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Dual-mode E-band mixer for 6G mmWave front-ends: simple structure with reconfigurable PT/resistive operation for optimized gain and linearity
No full textA dual-mode E-band mixer with a novel yet simple FET-based structure is designed and simulated using a 100 nm pHEMT PH10 process. The mixer employs a switchable impedance network and reconfigurable DC biasing to enable two distinct operational modes: a pump transconductance (PT) mode for higher conversion gain and a resistive mode for enhanced linearity. The results show that the mixer achieves a conversion gain of -4.2 dB in PT mode and -15.9 dB in resistive mode. In PT mode, with a 5 dBm LO drive, the input third-order intercept point (IIP3) is 1 dBm, and the input 1-dB compression point (IP1dB) is -4 dBm. In resistive mode, with a 2.6 dBm LO drive, the mixer achieves an IIP3 of 6 dBm and an IP1dB of 4 dBm. These results highlight the potential of the proposed design for 6G mmWave front-ends that require dynamic performance optimisation, such as balancing the trade-off between gain and linearity
From In-Role to Extra-Role: Beneficiary-Specific Impact Perceptions in Workplace Pro-Environmental Spillover
No full textResearch into spillover of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) has surged due to its cost-effective potential to enhance environmental policy and intervention implementation. We extend this work by moving beyond the traditional environmentally focused mechanism and, instead, recognizing the dual nature of in-role PEBs. Drawing on altruism and prosocial theories, we propose that in-role PEB leads to both perceived environmental impact and perceived organizational impact, each driving different spillover patterns from in-role to extra-role PEB. Specifically, when employees perceive that in-role PEBs help the environment, positive spillover to subsequent extra-role PEB occurs; however, when employees perceive that in-role PEBs help the organization, there will be a curvilinear (U-shape) relationship to subsequent extra-role PEBs. Data from 311 employees, collected via an online survey through Prolific across three waves, support these hypotheses. By uncovering distinct spillover patterns tied to perceived impacts on different beneficiaries, this study emphasizes the importance of perceived prosocial impact and provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the PEB spillover effect beyond environment-relevant factors
Relationships between heritable dementia risk factors, cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood, and midlife neuropsychological outcomes
No full textBackground
Selected cardiovascular factors, APOE4 carriership, and family history (FH) are robust risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While cardiovascular risk tends to affect cognition from midlife, it remains unclear whether heritable risk predicts cardiovascular health in young adulthood and midlife, and whether young-adult cardiovascular health predicts midlife cognition.
Objective
We sought to examine how heritable dementia risk relates to cardiovascular health and how these cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood predict midlife brain volumes and cognition.
Methods
We used data from the CARDIA study, which followed 5115 individuals aged 18-30 at baseline over 30 years. Analyses focused on 2808 participants (Mean age = 60, SD = 3.58) who attended the 30-year visit. We examined associations between APOE4 and FH with baseline and 30-year follow-up measures of cardiovascular risk factors (LDL-C, HDL-C, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), smoking), cognition, and brain volumes.
Results
APOE4 carriers with FH had higher LDL-C and lower HDL-C levels as early as young adulthood, persisting into midlife. BMI and smoking were the only cardiovascular risk factors from young adulthood that predicted midlife cognition. There was no association between young adult cardiovascular risk factors and midlife brain volumes, but those with heritable dementia risk had larger brain volumes in regions vulnerable to midlife atrophy.
Conclusions
APOE4 carriership was associated with an unfavourable lipid profile that started in early adulthood and persisted to later life. Early cardiovascular risk was also associated with midlife cognition, which is earlier than studies typically focusing on later-life cognition
A manifesto for plant science education
Get PDFSocietal Impact Statement
Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists and plant-aware individuals. This manifesto provides a practical evidence-based vision to strengthen plant science education, focused on five strategic priorities. It is relevant to all stakeholders within plant science and beyond: from frontline educators to institutional leaders; from commercial or charitable professionals to entrepreneurs and donors; from individual community members to their legislative representatives. Strengthening plant science education demands concrete actions from all stakeholders, ultimately to the benefit of us all.
