Distinct Levels Research Articles

The Evolution of Digital Building Logbook: Exploring Building Information Gathering Systems to Boost Building Maintenance and Renovation

The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations industry is distinguished by having plenty of and a variety of data, which makes the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of information difficult. Due to a data exchange system primarily based on paper-based transmission, multiple classification systems, the use of inconsistent criteria and practices, and a significant number of stakeholders involved during the building life cycle (each with distinct requirements and levels of access to information), the entire construction process must deal with ineffective information exchange among actors. Instead of multiple sources of information and tools to collect, store, and share data, one single source of information could become a reference point for numerous stakeholders. In this regard, a digital building logbook is assumed to be a collector of building-related data starting from the design phase, which plays a fundamental role in information management. This paper proposes a systematic literature review aimed at identifying the main features of the tool, investigating its growth in the construction sector. The results show that the digital building logbook’s main application is in the operations and maintenance field with relevance to renovation. However, a common model is absent, varying greatly based on the country and category of building. This analysis contributes to increasing awareness by identifying the attributes, gaps, and potentialities of the subject matter.

Hierarchical graph-based integration network for propaganda detection in textual news articles on social media

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the widespread use of social media platforms has facilitated the dissemination of information, fake news, and propaganda, serving as a vital source of self-reported symptoms related to Covid-19. Existing graph-based models, such as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), have achieved notable success in Natural Language Processing (NLP). However, utilizing GNN-based models for propaganda detection remains challenging because of the challenges related to mining distinct word interactions and storing nonconsecutive and broad contextual data. In this study, we propose a Hierarchical Graph-based Integration Network (H-GIN) designed for detecting propaganda in text within a defined domain using multilabel classification. H-GIN is extracted to build a bi-layer graph inter-intra-channel, such as Residual-driven Enhancement and Processing (RDEP) and Attention-driven Multichannel feature Fusing (ADMF) with suitable labels at two distinct classification levels. First, RDEP procedures facilitate information interactions between distant nodes. Second, by employing these guidelines, ADMF standardizes the Tri-Channels 3-S (sequence, semantic, and syntactic) layer, enabling effective propaganda detection through related and unrelated information propagation of news representations into a classifier from the existing ProText, Qprop, and PTC datasets, thereby ensuring its availability to the public. The H-GIN model demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving an impressive 82% accuracy and surpassing current leading models. Notably, the model’s capacity to identify previously unseen examples across diverse openness scenarios at 82% accuracy using the ProText dataset was particularly significant.

Dual-energy CT in head and neck applications.

Dual-energy CT (DECT), also known as spectral CT, has advanced diagnostic capabilities in head and neck pathologies beyond those of conventional single-energy CT (SECT). By having images at two distinct energy levels, DECT generates virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs), iodine maps, and quantitative features such as iodine concentration (IC) and spectral Hounsfield unit attenuation curves (SHUAC), which leads to enhancing tissue characterization, reducing artifacts, and differentiating head and neck pathologies. This review highlights DECT's applications in evaluating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), thyroid cartilage invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis, radiation therapy planning, post-treatment assessment, and role in other head and neck conditions, such as infection and sialolithiasis. Additionally, it explores emerging applications of DECT in radiomics and artificial intelligence. The review also discusses about integrating DECT into clinical practice requires overcoming workflow challenges and ensuring radiologist proficiency with its diverse image reconstructions. As DECT technology evolves, its integration promises to further enhance the efficacy of managing head and neck pathologies.

Anti-asthmatic and antioxidant activity of flavonoids isolated from Mentha longifolia subspecies typhoides (Briq.) Harley. and Mentha longifolia subspecies schimperi (Briq.) Briq. on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in mice: In-vivo and in-silico study.

Mentha longifolia L. has been employed to treat cough, lung inflammation, and bronchial asthma disorders. Our study was carried out to investigate the medicinal effect of the flavonoids derived from M. longifolia, specifically didymin, linarin, rutin, and TMF, as well as the whole extracts of M. longifolia subsp. typhoides and M. longifolia subsp. schimperi, in comparison to dexa, in a mice model of ovalbumin-allergic asthma (OVA). After inhaling OVA, the mice developed acute asthma symptoms. Mice were subjected orally to Dexa and/or isolated flavonoids. The study assessed total and differential leukocyte counts, LDH concentration, and total protein concentration in BALF, reduced levels of GSH and total NOx products in lung tissues and analyzed the lung specimens by staining them with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E). Histopathological analysis of the right lung lobes demonstrated that the isolated flavonoids exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory effect higher than Dexa as shown by decreasing the overall and distinct leukocyte counts, LDH levels, and total protein levels in BALF, as compared to the OVA group (p<0.05). TMF was the most effective and the other tested flavonoids are more effective than Dexa but less than TMF. In addition, all tested flavonoids and Dexa significantly (p<0.05) mitigated OVA-induced oxidative stress as evidenced by diminished lung NOx level and elevated GSH level. Computational docking studies proved recognition of didymin, linarin, rutin, and TMF to the human leukocyte elastase binding sites. The tested flavonoids; didymin, linarin, rutin, and TMF successfully inhibit Ova-induced allergic asthma in mice through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may represent promising candidate as a remedy for allergic asthma.

