Area Of Interest Research Articles

Visual Attention in Joint Attention Bids: A Comparison Between Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Toddlers.

Impairments in joint attention are considered core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are crucial for early assessment and intervention. However, existing information about visual attention during joint attention and its relation to developmental functioning is limited. The current study investigated the visual attention differences between toddlers with ASD and typically developing (TD) toddlers during single and multiple joint attention cue conditions. This study further examined whether visual attention in joint attention Area of Interests (AOIs) is related to cognitive, language, and motor development in participants. Participants included 56 toddlers with ASD and 56 TD toddlers, aged 18-36months. A passive viewing paradigm was used to assess participants' visual attention across four different joint attention conditions. Study results showed that toddlers with ASD displayed limited visual attention towards joint attention AOIs, Target, Face, and Target and Face AOIs, in all conditions. As the joint attention cues increased from Condition 1 to Condition 4, toddlers with ASD showed increased visual attention directed towards the Target AOI over the Face AOI. Moreover, increased visual attention on the joint attention AOIs was associated with improved cognitive and language development in toddlers with ASD. This research broadens our understanding of the positive relationships between visual attention to joint attention AOIs and cognitive as well as language development in toddlers with ASD, suggesting that early interventions targeting joint attention may offer promising pathways for treatment.

THSD1 Suppresses Autophagy-Mediated Focal Adhesion Turnover by Modulating the FAK-Beclin 1 Pathway.

Focal adhesions (FAs) play a crucial role in cell spreading and adhesion, and their autophagic degradation is an emerging area of interest. This study investigates the role of Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain-Containing Protein 1 (THSD1) in regulating autophagy and FA stability in brain endothelial cells, shedding light on its potential implications for cerebrovascular diseases. Our research reveals a physical interaction between THSD1 and FAs. Depletion of THSD1 significantly reduces FA numbers, impairing cell spreading and adhesion. The loss of THSD1 also induces autophagy independently of changes in mTOR and AMPK activation, implying that THSD1 primarily governs FA dynamics rather than serving as a global regulator of nutrient and energy status. Mechanistically, THSD1 negatively regulates Beclin 1, a central autophagy regulator, at FAs through interactions with focal adhesion kinase (FAK). THSD1 inactivation diminishes FAK activity and relieves its inhibitory phosphorylation on Beclin 1. This, in turn, promotes the complex formation between Beclin 1 and ATG14, a critical event for the activation of the autophagy cascade. In summary, our findings identify THSD1 as a novel regulator of autophagy that degrades FAs in brain endothelial cells. This underscores the distinctive nature of THSD1-mediated, cargo-directed autophagy and its potential relevance to vascular diseases due to the loss of endothelial FAs. Investigating the underlying mechanisms of THSD1-mediated pathways holds promise for discovering novel therapeutic targets in vascular diseases.

Gaze Patterns of Normal and Microtia Ears Pre- and Post-Reconstruction.

To understand attentional preferences for normal and microtia ears. Eye-tracking technology was used to characterize gaze preferences. A total of 71 participants viewed images of 5 patients with unilateral microtia. Profile images of patient faces and isolated ears including normal, microtia, and post-reconstruction microtia ears were shown. Total time of fixation in predefined areas of interest (AOI) was measured. Inferential statistics were used to assess significance of fixation differences between AOIs within and between facial or auricular features. The ear received most visual attention in lateral view of the face (1.91 s, 1.66-2.16 s) [mean, 95% CI], followed by features of the "central triangle"-the eyes (1.26 s, 1.06-1.46), nose (0.48 s, 0.38-0.58), and mouth (0.15 s, 0.15-0.20). In frontal view, microtia ears received less attention following surgical reconstruction (0.74 s vs. 0.4 s, p < 0.001). The concha was the most attended feature for both normal (2.97 s, 2.7-3.23) and reconstructed microtia ears (1.87 s, 1.61-2.13). Scars on reconstructed ears altered the typical visual scanpath. The ear is an attentional gaze landmark of the face. Attention to microtia ears, both pre- and post-reconstruction, differs from gaze patterns of normal ears. The concha was the most attended to subunit of the ear. Attentional gaze may provide an unbiased method to determine what is important in reconstructive surgery. N/A Laryngoscope, 2024.

