bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diseño y validación de un instrumento para evaluar comportamiento contraproducente online
Authors: Lupano Perugini María Laura , Castro Solano Alejandro
Published: September 2023

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo el diseño y validación de una escala para evaluar comportamiento contraproducente en línea que incluye el análisis conjunto de conductas destructivas (antisociales) y constructivas (prosociales). Además, se propuso determinar qué rasgos de personalidad (normales, patológicos, negativos o positivos) predicen dicho comportamiento. Participaron 351 sujetos de población general argentina (156 hombres, 191 mujeres, 2 se identificaron como no binarios), con una edad promedio de 39.35 años (de = 13.79). Para el cumplimiento de todos los objetivos, aparte de la prueba construida, se emplearon los siguientes instrumentos: Big Five Inventory, Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief-Form, Positive Traits Inventory Short-Form, Dark Triad Scale, y una encuesta diseñada ad hoc para evaluar el uso de internet y redes sociales. El análisis factorial exploratorio reveló una estructura de dos factores orientados a la evaluación de los dos tipos de conductas, que explicaban el 57.5 % de la varianza total. Como resultado, se dio lugar a una escala de 18 ítems con muy buenos valores de fiabilidad —coeficiente omega— (conductas destructivas ω = 0.88; conductas constructivas ω = 0.79). Por último, se realizaron análisis de regresión jerárquica que determinaron que los rasgos de la tríada oscura son los que mejor predicen el desarrollo de conductas destructivas, en tanto que los rasgos positivos predicen las conductas constructivas.
Service availability and readiness for hip fracture care in low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia
Authors: Tabu Irewin , Goh En L. , Appelbe Duncan , Parsons Nicholas , Lekamwasam Sarath , Lee Joon-Kiong , Amphansap Tanawat , Pandey Dipendra , Costa Matthew
Published: September 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to describe the current pathways of care for patients with a fracture of the hip in five low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in South Asia (Nepal and Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines).

Methods

The World Health Organization Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool was used to collect data on the care of hip fractures in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Respondents were asked to provide details about the current pathway of care for patients with hip fracture, including pre-hospital transport, time to admission, time to surgery, and time to weightbearing, along with healthcare professionals involved at different stages of care, information on discharge, and patient follow-up.

Results

Responses were received from 98 representative hospitals across the five countries. Most hospitals were publicly funded. There was consistency in clinical pathways of care within country, but considerable variation between countries. Patients mostly travel to hospital via ambulance (both publicly- and privately-funded) or private transport, with only half arriving at hospital within 12 hours of their injury. Access to surgery was variable and time to surgery ranged between one day and more than five days. The majority of hospitals mobilized patients on the first or second day after surgery, but there was notable variation in postoperative weightbearing protocols. Senior medical input was variable and specialist orthogeriatric expertise was unavailable in most hospitals.

Conclusion

This study provides the first step in mapping care pathways for patients with hip fracture in LMIC in South Asia. The previous lack of data in these countries hampers efforts to identify quality standards (key performance indicators) that are relevant to each different healthcare system.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(9):676–681.
State-space modeling approach for fringe pattern demodulation
Authors: Sharma Shikha , Kulkarni Rishikesh
Published: September 2023

A spatial carrier fringe demodulation technique is proposed based on a state-space modeling approach for phase estimation. The fringe background intensity, carrier frequency, and phase quadrature components are considered to be the elements of the state vector, which are estimated simultaneously. The state estimation is performed using the extended Kalman filter. The simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the performance comparison of the proposed method with popular and state-of-the-art methods in terms of noise robustness and phase estimation accuracy.
Phononically Oscillating Dissipative Kerr Solitons in a Brillouin-Kerr Microcavity
Authors: Musgrave Jonathan , Nie Mingming , Huang Shu-Wei
Published: September 2023

We theoretically and experimentally study a novel non-breathing self-pulsating Brillouin-Kerr soliton resulting from photon-phonon interactions between a pump and stimulated Brillouin laser. This provides additional freedom to engineer and enhance the performance of soliton microcombs.
Estimation of solar resource for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics in urban environments using image-based shade detection
Authors: Núñez Rubén , Muñoz Álvaro , San José Luis Javier , Macías Javier , Herrero Rebeca , Antón Ignacio
Published: September 2023

Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) in urban environments face challenges in accurately estimating solar resource due to dynamic shading effects. This research presents a methodology for evaluating VIPV solar resource by analyzing imagery and detecting shade conditions along driving routes. Street image mapping services and obstacle detection algorithms are utilized to determine the shaded or sunny condition of the vehicle at each point. The approach enables the calculation of solar irradiance, considering direct and diffuse components, and identifies energetically optimal driving routes. The methodology provides valuable insights for optimizing MPPT algorithms and assessing VIPV performance in urban settings. It offers a practical tool for sustainable mobility and renewable energy integration.
Wide-wavelength–tunable distributed Bragg reflector laser diode with high thermal efficiency
Authors: Lee Chul Wook , Kwon Oh Kee , Kim Ki Soo
Published: September 2023

