Spontaneous photon emission by shaped quantum electron wavepackets and the QED origin of bunched electron beam superradiance.

It has been shown that the spontaneous emission rate of photons by free electrons, unlike stimulated emission, is independent of the shape or modulation of the quantum electron wavefunction (QEW). Nevertheless, here we show that the quantum state of the emitted photons is non-classical and does depend on the QEW shape. This non-classicality originates from the shape dependent off-diagonal terms of the photon density matrix.

Close Relations, Practitioners or Social Networks: What Affects the Selection of Infant Formula Products?

This study examines which factors influence the preferences of mothers seeking advice on the use of infant formula in feeding practices. The effects of their close social circle, medical professionals and social network forums on feeding choices were evaluated. Data were collected from 638 questionnaires from mothers and were statistically analyzed.

Antioxidant Activities of Ethanolic Extracts Obtained from α-Pinene-Containing Plants and Their Use in Cosmetic Emulsions.

α-Pinene is the bicyclic, unsaturated terpene hydrocarbon present in many plants. Due to its beneficial chemical properties, this compound is of great interest and has found numerous applications as a raw material in many chemical industries as well as in medicine and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts obtained from plants containing α-pinene and to test the properties of cosmetic emulsions prepared with these extracts.

The association between elevated blood estradiol level and corneal ectasia in women.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the association between blood estradiol level and two different etiologies of corneal ectasia in premenopausal women.

Methods: This is an observational case-control study with three groups of women. Group 1 included women with keratoconus.

3D-SARC: A Pilot Study Testing the Use of a 3D Augmented-Reality Model with Conventional Imaging as a Preoperative Assessment Tool for Surgical Resection of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Background: Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPSs) present a surgical challenge, with complex anatomic relationships to organs and vascular structures. This pilot study investigated the role of three-dimensional (3D) augmented reality (3DAR) compared with standard imaging in preoperative planning and resection strategies.

Methods: For the study, 13 patients who underwent surgical resection of their RPS were selected based on the location of their tumor (right, left, pelvis).

The Architectural Layout of Long-Term Care Units: Relationships between Support for Residents' Well-Being and for Caregivers' Burnout and Resilience.

With a growing need for long-term care facilities in general, and for specialized dementia units in particular, it is important to ensure that the architectural layouts of such facilities support the well-being of both the residents and the unit caregivers. This study aimed to investigate correlations between the support provided by the architectural layout of long-term care units for enhancing residents' well-being and for decreasing unit caregivers' burnout and increasing their resilience-as layouts may impact each party differently. The Psycho Spatial Evaluation Tool was utilized to assess the support provided by the layouts of seventeen long-term care units (ten regular nursing units and seven specialized dementia units) for the residents' physical and social well-being (five dimensions); a questionnaire was used to measure the unit caregivers' burnout and resilience.

Structure-Property Relationships for Fluorinated and Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic Crack-Free Coatings.

In this study, particle loading, polyfluorinated alkyl silanes (PFAS or FAS) content, superhydrophobicity, and crack formation for nanocomposite coatings created by the spray coating process were investigated. The formulations comprised hydrophobic silica, epoxy resin, and fluorine-free or FAS constituents. The effect of FAS content and FAS-free compositions on the silica and epoxy coatings' chemistry, topography, and wetting properties was also studied.

Associative linking for collaborative thinking: Self-organization of content in online Q&A communities via user-generated links.

Virtual collaborative Q&A communities generate shared knowledge through the interaction of people and content. This knowledge is often fragmented, and its value as a collective, collaboratively formed product, is largely overlooked. Inspired by work on individual mental semantic networks, the current study explores the networks formed by user-added associative links as reflecting an aspect of self-organization within the communities' collaborative knowledge sharing.

Remote Communications between Patients and General Practitioners: Do Patients Choose the Most Effective Communication Routes?

The use of remote communication between patients and general practitioners has greatly increased worldwide, especially following the COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, it is important to evaluate the impact of this shift on healthcare quality. This study aimed at evaluating remote healthcare quality by comparing four remote patient-to-physician communication modes used in Israel.

The effect of verbal instructions while using digital indoor wayfinding devices on gender, performance, and self-reported strategies.

Studies indicate that verbal instructions may impact associations between gender and wayfinding performance (measured via relative direction pointing accuracy and walking pace). Following the increasing use of digital navigation applications in indoor environments, and their implications on acquiring and processing spatial information, the aim of this study is to evaluate the stability of previously established associations. The study included 34 participants (16 females) aged 24-34 and was conducted in an indoor hospital setting.

Towards Effective Antiviral Oral Therapy: Development of a Novel Self-Double Emulsifying Drug Delivery System for Improved Zanamivir Intestinal Permeability.

Self-double emulsifying drug delivery systems have the potential to enhance the intestinal permeability of drugs classified under the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class III. One such example is the antiviral agent zanamivir, exhibiting suboptimal oral absorption (with a bioavailability range of 1-5%). To address this challenge, we have developed an innovative oral formulation for zanamivir: a self-double nanoemulsifying Winsor delivery system (SDNE-WDS) consisting of the microemulsion, which subsequently yields final double nanoemulsion (W/O/W) upon interaction with water.

Improving wayfinding in hospitals for people with diverse needs and abilities: An exploratory approach based on multi-criteria decision making.

Hospital wayfinding systems that are based solely on signage do not provide adequate solutions for wayfinding needs, especially for users with impairments. Moreover, the interaction between user characteristics and the inner space of the building also determines wayfinding efficiency. The aims of this study, therefore, were to identify architectural features that affect spatial orientation and wayfinding behaviors; demonstrate the implementation of a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for improving wayfinding in a diverse range of users; and produce a set of quantitative values (i.

