Design Study Research Articles

PanVA: Pangenomic Variant Analysis.

Genomics researchers increasingly use multiple reference genomes to comprehensively explore genetic variants underlying differences in detectable characteristics between organisms. Pangenomes allow for an efficient data representation of multiple related genomes and their associated metadata. However, current visual analysis approaches for exploring these complex genotype-phenotype relationships are often based on single reference approaches or lack adequate support for interpreting the variants in the genomic context with heterogeneous (meta)data. This design study introduces PanVA, a visual analytics design for pangenomic variant analysis developed with the active participation of genomics researchers. The design uniquely combines tailored visual representations with interactions such as sorting, grouping, and aggregation, allowing users to navigate and explore different perspectives on complex genotype-phenotype relations. Through evaluation in the context of plants and pathogen research, we show that PanVA helps researchers explore variants in genes and generate hypotheses about their role in phenotypic variation.

Dynamic interchange between two protonation states is characteristic of active sites of cholinesterases.

Cholinesterases are well-known and widely studied enzymes crucial to human health and involved in neurology, Alzheimer's, and lipid metabolism. The protonation pattern of active sites of cholinesterases influences all the chemical processes within, including reaction, covalent inhibition by nerve agents, and reactivation. Despite its significance, our comprehension of the fine structure of cholinesterases remains limited. In this study, we employed enhanced-sampling quantum-mechanical/molecular-mechanical calculations to show that cholinesterases predominantly operate as dynamic mixtures of two protonation states. The proton transfer between two non-catalytic glutamate residues follows the Grotthuss mechanism facilitated by a mediator water molecule. We show that this uncovered complexity of active sites presents a challenge for classical molecular dynamics simulations and calls for special treatment. The calculated proton transfer barrier of 1.65 kcal/mol initiates a discussion on the potential existence of two coupled low-barrier hydrogen bonds in the inhibited form of butyrylcholinesterase. These findings expand our understanding of structural features expressed by highly evolved enzymes and guide future advances in cholinesterase-related protein and drug design studies.

Optimal Design Study of Metal-as-Insulation HTS Synchronous Motor With Multiple Operating Points for EVs Based on Many-Objective Optimization

Optimal Design Study of Metal-as-Insulation HTS Synchronous Motor With Multiple Operating Points for EVs Based on Many-Objective Optimization

Job Satisfaction of Bankers in Islami Shariah-based Private Commercial Banks of Bangladesh: Application of Job Characteristics Model

The study aims to find connections between job satisfaction and different parts of the Job Characteristics Model (JCM) in Bangladesh's non-government Islamic banks. 238 bankers filled out an organized questionnaire for a quantitative research design study. The outcomes were examined using descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, correlation analysis, and dependability analysis. The multiple regression analysis shows that the JCM's categories can predict satisfaction well, explaining 59.5% of the total variation. Skill variety, job identity, autonomy, and feedback practices significantly increase job satisfaction, while task significance does not. The most influential factor in determining bankers' job satisfaction was autonomy. The study shows the significance of job characteristics in determining job satisfaction among bankers in Islami Shariah-based Private Commercial Banks. To improve job satisfaction and organizational success, managers and lawmakers should consider making skills more varied, tasks more straightforward, freedom more available, and feedback more available.

Status of Preliminary Design Studies for the Three Superferric 30$^\circ$ Bending Magnets for the Energy Buncher of FAIR

Status of Preliminary Design Studies for the Three Superferric 30$^\circ$ Bending Magnets for the Energy Buncher of FAIR

Sustaining quantitatively-grounded meanings for definite integrals in high school calculus

ABSTRACT Although the importance of developing students’ quantitatively-grounded meanings for integrals is widely acknowledged, there is limited research into how this can be accomplished in classroom settings. To address this limitation, I conducted a classroom design study in which I analyzed the collective development of classroom mathematical practices for establishing quantitatively-grounded meanings for integrals by a Year 12 calculus class. The findings suggest that the class established ways of approximating the value of definite integrals and integrals with a variable upper bound by progressing through the six layers of the Adding Up Pieces framework in ways that were largely similar to previous findings from studies conducted in clinical settings. The findings from this study also extend previous research by documenting the reasoning that students used to partition the domain and calculate target quantities using the trapezoidal rule, as well as the difficulty they encountered in developing the accumulation function.

