Work Points Research Articles

Turbulence correlation between moving trains and anemometer towers: Theoretical analysis, field measurements and simulation

A precise command of railway operations according to the measured instantaneous wind speed on an anemometer tower along a railway line is the development trend, whose challenges lie in the unknown transfer relation(s) between wind speed fluctuations on a moving train and an anemometer tower, i.e. the turbulence correlation between them. To address this issue, in the current work, the cross-correlation functions of wind speed fluctuations at the moving train and anemometer tower are derived, and an empirical formula of the coherence functions is obtained. The turbulence correlation is inversely related to the separation distance from the anemometer tower to the line, and there is little correlation when this distance is longer than double the longitudinal turbulence length scale. Field measurements of wind characteristics were carried out on an anemometer tower and a moving vehicle, and the turbulence correlation and its expression were validated. Three methods are proposed and compared to evaluate the instantaneous wind speed at the anemometer tower and moving train with this correlation. The methods based on the cross-spectral density and coherence function can accurately simulate the correlation, and the latter performance is slightly better (its simulation of the frequency domain correlation is 52.9% better than the former); the method based on solely independent and identically distributed random phases cannot fully simulate the correlation. From this, the effects of the correlation on train operations are studied and analysed in detail. Our analysis shows that neglecting this correlation leads to conservative estimates: wind speed differences between the anemometer tower and the moving train are at least 18.1% greater, and the safety and economic assessments of train operations in crosswinds are underestimated by at least 32.0%. Considering the correlation can reduce the (excess) safety risk/margin and is an inevitable development of adapting to the detailed assessment of the crosswind stability of vehicles. The quantitative description and simulation of the correlation presented in this work point to the critical importance of wind speed monitoring systems for the detailed crosswind assessment, and provide a theoretical basis for further research work on the crosswind stability of vehicles under true/realistic turbulent flow wind.

Fast Radio Bursts as Standard Candles for Cosmology

Recently, fast radio bursts (FRBs) have become a thriving field in astronomy and cosmology. Due to their extragalactic and cosmological origin, they are useful to study the cosmic expansion and the intergalactic medium (IGM). In the literature, the dispersion measure (DM) of FRB has been considered extensively. It could be used as an indirect proxy of the luminosity distance dL of FRB. The observed DM contains the contributions from the Milky Way (MW), the MW halo, IGM, and the host galaxy. Unfortunately, IGM and the host galaxy of FRB are poorly known to date, and hence the large uncertainties of DMIGM and DMhost in DM plague the FRB cosmology. Could we avoid DM in studying cosmology? Could we instead consider the luminosity distance dL directly in the FRB cosmology? We are interested to find a way out for this problem in the present work. From the lessons of calibrating type Ia supernovae (SNIa) or long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as standard candles, we consider a universal subclassification scheme for FRBs, and there are some empirical relations for them. In the present work, we propose to calibrate type Ib FRBs as standard candles by using a tight empirical relation without DM. The calibrated type Ib FRBs at high redshifts can be used like SNIa to constrain the cosmological models. We also test the key factors affecting the calibration and the cosmological constraints. Notice that the results are speculative, since they are based on simulations for the future (instead of now). We stress that the point in the present work is just to propose a viable method and a workable pipeline using type Ib FRBs as standard candles for cosmology in the future.

Hyperbaric inactivation at 150–250 MPa of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores at room temperature and effect of innovative technologies pre-treatments