Increasing Functionality of Fish Leather by Chemical Surface Modifications.

Fish skin is a by-product of the fishing industry, which has become a significant environmental pollutant in recent years. Therefore, there is an emerging interest in developing novel technologies to utilize fish skin as a versatile raw material for the clothing and biomedical industries. Most research on finishing procedures is conducted on cattle leather, and practically very limited information on fish leather finishing is found in the literature.

Caring for COVID-19 patients: Nurses' perceptions of the most critical issues and their impact on their well-being and performance.

Aims: (1) Exploring nurses' perceptions of issues that impacted the quality of patient care and their own performance on COVID-19 wards; (2) examining nurses' perceptions of how these issues impacted their psychological state and level of performance; and (3) presenting recommendations for improving healthcare policies.

Background: Nurses played a critical role in caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and managing the disease.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 50 nurses (32 females), aged 31-58 years, 6-37 years' tenure, from eight hospitals across Israel.

Controlling Microparticle Morphology in Melt-Jet Printing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients through Surface Phenomena.

Achieving homogeneity and reproducibility in the size, shape, and morphology of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles is crucial for their successful manufacturing and performance. Herein, we describe a new method for API particle engineering using melt-jet printing technology as an alternative to the current solvent-based particle engineering methods. Paracetamol, a widely used API, was melted and jetted as droplets onto various surfaces to solidify and form microparticles.

The Mechanical Properties Relationship of Radiation-Cured Nanocomposites Based on Acrylates and Cationic Polymerized Epoxies and the Composition of Silane-Modified Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles.

The effect of semiconducting tungsten disulfide (WS) nanoparticles (NPs), functionalized by either methacryloxy, glycidyl, vinyl, or amino silanes, has been studied in photocuring of acrylate and epoxy resins (the latter photocured according to a cationic mechanism). The curing time, degree of curing (DC), thermal effects, and mechanical properties of the radiation-cured resins were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed that a silane coating was formed (1-4 nm) on the NPs' surface having a thickness of 1-4 nm.

Small Files Problem Resolution via Hierarchical Clustering Algorithm.

The Small Files Problem in Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is an ongoing challenge that has not yet been solved. However, various approaches have been developed to tackle the obstacles this problem creates. Properly managing the size of blocks in a file system is essential as it saves memory and computing time and may reduce bottlenecks.

Tetra-Dentate Cycloaddition Catalysts for Rapid Photopolymerization Reactions.

[4 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloadditions are unique reactions since they form and deform cycloadducts under irradiation due to their inherent reversible nature. Whereas promising for the field of recycling, these reactions usually suffer from two major shortcomings: long reaction durations (hours) and the requirement of high-intensity light (∼100 W/cm), typically at a short wavelength (<330 nm). We demonstrate several tetra-dentate catalysts that can overcome these fundamental limitations.

Dynamic Wetting Properties of Silica-Poly (Acrylic Acid) Superhydrophilic Coatings.

Superhydrophilic coatings based on a hydrophilic silica nanoparticle suspension and Poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared by dip coating. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to examine the morphology of the coating. The effect of surface morphology on the dynamic wetting behavior of the superhydrophilic coatings was studied by changing the silica suspension concentration from 0.

Stretchable Conductive Tubular Composites Based on Braided Carbon Nanotube Yarns with an Elastomer Matrix.

We report an innovative approach to creating stretchable conductive materials composed of a tubular shell made from braided carbon nanotube yarns (CNTYs) embedded in an elastomeric matrix. For stretchable electronics, both mechanical properties and electrical conductivities are of interest. Consequently, both the mechanical behavior and electrical conductivities under large deformations were investigated.

Enabling oral delivery of antiviral drugs: Double emulsion carriers to improve the intestinal absorption of zanamivir.

Antiviral drugs play a major role in the control of seasonal influenza epidemics and may provide prophylactic and therapeutic benefits during an eventual pandemic. Among the neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of influenza viruses, and similarly against emerging resistant strains. Despite its high antiviral efficiency, zanamivir suffers from poor intestinal permeability, therefore administered via inhalation.

Wetting Characteristics of Nanosilica-Poly (acrylic acid) Transparent Anti-Fog Coatings.

The effect of particle loading on the wetting properties of coatings was investigated by modifying a coating formulation based on hydrophilic silica nanoparticles and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA). Water contact angle (WCA) measurements were conducted for all coatings to characterize the surface wetting properties. Wettability was improved with an increase in particle loading.

Philanthropic conference-based requirements engineering in time of pandemic and beyond.

As software engineering (SE) practitioners, we can help society by using our communities of experts to address a software need of a socially conscious organization. Doing so can benefit society in the locale of a SE conference and provide access to international experts for local organizations. Furthermore, established SE researchers as well as practitioners and students have the opportunity for a unique learning experience.

Solid-State Microwave Drying for Medical Cannabis Inflorescences: A Rapid and Controlled Alternative to Traditional Drying.

As the medical use of Cannabis is evolving there is a greater demand for high-quality products for patients. One of the main steps in the manufacturing process of medical Cannabis is drying. Most current drying methods in the Cannabis industry are relatively slow and inefficient processes.

Effect of Protein Adsorption on Air Plastron Behavior of a Superhydrophobic Surface.

Protein fouling on critical biointerfaces causes significant public health and clinical ramifications. Multiple strategies, including superhydrophobic (SHP) surfaces and coatings, have been explored to mitigate protein adsorption on solid surfaces. SHP materials with underwater air plastron (AP) layers hold great promise by physically reducing the contact area between a substrate and protein molecules.