Central bank digital money (CBDM) uses among patrons in hospitality and tourism.

An industrial trend regarding a surging amount of attention to central bank digital money (CBDM) by government bodies and consumers has recently been observed. The aim of this study is to assess the roles of the antecedents and moderators, which include fear of missing out, confidence of CBDM in the digitalized era, and attachment to CBDM, in regards to predicting CBDM adoption within the framework of the theory of planned behavior and the five phases of the consumer adoption process in order to keep up to date with this rapidly changing industrial trend. Data sets from 515 respondents were collected for empirical analyses via an online panel survey in order to achieve the research objectives.

Understanding barriers and facilitators to oral health interventions in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment: A scoping review.

Background: Older adults with cognitive impairment face significant challenges in maintaining oral health while the barriers and facilitators for implementing communitybased oral health interventions are uncertain.

Objective: To understand the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of oral health intervention among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment.

Methods: Literature was searched in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus and Google Scholar.

Unravelling the mechanism of enzymatic resistance in different high amylose starch granules.

This study investigates the phenomenon that, in contrast to amylopectin-rich starch granules, high amylose starch (HAS) granules typically exhibit high hydrolytic resistance manifested as low density of enzyme attack sites on the starch granule surface. However, among the various types of examined HAS granules, we identified differences in enzymatic resistance. We associated this effect as a result of variations in specific rate of the enzymatic reaction, with intermediate affinity leading to the highest enzymatic efficacy characteristic for the Sabatier principle.

Quaternary-ammonium chitosan/Sericin-modified carbon nanotubes Photothermal coatings: A reusable and sustainable chemical-free seed disinfection strategy.

The increasing global demand for food and the adverse environmental impacts of excessive agrochemical use highlights the urgent need for sustainable and scalable seed treatment technologies. This paper reports a novel photothermal seed coating (QC@SCCNTs) with high biocompatibility, exceptional photothermal efficiency, and notable reusability, serving as an effective alternative to conventional chemical treatments. The coating consists of sericin-functionalized carboxylated carbon nanotubes (SCCNTs) electrostatically complexed with quaternary ammonium chitosan (QC), forming a composite film (QS film).

A strategy to re-sensitise drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria to oxazolidinone-class antibiotics.

Background: Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections have high mortality rates and few treatment options. Synergistic combinations may improve clinical outcome but traditional strategies often damage healthy microbiome. Oxazolidinone-class antibiotics are typical last-resort drugs for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections but are becoming less effective due to resistance development.

Neural substrates for the encoding of the contextual tonal alternation: An fNIRS study of Mandarin third-tone sandhi in word production.

Phonological alternations are common in speech, but the neurocognitive mechanisms for their encoding during word production remain unclear. Mandarin Tone 3 sandhi is an example of phonological alternation, whereby the Tone 3 (T3), a low-dipping tone, changes to a Tone 2 (T2)-like rising tone when followed by another T3. Previous research indicates that both the underlying tonal category and the surface tonal variant are activated during T3 sandhi word production, but the neural substrates of these sub-processes remain unclear.

Noninvasive assessment of glymphatic system alterations as potential biomarkers for predicting overall survival in glioma.

Objective: In this retrospective study, authors aimed to evaluate the glymphatic function alterations associated with glioma and explore the prognostic value of these alterations by calculating the index for diffusivity along the perivascular space (ALPS index).

Methods: The authors utilized data from the publicly available University of California San Francisco Preoperative Diffuse Glioma MRI (UCSF-PDGM) dataset, which includes 501 adult patients with histopathologically confirmed diffuse glioma, per the 2021 WHO classification, who underwent preoperative MRI, initial tumor resection, and tumor genetic testing at a single medical center from 2015 to 2021.The ALPS index was calculated from diffusivity maps for noninvasive glymphatic system (GS) analysis.

Dual Enhancement in Output Voltage and Energy of Droplet Electricity Generator via a Composite Dielectric Layer Design.

Droplet electricity generators (DEGs) that generate electricity through the interplay between water and the dielectric materials have attracted growing research interest due to their remarkable output voltage. However, conventional DEG design faces a critical trade-off: regulating the properties of dielectric materials, such as thickness or permittivity, can enhance output voltage yet weaken transferred charge. Here, a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite-based droplet electricity generator (FMP-DEG) is presented to overcome the voltage-charge trade-off and thus achieve an enhanced energy conversion efficiency of 4.

