bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Mustadi Yapan Bastiand Baladi Yapan Basti in the Management of Oligozoospermia-Study Protocol
Authors: Ahire Abhijit Murlidharrao , Parwe Shweta , Nisargandha Milind
Published: June 2021

Background: Nowadays most upcoming disease that affecting 8 to 12% of the world population is Infertility.The affected area of this problem have no bar irrespective of metro cities as well as small towns population..Modern treatment with steroids and other medication and interventions shows limited results.Bastichikitsa itself is the best remedies explained in Ayurved text for the treatment of ksheenshukra.Yapan Basti in Ayurveda is known for its action as balya, i.e. giving strength to the sharirdhatu.Incase of Oligozoospermia there is vitiation and loss of formation process of shukradhatu properly as per Ayurveda. Using YapanBasti,the strength of Shukradhatu can be regain and ultimately correction can be seen in oligozoospermia cases. By doingbastikarma,we are trying to establish and confirm the role of yapanbastiexplained in Ayurvedonoligozoospermia.

Aims and objectives: To study the efficacy of MustadiYapan Bastion sperm count sperm motility, semen volume.SemenPH,abnormal sperm count along with serum testosterone,GH and FSH level in the management of Oligozoospermia in comparison with BaladiYapanBasti.

Methodology: Age ranging between 25 to 50 years will be considered for the study. Secondly Sperm count < 15 million/ml will be consider for the study, also the patients who shows cardinal symptom i.ePratyatmakaLakshana of KshinaShukra, Pathological sample of Semen sample must suggestive of oligozoospermia will be considered for the study.30 Patients in each group will be given Basti for 16 days as explained in classics of Ayurveda .The process of giving basti will be using bastiputak,Basti will be prepared as per the niruhabasti preparation method.Bastigamankal and bastipratyagamankal will be observed properly.Follow-up will be taken after 28thday from starting of treatment.

Results: Results will be drawn from the observations of objective parameters.

Conclusion: MustadiYapanBasti will be effective in oligozoospermia.
Outcomes of Newly Diagnosed Patients of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Razzaq Atiya , Memon Shahid Hussain , Arain Zain Islam , Khushk Suhayb Ahmad , Ali Anwar , Bhutto Abdul Qadir
Published: June 2021

Objective: To determine the outcomes of newly diagnosed patients of peripartum cardiomyopathy at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad.

Methodology: Total 91 patients of peripartum cardiomyopathy were included. A detailed medical history and base line equitable investigations were done. Patients were kept under observation for 7 days during their hospital stay and study outcomes were recorded. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Stratification was done and post stratification chi square test or fisher exact test was applied. Two sided P-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: The overall mean age was 29.06±4.71 years. Total 73.6% patients were belonged to urban and 26.4% belonged to rural areas. 52.7% patients had normal delivery while 40% had C-section and 6.6% had instrumental assisted deliveries. As far as outcomes are concerned, 65.9% patients had congestive heart failure, 12.1% patients had arrhythmias, 35.2% patients admitted in ICU, 64.8% patients admitted in recovery and 7.7% patients were died.

Conclusion: In a prospective cohort with PPCM, most women recovered; however, rates of CHF were observed significantly in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In-hospital mortality was comparatively less frequent but it was significantly associated in women having age less than 30 years.
A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Kantkari and Vasa Lozenges in Children with Kasa (Cough)-Study Protocol
Authors: Ali Sabir , Rathi Renu , Rathi Bharat
Published: June 2021

Background: Kasa is the outcome due to release of obstructed Vayu resulting in the production of abnormal sound, which may be productive or dry. Kasa is one of the primary diseases of Pranavaha srotas, and can cause disturbances in other body functions. Prevalence of cough in India is 5% to 10% while acute cases of cough is 39% and chronic cases of cough is 29% reported in Maharashtra. This research drug is taken to check its efficacy on both the types of cough, dry as well as productive with acute or chronic origin. It has a good palatability and liked by children as it appears as candy. Many studies have been carried out on Kasa with different formulations so far like vati, churna, ghrita but they have no fast and long lasting action with different level of efficacy. Many lozenges are also available in the market but no studies have been done.

Objective: Comparative Study on the efficacy of Kantakari lozenges with Vasa lozenges in the clinical features of Kasa by subjective criteria such as Peenasa-(running nose), Kasa, Aruchi-(taste impliedness), kanthkandu(throat itching), kaphnishthivan (Sputum) and objective criteria as adventitious sound and AEC-absolute eosinophil count, TLC-total leucocytes count, and DLC-differential leucocyte count.

