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There has been a rapid rise in nicotine pouch sales in Pakistan. One brand, Velo, dominates the market. No study has explored how adolescents view this product. We conducted 16 focus groups with 10-16-year-olds (n = 113) between October 2023 and April 2024. Groups were segmented by sex and school-going status (in school, out-of-school) to explore perceptions of Velo. Participants' use of nicotine products was not recorded at recruitment. Participants were from all four provinces of Pakistan and the federal capital, Islamabad. Groups lasted between 60 and 80 minutes. We identified four themes: (1) Exposure: Participants reported exposure to nicotine pouches displayed at the point-of-sale, and through peers and social media. (2) Accessibility: Velo was perceived as easily accessible, as participants did not feel that the shopkeepers would refuse purchase. (3) Appeal: Velo was considered stylish and a luxury product, a modern alternative to traditional smokeless tobacco. Appeal was shaped by the packaging, discrete use, display at point-of-sale, and social media. (4) Harm: Some participants considered Velo harmful, mentioning addiction, vomiting, and headaches; and potentially as hazardous as cigarettes. For others, it was safer than tobacco, given that the packaging resembled confectionery and had no health warnings to indicate the products were harmful. Our findings suggest that regulating nicotine pouches to reduce adolescent exposure and perceived accessibility could help reduce product appeal. Research is needed on the health effects of nicotine pouches on adolescents. The study highlights adolescents' exposure to Velo, its easy accessibility, and its appeal as a stylish, modern alternative to traditional smokeless tobacco. Velo packs had no health warnings, contributing to the perception that they are safe. Our findings can potentially guide regulatory measures to restrict adolescent access to nicotine pouches, including age restrictions, point-of-sale regulations, and the introduction of health warnings.

Transcription factors play essential roles modulating gene expression during plant development and the adaptation to environmental cues through the control of morphogenetic programs. In the root nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, two coordinated morphogenetic programs are activated by the perception of bacterial signals: the organogenesis of the nodule, a lateral root organ specialized in nitrogen fixation, and the infection process that allows the bacteria to colonize the nodule. These programs are influenced by the action of phytohormones, mainly auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, gibberellin, and brassinosteroid, which act modulating the activity of different families of transcription factors. In the past years, significant advancements have been made in understanding how transcription factors of the NIN (Nodule Inception), GRAS (GIBBERELLIN-ACID INSENSITIVE (GAI), REPRESSOR of GA1 (RGA), and SCARECROW (SCR)), ERF (Ethylene Response Factor), ARF (Auxin Response Factor), LBD (Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain), and SHI/STY (SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH) families function at different developmental stages of bacterial infection and nodule formation and differentiation. Here, we review recent advances of this hormonal-mediated modulation of transcription factors with key roles in the root nodule symbiosis and their evolutionary origin from other developmental programs, as well as their post-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs. We also provide a perspective on how epigenomic approaches can shed light on how these transcription factors influence chromatin remodeling at loci containing key symbiotic genes.

Thorns are modified branches that have evolved independently multiple times as defenses against herbivores. We previously identified the TCP transcription factors THORN IDENTITY1 (TI1) and TI2 as key regulators of thorn development in Citrus; however, how these genes are regulated remains unclear. In this study, using comparative transcriptomics, we identified TI3, encoding a SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH (SHI/STY) family transcription factor that is specifically expressed in thorns. We found that TI3 binds to a previously undefined CTAG core element in the promoters of TI1 and TI2, activating their expression to promote stem cell arrest in the thorn meristem. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated disruption of TI3 function converted thorns into branches. Conversely, the PEBP family protein CsCENTRORADIALIS (CsCEN) represses TI3 expression in the axillary meristem to maintain stem cell activity and promote branch development. Mutations in CsCEN resulted in branch-to-thorn conversions, whereas cscen ti3 double mutants exhibited the ti3 mutant phenotype, supporting the idea that CsCEN regulates TI3 expression. The thorn-specific expression pattern of TI3 homologs across three Rutaceae species suggests that TI3 might have a conserved role in thorn development. Thus, TI3 represents a new regulator of meristem identity, and manipulating its activity is a promising approach for breeding thornless cultivars.