Summary
Plant science education needs urgent attention. Skilled plant scientists are needed to address major environmental and societal challenges, and global communities require plant-aware professionals to drive impactful policy, research and environmental stewardship. This manifesto was collaboratively generated by a community of educators who gathered to reflect on the state of plant science education. The forward-facing document provides a clear strategy for plant science education, complementing existing research strategies. Five themes were identified as essential for meeting the evolving needs of plant science, educators and learners: (i) plants must be at the centre of an education that addresses global challenges and societal values; (ii) plant science education must prepare students for their futures using bold and effective pedagogies; (iii) equity, diversity and inclusion must be robustly embedded in educational practices; (iv) local and strategic partnerships (with industry and beyond) are required to strengthen academic education; and (v) plant science educators need resources and opportunities to develop and connect. The manifesto is intended as a framework for change. Educators, funders, publishers, industry representatives, policymakers and all other members of our communities must commit to sustained investment in plant science education. By proactively and collectively embracing the recommendations provided, the sector has an opportunity to cultivate a new generation equipped with the knowledge, skills and passion to unlock the full potential of photosynthetic organisms
Bayesian optimisation for sensor scheduling and tracking with different acquisition functions
No full textJoint target tracking and sensor scheduling includes resource optimisation and gathering the most informative data for purposes such as search and rescue, fire detection and surveillance tasks. For such real-time tasks, the limited access to initial tracking data can challenge the effectiveness of traditional machine learning methods, thereby motivating the development of active sensing strategies. This paper addresses such problems and formulates the joint target tracking and sensor scheduling problems within a Bayesian optimisation framework. The key question that this framework answers is: where to position the sensors in order to accurately track an object. In the considered case study, the sensors are mobile and represented by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). The active sensing of the environment is based on uncertainty-guided sampling thanks to a Gaussian process representation. The main novelty lies in the formulation of the sensor scheduling and tracking within a Bayesian optimisation setting. Under this framework, a detailed comparison of different acquisition functions is carried out, to identify the most suitable solutions for an active sensing problem. Results with respect to accuracy and computational time are reported
Comparative assessment of SF-6D health state preferences among Lebanese population pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFObjectives: Lebanon’s socio-economic situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years, a decline further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This multifaceted crisis may have shaped how individuals perceive and value different health states. The primary objective of this study was to assess and compare health state preferences of the general Lebanese population before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the SF-6D measure. A secondary objective was to identify key predictors of these preferences,
including sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted before and after the pandemic. A total of 249 SF-6D–defined health states were valued by 577 participants from the general population using standard gamble. Independent-samples t-tests and chi-square analyses examined differences in characteristics, while linear
regression models identified predictors of SF-6D utility scores.
Results: Data from 553 eligible respondents provided 3,308 valuations: 1,813 from 303 respondents preCOVID (July–October 2019) and 1,495 from 250 respondents post-COVID (February–July 2022). Results showed a significant shift in health state preferences post-COVID, with higher mean utility scores (preCOVID: 0.646±0.284; post-COVID: 0.719±0.258). Multiple regression analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic and health state dimensions, identified time (pre/post-COVID) (B=0.070; p<.001),
number of children ≤14 (B=-0.017; p<.001), educational (B=0.006; p=.039), smoking (B=-0.006; p<.001), and health conditions like asthma (B=0.028; p=.024) and liver problems (B=0.055; p=.006) as significant predictors.
Conclusion: This study highlights important shifts in health state preferences in Lebanon post-COVID. The influence of family burden and lifestyle factors on valuations has implications for public health policy, particularly when relying on pre-pandemic data
CT scoring system to defined thrombus distribution in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Get PDFObjectives
Characterization of thrombus is important for guiding treatment in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This study presents a novel scoring system for visual assessment of CTEPH on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), incorporating both disease location and extent to determine the impact on survival outcomes.
Methods
Patients with CTEPH were identified retrospectively from the Assessing the Spectrum of Pulmonary Hypertension Identified at a Referral Centre registry. The scoring system emphasizes disease based on their predominant location as central, segmental, and distal disease. Survival analysis was conducted using Cox-regression and Kaplan–Meier survival curves.
Results
A total of 208 patients with CTEPH were included (mean age 66 ± 13.6 years, 52.4% female). Mosaic perfusion and infarction were commonly seen in patients with distal disease (92% and 88%). Patients with central and distal disease had more severe pulmonary hemodynamics and lower gas transfer (TLCO) than patients with segmental disease. Central and distal disease showed similar survival, whereas survival was worse in central compared to segmental disease for all patients (P < .001), including those undergoing (P < .04) and not undergoing endarterectomy (P < .001). Central disease was an independent predictor of mortality in those not undergoing endarterectomy (hazard ratio 1.9, P < .01).