This study evaluated hyperbaric inactivation (HI) at 150, 200 and 250 MPa, up to 24 h (at ambient temperatures,18–23 °C) to inactivate Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (ACB) spores in apple juice. The effects of pre-treatments on spores by thermal pasteurization (90 °C, 30 s), high pressure processing (600 MPa, 3 min, HPP), pulsed electric field (30 kV, 80 μs, 1400 Hz, PEF), and ultrasound (67 W, 20 kHz, 5 min, US) prior to HI was evaluated. The results were fitted to non-linear inactivation kinetic models, including Biphasic, Log-logistic, and Weibull. Without a previous pre-treatment, ACB spores were reduced ≈4.56 log units by HI after 24 h, regardless of the pressure level (initial load around 6 log CFU/mL). The pre-treatments did not affect ACB spores during HI (≈4–5 log units' inactivation after 24 h under pressure), except for PEF that resulted in a lower inactivation (≈3.5 log units after 24 h under pressure). Phase contrast microscopy revealed that the spores were unable to form a vegetative cell during HI. HI at 5 °C resulted in a lower inactivation level, with 3.86, 2.54 and 1.77 log units of inactivation, respectively, at 150, 200 and 250 MPa after 96 h. Industrial relevanceThe results of this work point to the possibility of using HI, before or after conventional thermal pasteurization and other nonthermal technologies (HPP, PEF, and US) to process apple juice, to inactivate ACB spores at room temperature and also under refrigeration. This methodology should be further studied in the context of ACB spores' high thermal stability and its industrial relevance.

Perspectives of care providers on obstacles to healthcare access for people with disabilities in Ethiopia: a qualitative investigation

BackgroundDespite having similar healthcare needs to non-disabled individuals, people with disabilities in Ethiopia face significant challenges accessing healthcare services due to existing barriers. This study aimed to explore these barriers from the perspectives of care providers in primary healthcare facilities.MethodsQualitative research was conducted with care providers in Dire Dawa to identify barriers to healthcare access for people with disabilities. Thematic analysis was used to categorize data into themes.ResultsEight healthcare providers from four service departments participated in eight in-depth interviews and two focus groups. Six themes emerged: physical barriers, financial difficulties, non-accommodating diagnostic facilities, care providers’ attitudes and capacity, communication barriers, and lack of access to health information. Non-confidential and non-dignified care was also identified as a barrier.ConclusionThe study highlights important barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing primary healthcare services. Addressing these barriers is crucial for achieving disability-inclusive healthcare services. This research can serve as a starting point for further work in this area to promote equitable healthcare for people with disabilities.

FUZZY LOGIC-BASED POWER MANAGEMENT IN GRID-CONNECTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

With the ever-increasing application of photovoltaic systems on the power grid, energy flow management and grid stability have become a key factor, especially under varying conditions like variable cloud cover and fluctuating load demands. The paper looks forward to proposing a fuzzy logic approach to the management of energy regarding a solar energy system connected to a grid, aiming at obtaining an optimised power distribution among PV generation, the grid, and battery storage. The proposed system will be driven by five input parameters, PV value, grid availability, load demand, battery state of charge, and tariff rate, to regulate the energy flow activity within different scenarios. The simulation results developed in the MATLAB Simulink environment proved the effectiveness of the applied controller in maintaining energy stability and fulfilling the requirements of a load within seven case studies for a 24-hour duration. The work points out the potential of fuzzy logic, besides reliability, in enhancing the efficiency of various renewable energy systems integrated with conventional energy supply grids.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0799/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