Making Co-Design More Responsible: Case Study on the Development of an AI-Based Decision Support System in Dementia Care.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) require an early-stage assessment of potential societal and ethical implications to increase their acceptability, desirability, and sustainability. This paper explores and compares 2 of these assessment approaches: the responsible innovation (RI) framework originating from technology studies and the co-design approach originating from design studies. While the RI framework has been introduced to guide early-stage technology assessment through anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, and responsiveness, co-design is a commonly accepted approach in the development of technologies to support the care for older adults with frailty. However, there is limited understanding about how co-design contributes to the anticipation of implications. This paper empirically explores how the co-design process of an AI-based decision support system (DSS) for dementia caregivers is complemented by explicit anticipation of implications. This case study investigated an international collaborative project that focused on the co-design, development, testing, and commercialization of a DSS that is intended to provide actionable information to formal caregivers of people with dementia. In parallel to the co-design process, an RI exploration took place, which involved examining project members' viewpoints on both positive and negative implications of using the DSS, along with strategies to address these implications. Results from the co-design process and RI exploration were analyzed and compared. In addition, retrospective interviews were held with project members to reflect on the co-design process and RI exploration. Our results indicate that, when involved in exploring requirements for the DSS, co-design participants naturally raised various implications and conditions for responsible design and deployment: protecting privacy, preventing cognitive overload, providing transparency, empowering caregivers to be in control, safeguarding accuracy, and training users. However, when comparing the co-design results with insights from the RI exploration, we found limitations to the co-design results, for instance, regarding the specification, interrelatedness, and context dependency of implications and strategies to address implications. This case study shows that a co-design process that focuses on opportunities for innovation rather than balancing attention for both positive and negative implications may result in knowledge gaps related to social and ethical implications and how they can be addressed. In the pursuit of responsible outcomes, co-design facilitators could broaden their scope and reconsider the specific implementation of the process-oriented RI principles of anticipation and inclusion.

High-performance 4-nm-resolution X-ray tomography using burst ptychography.

Advances in science, medicine and engineering rely on breakthroughs in imaging, particularly for obtaining multiscale, three-dimensional information from functional systems such as integrated circuits or mammalian brains. Achieving this goal often requires combining electron- and photon-based approaches. Whereas electron microscopy provides nanometre resolution through serial, destructive imaging of surface layers1, ptychographic X-ray computed tomography2 offers non-destructive imaging and has recently achieved resolutions down to seven nanometres for a small volume3. Here we implement burst ptychography, which overcomes experimental instabilities and enables much higher performance, with 4-nanometre resolution at a 170-times faster acquisition rate, namely, 14,000 resolution elements per second. Another key innovation is tomographic back-propagation reconstruction4, allowing us to image samples up to ten times larger than the conventional depth of field. By combining the two innovations, we successfully imaged a state-of-the-art (seven-nanometre node) commercial integrated circuit, featuring nanostructures made of low- and high-density materials such as silicon and metals, which offer good radiation stability and contrast at the selected X-ray wavelength. These capabilities enabled a detailed study of the chip's design and manufacturing, down to the level of individual transistors. We anticipate that the combination of nanometre resolution and higher X-ray flux at next-generation X-ray sources will have a revolutionary impact in fields ranging from electronics to electrochemistry and neuroscience.

Development of a Digital Health Application Prototype among Adult Asthma Patients

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting more than 334 million people of all age groups globally. Although there are innumerable evidence-based guidelines and effective treatments for this disease, many patients with asthma still have uncontrolled symptoms. The effective control measures of chronic diseases primarily depend on the proper patient care in collaboration with healthcare providers. Currently, healthcare facilities are using the manual asthma action plan to customise each asthmatic patient to understand and manage asthma safely on their own. Thus, this article introduces a preliminary study of a digital health application prototype design based on the asthma action plan among adult asthma patients. The findings regarding the accessibility of this prototype among asthma patients will give a promising alternative tool to empower asthma patients to manage their asthma safely.

