Applied Behavioral

The purpose of this paper is to thoroughly assess the value of colours in consumers' preferences for sweet peppers, and the association with more sustainable methods of production in the consumers' minds. Furthermore, this study provides novel insights into the influence of colours on the willingness to pay (WTP) for vegetables. It explores the interplay between colours, food attributes, and socio-demographic characteristics among consumers, marking the first attempt to examine this relationship comprehensively...

AIMS: Previous studies have reported that focused ultrasound (FUS) helps modulate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These studies have generally used the paracellular pathway owing to tight junction proteins (TJPs) regulation. However, BBB transport pathways also include diffusion and transcytosis. Few studies have examined transcellular transport across endothelial cells. We supposed that increased BBB permeability caused by FUS may affect transcytosis. We investigated drug delivery through transcytosis and paracellular transport to the brain after BBB modulation using FUS...

The development of programming skills and computational thinking in the formal educational context is one of the most recent horizons set by many educational systems worldwide. Although the first computational thinking initiatives are being applied from the earliest school ages, this research focuses on the secondary education level. Specifically, the objective is the following: to analyse the implementation of Arduino, as well as the benefits and opportunities it brings to secondary school students. For this purpose, documentary research has been undertaken applying a systematic review according to the PRISMA 2020 framework following the PiCoS strategy...

Water scarcity threatens agriculture and food security in arid regions like Saudi Arabia. The nation produces significant quantities of municipal wastewater, which, with adequate treatment, could serve as an alternative water source for irrigation, thereby reducing reliance on fossil and non-renewable groundwater. This study assessed the appropriateness of using treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in a dry coastal agricultural region in Eastern Saudi Arabia and its impact on groundwater resources. Field investigations were conducted in Qatif to collect water samples and field measurements...

This study examines the complementarity effect of combining different types of environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) practices on firm innovation. We apply the complementarity approach to test whether the adoption of different ECSR practices (i.e. practices for fewer materials per unit produced [materials], less energy per unit produced [energy], or decreasing environmental impact [impact]) generates super-additive effects on firms' innovation, measured by innovations type: adoption, new-to-the-market, and new-to-the-firm innovation...

PURPOSE: To examine whether image processing of non-mydriatic DRI Triton SS-OCT (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) using the red free filter could assess the presence of choroidal nodules and thus include their detection as a diagnostic criterion in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 417 eyes from 210 patients, 377 - from 190 patients diagnosed with NF1 according to the criteria established by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference (NIH) and 40 from 20 healthy patients as a control group...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to examine the emotional, behavioral problems, and psychiatric symptoms of children diagnosed with Graves' disease (GD), to assess their quality of life, and to compare with control group. METHODS: The research was planned as a cross-sectional study and included 16 patients with GD (13 female and three male) and 29 healthy children for control group (19 female and 10 male). Sociodemographic form, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child Version (RCADS-CV), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), and Affective Reactivity Index scale were applied to the children and their families...

Enzymes catalyze almost all material conversion processes within living organisms, yet their natural evolution remains unobserved. Short peptides, derived from proteins and featuring active sites, have emerged as promising building blocks for constructing bioactive supramolecular materials that mimic native proteins through self-assembly. Herein, we employ histidine-containing isomeric tetrapeptides KHFF, HKFF, KFHF, HFKF, FKHF, and FHKF to craft supramolecular self-assemblies, aiming to explore the sequence-activity landscapes of enzyme evolution...

Multimedia is extensively used for educational purposes. However, certain types of multimedia lack proper design, which could impose a cognitive load on the user. Therefore, it is essential to predict cognitive load and understand how it impairs brain functioning. Participants watched a version of educational multimedia that applied Mayer's principles, followed by a version that did not. Meanwhile, their electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. Subsequently, they participated in a post-test and completed a self-reported cognitive load questionnaire...

Immunization is a straightforward concept but remains for some pathogens like HIV-1 a challenge. Thus, new approaches towards increasing the efficacy of vaccines are required to turn the tide. There is increasing evidence that antigen exposure over several days to weeks induces a much stronger and more sustained immune response compared to traditional bolus injection, which usually leads to antigen elimination from the body within a couple of days. Therefore, we developed a poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) hydrogel platform to investigate the principal feasibility of a sustained release of antigens to mimic natural infection kinetics...

