A feasibility study of an underground capsule-pipe system for storing and transporting small items and waste is presented. “Hyperloop for packages” for the last/first/mile/yard all the way to and from the final user in apartments and establishments. In many cases, one capsule of 2 kg can do the same job as a car with 1000 times larger mass. The conclusion is that such a system is technically feasi

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are promising to improve energy efficiency and coverage for 6G [1]. In this paper, we aim to optimize the deployment of BSs and RISs for enhanced coverage in terms of received power. Specifically, an active RIS structure [2] with tuneable power amplification is applied, and a framework of mixed integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed for the optimiz

Introduction: Enhancing treatment adherence, especially for chronic diseases, can be achieved through therapeutic alliance, potentially elevating the quality of care. An instrument to evaluate the therapeutic alliance could be beneficial in routine clinical settings, educational environments, and extensive research efforts at national and European levels. In this study, we translated therapist and

Modifiable factors, such as alcohol or physical exertion, may trigger atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes. Identifying and eliminating these triggers can lead to effective strategies which reduce risk of AF recurrence. This study aims to evaluate pre-and post-trigger AF in long-term photo-plethysmogram (PPG) signals obtained during daily living from patients with paroxysmal AF. Thirty-seven patients

There is a misconception that pictures are easy to comprehend, which is problematic in pedagogical practices that include pictures. For example, if a child has difficulties with verbal narration to picture sequences, it may be interpreted as specific to spoken language even though the child may have additional difficulties with comprehension of visual narratives in the form of picture sequences. T

Background: The goals for staff in Supported Housing for people with psychiatric disabilities include helping to develop the residents’ independence and self-confidence in activities. However, staff have expressed frustration about providing this type of support when motivating residents to engage in meaningful activities and also about the difficulty in finding suitable levels of independence wit

This study focuses on comparing three electrical machine (EM) topologies to be used in an electric vehicle powertrain. The considered topologies are the permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM), permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance machine (PMa-SynRM), and induction machine (IM). For this assessment, complete powertrains are optimized for each EM topology. A powertrain optimization

Introduction: The impact of exposure to endemic infections on basal immunity and susceptibility to HIV-1 acquisition remains uncertain. We hypothesized that exposure to infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), malaria and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in high-risk individuals may modulate immunity and subsequently increase susceptibility to HIV-1 acquisition. Methods: A case-control stud

Multiconfigurational pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) offers a promising solution to the challenges faced by traditional density functional theory (DFT) in addressing molecular systems containing transition metals, open-shells, or strong correlations in general. By utilizing both the density and on-top pair-density, MC-PDFT can make use of a more flexible multiconfigurational wave function

Generally, the cost of public transport has increased. Previous research has identified peak hour traffic as the main cost driver, mostly because the travel demand increases the number of vehicles and drivers needed. The purpose of this study is to identify measures aiming to reduce travel with public transport during peak hours, conducted through a semi-systematic literature review. The measures

Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes a heterogeneous group of cancers. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with a subtype of HNSCC with a better response to treatment and more favorable prognosis. Mitochondrial function and metabolism vary depending on cancer type and can be related to tumor aggressiveness. This study aims to characterize the metabolism of

A mobile stroke unit (MSU) is an advanced ambulance equipped with specialized technology and trained healthcare personnel to provide on-site diagnosis and treatment for stroke patients. Providing efficient access to healthcare (in a viable way) requires optimizing the placement of MSUs. In this study, we propose a time-efficient method based on a genetic algorithm (GA) to find the most suitable am

Background: Obtaining functional sperm cells is the first step to treat infertility. With the ever-increasing trend in male infertility, clinicians require access to effective solutions that are able to single out the most viable spermatozoa, which would max out the chance for a successful pregnancy. The new generation techniques for sperm selection involve microfluidics, which offers laminar flow

The present document was issued by a diverse group of scholars on behalf of The European Association of Health Law (EAHL) Interest Group on Supranational Biolaw, and as part of Stakeholder Feedback on the current draft of General Recommendation N° 37 on racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health (GR37). The EAHL Interest Group on Supranational Biolaw supports the Committee’s eff

The true promise of MXene as a practical supercapacitor electrode hinges on the simultaneous advancement of its three-dimensional (3D) assembly and the engineering of its nanoscopic architecture, two critical factors for facilitating mass transport and enhancing an electrode’s charge-storage performance. Herein, we present a straightforward strategy to engineer robust 3D freestanding MXene (Ti3C2T

The predator functional response quantifies the per capita feeding rate of predators as a function of prey density and is a key element of feeding interactions. Variations in its parameters are strongly associated with interaction strength and population dynamics. We examined 18 functional responses within marine whelk−bivalve systems, varying predator body size, prey species, and habitat structur

The pre-tetramerization loop (PTL) of the human tumor suppressor protein p53 is an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) necessary for the tetramerization process, and its flexibility contributes to the essential conformational changes needed. Although the IDR can be accurately simulated in the traditional manner of molecular dynamics (MD) with the end-to-end distance (EEdist) unhindered, we sough

Most studies have been carried out to investigate the surface integrity induced by metal cutting process. However, the previous studies are limited to a longitudinal turning or orthogonal cutting operations and the residual stresses generated in a fillet radius have been ignored. This study uses a combination of experiments and numerical simulations to study the evolution of cutting forces, temper

Alpine ecosystems harbor remarkably diverse and distinct plant communities that are characteristically limited to harsh, and cold climatic conditions. As a result of thermal limitation to species occurrence, mountainous ecosystems are considered to be particularly sensitive to climate change. Our understanding of the impact of climate change is mainly based on vascular plants however, whereas cryp

Hemostasis is a dynamic process that starts in utero. Neonates, especially those who are born preterm, are at high risk of bleeding. The coagulation system evolves with age, and the decreased levels of coagulation factors along with hypo-reactive platelets are counterbalanced with increased activity of von Willebrand factor, high hematocrit and mean corpuscular volume as well as low levels of coag