MACHINE-LEARNING TECHNIQUES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PREDICTION USING EEG

The diagnosis and quantification of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have typically depended on skilled doctors recognizing visual patterns, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG), which resulted in a costly, time-consuming and non-reproducible process. The application of Machine Learning (ML) in MS diagnosis has been getting a lot of attention in the last few years due to the volume of scientific data, the heterogeneity of disease courses, and the variety of diagnostic methods. The EEG has the capability to detect important changes in the brain’s inherent electrical activity, which are influenced by changes in the neural network connections associated with inflammatory demyelinating and neural damage characteristic of the MS. Utilizing multimodal machine learning over the clinically available data may be a contemporary strategy with amazing potential to facilitate early diagnosis. Considering recent EEG investigations as well as the accessibility to their datasets would be the initial steps in utilizing the ML in MS diagnosis. This paper provides a systematic review of the latest techniques for MS diagnostic based on PRISMA guidelines with the prospect of ML application in their investigations. The goal is to find if EEG could be considered a robust and accurate technique for MS diagnosis. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, we consider 111 papers. In our review, 404 people are considered including 209 with MS and 195 healthy controls. As a result, we generated an updated investigation looking at the ML approaches as well as utilizing EEG as an accurate, but less often used method to help with early diagnosis of MS. We summarize, analyze, discuss, and synthesize the recently published works, current trends, and open research issues. The review also points out knowledge gaps about the necessity of validating results and addressing constraints such as limited sample number. Our investigation proves that the precision of the supervised strategies such as [Formula: see text]NN and SVM is typically higher than that of the unsupervised strategies. On the other hand, by utilizing various techniques such as splitting EEG signal sub-bands, signal windowing, and identifying effective features from the data analysis approaches, we have been able to achieve significant classification accuracy higher than 99%. According to the high degree of accuracy of the results, this approach is becoming the focal point of the research works. The high diagnostic accuracy of the proposed machine learning techniques on the EEG signal analysis shows its potential capacity to become a more widespread procedure as the MS diagnostic techniques. To develop the reliability of these methods, gathering, and analyzing more EEG signals from MS patients and creating more suitable EEG protocols are essential in future studies. In the same way, for the dynamic and online analyses of the EEG signals, in-depth studies are needed to determine more effective EEG protocols and machine-learning techniques.

Paradoxical Luxury in the Sint Maarten’s Property Market

This article outlines the concept of ‘paradoxical luxury’ derived through an ethnographic exploration of Sint Maarten’s high-end real estate market. Classic works analyzed luxury goods as markers of status and their consumption playing a role in reinforcing social stratification. More recent work points to the allure of luxury consumption as predicated upon references to heritage, tradition, durability, and quality as selling points while also serving older functions of display and stratification. The luxury concept has also been influenced by more recent concerns among consumers about issues such as sustainability. This study, however, reveals a luxury real estate market through which the ability to display status remains unclear as well as lacking key defining elements of luxury such as heritage and quality. Further, the cycle of repeated destruction of these properties due to seasonal hurricanes present a form of luxury that challenges the traditional views of the concept. As such, the marketed exclusivity and perceived value of properties are directly confronted by their vulnerability to natural disasters, sub-standard building quality and inferior local infrastructure, as well as lax regulatory framework. The concept of paradoxical luxury underscores the contradictory nature of luxury in this setting.

Enhanced Interfaces for High-Temperature Purposes—Practical Methodology and Characterization

The current study is focused on devising treated diatomite interfaces with the robustness and boiling water resistance necessary for high-temperature purposes. This work describes the synthesis methodology of the diatomite-based coatings, which followed the production of a composite formulation composed by treated diatomite powder dispersed in an epoxy resin matrix. After its preparation, the suspension was applied via the dip-coating technique over AISI-304 stainless-steel foils, which, after being air dried, underwent a post-curing treatment. Also, the interfaces were characterized by diverse techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and optical tensiometry. Apart from this, their thermophysical properties like thermal conductivity were also determined. Further, the physical and chemical durability of the interfaces was also evaluated via the elaboration of robustness tests including abrasion resistance, adhesion strength, solid impact resistance, and solvent resistance. The results showed satisfactory resistant interfaces, and with a wettability characterized by contact angles superior to 150°. Also, the interfaces confirmed improved durability when immersed in boiling water at 1 atm, since their wetting characteristics and durability remained nearly unaltered after 762 h of testing. Additionally, the synthesized interfaces possessed self-cleaning ability and chemical and thermal shock aging resistance. Generally, the fundamental outcomes of this work point out the suitability of the produced diatomite-based interfaces to be explored in high-temperature applications like flow boiling, pool boiling, and condensation. In terms of practicality, the method of preparation of the interfaces was a relatively easy and rapid approach to obtaining enhanced wettability and resilient interfaces, and with the required adaptations like the ratios between the raw materials, its suitability for large-scale applications makes this an appealing option.