Underlying disease risk among fatigued patients: a population-based cohort study in primary care.

Background Presenting to primary care with fatigue is associated with a wide range of conditions, including cancer, although their relative likelihood is unknown. Aim To quantify associations between new-onset fatigue presentation and subsequent diagnosis of various diseases, including cancer. Design and setting Cohort study of patients presenting in English primary care with new-onset fatigue during 2007-2017 (fatigue presenters (FPs)), compared to non-fatigue presenters (NFPs), using Clinical Practice Research Datalink data linked to hospital episodes and national cancer registration data. Method We described excess short-term incidence of 237 diseases in FPs compared to NFPs. We modelled disease-specific 12-month risk by sex and calculated age-adjusted risk. Results We included 304,914 FPs and 423,671 NFPs. 127 of 237 diseases studied were more common in male FPs than in male NFPs, and 151 were more common in female FPs. Diseases that were most strongly associated with fatigue included: depression; insomnia & sleep disturbances, and hypo/hyperthyroidism (women only). By 80 years, cancer was the 3rd most common disease and had the 4th highest absolute excess risk in male FPs (FPs: 7.0%, CI = 6.6 to 7.5; NFPs: 3.4%, CI = 3.1 to 3.7; AER: 3.7%). In women, cancer remained relatively infrequent; by age 80 it had the 13th highest excess risk in FPs. Conclusion Our study ranks the likelihood of possible diagnoses in fatigue presenters, to inform diagnostic guidelines and doctors' decisions. Age-specific findings support recommendations to prioritise cancer investigation in older men with fatigue, but not women.

Determinants of quality of life in French nursing home residents across cognitive levels: a comparative study using convergent mixed-methods

BackgroundThe quality of life (QoL) of nursing home residents is multifaceted and influenced by relationships, health, and activities, as per research in international literature. However, studies exploring QoL predictors considering varying cognitive impairment levels are limited in the French context. This study examined the impact of sociodemographic factors and cognitive impairment on the QoL in Alzheimer’s Disease Nursing Homes (QoL-AD NH) scale scores among French nursing home residents. It further identified predictors through responses to qualitative semi-structured interviews. These elements were integrated and compared to understand more comprehensively the multifaceted determinants influencing residents’ QoL.MethodsThis mixed methods study used a cross-sectional convergent design, and quantitative and qualitative studies were carried out simultaneously. Using a generalised linear model and Kruskal–Wallis tests, the quantitative strand (N = 151) measured QoL with the QoL-AD NH scale and examined sociodemographic predictors of QoL. The qualitative strand (N = 78) involved semi-structured interviews with residents across four levels of cognitive functioning (no, mild, moderate, and severe impairment) and explored their QoL determinants through thematic analysis. Both strands were then integrated and analysed.ResultsMild cognitive impairment and depression negatively predicted QoL-AD NH scores. For specific items, residents with mild cognitive impairment had lower “Ability to keep busy daily” and “Current life in general” scores than residents without cognitive impairment. Qualitatively, family relationships were indispensable for QoL across groups, but those with mild cognitive impairment complained about a lack of activities in nursing homes. The analysis identified convergent predictors and enriched our understanding of daily occupation. Theory comparisons revealed assessment limitations in psychological well-being.ConclusionsA mixed approach provided a nuanced understanding of QoL, highlighting vulnerable groups and areas for improving assessment. Combining the results from standardised instruments with semi-structured interviews allowed us to capture a fuller range of experiences. The findings suggest a need to reconsider QoL assessment tools for nursing home residents and policies to address their needs regardless of their cognitive levels. They highlight the value of mixed methods for researching this multifaceted field.