Accreditation of the handheld 3-dimensional scanner and conventional photo images for area measurement.

Accurate assessment of wound areas is crucial in making therapeutic decisions, as the prognosis and changes in the size of the wound over time play a significant role. An ideal assessment method should possess qualities such as speed, affordability, accuracy, user-friendliness for both patients and healthcare professionals, and suitability for daily clinical practice. This study aims to introduce a handheld 3-dimensional (3D) scanner and evaluate its accuracy in measuring wound areas. Engineers from the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan developed a handheld 3D scanner with the intention of extending its application to the medical field. A project was conducted to validate the accuracy of this 3D scanner. We utilized a smartphone (Asus ZenFone 2 with a 13-million-pixel rear camera), a digital single-lens reflex digital camera (Nikon, D5000, Tokyo, Japan), and the 3D scanner to repeatedly measure square papers of known size that were affixed to the curved surface of life-size facial mask or medical teaching breast models. The "Image J" software was employed for 2-dimensional image measurements, while the "3D Edit" software was used to assess the "area of interest" on 3D objects. By using square papers with predetermined dimensions, the measurement-associated error rate (ER) could be calculated for each image. Three repeated measurements were performed using the "Image J" software for each square paper. The ERs of the 3D scan images were all below 3%, with an average ER of 1.64% in this study. The close-up mode of the smartphone exhibited the highest ER. It was observed that as the area increased, the ER also increased in the digital single-lens reflex camera group. The extension distortion effect caused by the wide-angle lens on the smartphone may increase the ER. However, the definition of a healthy skin edge may vary, and different algorithms for calculating the measurement area are employed in various 3D measurement software. Therefore, further validation of their accuracy for medical purposes is necessary. Effective communication with software engineers and discussions on meeting clinical requirements are crucial steps in enhancing the functionality of the 3D scanner.

Bio-convection of ternary magnetized nanoparticles thermal conductivity in chemical reaction and activation energy flow with Darcy Forchheimer permeable across a double porous medium

This research focuses on investigating the impact of magnetized nanoparticles’ heat and mass transfer process two-dimensional (2D) porous medium ternary hybrid Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) ferrofluid flow through a two movable permeable porous surface, with a specific emphasis on the Darcy Forchheimer effect, activation energy, and chemical reaction parameters. Recently, motile microorganisms have become a significant area of interest in the study of heat and mass transfer. This study employs colored plots to analyze the optimum heat transfer over a double porous plate by altering different physical parameters. Using the shooting technique, the study provides numerical solutions to nonlinear systems of equations by transforming the partial differential equations (PDE) into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via the dimensionless similarity transformation. Tables and graphs demonstrate how the governing parameters impact velocity, temperature, mass concentration profiles, and motile microorganisms, as well as physical quantities like skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and motile number. Ternary hybrid ferrofluid exhibits a significantly improved heat transfer rate compared to both Ferro and hybrid ferrofluid. The convective flux of heat and mass transfer experiences a decrement with an escalation in the values of the activation energy (E) parameter. The presence of positive values for both the similarity variable (n) and Exothermic/Endothermic parameter (λ) leads to an enhancement in the flow of thermal transfer on both porous surfaces. This research will have far-reaching implications in various fields, including coolant technology in the manufacturing industry, heat dissipation in electronic modules, high-performance computing cooling facilities, the automotive sector, and space applications.

Comparative Analysis of US Guidelines for the Management of Cutaneous Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinoma.