Adaptive superposition compound eyes for perceptions under distinct light levels.

Optical superposition natural compound eyes (OSNCEs) allow circadian insects to thrive in varying light conditions thanks to their unique anatomical structures. This provides a blueprint for optical superposition artificial compound eyes (OSACEs) that can adapt to different illumination intensities. However, OSACEs have received limited research attention until recently, with most studies focusing on apposition compound eyes that operate only in bright light.

Twenty-year trend of thyrotoxicosis and thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of thyrotoxicosis. Absence of large cohorts limits the conduct of epidemiology studies. We aimed to establish a population-based registry of thyrotoxicosis and TPP in Hong Kong, and evaluate their trend.

High-efficiency non-doped near-ultraviolet OLEDs achieved by regulating excited-state spatial distribution through molecular optimization to realize hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) characteristics.

The development of high-performance near-ultraviolet organic light-emitting diodes (NUV-OLEDs) remains challenging due to their intrinsic wide-bandgap characteristics. Therefore, this study fully exploits the weak electron-accepting characteristics of the PPI group, combined with its high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and excellent thermal stability. Through a precise molecular structure modulation strategy involving direct introduction of electron-donating diphenylamine groups into the side phenyl ring and systematic integration of donor/acceptor units with tailored electronic properties into the main backbone, effective control of excited-state characteristics and their spatial distribution was successfully achieved.

Isowighteone attenuates vascular calcification by targeting HSP90AA1-mediated PI3K-Akt pathway and suppressing osteogenic gene expression.

Background: Isowighteone, an isoflavonoid compound derived from L.f. (, Moraceae), has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties in prior studies.

Diffusion Model-based Medical Image Generation as a Potential Data Augmentation Strategy for AI Applications.

Introduction: This study explored a generative image synthesis method based on diffusion models, potentially providing a low-cost and high-efficiency training data augmentation strategy for medical artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Methods: The MedMNIST v2 dataset was utilized as a small-volume training dataset under low-performance computing conditions. Based on the characteristics of existing samples, new medical images were synthesized using the proposed annotated diffusion model.

Experiences of Adult Informal Caregivers in Palliative Care Provision for Persons with Advanced Cancer: A Meta-synthesis.

Context: Cancer diagnoses are increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Diagnoses often occur at a late stage in the disease, hampering the timely initiation of palliative care. The lack of formalised palliative care provision in the region results in informal caregivers assuming most of the caregiving roles for patients.

Transformational Advances in the Case for 1D Superconductivity Over 3D: Uncovering Science and Envisioning the Future.

In this review paper, we begin by introducing the fundamental concepts of superconductivity, laying the groundwork for understanding its principles and applications. We then delve into the scientific advantages of one-dimensional (1D) superconductors over three-dimensional (3D) superconductors, highlighting the main significant enhancement in the upper critical field, which can increase by two orders of magnitude. This feature is crucial for advancing the technological performance of superconducting high-field magnets.

Efficacy of the Conventional Rehabilitation Robot and bio-Signal Feedback-Based Rehabilitation Robot on Upper-Limb Function in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundWith the development of modern biomedical engineering, bio-signal feedback-based robots, such as electromyography (EMG)-based and brain-computer interface (BCI)-based rehabilitation robot, have emerged beyond conventional designs. However, their comparative effectiveness for improving upper limb function in stroke patients remains unassessed.ObjectiveTo evaluate the comparative effectiveness and ranking of the conventional rehabilitation robot and bio-signal feedback-based rehabilitation robot in improving upper limb function in stroke patients.

33 Unresolved Questions in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Significant advances in science and engineering often emerge at the intersections of disciplines. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are inherently interdisciplinary, uniting researchers from chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, materials science, and engineering. This convergence has fostered novel ways of thinking and enabled the development of materials, tools, and technologies that have transformed both basic and applied research, as well as how we address critical societal challenges.

Achieving Efficient Lifetime-Tunable Room-temperature Phosphorescent Cellulose with Excitation Wavelength- and Time-Dependence.