Design and sensitivity study of a novel Z-shaped gate TFET sensor with SiGe source for chemical analyte detection

In this work, we have designed a chemical gas sensor using a Z-shaped gate tunnel FET with a SiGe source. Here, the gate material is a conducting organic polymer, which allows for the effective detection of a variety of chemical analytes. Over the course of the sensitivity investigation, several chemical analytes were exposed, including hexane, methanol, iso-propanol, and chloroform. Detecting chemical gases is feasible due to the work-function modification of the conducting polymer with exposure to the chemical gas vapors. This leads to modifications in the electrical properties of the suggested gas sensor, which serves as a sensing metric. The impact of surrounding temperature on various sensitivity parameters of the TFET-based gas sensor is also investigated. The proposed heterostructure Z-TFET (ZHS-TFET) offers a peak drain current sensitivity of 5.65 × 105 in the case of chloroform, which is four times higher than the sensitivity provided by the ZTFET sensor. Further, the suggested chemical sensor offers a higher subthreshold swing sensitivity (SSS) of 0.29 and a current ratio sensitivity (Sratio) of 3.18. As a result of its higher-sensitivity nature and improved electrostatic performance, the proposed sensor with conducting polymer as the gate metal may be able to meet the needs of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as environmental monitoring and biological diagnostics.

Design and simulation of a microfluidics-based artificial glomerular ultrafiltration unit to reduce cell-induced fouling.

The microfluidic-based Glomerulus-on-Chips (GoC) are mostly cell based, that is, 3D cell culture techniques are used to culture glomerular cells in order to mimic glomerular ultrafiltration. These chips require high maintenance to keep cell viability intact. There have been some approaches to build non-cell-based GoCs but many of these approaches have the drawback of membrane fouling. This article presents a structural design and simulation study of a dialysate free microfluidic channel for replicating the function of the human glomerular filtration barrier. The key advancement of the current work is addressing the fouling issue by combining a pre-filter to eliminate cellular components and performing filtration on the blood plasma. The Laminar Flow Mixture Model in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 has been utilized to simulate the behavior of blood flow in the microchannels. The geometrical effect of microchannels on the separation of the filtrate was investigated. The velocity at the inlet of the microchannel and pore size of the filtration membrane are varied to see the change in outflow and filtration fraction. The efficiency of the device is calculated in terms of the filtration fraction (FF%) formed. Simulation results show that the filtrate obtained is ~20% of the plasma flow rate in the channel, which resembles the glomerular filtration fraction. Given that it is not dependent on the functionality of grown cells, the proposed device is anticipated to have a longer lifespan due to its non-cell-based design. The device's cost can be reduced by avoiding cell cultivation inside of it. It can be integrated as a glomerular functional unit with other units of kidney model to build a fully developed artificial kidney.

Symposium 5: Design for networked learning: A case study in health science

Higher education (HE) institutions have been transforming dramatically since the pandemic started late 2019 and early 2020. After an initial period of emergency online teaching and learning, HE educators have focused our energy on supporting students' learning in a complex dynamic learning environment, where digital/online - material/physical - social elements are interwoven and interrelated. Networked learning can be a useful medium for us in this complex context. This paper explores a case study of design for networked learning in a health science postgraduate course. The course was designed in the context of a New Zealand university. The paper will examine how the course design reflects the eight principles of design for networked learning, and proposes some recommendations on design for networked learning at a course level. It links practice and theories, and illustrates how networked learning is unpacked in the context of the course design. While the current paper focuses on the design of the course, it is suggested that future research should conduct an evaluation of the design and develop empirical studies on students' and teacher's experience.

The Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Maternal Attachment in Primiparous Women

Objective: Postpartum depression (PPD) and maternal attachment are two important concepts of the postpartum period, which significantly affect maternal well-being and mother-child relationship. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between PPD and maternal attachment in primiparous women. Methods: Our descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational design study was conducted between January-June 2023. The study was completed with 352 participants who volunteered to participate in the study, gave birth in the relevant clinic, had no communication problems, and had no diagnosed psychiatric illness. Data were collected face-to-face by the researchers using the Descriptive Information Form, Maternal Attachment Scale (MAS) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data were analyzed in SPSS-22 program. Results: The mean age of the primiparous mothers included in the study was 23.82±2.60 years and the mean duration of marriage was 2.01±0.77 years. The mean score of the MAS was 81.92±10.99 and the mean score of the EPDS was 11.3±4.39. There was a significant negative correlation between MAS score and EPDS score. Conclusion: In our study, it was found that the MAS score was higher and the EPDS scale score was lower in mothers with a university degree or higher, mothers who received adequate support from their husbands after birth, working mothers, mothers whose husbands had a regular job and mothers who breastfed their babies. The results are expected to guide intervention and early intervention programs related to PPD and maternal attachment.