This study presents a comparative analysis of recently published guidelines to manage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (cBCC) within the United States (US). A PubMed database search was performed for the time period between June 1, 2016, and December 1, 2022. A comprehensive comparison was performed in the following clinical interest areas: staging and risk stratification, management of primary tumor and regional nodes with curative intent, and palliative treatment. Guidelines from 3 organizations were analyzed: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The guidelines used different methodologies to grade evidence, making comparison difficult. There was agreement that surgery is the preferred treatment for curative cBCC and cSCC. For patients ineligible for surgery, there was a consensus to recommend definitive radiation. AAD and NCCN recommended consideration of other topical modalities in selected low-risk cBCC. Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) was uniformly recommended in patients with positive margins that could not be cleared with surgery and in patients with nerve invasion. The definition and extent of nerve invasion varied. All guidelines recommended surgery as the primary treatment in patients with lymph node metastases in a curative setting. The criteria used for PORT varied; NCCN and ASTRO used lymph node size, number of nodes, and extracapsular extension for recommending PORT. Both NCCN and ASTRO recommend consideration of systemic treatment along with PORT in patients with extracapsular extension. Conclusion: US guidelines provide contemporary and complementary information on the management of cBCC and cSCC. There are opportunities for research, particularly in the areas of staging, indications for adjuvant treatment in curative settings, extent of nerve invasion and prognosis, and the role of systemic treatments in curative and palliative settings.

Inkjet‐printed flexible MXetronics: Present status and future prospects

AbstractOver the past several years, atomically thin two‐dimensional carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, otherwise known as MXenes, have been expanded into over fifty material candidates that are experimentally produced, and over one hundred fifty more candidates that have been theoretically predicted. They have demonstrated transformative properties such as metallic‐type electrical conductivities, optical properties such as plasmonics and optical nonlinearity, and key surface properties such as hydrophilicity, and unique surface chemistry. In terms of their applications, they are poised to transform technological areas such as energy storage, electromagnetic shielding, electronics, photonics, optoelectronics, sensing, and bioelectronics. One of the most promising aspects of MXene's future application in all the above areas of interest, we believe, is reliably developing their flexible and bendable electronics and optoelectronics by printing methods (henceforth, termed as printed flexible MXetronics). Designing and manipulating MXene conductive inks according to the application requirements will therefore be a transformative goal for future printed flexible MXetronics. MXene's combined property of high electrical conductivity and water‐friendly nature to easily disperse its micro/nano‐flakes in an aqueous medium without any binder paves the way for designing additive‐free highly conductive MXene ink. However, the chemical and/or structural and hence functional stability of water based MXene inks over time is not reliable, opening research avenues for further development of stable and conductive MXene inks. Such priorities will enable applications requiring high‐resolution and highly reliable printed MXene electronics using state‐of‐the art printing methods. Engineering MXene structural and surface functional properties while tuning MXene ink rheology in benign solvents of choice will be a key for ink developments. This review article summarizes the present status and prospects of MXene inks and their use in inkjet‐printed (IJP) technology for future flexible and bendable MXetronics.

An assessment of dynamic facial emotion recognition and theory of mind in children with ADHD: An eye-tracking study.

Deficits in social cognition in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been associated with difficulties in functioning. Since recognizing emotional facial expressions is essential for developing the perceptual components of the theory of mind (ToM), it is important to assess this relationship in children with ADHD. This study therefore compared the recognition of emotional stimuli and gaze patterns between children with ADHD and healthy children using eye-tracking with dynamic facial images. It also examined the relationship between facial emotion recognition accuracy, gaze patterns, ToM scores, and ADHD symptoms. Children with ADHD aged 8-13 (n = 47) and a control group (n = 38) completed a facial emotion recognition test, ToM tests, and the Conners' Parent Rating Scale. Participants' gaze patterns in response to dynamic facial emotion expressions were recorded using eye-tracking technology. Children with ADHD exhibited significantly lower accuracy in the recognition of the facial expressions of disgust and anger. The percentage fixation in the eye region was also significantly lower for happy, angry, sad, disgusted, and neutral emotions in the children with ADHD compared to the control group. No relationship was determined between the percentage of fixations on facial areas of interests and ADHD symptoms or ToM tests. This study provides evidence that children with ADHD experience deficits in visual attention to emotional cues. In addition, it suggests that facial emotion recognition deficits in children with ADHD represent a separate domain of social cognition that develops independently of ToM skills and core symptoms. Understanding and treating the social difficulties of individuals with ADHD may help improve their social functioning.

