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A study on driving behavior characteristics and influencing factors of older drivers at signal-controlled and unsignal-controlled intersections
Due to a decline in psychological function, older drivers have a high incidence of crashes, especially at intersections. The study considered the characteristics of older drivers and designed a driving experiment that includes two scenarios: signal-controlled intersections and unsignal-controlled intersections. A total of 39 drivers participated in the experiment. The results indicated that compared to the young and middle-aged drivers, older drivers exhibited the following characteristics. From a time perspective, older drivers initiated decelerate and turning maneuvers earlier after entering intersections. Their overall turning process was smoother, as indicated by smaller peak steering wheel cornerings, lower steering reversal rates, and reduced lateral acceleration variability. And older drivers slowed down and turned earlier at signal-controlled intersections. From a spatial perspective, older drivers experienced a decrease in speed before entering the two intersections, followed by a sustained increase in speed and steering wheel cornerings. And there were frequent fluctuations in the speed and steering wheel cornering of older drivers at unsignal-controlled intersections. Finally, two Generalized Linear Mixed Models were developed to examine factors affecting driving stability, focusing on speed and steering control. Results showed that traffic control, driver type, and cognitive function had significant impacts. These findings enhance understanding of older drivers’ behavior and provide a reference for improving age-friendly transport systems and safety training. To better support older drivers, vehicle design, traffic signs, infrastructure planning, and management policies should consider their driving characteristics.
Regioselective Hydropyridylation of Heteroatom-Functionalized Internal Alkenes by Half-Sandwich Rare-Earth Catalysts
Laryngeal ultrasound for the prediction of severe laryngomalacia
Background Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) is a noninvasive, painless, and radiation-free imaging method that presents a promising alternative, especially for the dynamic assessment of laryngeal structures. It can also be utilized by general practitioners. This study assesses the diagnostic accuracy, patient comfort, and cost-effectiveness of LUS compared to flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) for diagnosing laryngomalacia in infants aged ≤ 2 years with stridor-specific airway issues. Methods A total of 43 infants presented with inspiratory stridor or other airway symptoms and underwent assessments using both flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy and laryngeal ultrasound. Laryngomalacia was diagnosed based on a vocal fold–arytenoid abduction angle of ≤120° and arytenoid and/or vocal fold collapse during inspiration. The diagnostic performance of LUS was compared with FFL, and the severity of the disease was evaluated. Both the pediatric endoscopist and radiologist were blinded to the patients’ diagnoses and study results. Results A total of participants was included in the study, comprising 35% males and 65% females. The mean age of 4.52 ± 5.44 months and the mean weight of 4.62 ± 2.23 kg. Laryngomalacia was diagnosed in 60% of cases using FFL, with seven infants requiring surgical intervention; all were also identified as having laryngomalacia via LUS. LUS demonstrated diagnostic efficiency for laryngomalacia in 7 out of 19 infants, with a sensitivity of 26.92%, specificity of 100%, negative predictive value of 47.22%, and positive predictive value of 100%. The overall diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 55.8%. Conclusion While LUS cannot replace FFL as the primary diagnostic tool for infant laryngomalacia, it serves as a valuable adjunct for follow-up assessments and for identifying moderate to severe cases that may require surgical intervention. Further research and advancements in ultrasound technology may enhance diagnostic accuracy and broaden clinical applications for general practitioners.
µ-Opioid Receptor Control of Glutamate/GABA Coreleasing SUM and VTA Projections to the Dentate Gyrus
Growth of Monolayer WS<sub>2</sub> Lateral Homojunctions via <i>In Situ</i> Domain Engineering
Emotion-based design research of rural street spaces using eye-tracking technology: A case study of Huixingtou Village in Handan City
Rural street spaces serve as primary venues for communal activities, yet emotion-based design in these spaces remains underexplored. This study delineates three typical scales of rural street spaces in China northern plains region, utilizing eye-tracking technology, investigates the constituent elements and materials of various optimized design schemes, analyzing people’s emotional perceptions of different elements and materials. The results indicate that: (1) narrower streets evoke a greater sense of security among individuals; (2) an increased variety and quantity of paving materials, landscape flower beds, seating areas, and public facilities heighten people’s visual interest, enhancing the spatial publicness and safety; (3) higher coverage of green landscape relaxes visual perceptions, leading individuals to linger and dwell in the space. Consequently, through judicious design of scale, constituent elements, and materials, rural street spaces can be effectively imbued with emotional expressions, thereby elevating the spatial quality of rural street spaces to meet people’s emotional needs.
