Search Results (142)

Standards undergo periodic review to ensure their alignment with technological advancements and market trends. However, this process can lead to incompatibilities between standards. A major challenge for standards development organizations (SDOs) is ensuring the coordination of standards systems through effective scheduling. Traditional project scheduling models focused on minimizing the duration or cost do not meet the unique management needs of standards. This study introduces the Standard Revision Project Scheduling Problem (SRPSP), which considers revision dependencies in a standard citation network. A new objective function, the Coordination Index of Standard Systems ($\mathit{CISS}$), is proposed to quantify the coordination degree among standards within a citation network. To solve this problem, a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed. Computational experiments using real-world data from TC544 demonstrate the framework’s superiority, achieving a 12% higher $\mathit{CISS}$ than traditional makespan-centric models. Scenarios characterized by three key parameters of standard citation networks—network topology, scale, and average node degree—are analyzed. The results provide a benchmark for researchers to compare and improve upon. This research contributes to the development of a practical data-driven decision support system for SDOs to evaluate standards revision programs and enhance the systematic effects of standards systems during the revision process. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the multi-wavelength and multi-instrument observations of two quiescent filament eruptions as well as the deflection of associated CMEs from the radial direction. The events occurred on 18 October 2017 and 9 May 2021, respectively, in the southern solar hemisphere. Both of them and associated flares were registered by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory–Ahead (STEREO A) Observatory in different EUV wavebands. Using data from STEREO A COR1 and COR2 instruments and the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), we investigated morphology and kinematics of the eruptions and the latitudinal offset of the related CMEs with respect to the erupting filaments. Our observations provide the evidence that the two filament eruptions were highly non-radial. The observed deviations are attributed to the presence of low-latitude coronal holes. Full article

People living with HIV (PLHIV) in under-resourced rural regions face intersecting social and structural barriers that intensify their vulnerability. This pilot study explored how overlapping marginalized identities and socioeconomic hardship shape experiences of discrimination among PLHIV in Southern Illinois. Twenty-two participants completed a community-informed survey that captured racial, sexual, and gender identities alongside indicators of stigma across healthcare, housing, employment, and community settings. The findings reveal that most participants experienced at least one form of discrimination, with the highest burden concentrated among those identifying as Black, Nonbinary, Gay/Lesbian, or low-income. Discrimination was particularly prevalent in healthcare and housing environments. Importantly, poverty and housing instability were not just common but appeared to amplify the experience of stigma, compounding the effects of identity-based marginalization. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated, affirming, and structurally responsive interventions tailored to the realities of multiply marginalized PLHIV in rural areas. Future research and services must consider the interplay of identity and economic precarity in order to promote equitable care and support. Full article

The medicinal plant Siraitia grosvenorii produces sweet-tasting cucurbitane-type mogrosides from the atypical triterpenoid precursor 2,3,22,23-dioxidosqualene (SDO), rather than the conventional 2,3-oxidosqualene (SQO). However, SDO formation in mogroside biosynthesis remains unclear. Here, we systematically characterized two squalene epoxidases (SgSQE1/2) through phylogenetic analysis, heterologous expression, subcellular localization, qRT-PCR, and alanine scanning studies. Both SgSQE1 and SgSQE2 exhibited squalene epoxidase activity, with SgSQE2 catalyzing SDO formation in yeast. We identified two critical catalytic residues governing epoxidation efficiency through mutagenesis. Both SgSQEs were localized in the ER, while expression profiling revealed a similar trend between SgSQE2 expression and mogroside accumulation in fruits. In our study, we developed a genomically engineered strategy for heterologous SQE characterization. These results lay the foundation for the SQE catalytic reaction involved in mogroside biosynthesis, and provide gene resources and a feasible approach for triterpene metabolic engineering. Full article

