurrent measures (absolute value ρ = [.13,.77], p s < .05). Most scores showed non‐significant, low correlations with the proposed divergent measures ( ρ = [‐.01,.09], p s > .05), except for anticipation and total error scores, which showed significant but weaker negative relationships with vocabulary measures. All scores showed strong internal reliability via split‐half correlations (Study 2; SCS median = .94, 25‐75th percentile=[.93,.94]; AM median = .98, 25‐75th percentile=[.97,.98]). Conclusion Expanded scores from the MTB EF measures are valid and may be suitable for clinical and pharmaceutical studies, particularly relating to age related cognitive changes. Additional clinical validation is underway, including populations at risk for or diagnosed with cognitive impairment or AD/ADRD.
Journals
2025 EN
González José Manuel · SabadellRendón Albert · Kaźmierczak Kamila
+4 more
Abstract The Reverse Water Gas‐Shift reaction (CO 2 +H 2↽ ⇀${ \mathbin{{\stackrel{\textstyle\rightharpoonup smash{\leftharpoondown CO+H 2 O) allows to balance syn‐gas under industrial conditions. Nickel has been suggested as a potential catalyst but the temperature required is too high, more than 800 °C, limiting practical implementation but when lowering the temperature methanation occurs. Simulations via Density Functional Theory on well‐defined surfaces have systematically failed to reproduce these experimental results. But under reaction conditions, Ni surfaces are not static and DFT models coupled to microkinetics show that low temperatures (high CO coverages) drive the generation of Ni adatoms that are the active sites for methanation. At higher temperatures, the adatom population decreases, and the selectivity towards CO increases. Thus the mechanism behind the selectivity switch is driven by the dynamics induced by reaction intermediates. Our work contributes to the inclusion of dynamic aspects of materials under reaction conditions in the understanding of complex catalytic behaviour.
Journals
2025 EN
González José Manuel · SabadellRendón Albert · Kaźmierczak Kamila
+4 more
Abstract The Reverse Water Gas‐Shift reaction (CO 2 +H 2↽ ⇀${ \mathbin{{\stackrel{\textstyle\rightharpoonup smash{\leftharpoondown CO+H 2 O) allows to balance syn‐gas under industrial conditions. Nickel has been suggested as a potential catalyst but the temperature required is too high, more than 800 °C, limiting practical implementation but when lowering the temperature methanation occurs. Simulations via Density Functional Theory on well‐defined surfaces have systematically failed to reproduce these experimental results. But under reaction conditions, Ni surfaces are not static and DFT models coupled to microkinetics show that low temperatures (high CO coverages) drive the generation of Ni adatoms that are the active sites for methanation. At higher temperatures, the adatom population decreases, and the selectivity towards CO increases. Thus the mechanism behind the selectivity switch is driven by the dynamics induced by reaction intermediates. Our work contributes to the inclusion of dynamic aspects of materials under reaction conditions in the understanding of complex catalytic behaviour.
Journals
2025 EN
Lewandowska Kamila · Bojnarowicz Mikołaj
Abstract Practice‐based research (PBR) has emerged as a valuable alternative to traditional scientific methods by generating knowledge through practice and enhancing the relevance of research to practitioners. However, knowledge about PBR has largely been developed within disciplinary silos, leading to its limited cross‐disciplinary understanding. This paper addresses this gap by analysing 116 PBR studies in Educational Research and Theatre, two fields with very active but separately analysed PBR traditions. Our analysis produces a framework that categorises PBR into four distinct types based on key dimensions: the ‘Aim of research’ and the ‘Model of practice involvement’. The framework reveals discipline‐specific patterns, including divergent tendencies in how PBR is utilised across these fields: in Educational Research, PBR is often employed to improve professional practice, whereas in Theatre, it is central to exploring and theorising practice itself. The proposed framework holds potential for broader applicability across other fields, contributing to a more cohesive understanding of PBR as a versatile research strategy.
Journals
2025 EN
Fernandes Kamila Rangel Primo · Souza Antonia Queiroz Lima · Barbosa Anderson Nogueira
+19 more
ABSTRACT Trichoderma is a genus of interest to researchers from various areas due to its species diversity, biotechnological importance, and applications. The present study aimed at the grouping and characterization of 37 Trichoderma species through morphological, molecular, and chemotaxonomic analysis of the fungus obtained in different tropical habitats. The lineages were evaluated with concatenated phylogenetic analysis through the sequences of internal transcribed spacer ( ITS ) regions and portions of the translation elongation factor 1‐α gene ( TEF1 ‐ α ). From the 37 strains of Trichoderma , 9 species groups were obtained, namely, T. asperellum (2), T. harzianum (9), T. lentiforme (12), T. spirale (1), T. koningiopsis (2), T. atroviride (3), T. asperelloides (2), T. afroharzianum (4), and T. reesei (2). A Clonostachys rosea strain was used as an outgroup. T. lentiforme and T. harzianum stood out, with more than 50% of all strains studied and identified. The work done indicates the high diversity of Trichoderma species from the Amazon. The chemometric data showed the chemical correlations and intraspecific similarities among the species of Trichoderma through its intracellular and extracellular metabolites, as the main ions are in common and chemical proximity between species of the same clade.
