Latest Articles

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  Section: Health & Movement Sciences ; Topics: Psychological and cognitive sciences, Health sciences

  Self-determination theory in physiotherapy practice: A rapid review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews

  O'Neil, Jennifer;   van Ierssel, Jacquie;   Pelletier, Luc

  10.24072/pcjournal.680 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 6 (2026), article no. e14

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  Background: The self-determination theory (SDT) is a theory on motivation proposing to support needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to improve autonomous motivation, which leads to adherence and compliance. Little is known about how SDT-driven physiotherapy interventions are implemented. Purpose: The objectives of this rapid review were to identify the type of physiotherapy contexts in which SDT is being used and describe how SDT-based physiotherapy interventions are being measured. Methods: The Cochrane Rapid Review Methods was followed to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews (SR) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of SDT-related research in physiotherapy. We conducted a search on four databases between 1990 and September 17th, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, one reviewer completed the full-text screening while another screened all excluded full-text to ensure consensus. Findings were synthesized narratively following the review objectives. Results: Of 184 identified SR or RCT, we included 8 RCTs (n=457) and 1 SR (n=712) targeting various health conditions for children and adults (i.e., cerebral palsy, adults with chronic health conditions). Physiotherapy interventions included strength and aerobic exercises, therapeutic modalities, yoga or tai chi, virtual therapy, coaching, and equine-assisted therapy. SDT techniques included communication training, autonomy supportive feedback, education and goal-setting, provision of choices, and intrinsic motivation with the use of virtual reality, robotics, circus-themed games, music, and behaviour change strategies. A positive impact of SDT-driven physiotherapy interventions was seen for adherence, engagement, acceptance, physical activity, and intrinsic motivation. Conclusion: Our rapid review suggests that SDT-driven physiotherapy is being used across a broad range of health conditions, using various physiotherapy and SDT principles derived from the theory.

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  Section: Genomics ; Topics: Genetics/genomics

  In silico evidence suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein may target coiled-coil regions of numerous cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton-associated proteins

  Brézellec, Pierre  

  10.24072/pcjournal.681 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 6 (2026), article no. e13

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  Understanding the interactions between host and viral envelope proteins is essential to get insights into the dynamics of viral infection. To investigate more closely the mechanisms governing SARS-CoV-2 entry and intracellular trafficking, I reanalyzed the most extensive SARS-CoV-2–human protein–protein interactome dataset currently available. My investigation centered on the Spike S protein, a key player in initiating viral infection by binding to the host cell membrane receptor Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2). I first present evidence demonstrating the statistical overrepresentation of actin-binding proteins among the Spike S partners/interactors. Next, I show that a majority of these partners contains a structural domain sharing high similarity with the C-terminal region of the Myosin II heavy chain, Myosin II being known for its roles in muscle contraction and various cellular motility processes. I subsequently demonstrate that this domain is particularly prevalent in actin-binding proteins, intermediate filaments proteins and kinesins, which all are related to the cytoskeleton known to be involved in diverse cellular functions, including endocytosis and intracellular transport — processes crucial for viral infections. Finally, I highlight that the structural domain mentioned above is a bonafide coiled-coil region. I therefore conclude that Spike S might target proteins possessing such regions. Collectively, my findings suggest that the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 Spike S and human proteins, potentially mediated by coiled-coil regions, may have been underestimated. As this work relies on in silico evidence, direct biological extrapolations require caution.

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  Section: Neuroscience ; Topics: Neuroscience

  Power Pixels: a turnkey pipeline for processing of Neuropixel recordings

  Meijer, Guido T.;   Battaglia, Francesco P.  

  10.24072/pcjournal.679 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 6 (2026), article no. e12

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  There are many open-source tools available for the processing of neuronal data acquired using Neuropixels probes. Each of these tools, focuses on a part of the process from raw data to single neuron activity. For example, SpikeInterface is an incredibly useful Python module for pre-processing and spike sorting of individual recordings. However, there are more steps in between raw data and spikes, such as synchronization of spike times between probes and histological reconstruction of probe insertions. Therefore, we developed Power Pixels, combining the functionality of several packages into one integrated pipeline, which may be run in any lab workflow. It includes pre-processing, spike sorting, neuron-level quality control metrics, synchronization between multiple probes, compression of raw data, and ephys-to-histology alignment. Integrating all these steps into one pipeline greatly simplifies Neuropixels data processing, especially for novel users who might struggle to find their way around all the available code and tools.

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  Section: Organization Studies ; Topics: Business and Management, Political sciences, Sociology

  Thousand plateaus: A rhizomatic approach of collaborations among organizations

  Berkowitz, Heloise;   Bor, Sanne  

  10.24072/pcjournal.669 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 6 (2026), article no. e11

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  Collaborations among organizations may happen through a variety of inter-organizational arrangements, such as alliances, supply networks, industrial districts, policy networks or meta-organizations. We join recent efforts in analysing this plurality and diversity of organizations by drawing on the concept of rhizome to study inter-organizational arrangements. We aim to provide tools which can help analysis, comparison and cumulating knowledge about inter-organizational collaborations by moving beyond categories (which are often specific to one field, theory, sector, and so forth). To do so, we build on Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of rhizome and develop an analytical rhizomatic framework focusing on connections among members, heterogeneity of members, multiplicity of interactions and connections, asignifying rupture in the connections, cartography of interactions, and decalcomania in the adoption of knowledge. On this basis, we develop an inter-organizational web approach of collaborations among organizations and outline possible applications and research venues.