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High Entropy: A General Strategy for Broadening the Operating Temperature of Magnetic Refrigeration

Intercultural competence of Chinese students abroad: An investigation under Sino-foreign Cooperative Education Programs

The rapid growth of Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Programs highlights the critical role of intercultural competence (IC) for Chinese students studying abroad. While extensive research exists on domestic contexts, empirical studies on Chinese students’ experiences at foreign partner institutions remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by examining the intercultural competence of Chinese students in these programs and identifying key factors influencing their development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study surveyed 130 Chinese students in Ireland and conducted WeChat video interviews with 16 participants. The results indicate that Chinese students generally exhibit moderately high levels of IC. Language proficiency, intercultural training, and intercultural contact experiences were significantly and positively associated with IC, while gender showed no significant correlation. These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors shaping intercultural competence in international education. The study offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers to improve intercultural training and support in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Programs. It also fills a key research gap by providing empirical evidence on Chinese students’ intercultural experiences abroad, laying the groundwork for future research and practical improvements.

Biocatalytic conversion of microalgal biomass to biodiesel: optimization of growth conditions and synthesis of CaO bionanocatalyst from Monoraphidium sp. NCIM 5585

Abstract Microalgal feedstock is a potential source for biodiesel production that addresses the challenges of fuel security and sustainable agriculture. This study aims to maximize biomass yield and lipid accumulation for freshwater microalga Monoraphidium sp. NCIM 5585 and utilize it for biodiesel production, contributing to the development of biocatalysis-based biofuels. Independent optimization studies were conducted to investigate critical growth parameters, viz., light intensity, photoperiod, and NaNO3 concentration. The study showed highest biomass productivity of 51.75 ± 1.9 mg/L.d and lipid content of 47.3 ± 0.02% (w/w) at 40 µmol/m2/s light intensity, 16 h L:08 h D photoperiod, and 0.25 g/L NaNO3. Further, a novel CaO bionanocatalyst was synthesized using residual microalgal biomass and characterized using SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and XRD. The characterization results from SEM and EDX confirmed the structural and elemental composition of bionanocatalyst with Ca and O as main elements. XRD revealed the crystalline nature of CaO with particle size of 17.83 nm. 86.5 ± 0.65% (w/w) FAME was obtained using the synthesized catalyst and was characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GC-MS. This study demonstrates the potential of Monoraphidium sp., optimized growth conditions and the significance of reusability of residual microalgal biomass as catalyst for sustainable biodiesel production, offering a promising solution for fuel security and biotechnology applications.

Intrinsic Mechanical Effects on the Activation of Carbon Catalysts

Pre-injury frailty and clinical care trajectory of older adults with trauma injuries: A retrospective cohort analysis of A large level I US trauma center

Background Pre-injury frailty among older adults with trauma injuries is a predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. Objectives We sought to determine the relationship between frailty status and the care trajectories of older adult patients who underwent frailty screening in the emergency department (ED). Methods Using a retrospective cohort design, we pooled trauma data from a single institutional trauma database from August 2020 to June 2023. We limited the data to adults 65 years and older, who had trauma injuries and frailty screening at ED presentation (N = 2,862). The predictor variable was frailty status, measured as either robust (score 0), pre-frail (score 1–2), or frail (score 3–5) using the FRAIL index. The outcome variables were measures of clinical care trajectory: trauma team activation, inpatient admission, ED discharge, length of hospital stay, in-hospital death, home discharge, and discharge to rehabilitation. We controlled for age, sex, race/ethnicity, health insurance type, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, injury type and severity, and Glasgow Coma Scale score. We performed multivariable logistic and quantile regressions to measure the influence of frailty on post-trauma care trajectories. Results The mean (SD) age of the study population was 80 (8.9) years, and the population was predominantly female (64%) and non-Hispanic White (60%). Compared to those classified as robust, those categorized as frail had 2.5 (95% CI: 1.86–3.23), 3.1 (95% CI: 2.28–4.12), and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.23–0.42) times the adjusted odds of trauma team activation, inpatient admission, and ED discharge, respectively. Also, those classified as frail had significantly longer lengths of hospital stay as well as 3.7 (1.07–12.62), 0.4 (0.28–0.47), and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.71–2.91) times the odds of in-hospital death, home discharge, and discharge to rehabilitation, respectively. Conclusion Pre-injury frailty is a predictor of clinical care trajectories for older adults with trauma injuries.

