Preferred Combination Research Articles

Optimization Study of the Structural Parameters of an Artificial Percolation Intake Riverbed Based on a Numerical Orthogonal Test

Research on water abstraction techniques in sandy rivers is crucial for addressing water scarcity issues in northern China. This study introduces an artificial percolation water intake riverbed structural model designed to prevent sand intake and facilitate the extraction of clear water from sandy rivers, the main function of which is to artificially construct a helical flow field to realize the separation of water and sand and, at the same time, percolate the water. In this paper, we use a numerical orthogonal test method to study the influence of structural parameters and their combinations on water extraction by percolation, and the preferred combination of structural parameters. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: Under the condition of certain structural parameters of the artificial riverbed, the single-width flow rate has an important effect on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube and the vortex tube seepage volume. The effect of different structural parameters on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube and the vortex tube seepage varies in magnitude. The longitudinal slope of artificial riverbed i had the greatest and most significant effect on the mean circumferential flow rate of the vortex tube, and each structural parameter had some effect on the vortex tube seepage Q but not to a significant level. When the sand content of the water flow is 15 kg/m3 and the maximum sand grain size of the suspended mass is 2 mm, the optimal structural parameter combinations of the artificial riverbed under different working conditions are as follows: Combination 20 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.3 m2/s; Combination 24 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.6 m2/s; and Combination 24 is the optimal structural parameter combination for q = 0.9 m2/s. The present study is of great significance for understanding the influence of each structural parameter and its combination on the effect of the water intake and sand discharge of an artificial percolation intake riverbed, and for optimizing the combination of the structural parameters of an artificial percolation intake riverbed.

Burden of Non-Protocolized Patient Transport Outside of Response Area on a Rural Emergency Medical Services System

Objectives Transport destination decisions by prehospital personnel depend on a combination of protocols, judgment, patient acuity, and patient preference. Non-protocolized transport outside the service area may result in unnecessary time out of service and inappropriate resource utilization. Scant research exists regarding clinician rationale for destination decisions. Methods We retrospectively reviewed one year of scene transports by a single rural, hospital-based emergency medical services (EMS) system. We collected dispatch, patient demographic, primary impression, and transport data from prehospital records and matched them to emergency department (ED) data. We characterized rationale for transport decisions and compared rates of hospital admission and specialist consultation in the ED as surrogates for decision appropriateness. Results We reviewed 2,223 patient transports, 281 of which were transported out of the service area. The most common reasons for out-of-area transport were patient preference NOT related to prior medical care (40%) and clinician judgment (24%). Admit rates were highest for per protocol (85%) and patient preference related to prior medical care (67%) groups and lowest for no explanation (41%) and clinician judgment (47%) groups. Rates of in person specialist consultation in the ED were highest in per protocol (69%) and clinician judgment (47%) groups and lowest in no explanation (23%) and patient preference NOT related to prior medical care (30%) groups. Clinician judgment was less predictive of admission and specialist consultation for non-trauma and pediatric patients than for all patients. Median time out of service was more than twice as long for out-of-area transports (140 min) compared to patients transported to the nearest facility (62 min). For out-of-area transports discharged from the ED without specialty consultation (n = 104), ambulances traveled an additional 52 miles/patient compared to theoretical transport to nearest facility. Conclusions Unit out of service time more than doubled for non-protocolized transports outside of the service area and rationale for destination decisions variably predicted admission and specialist consultation rates. Patient preference NOT related to prior medical care and, in pediatric and non-trauma populations, clinician judgment, were less predictive of admission and specialist consultation. Transport guidelines should balance rationale for transport destination and patient characteristics with resource preservation, especially in low-resource systems.

On the performance and thermal stability of solar cell based on CIGS-Sb2S3 combination with >35% power conversion efficiency