Therapeutic Role of Chinese Medicine Targeting Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, poses a significant public health threat. Reperfusion therapy, though the preferred treatment for AMI, often exacerbates cardiac damage, leading to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Consequently, the development of strategies to reduce MI/RI is an urgent priority in cardiovascular therapy. Chinese medicine, recognized for its multi-component, multi-pathway, and multi-target capabilities, provides a novel approach for alleviating MI/RI. A key area of interest is the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. This pathway is instrumental in regulating inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and ferroptosis in MI/RI. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway's structure and its influence on MI/RI. Additionally, it reviews the latest research on leveraging Chinese medicine to modulate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in MI/RI treatment.

Cutinase Immobilization on a Supramolecular Cage Protein Scaffold

Background: Self-assembly of preformed nanoparticles into larger and more complex materials, termed nanoarchitectonics, is an area of great interest as the resulting higher-order architectures can exhibit advanced supramolecular properties important in sensor design, catalysis, and ferromagnetic properties. Objective: The aim of the current investigation is to explore the application of self-assembling protein networks to serve as molecular scaffolds for immobilization of enzyme catalysts. The use of 12 nm ferritin cage proteins to serve as components of these scaffolds would expand the application of these types of multifunctional proteins to the fabrication of advanced biomaterials. Method: Humicola insolens cutinase was immobilized on a supramolecular protein scaffold using bioconjugation to biotinylate the enzyme of interest. The protein-based scaffold consisted of a ferritin- biotin-avidin system, and the interaction of biotin and avidin was used to suspend the enzyme molecules onto this network. Matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were employed to analyze the supramolecular cage protein scaffold at various stages of fabrication. Results: The activities of these scaffold-bound enzymes towards chromogenic esters and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were analyzed and found to remain active towards both substrates following biotinylation and immobilization. Conclusion: Biotinylated Humicola insolens cutinase enzymes can be immobilized on nanodimensional protein networks composed of avidin and biotinylated horse spleen ferritin and exhibit catalytic activity toward a small substrate, p-nitrophenylbutyrate, as well as an industrial plastic. Selfassembling protein networks may provide new approaches for biomolecular immobilization.

Startup success from the founder's perspective

AbstractSubjective entrepreneurial success has emerged as an area of academic interest. However, no research study has yet been conducted on startup founders as a specific group of entrepreneurs. Although ‘success’ has been prominently covered in existing startup literature, studies predominantly focus on the possible reasons behind startup success, measuring it solely in economic terms. Drawing upon the qualitative analysis of 22 in-depth interviews with Hungarian startup founders, this paper aims to explore the complex structure of subjective startup success from the founder's perspective along with its gendered patterns. The five dimensions of subjective startup success emerging from the data are similar to those of subjective entrepreneurial success: firm performance, team, personal fulfilment, community impact and personal financial reward. Nevertheless, results reveal that there exists considerable difference between the substance of firm performance dimension in the subjective entrepreneurial success model and in our subjective startup success model. Further, it is found that the interplay among indicators of success could range from synergies to tensions. Finally, personal fulfilment is found to be the only dimension that reflects a marked gender difference in the sample.

Prisons and Pollution: A Nationwide Analysis of Carceral Environmental Inequality

Abstract The disproportionate exposure of incarcerated populations to environmental harms is an emerging area of interest among scholars and activists. Existing research has illuminated these intersecting systems of inequality with broad theorization and case study examples of prisons and jails located near environmental hazards. However, there are few nationwide assessments of carceral environmental inequality—studies examining whether prison communities in the United States are disproportionately located near environmental harms. Our paper examines the influence of prison proximity on four measures of environmental harm to test whether carceral environmental inequality exists in the United States at the census tract level. Multi-level regression models—which account for the nested nature of census tracts within both counties and states—find that (1) closer proximity to a prison is associated with higher levels of pollution across all measures of environmental harm, and (2) that trend is mostly driven by proximity to county jails rather than state or federal prisons. We suggest that these trends may be driven by complex prison and pollution siting patterns. Our paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for future research on carceral environmental inequality.