Integrating electrocardiogram and fundus images for early detection of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a predominant health concern globally, emphasizing the need for advanced diagnostic techniques. In our research, we present an avant-garde methodology that synergistically integrates ECG readings and retinal fundus images to facilitate the early disease tagging as well as triaging of the CVDs in the order of disease priority. Recognizing the intricate vascular network of the retina as a reflection of the cardiovascular system, alongwith the dynamic cardiac insights from ECG, we sought to provide a holistic diagnostic perspective. Initially, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was applied to both the ECG and fundus images, transforming the data into the frequency domain. Subsequently, the Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) was computed for the frequency-domain features of both modalities. These EMD values were then concatenated, forming a comprehensive feature set that was fed into a Neural Network classifier. This approach, leveraging the FFT’s spectral insights and EMD’s capability to capture nuanced data differences, offers a robust representation for CVD classification. Preliminary tests yielded a commendable accuracy of 84%, underscoring the potential of this combined diagnostic strategy. As we continue our research, we anticipate refining and validating the model further to enhance its clinical applicability in resource limited healthcare ecosystems prevalent across the Indian sub-continent and also the world at large.

A Dual-Pathway Responsive Mechanophore for Intelligent Luminescent Polymer Materials

Correction: Recovery from acute hypoxia: A systematic review of cognitive and physiological responses during the ‘hypoxia hangover’

Multi-object coaxial imaging with an Airy beam array

Correction to “One-Step Electrochemical Ethylene-to-Ethylene Glycol Conversion over a Multitasking Molecular Catalyst”

Transient ocular hypertension remodels astrocytes through S100B

Glaucoma is a series of irreversible and progressive optic nerve degenerations, often accompanied by astrocyte remodeling as the disease progresses, a process that is insufficiently understood. Here, we investigated the morphology of retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes under mechanical stress, and explored whether a specific phase is present that precedes astrocyte remodeling. A mouse model of transient ocular hypertension (OHT) and an in vitro cell stretch model were established to mimic the pathological conditions of increased intraocular pressure and mechanical stress on cultured cells. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100B, and actin staining were used to characterize astrocyte morphology and cytoskeleton, with qPCR used to measure mRNA expression. We also silenced S100B expression and conduct RNA sequencing on ONH astrocytes. Astrocytes displayed weaker GFAP intensity (p < 0.0001) in the early-stage OHT mouse model, prior to the onset of hypertrophy, which was accompanied by an increase in GFAP mRNA expression (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in S100B mRNA expression (p < 0.001). In vitro-stretched astrocytes tended to contract and had fewer cellular processes and more elongated cell bodies. Downregulation of S100B expression occurred in in both the in vivo (p = 0.0001) and in vitro (p = 0.0023) models. S100B-silenced ONH astrocytes were similarly characterized by a slender morphology. In the RNA-seq analysis, genes downregulated by more than fivefold were predominantly enriched in terms related to nutrient metabolism, motor proteins and morphogenesis. Meanwhile, genes upregulated by more than fivefold were primarily associated with terms related to histone modification and visual perception. As an early response to mechanical stress, S100B expression is downregulated in astrocytes, which assume a slender morphology, reminiscent of cell “weakening.” Silencing intracellular S100B expression induced similar morphology changes and altered the transcriptome. Stress-induced changes were reversible, with evidence of enhanced late-stage reactivation that is likely related to S100B.