Materials and Methods: The present study is designed as a Double Blind, Randomized Controlled Study in which total 60 patients will be enrolled. Patients will be randomly divided (by computer generated sequence method) in two with 30 patients in each group. In group A, Vasa lozenges and in group B Kantkari lozenges will be given for 7 days. Assessment of the patients will be done on 3rd and 7th day during study after intervention and post treatment follow up will be taken on 14th& 21st day from the enrolled date.

Results: Efficacy of both the lozenges will be observed in subjective and objective outcomes. Conclusion: Kantkari lozenges (trial group) is expected to be more effective than Vasa lozenges (control group) in the management of Kasa as Vata, Kapha are more dominant in the pathology of Kasa in children and Kantakari is a good Vatakaphahar drug added with Pippali to act synergistically.
Atlanta Classification for Acute Pancreatitis- A Study Protocol
Authors: Singh Varun , Dhande Rajasbala Pradeep , Mishra Gaurav
Published: June 2021

Background: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common abdominal pathologies having variable outcome ranging from self limiting abdominal pain to high mortality and morbidity due to organ failure, over the past five decades, various classification systems have emerged to classify pancreatitis according to its severity , and the associated complications have emerged to classify acute pancreatitis and its various complications, such as Apache Scoring , Ct Severity , Modified Ct Severity ,Ransen  and Atlanta Classification.

Objectives: We in our study will be classifying patients suffering from acute pancreatitis according to the revised Atlanta classification to divide them into interstitial edematous pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis. The local complications will be classified according to CT imaging findings into acute necrotic collection, psuedocyst, acute necrotic collection and walled of necrosis. Organ failure will be assessed according to modified marshal scoring system into transient or persistent organ failure.

Methodology: We will be carrying forward our study on   Siemens 16 slice computer tomography machine over a sample of 140 patients coming to the outpatient department of our hospital which will be followed by a routine clinical follow up of the patient to find out their prognosis.

Results: Will be tabulated at the end of the study using SPSS version 26 software.

Conclusion: The revised Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis, in conjunction with the Modified Marshall Scoring System for organ failure, if found useful, in our series in improving the prognosis of the patients, then it can be incorporated in management.
Probiotics: Food Supplement for Human Consumption
Authors: Jha Shipra , Yadav Renu
Published: June 2021

The human gut microflora contains 1000 of dynamic microbial ecosystem to maintain balance between immune boosting and harmful bacteria. The good bacteria reside in healthy human gut and responsible for increasing energy production, inhibiting pathogenic growth. In unhealthy gut microbiota initiates the development of disorders in human body include metabolic disorder, chronic diarrhea, obesity. The article deals with the study of emerging trends in probiotics and developing industrial probiotics products for human body. At present there are many probiotics foodstuff isolated by industries from natural foods includes vegetables, grain, cereals to use in the form of nutrient supplements. Human Gut can be enriched with natural, low cost Probiotic supplements to improve lifestyle.
Classical and Advanced Imaging for the Characterization of Pyrrolidone‐ and Caprolactam‐Based Materials
Authors: Puccetti Germain
Published: June 2021

Image analysis performs the quantitative extraction of information from the captured image by means of dedicated software taking into account spatial and spectral calibrations. This chapter provides the reader an overview of the most important types of imaging approaches and the nature of the information obtained. The optical imaging techniques will be separated by their information content, with the main types being classical reflectance imaging, fluorescence imaging, time‐resolved imaging, hyperspectral imaging, confocal imaging, and interferometric imaging. The chapter explores in more detail the macroscopic and microscopic imaging approaches used in the characterization of pyrrolidone‐ and caprolactam‐based materials. Seven main fields of application have a long history of using pyrrolidone‐based compounds: printing, medical applications, bio‐materials, antibacterial films and coatings, filtration, energy and electronic applications, and personal care/home care. Polymers help in the care of the surfaces and their protection against attacks of sugars and acids.
Pyrrolidone and Caprolactam‐Based Materials in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Applications
Authors: Hood David K. , Ananthraman Srinivasan , Musa Osama M.
Published: June 2021