Theoretical study of point defects on transport properties in metallic interconnections

During the line width reduction, electron scattering caused by various defects in metal interconnects increases dramatically, which causes leakage or short circuit problems in the device, reducing device performance and reliability. Point defects are one of the important factors. Here, using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function methods, we systematically study the effects of point defects on the transport properties of metals Al, Cu, Ag, Ir, Rh, and Ru, namely vacancy defects and interstitial doping of C atom. The results show that the conductivity of all systems decreases compared to perfect systems, because defects cause unnecessary electron scattering. Since the orbital hybridization of the C atom with the Al, Cu and Ag atoms is stronger than that metals Ir, Rh and Ru, the doping of C atom significantly reduces the conductivity of metals Al, Cu and Ag compared to vacancy defects. In contrast, vacancy defects have a greater impact than doping on the transport properties of metals Ir, Rh and Ru, which is mainly attributed to the larger charge transfer of the host atoms around the vacancies caused by lattice distortion. In addition, metal Rh exhibits excellent conductivity in all systems. Therefore, in order to optimize the transport properties of interconnect metals, our work points out that the doping of impurity atoms should be avoided for metals Al, Cu and Ag, while the presence of vacancy defects should be avoided for metals Ir, Rh and Ru, and Rh may be an excellent candidate material for future metal interconnects.

Visual Attention and Cardiac Response to Faces in Relation to Emotion Recognition

Abstract: Rapid and accurate emotion recognition is a crucial skill for social interactions, and visual attention to informative social cues in the environment can facilitate emotion recognition. Studies have found that emotion recognition is also associated with underlying cardiac autonomic responses. The current study examined (1) visual attention and cardiac response (change in heart rate) to emotionally-expressive faces and houses (as a nonsocial control image), and (2) associations between these responses and emotion recognition on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) in college students. Results showed increased overall attention, but shorter first fixation durations, to faces as compared to houses. Across faces, attention was greater to eyes than mouth, but the magnitude of this difference was dependent on emotion. Analysis of cardiac responses revealed greater heart rate deceleration to happy and fearful faces as compared to neutral faces and houses. Better emotion recognition accuracy on the RMET was related to greater attention to faces, and eyes specifically, as well as greater heart rate deceleration to faces relative to houses. No relations between visual attention and cardiac response were found. The current work points to variations in visual attention and cardiac responses while viewing emotional faces that can be markers of emotion processing ability.

Degree of Impact of Applying Environmental Cost Accounting on Tax Revenues from Oil Companies Operating in Iraq

Protecting the environment and its natural resources is an issue of great importance at the local and global levels. The phenomenon of environmental pollution resulting from the work of oil companies is one of the dangerous phenomena facing the environment in Iraq in general, and the environment of Kirkuk Governorate in particular, as the latter is considered one of the governorates rich in mineral resources, especially oil, as it contains six oil fields, and it contains the largest oil field in Iraq. Estimates indicate that it produces (40%) of the total Iraqi oil, so it suffers from a significant increase in the proportions of toxic and environmentally polluting gases resulting from the work of these companies in it. The work of oil companies from exploration, extraction and refining oil will naturally result in the emission of many gases that are highly toxic, dangerous and harmful to human health. The most important of these gases are carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbon compounds, hydrogen sulfide and other gases that pollute the environment, which has resulted in the spread and increase in the number of patients with respiratory diseases in a clear and increasing manner in the governorate. This increase in environmental costs falls on society as a whole, so it was necessary to identify and measure environmental costs from the society’s point of view and work to re-charge them to oil companies by applying the environmental tax.

Female-age-dependent changes in the lipid fingerprint of the mammalian oocytes.

