Prior Studies Research Articles

Acuity of asthma exacerbations in Alberta, Canada is increasing: a population-based study

BackgroundAsthma is a common respiratory illness affecting 2.8 million Canadians, including 9.7% of Albertans. Prior studies showed a substantial decrease in ED visits for asthma in the decade preceding 2010, followed by a stabilization. This was attributed to improvements in the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for asthma during that period followed by a balance between epidemiologic drivers and protective factors in the population.MethodsWe assessed whether this trend continued in Alberta from 2010 to 2022 using population level data for the volume of daily ED visits, acuity of asthma exacerbations in the ED, and hospitalization rate.ResultsThe mean number of ED visits decreased from 4.5 to 2.2 per million persons per day, but the acuity of exacerbations and the proportion requiring hospitalization increased. The number of patients presenting with the highest level of acuity increased by over 300%, and the percentage of patients requiring hospitalization increased from 6.8 to 11.3%.ConclusionTotal ED visits for asthma exacerbations continues to decline in Alberta. The reasons for an increase in more severe exacerbations requires further attention.

Exploring Rule-based and Idiosyncratic Loanword Plural Forms in Arabic

This study sought to explore how loanwords in Arabic are pluralized, whether loanword plurals are rule-based or idiosyncratic and the productivity of each type of loanword plural form: The Masculine Sound Plural (MSP), Broken Plural (BP), two or more Plurals, Zero Plural (ZP), Borrowed/Foreign Plural (BP) and Hybrid Plural (HP). It also aimed to shed light on the factors that contribute to the emergence of new, idiosyncratic plural forms. Analysis of a sample of 265 loanwords used in Standard and Colloquial Arabic collected from some Internet websites and glossaries showed that 37% of the loanwords in the sample have no plural forms (a Zero Plural) such as invariable singular nouns referring to food and drink (pizza, cappuccino), names of diseases and medications (bilharzia, Panadol), names of chemicals (potassium; ); sports (judo), sciences or areas of study (انثروبولوجيا anthropology), non-count nouns (ديزل diesel), Proper Nouns with a unique reference كونغرس) Congress ), noun referring to genus لافندر) lavender), and collective nouns (باغاج baggage). Results also showed that 35% of the loanwords take a BP only, whether it is a sole plural or a second or third plural form for the same loanword; 22% have double plurals as in nouns referring to some nationalities, ethnicities and religious groups, specialists and political loanwords; 16% have a BP (كادر /ka;dir/ > كوادر /kawa:dir/ cadres); 13% have a MSP together with another plural; 15% retain their Foreign Plural (يوتيوبرز YouTubers; موفيز movies; شيبس chips; داتا data); 4% have multiple plural forms (Malay (pl): الماليز (BP), ماليزيون (MSP), ماليزيات (FSP) and 1.5% have a HP (شوزات shoes+a:t/). Findings also showed that 46.5% of the loanwords follow the Arabic pluralization rules in the MSP, BP and FSP formation, even in the case of loanwords with double and multiple Plurals. Loanwords with a FP and HP represent a new morphological phenomenon in Arabic that was not reported by any prior study in the literature. The factors that contribute to the emergence of new idiosyncratic plural forms are discussed. Findings are also discussed in the light of some integration/adaptaion models of Arabic morphology. Recommendations for Arabic, English and translation pedagogy are given.

Reselling or dual selling? The role of consumer‐to‐manufacturer e‐commerce platforms' voluntary investment

AbstractRecent years have witnessed e‐commerce platforms that voluntarily invest in new digital technologies to help their suppliers reduce production costs. To examine its impact on channel structure, we develop a supply chain model consisting of a supplier and an e‐commerce platform who purchases products from the supplier at a wholesale price and sells them to end markets. In addition, the supplier has the option to accept the marketplace by paying a commission fee charged by the platform. We show that the presence of voluntary investment on production improvement can overturn some classical insights from prior studies. For example, a higher marketplace commission fee can lead to a lower selling quantity in the marketplace, but a higher order quantity in the reselling channel under certain conditions. This stands in strict contrast to the opposite finding when the platform invests instead on demand enhancement. In addition, previous studies suggest that offering the supplier the marketplace option is beneficial to the supplier but is detrimental to the platform. However, with voluntary investment, the platform can benefit from allowing the supplier to encroach via the marketplace, and in some situations the supplier suffers from having such an option. We find that the commission fee and the production cost are two interacting forces steering equilibrium decisions for supply chain members, and we characterize the concise operating regimes for the channel structure choices on behalves of the supplier and the platform. A number of extensions are discussed, including product substitution level, investment cost structure, whether the quantity decisions are made simultaneously or sequentially, voluntary investment timing, and endogenous commission fee.