Screen Time Exposure and the Development of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in a Sample of Romanian Urban Highschoolers

During the last years we have noticed an increase in screen time for adolescents while questions about its effects on the development of psychological and social problems are starting to be addressed. We hypothesized that increased screen time is associated with heightened display of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. We investigated this association on a sample of 2497 highschoolers recruited from one big city in southern Romania. They filled in a series of items focusing on screen time average exposure, display of depression and anxiety symptoms, involvement in aggressive and delinquent behavior, and family context. The linear regression model showed that, after controlling for individual and family variables, more screen time exposure is associated to heighten depression and anxiety symptoms and more involvement into aggressive behavior. These findings contribute to the research in this new area of interest and may inform the development of prevention and supportive programs for adolescents and their families by adding evidence for clarifying the relationship.

Global trends in tumor microenvironment-related research on tumor vaccine: a review and bibliometric analysis.

Tumor vaccines have become crucial in cancer immunotherapy, but, only a limited number of phase III clinical trials have demonstrated clinical efficacy. The crux of this issue is the inability of tumor vaccines to effectively harmonize the tumor microenvironment with its intricate interplay. One factor that can hinder the effectiveness of vaccines is the natural immunosuppressive element present in the tumor microenvironment. This element can lead to low rates of T-cell response specific to antigens and the development of acquired resistance. Conversely, anticancer vaccines alter the tumor microenvironment in conflicting manners, inducing both immune activation and immunological evasion. Hence, comprehending the correlation between tumor vaccines and the tumor microenvironment would establish a foundation for forthcoming tumor treatment. Our review explores the realm of research pertaining to tumor vaccinations and the tumor microenvironment. Our objective is to investigate the correlation between tumor vaccines and the tumor microenvironment within this domain. We then focus our review on the dominant international paradigms in this research field and visually illustrates the historical progression and emergent patterns observed in the past. From January 1, 1999 to February 7, 2023, 1420 articles on the interplay between tumor vaccines and the tumor microenvironment were published, according to The Clarivate Web of Science (WOS) database used in our review. A bibliometric review was designed for this collection and consisted of an evaluation. The evaluation encompassed various discernible attributes, including the year of publication, the journals in which the articles were published, the authors involved, the affiliated institutions, the geographical locations of the institutions, the references cited, and the keywords employed. Between the years 1999 and 2022, publications saw a significant increase, from 3 to 265 annually. With 72 papers published, Frontiers in Immunology had the most manuscripts published. The Cancer Research publication garnered the highest number of citations, amounting to 2874 citations. The United States exerts significant dominance in the subject, with the National Cancer Institute being recognized as a prominent institution in terms of both productivity and influence. Furthermore, Elizabeth M. Jaffee was recognized as the field's most prolific and influential author with 24 publications and 1,756 citations. The co-occurrence cluster analysis was conducted on the top 197 keywords, resulting in the identification of five distinct clusters. The most recent high-frequency keywords, namely immune therapy, dendritic cell, tumor microenvironment, cancer, and vaccine, signify the emerging frontiers in the interaction between tumor vaccines and the tumor microenvironment. Our review uncovers insights into contemporary trends, global patterns of collaboration, fundamental knowledge, research areas of high interest, and emerging frontiers in the field of TME-targeted vaccines.

A Bibliometric Exploration of Behavioral Finance: Trends, Influental Authors, Research Themes, and Emerging Concepts

This bibliometric exploration delves into the evolving landscape of behavioral finance, employing a systematic analysis of scholarly publications from the past decade. The study maps key trends, influential authors, research themes, and emerging concepts within the interdisciplinary realm of behavioral finance, blending insights from psychology and economics. Through rigorous data collection and analysis using VOS Viewer, the research addresses four critical questions: identifying trends, profiling influential authors, categorizing research themes, and exploring potential future directions. The study reveals a dynamic field with a focus on psychological factors influencing financial decision-making. Key findings include influential authors such as Hirshleifer and Statman, thematic clusters encompassing market efficiency and investor sentiment, and emerging areas of interest like the impact of COVID-19 on financial behavior. The implications of this research extend to academia, practice, and policy, providing a valuable resource for navigating the complex landscape of behavioral finance.