Purpose: Wheelchairs should support not only safe and intuitive navigation but also positive social presence without reinforcing disability-related stereotypes. This study introduces a user-centred external communication framework (ECF) to guide the design of wheelchair external human-machine interfaces and their perceptual dimensions.Materials and methods: A two-phase mixed-methods approach was employed. In phase 1, focus groups with wheelchair users (WUs) and domain experts identified four key themes through thematic analysis. In phase 2, WUs evaluated multiple wheelchair designs, and their socio-emotional responses were analysed using principal component (PC) analysis.Results: In developing the ECF, phase 1 identified four themes - Streamlined Information in Interaction; User-Centric Safety Feedback; Harmonious & Minimalist Interaction Design; and Effortless Integration & Production - which form the foundational layer addressing functional and interactional requirements. In phase 2, PCs were positioned as second-layer perceptual elements, with the first three explaining over 70% of the variance. Manual wheelchairs were associated with Safety, Stability and Comfort, whereas powered designs emphasised Independence, Trustworthiness and Futuristic design; Communicative and Stylish qualities were valued across both.Conclusion: Although not mechanically functional, these PCs exert a circular influence by shaping user perceptions before interaction. Applying the ECF in wheelchair development can potentially improve wheelchair acceptance, sustained use and social presence. Enhancing wheelchair use in rehabilitation requires integrating safety, interactional factors and perceptual dimensions into wheelchair design and prescription.Rehabilitation professionals can use perceptual dimensions identified in the ECF to guide user-centred wheelchair selection and customisation.Addressing external communication and first impressions may improve wheelchair acceptance, long-term use and social presence.

In medical imaging, segmentation is a critical task for analysis and diagnosis. Deep learning-based segmentation has been actively studied and has shown remarkable performance. Building high-accuracy segmentation models requires a large amount of high-quality labeled data, but the cost of collecting such data is extremely high in medical imaging. In ultrasound imaging, the differences in image features depending on the equipment are significantly greater compared to other medical imaging modalities. Consequently, models need to be trained for each specific device, which entails substantial costs and time, leading to various practical challenges. To address these challenges, we propose a robust and accurate segmentation network that can operate independently of the ultrasound equipment. We integrated the Deep Frequency Filtering (DFF) module into a U-Net-based model. The proposed model retains the U-Net's encoder-decoder structure but applies frequency filtering within the latent space of each encoder layer, enabling adaptive selection of frequency components for breast tumor detection. Moreover, batch normalization was replaced with instance normalization to remove stylish features. We evaluated the model using three public datasets acquired from different scanners, achieving superior performance on unseen testing datasets compared to existing models. Notably, when tested on the unseen BUS-BRA dataset, DAUS-Net achieved a Dice score of 0.76, compared to 0.61 by the conventional U-Net. This improvement is attributed to the synergy between the DFF module and instance normalization. Our results demonstrate that the proposed model consistently detects and segments breast tumors, highlighting its potential for generalized clinical segmentation task. The source code for implementing DAUS-Net is publicly available at https://github.com/shlee8638/DAUS-Net.