Human Fc gamma receptor IIIA blockade inhibits platelet destruction in a humanized murine model of ITP

AbstractFc gamma receptor (FcγR) IIIA is an important receptor for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and is involved in immune defense mechanisms as well as tissue destruction in some autoimmune diseases including immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). FcγRIIIA on macrophages can trigger phagocytosis of IgG-sensitized platelets, and prior pilot studies observed blockade of FcγRIIIA increased platelet counts in patients with ITP. Unfortunately, although blockade of FcγRIIIA in patients with ITP increased platelet counts, its engagement by the blocking antibody drove serious adverse inflammatory reactions. These adverse events were postulated to originate from the antibody’s Fc and/or bivalent nature. The blockade of human FcγRIIIA in vivo with a monovalent construct lacking an active Fc region has not yet been achieved. To effectively block FcγRIIIA in vivo, we developed a high affinity monovalent single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that can bind and block human FcγRIIIA. This scFv (17C02) was expressed in 3 formats: a monovalent fusion protein with albumin, a 1-armed human IgG1 antibody, and a standard bivalent mouse (IgG2a) antibody. Both monovalent formats were effective in preventing phagocytosis of ITP serum–sensitized human platelets. In vivo studies using FcγR-humanized mice demonstrated that both monovalent therapeutics were also able to increase platelet counts. The monovalent albumin fusion protein did not have adverse event activity as assessed by changes in body temperature, whereas the 1-armed antibody induced some changes in body temperature even though the Fc region function was impaired by the Leu234Ala and Leu235Ala mutations. These data demonstrate that monovalent blockade of human FcγRIIIA in vivo can potentially be a therapeutic strategy for patients with ITP.

Supporting content and language integrated learning through computer-based dual concept mapping

Among various approaches to teaching and learning English as a foreign language, content and language integrated learning (CLIL), i.e. learning subject content in a non-native language, has received wide attention. Despite its positive effects on language learning, CLIL poses cognitive challenges to learners. To deal with the challenge, prior studies applied concept maps to visualize knowledge structures to support content learning, but paid inadequate attention to visualizing text structure to support language learning. Some studies mixed knowledge structure and text structure in one concept map, failing to help students distinguish between knowledge structure and text structure. It is important to visualize both knowledge structure and text structure and present them in two parallel concept maps to facilitate CLIL. To this end, this study proposed a computer-based dual concept mapping approach visualizing both knowledge structure and text structure of learning content in two parallel concept maps to support science content and English language integrated learning. This study was conducted with 89 eighth-grade students from two classes, who were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control condition. Students’ achievements in English language and science knowledge were assessed by knowledge tests; their cognitive load was measured through a questionnaire survey. By comparing student performance in the two conditions, the study shows that the experimental group experienced a lower level of cognitive load and achieved better learning outcomes in both science knowledge and language performance. Further, there were more significant differences between experimental and control groups for low and medium achievers in English language than for high achievers, indicating that the proposed approach was more beneficial for the former. The findings provide new insights into the pedagogy and strategy for CLIL, that is, visualizing both knowledge structure and text structure of learning content in two parallel concept maps with the support of concept mapping technology.