Transition from the neonatal unit to home: Parents' educational needs to promote their psychological well-being and sleep quality

PurposeParents may experience altered psychological well-being and sleep following the discharge of their preterm infant. They also perceive a lack of information from healthcare professionals. This study aims to describe the educational needs of parents regarding their psychological well-being and their sleep quality following their infant's discharge from the neonatal unit. Design and methodsThis descriptive quantitative study uses an online survey to assess parental information needs. Multiple parents (n = 87) completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were conducted to report the results of the survey. ResultsAccording to parents, the most helpful information given by health professionals to reduce the stress felt during this period concerned the follow-up of the infant after hospitalization and access to a health professional in case of questions (n = 12; 31.6%). Few parents (n = 17; 19.5%) reported seeing a health professional about their sleep in the past six months. According to 54.8% of parents, none of the information received by health professionals when preparing for their infant's transition home helped improve their sleep quality. ConclusionAfter discharge, parents have several information needs that may impact their psychological well-being and the quality of their sleep. Practice implicationsHealthcare professionals must address these informational needs before and after discharge from the neonatal unit to enhance the experience of parents during the transition of their preterm infant in the family environment.

Fabricating Large-Area Thin Films of 2D Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks.

ConspectusRecent years have witnessed significant interest in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) due to their unique properties and promising applications across various fields. These materials offer distinct advantages, including high porosity and excellent charge transport properties. Their tunability allows precise control over various factors, including the electronic structure adjustments and local reactivity modulation, facilitating a wide range of properties and applications, such as material sensing and spin dynamics control. Moreover, the precise crystal structure of 2D MOFs supports rational design and mechanism studies, providing insights into their potential applications and enhancing their utility in various scientific and technological endeavors.To fully unveil the latent capabilities of 2D MOFs and advance their applications across diverse fields, thin film synthesis is crucial. Thin films provide a platform for investigating the intrinsic electrical properties of 2D MOFs with anisotropic structures, enabling the exploration of their unique characteristics comprehensively. Additionally, thin films offer the advantage of minimizing interference at contacts and junctions, thereby enhancing the performance of 2D MOFs for various applications. Furthermore, the properties of thin films can vary with thickness, presenting an opportunity to tailor their characteristics based on specific requirements.In this Account, we present an overview of our research focusing on the synthesis of 2D conductive MOF thin films encompassing two primary methods: chemical vapor deposition and solution processing. The chemical vapor deposition method allows for one-step, all-vapor-phase processes resulting in MOFs with edge-on orientation, controllable film thicknesses ranging from 55 to 662.7 nm, and smooth, homogeneous surfaces. On the other hand, solution-processing introduces a novel MOF, Cu3(HHTATP)2, by reducing interlayer interactions through the addition of pendent Brønsted bases on a ligand, enabling spin coating for thin film synthesis. This method yields a concentrated 2D MOF solution, enabling spin coating for thin film synthesis, where reversible electrical conductivity changes occur through doping with an acid and dedoping with a base. Additionally, we discuss various other synthesis methods, such as interfacial synthesis, layer-by-layer assembly, and microfluidic-assisted synthesis, offering versatile approaches for fabricating large-area thin films with tailored properties. Finally, we address ongoing challenges and potential strategies for further advancement in 2D conductive MOF thin film synthesis. We hope that this Account provides insights for selecting synthesis methods tailored to specific purposes, contributes to the development of varied synthesis techniques, and facilitates the exploration of diverse applications, unlocking the full potential of 2D conductive MOFs for next-generation technologies.