Nanoparticles Selectively Regulate the Generation and Scavenging of Multiple Reactive Oxygen Species at Designated Locations and States
Prevalence and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in East Lombok district, Indonesia
Background Maternal anemia is a major public health problem that has detrimental effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes. The threat of food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies is growing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of anemia among pregnant women in East Lombok during the pandemic. Materials and methods This community-based cross-sectional study is part of an observational cohort study entitled “UKRI-GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub (AASH)” in rural areas of East Lombok, Indonesia. Data were collected from women (18–40 years) in their third trimester pregnancy (N = 446) from June 2021 to January 2022. Data collection included hemoglobin, mid-upper arm circumference, intestinal helminth infections, and structured questionnaires for sociodemographic, dietary diversity, pregnancy-related, food security (US-HFSSM), reduced coping strategy index (rCSI), and COVID-19-related variables. The association between anemia and its determinants was analyzed using binary logistic regression model. Results Anemia was found in 40.8% of pregnant women in third trimester. During the pandemic, 74.7% and 28.9% of women reported a decrease in household income and food expenditure whereas 47% of them reported having medium-to-high coping strategies. The proportion of women who had chronic energy deficiency (CED), inadequate dietary diversity, non-use of contraceptives was 10.5%, 28.3%, and 38.8%, respectively. In logistic regression, anemia was significantly associated with CED (AOR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.06–3.48), inadequate dietary diversity (AOR = 1.58; 95%CI: 1.02–2.45), and non-use of contraception (AOR = 1.58; 95%CI: 1.02–2.45). Conclusions The prevalence of maternal anemia was high in the study area, and it was associated with CED, inadequate dietary diversity, and non-use of contraception. The findings highlight the importance of improving anemia control programs among pregnant women through nutrition education focusing on food based dietary recommendations, and conditional cash transfer which include family planning and compliance of iron folic acid to strengthen their resilience to natural phenomenon such as COVID-19 in rural areas like East Lombok.
Functionalized Porous Polymer Networks as High-Performance PFAS Adsorbents
Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome provides insights into the mechanisms of amino acids and their derivatives biosynthesis in Polygonatum
The composition and concentration of amino acids and their derivatives in Polygonatum are crucial factors that indicate its nutritional value and have a substantial impact on its potential for market development as a medicinal and edible plant. This study utilized comprehensive targeted metabolomics detection, transcriptome analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to assess the quality characteristics of amino acids and their derivatives. Additionally, it aimed to investigate the pivotal genes that influence the synthesis of these compounds. The analysis revealed that there was a total of 72 distinct amino acids and their derivatives present in both forms of Polygonatum. Furthermore, there were notable variations in the content of 37 of these amino acids. A total of 271 genes are responsible for encoding 37 enzymes that are involved in the production of amino acids and their derivatives. The WGCNA clustering analysis, along with the metabolic profile of amino acids and their derivatives and transcriptome analysis, categorized the transcripts into six modules. Among these modules, the active components of amino acids and their derivatives showed a positive correlation with the MEturquoise and MEblue modules. This correlation helped identify 10 key genes that are highly likely to influence the synthesis of amino acids and their derivatives. Therefore, we validated these results using qRT-PCR. The modulation of the expression patterns of these crucial genes can establish a theoretical foundation for the subsequent breeding of Polygonatum germplasm with abundant amino acid content and diversity.
Efficacy, safety, and economic evaluation of Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san for gastroesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough: Protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multicenter, investigator-initiated clinical trial
Introduction Gastroesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough (GERC) is a common extraesophageal manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the mechanisms underlying GERC remain unclear, and current treatments with anti-reflux drugs do not provide significant benefits in the management of GERC. Therefore, safe and effective drugs to treat GERC are urgently needed. Methods and analysis We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multi-center, investigator-initiated clinical trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and economics of combined Ojeok-san (OJS) and Saengmaek-san (SMS) in treating GERC. Our trial will be conducted in five hospitals in Korea, and a total of 138 participants will be enrolled, equally divided between the OJS plus SMS and placebo groups. All participants will be instructed to receive OJS plus SMS or a placebo for 6 weeks and visit hospitals every 2 weeks until week 8 to evaluate their efficacy or safety outcomes. For efficacy outcomes, the cough diary score, cough VAS, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire, and 5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional Questionnaire will be evaluated to observe symptoms of cough and GERD, as well as the quality of life in patients with GERC. Pattern identification for the Chronic Cough Questionnaire and gastroesophageal reflux disease will be measured as an additional exploratory outcome. Safety will be assessed in terms of laboratory tests, vital signs, and adverse events; economic evaluation will be simultaneously conducted through the healthcare system and societal perspectives by estimating cost-utility and cost-effectiveness. Conclusion Our study proposes a combination of OJS and SMS to manage the symptoms of GERC as a new insight and this study results will provide scientific evidence for the use of OJS plus SMS in the treatment of GERC.