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are the essential, active ingredients of pharmaceutical dosage forms and drug delivery systems. This chapter provides a comprehensive and systematic coverage of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications of pyrrolidone and caprolactam‐based materials in API applications. Antibiotics and antimicrobials are indispensable drugs for human and animal health and well‐being. The chapter also provides an explanation of the mechanism of action for the excipients in dosage forms ranging from conventional solids and liquids to novel solids and colloidal drug delivery systems. The modulation of solubility of poorly soluble drugs is a viable and safe approach for enhancing the drug's bioavailability. The drug development within the pharmaceutical industry has undergone a significant transformation. Prior to the late 1980s, drug candidates were primarily established by empirically‐based screening programs, where the leading candidates were mostly selected from chemical compounds that had already undergone significant technical investigation.
Safety and Toxicology of Caprolactams and Caprolactam‐Based Polymers
Authors: Kim Sang‐Tae , Schatz Anthony , Choi Christopher
Published: June 2021

Toxicology is more precisely the study of adverse effects on living organisms from exposure to chemicals, drugs, or biological agents. Acute toxicity describes the adverse effects arising from a single or short‐term exposure to a chemical. Quantitative structure activity relationships in silico toxicology is one type of toxicity assessment that uses computational methods to analyze, simulate, visualize, or predict the toxicity of chemicals. The chapter aims to evaluate the toxicity of caprolactam chemistries including monomer and polymer molecules. The toxicity of caprolactam and vinylcaprolactam has been summarized by numerous human health and environmental agencies worldwide. Caprolactam and vinylcaprolactam are high production lactams of aminocaproic acid. Caprolactam was tested in the NTP Carcinogenesis Testing Program using rats and mice. In humans, irritation of the skin and the mucous membranes were reported for caprolactam. Acute exposure to caprolactams may result in irritation and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin in humans.
Pyrrolidone and Caprolactam‐Based Materials in Adhesion Related Applications
Authors: Hood David K. , Ananthraman Srinivasan , Musa Osama M.
Published: June 2021

Adhesion is the process of attachment of substances due to the presence of intermolecular forces of attraction between them. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) polymers have widespread use in the adhesive industry because of their favorable physicochemical properties. In an aqueous environment, the adhesive properties of pyrrolidone‐based materials are correlated to their polarities. Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) are an unusual class of adhesive polymers. A PSA composition should also exhibit high‐cohesive strength and elasticity. Lactam‐based vinyl monomers are widely employed in ultraviolet and electron beam curable adhesives commonly found in coatings, inks, optical materials, and packaging applications. Urea‐formaldehyde thermoset resins are one of the most important classes of adhesive resins for producing wood‐based panels. The adhesives were made by coaxial‐electrospinning of polycaprolactam as the core and PVP as the adhesive sheath. The resulting material was radiation‐crosslinked to yield matrices that were composed of fibrous layered materials.
The World Trade Center Health Program: Petitions for adding qualifying health conditions
Authors: Daniels Robert D. , Carreón Tania , Bilics Jessica A. , Reissman Dori B. , Howard John
Published: June 2021

The federally mandated World Trade Center Health Program provides limited health benefits for qualifying health conditions related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A qualifying health condition is an illness or health condition for which the member's exposure to airborne toxins, any other hazard, or any other adverse condition resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks is considered substantially likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness or health condition. These qualifying health conditions are listed in federal regulations. The regulations also provide a process for amending this list. This commentary describes the methods developed for adding health conditions to the list of qualifying health conditions and discusses changes to the list that have occurred during the Program's 2011–2020 period.
A novel nomogram with preferable capability in predicting the overall survival of patients after radical esophageal cancer resection based on accessible clinical indicators: A comparison with AJCC staging
Authors: Li Xinye , Xu Jinming , Zhu Linhai , Yang Sijia , Yu Li , Lv Wang , Hu Jian
Published: June 2021

Background

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality. Nomogram is an important tool used in clinical prognostic assessment. We aimed to establish a novel nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) of EC patients after radical esophagectomy.

Methods

Data pertaining to the survival, demography, and clinicopathology of 311 EC patients who underwent radical esophagectomy were retrospectively investigated. The nomogram was established based on Cox hazard regression analysis. The calibration curves and Harrell's concordance index (C‐index) were used to verify the predictive accuracy and ROC curves were used to assess the efficacy of the nomogram. Kaplan–Meier curves showed the prognostic value of the related risk classification system. Pearson correlation test was performed to determine the correlation between the risk classification system and TNM staging.