Cigarette and e-cigarette reversely regulated autophagy via distinct level of ROS in vitro

With the increasing prevalence of e-cigarettes, a systematic evaluation of the cytotoxicity among the components of e-cigarettes is needed. This study aimed to compare the cytotoxicity of conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, identify the toxic components of e-cigarettes, and explore the mechanisms of cellular injury. In this study, the conventional cigarette and seven flavored e-cigarettes, along with their constituents, including solvents, nicotine, and seven flavoring agents were tested. The Cambridge filter pad method was employed to collect conventional cigarettes smoke condensate (CSC) and e-cigarettes aerosol condensate (EAC). CCK-8 assays were used to assess their cytotoxicity on respiratory system-related cells and cardiovascular-related cells. The findings revealed significantly higher cytotoxicity in CSC compared to EACs, with EACs exhibiting IC50 values at least 12 times higher across various flavors and cell lines. Notably, among the seven flavors, the Cola-flavored EAC exhibited the most pronounced cytotoxicity, with flavoring agents identified as the primary contributors to the cytotoxicity of e-cigarettes. Furthermore, noteworthy differences in cellular mechanisms were observed between CSC and EAC-Cola in BEAS-2B cells, particularly in terms of ROS level and autophagy regulation. CSC induced approximately 10 times higher levels of ROS compared to EAC. Due to the distinct level of ROS, CSC significantly inhibited autophagy while EAC induced autophagy. Scavenge of ROS clearly eliminates the autophagy modulated by both CSC and EAC. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the cytotoxicity of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes, providing a scientific basis for health risk assessment and regulatory mechanisms.

The elephant in the room: a study on the dialogue about sexuality during Assisted Reproductive Technology visits

Despite ongoing medical advancements in infertility treatment, the significant impact of sexuality on this journey often goes unaddressed. The present research aims to examine sexual conversations during ART visits, including who initiate the conversation and their content.This quali-quantitative study delves into analyzed video-recorded ART visits to explore how “sex” conversations are broached during healthcare interactions. Our findings reveal a strikingly low proportion of utterances related to sexuality, accounting for only 1.3% of the total 14,372 utterances analyzed. Sex utterances were mainly introduced by physicians (72%), while regarding those introduced by the couple, 64% were reported by men. From the qualitative analysis on the utterances emerged three distinct levels of communication about sex: explicit, almost explicit, and implicit. While physicians and males exhibit an almost balanced distribution across the 3 levels, female patients primarily respond to explicit and almost explicit communication initiated by physicians. The low percentage of sexual utterances underscores the rarity of these conversations during ART interactions, despite the clinical field where sexual health should deserve a crucial attention. Opening the door to conversations about sexuality could help to create a safe and supportive space for patients to talk about sex, with a potential impact on well-being and quality of care during the ART process.

Academic engagement in Brazilian university laboratories

Abstract In this study, we add new evidence to the literature by investigating how individual and organizational attributes relate to the intensity of academic engagement (AE) in university research laboratories. AE relies on the adoption of mechanisms of interaction between academia and the business sector, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration for mutual benefits. The individual attributes of laboratory coordinators corresponded to gender, academic rank, and nonacademic experience. Organizational attributes were proxied by the scale of laboratory research resources, their competence to establish links with industry, and perceived institutional support. From a sample of 240 Brazilian university laboratories, we defined a typology to discriminate laboratories in terms of the intensity with which they practice multiple AE activities. We then investigated differences in the mean vectors of variables representing individual and organizational attributes across laboratories with distinct levels of AE. The results indicated that at the individual level, only the gender of the lab heads showed an association with the intensity of AE. Compared to laboratories with minimal involvement in AE activities, the intensely engaged ones showed higher means for the number of permanent researchers, staff size, and capital stock. Among the highly engaged laboratories, we found a predominance of those with competence to prospect and attract industrial partners and those who received sufficient support from the departments to facilitate collaboration with industry. Idiosyncrasies related to the Brazilian context are discussed in light of new insights typical of a developing country.