We proposed a thermally-tuned distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diode that has a high tuning efficiency over a wide wavelength tuning range. The laser diode is composed of a gain, a phase control (PC), and a DBR region, and its wavelength is tuned coarsely and finely by the micro-heaters on the DBR and PC regions, respectively. To improve the tuning efficiency, we developed a technique for fabricating a thermal isolation structure through a reverse mesa etching process, replacing the complex process that uses an InGaAs sacrificial layer. The DBR laser diodes (DBR-LD) fabricated using this method effectively confines heat generated by the heater, resulting in an approximate tuning range of 40 nm. This technology, which has achieved nearly four times larger wavelength tuning range than the thermally-tuned DBR-LDs without a thermal isolation structure, is considered suitable for the cost-effective development of wide-wavelength–tuning DBR-LD light sources.
Multifunctional difluoroboron β-diketonate-based luminescent receiver for a high-speed underwater wireless optical communication system
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Jian-Xin , Alkhazragi Omar , Gutiérrez-Arzaluz Luis , Zhang Huafan , Kang Chun Hong , Ng Tien Khee , Bakr Osman M. , Mohammed Omar F. , Ooi Boon S.
Published: September 2023

The last decade has witnessed considerable progress in underwater wireless optical communication in complex environments, particularly in exploring the deep sea. However, it is difficult to maintain a precise point-to-point reception at all times due to severe turbulence in actual situations. To facilitate efficient data transmission, the color-conversion technique offers a paradigm shift in large-area and omnidirectional light detection, which can effectively alleviate the étendue limit by decoupling the field of view and optical gain. In this work, we investigated a series of difluoroboron β-diketonate fluorophores by measuring their photophysical properties and optical wireless communication performances. The emission colors were tuned from blue to green, and >0.5 Gb/s data transmission was achieved with individual color channel in free space by implementing an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme. In the underwater experiment, the fluorophore with the highest transmission speed was fabricated into a 4×4 cm2 luminescent concentrator, with the concentrated emission from the edges coupled with an optical fiber array, for large-area photodetection and optical beam tracking. The net data rates of 130 Mb/s and 217 Mb/s were achieved based on nonreturn- to-zero on-off keying and OFDM modulation schemes, respectively. Further, the same device was used to demonstrate the linear light beam tracking function with high accuracy, which is beneficial for sustaining a reliable and stable connection in a dynamic, turbulent underwater environment.
Imaging through a scattering medium via model-driven deep learning
Authors: Liu Fu , Meng Xiangfeng , Yin Yongkai , Yang Xiulun
Published: September 2023

Imaging through a scattering medium is of great significance in many areas. Especially, speckle correlation imaging has been valued for its noninvasiveness. In this work, we report a deep learning solution that incorporates the physical model and an additional regularization for high-fidelity speckle correlation imaging. Without large-scale data to train, the physical model and regularization prior provide a correct direction for neural network to precisely reconstruct hidden objects from speckle under different scattering scenarios and noise levels. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method presents a significant advance in improving generalization and combating the invasion of noise.
Polarization states and far-field optical properties in dielectric photonic crystal slabs
Authors: Zagaglia Luca , Zanotti Simone , Minkov Momchil , Liscidini Marco , Gerace Dario , Claudio Andreani Lucio
Published: September 2023

We study the role of topological singularities like Bound States in a Continuum (BICs) or Circularly Polarized States (CPSs) in determining ellipticity of the far-field polarization in dielectric metasurfaces. Using finite-difference time-domain as well as rigorous coupled-wave analysis simulations, we determine the behavior of the Stokes parameter S3 in the whole k space above the light cone, with special regard to the region close to the singularities. Moreover, we clarify the relation between the topological singularities and the circular dichroism in reflectivity.
Generating the 1.5 kW mode-tunable fractional vortex beam by a coherent beam combining system
Authors: Long Jinhu , Jin Kaikai , Chen Qi , Chang Hongxiang , Chang Qi , Ma Yanxing , Wu Jian , Su Rongtao , Ma Pengfei , Zhou Pu
Published: September 2023

As an essential component of the vortex beam, the fractional vortex beam has significantly advanced various applications, such as optical imaging, optical communication, and particle manipulation. However, practical applications face a significant challenge as generating high average power fractional vortex beams remains difficult. Here, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a high average power mode-tunable fractional vortex beam generator based on an internally sensed coherent beam combining (CBC) system. We presented the first, to the best of our knowledge, successful generation of a 1.5 kW continuous wave fractional vortex beam. Moreover, real-time tuning of the topological charge (TC) from −2/3 to +2/3 was easily achieved using the programmable liquid crystals (LCs). More importantly, the fractional vortex beam copier was presented as well, and the generated fractional vortex beam could be easily transformed into a fractional vortex beam array by changing the fill factor of the laser array. This work can pave the path for the practical implementation of high average power structured light beams.
The inhibitory control of traveling waves in cortical networks
Authors: Palkar Grishma , Wu Jian-young , Ermentrout Bard
Published: September 2023