Results

The median OS and 5‐year survival rates in the primary and validation cohorts were 44 months and 29.8%, and 52 months and 27.1%, respectively. We used six independent prognostic factors—age, Sex, AGR, PRL, N stage, and PNI—in the nomogram. The C‐index of nomogram was 0.75 and 0.70 in the primary and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curves indicated high consistency between actual and predicted OS. ROC curves showed that nomogram has a better efficacy compared with TNM staging in both cohorts. Patients were divided into three risk groups according to the total nomogram score, the median OS in each group was significantly different in both cohorts. Furthermore, the risk classification system was strongly correlated with the T and N staging system and exhibited a better OS prediction capability.

Conclusions

We established a novel and practical nomogram with a subordinate risk classification system to predict the OS of patients after radical esophagectomy. Compared with AJCC staging, this nomogram had preferable clinical capability in terms of individual prognosis assessment.
Design Thinking im Chemieunterricht
Authors: Wolthaus Petra , Gröger Martin
Published: June 2021

Die für Schüler und Schülerinnen im zukünftigen Berufsleben erforderlichen Fähigkeiten sollten in der Schule gefördert werden. Wie dies theoretisch und praktisch umgesetzt werden kann, zeigt dieser Artikel, indem er die Methode des Design Thinking für den experimentellen Chemieunterricht exemplarisch darstellt. Ausgehend von einer komplexen Problemstellung im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeit fanden die Schülerteams einfache Lösungswege, die sich an den Bedürfnissen möglicher Nutzer orientierten. Sie entwickelten eigene Versuchsanleitungen, die sie mehrfach optimierten. Ihre „Prototypen“ bewerteten sie kritisch, indem sie sie mit herkömmlichen Produkten verglichen.
Social support in patients with bipolar disorder and differing ages at onset
Authors: Studart‐Bottó Paula , Bezerra‐Filho Severino , Sarmento Stella , Miranda‐Scippa Ângela
Published: June 2021

Objective

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between age at onset and social support in outpatients with bipolar disorder who were in the recovery phase. We also investigated the association between age at onset and disability.

Methods

A total of 180 bipolar disorder I outpatients, of whom 50 had early onset with age at onset ≤18 years old, 108 had middle onset with age at onset between 19 and 39 years old, and 22 had late onset with age at onset ≥40 years old, were assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale and Sheehan Disability Scale.

Results

The early onset group had lower tangible social support, longer length of illness, more childless participants, lower income and more suicide attempters than the late onset group.

Conclusions

Early onset seems to have inferior outcomes in tangible social support than late onset, but this trend should be considered as a starting point for future studies.
Spatial modeling increases accuracy of selection for Phytophthora infestans‐resistant tomato genotypes
Authors: Copati Mariane Gonçalves Ferreira , Dariva Françoise Dalprá , Dias Felipe de Oliveira , Rocha João Romero do Amaral Santos de Carvalho , Pessoa Herika Paula , de Almeida Gabriella Queiroz , Carneiro Pedro Crescêncio Souza , Nick Carlos
Published: June 2021

At initial breeding stages, using a replicated check design is a viable alternative to reduce experimental field area as well as financial and operational costs. In this situation, spatial modeling could act to increase prediction accuracy of plant genotypic values. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate how spatially adjusted models can be used to reduce experimental error and how to compare statistical models in order to identify the best model for accurate genotype selection. For this purpose, we assessed 200 F3:4 tomato families for their resistance to Phytophthora infestans isolates. NC1CELBR, NC25P, and the cultivar Santa Clara were used as checks. Under field conditions, plants were inoculated with P. infestans isolates and scored according to their level of disease severity. Nine statistical models were adjusted to estimate family genotypic values. The selection of the fittest model was based on residual variance values, accuracy, Akaike and Bayesian information criteria, and the maximum likelihood ratio test. We observed spatial patterns within the experimental field area. Spatial modeling decreased error, which is indicated by the better experimental variation distribution. Residual variance decreased, while genotypic variance increased ∼10% when spatial analysis was used. Spatial analysis improved selection accuracy by 19% compared with the traditional analysis. Therefore, we recommend incorporating spatial modeling into data analysis in breeding trials for disease resistance because it can provide higher gains from selection compared with traditional modeling approaches, depending on the experimental condition.
Drought legacies mediated by trait trade‐offs in soil microbiomes
Authors: Wang Bin , Allison Steven D.
Published: June 2021