Research on the Lateral Resistance of Column Frames in the Tang Dynasty: A Case Study of the Straight Tenon Joints Under Varied Vertical Load Levels

Column frames connected using Tang Dynasty straight tenon joints represent a unique structural system characterized by historical significance and architectural ingenuity. Consequently, an experimental model, resembling the straight tenon joint style of the Tang Dynasty Foguang Temple East Hall, was constructed using two square beams (Fangs) and three columns in this study. Through low-cycle repeated load tests, hysteretic curves, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capabilities, and certain other indicators were analyzed under four distinct vertical load levels. The results reveal that increasing the vertical load can effectively improve the fullness of the hysteresis curve and the peak restoring force of the column frame. Moreover, a pronounced pinch effect was found in the hysteretic curve of the column frame, indicating that a higher vertical load can strengthen the frame’s restoring force within a specific range of horizontal displacement, thereby maintaining its structural stability. With increasing vertical loads, the maximum restoring force and stiffness of the column frame are elevated, enhancing the structure’s energy dissipation capacity and partially mitigating its stiffness degradation. However, it is noteworthy that as the horizontal load displacement increases, higher vertical loads result in a more rapid decline in the frame’s restoring force, reducing the effectiveness of improving the energy dissipation capabilities of the column frame.

Influence of microenvironment evolution induced by calcium leaching in concrete under pressurized water conditions on chloride transport

AbstractThe investigation into the influence of microenvironmental evolution, induced by calcium leaching on chloride transport in concrete in pressurized water environments, encompassed analysis of aspects such as the solid phase composition, microstructure characteristics, pH value distribution, free and total chloride concentrations using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric (TG), Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), Scanning electron microscopy/Energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS), and titration tests. The results exhibit a weakening of the diffraction peaks of Ca(OH)2 (CH) in the XRD spectra over time under hydraulic pressure. Throughout the calcium leaching procedure, there was an increase in the proportion of pores with diameters exceeding 100 nm. The pH distribution notably followed a pattern where it initially increased, then decreased, ultimately stabilizing at a distinct level. As exposure progressed from the surface to the interior of the concrete, hydroxide ions accumulated predominantly at 10–20 mm. According to the calcium leaching characteristics under pressurized water conditions, concrete can be sectioned into four zones. Specifically, there is a decrease in calcium ions and pH value in concrete Zone 1 near the exposure surface, indicative of a corresponding decrease in the chloride binding capacity. Concrete Zone 2 shows enrichment of hydroxide ions enhances Friedel's salt stability, while leached calcium amplifies the chloride adsorption of ≡SiOH. These effects collectively trigger an increase in both pH and chloride binding capacity.

Different functional responses in populations of Polylepis quadrijuga (Rosaceae) as a consequence of anthropogenic disturbance

The monodominant forests of Polylepis quadrijuga, endemic to the páramos of the eastern cordillera in the Colombian Andes, are among the most threatened in South America due to fragmentation and anthropogenic degradation. Despite their role in regulating water flow and forming biodiverse, endemic biotic communities, there are few studies on their functional responses to stress caused by anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. In this study, we evaluate how six different populations of P. quadrijuga with distinct levels of anthropogenic disturbance (low and high) change 11 foliar, stem, and root functional traits. Also, the physicochemical properties of the soils were analyzed, and mycorrhizal colonization was quantified to evaluate how each population responds to the stress conditions. The results indicated that populations with lower disturbance levels exhibit a conservative leaf trait configuration, whereas those with higher disturbance levels adopt an acquisitive strategy, potentially making them more vulnerable. Additionally, we found no functional coordination between above- and belowground traits. The results also highlight a lower percentage of arbuscular mycorrhizarl fungi (AMF) colonization in sites with a high level of disturbance. Our findings show P. quadrijuga’s sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance and its resilience, demonstrated by high plasticity in aboveground traits. Conservation efforts for this endangered species should focus on fragmented populations and those under stress from grazing or agriculture, aiming to create connectivity and promote its establishment