Propagating waves of activity can be evoked and can occur spontaneously in vivo and in vitro in cerebral cortex. These waves are thought to be instrumental in the propagation of information across cortical regions and as a means to modulate the sensitivity of neurons to subsequent stimuli. In normal tissue, the waves are sparse and tightly controlled by inhibition and other negative feedback processes. However, alterations of this balance between excitation and inhibition can lead to pathological behavior such as seizure-type dynamics (with low inhibition) or failure to propagate (with high inhibition). We develop a spiking one-dimensional network of neurons to explore the reliability and control of evoked waves and compare this to a cortical slice preparation where the excitability can be pharmacologically manipulated. We show that the waves enhance sensitivity of the cortical network to stimuli in specific spatial and temporal ways. To gain further insight into the mechanisms of propagation and transitions to pathological behavior, we derive a mean-field model for the synaptic activity. We analyze the mean-field model and a piece-wise constant approximation of it and study the stability of the propagating waves as spatial and temporal properties of the inhibition are altered. We show that that the transition to seizure-like activity is gradual but that the loss of propagation is abrupt and can occur via either the loss of existence of the wave or through a loss of stability leading to complex patterns of propagation.
An automated interface for sedimentation velocity analysis in SEDFIT
Authors: Schuck Peter , To Samuel C. , Zhao Huaying
Published: September 2023

Sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) is an indispensable tool for the study of particle size distributions in biopharmaceutical industry, for example, to characterize protein therapeutics and vaccine products. In particular, the diffusion-deconvoluted sedimentation coefficient distribution analysis, in the software SEDFIT, has found widespread applications due to its relatively high resolution and sensitivity. However, a lack of suitable software compatible with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) has hampered the use of SV-AUC in this regulatory environment. To address this, we have created an interface for SEDFIT so that it can serve as an automatically spawned module with controlled data input through command line parameters and output of key results in files. The interface can be integrated in custom GMP compatible software, and in scripts that provide documentation and meta-analyses for replicate or related samples, for example, to streamline analysis of large families of experimental data, such as binding isotherm analyses in the study of protein interactions. To test and demonstrate this approach we provide a MATLAB script mlSEDFIT.
What constrains food webs? A maximum entropy framework for predicting their structure with minimal biases
Authors: Banville Francis , Gravel Dominique , Poisot Timothée
Published: September 2023

Food webs are complex ecological networks whose structure is both ecologically and statistically constrained, with many network properties being correlated with each other. Despite the recognition of these invariable relationships in food webs, the use of the principle of maximum entropy (MaxEnt) in network ecology is still rare. This is surprising considering that MaxEnt is a statistical tool precisely designed for understanding and predicting many types of constrained systems. This principle asserts that the least-biased probability distribution of a system’s property, constrained by prior knowledge about that system, is the one with maximum information entropy. MaxEnt has been proven useful in many ecological modeling problems, but its application in food webs and other ecological networks is limited. Here we show how MaxEnt can be used to derive many food-web properties both analytically and heuristically. First, we show how the joint degree distribution (the joint probability distribution of the numbers of prey and predators for each species in the network) can be derived analytically using the number of species and the number of interactions in food webs. Second, we present a heuristic and flexible approach of finding a network’s adjacency matrix (the network’s representation in matrix format) based on simulated annealing and SVD entropy. We built two heuristic models using the connectance and the joint degree sequence as statistical constraints, respectively. We compared both models’ predictions against corresponding null and neutral models commonly used in network ecology using open access data of terrestrial and aquatic food webs sampled globally (N = 257). We found that the heuristic model constrained by the joint degree sequence was a good predictor of many measures of food-web structure, especially the nestedness and motifs distribution. Specifically, our results suggest that the structure of terrestrial and aquatic food webs is mainly driven by their joint degree distribution.
Trackplot: A flexible toolkit for combinatorial analysis of genomic data
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Zhou Ran , Liu Lunxu , Chen Lu , Wang Yuan
Published: September 2023

Here, we introduce Trackplot, a Python package for generating publication-quality visualization by a programmable and interactive web-based approach. Compared to the existing versions of programs generating sashimi plots, Trackplot offers a versatile platform for visually interpreting genomic data from a wide variety of sources, including gene annotation with functional domain mapping, isoform expression, isoform structures identified by scRNA-seq and long-read sequencing, as well as chromatin accessibility and architecture without any preprocessing, and also offers a broad degree of flexibility for formats of output files that satisfy the requirements of major journals. The Trackplot package is an open-source software which is freely available on Bioconda (https://anaconda.org/bioconda/trackplot), Docker (https://hub.docker.com/r/ygidtu/trackplot), PyPI (https://pypi.org/project/trackplot/) and GitHub (https://github.com/ygidtu/trackplot), and a built-in web server for local deployment is also provided.
The enablers, opportunities and challenges of electric vehicle adoption in Qatar: A systematic review of the literature and assessment of progress toward transportation transformation targets
Authors: Al-Shaiba Abdulla , Wilson Alexandra , Cochrane Logan
Published: September 2023