Conclusions
Our scoring system showed excellent interobserver agreement. Thromboembolic disease location was shown to be a predictor of mortality, with central disease independently associated with shorter survival in patients not undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy.
Advances in knowledge
This is a novel scoring system for characterizing CTEPH on CTPA, considering disease location and extent. It provides disease location as a predictor of survival, introducing a new framework for patient stratification and clinical decision-making
Complex mental health difficulties: a mixed methods study in primary care
Get PDFBackground Complex Mental Health Difficulties (CMHD) describes long-term difficulties with emotional regulation and relationships, including personality disorders, complex trauma and dysthymia. People with CMHD often experience episodic and crisis-related care. Aim To understand how general practices can better recognise people with CMHDs and provide the best care. Design and Setting A concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted with three components: two qualitative studies and a database study. Methods PPIE People with lived experience of CMHD were consulted throughout the study. Qualitative interviews with GPs and people with CMHD were conducted and transcripts analysed using thematic analysis. Database study A retrospective case-control analysis was conducted using the Connected Bradford database. Integration of results was conducted using ‘following the thread’ and triangulation methods. Results GP interviews: Four overarching themes were identified: (1) The challenges of CMHD; (2) Role expectations; (3) Fragmented communication, fragmented care; (4) Treatment in the primary care context. Lived experience interviews: Four main themes were identified: (1) “How I got here”; (2) Varied care experiences; (3) Traversing mental health services; (4) “Being Seen”. Database study: Approximately 3,040 (0.3% of the database population) records met our criteria for CMHD, suggesting significant under-coding. The most informative feature was the count of unique psychiatric diagnoses. Triangulation: Five meta-themes were identified (i) Complexity of mental health difficulties; (ii) Experience of trauma; (iii) Diagnosis; (iv) Specialist services; and (v) GP services. Conclusion The current organisation of care and lack of an acceptable language for CMHD means that patients’ needs continue to go unrecognised and “unseen
Audacious claims and affirming negotiation:the deliberative potential of myth
No full textDeliberative democrats have long recognised the value of personal storytelling in deliberation. I add to this work by showing how traditional storytelling – as a live, interactive practice – provides a generative response to the challenge of unequal power dynamics in deliberation. In this article, I set out a series of original proposals about how deliberative engagement with politically salient myth can be used to navigate locally specific power dynamics. First, the ambiguity of myth creates space for imagining together, to prompt and give each other permission to articulate new understandings and possibilities. Secondly, the symbolic nature of myth can lower the stakes of risky conversations, enabling those with less power to maintain personal distance from the (audacious) claims they make. Thirdly, the malleable nature of myth can facilitate affirming negotiation, enabling participants to navigate the tension between their commitment to a given political community and their desire for that community to change. This is most clearly demonstrated by looking at how storytelling plays out in specific socio-political contexts: my proposals are grounded in participatory and ethnographic research in Uganda, drawing on a session led by prominent Ugandan poet Susan Kiguli working with the Ganda sovereignty myth Nambi and Kintu
Emotion recognition in people with Huntington's disease: A comprehensive systematic review
No full textBackground
Deficits of emotion recognition have received increasing attention in people with Huntington's disease (HD) in the three decades since the discovery of the HD gene. However, the characterisation of such deficits across different disease stages, types of stimuli, and sensory modalities is currently unclear.
Objective
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the evidence on emotion recognition deficits in HD gene carriers (both manifest and premanifest) over the three decades since definitive gene testing.
Method
A systematic review was carried out from January 1993 to January 2025 across MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and CINAHL (PROSPERO registration: CRD42023398649).
Results
From 9735 initial citations, 59 studies were eventually included. In manifest HD, facial recognition of negative emotions such as anger, fear, disgust, and sadness was consistently impaired, whereas happiness and neutral expressions were generally spared. A few auditory studies showed consistent deficits for disgust, fear, and anger, while happiness and sadness appeared less affected. Only preliminary evidence is currently available for deficits involving body language, visual and written vignettes, videos, and olfactory and gustatory tasks. Although sparser, the evidence for premanifest HD suggests that some individuals may develop significant recognition difficulties prior to motor onset, particularly due to early frontostriatal deterioration and white matter disruption.
Conclusions
Impairments of facial recognition of negative emotions are reported consistently in manifest HD, while only preliminary results are available for other modalities. The evidence involving premanifest HD is much sparser. Key implications for clinical practice and future research are outlined and discussed
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