Can oocyte functionality be assessed by observing changes in their intracytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) profiles? Lipid profile changes can reliably be detected in human oocytes; lipid changes are linked with maternal age and impaired developmental competence in a mouse model. In all cellular components, lipid damage is the earliest manifestation of oxidative stress (OS), which leads to a cascade of negative consequences for organelles and DNA. Lipid damage is marked by the accumulation of LDs. We hypothesized that impaired oocyte functionality resulting from aging and associated OS could be assessed by changes in LDs profile, hereafter called lipid fingerprint (LF). To investigate if it is possible to detect differences in oocyte LF, we subjected human GV-stage oocytes to spectroscopic examinations. For this, a total of 48 oocytes derived from 26 young healthy women (under 33 years of age) with no history of infertility, enrolled in an oocyte donation program, were analyzed. Furthermore, 30 GV human oocytes from 12 women were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To evaluate the effect of oocytes' lipid profile changes on embryo development, a total of 52 C57BL/6 wild-type mice and 125 Gnpat+/- mice were also used. Human oocytes were assessed by label-free cell imaging via coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). Further confirmation of LF changes was conducted using spontaneous Raman followed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies and TEM. Additionally, to evaluate whether LF changes are associated with developmental competence, mouse oocytes and blastocysts were evaluated using TEM and the lipid dyes BODIPY and Nile Red. Mouse embryonic exosomes were evaluated using flow cytometry, FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopies. Here we demonstrated progressive changes in the LF of oocytes associated with the woman's age consisting of increased LDs size, area, and number. LF variations in oocytes were detectable also within individual donors. This finding makes LF assessment a promising tool to grade oocytes of the same patient, based on their quality. We next demonstrated age-associated changes in oocytes reflected by lipid peroxidation and composition changes; the accumulation of carotenoids; and alterations of structural properties of lipid bilayers. Finally, using a mouse model, we showed that LF changes in oocytes are negatively associated with the secretion of embryonic exosomes prior to implantation. Deficient exosome secretion disrupts communication between the embryo and the uterus and thus may explain recurrent implantation failures in advanced-age patients. Due to differences in lipid content between different species' oocytes, the developmental impact of lipid oxidation and consequent LF changes may differ across mammalian oocytes. Our findings open the possibility to develop an innovative tool for oocyte assessment and highlight likely functional connections between oocyte LDs and embryonic exosome secretion. By recognizing the role of oocyte LF in shaping the embryo's ability to implant, our original work points to future directions of research relevant to developmental biology and reproductive medicine. This research was funded by National Science Centre of Poland, Grants: 2021/41/B/NZ3/03507 and 2019/35/B/NZ4/03547 (to G.E.P.); 2022/44/C/NZ4/00076 (to M.F.H.) and 2019/35/N/NZ3/03213 (to Ł.G.). M.F.H. is a National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) fellow (GA ULM/2019/1/00097/U/00001). K.F. is a Diamond Grant fellow (Ministry of Education and Science GA 0175/DIA/2019/28). The open-access publication of this article was funded by the Priority Research Area BioS under the program "Excellence Initiative - Research University" at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The authors declare no competing interest. N/A.

Fabrication of GelMA - Agarose Based 3D Bioprinted Photocurable Hydrogel with In Vitro Cytocompatibility and Cells Mirroring Natural Keratocytes for Corneal Stromal Regeneration.

The complex anatomy of the cornea and the subsequent keratocyte-fibroblast transition have always made corneal stromal regeneration difficult. Recently, 3D printing has received considerable attentionin terms of fabrication of scaffoldswith precise dimension and pattern. In the current work, 3D printable polymer hydrogels made of GelMA/agarose are formulated and its rheological properties are evaluated. Despite the variation in agarose content, both the hydrogels exhibited G'>G'' modulus. A prototype for 3D stromal model is created using Solid Works software, mimicking the anatomy of an adult cornea. The fabrication of 3D-printed hydrogels is performed using pneumatic extrusion. The FTIR analysis speculated that the hydrogel is well crosslinked and established strong hydrogen bonding with each other, thus contributing to improved thermal and structural stability. The MTT analysis revealed a higher rate of cell proliferation on the hydrogels. The optical analysis carried out on the 14th day of incubation revealed that the hydrogels exhibit transparency matching with natural corneal stromal tissue. Specific protein marker expression confirmed the keratocyte phenotype and showed that the cells do not undergo terminal differentiation into stromal fibroblasts. The findings of this work point to the potential of GelMA/A hydrogels as a novel biomaterial for corneal stromal tissue engineering.

