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  • Donor factors linked to pancreas transplant use changed over time

    What the study found

    The study found that multiple donor factors were associated with whether a pancreas was used for transplant, and that these decisions changed over time. The most influential continuous factors were age, body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight), and peak creatinine (a kidney function marker).

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that the findings show significant shifts in pancreas transplant decision-making over time. They say growing reluctance to use donation after circulatory death (DCD, donation after the heart has stopped) donors is an area to focus U.S. pancreas utilization efforts, while increasing acceptance of hepatitis C positive and intravenous drug use (IVDU) donors may support broader use of these donor groups globally.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers conducted a population-cohort study using U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network registry data from 2010 to 2024. They used multivariable regression models to test associations between donor characteristics and pancreas utilization, and they used restricted cubic splines to model non-linear relationships plus interaction terms with donation date to examine changes over time.

    What worked and what didn't

    The study identified 23 donor factors significantly associated with pancreas utilization across 133,986 donors and 14,612 transplants. Donation after circulatory death had much lower odds of utilization, with 92% lower odds than the comparison group, while age, body mass index, and peak creatinine showed significant non-linear relationships with utilization. Over time, clinicians became less willing to use DCD donors and older donors, but more willing to use hepatitis C positive and IVDU donors.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract does not describe study limitations in detail. The data come from U.S. registry records, so the findings directly reflect U.S. practice and the time period studied.

    • Twenty-three donor factors were significantly associated with pancreas utilization.
    • Age, body mass index, and peak creatinine were the most important continuous donor factors.
    • Donation after circulatory death was associated with 92% lower odds of pancreas use.
    • Reluctance to use DCD donors and older donors increased over time.
    • Acceptance of hepatitis C positive and IVDU donors increased over time.

  • Voluntary effort was linked to greater accuracy motivation

    What the study found

    The study found that when people chose to exert maximal mental effort, they showed a greater preference for getting answers correct. The researchers did not find a consistent group-level change in the habitual bias toward reading words in the task.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that voluntary investment of cognitive effort may be driven mainly by stronger motivation for accuracy, rather than by directly suppressing habitual response tendencies. They also suggest this computational approach may be relevant in clinical settings where intentional effort allocation is impaired in psychiatric and neurological disorders.

    What the researchers tested

    Twenty healthy young adults completed the Stroop task, in which they had to name the font color of a color word while ignoring the word itself. They did this under two conditions: with maximum exertion and as relaxed as possible. Their behavior was modeled with a two-layer generative model based on active inference, a computational framework that describes behavior in terms of expected outcomes and internal beliefs.

    What worked and what didn't

    The model estimated two latent parameters: a habitual bias toward word reading over color naming, and motivation to perform the task correctly. Maximal effort was associated with increased motivation for correct performance. By contrast, the relationship with habitual word-reading bias did not show a consistent group effect.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract describes a small study with twenty healthy young adults, so the findings are limited to that group. It also does not report detailed limitations beyond the suggested clinical relevance.

    • Twenty healthy young adults completed the Stroop task under maximal effort and relaxed conditions.
    • A computational active inference model estimated habitual word-reading bias and motivation for correct performance.
    • Voluntary maximal effort was associated with greater preference for correct performance.
    • The study did not find a consistent group effect for habitual word-reading bias.
    • The authors suggest the approach may be relevant to disorders involving impaired intentional effort allocation.

  • Students reported mixed satisfaction in primary care training units

    What the study found

    The study found that students in the final semesters of medical training reported mixed satisfaction with conditions in primary health care units during community service preparation. Overall, the stage was rated 8.68 out of 10, but some community, unit, and academic conditions were viewed unfavorably.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that improving primary care has a significant impact on both medical education and the community. They also suggest that the satisfaction findings point to areas in need of improvement.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers carried out a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study at the University of Sonora from February 2023 to January 2024. They used a questionnaire based on the Official Mexican Standard and the university's internal guidelines, and 85 of 104 eligible students participated.