Governments around the world are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the transportation system is focal to the transition toward more renewable energy sources. The State of Qatar has transitioned buses in its public transportation system to be fully electric and has set a 2030 target for 10% of all new sales of vehicles to be electric vehicles (EVs). Although constrained by data limitations, this paper synthesizes and assesses the evidence and makes recommendations to support the transportation transition. OBJECTIVE: This paper assesses the available evidence on EV transitions in Qatar, identifying enablers and barriers through the use of a systematic literature review and data obtained from government sources within Qatar. METHODS: The systematic literature review was conducted in March of 2023 using two academic databases (Scopus and Web of Science). Only English language peer-reviewed articles, books, and conference proceedings pertaining to Qatar and EVs or EV charging stations were included. No resources were identified on an Arabic language database. RESULTS: The systematic review process identified 26 relevant publications, which is synthesized and critically assessed into the following thematic clusters: (a) assessments related to the electrical grid and diversifying the energy mix, (b) the planning and distribution of charging stations, and (c) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as it relates to the socio-cultural dimensions of EV adoption. DISCUSSION: The authors conclude that to meet the 2030 target, the State of Qatar must improve data collection for monitoring, rapidly expand charging station infrastructure, enable private sector engagement, and raise awareness regarding EVs to change consumer perception and choices. They explore the specific policy interventions that these domains require for the country to meet its transportation transition objectives. OTHER: This review received no funding, and the authors have no registration name or number to declare.
A drug repurposing screen for whipworms informed by comparative genomics
Authors: Coghlan Avril , Partridge Frederick A. , Duque-Correa María Adelaida , Rinaldi Gabriel , Clare Simon , Seymour Lisa , Brandt Cordelia , Mkandawire Tapoka T. , McCarthy Catherine , Holroyd Nancy , Nick Marina , Brown Anwen E. , Tonitiwong Sirapat , Sattelle David B. , Berriman Matthew
Published: September 2023

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected with the whipworm Trichuris trichiura. Novel treatments are urgently needed as current drugs, such as albendazole, have relatively low efficacy. We have investigated whether drugs approved for other human diseases could be repurposed as novel anti-whipworm drugs. In a previous comparative genomics analysis, we identified 409 drugs approved for human use that we predicted to target parasitic worm proteins. Here we tested these ex vivo by assessing motility of adult worms of Trichuris muris, the murine whipworm, an established model for human whipworm research. We identified 14 compounds with EC50 values of ≤50 μM against T. muris ex vivo, and selected nine for testing in vivo. However, the best worm burden reduction seen in mice was just 19%. The high number of ex vivo hits against T. muris shows that we were successful at predicting parasite proteins that could be targeted by approved drugs. In contrast, the low efficacy of these compounds in mice suggest challenges due to their chemical properties (e.g. lipophilicity, polarity, molecular weight) and pharmacokinetics (e.g. absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) that may (i) promote absorption by the host gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing availability to the worms embedded in the large intestine, and/or (ii) restrict drug uptake by the worms. This indicates that identifying structural analogues that have reduced absorption by the host, and increased uptake by worms, may be necessary for successful drug development against whipworms.
Primary cerebral cystic echinococcosis in a child from Roman countryside: Source attribution and scoping review of cases from the literature
Authors: Casulli Adriano , Pane Stefania , Randi Franco , Scaramozzino Paola , Carvelli Andrea , Marras Carlo Efisio , Carai Andrea , Santoro Azzurra , Santolamazza Federica , Tamarozzi Francesca , Putignani Lorenza
Published: September 2023

Background

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the species belonging to theEchinococcus granulosus sensu lato(s.l.) complex. Parasitic cysts causing human CE are mainly localized in the liver and in the lungs. In a smaller number of cases, larvae may establish in any organ or tissue, including the central nervous system (CNS). Cerebral CE (CCE) is rare but poses serious clinical challenges.

Methods

This study presents a case of CCE in a child living in the countryside near Rome (Italy), along with a comparative molecular analysis of the isolated cyst specimens from the patient and sheep of local farms. We also systematically searched the literature to summarize the most relevant epidemiological and clinical aspects of this uncommon localization.

Findings

The comparative molecular analysis confirmed that the infection was caused byE.granulosus sensu stricto(s.s.) (G3 genotype), and most likely acquired in the family farm.

The literature search identified 2,238 cases of CCE. In 80.51% of cases, brain was the only localization and single CCE cysts were present in 84.07% of cases. Mean patients’ age was 20 years and 70.46% were children. Cyst rupture was reported in 12.96% and recurrence of CCE after treatment in 9.61% of cases. Permanent disability was reported in 7.86% of cases, while death occurred in 6.21%. In case series reporting all CE localization, CCE represented 1.5% of all CE cases. In the few reports that identified at molecular level the CCE cyst,E.granulosus s.s. was found in 40% andE.canadensisin 60% of cases.