This study presents a solar cell design utilizing a CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) absorber and Sb2S3 (antimony trisulfide) back surface field (BSF) layers, targeting high photovoltaic (PV) performance with an emphasis on minimum possible effect of ambient temperature. We simulated a solar cell design consisting of zinc oxide, surface defect layer, zinc sulfide, CIGS layer, and an Sb2S3 layer using SCAPS-1D software. Our findings indicate that 200 nm Sb2S3 layer and a 1600 nm CIGS layer is the preferred combination for achieving high PV performance and appropriate J-V characteristics of the proposed solar cell. For this design, the achieved values of VOC (open circuit voltage), JSC (short circuit current density), PCE (power conversion efficiency), and fill factor (FF) are 1.069V, 42.08 mA/cm2, 35.94%, and 80.31%, respectively. The PV performance of the proposed solar cell is substantially better than the solar cell design without BSF layer as well as recently reported (2023-24) solar cell designs. This study further examines the impact of elevated ambient temperatures (295–360 K) on the PV performance. Our simulation results show that operating the proposed solar cell at moderately elevated temperatures is not a significant issue owing to small power temperature coefficient (-0.034% per K), which is comparable to that of commercially available solar cells. These findings are expected to contribute to the ongoing advancement of PV solar cells, aiming for higher PCE and improved stability, including thermal stability. Proposed solar cell with low PTC and high PCE can be suitable for space applications where temperature fluctuation is severe, as well as in tropical areas.

Relationship Between Insurance Status and Receipt of Cardiac Tests and Procedures During Hospitalization: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Prior analyses of the relationship between insurance status and receipt of tests and procedures have yielded conflicting findings and have focused on outpatient care. We sought to characterize the relationship between primary payer and diagnostic and procedural intensity, comparing rates of cardiac tests and procedures in matched hospitalized Medicaid and commercially insured patients. We created a propensity score-matched sample of Medicaid and commercially insured adults hospitalized at all acute care hospitals in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina from 2016 to 2018. The main outcome was receipt of a cardiac test or procedure: echocardiogram, stress test, cardiac catheterization (elective, in acute coronary syndrome, in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction), and pacemaker and subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor implantation. Generalized linear models with a hospital-specific indicator variable were estimated to calculate the adjusted odds of a commercially insured patient receiving a given test or procedure relative to a Medicaid patient. Models controlled for race, ethnicity, and zip code income quartile. Commercially insured patients were more likely to receive each cardiac test or procedure, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.16 (95% CI, 1.00-1.34) for cardiac catheterization in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction to 1.40 (95% CI, 1.27-1.54) for pacemaker implantation. Hospitalized commercially insured patients were more likely to undergo a range of cardiac tests and procedures, some of which may represent low-value care. This may be driven by a combination of physician and patient preference, financial incentives, and social determinants of health. Our findings support the need for hospital payment models focused on increasing value and reducing inequities.

P199 HYPERTENSIVE EMERGENCIES: CHARACTERISATION, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOMES IN A SINGLE-CENTRE STUDY

Objective: • Characterise patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit with hypertensive emergency. • Analyse the reasons leading to hospitalisation. • Evaluate treatment and discharge diagnosis. Methodology A single-centre longitudinal prospective registry was conducted, including patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of the Spanish Hospital of Mendoza with a diagnosis of hypertensive emergency, from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2024. Age, gender, pre-discharge treatment, cardiovascular risk, pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension, quantity and type of medications at admission, quantity and type of medications at discharge, presence of target organ damage, and diagnosis of secondary hypertension were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using JAMOVI. Results: Fifty-nine patients with hypertensive emergency were admitted, 61% of whom were women. Sixty-four percent had a prior diagnosis of hypertension. Of these, 72% had no treatment at admission, 12% were on monotherapy, and 10% were on dual therapy. Only 10% of patients on combination therapy had preferred combination therapy. Twenty-five percent had low cardiovascular risk, 42% moderate, 25% high, and 6% very high. Fifty-four percent were diagnosed with target organ damage. Secondary causes were found in 31.5% of patients, including gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (19%), primary hyperaldosteronism (7%), renovascular hypertension (3%), and pheochromocytoma (2%). The mean number of medications at admission was 0.64 (CI=0.52,0.76) and at discharge was 2.90 (CI: 2.72,3.24). All were preferred combinations. No re-admissions were recorded during the 2-year follow-up. Conclusions: According to the data, non-adherence and medical inertia were the most frequent causes of hospitalisation for hypertensive emergency. Only 12% of patients had a diagnosis of secondary hypertension, and 19% of admissions were related to pregnancy. However, it is noteworthy that more than half of the patients had target organ damage, reclassifying patients at higher cardiovascular risk. Following guidelines and using preferred combinations controlled cardiovascular events 100% during follow-up.