Perceptions and experiences of fertility preservation in female patients with cancer in Greece

BackgroundAs advances in oncology have led to remarkable and steady improvements in the survival rates of patients with cancer and anticancer treatment can cause premature ovarian failure in women, fertility preservation (FP) has become a global public health concern and an integral part of the care for women diagnosed with cancer during reproductive age. However, for various reasons, FP remains underutilized for patients with cancer. There are substantial gaps in our knowledge about women’s experiences and perceptions of the issue. This study aims to contribute to bridging that gap.MethodsThis prospective qualitative study was conducted from March 2018 to February 2023. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was used. Data were collected by semistructured interviews with nineteen reproductive-age women who had been recently diagnosed with cancer. Data were classified and analysed with a thematic analysis approach.ResultsA variety of distinct themes and subthemes emerged from the analysis of the interview data. The cancer diagnosis emerged as a factor that considerably affects the women’s attitudes towards biological parenthood: It can further increase their (strong) previous desire or decrease their previous (weak) desire. Women with a recent cancer diagnosis had not received adequate and multidisciplinary counselling, including clear and sufficient information. However, participants felt satisfied with the information they received because they either received the information they requested or remained in denial about the need to be informed (i.e., because they felt overwhelmed after the cancer diagnosis). Embryo cryopreservation emerged as a less desirable FP option for women with cancer. Participants showed respect for human embryos, not always for religious reasons. Surrogacy emerged as the last resort for most participants. Religious, social or financial factors did play a secondary (if any) role in women’s decision-making about FP. Finally, male partners’ opinions played a secondary role in most participants’ decision-making about FP. If embryo cryopreservation was the selected option, partners would have a say because they were contributing their genetic material.ConclusionsThe findings that emerged from the data analysis were partly consistent with prior studies. However, we identified some interesting nuances that are of clinical importance. The results of this study may serve as a starting point for future research.

Prevalence of Little Finger Contour Damage among Mobile Users

Background: Recent advancements in mobile technology have led to increased scrutiny regarding the physical impacts of prolonged device usage. Prior studies have offered conflicting views on the association between mobile phone use and structural changes in the hand, particularly concerning little finger contour damage. This discrepancy underscores the need for further research to elucidate the relationship between smartphone usage patterns and potential musculoskeletal alterations. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of little finger contour damage among mobile phone users, aiming to identify causative factors, potential preventative measures, and remedies for the observed damage. The study also sought to compare its findings with existing literature to clarify the impact of mobile phone use on hand anatomy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 335 participants, employing a structured questionnaire to gather data on demographics, mobile phone usage patterns, and the presence of little finger contour damage. Statistical analysis was utilized to examine the association between mobile phone use and little finger contour damage. The study's inclusion criteria encompassed mobile phone users above the age of 16, with no restrictions on gender or occupation. Results: Out of 335 participants, 123 (36.70%) reported little finger contour damage. Among those, 83.70% were female, and 16.30% were male. Age distribution indicated that 41.00% were aged 17-20 years, 58.00% were 21-24 years, and 1.00% were older than 24 years. Regarding mobile phone usage, 11.00% had used their devices for 2-3 years, 20.00% for 3-4 years, and 69.00% for more than 4 years. Screen time revealed that 29.00% used their phones for 3-5 hours daily, whereas 71.00% exceeded 5 hours. The prevalence of little finger contour damage was significantly associated with longer screen time and duration of mobile phone usage. Conclusion: The study substantiates a significant correlation between prolonged mobile phone use and the development of little finger contour damage. It highlights an urgent need for awareness and intervention strategies to mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal alterations due to smartphone usage. Further research is recommended to explore this phenomenon across broader demographics and geographical locations.

Mathematical model of oxygen, nutrient, and drug transport in tuberculosis granulomas.

Physiological abnormalities in pulmonary granulomas-pathological hallmarks of tuberculosis (TB)-compromise the transport of oxygen, nutrients, and drugs. In prior studies, we demonstrated mathematically and experimentally that hypoxia and necrosis emerge in the granuloma microenvironment (GME) as a direct result of limited oxygen availability. Building on our initial model of avascular oxygen diffusion, here we explore additional aspects of oxygen transport, including the roles of granuloma vasculature, transcapillary transport, plasma dilution, and interstitial convection, followed by cellular metabolism. Approximate analytical solutions are provided for oxygen and glucose concentration, interstitial fluid velocity, interstitial fluid pressure, and the thickness of the convective zone. These predictions are in agreement with prior experimental results from rabbit TB granulomas and from rat carcinoma models, which share similar transport limitations. Additional drug delivery predictions for anti-TB-agents (rifampicin and clofazimine) strikingly match recent spatially-resolved experimental results from a mouse model of TB. Finally, an approach to improve molecular transport in granulomas by modulating interstitial hydraulic conductivity is tested in silico.

HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I are independently associated with skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy humans.

Prior animal and cell studies have demonstrated a direct role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) in enhancing skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity. However, the relevance of these animal and cell investigations in humans remains unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 adults (67% female, 8% Black participants, age 39 ± 15.4 yr old) to characterize the associations between HDL measures, ApoA-I, and muscle mitochondrial function. Forearm muscle oxygen recovery time (tau) from postexercise recovery kinetics was used to assess skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Lipoprotein measures were assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance. HDL efflux capacity was assessed using J774 macrophages, radiolabeled cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-depleted plasma both with and without added cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In univariate analyses, faster skeletal muscle oxygen recovery time (lower tau) was significantly associated with higher levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), ApoA-I, and larger mean HDL size, but not HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. Slower recovery time (higher tau) was positively associated with body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). In multivariable linear regression analyses, higher levels of HDL-C and ApoA-I, as well as larger HDL size, were independently associated with faster skeletal muscle oxygen recovery times that persisted after adjusting for BMI and FPG (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, higher levels of HDL-C, ApoA-I, and larger mean HDL size were independently associated with enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy humans.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study provides the first direct evidence supporting the beneficial role of HDL-C and ApoA-I on enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy young to middle-aged humans without cardiometabolic disease.

Grid-like entorhinal representation of an abstract value space during prospective decision making

How valuable a choice option is often changes over time, making the prediction of value changes an important challenge for decision making. Prior studies identified a cognitive map in the hippocampal-entorhinal system that encodes relationships between states and enables prediction of future states, but does not inherently convey value during prospective decision making. In this fMRI study, participants predicted changing values of choice options in a sequence, forming a trajectory through an abstract two-dimensional value space. During this task, the entorhinal cortex exhibited a grid-like representation with an orientation aligned to the axis through the value space most informative for choices. A network of brain regions, including ventromedial prefrontal cortex, tracked the prospective value difference between options. These findings suggest that the entorhinal grid system supports the prediction of future values by representing a cognitive map, which might be used to generate lower-dimensional value signals to guide prospective decision making.

Legal violence: the struggles of Thai women in Thai massage businesses.

Prior studies of legal violence concerning minority groups in the United States are often linked to Immigration Law. Drawing primarily from 30 interviews with Thai massage business owners in Los Angeles, this article reveals how the implementation of local and federal regulations and laws regarding massage businesses constitutes legal violence. Using Crenshaw's structural, political, and representational intersectionality, this article demonstrates how Thai women's race, ethnicity, and gender affect their experiences in countering the state regulations. The analysis focuses on two interrelated areas of Thai massage business owners' and Thai massage therapists' lives-the strict government surveillance of Thai massage business operations and the enforcement of professional certification. This legal violence toward Thai massage owners and massage therapists is rooted in a legal system that aims to protect consumers. Nevertheless, the effect of legal violence is not limited to undocumented Thai immigrants but also affects Thai American citizens and legal permanent residents.

Tax Amnesties: Trends and Implication for Taxpayers’ Compliance. A Literature Review

The focus of this paper is to conduct a literature review on tax amnesties and the factors which are necessary for its effective implementation for compliance. The study employed a library based research design which involves desk-review of extant literature. The literature review shows much research attention given to the issue, though the findings are mixed and quite inconclusive. The review also brings up a few issues which are seen as probable weaknesses or inconsistencies in tax amnesty research looking from a tax compliance perspective. First, while there is evidence regarding success of tax amnesties in the developed world, empirical proof on the progress made in developing countries are scarce. Second, although the concept of tax amnesty has been extensively examined in the tax literature, only a few studies have used an experimental approach to examine the long run effect of tax amnesty on voluntary tax compliance. Third, there is still no clear unanimity in the literature regarding how social and psychological factors such as political trust, political will, perceived corruption, and perceptions of justice and punishment objectives influence the implementation of tax amnesties. Finally, the study observes that in tax amnesty research there is always the tendency for majority of prior studies to assume homogeneity in level of compliance whereas significant differences may exist in the degree of compliance between high and low income earners. The study therefore concludes that there is the need for future empirical studies to address these weaknesses and inconsistencies.

