Moisture-Responsive Thermal Conductivity Properties of Hydrofiber Versus Polyurethane Foam: Implications for Pressure Injury Prevention

Effective thermal management at the skin-dressing interface is essential in pressure injury prevention by means of prophylactic dressings. This study quantified the thermal conductivity of AQUACEL Hydrofiber Technology (AHT, hydrofiber) and polyurethane foam dressing materials under normothermic (32 degrees C) and febrile (40 degrees C) conditions across increasing moisture levels. Using a validated custom heat-flow meter system, dry hydrofiber exhibited significantly greater thermal conductivity than the polyurethane foam (0.43 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.20 +/- 0.01 W/m K at 32 degrees C; p < 0.001). Upon hydration at 32 degrees C, thermal conductivity values increased nonlinearly for both materials but to a much greater extent for the hydrofiber. At 15% moisture, the hydrofiber reached 4.73 +/- 0.12 W/m K compared to the polyurethane foam at 1.03 +/- 0.02 W/m K. At 40 degrees C, hydrofiber achieved 3.39 +/- 0.19 W/m K with only 10% moisture, indicating a temperature-responsive biphasic transformation. Overall, hydrofiber demonstrated a fivefold greater thermal conductivity response to moisture than the polyurethane foam. These findings highlight critical, material-dependent differences in heat dissipation under clinically relevant conditions. The superior moisture-responsive thermal conductivity of hydrofiber highlights its potential to improve heat dissipation at the skin-dressing interface under clinically relevant conditions and thereby mitigate local heat accumulation, contributing to skin protection. Thermal conductivity and thermal adaptability studies should be integrated into dressing efficacy research and be used for selection criteria for pressure injury prevention programs alongside mechanical and absorptive performance.Funding This study was funded by Convatec Ltd., United Kingdom. Acknowledgements J.F., J.B. and L.E.B. are employees of Convatec, and A.G. is a paid consultant of Convatec

Dataset: Pseudobulk RUV: Datasets and GSEA results

This repository encompases the following datasets: Raw data downloaded from the Chan Zuckerberg CELL by GENE Discover (CZ CELLxGENE Discover) platform: 230126_lupusdataSCE_raw.zip Processed data from the control subset, both single cell and pseudobulk files: controlsubset.zip Processed data from the case study subset, both single cell and pseudobulk files: CSsubset.zip Pseudobulk pseudosamples generated from the samples in the case study subset: pbps10rep_studycasemix.zip Cytosolic ribosome genes used as negative control genes: Genes_Gagnon.txt Set of negative control genes from the scMerge package: ncgSCmerge.txt Genes from the ISG signature: ISGsignature.txt Gene set enrichment analysis results (from the case study): GSEAresultsCS.zi

Evaluating the fitness for reuse of earth blocks reclaimed from load-bearing masonry: The case for compressive strength

Retrieving masonry units for reuse is a promising circular strategy to reduce environmental impacts, yet their technical suitability for reuse remains insufficiently understood. Earth blocks are relatively easy to reclaim, and this study is the first to assess whether they retain adequate performance after reclamation from load-bearing structures. Fitness for reuse was evaluated by comparing the compressive strength of blocks before and after sustained loading. The effect of sustained loading was isolated in the laboratory through a controlled testing sequence that comprised sustained loading of masonry columns, deconstruction and cleaning of blocks, and testing of both new and reclaimed blocks. Columns were built using commercially available nonstabilised moulded earth blocks (MEBs) and cement-stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs), combined with thick-bed earth mortar (EM) and thin-layer earth-adhesive mortar (EAM). Blocks were reclaimed using a hammer drill and cleaned with a joint knife. Large sample sizes of both new and reclaimed blocks were tested, and inferential statistics, including independent t-tests and General Linear Models (GLMs), were applied to detect changes in compressive strength. Results show that sustained loading affects compressive strength differently across blockmortar combinations. MEBs consistently exhibited increases of 6% and 11%, depending on mortar type, whereas CEBs showed either a reduction of 6% or no change, depending on block orientation. The findings demonstrate the fitness for reuse in both block types based on compressive strength, but highlight the need to assess whether CEB strength reductions stabilise or worsen under prolonged loading and to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving these changes.Acknowledgements This research was supported by the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Hasselt University (BOF20OWB13), and the Living Lab Circular Economy “Application of earth blocks in practice”, funded by VLAIO, the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the NextGenerationEU fund of the European Commission

Developing an adaptive zoning system for city-scale activity-based travel demand modeling using OpenStreetMap data