The Experience of the Bibliothèque nationale de France

Abstract The article is based on the experiences of the author, who worked for 42 years in various positions at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), most recently as Director-General. The transformational changes at the library are described: the new building, the process of modernisation, the opening to data processing, the redesign of the historic buildings for new focal points of work, and the changes in user attitudes.

Nonreciprocal damping of spin waves propagating in magnetic domain walls induced by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

The nonreciprocity of spin waves refers to the phenomenon that spin waves propagating in opposite directions display different features. This phenomen becomes a fundamental requirement for implementing magnon logic architectures. The nonreciprocal transportion of spin waves induced by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) has been studied extensively. It is characterized by a shift of spin-wave dispersion. Here we report another feature of the DMI-induced nonreciprocity, i.e., the nonreciprocal spin wave damping. We find that the spin waves propagating with opposite wave vectors in magnetic domain wall have different damping, which is frequency dependent and especially evident in low frequancy range. For spin waves with sufficient low frequencies (around 1 GHz), the damping nonreciprocity is so extreme that spin waves can transport only in one direction, thus realizing the spin-wave diode function. The theoretical predictions are validated by micromagnetic simulations. The findings in this work points out a new feature of DMI-induced spin wave nonreciprocity and may be exploited for designing novel magnonic devices.

Attention as selection for action defended

AbstractAttention has become an important focal point of recent work in ethics and epistemology, yet philosophers continue to be noncommittal about what attention is. In this paper, I defend attention as selection for action in a weak form, namely that selection for action is sufficient for attention. I show that selection for action in this conception captures how we, the folk, experience it and how the cognitive scientist studies it. That is, selection for action pulls empirical and folk‐psychology together. Accordingly, philosophers who take seriously either source have reason to work with selection for action as their starting conception of attention. This conception provides a way to bridge empirical and philosophical concerns where attention is central. The theoretical advantages of selection for action have been obscured by the common opinion that it is easily refuted. I defend the position against many of the published objections and then deploy it to provide a foundation for the intuitive, but inchoate, idea of attention being gradable, something of which there can be more or less. An analysis of the gradability of attention is then applied to consider recent work on the harms due to a surplus of attention.

Dietary protein restriction diminishes sucrose reward and reduces sucrose-evoked mesolimbic dopamine signaling in mice

A growing literature suggests manipulating dietary protein status decreases sweet consumption in rodents and in humans. Underlying neurocircuit mechanisms have not yet been determined, but previous work points towards hedonic rather than homeostatic pathways. Here we hypothesized that a history of protein restriction reduces sucrose seeking by altering mesolimbic dopamine signaling in mice. We tested this hypothesis using established behavioral tests of palatability and conditioned reward, including the palatability contrast and conditioned place preference (CPP) tests. We used modern optical sensors for measuring real-time nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine dynamics during voluntary sucrose consumption, via fiber photometry, in male C57/Bl6J mice maintained on low-protein high-carbohydrate (LPHC) or control (CON) diet for ∼5 weeks. Our results showed that a history of protein restriction decreased the consumption of a sucrose ‘dessert’ in sated mice by ∼50% compared to controls [T-test, p < 0.05]. The dopamine release in NAc during sucrose consumption was reduced, also by ∼50%, in LPHC-fed mice compared to CON [T-test, p < 0.01]. Furthermore, LPHC-feeding blocked the sucrose-conditioned place preference we observed in CON-fed mice [paired T-test, p < 0.05], indicating reduced sucrose reward. This was accompanied by a 33% decrease in neuronal activation of the NAc core, as measured by c-Fos immunolabeling from brains collected directly after the CPP test [T-test, p < 0.05]. Together, these findings advance our mechanistic understanding of how dietary protein restriction decreases the consumption of sweets—by inhibiting the incentive salience of a sucrose reward, together with reduced sucrose-evoked dopamine release in NAc.

