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Comparative analysis of public and expert perceptions of electrified vehicles in the European Union
Abstract The transition to electric vehicles is widely regarded as an effective measure to combat climate change, and its success will utterly depend on the willingness of consumers to shift to this technology, making it essential to examine public perception when designing supportive policies. Nonetheless, public perception can be biased by multiple factors such as fake news, prejudices and misgivings, leading to a significant divergence from the views of experts in the transportation field. This paper examines the differences between the views of these two groups on electric vehicles, with a specific focus on the current perception in the European Union. The research adopts a two-fold approach, starting with an empirical driving study, followed by a series of focus group discussions with transportation experts and an analysis of Twitter (formally X) data. The data for this study was collected over five years, from June 2019 to June 2024. The findings indicate that both groups generally maintain a neutral stance, with neutrality appearing in 50% of their responses. However, experts tend to prefer battery electric vehicles, positively influenced by their driving experiences. In 40% of their comments, they report favourable sentiments toward these vehicles. Conversely, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are favoured by the general public, with 35% of tweets indicating a positive attitude, as they are viewed as a more established technology. Differing perspectives on vehicle charging infrastructure are evident: specialists regard it as a hindrance to widespread adoption, with 30% expressing negative views, whereas the general population appears less concerned and more focused on the feelings and the experience of driving.
Influence of cell culture-derived media and environmental contaminants on the effect of feline calicivirus inactivation agents
Abstract Several studies on viral inactivation agents frequently overlook the influence of virus suspension conditions, which often leads to inconsistent conclusions. We investigated the impact of cell culture-derived media and environmental contaminants on the efficacy of viral inactivation agents against feline calicivirus (FCV). The FCV in Eagle’s minimum essential medium (EMEM) with cell-derived metabolites, was replaced with distilled water (DW) with using a column-based simple dispersant replacement method. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) were less effective against FCV in EMEM than DW, while didecyl dimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) was more effective. The inactivation effect of 50% v/v ethanol was stronger against FCV in EMEM than DW, whereas that of 70% v/v ethanol was more effective in DW. Analysis of the effect of EMEM components revealed that inorganic salts and basic amino acids (BAA) reduced SDS inactivation efficacy but enhanced DDAC’s. Similarly, inorganic salts reduced the effect of 70% v/v ethanol, while amino acids, especially BAA reduced that of NaClO’s. Since each inactivating agent affects FCV differently, the influence of each EMEM component is assumed to differ. Moreover, environmental contaminants, such as bovine serum and saliva, reduced the overall effectiveness of the agents owing to their inorganic substances and proteins.
Internal control risk assessment using interval valued spherical fuzzy CRITIC EDAS
Molecular insights into chemotherapy resistance mediated by MLL-AF9 fusion gene in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Developing a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait: Insights from a survey and a modified Delphi study
Background Pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare and are expected to uphold high ethical standards. Establishing a code of ethics for pharmacists is essential as it supports improved patient outcomes and increases trust in the healthcare system. Regulatory organizations worldwide have recognized the significance of such codes in guiding professional behaviour and ensuring quality care. However, a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait has not yet been published. The aim of this study was to propose a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait, using insights from a survey of practicing pharmacists and a modified Delphi study involving expert consensus. Methods A mixed methodology was employed comprising a survey of practicing pharmacists to gather their views on the clarity and acceptance of the 14 FIP standards and a modified Delphi study involving a group of experts to finalize and formulate the national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait. For the survey, all registered pharmacists practicing in Kuwait were invited to participate through the Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association. Data collection occurred between February and May 2019 via an electronic questionnaire. The Delphi study participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, with data collection taking place between March and June 2023. The Delphi study required a 90% consensus threshold for standard inclusion. Results A total of 304 pharmacists (7.6% response rate) participated in the survey. The median age was 32 years, with a gender distribution of 56.6% female. The majority (85%) reported Arabic as their first language, and 75% held a BPharm degree. Most participants found the standards clear and acceptable, with clarity percentages generally above 88% and acceptance percentages similarly high. Standards 3 (patient autonomy) and 11 (competency of support staff) had slightly lower ratings, indicating potential areas for improvement. Comments highlighted issues such as patient knowledge and the clarity of support staff roles. In the Delphi study, 30 experts participated in the first round, with standards needing a 90% consensus for inclusion. Seven standards reached consensus in the first round, four in the second, and four in the third. Standard 11 failed to achieve consensus and was removed. The iterative process ensured thorough evaluation and refinement of each standard based on expert feedback. Conclusion This study proposed a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait based on a comprehensive mixed-methods approach. The survey indicated high clarity and acceptance of most FIP standards among pharmacists, though areas for improvement were identified. The Delphi study achieved consensus on 13 out of 14 standards. This proposal provides a foundation for regulators to establish a formal code of ethics, aiming to enhance professionalism and patient trust in the healthcare system.
