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Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin infections in the U.S., and its rapid evolution and resistance to antibiotics create a barrier to effective treatment. In this study, we engineered a composite membrane with bacterial cellulose and carbon nanotubes (BC-CNT) as an electroactive dressing to rapidly eradicate vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus. Nonpathogenic Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans produced the BC membrane at an air-liquid interface. Then, carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled CNTs were integrated into decellularized BC to create stable and electrically conductive BC-CNT dressings. The electric potential and ionic flux across BC-CNT were modeled and standardized via chronoamperometry for experimental validation. We found that treatment with electroactive BC-CNT increases S. aureus sensitivity to vancomycin and prevents macro-scale biofilm formation. The bactericidal efficacy of the composite membrane is consistent with electrochemical stress caused by voltage mediated with BC-CNT. After a single hour of combinatorial electrical and drug treatment, biofilm-forming capacity was inhibited by nearly 92 %. These results advance applications of electrochemistry in medicine and create a new direction to overcome S. aureus infections on skin and soft tissues. 

Abstract This study explores the intersection of Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities and driving performance among novice drivers, with a focus on autistic individuals. The purpose is to investigate how ToM deficits may impact driving behaviors and decision-making, ultimately informing the development of tailored interventions and training programs for autistic drivers. We conducted a series of driving simulations using a custom-built driving simulator, capturing multimodal data including driving performance metrics, attention allocation, and physiological responses. Participants were categorized based on NEPSY scores, which assess ToM abilities, and self-reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Driving tasks were designed to simulate real-world scenarios, particularly focusing on intersections and merging, where ToM skills are crucial for safe navigation. Our analysis revealed differences in driving behaviors among participants with varying ToM abilities as determined through the NEPSY. Participants with lower NEPSY scores exhibited less smooth driving behaviors, increased risk-taking tendencies, and differences in attention allocation compared to those with higher scores. Alternatively, individuals with ASD displayed comparable driving patterns overall. ToM abilities influence driving behaviors and decision-making, particularly in complex social driving scenarios. Tailored interventions addressing ToM deficits and stress management could improve driving safety and accessibility for autistic individuals. This study underscores the importance of considering social cognitive factors in driving education and licensure pathways, aiming for greater inclusivity and accessibility in transportation systems. 

Abstract Although the “eye-mind link” hypothesis posits that eye movements provide a direct window into cognitive processing, linking eye movements to specific cognitions in real-world settings remains challenging. This challenge may arise because gaze metrics such as fixation duration, pupil size, and saccade amplitude are often aggregated across timelines that include heterogeneous events. To address this, we tested whether aggregating gaze parameters across participant-defined events could support the hypothesis that increased focal processing, indicated by greater gaze duration and pupil diameter, and decreased scene exploration, indicated by smaller saccade amplitude, would predict effective task performance. Using head-mounted eye trackers, nursing students engaged in simulation learning and later segmented their simulation footage into meaningful events, categorizing their behaviors, task outcomes, and cognitive states at the event level. Increased fixation duration and pupil diameter predicted higher student-rated teamwork quality, while increased pupil diameter predicted judgments of effective communication. Additionally, increased saccade amplitude positively predicted students’ perceived self-efficacy. These relationships did not vary across event types, and gaze parameters did not differ significantly between the beginning, middle, and end of events. However, there was a significant increase in fixation duration during the first five seconds of an event compared to the last five seconds of the previous event, suggesting an initial encoding phase at an event boundary. In conclusion, event-level gaze parameters serve as valid indicators of focal processing and scene exploration in natural learning environments, generalizing across event types. 

Abstract The semiconductor tracker (SCT) is one of the tracking systems for charged particles in the ATLAS detector. It consists of 4088 silicon strip sensor modules.During Run 2 (2015–2018) the Large Hadron Collider delivered an integrated luminosity of 156 fb -1 to the ATLAS experiment at a centre-of-mass proton-proton collision energy of 13 TeV. The instantaneous luminosity and pile-up conditions were far in excess of those assumed in the original design of the SCT detector.Due to improvements to the data acquisition system, the SCT operated stably throughout Run 2.It was available for 99.9% of the integrated luminosity and achieved a data-quality efficiency of 99.85%.Detailed studies have been made of the leakage current in SCT modules and the evolution of the full depletion voltage, which are used to study the impact of radiation damage to the modules.