Intracellular morphogenesis of diatom silica is guided by local variations in membrane curvature

Silica cell-wall formation in diatoms is a showcase for the ability of organisms to control inorganic mineralization. The process of silicification by these unicellular algae is tightly regulated within a membrane-bound organelle, the silica deposition vesicle (SDV). Two opposing scenarios were proposed to explain the tight regulation of this intracellular process: a template-mediated process that relies on preformed scaffolds, or a template-independent self-assembly process. The present work points to a third scenario, where the SDV membrane is a dynamic mold that shapes the forming silica. We use in-cell cryo-electron tomography to visualize the silicification process in situ, in its native-state, and with a nanometer-scale resolution. This reveals that the plasma membrane interacts with the SDV membrane via physical tethering at membrane contact sites, where the curvature of the tethered side of the SDV membrane mirrors the intricate silica topography. We propose that silica growth and morphogenesis result from the biophysical properties of the SDV and plasma membranes.

Preworkout dietary nitrate magnifies training-induced benefits to physical function in late postmenopausal women: a randomized pilot study.

To inform end points for future work, we explored the utility of preworkout (i.e., an acute dose before training) beetroot juice (BRJ) combined with exercise (BRJ + EX) to augment indices of physical function in postmenopausal women compared with exercise only (EX). A two-arm pilot study was used to compare 24 postmenopausal women following an 8-wk, circuit-based exercise intervention. Participants were randomized to BRJ + EX (n = 12) or EX (n = 12). BRJ + EX participants consumed 140 mL of BRJ 120-180 min (only) before training for 7 wk, then discontinued during the final week to mitigate carryover effects. Physical function indices were 6-min walk test (6MWT), estimated V̇o2peak, heart rate recovery (HRR), and maximal knee extensor power (Pmax). A treadmill task was used to measure V̇o2 on-kinetics wherein mean response time (MRT) coincided with the duration to reach 63% of steady-state V̇o2. Results showed greater changes (Δ) among BRJ + EX participants for 6MWT distance (40 ± 23 m vs. 8 ± 25 m; P = 0.003, d = 1.35), ΔV̇o2peak (1.5 ± 0.9 mL·kg-1·min-1 vs. 0.3 ± 1.0 mL·kg-1·min-1; P = 0.008, d = 1.20), and ΔHRR (-10 ± 6 beats/min vs. -1 ± 9 beats/min; P = 0.017, d = 1.05). Large and medium effect sizes favoring BRJ + EX were detected for ΔPmax (P = 0.07, d = 0.83) and ΔMRT (P = 0.257, d = 0.50), respectively. In postmenopausal women, BRJ + EX appears to magnify some adaptive benefits to physical function including aerobic capacity and recovery beyond that of training without BRJ. Investigation into contributing mechanisms is needed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Though exercise training represents the principal strategy to combat age-related decline, the attendant effects of menopause weaken aspects of exercise adaptation compared with premenopausal women and age-matched men. Here we provide important initial evidence that preworkout (i.e., an acute dose before training) beetroot juice coupled with an 8-wk, circuit-based exercise training intervention may uniquely benefit late postmenopausal women by enhancing indices of physical function including aerobic capacity and recovery.

Experience of regret is unaffected by concurrent working memory load

Background When facing the consequences of decisions, people often experience evaluative emotions such as regret. The experience of regret is the result of the comparison between the actual outcome of one’s actions and a better counterfactual outcome that could have occurred had one acted differently in the past. Despite increasing interest in counterfactual thinking and regret, little is known about the type of cognitive processes involved with regret –whether it is underpinned by reflective or intuitive processes. The extant literature provides contradictory evidence: theoretical assertions and developmental work point towards reflective processes, requiring access to capacity-limited cognitive resources whereas, some experimental and neuroscientific evidence point towards intuitive processes. Methods In the current study, adults (N = 20) completed a commonly used gambling task known to elicit regret under high or low working memory load. Results Ratings of regret were not affected by concurrent working memory load (Bayes Factors provided strong evidence for the null hypothesis). Conclusions We conclude that the experience of regret in a commonly used gambling task is unaffected by concurrent working memory load. This suggests that, in adults, regret is not always reliant on reflective cognitive processes and does not require access to central cognitive resources.