Color plays a pivotal role in product design, as it can evoke emotional responses from users. Understanding these emotional needs is crucial for effective brand image design. This paper introduces a novel approach, the Brand Image Design using Deep Multi-Scale Fusion Neural Network optimized with Cheetah Optimization Algorithm (BID-DMSFNN-COA), for classifying product color brand images as "Stylish" and "Natural". By leveraging deep learning techniques and optimization algorithms, the proposed method aims to enhance brand image accuracy and address existing challenges in product color trend forecasting research. Initially, data are collected from the Mnist Data Set. The data are then supplied into the pre-processing section. In the pre-processing segment, it removes the noise and enhances the input image utilizing master slave adaptive notch filter. The Deep Multi-Scale Fusion Neural Network optimized with cheetah optimization algorithm effectively classifies the product colour brand image as "Stylish" and "Natural". Implemented on the MATLAB platform, the BID-DMSFNN-COA technique achieves remarkable accuracy rates of 99 % for both "Natural" and "Stylish" classifications. In comparison, existing methods such as BID-GNN, BID-ANN, and BID-CNN yield lower accuracy rates ranging from 65 % to 85 % for "Stylish" and 65 %-70 % for "Natural" product color brand image design. The simulation outcomes reveal the superior performance of the BID-DMSFNN-COA technique across various metrics including accuracy, F-score, precision, recall, sensitivity, specificity, and ROC analysis. Notably, the proposed method consistently outperforms existing approaches, providing higher values across all evaluation criteria. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the BID-DMSFNN-COA technique in enhancing brand image design through accurate product color classification.

ObjectiveThis study investigated how user characteristics and driving context influence auditory experiences (AX) in electric vehicles (EVs), identifying distinct user types and their specific auditory needs and evaluation.BackgroundElectric vehicles (EVs) present unique opportunities for designing auditory experiences (AX) due to their quiet operation characteristics and acoustic vehicle alert systems (AVAS).MethodForty participants conducted real-driving experiments with an EV, experiencing sounds at low, medium, and high speeds. We applied systematic analysis combining topic modeling (BERTopic) and qualitative coding of think-aloud interviews and statistical analysis of questionnaire responses.ResultsFour user types were segmented by attitude (Dynamic vs. Conservative) and car type (EV vs. ICV owners). Text analysis revealed varying frequencies of concerns across user types regarding driving contexts, functional aspects, and affective aspects of AX. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among user types in sporty preferences and perceptions of affective properties (Sporty, Stylish, Comfort, and Calm). Driving contexts significantly influenced perceived Stylish and Calm characteristics.ConclusionThis study provides empirical evidence and design implications for customized AX in EVs design based on user characteristics and driving contexts.ApplicationThe findings can guide the development of personalized AX systems in EVs, enhancing both user satisfaction and safety through context-aware and user-centered design approaches.

Communication is the cornerstone of human connection, impacting everything from our personal relationships to our professional success. This concept became heartbreakingly real for me when I was diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 25. The rapid decline of my speech left me feeling all alone and isolated. After experimenting with AAC options, I yearned for a system that was lightweight, portable and stylish. This sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, leading me to assemble components catering to my diverse interests and professional pursuits. Over the years, I have built multiple AAC systems using different hardware platforms. Currently, I am focused on integrating emotional expression and faster communication speeds into AAC technology. Artificial intelligence, multi-modal inputs and non-invasive brain-computer interfaces hold immense potential for people who use AAC. Building my communication tools has revealed profound truths about living life to the fullest, accepting complete responsibility for our lives and embracing the good, the bad and the ugly. Through innovation and resilience, I have discovered infinite possibilities and I continue to use AAC to work miracles in my own life.

For obesity management to be effective, one must appreciate its causes and consequences. To do so, the seemingly complex science of obesity must be made simpler. A model which helps us explain its causes, contributory factors, as well as potential corrective measures, is needed. We share the 4BE winged quincunx model of obesity etiopathogenesis. Four central players - the Brain, Bowel, Beta/alpha cell and Bulk (adipose tissue)- form a causative quadruple, with four wings- Environmental determinants, Endocrine factors, Enteric microbiome and Extraneous limitations. The centre of the quincunx is occupied, in a stylish manner, by the ABC of weight management: Attitude, Behaviour and Choices. The 4BE concept makes it easy for health care professionals to understand, and explain, obesity.