Nomogram prediction of overall survival in patients with bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a SEER-based retrospective cohort study
Collision risk and mobility analysis of novice drivers on a highway based on real world data
mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
Abstract The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer (BC) remains incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of large-scale microarray transcriptomic datasets to evaluate whether the mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor gene, relative to those of the estrogen receptor gene (AR/ESR1 ratio) and the progesterone receptor gene (AR/PGR ratio), can help differentiate BC tumor subtypes. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR assays to assess the mRNA levels of the AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios in four cell lines representative of different BC subtypes (MCF7, BT474, MDA-MB453, and MDA-MB231), as well as in breast tissue from a small group of patients (11 cases) stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Our results showed that higher AR gene expression relative to ESR1 and PGR (≥ 2.0 and ≥ 1.54, respectively) were associated with BC patients classified under the Luminal B and HER2-enriched subtypes. Positive values of AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios were also observed in the ER-negative (ER-) cell line MDA-MB453, as well as in tumor tissue from ER- BC patients. Our findings confirm that higher or even positive AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios may be associated with BC cases exhibiting more aggressive clinical and biological features, leading to a worse prognosis.
Impact of distance measures in adaptive K-means clustering on load profiles and spatial patterns of distributed substations in Thailand
A quantum-enhanced heuristic algorithm for optimizing aircraft landing problems in low-altitude intelligent transportation systems
A new method of semi-supervised learning classification based on multi-mode augmentation in small labeled sample environment
Influence of membrane perforation in alkaline electrolytic cells on HTO
Bromine-photosensitized degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid
Long AKAP18 isoforms anchor ubiquitin specific proteinases and coordinate calcium reuptake at the sarcoplasmic reticulum
Epidemiological trends of urolithiasis in working-age populations: Findings from the global burden of disease study 1990–2021
Background One of the most prevalent urinary disorders worldwide, urolithiasis has symptoms and a high rate of recurrence. It has placed a significant strain on the global economy and health care system, particularly among those aged 20–54. Comprehensive research on the global burden and evolving trends of urinary calculi in the 20–54 age range is lacking. Methods Three important urolithiasis indicators—prevalence, incidence, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)—were used from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database between 1990 and 2021 for this study.Point estimates were provided, as well as 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).. To assess trends in the burden of urolithiasis among the 20–54 age range, we used percentage change and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). The time trends from 1990 to 2021 were thoroughly examined using joinpoint regression analysis. This method makes it possible to compute the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), as well as the 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs)that go with them. Results The number of patients, cases, and DALYs linked to urinary stones among people aged 20–54 has significantly increased worldwide. For example, the number of urolithiasis cases increased by 48%, from 1,576,704 in 1990–2,335,010 in 2021. Comparably, the number of new cases increased by 47%, from 42,272,855 in 1990–62,269,033 in 2021. Between 1990 and 2021, the number of DALYs rose from 218,150–290,210, representing a roughly 33% increase. As of 2021, intermediate sociodemographic index (SDI) regions had the highest DALY rates, while medium-high SDI regions had the highest prevalence and incidence rates among the five SDI regions examined for this time period. Individuals between the ages of 50–54 had the greatest incidence rate within the designated cohort for that year, followed by those between the ages of 45–49 and 40–44. Across all age groups, there were noticeable gender differences, with males showing significantly greater rates than girls. Conclusions Overall, over the past 32 years, the prevalence of urolithiasis among people aged 20–54 has increased dramatically worldwide, especially in low-SDI nations and among those aged 50–54. With the goal of reducing the social and medical cost and enhancing the working-age population’s quality of life and productivity, the study’s findings highlight the urgent need for focused intervention techniques to prevent and treat urolithiasis in this age group. For example, in middle – high SDI areas, encourage 3 liters of water and a low – salt diet daily, especially for the over - 50s. In middle SDI areas, enhance primary care diagnostics, like using portable ultrasound. Regular screenings should be set for males in high – risk jobs, such as heat – exposed ones. However, this GBD – based study has limitations like data uncertainty, insufficient local strategies, and lack of trend tracking.
Maxent model-based prediction of the potential distribution of Fritillaria taipaiensis P. Y. Li
Weakening behaviour of water saturated Island coal body subjected to SHPB tests
Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 deficiency alters autism-related behavioural phenotypes in rats
Abstract Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter implicated in various physiological processes. Dysregulation of the serotonergic system, particularly in early life, may be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. This study utilises a rat model lacking the central serotonin-synthesising enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) to investigate the effects of brain serotonin depletion on core autism-related behaviours. The animals’ social behaviour was assessed using social interaction and resident-intruder tests, along with ultrasonic vocalisation analysis to evaluate communication deficits. Repetitive behaviours were examined through the marble burying test and the attentional set-shifting task to measure cognitive flexibility. Our findings indicate that TPH2-deficient (TPH2-KO) rats displayed altered patterns of social behaviour and vocalisation. Notably, the study highlights sex differences in the behavioural responses of TPH2-KO rats, with males showing increased aggression and copulation–like behaviour. Additionally, male TPH2-KO rats demonstrated cognitive inflexibility, while females displayed significant compulsivity in marble-burying tests. This research highlights the serotonergic system’s role in socio-communicative and repetitive behaviours, establishing the TPH2-KO rat model as a valuable tool for exploring the neurobiological underpinnings of autism and related disorders. Further investigations into the differential effects of serotonin depletion across sexes may enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric conditions.