Conclusions

We report a rare case of CCE and evidenced the probable local origin of infection. The proportions of CE cases with uncommon localizations and with high impact on patients’ lives have been globally neglected and should be included in the computation of the global burden of CE.
Determination of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd) into the body organs of selected fish, water, sediment, and soil samples from Head Punjnad and Head Taunsa, Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Khalid Javed , Khan Noor , Fatima Mahroze , Lashari Mushtaq Hussain , Asad Muhammad , Ashraf Asma , Fatima Huma , Majeed Hamid , Baboo Irfan , Iqbal Khalid Jamshed , Asghar Muhammad , Saeed Usama , Ali Wazir , Nazir Sadia , Bano Sheeza , Tanveer Ayesha
Published: September 2023

The present study was conducted on Head Punjnad (HP) and Head Taunsa (HT) to evaluate the contamination of Pb, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd in water, soil, sediment, fish as a whole and fish organs. Fish, water, soil and sediment samples were collected from different sites of HT and HP on a monthly basis for 8 months. Heavy metals in water, soil, and sediment were determined by a polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer and in fish and fish organs by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Contamination of Cd, Hg, and As was significantly (P<0.05) higher in water of HP as compared to HT, while Cr showed a non-significant (P>0.05) difference at HP and HT. Pb was significantly (P<0.05) higher in water of HT as compared to HP. In the case of soil, Cd, Hg, and Pb were higher at HT as compared to HP, while As and Cr were significantly (P<0.05) higher at HP as compared to HT. In sediment, contamination of Cd, Hg, and As were significantly (P<0.05) higher at HP as compared to HT, while the Cr difference was non-significant (P>0.05) but Pb showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher value at HT than HP. Cd accumulation in different fish species was recorded as R. rita ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃S. sarwari ˃C. idella ˃C. catla ˃N. notopterus ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita ˃C. carpio, respectively. Hg as O. niloticus ˃S. sarwari ˃R. rita ˃C. marulius ˃C. catla ˃N. notopterus ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita ˃C. carpio ˃C. idella, respectively. As as O. niloticus ˃R. rita ˃S. sarwari ˃C. marulius ˃C. catla ˃C. carpio ˃N. notopterus ˃C. idella ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita, respectively. Cr accumulation recorded as L. rohita ˃C. idella ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃E. vacha ˃R. rita ˃C. catla ˃C. carpio ˃S. sarwari ˃N. notopterus, respectively. Pb accumulation in different fish species was recorded as C. idella ˃C. carpio ˃N. notopterus ˃L. rohita ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃R. rita ˃S. sarwari ˃E. vacha ˃C. catla, respectively. Cd accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃liver ˃gills ˃muscle ˃skin ˃scale. Hg accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃gills ˃liver ˃skin ˃muscle ˃scale. As accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃liver ˃gills ˃muscle ˃skin ˃scale. Cr accumulation in different organs was recorded as gills ˃ liver ˃skin ˃muscle ˃kidney ˃scale. Pb accumulation in different organs was recorded as gills˃ kidney˃ skin˃ liver˃ muscle˃ scale.
Interaction of biomolecules with anatase, rutile and amorphous TiO2 surfaces: A molecular dynamics study
Authors: Tarjányi Tamás , Bogár Ferenc , Minárovits János , Gajdács Márió , Tóth Zsolt
Published: September 2023

The adhesion of biomolecules to dental and orthopedic implants is a fundamental step in the process of osseointegration. Short peptide motifs, such as RGD or KRSR, carried by extracellular matrix proteins or coated onto implant surfaces, accelerate cell adhesion and tissue formation. For this reason, understanding the binding mechanisms of adhesive peptides to oxidized surfaces of titanium implants is of paramount importance. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to compare the adhesion properties of 6 peptides, including the tripeptide RGD, its variants KGD and LGD, as well as the tetrapeptide KRSR, its variant LRSR and its truncated version RSR, on anatase, rutile, and amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) surfaces. The migration of these molecules from the water phase to the surface was simulated in an aqueous environment. Based on these simulations, we calculated the residence time of each peptide bound to the three different TiO2 structures. It was found that the presence of an N-terminal lysine or arginine amino acid residue resulted in more efficient surface binding. A pulling simulation was performed to detach the adhered molecules. The maximum pulling force and the binding energy were determined from the results of these simulations. The tri- and tetrapeptides had slightly greater adhesion affinity to the amorphous and anatase structure than to rutile in general, however specific surface and peptide binding characters could be detected. The binding energies obtained from our simulations allowed us to rank the adhesion strengths of the studied peptides.
Pediatric overweight and obesity increased in Israel during the COVID-19 period
Authors: Rose Adam , Mor Eliana Ein , Krieger Michal , Ben-Yehuda Arie , Revel-Vilk Shoshana , Cohen Arnon D. , Matz Eran , Bar-Ratson Edna , Bareket Ronen , Paltiel Ora , Calderon-Margalit Ronit
Published: September 2023