Soil microbiomes play a key role in driving biogeochemical cycles of the Earth system. As drought frequency and intensity increase due to climate change, soil microbes and the processes they control will be impacted. Even after a drought ends, microbiomes and other systems take time to recover and may display a memory of previous climate conditions. Still, the mechanisms involved in these legacy effects remain unclear, making it difficult to predict climate and biogeochemical rates in the future. Here, we used a trait‐based microbiome model (DEMENTpy) to implement trade‐off‐mediated mechanisms that may lead to drought legacy effects on litter decomposition. Trade‐offs were assumed to follow the Y‐A‐S framework that defines three primary life‐history strategies of microorganisms: high growth Yield, resource Acquisition, and Stress tolerance. We represented cellular trade‐offs between osmolytes required for drought tolerance and investment in enzymes involved in litter decomposition. Simulations were run under varying levels of drought severity and dispersal. With high levels of dispersal, no legacy effects were predicted by DEMENTpy following drought. With limited dispersal, severe drought resulted in a persistent legacy of altered community‐level traits and reduced litter decomposition. Moderate drought resulted in a transient legacy that disappeared after two years, consistent with recent empirical observations in Southern California ecosystems. These results imply that greater movement along the trade‐off between enzyme investment and osmolyte production resulted in stronger legacy effects. More generally, factors that shift the position of a microbiome in YAS space may alter the legacy outcome following drought. Our trait‐based modeling study motivates additional empirical measurements to quantify YAS traits and trade‐offs that are needed to make accurate predictions of soil microbiome resilience and functioning. Also, our study illustrates an emerging approach for representing trait trade‐offs in microbiomes and vegetation that dictate ecosystem responses to drought and other environmental perturbations.
Financial sustainability strategies of public primary health care centres in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Rakic Severin , Djudurovic Aljosa , Antonic Darijana
Published: June 2021

Background

The literature on the functioning of public health facilities in health systems with significant arrears is limited. The growing liabilities of health facilities and the accumulating arrears have been a challenge in the Republic of Srpska. Most public primary healthcare (PHC) centres generated a gross loss in 2018.

Method

Guided by the ‘positive deviance’ approach, we used an exploratory case study design to identify strategies used by managers to achieve financial sustainability in eight top‐performing PHC centres. Qualitative data were collected through face‐to‐face in‐depth semistructured interviews with key informants from the PHC centres that reported positive financial results in 2018.

Results

Seven organisational goals, comprising 34 financial sustainability strategies, were recognised during the data analysis and were used to build an organisational‐level model for a PHC centre.

Conclusion

Managers concurrently used multiple strategies to ensure financial sustainability. Each centre tailored its range of strategies to the organisational context, local context, and wider environment of the health system. The strategies were conceived and implemented by managers operating at different organisational levels under the leadership of top‐level managers. Managers of indebted health facilities can learn from the positively deviant peers who manage facilities that achieved satisfactory financial performance.
Modifications on porous absorbable Fe‐based scaffolds for bone applications: A review from corrosion and biocompatibility viewpoints
Authors: Md Yusop Abdul Hakim , Al Sakkaf Ahmed , Nur Hadi
Published: June 2021

Iron (Fe) and Fe‐based scaffolds have become a research frontier in absorbable materials which is inherent to their promising mechanical properties including fatigue strength and ductility. Nevertheless, their slow corrosion rate and low biocompatibility have been their major obstacles to be applied in clinical applications. Over the last decade, various modifications on porous Fe‐based scaffolds have been performed to ameliorate both properties encompassing surface coating, microstructural alteration via alloying, and advanced topologically order structural design produced by additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. The recent advent of AM produces topologically ordered porous Fe‐based structures with an optimized architecture having controllable pore size and strut thickness, intricate internal design, and larger exposed surface area. This undoubtedly opens up new options for controlling Fe corrosion and its structural strengths. However, the in vitro biocompatibility of the AM porous Fe still needs to be addressed considering its higher corrosion rate due to the larger exposed surface area. This review summarizes the latest progress of the modifications on porous Fe‐based scaffolds with a specific focus on their responses on the corrosion behavior and biocompatibility.
An evaluation of the structure of the labour market, assistance policies and sectoral productivity on the pro‐poor growth for Brazil from 2004 to 2014: A dynamic panel analysis
Authors: Ribeiro Jouse T. , Santolin Roberto
Published: June 2021