Repositioning Sketches in Visual Communication Design Education

Sketching is a technique conducted as the first phase of creating an artwork and design. As an activity that is carried out at the beginning of the creation, sketching activities are often overlooked and are considered not necessary to be stored or even appropriately mastered. This argument is based on the assumption that the main purpose of making artwork and design is only for the final result. This research traces back the important role of the sketching process in education in the Visual Communication Design Study Program (DKV). The method applied in this research is a descriptive qualitative method In the scope of phenomenological hermeneutics, which is a method to describe a natural or man-made situation or phenomenon. For providing a description, literature reviews, documentation, an interview, and observation into urban sketcher community members. Through this research, it can be presented that the Urban Sketcher Manifesto can be applied in sketch drawing materials within the scope of academic learning. The benefits of the Urban Sketcher Manifesto to students include the ability to capture dynamic atmospheres with perspective determination, observe the organic gestures of living creatures, practice drawing spontaneously, effectively, and efficiently, and become accustomed to annotating drawings and storytelling through sketches. The results of implementing the Urban Sketcher Manifesto in course materials for students include strength in lines, understanding of composition, the grasp of impressions rather than reality, and good coordination between mind and hand. In this research, sketching is repositioned as a process that cannot be ignored in the work of drawing illustrations or visual designs. In sketch drawings, the benefits can also be seen in various interactions experienced, such as interactions among fellow students, interactions with localresidents, interactions with the atmosphere of the location, and interactions with the observed objects. The result of the research is expected to engage discourses for up-to-date Visual Communication Design education

Ketalization mechanism of glycerol to biobased glycerol levulinate ketal over HZSM-5: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Methyl levulinate ketal (MLK) is a novel biobased chemical derived from glycerol via ketalization, and exploring its synthesis mechanism is of great significance for the high-value utilization of biomass resources. In this study, the ketalization reaction of glycerol was evaluated using the MLK yield calculated by the GC internal standard method. The acidity of HZSM-5 was determined by NH3-TPD. The catalyst screening experiments demonstrated that HZSM-5 in zeolites and AlCl3 in metal salts exhibited high catalytic activity in the synthesis of MLK. Furthermore, the kinetic results indicated that the HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst exhibited a lower apparent activation energy in catalyzing the synthesis of MLK compared to the metal salt catalyst AlCl3. The ketalization reactions of levulinate and glycerol catalyzed by different types of acidic sites in HZSM-5 were then investigated using the density functional theory method. A comprehensive catalytic path, free energy changes, intermediates, and transition state structures were proposed. Furthermore, the free energy barriers of ethyl levulinate ketal and butyl levulinate ketal catalyzed by HZSM-5 were calculated, and the difference between the steric hindrance effect and the electronic effect of alkyl in levulinate was compared. This study enhances the understanding of ketalization reactions and will be useful in future catalyst design studies.

Effect of KOH- and NaOH-modified fly ash on the adsorption of methylene blue and crystal violet dyes: a Box-Behnken design study

ABSTRACT Coal Fly Ash (FA) and modified fly ash (mFA), treated with either KOH or NaOH, were used to remove methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dyes from aqueous solution. Several techniques, including Thermogravimetric analysis, X-Ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and Scanning Electron Microscopy, were used to characterise both FA and mFA. To optimise the adsorption process, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with the Box – Behnken design (BBD) was applied. Key parameters such as solution pH (4–10), initial dye concentration (200–300 mg/L), contact time (15–180 minutes), and temperature (30–50°C) were varied to assess their impact on adsorption efficiency. The adsorption followed the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. The adsorption capacity of mFA for MB dye was 49.5 mg/g at 50°C, while for CV dye, it was 495.5 mg/g at the same temperature. The adsorption mechanism involved electrostatic attraction, n-π interaction, Yoshida hydrogen bonding, and hydrogen bonding. These results highlight the effectiveness of mFA as a high-capacity adsorbent for treating MB and CV dyes in water solutions.