To ensure the long-term consistency of sunspot group data, it is essential to harmonize measurements from SOHO/MDI and SDO/HMI, two major solar observatories with overlapping coverage. In our analysis, we use two complementary sets of data: SOHO/MDI–Debrecen Sunspot Data (SDD) and SDO/HMI–Debrecen Sunspot Data (HMIDD). Our objective is to identify systematic differences between their recorded parameters and to assess whether their data can be combined into a coherent time series. While the overlap between the datasets spans only about one year, this period allows for a direct statistical comparison without the need for additional image processing. Though the two instruments do not measure identical area values, our results reveal a strong linear relationship between them, which is in line with earlier studies. On the other hand, a systematic discrepancy in their magnetic field strength measurements was observed. Contrary to previous findings, SDO/HMI magnetic field values tend to be higher than those from SOHO/MDI. These differences may arise from the use of different calibration procedures and measurement techniques, or from the physical characteristics of the sunspot groups themselves. These results highlight the challenges involved in unifying data from multiple solar instruments that have been captured over extended time periods. While broad consistencies are observable, the differences between sunspot groups and measurement parameters demonstrate the importance of using careful, instrument-aware calibration approaches when combining such datasets. Full article

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are considered significant determinants of mental health. This study examines the association between SDoH and mental health status in the United States. We analyzed 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 183,318 U.S. adults using multinomial logistic regression. Several SDoH were significantly linked to the frequency of poor mental health days. After adjusting for all covariates, individuals facing difficulty paying utility bills had lower odds of experiencing episodic (vs. chronic) poor mental health (AOR = 0.47, p = 0.031). Transportation challenges were associated with lower odds of episodic distress rather than chronic mental health issues (AOR = 0.35, p = 0.026). Individuals who were unable to afford a doctor or who experienced employment loss had significantly lower odds of reporting no poor mental health days compared to reporting chronic poor mental health, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.37 and 0.84, respectively. Non-Hispanic Whites and males were more likely to report chronic poor mental health. Policies that prioritize economic stability and job security, reliable transportation, and equal access to education and healthcare are crucial for promoting mental health equity across diverse populations. Full article

The genus Acidithiobacillus has been widely used in bioleaching, and novel strains in this genus, such as A. ferriphilus, have also been confirmed to possess bioleaching capabilities. In this study, an Acidithiobacillus ferriphilus strain, QBS3, was isolated from zinc-rich sulfide mine drainage using the gradient dilution method. QBS3 is a Gram-negative, 1.3 µm rod-shaped bacterium with small red colonies. It showed a high iron oxidation efficiency of 0.361 g/(L·h) and a sulfur oxidation efficiency of 0.206 g/(L·d). QBS3 has sphalerite bioleaching ability; using QBS3 for pure sphalerite bioleaching, 18.8% of zinc was extracted in 14 days at 1% pulp density. Whole genome sequencing was performed on QBS3. Functional prediction showed that 9.13% of the genes were involved in replication, recombination, and repair. Bioleaching-related genes were analyzed, including iron and sulfur oxidation genes, and carbon and nitrogen fixation genes. For iron oxidation, the Cyc2→RusA pathway and Iro→RusB pathway were found in QBS3. In terms of sulfur oxidation, QBS3 has an incomplete SOX system and lacks the SDO gene, but Rho and Trx may complement the SOX system, enabling QBS3 to oxidize sulfur. QBS3 has multiple sets of carbon fixation genes, and nitrogen fixation genes were also identified. A hypothetical sphalerite bioleaching model is proposed; this study provides a theoretical basis for the zinc sulfide ore bioleaching industry. Full article

Solar radiation storms, caused by high-energy solar energetic particles (SEPs) released during solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), have a substantial impact on the Earth’s environment. These storms can disrupt satellite operations, interfere with high-frequency (HF) communications, and increase the radiation exposure of high-altitude flights. To reduce these effects, the Korea Space Weather Center (KSWC) monitors and forecasts solar radiation storms using satellite data and predictive models. This paper introduces the space weather forecasting methods employed by the KSWC and the analysis approach for satellite data from GOES, SDO, the LASCO coronagraph, and STEREO. We introduce a predictive model for solar radiation storms, which is composed of two key components: (1) a machine learning model, which is trained using solar flare and CME data obtained from satellite observations, and (2) a physics-based model that incorporates the mechanisms of SEP generation through CMEs approaching the Earth. The machine learning model primarily forecasts the peak intensity of solar radiation storms based on real-time solar activity data, while the physics-informed model enhances the interpretability and understanding of the machine learning model’s predictions. The effectiveness and operability of this approach have been tested at the KSWC. Full article