Reports from many settings suggest that pediatric overweight and obesity increased in 2020 and 2021, presumably due to lifestyle changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these previous reports have relied on convenience samples or subsets of the population. Here, we present results of a longitudinal study of the entire population of Israel, a nation of approximately 9 million people, with the proportion with underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity at age 7 and at age 14–15, across the years 2017–2021. Our results show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity, which had been steady or improving through 2019, increased relatively quickly in 2020 and 2021. For example, among 7-year-olds, the percentage of children with obesity in 2019 was 6.8% (99% CI: 6.69–7.05), and by 2021, it had increased to 7.7% (99% CI: 7.53–7.93). There were important disparities in overweight and obesity based on SES; for example, the rate ratio for obesity comparing the poorest with the wealthiest 14–15-year-olds in 2019 was 1.63 (99% CI: 1.55–1.72). However, these disparities did not change meaningfully in 2020 and 2021, implying that while obesity did become more prevalent, this increase in prevalence was not differential across socioeconomic status. Like many other nations, Israel too experienced considerable increases in pediatric overweight and obesity in 2020–2021, erasing the improvements of the previous years among younger children.
Supporting antidepressant discontinuation using mindfulness plus monitoring versus monitoring alone: A cluster randomized trial in general practice
Authors: Huijbers Marloes J. , Wentink Carolien , Lucassen Peter L.B.J. , Kramers Cornelis , Akkermans Reinier , Spijker Jan , Speckens Anne E.M.
Published: September 2023

Discontinuing antidepressant medication (ADM) can be challenging for patients and clinicians. In the current study we investigated if Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) added to supported protocolized discontinuation (SPD) is more effective than SPD alone to help patients discontinue ADM. This study describes a prospective, cluster-randomized controlled trial (completed). From 151 invited primary care practices in the Netherlands, 36 (24%) were willing to participate and randomly allocated to SPD+MBCT (k = 20) or SPD (k = 16). Adults using ADM > 9 months were invited by GPs to discuss tapering, followed by either MBCT+SPD, or SPD alone. Exclusion criteria included current psychiatric treatment; substance use disorder; non-psychiatric indication for ADM; attended MBCT within past 5 years; cognitive barriers. From the approximately 3000 invited patients, 276 responded, 119 participated in the interventions and 92 completed all assessments. All patients were offered a decision aid and a personalized tapering schedule (with GP). MBCT consisted of eight group sessions of 2.5 hours and one full day of practice. SPD was optional and consisted of consultations with a mental health assistant. Patients were assessed at baseline and 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up, non-blinded. In line with our protocol, primary outcome was full discontinuation of ADM within 6 months. Secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, rumination, well-being, mindfulness skills, and self-compassion. Patients allocated to SPD + MBCT (n = 73) were not significantly more successful in discontinuing (44%) than those allocated to SPD (n = 46; 33%), OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.49, p = .24, number needed to treat = 9. Only 20/73 allocated to MBCT (27%) completed MBCT. No serious adverse events were reported. In conclusion, we were unable to demonstrate a significant benefit of adding MBCT to SPD to support discontinuation in general practice. Actual participation in patient-tailored interventions was low, both for practices and for patients. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov PRS ID: NCT03361514 registered December 2017)
Is time an embodied property of concepts?
Authors: Davis Charles P. , Yee Eiling
Published: September 2023

A haircut usually lasts under an hour. But how long does it take to recognize that something is an instance of a haircut? And is this “time-to-perceive” a part of the representation of concepts like haircut? Across three experiments testing lexical decision, word recognition, and semantic decision, we show that the amount of time people say it takes to perceive a concept in the world (e.g., haircut, dandelion, or merit) predicts how long it takes for them to respond to a word referring to that thing, over and above the effects of other lexical-semantic variables (e.g., word frequency, concreteness) and other variables related to conceptual complexity (e.g., how confusable a concept is with other, similar concepts, or the diversity of the contexts in which a concept appears). These results suggest that our experience of how long it takes to recognize an instance of a concept can become a part of its representation, and that we simulate this information when reading words. Consequently, we suggest that time may be an embodied property of concepts.
Performance of solar roof top panels with disparate particulate accumulation: Exergy analysis on an indoor lab study
Authors: Khan Muhammad Alam Zaib , Wahab Abdul , Ali Fawad , Ahmad Naveed , Kamran Muhammad Ali , Hassan Ali
Published: September 2023