Influence of Digitalisation on Business Success in Austrian Traded Prime Market Companies—A Longitudinal Study

Software investments can significantly contribute to corporate success by optimising productivity, stimulating creativity, elevating customer satisfaction, and equipping organisations with the essential resources to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing market. This paper examines whether software investments have an impact on the economic success of the companies listed on the Austrian Traded Prime market (ATX companies). A literature review and qualitative content analysis are performed to answer the research questions. For testing hypotheses, a longitudinal study is conducted. Over a ten-year period, the consolidated financial statements of the businesses under review are evaluated. A panel will assist with the data analysis. This study offers notable distinctions from other research that has investigated the correlation between digitalisation and economic success. In contrast to prior studies that relied on surveys to assess the level of digitalisation, this study obtained the required data by conducting a comprehensive examination of the annual reports of all the organisations included in the analysis. The regression analysis of all businesses revealed no correlation between software expenditures and economic success. The regression models were subsequently calculated independently for financial and non-financial companies. The correlation between software investments and economic success in both industries is evident.

Attentional modulation of eye blinking is altered by sex, age, and task structure.

Spontaneous eye blinking is gaining popularity as a proxy for higher cognitive functions, as it is readily modulated by both environmental demands and internal processes. Prior studies were impoverished in sample size, sex representation and age distribution, making it difficult to establish a complete picture of the behavior. Here we present eye-tracking data from a large cohort of normative participants (n=604, 393 F, aged 5-93 years) performing two tasks: one with structured, discrete trials (interleaved pro/anti-saccade task; IPAST) and one with a less structured, continuous organization in which participants watch movies (free-viewing; FV). Sex- and age-based analyses revealed that females had higher blink rates between the ages of 22 and 58 years in the IPAST, and 22 and 34 years in FV. We derived a continuous measure of blink probability to reveal behavioral changes driven by stimulus appearance in both paradigms. In the IPAST, blinks were suppressed near stimulus appearance, particularly on correct anti-saccade trials, which we attribute to the stronger inhibitory control required for anti-saccades compared to pro-saccades. In FV, blink suppression occurred immediately after scene changes, and the effect was sustained on scenes where gaze clustered among participants (indicating engagement of attention). Females were more likely than males to blink during appearance of novel stimuli in both tasks, but only within the age bin of 18-44 years. The consistency of blink patterns in each paradigm endorses blinking as a sensitive index for changes in visual processing and attention, while sex and age differences drive interindividual variability.Significance Statement Eye-tracking is becoming useful as a non-invasive tool for detecting preclinical markers of neurological and psychiatric disease. Blinks are understudied despite being an important supplement to saccade and pupil eye-tracking metrics. The present study is a crucial step in developing a healthy baseline for blink behavior to compare to clinical groups. While many prior blink studies suffered from small sample sizes with relatively low age- and sex-diversity (review by Jongkees & Colzato, 2016), our large cohort of healthy participants has permitted a more detailed analysis of sex and age effects in blink behavior. Furthermore, our analysis techniques are robust to temporal changes in blink probability, greatly clarifying the relationship between blinking, visual processing, and inhibitory control mechanisms on visual tasks.

Ultrastarke Elektron‐Phonon‐Kopplung in Uran‐organischen Gerüstverbindungen führt zu einer inversen Temperaturabhängigkeit der Lumineszenz