New energy vehicles (NEVs) demand dashboard interfaces that not only present critical driving information but also evoke positive user emotions to enhance satisfaction and safety. This study develops a structured framework that integrates the Entropy Weight Method (EWM) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to embed emotion-driven requirements into NEV dashboard design. 56 Kansei words were collected through an online survey (n = 300) and prioritized to 15 through experts interviews. An anonymous online questionnaire (n = 101, 98 valid responses) collected adult drivers' emotional perceptions across 15 descriptive adjectives. Exploratory factor analysis distilled these descriptors into four principal dimensions: Pleasant, Technological, Stylish, and Minimalist. Entropy weight calculation quantified the relative importance of each dimension, revealing Pleasantness as the highest-priority factor. The QFD process then translated these weighted emotional dimensions into specific design attributes, including optimal color contrast ratios, iconography style guidelines, typography choices, and interface layout coherence. Prototype dashboards developed according to this schema were evaluated in a pilot study, demonstrating strong congruence between user-prioritized emotions and perceived design quality. This framework offers a replicable, data-driven method for systematically aligning emotional user needs with interface design parameters in NEVs, thereby providing actionable guidance for designers aiming to improve user experience through emotion-driven dashboard development.

Despite clinical evidence for efficacy, there has been minimal uptake of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for musculoskeletal conditions. Thus, our objective was to explore the perceptions and experiences of people living with lower-limb musculoskeletal injury as well as healthy physically active populations and relate this to the usage of tDCS and key aspects of tDCS design that would improve the capacity for implementation. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of 16 participants (44% women) using semi-structured focus groups to identify the descriptions and experiences of people living with lower-limb musculoskeletal injury and healthy physically active populations. A thematic template was used to create a coding structure. Codes were then grouped, and key themes were derived from the data. Four primary themes were identified from focus groups. These were (i) the impact of musculoskeletal injuries on health and quality of life, (ii) performance and injury recovery as facilitators to using tDCS, (iii) barriers and facilitators to tCDS application and (iv) design and aesthetic factors for a tDCS device. Our qualitative descriptive study identified four themes relevant to the successful implementation of tDCS into rehabilitative and performance practice. To increase the likelihood of successful tDCS implementation, these barriers should be addressed and facilitators promoted. This should include innovative approaches to device application and structure that allow for a stylish, user-friendly design.

While automobiles are required to become more energy efficient, it is also necessary for automotive headlight systems to become lighter in weight, thus allowing for more power efficiency. In addition to this, the concept cars of respective automobile manufacturers have come to feature thin-design headlight systems, suggesting that consumers are demanding highly stylish automobiles. Therefore, the author has devised and developed the "RIR optical system" as a new headlight system, to our knowledge, that is thin in design and with a lens height of 20 mm all the while consuming less power.

Seamlessly fusing fashion and functionality can redefine wearable technology and enhance the quality of life. We propose a pocketable and smart electrohydrodynamic pump (PSEP) with self-sensing capability for wearable thermal controls. Overcoming the constraints of traditional liquid-cooled wearables, PSEP with dimensions of 10 × 2 × 1.05 cm and a weight of 10 g is sufficiently compact to fit into a shirt pocket, providing stylish and unobtrusive thermal control. Silent operation coupled with the unique self-sensing ability to monitor the flow rate ensures system reliability without cumbersome additional components. The significant contribution of our study is the formulation and validation of a theoretical model for self-sensing in EHD pumps, thereby introducing an innovative functionality to EHD pump technology. PSEP can deliver temperature changes of up to 3 °C, considerably improving personal comfort. Additionally, the PSEP system features an intuitive, smartphone-compatible interface for seamless wireless control and monitoring, enhancing user interaction and convenience. Furthermore, the ability to detect and notify users of flow blockages, achieved by self-sensing, ensures an efficient and long-term operation. Through its blend of compact design, intelligent functionality, and stylish integration into daily wear, PSEP reshapes the landscape of wearable thermal control technology and offers a promising avenue for enhancing personal comfort in daily life.