City-scale activity-based demand models (ABMs) offer detailed insights into travel behaviors; however, their accuracy is often limited by the coarse spatial zoning used in many zone-based demand models. Conventional Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) aggregate data at a level that masks neighborhood-specific variations and misallocates short and non-motorized trips. To enable more realistic urban mobility analysis, this paper introduces a hybrid zoning system that adapts spatial resolution to local activity density. Using Hasselt, Belgium, as a case study, we refine official statistical sectors into high-resolution miniZones. This is achieved by applying constrained k-means clustering to OpenStreetMap building data, followed by Voronoi tessellation. The resulting clusters are transformed into contiguous zones through dissolving Voronoi tessellation. This technique is applied to provide fine-grained detail within the city's scope, reflecting the density of buildings where human activity is high. To keep the refinements of the zoning com-putationally manageable for a city-scaled regional model, a gradual reduction in detail is incorporated as one moves away from the city. This is achieved by aggregating to coarser official units in the more distant regions. The final result is a hybrid zoning system. This adaptive model approach enhances the representation of trip generation and distribution within cities, providing support for more accurate activity-based travel demand modeling.This research is supported by the VLAIO cSBO project STRAUSS HBC.2023.0008

Structural and Functional Brain Differences Related to Recurrent Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review

Objective47To explore (i) structural and functional brain changes associated with recurrent shoulder instability,48and (ii) their associations with clinical outcomes.49Design50Systematic review of observational and case-control studies.51Literature Search52A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for articles53published up to December 2023. Reporting was guided by the PERSiST and PRISMA 2020 guidelines.54Study Selection Criteria55Peer-reviewed observational and case-control studies were eligible if they included individuals with56recurrent shoulder instability and assessed structural or functional brain changes using57neuroimaging.58Data Synthesis59The internal validity of included studies was evaluated using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for60Observational and Cross-Sectional Studies and the Tool for Case-Control Studies. Outcomes were61synthesized qualitatively due to heterogeneity in imaging protocols and outcome measures.62Results63Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 100 patients with recurrent shoulder instability64and 70 healthy controls. Structural brain differences assessed via voxel-based morphometry (VBM)65were not significant in three studies, and were significant in one. Six studies reported consistent66patterns of neuroplasticity in functional brain outcomes, with increased functional connectivity in67the primary sensorimotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula. Four studies68identified significant correlations between brain connectivity measures and clinical scores,69suggesting a link between sensorimotor and emotional regulation networks and functional70outcomes in recurrent shoulder instability.71Conclusion72Functional, rather than structural, brain alterations appeared to be involved in recurrent shoulder73instability. These findings support the relevance of central mechanisms in recurrent shoulder74instability and require confirmation through longitudinal designs and larger cohorts.75No funding was received by the authors or their immediate families for performing the study. The24authors declare no conflict of interest.Tooth, C., Maricot, A., Verschueren, J., Gard. S., Tassignon, B. (2026). Structural and Functional BrainDifferences Related to Recurrent Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review.JOSPT Open. Advance publication.https://doi.org/10.2519/josptopen.2026.015

Cardiovascular adaptation to training load in endurance athletes: a longitudinal study

Background and Aims Prior studies on cardiac remodelling associated with exercise have relied on self-reported data of uncertain accuracy. In the present study, exercise duration and intensity were objectively quantified using heart rate (HR) monitors in athletes, and these metrics were correlated with cardiac magnetic resonance findings. Methods Young (16-23 years, n = 69) and middle-aged (45-70 years, n = 82) male endurance athletes with >= 80% of training sessions recorded via chest-worn HR monitors over 3 months were included. Training duration, session count, and intensity (classified into five HR zones and expressed as Edwards training impulse in arbitrary units) were analysed. Cardiac magnetic resonance measured indexed left/right ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and left ventricular mass. Results Younger athletes trained more than older athletes [169 (127-209) vs 78 (49-114) hours; 23 129 (17 880-28 305) vs 12 620 (7168-17 607) arbitrary units; both P 6 or >9 metabolic equivalent of tasks to describe intense activity. Training duration (r > .33, P .29, P < .05 for all) correlated with cardiac dimensions, but the duration always outperformed intensity. Time spent in lower HR zones (1 and 2) correlated more with cardiac dimensions than higher-intensity training. Partial least squares analysis identified training duration in Zones 1&2 and 3 and age as key determinants of cardiac remodelling, whereas intensity was not a significant determinant of cardiac dimensions. Conclusions Objective exercise quantification reveals new insights into cardiac remodelling, highlighting total exercise duration as a primary determinant of left/right ventricular volumes, independent of intensity. Traditional questionnaire-based methods may overlook these relationships.Funding The Master@Heart trial is supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO-TBM, T003717N). The Pro@Heart study is supported by unrestricted grants from Boston Scientific Belgium and Abbott Belgium. R.W. is a clinical research fellow funded by Fonds Wetenschappelijk onderzoek Vlaanderen. A.L.G. received an investigator grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council— Australian Government. Acknowledgements We would like to explicitly thank TrainingPeaks for providing us with their online platform to collect training data from both Pro@Heart and Master@Heart athletes for analysis