A normal electrocardiogram indicates a better prognosis in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Dipnictogen Radical Chemistry: A Dithorium-Supported Distibene Radical Trianion

Cesarean section and the gestational duration of subsequent pregnancies: A nationwide register-based cohort study

Introduction Preterm delivery risk is increased for women with a previous cesarean section, which are becoming more common worldwide. However, this risk is based on studies which have not fully accounted for selection bias, and the studied outcomes have been limited to the study of early deliveries. This study aimed to determine the impact of previous delivery modes on the incidence of deviant duration of subsequent pregnancies. Material and methods This retrospective cohort study used clinical data registered in the Swedish Medical Birth Register. 612 935 women with their first two pregnancies and 157 581 women with their first three pregnancies were included. The outcome was the gestational duration of the last pregnancy of the series, depending on previous delivery modes. The associations were analysed with multivariable logistic regression (with the gestational duration categorised) and survival models including Cox regression analyses. Results When using standard logistic regression, previous cesarean section was associated with an increased risk of both spontaneous preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.67, 95% CI 1.57–1.77) and postterm birth (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.49–1.62). However, the more appropriate survival models only showed an association between cesarean section and longer gestational duration of the subsequent pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.71–0.73). Conclusions The survival model handles bias related to management differences between the exposure and reference groups better than standard logistic regression, making it the statistical method of choice when conducting studies on this research topic. This study shows that the main association between cesarean section and the gestational duration of the subsequent pregnancy is the prolonging of it, which stands in contrast with previous research on the topic.

Author Correction: Integrated high-precision real scene 3D modeling of karst cave landscape based on laser scanning and photogrammetry

Beyond Polymerization: In Situ Coupled Fluorination Enables More Stable Interfaces for Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Mapping the global election landscape on social media in 2024

In 2024, a significant portion of the global population will participate in elections, creating an opportunity to analyze how information spreads and how users behave on social media. This study examines the media landscape on Facebook by analyzing posts from political parties and major news outlets in Europe, Mexico, and India. By identifying key topics and measuring public engagement, we uncover patterns in political discourse. Using Principal Component Analysis, we explore how these topics are related and distinguish trends in audience interaction. Our findings show how certain topics resonate differently across political groups, providing insights into the relationship between media content, political ideology, and user engagement during elections.

Optimizing chickpea yield prediction under wilt disease through synergistic integration of biophysical and image parameters using machine learning models

Light-Harvesting Spin Hyperpolarization of Organic Radicals in a Metal–Organic Framework

Examining attitudes about the virtual workplace: Associations between zoom fatigue, impression management, and virtual meeting adoption intent

Impression management is a crucial tactic within the workplace milieu. This study establishes a connection between impression management and the negative self-evaluation stemming from heightened self-monitoring during virtual meetings (VM), which manifests in the form of Zoom (VM) fatigue. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, by recruiting 2,448 U.S.-based workers. Our survey results revealed that facial appearance dissatisfaction is associated with VM fatigue, resulting in lower intention to adopt VM technologies due to decreased perceived usefulness of VM technologies. Furthermore, building upon the Uses and Gratification (UG) perspective and the assumptions of the Social Information Processing (SIP) theory and the Hyperpersonal Model, our findings illuminate that VM fatigue prompts the use of impression management behaviors by using VM features closely linked to dissatisfaction with one’s facial appearance. The results suggest that utilization of impression management features in VMs is driven by needs related to facial appearance concerns, which is associated with impression management. This study extends the concept of impression management to VM environments in the workplace, underscoring the importance of addressing workers’ needs and well-being to foster worker-friendly VM communication environments and promote VM acceptance. This study identifies external factors within the Technology Acceptance Model by integrating the UG perspective, the SIP theory, and the Hyperpersonal Model to understand the mechanisms underlying VM fatigue and adoption in the emerging virtual workplace.