The aim of this article is to evaluate pro‐poor growth based on individual labour market attributions and aggregate variables for Brazilian states: inequality, sectoral economic growth (agriculture, industry and services) and social policies, Programa Bolsa Família and the Benefício de Prestação Continuada. The methodology was a two‐step estimation. The first stage, called the ‘first cross‐sectional stage’, involves estimation by binary choice models that relate poverty levels to the individual attributes and positions in the labour market. In the second stage, poverty was assessed in terms of inequality, economic growth and social policies, aggregated for Brazilian states using a dynamic panel. The results obtained showed that sectoral economic growth and assistance policies have a strong impact on extreme poverty; for the other poverty ranges, the most relevant variables were the reduction of inequality and sectoral economic growth.
Anatomically aided PET image reconstruction using deep neural networks
Authors: Xie Zhaoheng , Li Tiantian , Zhang Xuezhu , Qi Wenyuan , Asma Evren , Qi Jinyi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The developments of PET/CT and PET/MR scanners provide opportunities for improving PET image quality by using anatomical information. In this paper, we propose a novel co‐learning three‐dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract modality‐specific features from PET/CT image pairs and integrate complementary features into an iterative reconstruction framework to improve PET image reconstruction.

Methods

We used a pretrained deep neural network to represent PET images. The network was trained using low‐count PET and CT image pairs as inputs and high‐count PET images as labels. This network was then incorporated into a constrained maximum likelihood framework to regularize PET image reconstruction. Two different network structures were investigated for the integration of anatomical information from CT images. One was a multichannel CNN, which treated PET and CT volumes as separate channels of the input. The other one was multibranch CNN, which implemented separate encoders for PET and CT images to extract latent features and fed the combined latent features into a decoder. Using computer‐based Monte Carlo simulations and two real patient datasets, the proposed method has been compared with existing methods, including the maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) reconstruction, a kernel‐based reconstruction and a CNN‐based deep penalty method with and without anatomical guidance.

Results

Reconstructed images showed that the proposed constrained ML reconstruction approach produced higher quality images than the competing methods. The tumors in the lung region have higher contrast in the proposed constrained ML reconstruction than in the CNN‐based deep penalty reconstruction. The image quality was further improved by incorporating the anatomical information. Moreover, the liver standard deviation was lower in the proposed approach than all the competing methods at a matched lesion contrast.

Conclusions

The supervised co‐learning strategy can improve the performance of constrained maximum likelihood reconstruction. Compared with existing techniques, the proposed method produced a better lesion contrast versus background standard deviation trade‐off curve, which can potentially improve lesion detection.
Relative Catchability of Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish × Channel Catfish Hybrids by Anglers in Put-and-Take Urban Fisheries
Authors: Hungerford Thomas J. , Bodine Kristopher A. , Tibbs John E. , Myers Randall A. , Prangnell David , Daugherty Daniel J. , Schlechte J. Warren
Published: June 2021

Texas’ Neighborhood Fishin’ Program provides close-to-home angling opportunities within nine large metropolitan areas to increase angling participation among urban constituents. Water bodies (0.4–2.4 ha) are typically stocked with harvestable (≈305 mm TL) Channel Catfish (CCF) Ictalurus punctatus to provide high-catch, successful fishing experiences. However, fish producers have been increasingly rearing and stocking lower-maintenance, faster-growing CCF × Blue Catfish I. furcatus hybrids to reduce costs. Although recent research in put–grow–take fisheries has suggested no differences in catchability, a number of Texas anglers utilizing these put-and-take fisheries have reported lower catch rates of hybrids. Thus, we evaluated relative catchability between the two fish types by stocking equal numbers of uniquely marked CCF and hybrids simultaneously into four Neighborhood Fishin’ Program water bodies on three occasions during 2018. Harvest of each type was measured during five systematic daily creel surveys across a 2-week period, with the first interviews occurring during the day of each stocking event. Nearly five times more CCF were harvested than hybrids during the first daily creel survey after each stocking event, but harvest of CCF declined significantly by the second daily creel survey. There were no significant differences in harvest between types among subsequent daily creels (surveys 2–5) over the 2-week creel periods. Few uniquely marked fish of either type were harvested in daily creel surveys 4 and 5. Despite the varying harvest rates, anglers remained satisfied or extremely satisfied throughout the 2-week creel periods. Our results indicate that CCF are more accessible to anglers than hybrids immediately after stocking. Managers’ choice of which type to stock should depend on relevant fishery objectives. Although CCF will likely produce higher initial catch rates, stocking a mixture of CCF and hybrids may provide a longer-term fishery that still produces catch rates high enough to maintain or enhance angler satisfaction.
Simultaneous monitoring of vegetation dynamics and wildlife activity with camera traps to assess habitat change
Authors: Sun Catherine , Beirne Christopher , Burgar Joanna M. , Howey Thomas , Fisher Jason T. , Burton A. Cole
Published: June 2021