AbstractElektron‐Phonon‐Wechselwirkungen, die in kondensierter Materie von entscheidender Bedeutung sind, werden in metallorganischen Gerüstverbindungen (MOFs) selten beobachtet. In Lanthanoid‐ oder Actinoid‐basierten Verbindungen gelingt der Nachweis dieser Wechselwirkungen typischerweise über die Analyse der Lumineszenz. Frühere Studien zu Ln‐ und Ac‐basierten MOFs bei hohen Temperaturen ergaben zusätzliche Lumineszenzsignale, die jedoch zu schwach für eine gründliche Analyse waren. Im Rahmen unserer Untersuchungen haben wir mithilfe eines Schicht‐für‐Schicht‐Verfahrens eine hochgeordnete, kristalline uranbasierte MOF‐Dünnschicht (KIT‐U‐1) hergestellt. Unter UV‐Licht zeigte diese Schicht zwei ausgeprägte „heiße Banden“, die auf eine starke Elektron‐Phonon‐Wechselwirkung hinweisen. Während bei 77 K keine Emissionsbanden sichtbar waren, erschien bei 300 K eine Emissionsbande mit der halben Intensität der Hauptbande. Überraschenderweise tauchte oberhalb von 320 K eine zweite, sogenannte heiße Bande auf, die von früheren Ergebnissen aus Seltenerd‐Verbindungen abweicht. Wir haben eine detaillierte ab initio‐Analyse mithilfe der zeitabhängigen Dichtefunktionaltheorie durchgeführt, um dieses ungewöhnliche Verhalten zu verstehen und die für die starke Elektron‐Phonon‐Kopplung verantwortliche Gitterschwingung zu identifizieren. Die heißen Emissionsbanden der KIT‐U‐1‐Schicht wurden dann dazu genutzt, ein hochempfindliches optisches Einkomponenten‐Thermometer zu entwickeln. Diese Ergebnisse belegen das Potenzial hochwertiger MOF‐Dünnschichten bei der Nutzung der einzigartigen Lumineszenz von Lanthanoiden und Actinoiden für neuartige Anwendungen.

Associations Between a General Factor and Group Factor from the Spanish-Language Eysenck Personality Questionnaire–Revised Short Form’s Neuroticism Scale and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory Domains and Facets

Prior studies used exploratory bifactor analyses to examine the structure of the Neuroticism scale from the Short-scale Eysenck Personality Questionnaire–Revised (EPQ–RS). These studies revealed a general factor and two group factors—Anxious-Tense and Worried-Vulnerable. These factors were related to poorer mental health, but their associations with physical health differed, as did their genetic and neurobiological underpinnings. A later study found that their associations with the Big Five Inventory-2 Short Form’s factors and facets differed. We reanalyzed data on 1,006 Spanish students who completed Spanish-language versions of the EPQ–RS and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI–R). Using confirmatory factor analysis, we showed that a model comprising the general factor and a group factor—Anxious-Tense—fit well. In later correlations, a joint factor analysis, and simultaneous multiple regressions, we showed that the EPQ-RS’s general factor and the group factor had different patterns of associations with the NEO PI–R domains and facets. These associations were consistent with the definition of the EPQ–RS Neuroticism scale’s general factor and that of the group factor. Further investigation into the EPQ–RS Neuroticism scale’s structure can improve our understanding of neuroticism’s relationship with health and other outcomes.

School Leadership, Race, and School Discipline: Examining the Relationship Between School Leader-Student Racial Congruence and the Likelihood of Exclusionary Discipline

Racial disparities in disciplinary outcomes are a salient educational policy and equity issue. Most of the research on school discipline focuses on teachers rather than school leaders and prior studies have largely examined principals’ attitudes. This study uses data from a mid-sized urban district to examine how student-school leader race interactions influence the likelihood of receiving suspensions conditional on receiving an infraction, with specific focus on Black, Latinx and White students and both principals and assistant principals (APs). The results indicate that the prevalence of exclusionary discipline is similar for schools with Black and White principals, but slightly higher in schools with White principals (this is the case for both elementary and high schools, but not middle schools). Black-White discipline disparities are higher in schools with White principals and APs, compared to schools with Black principals and APs. But there are no clear patterns for Latinx-White disparities. The probability of students receiving suspensions varies substantially across infraction type, principal race, AP race, and schooling level. The findings illustrate the nuances between the overall and discriminatory use of suspensions and highlight the need for closer attention to the types of suspensions and infractions. States and districts should also invest in initiatives that diversify school leadership given the importance of diversity for students’ disciplinary experiences.

Ultrastrong Electron-Phonon Coupling in Uranium-Organic Frameworks Leading to Inverse Luminescence Temperature Dependence.