Harnessing the Electron-Withdrawing Inductive Effect of One-Component Ionizable Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers Unveils Cation−π Interactions and Their Important Roles to Targeted mRNA Delivery
Correction: Magnitude and determinants of improved household latrine utilization in Ethiopia: Multilevel analysis of the mini Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) 2019
Limitations in Determining Oxidation States in Condensed Matter at the Subnanometric Scale
Securing digital images: A chaos-driven scrambling algorithm using the Rössler system
A wide range of mathematical constructs, theories, and algorithms have been leveraged by cryptographers to secure valuable and sensitive digital images. Among these, image encryption based on scrambling algorithms has been extensively utilized. These scrambling techniques operate on 1D, 2D, and 3D constructs, relying on pixel-level swapping to enhance security. This research introduces a novel scrambling algorithm that employs a row- and column-based scrambling approach. The encryption process begins with an input image, from which a 2D scrambled image is generated. The columns of pixels from the input image are randomly placed into the columns of the scrambled image. Once all columns are inserted, the process is repeated to intensify the scrambling effect. A similar procedure is then applied to the rows of the image. To further enhance security, a diffusion process is applied using an XOR operation between the scrambled image and a random number stream. These random numbers are generated using the 3D Rössler chaotic system, where two chaotic streams contribute to the scrambling effect, and a third stream is used for diffusion. Both machine simulations and exhaustive security analyses demonstrate that the proposed image cipher is highly resistant to various cryptanalytic attacks, including brute-force attacks, differential attacks, and noise and data cropping attacks. Given these promising results, we recommend the proposed method for real-world applications to fully utilize its security potential.
Motion-Controlled Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using Microrobots Designed with a Single Atomic-Level Precision
Predictive validity of early and mid-year literacy assessments for end-of-year word reading fluency
This study explores the predictive validity of early and mid-year literacy assessments—Letter Naming Fluency (LNF), Letter Sound Fluency (LSF), and Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF)—for end-of-year Word Reading Fluency (WRF) in kindergarten and grade 1 Arabic-speaking students. Using a longitudinal design, 412 students were assessed at three intervals (fall, mid-year, and year-end) to examine how these foundational literacy skills contribute to predicting WRF and identifying at-risk readers. Results from multiple regression analyses indicate that both LNF and LSF are significant predictors of end-of-year WRF across both fall and mid-year assessments, with mid-year measures demonstrating enhanced predictive accuracy. In contrast, PSF showed limited predictive value in comparison to LNF and LSF. Accuracy analyses revealed that mid-year assessments, particularly LNF and LSF, were more reliable in identifying at-risk students compared to fall assessments. Mid-year assessments correctly identified 64–73% of at-risk readers, emphasizing their value in early detection and intervention. These findings underline the importance of dynamic, multi-point assessments in improving educational practices and outcomes, particularly for students at risk of reading difficulties. The study highlights the critical role of foundational literacy skills in early reading development and provides actionable insights to enhance intervention strategies during key stages of literacy acquisition.
Accelerated Recombination Reaction through Interfacial <i>Fe<sup>IV</sup>=O</i> Accumulation on Photoanode Surfaces
Characterization of Congregicoccus parvus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel slow-growing ultramicrobacterium of the phylum Verrucomicrobiota
The bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobiota is a typical representative of challenging-to-culture lineages. Here, we isolated a novel slow-growing Verrucomicrobiota bacterium, designated ASA1T, from garden soil. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that strain ASA1T was affiliated with a novel candidate in the family Alterococcaceae of the class Opitutia (previously Opitutae), exhibiting low 16S rRNA gene sequence identities (<93%) and average nucleotide identity values (<77%) to the closest type strain. Furthermore, average amino acid identity analysis (AAI) showed that ASA1T shares <54% AAI identity with Opitutia representatives, well below the 60–65% genus threshold, supporting its classification as a novel genus. In addition to its genomic characteristics, ASA1T exhibits distinctive morphological features, including an ultramicrobacterial cell size (0.05–0.07 μm3) and cluster-like aggregation (>10 µm). Strain was Gram-negative, aerobic, and motile, with menaquinone-7 as its primary respiratory quinone and a fatty acid profile dominated by anteiso-C15:0 (53%) and C16:0 (15%). Based on these results, we propose that strain ASA1T represents a novel genus and species named Congregicoccus parvus gen. nov., sp. nov. (JCM 36569T = NCIMB 15508T) of the Alterococcaceae family. Habitability analysis suggested that ASA1T relatives were distributed in the soil and other environments, such as freshwater and activated sludge. Additional genome analysis of strain ASA1T revealed six unique biosynthetic gene clusters with no related clusters identified via antiSMASH, suggesting a potential source of novel bioactive compounds for future research.