BACKGROUND: Applying proper first-aid measures to patients with seizure episodes plays a vital role in preventing the adverse consequences of seizures. Most previous data focused on teachers, healthcare providers and the general public. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of seizure first-aid measures among undergraduate health students. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between May 16 and 31, 2023, with 493 undergraduate health students of Riyadh Province who answered online surveys...

The global trend toward sustainable development, coupled with growing concerns about environmental pollution and the depletion of fossil energy resources, has contributed to the widespread implementation of biopolymers (BPs) as bio-solutions for geo-infrastructures stabilization. In this respect, previous attempts proved that soil treatment with BP can guarantee the strength improvement of geo-materials by satisfying environmental standards. However, the applications, mechanisms, and interactions of BPs within geo-environments need more investigations on their suitability for specific sites, long-term durability, and economic viability...

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive brain stimulation is considered as a promising technology for treating patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Various approaches and protocols have been proposed; however, few of them have shown potential effects on patients with vegetative state (VS). This study aimed to explore the neuro-modulation effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on the brains of patients with VS and to provide a pilot investigation into its possible role in treating such patients...

Heat waves pose a substantial and increasing risk to public health. Heat health early warning systems (HHEWSs) and response plans are increasingly being adopted to alert people to the health risks posed by days of extreme heat and recommend protective behaviors. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of HHEWSs remains limited. We examined the impact of heat wave naming on heat-related beliefs and behaviors to ascertain the potential effectiveness of heat wave naming as a heat health risk communication and management tool...

The properties of the Cu/SiO2 interface usually deteriorate in the complex atmospheric environment, which may limit its performance and application in the engineering. Using the reactive molecular dynamics method, we investigate how the mechanical behaviors of the Cu/SiO2 interface change as it interacts with oxygen impurities. The interfacial oxidation degree could be enhanced as O2 penetrates into the interface area. This makes the interfacial structure disordered and is not conducive to the survival of Cu-O-Si bondings, which reduces the tensile and shear strengths of the interface...

Dirac semimetals have demonstrated significant attraction in the field of optoelectronics due to their unique bandgap structure and high carrier mobility. Combining them with classical semiconductor materials to form heterojunctions enables broadband optoelectronic conversion at room temperature. However, the low light absorption of layered Dirac semimetals substantially limits the device's responsivity in the infrared band. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) heterostructure, composed of silicon nanopillars (SiNPs) and a conformal PtTe2 film, is proposed and demonstrated to enhance the photoresponsivity for uncooled broadband detection...

This study investigates local stability of a four-link limit cycle walking biped with flat feet and compliant ankle joints. Local stability represents the behavior along the solution trajectory between Poincare sections, which can provide detailed information about the evolution of disturbances. The effects of ankle stiffness and foot structure on local stability are studied. In addition, we apply a control strategy based on local stability analysis to the limit cycle walker. Control is applied only in the phases with poor local stability...

In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), defects in the interface and mismatched energy levels can damage the device performance. Improving the interface quality is an effective way to achieve efficient and stable PSCs. In this work, a multifunctional dye molecule, named ThPCyAc, was designed and synthesized to be introduced in the perovskite/HTM interface. On one hand, various functional groups on the acceptor unit can act as Lewis base to reduce defect density and suppress nonradiative combinations. On the other hand, the stepwise energy-level alignment caused by ThPCyAc decreases the accumulation of interface carriers for facilitating charge extraction and transmission...

Central and peripheral giant cell granulomas are benign entities mostly seen in mandibular anterior region at female individuals, usually with observed recurrence. Their etiology is still unclear, as is the optimal method for treating them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, treatment methods, recurrence rates, and initial and definitive correlation of central and peripheral giant cell granulomas. Patients who were referred to our clinic between 2013 and 2023 and who had the lesions' definitive diagnosis as "central giant cell granuloma" (CGCG) or "peripheral giant cell granuloma" (PGCG) were included in the study...

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke seizure (PSS) is a common considerable complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Early risk assessment can clinical practitioners to plan effective prevention and management. We aimed to determine whether assessing Diffusion-Weighted Imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (DWI-ASPECTS), and neutrophil indices allows for identifying patients at risk of PSS. METHODS: This prospective study included AIS patients with cortical involvement admitted to a single academic center between January 2020 to October 2023...