AI-powered omics-based drug pair discovery for pyroptosis therapy targeting triple-negative breast cancer

Due to low success rates and long cycles of traditional drug development, the clinical tendency is to apply omics techniques to reveal patient-level disease characteristics and individualized responses to treatment. However, the heterogeneous form of data and uneven distribution of targets make drug discovery and precision medicine a non-trivial task. This study takes pyroptosis therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) as a paradigm and uses data mining of a large TNBC cohort and drug databases to establish a biofactor-regulated neural network for rapidly screening and optimizing compound pyroptosis drug pairs. Subsequently, biomimetic nanococrystals are prepared using the preferred combination of mitoxantrone and gambogic acid for rational drug delivery. The unique mechanism of obtained nanococrystals regulating pyroptosis genes through ribosomal stress and triggering pyroptosis cascade immune effects are revealed in TNBC models. In this work, a target omics-based intelligent compound drug discovery framework explores an innovative drug development paradigm, which repurposes existing drugs and enables precise treatment of refractory diseases.

Rotationally invariant local bond order parameters for accurate determination of hydrate structures

Averaged local bond order parameters based on spherical harmonics, also known as Lechner and Dellago order parameters, are routinely used to determine crystal structures in molecular simulations. Among different options, the combination of the q ¯ 4 and q ¯ 6 parameters is one of the best choices in the literature since distinguishes between solid- and liquid-like particles and between different crystallographic phases, including cubic and hexagonal phases. Recently, Algaba et al. [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 623, 354, (2022)] have used the Lechner and Dellago order parameters to distinguish hydrate- and liquid-like water molecules in the context of determining the carbon dioxide hydrate-water interfacial free energy. According to the results, the preferred combination previously mentioned is not the best option to differentiate between hydrate- and liquid-like water molecules. In this work, we revisit and extend the use of these parameters to deal with systems in which clathrate hydrates phases coexist with liquid phases of water. We consider carbon dioxide, methane, tetrahydrofuran, nitrogen, and hydrogen hydrates that exhibit sI and sII crystallographic structures. We find that the q ¯ 3 – q ¯ 12 combination is the best option possible between a large number of possible different pairs to distinguish between hydrate- and liquid-like water molecules in all cases.

Effective waste management through Co-pyrolysis of EFB and tire waste: Mechanistic and synergism analysis

Driven by the need for solutions to address the global issue of waste accumulation from human activities and industries, this study investigates the thermal behaviors of empty fruit bunch (EFB), tyre waste (TW), and their blends during co-pyrolysis, exploring a potential method to convert waste into useable products. The kinetics mechanism and thermodynamics properties of EFB and TW co-pyrolysis were analysed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rate of mass loss for the blend of EFB:TW at a 1:3 mass ratio shows an increase of around 20% due to synergism. However, the blend's average activation energy is higher (298.64 kJ/mol) when compared with single feedstock pyrolysis (EFB = 257.29 kJ/mol and TW = 252.92 kJ/mol). The combination of EFB:TW at a 3:1 ratio does not result in synergistic effects on mass loss. However, a lower activation energy is reported, indicating the decomposition process can be initiated at a lower energy requirement. The reaction model that best describes the pyrolysis of EFB, TW and their blends can be categorised into the diffusion and power model categories. An equal mixture of EFB and TW was the preferred combination for co-management because of the synergistic effect, which significantly impacts the co-pyrolysis process. The mass loss rate experiences an inhibitive effect at an earlier stage (320 °C), followed by a promotional impact at the later stage (380 °C). The activation energy needed for a balanced mixture is the least compared to all tested feedstocks, even lower than the pyrolysis of a single feedstock. The study revealed the potential for increasing decomposition rates using lower energy input through the co-pyrolysis of both feedstocks. These findings evidenced that co-pyrolysis is a promising waste management and valorisation pathway to deal with overwhelming waste accumulation. Future works can be conducted at a larger scale to affirm the feasibility of EFB and TW co-management.

Spatial inequities in access to medications for treatment of opioid use disorder highlight scarcity of methadone providers under counterfactual scenarios.

