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An improved RIME optimization algorithm based maximum power point tracking method for photovoltaic system under partially shading condition

Insights from the transcriptome and metabolome into the molecular basis of diapause in Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera, Olethreutidae)

Leguminivora glycinivorella is a major pest in soybean production, causing huge economic losses to soybean production when the damage is severe, It typically usually overwintering with mature larvae lagging, which may be an effective tool for pest management. In this study, the key substances of diapause regulation were identified by differential expression genes and differential metabolites, using transcriptome and metabolomics analyses in the diapause and pre-diapause stages in L. glycinivorella. The findings revealed that 5558 genes in total were significantly altered during diapause, with pyruvate kinase (PK), trehalose synthase (TPS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), citrate synthase (CS), and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) showing significant decreases. There were 1628 metabolites with significant changes, especially proline, Phosphatidyl choline, and unsaturated fatty acids increased significantly in the period of diapause. Meanwhile, KEGG analysis based on the above differential substances showed that they were involved in TCA cycle, glycolysis, and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway, which suggesting that they may be closely related to energy reserve, antioxidant regulation and hormone regulation during diapause. In this study, we present a comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis that identifies three important molecular events during diapause (energy reserve, immune enhancement, hormone regulation) that may play a role in survival and stress resistance during diapause. These findings have greatly improved our understanding of diapause of L. glycinivorella, provided a theoretical basis for clarifying the molecular mechanism of diapause regulation of L. glycinivorella, and further improved the level of prediction and comprehensive management of L. glycinivorella.

Author Correction: Dynamics of organic matter in algal blooms on the Greenland ice sheet

AI integration and workforce development: Exploring job autonomy and creative self-efficacy in a global context

This paper explores the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in the workplace, cultural orientation, and its impact on job autonomy and creative self-efficacy. Our study employs a mixed-method experimental design across 480 individuals from different cultural backgrounds, specifically individualistic (United Kingdom) and collectivistic (Mexico) cultures. We evaluate how they perceive AI’s role in their professional lives. We focus on two key aspects: job autonomy, the level of control and discretion employees have over their tasks, and creative self-efficacy, the confidence in one’s ability to generate innovative ideas. Our findings revealed a significant increase in job autonomy following AI integration across all participants. Interestingly, this increase was more pronounced in the individualistic participants. Regarding creative self-efficacy, we found gender-specific impacts, with male participants experiencing a decrease, contrary to our expectations. Finally, our results supported the hypothesis that cultural orientation influences perceptions of AI, with collectivistic participants being more receptive to AI integration. These findings have significant implications for organizations integrating AI in multicultural environments. They highlight the importance of considering cultural differences in AI deployment strategies and suggest a need for culturally sensitive AI systems. The study also opens avenues for future research, particularly in exploring the role of other cultural dimensions, conducting longitudinal studies, and investigating ethical and bias-related aspects of AI in the workplace.

Multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of rock burst risk in coal mine

The work of farmers in short food supply chains: Systematic literature review and research agenda

Background Over the last 20 years or so, farmers the world over have been expressing renewed interest in Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs). Since these marketing channels bring consumers and producers closer together, they are being promoted as a means for producers to recover more of the added value. They are also seen as a part of the solution to the problems associated with long supply chains. However, marketing via SFSCs means that farmers have to take on new tasks, which are likely to disrupt their existing work routines. We propose here to review the scientific knowledge available on the work of farmers in SFSCs. Methods We carry out a systematic analysis of the English-language literature using a multidisciplinary analytical framework of work. We consider five dimensions of work: 1) structural elements of work; 2) economic performance of work; 3) organization of work; 4) working conditions; and 5) occupation. Results The theme of work is not prominent in the existing literature on SFSCs. While there is ongoing debate whether a switch to SFSCs results in increased farm incomes, it is clear that marketing through SFSCs relies on a large amount of poorly remunerated work. New tasks have to be added to work schedules, and new skills are required, making the organization of both productive and marketing work more complex. Various categories of workers are involved in undertaking these tasks, having to bear a heavy workload that is a source of stress and fatigue. However, the economic aspect aside, SFSCs appear to be conducive to farmers’ self-fulfillment at work. Farmers derive particular satisfaction from their involvement in SFSCs since they are more in touch with consumers and because they are participating in the transition of food systems, despite the intellectually and physically demanding work they have to do. Conclusion We call for the study of farmers’ work in SFSCs to be strengthened, by diversifying both the methodologies adopted and the case studies. Such knowledge should enable us to better integrate work-related issues into future public policies to support SFSCs.