Despite overall improvements in the accessibility, quality, and outcomes of care in the U.S. health care system over the last 30 years, a large proportion of marginalized racial and ethnic minority (minoritized) groups continue to suffer from worse outcomes across most domains. Many of these health disparities are driven by inequities in access to and the scope of society’s health-affirming structural resources and opportunities commonly referred to as structural drivers or social determinants of health—SDoH. Persistently health-undermining factors in the social environment and the downstream effects of these inequities on neurocognitive and biological pathways exacerbate these disparities. The consequences of these circumstances manifest as behavioral, neurohormonal, immune, and inflammatory and oxidative stress responses, as well as epigenetic changes. We propose a theoretical model of the interdependent characteristics of inequities in the SDoH driven by race-based discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that eventually culminate in poor health outcomes. This model provides a framework for developing and validating multi-level interventions designed to target root causes, thereby lessening health disparities and accelerating improved health outcomes for minoritized groups. Full article

Objectives: This scoping review aims to fill research gaps by exploring four guiding research questions. First, we aim to understand the major barriers encountered by U.S. menstruating college students in accessing menstrual health products at their educational institutions, households, and community. Second, we aim to identify social determinants of health (SDoH) that significantly influence and contribute to menstrual health inequities experienced by U.S. college students. Third, we aim to explore the measurement tools that have been used to assess menstrual health inequities experienced by U.S. menstruating college students. Lastly, we aim to determine the lessons learned and recommendations to improve overall menstrual health outcomes in U.S. menstruating college students. Study Design: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework (2005) and incorporated recommendations from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for the extraction, analysis, and presentation of results. Methods: The four databases searched were PubMed, Embase (Ovid), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (Medline). Included articles were (1) published between 2000 and 2023, (2) focused on menstruating college students in the United States, (3) addressed menstrual health, menstrual equity, and period poverty in college campuses in the U.S., and/or (4) explored challenges encountered by menstruating college students in accessing menstrual health products. Results: A total of seven studies were retained for assessment. The most frequently cited Healthy People 2030 categories were economic stability (n = 5) and social and community context (n = 5). The most-cited barriers were sorted into the “Financial Constraints and Accessibility” (n = 13) theme category. Conclusions: Our study highlights practical applications and several recommendations for the future design, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of effective evidence-based interventions to address period poverty and subsequent barriers imposed by menstruating college students specific SDoH. More research is needed to further explore the health implications of menstrual health on mental, physical, and socioeconomic outcomes of menstruating individuals, particularly young adults experiencing different challenges as they venture into college and build their careers. Full article

Our previous research has shown that SDOs derived from yellow silk cocoons have hypotensive effects on rats in chronic toxicity testing. This study investigated the potential preventative and therapeutic benefits of SDOs on hypertensive rats induced by L-NAME. The experiment involved nine rat groups: (1) normal control, (2) normal + 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SDOs, (3) hypertensive (HT) control, (4) HT + 50 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SDOs, (5) HT + 100 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SDOs, (6) HT + 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SDOs, (7) HT + enalapril (Ena), (8) HT + soy protein isolate (SPI), and (9) HT + bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the preventative approach, rats received 40 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ of L-NAME with the studied substances during the four-week investigation. SDOs given at doses of 100 and 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW demonstrated a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) without affecting heart rate (HR). In therapeutic studies, 40 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW of L-NAME increased SBP in the experimental groups over the first four weeks, resulting in mean SBP values above 150 mmHg. Administering 100 and 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SDOs and 100 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW SPI significantly reduced SBP. However, SDOs at 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW exhibited SBP closer to the enalapril group. In functional vascular tests, rats given SDOs at a dose of 200 $\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g} {\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$ BW had the highest relaxation and lowest contraction percentages, like the normal control groups. The research found that SDOs may inhibit and manage hypertension in both healthy and hypertensive rats by safeguarding endothelial cells. Full article

Background: Street harassment is a widespread issue affecting women’s freedom and well-being. While research has explored its impact on victims, little is known about individual factors influencing societal tolerance of such behaviour. This study examined the relationships of cognitive empathy and social dominance orientation (SDO) to street harassment tolerance among heterosexual men in two European cultures. Methods: A total of 136 Italian and 113 British heterosexual men completed measures of SDO and street harassment tolerance before and after watching a video depicting a woman experiencing harassment. Cognitive empathy was assessed through participants’ ability to recognise the victim’s emotional responses in the video. Results: Higher tolerances of street harassment before and after viewing the video were associated with lower cognitive empathy and higher SDO in both countries. Exposure to the video reduced street harassment tolerance in British participants but had no significant effect in the Italian sample. Conclusions: These findings highlight cognitive empathy and SDO as correlates of street harassment tolerance, suggesting their potential relevance for interventions to shift street harassment attitudes. The differing impact of the video between countries highlight the potential importance of cultural context for developing street harassment prevention strategies. Future research should further explore these relationships to inform targeted interventions. Full article