Access to treatment and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is essential in reducing opioid use and associated behavioral risks, such as syringe sharing among persons who inject drugs (PWID). Syringe sharing among PWID carries high risk of transmission of serious infections such as hepatitis C and HIV. MOUD resources, such as methadone provider clinics, however, are often unavailable to PWID due to barriers like long travel distance to the nearest methadone provider and the required frequency of clinic visits. The goal of this study is to examine the uncertainty in the effects of travel distance in initiating and continuing methadone treatment and how these interact with different spatial distributions of methadone providers to impact co-injection (syringe sharing) risks. A baseline scenario of spatial access was established using the existing locations of methadone providers in a geographical area of metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, USA. Next, different counterfactual scenarios redistributed the locations of methadone providers in this geographic area according to the densities of both the general adult population and according to the PWID population per zip code. We define different reasonable methadone access assumptions as the combinations of short, medium, and long travel distance preferences combined with three urban/suburban travel distance preference. Our modeling results show that when there is a low travel distance preference for accessing methadone providers, distributing providers near areas that have the greatest need (defined by density of PWID) is best at reducing syringe sharing behaviors. However, this strategy also decreases access across suburban locales, posing even greater difficulty in regions with fewer transit options and providers. As such, without an adequate number of providers to give equitable coverage across the region, spatial distribution cannot be optimized to provide equitable access to all PWID. Our study has important implications for increasing interest in methadone as a resurgent treatment for MOUD in the United States and for guiding policy toward improving access to MOUD among PWID.

Nitrate and nitrite utilization during denitrifying phosphorus removal: Electron acceptor preference and feasible process combinations

Denitrifying phosphorus removal (DPR), which is dominated by denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (DPAOs), is a promising process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms (DGAOs) and DPAOs typically coexist in the DPR sludge, complicating the study of DPAOs’ denitrification capacity. In this study, two reactors were fed with nitrate and nitrite during the anoxic phase to cultivate nitrate-DPR and nitrite-DPR sludge. Both reactors yielded high and low DGAO abundance sludges, enabling the evaluation of the denitrification capacity of DPAOs. For the nitrate-DPR sludge, the nitrite reduction rate was 1.63 times higher than the nitrate reduction rate when DPAOs were the primary denitrifiers. For the nitrite-DPR sludge, the reduction rate of nitrite was more than three times that of nitrate, irrespective of DGAO abundance. These findings indicated that DPAOs preferred nitrite to nitrate and were well suited to reduce nitrite rather than reduce nitrate to supply nitrite.

Preferences and Prescription Practices for Managing Diabetes with a Special Reference to the Clinical Use of Sitagliptin in Indian Settings

Background: Although there were several clinical studies regarding the effectiveness of sitagliptin, there were dearth of studies on the prescription patterns and practices among clinicians. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 19 statements with multiple responses in a pretested questionnaire format to gather and understand the current prescription practices, clinical observation and preferences for managing diabetes with a special reference to the clinical use of sitagliptin in Indian settings. The survey respondents were specialists with expertise in managing diabetes. Results: According to 49% of clinicians, the preferred drug combination for managing diabetes with hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels >9% is dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) + metformin + glimepiride. The majority of clinicians (89.92%) recommended sitagliptin as the preferred gliptin for cardiovascular (CV) protection in diabetic patients. Approximately 38% of clinicians considered established cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT) and CV benefits as decisive factors in prescribing sitagliptin as a first- or second-line therapy for diabetic patients. Around 72% of clinicians preferred sitagliptin + dapagliflozin as an oral antidiabetic (OAD) combination for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Approximately 42% of respondents reported sitagliptin + metformin as the preferred OAD combination, prescribed as a single pill, for uncontrolled T2DM patients with HbA1c levels >8%. Conclusion: The study highlighted the prescription trends favoring sitagliptin-based therapies in the management of diabetes, with potential cardiovascular benefits and as first- or second-line OAD therapy. The respondents also emphasized the significance of personalized approaches, such as the sitagliptin + dapagliflozin combination, for T2DM patients with CKD.

Exploring the financing gap for entrepreneurial firms in a developing economy: a case of mismatched expectations?