Glimpse of the Trials Presented at TCT and AHA 2023

In this article, the late-breaking trials presented at TCT and AHA 2023 are briefly described. The trials are described under the headings according to the area of interest of the trial.

Press portrayals of Saudi Women’s empowerment in the context of military enlistment

Media representations are susceptible to attitudes. This study examined how the press frames the attitudes of Western, non-Western, and Saudi newspapers towards employing Saudi women in the military, a topic which has formed a rich area of interest for the press between 2018 and 2023. To that end, a corpus comprising 29 articles (10,288 words) from both local and international publications was compiled, with the purpose of conducting critical discourse analysis. The study analysed corpus concordances both quantitatively and qualitatively seeking to identify attitudes generated through language and discourse, either implicitly or explicitly. Following Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach, the study identified keywords and co-occurrent patterns. It was found that news articles could be classified into three patterns of their representation of Saudi women empowerment: advocating, biased and neutral. This study offers a reflection on how the linguistic features of newspapers frame females and address female issues on diverse grounds.

The role of sport in the Smart City concept

Sport brings to cities innovative solutions that influence urban life, yet the considerations about sport is still rarely contributed to the development of very popular smart cities strategies. This raises the question: what is the perception of sport in the city from the perspective of the smart city concept? One of the challenges of future urban policy is to provide initiatives that ensure the well-being and promote the model of a healthy city, especially during the era of the Covid 19 pandemic. Therefore, sport creates an opportunity to combat these challenges. The study provides an in-depth literature review on sport factors influencing smart city domains through a systematic review process. Exploring this topic creates a paradigm for future studies on the discourse on smart cities and sport impact on evolution of cities of tomorrow. In particular, it indicate potential areas of interest from the point of view of local authorities and policymakers, who are able to incorporate governance through sport agendas.

Does fiducial marker visibility impact task performance and information processing in novice and low-time pilots?

Invisible fiducial markers are introduced for localization of Areas Of Interest (AOIs) in mobile eye tracking applications. Fiducial markers are made invisible through the use of film passing Infra-Red (IR) light while blocking the visible spectrum. An IR light source is used to illuminate the markers which are then detected by an IR-sensitive camera, but which are imperceptible by the human eye. We provide the first empirical study that demonstrates such invisible markers are not distracting to a given task, as demonstrated in a flight simulator where distraction of visible and invisible markers are compared between experienced and novice pilots. Fixation frequency and subjective distraction scores showed that visible markers disrupted natural gaze behavior, particularly in novice pilots. Our findings show that invisible markers should be used when there is a need for them to remain inconspicuous.

Coverage Path Planning of UAV Based on Linear Programming—Fuzzy C-Means with Pigeon-Inspired Optimization

In contrast to rotorcraft, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) encounter a unique challenge in path planning due to the necessity of accounting for the turning radius constraint. This research focuses on coverage path planning, aiming to determine optimal trajectories for fixed-wing UAVs to thoroughly explore designated areas of interest. To address this challenge, the Linear Programming—Fuzzy C-Means with Pigeon-Inspired Optimization algorithm (LP-FCMPIO) is proposed. Initially considering the turning radius constraint, a linear-programming-based model for fixed-wing UAV coverage path planning is established. Subsequently, to partition multiple areas effectively, an improved fuzzy clustering algorithm is introduced. Employing the pigeon-inspired optimization algorithm as the final step, an approximately optimal solution is sought. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the LP-FCMPIO, when compared to traditional FCM, achieves a more balanced clustering effect. Additionally, in contrast to traditional PIO, the planned flight paths display improved coverage of task areas, with an approximately 27.5% reduction in the number of large maneuvers. The experimental results provide validation for the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.