Background: Chronic ischemic cardiovascular disease (CICD) is a common cardiovascular disease and a frequent cause of hospitalization, with significant differences between men and women. It is also an important comorbidity, affecting hospitalization length and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the clinical and economic impact of CICD on hospital admissions of non-surgical patients. Methods: To conduct the study, hospital discharge data (SDO) from each public and private hospital facility regularly sent by the regions to the Ministry of Health were analyzed, focusing on internal medicine, cardiology, and geriatrics departments’ 2019 discharged data coming from all Italian hospitals. Data were stratified according to age, gender, hospital charge ward, and costs. Results: The typical CICD patient is elderly (average age 80 years) and stays longer (+10.5 days) compared to the average one. They are also typically chronic patients with many comorbidities (respiratory and renal failure, as well as atrial fibrillation) in geriatrics and internal medicine departments, while in the cardiology departments, atrial fibrillation and outcomes of acute cardiovascular events predominate. Conclusions: CICD is a condition that leads to more hospitalizations in internal medicine departments than in cardiology and geriatrics departments and generates an average hospitalization value in line with the average one in internal medicine and geriatrics departments. In cardiology, the average value level is higher than the department average. Gender differences were found in cardiology departments; this data could suggest that the existing guidelines are affected by studies carried out mainly on males which lead to fewer recommendations for interventional procedures on females. Full article

Bipolar emerging flux regions (EFRs) form active regions (ARs) that generally evolve into a pre-existing magnetic environment in the solar atmosphere. Reconfiguration of the small- and large-scale magnetic connectivities is invoked to explain a plethora of energy-release phenomena observed at the sites of EFRs. These include brightening events, surges, and jets, whose triggers and relationships are still unclear. In this context, we study the formation of a proto-spot in AR NOAA 11462 by analyzing spectropolarimetric and spectroscopic measurements taken by the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer along the Fe I 630.2 nm and Ca II 854.2 nm lines on 17 April 2012. We complement these high-resolution data with simultaneous SDO satellite observations. The proto-spot forms from magnetic flux and emerges into the photosphere, coalescing following plasma flows in its surroundings. The chromospheric and higher atmosphere observations show that flux emergence occurs in a pre-existing magnetic environment, with small- and large-scale coronal arcades that seemingly shape the proto-spot formation in the upper atmospheric layers. In addition, in the chromosphere, we observe an arch filament system and repeated intense brightening events and surges, likely due to magnetic interactions of the new flux with the pre-existing overlying coronal field. These phenomena have been observed since the early stages of the new flux emergence. Full article

Background: Patient-centered communication is a critical process in high-quality healthcare that emphasizes the reciprocal sharing of information between providers and patients to ensure care aligns with the patient’s needs, preferences, and personal values. A significant challenge arises from the healthcare provider’s time constraints during clinical encounters and the lack of adequate training on how to adopt a patient-centered communication style that addresses patient concerns, making it difficult to foster an environment conducive to shared decision making. These issues are further exacerbated by cultural and language barriers, along with low levels of health literacy and social determinants of health (SDoHs), which complicate efforts to deliver patient-centered care. Objective: This study examined quality criteria for patient–provider communication (PPC) and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics and SDoHs on housing, transportation, and food insecurity. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-6) national dataset. Associations between PPC and sociodemographic variables were tested using the chi-squared test. Binary logistic regression was carried out to examine the association between three PPC criteria and each of the sociodemographic characteristics and patient comfort in disclosing information on SDoHs. Results: Bivariate analyses showed statistically significant associations for age, occupation status, marital status, Hispanic origin, and race across all three PPC criteria. Significant associations were reported for education and income for the two criteria related to being given the chance to ask questions and being involved in healthcare decisions. Finally, significant associations were reported for all PPC criteria and patient comfort levels in discussing SDoHs. Conclusions: Findings from this paper provide insight for enhancing the quality of PCC in underserved populations, particularly when it comes to informing the design of evidence-based cervical cancer screening interventions which are culturally centered around the patients’ needs and that integrate PPC as a foundational component. Full article