PurposeThis paper investigates the financing preferences and practices of Senegalese entrepreneurial firms, with a particular focus on understanding the gaps between the two and how they may contribute to financing constraints in developing economies. By juxtaposing the preferences of different financing options against their degree of usage, this study attempts to reveal the mismatch in demand and supply of entrepreneurial firms financing in Senegal.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to survey 524 entrepreneurial firms, and data was analyzed using various statistical methods.FindingsThe results indicate that the most preferred sources of financing for Senegalese entrepreneurial firms are self-financing and short-term bank loans. Short-term funding horizons are also much more preferred than their long-term counterparts. However, there is a mismatch between financing preferences and practices, particularly with regards to equity sources, which were found to be more preferred than used. The study argues that a combination of preferences, firm, and owner characteristics can explain the choice and frequency of usage of financing sources.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by contrasting preferences and practices, revealing gaps between theory and practice, and providing better insight into the real financing needs of entrepreneurial firms in developing economies. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the financing preferences of Senegalese entrepreneurial firms, making it an important contribution to the literature on entrepreneurial firms financing in developing economies.

Mapping geodetically inferred Antarctic ice surface height changes into thickness changes: a sensitivity study

Abstract. Determining recent Antarctic ice volume changes from satellite altimeter measurements of ice surface height requires a correction for contemporaneous vertical crustal deformation. This correction must consider two main sources of crustal deformation: (1) ongoing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), that is, the deformational, gravitational, and rotational response to Late Pleistocene and Holocene ice and ocean mass changes and (2) modern ice mass change. In this study, we seek to quantify the uncertainties associated with each of these corrections. Corrections of ice surface height changes for correction 1 have generally involved the adoption of global models of GIA defined by some preferred combination of ice history and mantle viscoelastic structure. We have computed the GIA correction generated from a coupled ice sheet–sea level model and a realistic Earth model incorporating three-dimensional viscoelastic structure. Integrating the difference between this correction and those from recent GIA analyses widely adopted in the literature yields an uncertainty in total present-day ice volume change equivalent to approximately 10 % of Antarctic ice mass loss inferred for the period 2010–2020. This reinforces earlier work indicating that ice histories characterized by relatively high excess ice volume at the Last Glacial Maximum may be introducing a significant error in estimates of modern melt rates. Regarding correction 2, a spatially invariant scaling has commonly been used to convert GIA-corrected ice surface height changes obtained from satellite altimetry to ice volume estimates. We adopt modeling results based on a projection of Antarctic ice mass change over the period 2015–2055 to demonstrate a spatial variability in the scaling of up to 10 % across the ice sheet. Furthermore, using these calculations, we find a systematic error of ∼ 3 % in the projected net ice volume change, with most of the difference arising in areas of West Antarctica above mantle zones of low viscosity.

Subcision with and without suction for acne scars: a split-faced, rater-blinded randomized control trial.

Therapeutic options for acne scars include subcision and suction with microdermabrasion, but these treatment modalities have not been studied in conjunction. To compare effectiveness of subcision alone versus subcision with suction for the treatment of facial acne scars. Randomized, split-faced, evaluator-blinded control trial. Participants underwent one subcision treatment on both sides of the face followed by 10 sessions of suction to one side. Photographs at baseline, 1-month, and 4-months were assessed. Primary outcome measures were the validated Acne Scar Severity Scale (ASSS) (0 = no acne scarring, 4 = severe), Acne Scar Improvement Grading Scale (ASIGS) (-100to100%), and modified Quantitative Global Scarring Grades (QGSG) (point-based questionnaire instrument), as well as subject preference. Twenty-eight treatment areas and 154 treatments were analyzed. Dermatologist raters found no differences between subcision alone and subcision-suction at 1-month or 4-months. Mean subject-assessed percent improvement for subcision-suction was higher than that for subcision alone at 1-month (37% versus 24%, p = 0.04) but not at 4-months (p = 0.37). Subjects preferred combination therapy to monotherapy at 1-month (50% vs. 21%) and 4-months (43%vs.21%). While blinded raters did not detect significant differences, subjects perceived combination treatment as working more quickly than monotherapy, and preferred combination treatment at all time points.Clinical trial registration NCT01696513 on Clinicaltrials.gov.