    What worked and what didn't

    Students reported unfavorable views in community reception, including respectful treatment, community safety, and safe access. They also reported dissatisfaction with some health unit conditions such as infrastructure, safety, furniture, and available materials, while academic conditions were generally described as satisfactory.

    What to keep in mind

    The summary does not describe long-term outcomes or compare these students with other groups. The findings are limited to one university and the students who participated in this survey.

    • 85 of 104 eligible students took part in the survey.
    • The overall stage was rated 8.68 on a 1–10 scale.
    • Unfavorable community perceptions included respectful treatment, safety, and safe access.
    • Students reported dissatisfaction with infrastructure, safety, furniture, and materials in some health units.
    • Academic conditions were described as satisfactory overall.

  • SWAT review links land use change and climate impacts in agricultural watersheds

    What the study found

    The review found that SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) studies in developing-country agricultural watersheds often report satisfactory to very good model performance. It also found that medium-sized basins are the most commonly studied, and that land use and land cover change is strongly linked with hydrological change.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that the review offers insights for effective water resource management in agricultural watersheds. They also say it helps link basin scale, climate regime, model reliability, and best management practice effectiveness.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers compiled 143 studies published between 2017 and 2025 using the PRISMA research protocol and analyzed the data collection using the PICO method. They examined SWAT model performance, watershed characteristics, land use land cover change, climate change, and best management practices in developing regions.

    What worked and what didn't

    Medium-sized basins, defined as 10,001–100,000 km², accounted for about 33% of the studies. Most studies reported R² and NSE values above 0.5, which the abstract describes as satisfactory to very good results; it also reports a strong correlation between land use and hydrological changes with R² = 0.923. The review identifies best management practice combinations in series, including structural and management practices, as important for watershed protection and sustainable agricultural practice.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract says the paper provided narrative-driven regional analyses with limited statistical integration. It also notes that future research should focus on data collection and calibration methods for SWAT modeling, climate change projections, extreme event scenarios, and long-term analysis linked to sustainable agriculture planning.

    • 143 studies from 2017–2025 were reviewed using PRISMA and PICO.
    • Medium-sized basins (10,001–100,000 km²) made up about 33% of SWAT applications.
    • Most studies reported R² and NSE values greater than 0.5.
    • The abstract reports a strong land use–hydrology relationship with R² = 0.923.
    • The review highlights combined structural and management best management practices.

  • Cardiac biomarkers rise with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

    What the study found

    Pregnant women with hypertensive disorders had higher levels of several cardiac and tissue injury biomarkers than normotensive pregnant women, and the increases were greatest in preeclampsia. The strongest rise was seen in NT-proBNP, a biomarker of ventricular wall stress.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that these biomarkers may help with risk assessment and clinical monitoring in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. They also state that integrating specific biomarkers into routine screening could support earlier risk stratification and improve maternal-foetal outcomes.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Central India from May 2023 to May 2024. They compared 312 pregnant participants: normotensive women, women with gestational hypertension, and women with preeclampsia, measuring biomarkers including CPK-MB, LDH, SGOT, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, glucose, creatinine, troponin I, and NT-proBNP.

    What worked and what didn't

    There was no significant difference in age or body mass index among the groups. Levels of NT-proBNP, troponin I, CPK-MB, SGOT, and LDH increased stepwise from normotensive pregnancy to gestational hypertension to preeclampsia, and these differences were reported as significant.

    What to keep in mind

    This was a cross-sectional study, so it measured biomarker levels at one point in time rather than tracking changes over time. The abstract does not describe other limitations.

    • 312 pregnant participants were grouped into normotensive, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia categories.
    • NT-proBNP rose from 29 pg/mL in normotensive women to 40 pg/mL in gestational hypertension and 155 pg/mL in preeclampsia.
    • Troponin I, CPK-MB, SGOT, and LDH were significantly higher in the hypertensive disorder groups.
    • Age and body mass index did not differ significantly between groups.
    • The authors conclude the biomarkers may support risk assessment and clinical monitoring.