A BCool survey of stellar magnetic cycles

The magnetic cycle on the Sun consists of two consecutive 11-yr sunspot cycles and exhibits a polarity reversal around sunspot maximum. Although solar dynamo theories have progressively become more sophisticated, the details as to how the dynamo sustains magnetic fields are still the subject of research. Observing the magnetic fields of Sun-like stars can bring useful insights to contextualise the solar dynamo. With the long-term spectropolarimetric monitoring of stars, the BCool survey studies the evolution of surface magnetic fields to understand how dynamo-generated processes are influenced by key ingredients, such as mass and rotation. Here, we focus on six Sun-like stars with masses between 1.02 and 1.06 M$_ and with rotation periods of 3.5-21 d (or 0.3-1.8 in Rossby numbers), a practical sample with which to study magnetic cycles across distinct activity levels. We analysed high-resolution spectropolarimetric data collected with ESPaDOnS, Narval, and Neo-Narval between 2007 and 2024 within the BCool programme. We measured longitudinal magnetic field from least-squares deconvolution line profiles and we inspected its long-term behaviour with both a Lomb-Scargle periodogram and a Gaussian process. We then applied Zeeman-Doppler imaging to reconstruct the large-scale magnetic field geometry at the stellar surface for different epochs. Two of our slow rotators, namely HD\,9986 and HD\,56124 (P$_ rot exhibit repeating polarity reversals in the radial or toroidal field component on shorter timescales than the Sun (5 to 6\,yr). HD\,73350 (P$_ rot has one polarity reversal in the toroidal component and HD\,76151 (P$_ rot $=17\,d) may have short-term evolution (2.5\,yr) modulated by the long-term (16\,yr) chromospheric cycle. Our two fast rotators, HD 166435 and HD 175726 (P$_ rot $=3-5\,d), manifest complex magnetic fields without an evident cyclic evolution. Our findings indicate the potential dependence of the magnetic cycles' nature on the stellar rotation period. For the two stars with likely cycles, the polarity reversal timescale seems to decrease with a decreasing rotation period or Rossby number. These results represent important observational constraints for dynamo models of solar-like stars.

Assessing Lettuce Exposure to a Multipharmaceutical Mixture under Hydroponic Conditions: Findings through LC-ESI-TQ Analysis and Ecotoxicological Assessments.

The escalating global water scarcity demands innovative solutions, one of which is hydroponic vegetable cultivation systems that increasingly use reclaimed wastewater. Nevertheless, even treated wastewater may still harbor various emerging organic contaminants, including pharmaceuticals. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of pharmaceuticals, focusing on bioconcentration factors (BCFs), translocation factors (TFs), pharmaceutical persistence in aqueous environment, ecotoxicological end points, and associated environmental and health risks. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was cultivated hydroponically throughout its entire growth cycle, exposed to seven distinct concentration levels of contaminants ranging from 0 to 500 μg·L-1 over a 35-day period. The findings revealed a diverse range of BCFs (2.3 to 880 L·kg-1) and TFs (0.019-1.48), suggesting a high potential of pharmaceutical uptake and translocation by L. sativa. The degradation of 20 pharmaceuticals within the water-lettuce system followed first-order degradation kinetics. Substantial ecotoxicological effects on L. sativa were observed, including increased mortality, alterations in root morphology and length, and changes in biomass weight (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the estimated daily intake of pharmaceuticals through L. sativa consumption suggested considerable health risks, even if lettuce would be one of the many vegetables consumed. It is hypothetical, as the values were calculated. Moreover, this study assessed the environmental risk associated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic environments, revealing a significantly high risk of AMR emergence. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the multifaceted challenges posed by pharmaceutical contamination in aquatic environments and the necessity of proactive measures to mitigate associated risks to both environmental and human health.

Performance Analysis and Design Principles of Wireless Mutual Broadcast Using Heterogeneous Transmit Power for Proximity-Aware Services.

As proximity-aware services among devices such as sensors, IoT devices, and user equipment are expected to facilitate a wide range of new applications in the beyond 5G and 6G era, managing heterogeneous environments with diverse node capabilities becomes essential. This paper analytically models and characterizes the performance of heterogeneous random access-based wireless mutual broadcast (RA-WMB) with distinct transmit (Tx) power levels, leveraging a marked Poisson point process to account for nodes' various Tx power. In particular, this study enables the performance of RA-WMB with heterogeneous Tx power to be represented in terms of the performance of RA-WMB with a common Tx power by deriving an equivalent Tx power based on the probability distribution of heterogeneous Tx power and the path loss exponent. This approach allows for an analytical and quantitative comparison of heterogeneous RA-WMB performance with the common Tx power configuration. Further, the study derives performance ratios among node groups with distinct Tx power levels and formulates an optimization problem to design a heterogeneous Tx power configuration that balances individual node group performance improvements with overall network performance, yielding the optimal Tx power configuration. A closed-form suboptimal transmission probability (TxPr) is also proposed to improve heterogeneous RA-WMB performance, providing an efficient alternative to iterative methods for the optimal TxPr. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy of performance analysis and highlight the effectiveness of the proposed designs.