Copywriters' preference evaluation on online copywriting course attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Copywriting online course has become a famous online training over the past years and the reliance on online courses increased even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, online courses have become a popular training platform, especially for copywriting courses. The demand for online courses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the need to optimize the learning experience of an online course's target audience. This study aimed to determine the combination of online course attributes most preferred by Filipino copywriters such as course style, payment method, course delivery, module duration, and course type. 292 Filipino copywriters from a leading Philippine-based copywriting group voluntarily participated in this study and answered an online questionnaire quantitative survey which was distributed using the purposive sampling method. Conjoint Analysis with an orthogonal design revealed that copywriters consider the course style attribute as the most important (46.007%), followed by payment method (18.236%), and course delivery (15.435%). Module duration (10.489%) and while the course type (9.833%) were was the least considered attribute of an online course. The result shows that Filipino copywriters prefer an intermediate-level video course on a Facebook group that lasts 1 to 3 hours per module and is paid per course for a total utility score of 0.281, while the least preferred combination was a beginner-level audiobook course that lasts less than 30 minutes per module, delivered via email, and paid per module, for a total utility score of -0.281. This study is the first study that analyzed the copywriters' preference for online copywriting course attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study are beneficial to online course creators who are targeting copywriters. Finally, the result of this study can be expanded further to other online courses worldwide.

Quantitative study on the color of traditional dwellings in Jianxi River Basin, Fujian Province, based on the lab color space model

ABSTRACT The color palette of traditional dwellings is intricately shaped by the characteristics of the geographical environment and the long-standing lifestyle of residents, thus constituting a vital component of rural culture. However, the rapid development in recent years has resulted in the dilapidation of rural features, including haphazard colors employed in buildings. With the advancement of science and technology, the studies of color have transitioned from a qualitative to a quantitative approach. Through a comprehensive comparison of RGB, HSB, CMYK, and Lab color spaces, as well as an evaluation of color card comparison method, software analysis method, and instrument measurement method; this paper reveals that employing the instrument measurement method in conjunction with the Lab color space enables independent assessment free from subjective influence. This approach facilitates more objective and accurate collection of color data while ensuring seamless and lossless transmission between devices. Therefore, to safeguard and enhance the authenticity of traditional dwellings and preserve the architectural style of traditional villages, this paper focuses on investigating the color palette of traditional dwellings in the Jianxi River Basin. The CM-700d spectrophotometer is employed for color data collection, while quantitative analysis is conducted using the Lab color space to unravel the color logics in this region. The findings reveal that earth yellow (average Lab (50.35,7.40,19.63)) constitutes the main color of rammed earth walls, complemented by dark brown (average Lab (38.72,2.97,8.58)) tiled roofs and gray-brown (average Lab (41.95,4.30,12.75)) stone wall bases as accent color; additionally, gray-yellow (average Lab (49 .82,1 .93,10.98)) brick gatehouses serve as accent colors. The integration between these colors and nature is harmonious; however, the absence of distinct color layers and highlights in the traditional dwellings necessitates incorporating bright architectural decorations along with arrangements of flowering plants. This paper conducted a quantitative analysis on the color of traditional dwellings with three main objectives. Firstly, to establish a comprehensive color database that can effectively preserve and promote regional traditional dwelling colors, while aiding designers in capturing regional color characteristics. Secondly, by collecting precise color data, this paper lays the groundwork for future applications of digital color technology. Lastly, it aims to explore the regional color logic and its potential integration with future studies on color evaluation to uncover preferred color combinations among the public for dwellings.

The Influence of Children on Parents’ Purchase Decision for Nutritional Health Drinks: A Study of Delhi, India

Children use different types of influence strategies to persuade their parents to buy a product of their choice and possess a significant impact on their parents’ buying behaviour. The present survey-based descriptive research study focused on the adolescents population of Delhi and aims at analysing the brand preferences among children for nutritional health drinks and the influence of children on parents’ purchase behaviour for such drinks. The data for research was collected from a sample size of 200 respondents of the age group 10–19. The results of the study show that the brand preferred by the majority of the children is Bournvita, and the brand features that attract the majority of the individuals are the nutritional value and health benefits claimed, while product packaging and taste also influence the brand choices of children, and advertisement is the major source of information for different brands for children. Analysis of data also shows the most preferred and different combinations of influence strategies used by children. Females and children of the age group 10–14 have more influence on their parents’ purchase behaviour as compared to males and children of the age group of 15–19 as per the findings of our study, and it shows that children’s influence exists on parents’ purchase decisions for nutritional health drinks.