  • Android app prototype supports receivables management in tire-recycling MSMEs

    What the study found

    The study found that the design stage produced an initial Android-based Tire-Math prototype for receivables management. The prototype includes automated calculation of receivables balances and a digital repayment reminder feature.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that integrating business mathematics through digital platforms is a crucial innovation for strengthening managerial capabilities and the sustainability of MSME tire-recycling businesses. The findings indicate that the application may help business actors monitor cash flows more accurately, according to the study.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers used a research and development approach with a 4D model: Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. This article reports only the Define and Design stages, based on in-depth interviews with business owners, analysis of operational tasks, a descriptive analysis of user needs, an interview guide, and a wireframe validation sheet.

    What worked and what didn't

    The design stage resulted in an initial prototype that automated receivables balance calculations and added repayment reminders. The abstract does not report testing beyond the design stage, so it does not state whether the prototype was evaluated in use or what did not work.

    What to keep in mind

    The study was limited to the Define and Design stages of the 4D model, so later development and dissemination were not covered. The abstract also does not describe performance testing, user outcomes, or detailed limitations beyond this scope.

    • The study developed an Android-based Tire-Math prototype for receivables management.
    • The prototype automates receivables balance calculations and includes repayment reminders.
    • The research used a research and development method with a 4D model.
    • Only the Define and Design stages were completed in the reported study.
    • The authors say digital integration of business mathematics may strengthen managerial capability and sustainability.

  • Presidential approval co-moves with broad macroeconomic conditions

    What the study found

    The study found that U.S. presidential approval is persistent over time and is linked to macroeconomic conditions in several ways. The strongest and most lasting associations were with public and private sector activity, while monetary and labor market conditions were related in more varied ways.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that the findings provide a descriptive characterization of how presidential approval co-moves with a broad set of macroeconomic conditions. The study suggests that high-dimensional screening combined with dynamic analysis can complement simpler approaches in the approval literature.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers examined economic correlates of U.S. presidential approval from 1953 to 2023 using a large macro-financial dataset. They used penalized variable-selection methods, Elastic Net and Smoothly Clipped Absolute Deviation (SCAD), to identify economically relevant predictors, then grouped the selected predictors into six economic categories and analyzed them in a Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) framework.

    What worked and what didn't

    Three descriptive patterns emerged. Presidential approval showed strong persistence and retrospective dynamics, with economically relevant information appearing most clearly at short horizons and around one year; public and private sector activity had the strongest and most persistent associations; and housing and mortgage indicators tended to show delayed responses, while recession indicators showed short-run dynamics consistent with temporary rally-type patterns.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract presents the findings as descriptive rather than causal. It also does not describe the full set of limitations, so scope constraints beyond the 1953 to 2023 period and the use of macro-financial data are not detailed in the available summary.

    • U.S. presidential approval from 1953 to 2023 co-moved with a broad set of macroeconomic conditions.
    • Public and private sector activity showed the strongest and most persistent associations with approval.
    • Monetary and labor market conditions were related to approval in systematic but heterogeneous ways.
    • Housing and mortgage indicators were associated with delayed responses.
    • Recession indicators showed short-run dynamics consistent with temporary rally-type patterns.

  • Yogyakarta’s garbage emergency reflects structural waste inequality

    What the study found

    The article argues that the “garbage emergency” in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, reflects deeper structural conditions of socio-spatial inequality and environmental injustice. It links the closure of the Piyungan landfill to a wider pattern in which waste is pushed onto peripheral “sacrifice zones” and managed by informal workers with little protection.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors suggest that the garbage emergency framing both comes from and helps maintain conditions of neglect and disavowal. They conclude that waste should be rethought as a socio-ecological crisis, not just a technical disposal issue, and that it requires more than techno-bureaucratic solutions.

    What the researchers tested

    This is a conceptual article focused on the waste crisis in Yogyakarta, especially the closure of the province’s largest landfill in Piyungan. The authors draw on Timothy Morton’s concept of a hyperobject, its political reworking as hyperabject by Mikkel Krause Frantze and Jens Bjering, and Rob Nixon’s idea of slow violence.