The precise modulation of the lifetime and the responsive properties of room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) is essential for realizing its multifunctional applications. Herein, a facile strategy is presented to achieve a series of cellulose benzoate esters (CBE-X, X = H/CH/OH/NH) with lifetime-tunable RTP through substituent engineering. Enhancing the electron-donating ability of CBE-X effectively modulates the HOMO-LUMO gap, exciton energy, spin-orbit coupling, and interaction between cellulose chains, thereby enabling control over the RTP lifetime.

A Clinical Evaluation of Lifitegrast Ophthalmic Solution 5% in Symptomatic Contact Lens Wearers.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% in alleviating end-of-day dryness and discomfort in symptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers.

Patients And Methods: This was an open-label study in symptomatic CL wearers with ratings of ≥40 for end-of-day dryness on a visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 scale; 100 worst). Participants wore their habitual CLs and instilled lifitegrast twice daily for 12 weeks with lenses removed.

Ecological pattern of microalgal communities and associated risks in coastal ecosystems.

Eukaryotic harmful and toxic microalgae, along with their derived toxins, pose significant threats to seafood safety, human health, and marine ecosystems. Here, we developed a novel full-length 18S rRNA database for harmful and toxic microalgae and combined metabarcoding with toxin analyses to investigate the ecological patterns of phytoplankton communities and the underlying mechanism of associated toxic microalgae risks. We identified 79 harmful and toxic species in Hong Kong's coastal waters, with dinoflagellates and diatoms representing the majority of toxic and harmful taxa, respectively.

Rational design of an ultra-high-gain MoS phototransistor enabling room-temperature detection of few-photon signals and attomolar-level immunosensing.

Determining the number of photons in an incident light pulse at room temperature is the ultimate goal of photodetection. Herein, we report a plasmon-strain-coupled tens of photon level phototransistor by integrating monolayer MoS on top of Au nanowire (NW). Within this structure, Au NW can greatly enhance incident light intensity around MoS, and the large tensile strain can reduce the contact energy barrier between MoS and Au NW, so as to achieve efficient injection of plasmonic hot electrons into MoS.

Focus-tunable real-time imaging system based on ultrathin perovskite curved image sensor with hierarchical mesh design.

The human visual system's real-time focus-tunable imaging capability has inspired curved imaging system development. However, curved image sensors mimicking the human retina typically lack tunable curvature to match the curved Petzval surface throughout the focus-tunable range. Here, we propose a focus-tunable real-time curved imaging system based on a tunable-curvature perovskite curved image sensor.

Real-time and immediate effects of backward walking exercise on pain intensity and lumbopelvic movement control in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain with lumbar flexion syndrome.

Objective: Backward walking may promote the preferential recruitment of lumbar extensors to optimize flexed spinal posture adopted LBP flexion subgroup. This cross-sectional study investigated the backward-walking exercise on a) real-time muscle activation, and b) its immediate effect on back pain intensity, movement control and lumbopelvic muscle activation in individuals with chronic non-specific LBP characterized with lumbar flexion syndrome.

Method: Thirty adults with chronic non-specific LBP with clinical manifestation of flexion syndrome received assessments of their movement control at static standing and during the five-minute forward walking test, conducted before and after a 15-minute treadmill walking training in forward or backward direction (as the immediate effect), while real-time adaptation of the lumbopelvic muscles during walking training was also evaluated.

Preoperative evaluation of endoscopic thyroidectomy via the total areola approach (ETA): a fluid-structure interaction model for predicting lymph node clearance and surgical suitability.

The global increase in thyroid cancer incidence has driven the adoption of minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopic thyroidectomy via the total areola approach (ETA), which is widely used in China. However, concerns persist regarding the completeness of central lymph node dissection (CLND) in ETA due to anatomical constraints (e.g.

Dietary Sucralose Exacerbates Ovalbumin-Induced Food Allergy via Dendritic Cells Modulation: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Sucralose, a common zero-calorie sweetener, may increase food allergy (FAs) risk via immune modulation, although its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates how sucralose exacerbates allergic responses in mice that are OVA-sensitized through specific immunologic mechanisms. Sucralose exposure markedly aggravated allergic symptoms, including diarrhea, elevated serum IgE, MCP-1, and mast cell mediators, and preferentially enhanced Th2 responses without affecting Th1 or Treg cytokine pathways.