Deployment of solar photovoltaic panels are significantly rising to tackle adverse effects of climate change however, factors affecting output need to be categorized in addition to latitude angle and space. It is important to consider the atmospheric impact which can drastically change output power of solar panels. This study covers dust accumulation of soil, sand and ash at variable weights to foresee its effects on panel power output. Mixtures of these particles at multiple constituents were also analyzed. Experimental results indicated that clean panel gives maximum power output of 21.37W and exergy efficiency of 7.96% whereas ash accumulation showed worst results of 2.88W power output and 1.07% exergy efficiency at 700W/m2 and 50g dust accumulation. Other parameters like energy destruction, exergy losses and sustainability index were also analyzed. Trends have been illustrated in graphs along with the change in solar intensity and dust accumulations.
UAV aided virtual cooperative spectrum sensing for cognitive radio networks
Authors: Gul Noor , Kim Su Min , Ali Jehad , Kim Junsu
Published: September 2023

Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) involves multiple secondary users (SUs) reporting primary user (PU) channel sensing states to the fusion center (FC). However, the high overheads associated with multi-user CSS impose power limitations that limit its usefulness in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks. To address this challenge, we propose a virtual CSS, where a single UAV conducts CSS while following a circular flight trajectory in the air. The novelty of our approach is presenting a working frame structure for the UAV flight, including sensing and data transmission periods with further division of the sensing time into mini-sensing slots. In the virtual CSS, UAV performs local sensing decisions in each mini-slot and accumulates them for a final decision. The proposed virtual CSS scheme exploits sequential decision fusion (SDF), which sequentially adds individual mini-slot decisions. Additionally, we leverage machine learning (ML), employing AdaBoost ensembling classifier (ENC), to inspect flight conditions and reconfigure mini-slot periods dynamically for both traditional decision fusion (TDF) and our proposed SDF schemes. Furthermore, we identify an optimal decision threshold (ODT) for the proposed SDF, enabling the comparison of sequential results with an adjustable threshold through majority voting. This novel approach results in energy efficiency and improved throughput for virtual CSS using SDF, surpassing the performance of TDF, which relies on collecting entire mini-slot reports for its final decision. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SDF following the ENCODT (SDF-ENCODT) scheme compared to existing techniques from the literature. We explore varying levels of UAV flight velocities, moving radius, detection probability demand, and channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reinforcing the significance of our contribution. Our research highlights the motivation to address spectrum scarcity in UAV communication by proposing an innovative virtual CSS scheme based on SDF. The proposed approach enhances spectrum utilization, overcomes power limitations, and substantially improves CSS for UAV networks.
Airway metabolic profiling during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection identifies branched chain amino acids as signatures of upper airway colonisation
Authors: Green Angharad E. , Pottenger Sian , Monshi Manal S. , Barton Thomas E. , Phelan Marie , Neill Daniel R.
Published: September 2023

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia and bacteraemia and is capable of remarkable phenotypic plasticity, responding rapidly to environmental change. Pneumococcus is a nasopharyngeal commensal, but is responsible for severe, acute infections following dissemination within-host. Pneumococcus is adept at utilising host resources, but the airways are compartmentalised and those resources are not evenly distributed. Challenges and opportunities in metabolite acquisition within different airway niches may contribute to the commensal-pathogen switch when pneumococcus moves from nasopharynx into lungs. We used NMR to characterise the metabolic landscape of the mouse airways, in health and during infection. Using paired nasopharynx and lung samples from naïve animals, we identified fundamental differences in metabolite bioavailability between airway niches. Pneumococcal pneumonia was associated with rapid and dramatic shifts in the lung metabolic environment, whilst nasopharyngeal carriage led to only modest change in upper airway metabolite profiles. NMR spectra derived from the nasopharynx of mice infected with closely-related pneumococcal strains that differ in their colonisation potential could be distinguished from one another using multivariate dimensionality reduction methods. The resulting models highlighted that increased branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) bioavailability in nasopharynx is a feature of infection with the high colonisation potential strain. Subsequent analysis revealed increased expression of BCAA transport genes and increased intracellular concentrations of BCAA in that same strain. Movement from upper to lower airway environments is associated with shifting challenges in metabolic resource allocation for pneumococci. Efficient biosynthesis, liberation or acquisition of BCAA is a feature of adaptation to nasopharyngeal colonisation.
Evidence for preexisting prion substrain diversity in a biologically cloned prion strain
Authors: Gunnels Tess , Shikiya Ronald A. , York Taylor C. , Block Alyssa J. , Bartz Jason C.
Published: September 2023