    What worked and what didn't

    The article presents the “garbage emergency” framing as a way that can reveal and also reproduce structural problems shaped by neglect and disavowal. It also describes urban waste management that externalizes untreated waste to suburban zones and relies on informal labor with minimal protection. The abstract does not report empirical tests, measured outcomes, or counterresults.

    What to keep in mind

    The available summary does not describe specific data, methods of collection, or a comparative design. It also does not provide detailed limitations beyond its own emphasis on conceptual framing and the Yogyakarta case.

    • The article focuses on Yogyakarta’s garbage emergency after the closure of the Piyungan landfill.
    • It argues that waste management is tied to socio-spatial inequality and environmental injustice.
    • The authors describe suburban “sacrifice zones” where informal workers manage untreated waste with minimal protection.
    • They use the ideas of hyperobject, hyperabject, and slow violence to interpret the crisis.
    • The abstract says waste should be treated as a socio-ecological crisis, not only a disposal problem.

  • DNA barcoding clarifies alien fish genetic structure in the Volga-Kama basin

    What the study found

    The study found that DNA barcoding, a method that uses DNA to identify species, revealed different genetic structures among alien fish species in the Volga-Kama basin. The authors also report that the results did not support excessively splitting these species into separate “Azov-Black Sea” and “Caspian” taxa.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors suggest that the findings help clarify the genetic structure of fish species alien to the Volga and Kama basins. They also say the results are relevant to understanding how these species appeared and mixed across regions.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers presented DNA identification results for certain alien fish species in the Volga-Kama basin. They used DNA barcoding to assess current taxonomic assignment and differentiation in the Ponto-Caspian Basin.

    What worked and what didn't

    DNA barcoding helped elucidate the genetic structure of populations of several fish species alien to the Volga and Kama. The authors report different genetic structures among species, and they suggest some differentiation may be related to isolation during past changes in the Pontic Lake-Sea after the Miocene period.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract does not provide detailed sample sizes, species names, or specific analytical steps. It also does not describe limitations beyond the statement that the results did not support overly fine splitting of species into “Azov-Black Sea” and “Caspian” taxa.

    • DNA barcoding was used to identify alien fish species in the Volga-Kama basin.
    • The study found different genetic structures among the alien species examined.
    • The authors report that the results did not support excessive splitting into “Azov-Black Sea” and “Caspian” taxa.
    • Some genetic differentiation was suggested to be linked to isolation during post-Miocene changes in the Pontic Lake-Sea.
    • The abstract says current faunal mixing is associated with dispersal through corridors formed by human activities.

  • Adaptive leadership linked to greater employee resilience

    What the study found

    The study found that adaptive leadership is associated with greater employee resilience and hope, and with lower change-related uncertainty. It also found that hope partially mediates the relationship between adaptive leadership and employee resilience.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that the findings help explain how resilience can be built through adaptive leadership, using positive and negative emotion triggers. They say the paper offers actionable practices during organizational change.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers examined the relationship between adaptive leadership, employee resilience, hope, and change-related uncertainty. They collected survey responses from 382 Chinese employees and analyzed the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), a statistical method for testing relationships among variables.

    What worked and what didn't

    Adaptive leadership was linked to higher hope and employee resilience, and to reduced change-related uncertainty. The mediation test showed that hope partially mediated the link between adaptive leadership and employee resilience.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract does not describe detailed limitations. The study used responses from Chinese employees and survey-based analysis, so the available summary does not show whether the findings apply beyond that group.

    • Adaptive leadership was associated with higher employee resilience.
    • Adaptive leadership was also associated with higher hope.
    • Adaptive leadership was associated with lower change-related uncertainty.
    • Hope partially mediated the relationship between adaptive leadership and employee resilience.
    • The study analyzed survey data from 382 Chinese employees using PLS-SEM.