Journals
2025 EN
LatosBrozio Malgorzata · Rułka Kamila · Masek Anna
ABSTRACT Bio‐fillers are functional substances that are increasingly added to polymer compositions due to their unique properties and sustainable nature. There is a lack of a review publication that comprehensively describes bio‐fillers from different natural origins in various types of polymer, although there are many publications focusing on a narrow range of bio‐filler applications. The aim of this publication is to review the correlation between bio‐fillers and their effect on polymer properties, including mechanical and thermal properties and degradation processes. The scope of the work covers the analysis of cellulose bio‐fillers (nanocellulose, bacterial cellulose, and plant waste raw materials), starch, protein‐based bio‐fillers (of plant and animal origin), and mineral fillers, as well as methods of their modification to improve compatibility with polymers. The work systematizes the current knowledge on different types of bio‐fillers used in polymers and indicates the challenges faced by the use of bio‐fillers.
Journals
2025 EN
Sternicki Louise M. · Pukala Tara L. · Pacholarz Kamila J.
+4 more
Biotin protein ligase (BPL) catalyzes the covalent attachment of biotin onto biotin‐dependent enzymes, where it functions as an essential cofactor. Eukaryotic BPLs are distinct due to the presence of a large N‐terminal extension to the conserved catalytic domain and C‐terminal cap. No high‐resolution structures of a eukaryotic BPL have been solved; however, previous functional studies revealed the N‐terminal extension interacts with the biotinylation substrate. Mass spectrometry (MS) and complementary techniques were utilized to investigate the structure of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae BPL ( Sc BPL). Lower resolution techniques suggested holo‐ Sc BPL had a more compact structure and sampled fewer conformational states. In addition, solution‐phase and a charge state dependent gas‐phase stabilization was observed. Hydrogen‐deuterium exchange (HDX) MS provided experimental validation of the AlphaFold predicted structure of Sc BPL, with a folded domain structurally homologous to a glutamine amidotransferase identified in the N‐terminal extension, and a mostly homologous catalytic domain to that of other species’ BPLs. Further HDX analyses identified localized conformational changes in the Sc BPL active site and N‐terminal domain that occur concomitantly with ligand binding. These data provide novel insights into the unique structure of a class III BPL and how ligands influence this structure for catalysis of protein biotinylation.
Journals
2025 EN
Bartůšek Pavel · Jandera Michal · Cábová Kamila
+1 more
Abstract An experimental study of twelve bolted single‐brace eccentric gusset plate connections in compression was carried out. Ten specimens were made of steel S355 and two of steel S690. The specimens varied also in their geometry, namely the geometry of the plate, namely the connection plate length, tapering, thickness, weld along one or two sides, and the slenderness of the connected member itself. The results were compared with the predictions of existing analytical models. The observed resistances demonstrate the influence of the plate slenderness on a compressive resistance of the connection. The results will be used for a numerical model validation, later extended into parametric study to better understand the connection behavior.
Journals
2025 EN
Kuříková Marta · Cábová Kamila · Bartůšek Pavel
+2 more
Abstract This paper investigates the compressive resistance of gusset plate connections, focusing on single‐sided bracing configurations with eccentric load. A total of twelve full‐scale tests were performed on CHS bracing members connected via gusset and cleat plates using bolted joints. The specimens varied in gusset plate thickness, steel grade, and connection geometry. Two modelling approaches were applied using the Component‐Based Finite Element Method (CBFEM): a simplified joint‐level model and a detailed member‐level model based on GMNIA, incorporating geometric and material nonlinearities as well as initial imperfections. The numerical results were compared with experimental data, and imperfection amplitudes were selected in accordance with prEN 1993‐1‐14. The findings confirm that the simplified model provides conservative estimates, while the GMNIA‐based model offers improved accuracy and better alignment with experimental results, particularly when asymmetric imperfection shapes are considered. The paper highlights the key parameters influencing compressive resistance and supports further refinement of predictive methods for gusset plate connections.