Prion diseases are a group of inevitably fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting numerous mammalian species, including Sapiens. Prions are composed of PrPSc, the disease specific conformation of the host encoded prion protein. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease under controlled transmission conditions. Treatment of rodents with anti-prion drugs results in the emergence of drug-resistant prion strains and suggest that prion strains are comprised of a dominant strain and substrains. While much experimental evidence is consistent with this hypothesis, direct observation of substrains has not been observed. Here we show that replication of the dominant strain is required for suppression of a substrain. Based on this observation we reasoned that selective reduction of the dominant strain may allow for emergence of substrains. Using a combination of biochemical methods to selectively reduce drowsy (DY) PrPSc from biologically-cloned DY transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME)-infected brain resulted in the emergence of strains with different properties than DY TME. The selection methods did not occur during prion formation, suggesting the substrains identified preexisted in the DY TME-infected brain. We show that DY TME is biologically stable, even under conditions of serial passage at high titer that can lead to strain breakdown. Substrains therefore can exist under conditions where the dominant strain does not allow for substrain emergence suggesting that substrains are a common feature of prions. This observation has mechanistic implications for prion strain evolution, drug resistance and interspecies transmission.
Tales of a state of mind, body and space: The quest for the next luxury
Authors: Valente Tiago
Published: September 2023

Once upon a time, luxury was defined by rare and expensive materials, exceptional craftsmanship and iconic design. It was about acquiring something that only a select few could afford and displaying it as a symbol of wealth and status. However, as the world changed, so too did the definition of luxury. Today, the luxury market is experiencing a transformation that is rewriting the rules of what it means to be luxurious. In order to succeed in this rapidly changing landscape, luxury brands must embrace a new paradigm of leadership. They must be proactive in their approach, seeking out new opportunities for growth and innovation. And they must be willing to take bold risks and embrace new technologies and business models. So what does all of this mean for the future of luxury beyond 2023? It means that in order to survive and thrive, luxury brands must be able to adapt to their changing environment, to balance the tension between opposing forces and to create their own unique interpretation of what luxury means. They must also be able to innovate and create new and relevant experiences for consumers, and to do so, they must be able to think creatively and to think beyond the constraints of traditional models and conventions. This article details the rationale behind how luxury brands have an opportunity to lead the way in shaping a more responsible, sustainable and equitable future. It offers actions and strategies to understand how to embrace their mantle of greater expectation and responsibility, in order to use their comparative advantage to drive positive change in society.
‘Brand Purpose’ in fashion and luxury brand management: A must or an opportunity?
Authors: Balossini Volpe Alessandro
Published: September 2023

In contemporary brand management practices, the definition and effective marketing of a so-called Purpose is commonly considered as mandatory to achieve a competitive advantage and eventually a superior financial performance. Such practices are particularly common in the fashion and luxury industries. Through the analysis of appropriate business literature, marketing researches and relevant case histories, the author rejects this popular belief, first, because many brands are perfectly successful, even without any Purpose (which should not be confused with corporate communications strategies), its identity having been successfully built around other worthy values; moreover, not necessarily, customers always prioritize Purpose-driven brands in their purchases, particularly if commanding higher prices and during recessions. A well-designed and effectively marketed Brand Purpose surely offers opportunities (i.e. strong and resilient emotional connections with targeted customer segments, including high spending luxury buyers and communication opportunities and visibility of brand leaders and spokespersons) but also implies risks (i.e. ideological values are by definition controversial, therefore such strategies could hurt part of the clientele of brands with broad target audiences, and negative reactions from some governments or from the public opinion in different cultural environments). Finally, and more crucially, managers should be aware that Purpose-centred brands are constantly overexposed towards the media, their target customers and the public opinion, and their stakeholders are more and more demanding, scrutinizing their practices and expecting impeccable consistency; therefore, just ‘building’ a narrative without consistent underlying practices will likely be ineffective, if not counterproductive.
Examining proxemic as an instrument for experiential brand design in physical retail spaces
Authors: Cruz Megchun Beatriz Itzel
Published: September 2023

For luxury coffee shops to create positive and memorable brand experiences for their customers, they must carefully design, manage and maintain their brand image throughout the entire consumer journey. The store environment plays a prominent role because it strongly influences customers’ perceptions of the brand. Factors such as the social atmosphere and employee interactions contribute to defining and representing the brand identity to customers. Therefore, coffee shops must consider customers’ cultural identities to ensure their experiences are relevant to the sociocultural context. By integrating design, branding, anthropometry and proxemics, decision-makers can create personalized experiences that engage customers on physical, emotional, cognitive and cultural levels. This research focuses on using proxemics to design luxury coffee shop experiences in multicultural spaces. We propose an instrument to collect data on task patterns, task distinctions and user preferences in coffee shops. The tool consists of three sections that collect data on proxemic behaviour, proxemic perceptions (cultural) and proxemic reflections. We used a case study to exhibit the relevance of proxemics and proxemic behaviour in improving the interaction between person, object and space. The instrument offers the possibility to document proxemic factors that are imperceptible and intangible in the users’ brand experience and journey in a retail space. It also provides data to increase user engagement with different touchpoints, such as retail space, product design and identity design. Proxemic behaviour is relevant in addressing cultural, behavioural and sociological aspects of interpersonal situations related to spatial distance between individuals. These findings suggest the relevance of proxemics in promoting human-centred design in experiential spaces. Ultimately, the work aims to expand the available instruments and methods for improving user experiences in service-based industries within the experience economy.