Schottky Anomaly of Reissner-Nordstr"{o}m-de Sitter spacetime

Abstract In the extended thermodynamics of black holes, there exists a thermodynamical pressure whose dual thermodynamical quantity is volume. Extensive studies have been conducted on the phase structure of numerous black holes, which have demonstrated striking similarities to the phase structure of various ordinary matter systems. From the comparison of the thermodynamic properties between spherically symmetric AdS black holes and ordinary thermodynamic systems we known that the isovolumetric heat capacity of the former is zero, whereas that of the latter is non-zero. It is a subject of interest for the intrinsic reason for this discrepancy. For the Reissner-N"{o}rdstrom-de Sitter (RN-dS) spacetime with the coexistence of the black hole and cosmological horizons the effective thermodynamic quantities as well as the interaction between two horizons are presented. The heat capacity in the Reissner-N"{o}rdstrom-de Sitter (RN-dS) spacetime is then investigated, and it is demonstrated that the behavior of the heat capacity in the RN-dS spacetime is analogous to that of Schottky specific heat. Treating two horizons in the RN-dS spacetime as two distinct energy levels in a two-energy-level system we investigate the thermodynamic properties in the RN-dS spacetime with the method of studying the thermodynamic properties in an ordinary two-energy system, thereby elucidating the intrinsic reasons for the occurrence of Schottky specific heat in the RN-dS spacetime. The heat capacity observed in the RN-dS spacetime is not only consistent with that of the Schottky specific heat described by the effective thermodynamic quantities in the RN-dS spacetime, but also with that of an ordinary two-energy-level system. These results not only reveal the quantum properties of the RN-dS spacetime, but also provide a new avenue for further in-depth study of the quantum properties of black holes and dS spacetime.

Multi-Stakeholder Framework for Analyzing Electric Vehicle Adoption in Last-Mile Delivery Fleets: A Literature-Based Approach for Computational Modeling in Indonesia

Indonesia is experiencing an accelerated transition towards widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption, bolstered by governmental support aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. While extensive research has been conducted on public acceptance of EVs, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the logistics sector, particularly in the domain of last-mile delivery. This gap is becoming increasingly salient as the e-commerce industry continues to expand, amplifying the impact of this sector. This study aims to provide a more comprehensive perspective on EV adoption by logistics firms by incorporating multiple stakeholders: the logistics firm itself, government entities, receivers, and suppliers. The research develops a multifaceted framework for EV adoption that encompasses these four stakeholder groups, with a particular emphasis on the logistics firm. This firm-centric approach is further delineated into two distinct levels: managerial and end-user (i.e., couriers). The proposed framework is designed to be implemented within computational modeling paradigms, facilitating deeper insights into how various factors surrounding logistics firm operations influence the electrification of last-mile delivery processes. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of the intricate relationships and interactions between stakeholders and operational variables in the context of EV adoption within the logistics sector.

Investigating the effect of subject specialisations, academic performance, and gender on pre-service teachers’ nature of science beliefs

The study sought to understand how students’ subject specialisations, academic achievements and gender influence the belief about nature of science (NOS) they hold at the end of their four year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programme in South Africa. The study was underpinned by an epistemological development theory. It was a quantitative study which involved one hundred and seventeen fourth-year students registered for a four-year Bachelor of Education degree, of whom 72 were females and 45 were males. The study revealed the following: (i) Most fourth year pre-service students were neither naïve nor sophisticated in their conception of NOS beliefs when they exited the programme. Students NOS beliefs also differed with respect to whether they were female or males. Overall, female students were slightly more sophisticated in their NOS beliefs than their male counterparts. (ii) The study also revealed that specialising in Physical Science, Life Sciences, and Technology had no effect on NOS beliefs held by both male and female students. (iii) However, male students specialising in Mathematics were found to hold more sophisticated NOS beliefs and these beliefs were significantly superior to their female counterparts. (iv) Students who academically performed at a distinction level had significantly superior NOS beliefs than those whose academic performance was just at a pass level. (v) Female students specialising in Physical Science had superior beliefs about how scientific knowledge is generated.