Toxicity analysis of gold nanoparticle formulations used for intraocular applications

Human factors

The impact of age, gender, and ocular parameters on corneal biomechanics in Chinese refractive candidates

We aimed to quantify the distribution of corneal biomechanics in healthy, myopic Chinese candidates for refractive surgery using an ocular response analyzer, and explore factors that influence corneal biomechanics. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 1,090 eyes from 1090 myopic patients scheduled for refractive surgery at the Refractive Center of Dalian Third People’s Hospital between January 2021 and May 2022 were examined. Participants were categorized into three groups based on spherical equivalent power: low myopia (SE> −3.00D), moderate myopia (>−6.00D < SE ≤ −3.00D), and high myopia (SE ≤ −6.00D); then further categorized by central corneal thickness into four groups: < 500μm, 500 to <550μm, 550 to <600μm, and ≥600μm. The Ocular Response Analyzer was used to measure corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF). Differences in CH and CRF were compared across groups. Generalized estimating equations were applied to determine correlations between CH and CRF and variables such as sex, age, corneal keratometry, central corneal thickness, white-to-white corneal diameter, and spherical equivalent power. The average corneal hysteresis (CH) was 11.18 ± 1.35 mmHg, while the average corneal resistance factor (CRF) was 11.22 ± 1.64 mmHg. The average CRF values were significantly higher in men than in women (P < 0.05). In the high myopia group, CH values were significantly lower than those in the moderate and low myopia groups (P < 0.01). CH and CRF increased with corneal thickness across all groups, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01). Generalized estimating equations showed a positive correlation between corneal thickness and curvature with both CH and CRF (all P < 0.01). Age was negative correlation between CH and CRF (all P < 0.05). Spherical equivalent power was positively correlated with CH (P < 0.01). Corneal thickness, curvature, and refractive power significantly affected corneal measurement values in individuals with myopia. The CH and CRF values increased with increasing corneal thickness and curvature, and CH was negatively correlated with the severity of myopia.

Spontaneous imbibition of water in capillary tubes that contain viscous silicone oils and gas bubbles

Cancer more deadly when tumours lack Y chromosomes — and the loss could be contagious

Exploring burnout and staff turnover among acute care nurses and physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from a qualitative assessment

Introduction Healthcare worker burnout and turnover are urgent issues that negatively impact workers and have the potential to impact patient care. To highlight potential factors leading to burnout and turnover among healthcare workers, focus groups were conducted with nurses and physicians who previously worked in acute care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic but have since left their careers providing direct patient care. Methods During May and June of 2023, voluntary focus groups were held over Zoom with acute care nurses and physicians who left their careers providing direct patient care. The focus groups each lasted approximately 30 minutes and included 8 or 9 participants. Open-ended prompts used to guide the discussions focused on what led participants to leave their positions and what would need to change for them to return to a role providing direct patient care. The discussions were coded by a team of coders, and then codes were grouped into corresponding themes. Participant demographics were summarized by role. Results The 49 focus group participants included 24 physicians (49%) and 25 nurses (51%). Seven convergent themes emerged during the discussions, including the mental toll of their positions, inadequate staffing, the current state of the healthcare system overall, the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic specifically made their jobs harder, support from facility administration, respect and value for their positions, and pay and incentives. Conclusions Focus group discussions held with physicians and nurses highlighted multiple factors that led to their decisions to leave their careers providing direct patient care. While more research is needed on the efficacy of specific interventions to address the issues highlighted by participants, various tools and resources are available from multiple organizations to begin to support healthcare facilities in improving the experiences of healthcare workers with the goal of preventing burnout and turnover.

Mediating effects of physical self-esteem and subjective well-being on physical activity and prosocial behavior among college students

Integrating information and communication technology into nursing practice for resilience: A cross-sectional quantitative study

Background The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) tools was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate contactless interaction and reduce infection risk. However, there remains a lack of quantitative analysis regarding nurses’ perceptions and experience with these ICT tools. Purpose This survey study aimed to assess nurses’ experience and satisfaction with ICT tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Registered nurses were recruited into this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Questions about organizational ICT training and support, impact on patient care, and ICT perception were asked. Results A total of 237 nurses completed and returned the questionnaire. The majority of nurses reported that ICT tools support instant consultation and communication with patients (62.0%). ICT tools’ suitability and effectiveness of features were 6.40 ± 1.72 and 6.10 ± 1.73, respectively. Nurses’ attitudes and perceived benefits of the ICT tools scored 3.59 ± 0.81 and 3.52 ± 0.87, respectively. The mean system usability score was 52.75 ± 11.75. Subgroup analyses highlighted the influence of ICT training, support, concerns about patient safety, and user anxiousness on the scores. Conclusion Participants identified equipment, infrastructure, and workflow changes as major issues in ICT use, which require organizational efforts for improvement. Addressing data utility and security concerns through policy initiatives is also imperative. This study highlights the necessity of organizational initiatives to promote good use of ICT tools and to enhance nursing resilience, especially when facing a health emergency, more resources should be allocated to the IT department that aims to respond soon; strategies including integrating digital tools for emergencies into other established systems, expanding the size of IT team for maintenance and providing training course with multiple modules.