Electron-phonon interactions, crucial in condensed matter, are rarely seen in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Detecting these interactions typically involves analyzing luminescence in lanthanide- or actinide-based compounds. Prior studies on Ln- and Ac-based MOFs at high temperatures revealed additional peaks, but these were too faint for thorough analysis. In our research, we fabricated a high-quality, crystalline uranium-based MOF (KIT-U-1) thin film using a layer-by-layer method. Under UV light, this film showed two distinct "hot bands," indicating a strong electron-phonon interaction. At 77 K, these bands were absent, but at 300 K, a new emission band appeared with half the intensity of the main luminescence. Surprisingly, a second hot band emerged above 320 K, deviating from previous findings in rare-earth compounds. We conducted a detailed ab-initio analysis employing time-dependent density functional theory to understand this unusual behaviour and to identify the lattice vibration responsible for the strong electron-phonon coupling. The KIT-U-1 film's hot-band emission was then utilized to create a highly sensitive, single-compound optical thermometer. This underscores the potential of high-quality MOF thin films in exploiting the unique luminescence of lanthanides and actinides for advanced applications.

Incompatible with Happiness: Results from Second Survey of Bullying and Discrimination Experiences of Bhutanese Higher Education Students

Bhutan is known to the outside world as a nation with Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its goal, a concept which is fundamentally underpinned by Buddhist philosophy of loving-kindness, compassion, emphatic joy, and equanimity. In Buddhism these are referred to as the four immeasurable qualities that one must cultivate to become kind, compassionate, and caring towards all living beings, and ultimately generates happiness. This concept as applied should lead to minimal or no instances of bullying and discrimination in such a society and in particular in educational institutions. However, prior studies as well as media reports have shown that there are growing instances of bullying and discrimination amongst both school and higher education students, and staff which is a cause of concern for a GNH nation. Such school experiences are likely to be transferred to higher education institutions and then later to the work places. Bullying and discrimination are often associated with negative outcomes and impacts overall mental well-being of students which can be detrimental to their later life. Therefore, this quantitative study was designed to understand the current level of bullying and discrimination amongst students (N= &lt;10,000) of higher education institutions (n= 15) in Bhutan through a self-administered on-line survey to a representative sample of 1652 (male= 41.3%; female= 57.7% &amp; others= 1%). Essentially, the reported prevalence of being bullied reduced (from about 45% in 2016 to about 36% in 2023), and likewise the reported prevalence of bullying others declined(from 18% to about 10%). There was also a slight reduction for those reporting some form of discrimination; from 51% from 46%. The preliminary findings from the study will provide insights into the current state of bullying and discrimination prevalent in the higher education institutions and make a case for more effective interventions to reduce prevalence of bullying and discrimination in schools and colleges, and, more broadly, the community.

Vitamin C, lactoferrin and elastin-Advancing the science.

This study follows an initial scientific validation linking sodium ascorbate (SAC) with elastin conservation and the clinical trial histology observation that the full formulation tested there stimulated elastin development. In an effort to explain the increased elastin response, a candidate was sought that may provide synergy to SAC during elastin stimulation. Lactoferrin was the constituent chosen to explore in this realm. Using the previously described exvivo skin model, freshly collected discarded human skin from 2 donors was used to evaluate the effects of lactoferrin and SAC alone and together, and L-ascorbate CE Ferulic formulation (CEF) on elastogenesis. Four skin explants were topically subjected to the treatments daily for 7 days and one group was left untreated as a negative control. The tissue was fixed and embedded. Sections were evaluated by immunofluorescence using antibodies targeting Tropoelastin and CD44, with DAPI counterstaining to observe nuclei. Images were then analyzed using ImageJ. Treatment with SAC and lactoferrin demonstrated a significant synergistic effect on tropoelastin stimulation compared to the single treatments. In addition, this combination demonstrated intact and increased elastin fibers in contrast to the CEF, which portrayed fragmented elastin fibers. In addition, an additive effect of SAC also contributed to the enhanced CD44, suggesting an increased presence of hyaluronic acid, a new observation for this compound. This study complements a series of studies that have been undertaken to validate the efficacy of a novel antioxidant formulation. Aside from its efficacy in ROS management, the SAC constituent is unique in the different forms of Vitamin C for its ability to conserve elastin. Prior clinical studies demonstrated additive elastin stimulation on histology, not just conservation. From this current study, the combination of SAC with lactoferrin may be responsible for this additive stimulatory effect on elastin. This presents a significant advance in topical antioxidant formulations where the Vitamin C component provides antioxidant and collagen stimulation with additional elastin stimulation rather than degradation.