Infant care transfers: simulating neonatal infant pathways and transfers across a neonatal network

Neonatal care for preterm and sick babies is organised into local areas around the United Kingdom, called Operational Delivery Networks. These networks coordinate between providers to ensure babies have the required care, close to home. There are three types of Neonatal Units offering distinct levels of needs-based care. The networks need to ensure that each unit operates at optimal cot levels, and the best quality care is provided. The possible impact of any changes to a network’s configuration on transfers and infant care, must be considered before any changes are implemented. Our simulation model reflects the infant pathways within a network allowing users to evaluate a variety of possible changes within the network. The model builds on previous literature by incorporating the ability to move an existing infant from a unit to release capacity as well as moving new arrivals between units. We also consider the potential environmental impact of the additional travel for parents visiting infants who have been transferred. We demonstrate how the model can be applied with a case network within which approximately 60,000 babies are born annually, a tenth of whom requiring some Neonatal Care. Of these infants, approximately 12% are transferred to another unit.

Preparation and Characterization of Copper Oxide-Chitosan Nanocomposite for Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery System

This work aimed at synthesizing the chitosan-based nanocomposite for concurrent diagnosis of colon tumors and targeted drug shipping with minimum toxicity. CuO-chitosan nanocomposite was developed using CuO nanoparticles (NPs), chitosan raw materials and 1% acetic acid. FE-SEM/EDX, TEM, XRD, DLSUV-Vis, FT-IR, as well as fluorescent emission spectrum methods were used to investigate the characteristics of nanocomposite gained throughout distinct levels. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein release rate was estimated. We investigated the antibacterial functioning of the nanocomposite against different bacteria types (like S. aureus, S. typhi, E. coli, L. monocytogene and P. aeruginosa), which can affect in causing tense colonic diseases. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were performed. The impact of the nanocomposite on cancerous and normal human colon cell lines, specifically HCT-116 and SW-948, was examined using the MTT assay. Eventually, loading BSA onto the CuO–chitosan nanocomposite enhances its potential as a drug carrier for treating colon cancer, causing minimal harm to surrounding normal cells. Additionally, the CuO-chitosan nanocomposite demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, a key pathogen associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The influence of observation sequence features on the performance of the Bayesian hidden Markov model: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

The hidden Markov model is a popular modeling strategy for describing and explaining latent process dynamics. There is a lack of information on the estimation performance of the Bayesian hidden Markov model when applied to categorical, one-level data. We conducted a simulation study to assess the effect of the 1) number of observations (250-8.000), 2) number of levels in the categorical outcome variable (3-7), and 3) state distinctiveness and state separation in the emission distribution (low, medium, high) on the performance of the Bayesian hidden Markov model. Performance is quantified in terms of convergence, accuracy, precision, and coverage. Convergence is generally achieved throughout. Accuracy, precision, and coverage increase with a higher number of observations and an increased level of state distinctiveness, and to a lesser extent with an increased level of state separation. The number of categorical levels only marginally influences performance. A minimum of 1.000 observations is recommended to ensure adequate model performance.

Empathy Development in Preschoolers With/Without Hearing Loss and Its Associations with Social-Emotional Functioning.

Empathy plays a crucial role in children's social-emotional development. There is an increasing trend in recent studies to recognize empathy as a multi-dimensional construct, consisting of three distinct hierarchical levels: emotion contagion, attention to others' feelings and prosocial behaviors (Hoffman, Motiv Emot, 14(2), 151-172, 1990). The present study is amongst the first to use a longitudinal approach to examine the development trajectories of the distinct empathic levels, based on a sample of Chinese preschoolers aged 2 to 6 years, half of the sample being deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH). Our results showed that according to the parental observation, DHH preschoolers manifested similar extent of emotion contagion and attention to others' feelings as their TH (typically hearing) peers over preschool years. Yet, DHH preschoolers showed fewer prosocial behaviors, compared to their TH peers. As for the longitudinal associations over time, emotion contagion contributed to more internalizing and externalizing behaviors in both groups; whilst attention to others' feelings contributed to fewer internalizing behaviors in only DHH children. Prosocial behaviors contributed to better social competence, and fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviors in both DHH and TH children just as expected. These outcomes imply that the early intervention or special education may be useful to safeguard children's empathic development, shrinking the gaps between DHH and TH children; but meanwhile, cultural factors might cause latent effects on children's understandings of empathy and impact on how empathy "regulates" children's social-emotional functioning, in a Chinese cultural context.