A simple approach in balancing the slider-crank mechanisms applied to new systems

Validity and reliability of sprint force-velocity profiling in elite football: Comparison of MySprint, GPS, and radar devices

The aims were to examine the validity and within-session inter-trial, intra- and interrater reliability of sprint force-velocity profiling (FVP) techniques in elite football. Twelve elite youth football players from an English Premier League academy participated in this study. A 30-m maximal effort linear sprint testing protocol was conducted, simultaneously measured using the MySprint app, GPS units, and radar device to derive theoretical maximal horizontal force (F0), theoretical maximal running velocity (V0), and the overall orientation of the profile (FVslope). There were significant differences in F0, V0, and FVslope (p < 0.05) between the MySprint app and radar device, with large effect sizes (ε2 = 0.683, 0.513, and 0.482), but not in F0 or V0 (p > 0.05), between the GPS and radar devices. There were no significant differences in F0 or V0 (p > 0.05) between each players’ sprint repeats for all equipment types, with these effect sizes (rrb): MySprint (0.047, 0.523), GPS (0.236, −0.163), radar (0.785, −0.777). RMSE and CV values for F0 and V0 were 0.72–1.20 N/Kg and 3.76–9.59%, 0.21–0.40 m/s and 1.48–2.64%, respectively, with improved reliability and agreement in V0 vs. F0. There was no significant difference in F0 or V0 (p > 0.05), with medium-to-large effect sizes (rrb = −0.242 and −0.636) when the MySprint analysis was repeated by the same rater. RMSE and CV values for F0 and V0 were 0.19 N/Kg and 2.9%, 0.07 m/s and 0.54%. There was no significant difference in F0 or V0 (p > 0.05) between the two raters’ MySprint analysis, and ICC demonstrated excellent agreement (F0 = 0.986, CI = 0.950–0.996, and V0 = 0.988, CI = 0.957–0.997). This study reports high intra- and inter-rater reliability when using the MySprint app to derive FVP’s from 30-m maximal sprint testing whilst indicating GPS as the most valid and reliable force-velocity profiling technique against the reference radar device.

Gut expression of CD71 and co-localisation with Dec-1 associated with high levels of serum SIgA and disease activity in SpA

Making robust integrated photonic qubits

Benchmarking inverse folding models for antibody CDR sequence design

Antibody-based therapies are at the forefront of modern medicine, addressing diverse challenges across oncology, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and beyond. The ability to design antibodies with enhanced functionality and specificity is critical for advancing next-generation therapeutics. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have propelled the field of antibody engineering, particularly through inverse folding models for Complementarity-Determining Region (CDR) sequence design. These models aim to generate novel antibody sequences that fold into desired structures with high antigen-binding affinity. However, current evaluation metrics, such as amino acid recovery rates, are limited in their ability to assess the structural and functional accuracy of designed sequences. This study benchmarks state-of-the-art inverse folding models—ProteinMPNN, ESM-IF, LM-Design, and AntiFold—using comprehensive datasets and alternative evaluation metrics like sequence similarity. By systematically analyzing recovery rates, mutation prediction capabilities, and amino acid composition biases, we identify strengths and limitations across models. AntiFold exhibits superior performance in Fab antibody design, whereas LM-Design demonstrates adaptability across diverse antibody types, including VHH antibodies. In contrast, models trained on general protein datasets (e.g., ProteinMPNN and ESM-IF) struggle with antibody-specific nuances. Key insights include the models’ varying reliance on antigen structure and their distinct capabilities in capturing critical residues for antigen binding. Our findings highlight the need for enhanced training datasets, integration of functional data, and refined evaluation metrics to advance antibody design tools. By addressing these challenges, future models can unlock the full potential of AI-driven antibody engineering, paving the way for innovative therapeutic applications.

A gravity model for emergency departments

Abstract The issue of facility location is of significant importance in numerous systems, where the efficient utilisation of resources is of great importance. Gravity models, which are inspired by Newtonian physics, are commonly employed to address these problems and have a long tradition of being used in healthcare. The objective of this paper is to enhance the comprehension of patients’ decision-making processes in emergency healthcare by introducing an extension to existing gravity models, which includes two novel factors influencing emergency department choice: hospital sizes and patients’ severity. The newly formulated gravity rule, which integrates these factors, demonstrated an extremely high accuracy against real-world data in terms of overall hospital location and flows between cities and hospitals, respectively 98.77% and 98.02%.