The Effect of Icon Color Combinations in Information Interfaces on Task Performance under Varying Levels of Cognitive Load

In human–computer interaction interfaces, icons serve as highly symbolic elements that convey information and significantly influence the performance of visual search and other tasks. Thus, the selection of appropriate colors plays a crucial role in the design of human–computer interfaces. This study aimed to investigate the effects of icon color combinations on human visual search task performance across various cognitive load conditions. The experiment was divided into two parts, involving a cognitive load test experiment and an icon search task, wherein the former required participants to select the target icon from 16 de-colored icons, and the latter involved selecting the target icon from 16 color combinations of 8 colors (background colors: black, red, blue, and purple; foreground colors: white, yellow, green, and turquoise). A total of 20 participants (11 females and 9 males, all aged between 18 and 24 years) were recruited for this experiment to perform both tasks sequentially. Through a comprehensive consideration of factors such as the NASA-TLX scale, retrieval time, etc., the experimental results revealed that cognitive load increased with time pressure, resulting in varying optimal color combinations for different cognitive load levels. Additionally, background colors did not affect task response time under different cognitive loads, whereas white foreground color was superior to turquoise foreground color in a medium cognitive load environment. Meanwhile, our results recommend prioritizing white-on-black as the preferred color combination, given that it demonstrated excellent cognitive performance in all three cognitive load environments. Conversely, white-on-blue is not recommended as a color combination for the design of high cognitive load environments. Concerning medium cognitive load environments, yellow-on-red or white-on-purple color combinations were preferred. Finally, in low cognitive load environments, white-on-purple is recommended as the primary color combination. Overall, this study provides a theoretical reference for the future design of interactive interface icons across various contexts.

Digital payments Impact on Indian Economy through Banking systems & Global Comparisons

India’s financial sector has witnessed a significant digital transformation, particularly in the realm of payments. The shift towards digital payment systems has reshaped transactional practices and contributed to financial inclusion. The adoption of digital payment systems like UPI and e-wallets has led to a surge in online transaction volumes, indicating a gradual move towards a cashless economy. Government initiatives and the COVID-19 pandemic have played crucial roles in promoting digital payments. However, challenges remain in achieving complete financial inclusion with approximately 190 million unbanked adults in India. Fintech companies are addressing this by providing a wide range of financial services and utilizing alternative data sources to evaluate creditworthiness. The key factors driving the adoption of digital payments in India include increased awareness, favorable government policies, quick onboarding and ease of use, smartphone proliferation and internet expansion, regulatory support, and improved technology. These factors, coupled with the enabling role of various entities and technologies, are shaping the future of digital payments in India. The rapid growth of digital payment systems, driven by a combination of technological advancements, government initiatives, and changing consumer preferences, is revolutionizing the financial landscape. As the fintech sector continues to evolve, it promises to bring about further innovations, making financial services more accessible and inclusive. The journey towards a digital economy is well underway, and with continued efforts, India is poised to emerge as a global leader in digital payments. The impact of this digital revolution extends beyond the financial sector, influencing various aspects of the economy and society, and paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient future.

New markers for flowering-time selection in sweet cherry

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a fruit tree in the Rosaceae family grown worldwide for its tasty fruit. However, its yield may be threatened in warmer growing regions by insufficient dormancy, which usually occurs in late-blooming genotypes. Conversely, in cold regions, the yield is threatened by late spring frosts, especially for early flowering cultivars. It is therefore necessary to breed cultivars adapted to local weather conditions and avoid potential crop losses. New markers associated with the beginning of flowering were sought to enable molecular marker-assisted selection of genotypes tailored for different climatic conditions. Previously whole-genome sequenced 298 sweet cherry genotypes with nine years of phenotypic evaluation provided the basis for a genome-wide association study that allowed the identification of 163 single nucleotide polymorphisms and indels associated with flowering time, located on all sweet cherry chromosomes. This study confirmed the previously predicted polygenic basis of the trait. Three markers suitable for selection of late-blooming genotypes and one for early-blooming genotypes were selected and validated using independent 128 sweet cherry hybrids from different crossings. Individual markers for late beginning of flowering were able to select genotypes flowering at least three days after the reference (i.e. the earliest flowering) cultivar 'Kišiněvskaja'. Accumulation of preferred allele combinations for all three late-blooming markers has a synergistic effect, indicating delay of flowering 7.1 days after the reference cultivar on average. The marker for early beginning of flowering identified accessions flowering maximally five days after the earliest flowering reference cultivar 'Kišiněvskaja'. All four markers were integrated into a single base extension assay to help breeders with prediction of beginning of flowering for their breeding materials and cultivars.