Vegetation phenology and productivity drive resource use by wildlife. Vegetation dynamics also reveal patterns of habitat disturbance and recovery. Monitoring these fine‐scale vegetation patterns over large spatiotemporal extents can be difficult, but camera traps (CTs) commonly used to survey wildlife populations also collect data on local habitat conditions. We used CTs (n = 73) from 2016 to 2019 to assess impacts of habitat change in a boreal landscape of northern Canada, where seismic lines for petroleum exploration disturbed wildlife habitat and prompted vegetation restoration efforts. First, we quantified vegetation dynamics from CTs, comparing them to satellite‐based estimates that are typically used to monitor vegetation at broad spatial scales. We then used understory phenology and productivity estimated from CT time‐lapse images to assess vegetation recovery on seismic lines. Finally, we related vegetation dynamics with the habitat use of three wildlife species: sandhill cranes Grus canadensis, woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus, and white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. CTs provided unique insight into vegetation dynamics that were different from signals measured by satellites, with temporally inconsistent and even some negative correlations between CT and satellite metrics. We found some indication of vegetation recovery on seismic lines that had received restoration treatment, with understory patterns more similar to undisturbed habitat than to seismic lines that did not receive restoration treatment. CTs also provided inferences about wildlife activity related to vegetation resources, which approaches using satellite data failed to detect. Wildlife habitat use tracked vegetation phenology, but did not always increase with vegetation productivity at weekly, 16‐day, or annual intervals. Instead, associations with vegetation productivity depended on species, temporal scale, and productivity metrics. Given the widespread and growing use of CTs to monitor terrestrial wildlife, we recommend their use to simultaneously monitor habitat conditions to better understand the mechanisms that govern wildlife habitat use in changing environments.
A monolithic mixed matrix membrane based on silver nanoparticle/nylon‐6 nanocomposite: A novel coating for stir bar sorptive extraction of organophosphorus pesticides
Authors: Ayazi Zahra , Shekari Esfahlan Fatemeh
Published: June 2021

In this research, a novel monolithic mixed matrix membrane based on silver nanoparticles reinforced nylon 6 was prepared by in situ reduction of silver nitrate salt in a formic acid solution of nylon 6. The phase separation method was employed to deposit prepared nanocomposite onto a stainless steel substrate. The characterization of nylon 6 and silver nanoparticles/nylon 6 nanocomposite coated stir bars were conducted applying scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The prepared stir bar was employed for the stir bar sorptive extraction of organophosphorus pesticides such as ethion, phosalone, and chlorpyrifos in environmental water samples applying gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The effect of the silver nanoparticles doping level in the nanocomposite on the extraction efficiency of the monolithic mixed matrix membrane was studied. Multivariate optimization based on the central composite design was employed to study and optimize essential parameters affecting the extraction and elution steps. The limits of detection were 0.2 and 0.3 ng/mL and the linear dynamic ranges were in the concentration range of 0.7‐1000 and 1–1000 ng/mL for all analytes. The method precision based on relative standard deviation by performing six replicates ranged from 2.4 to 7.4% for spiked distilled water (100 ng/mL).
Recurrence Quantification Analysis as a Methodological Innovation for School Improvement Research
Authors: Oude Groote Beverborg Arnoud , Wijnants Maarten , Sleegers Peter J. C. , Feldhoff Tobias
Published: June 2021

School improvement and educational change can be facilitated by learning through reflection, as this allows teachers to discover ways to develop and adapt to change. Higher levels of engagement in reflection have been found to be beneficial, but it is unclear from which everyday routine in engagement in reflection higher levels arise, and thus whether occasions to make knowledge explicit should be organized with a certain constancy. In this study, we therefore used a conceptualization of teacher learning through reflection as a situated and dynamic process in which available environmental information, learning activities, and professional practices are interconnected, and co-develop. Seventeen Dutch Vocational Education and Training teachers participated over a period of 5 months. We explored the use of daily and monthly logs as measurement instruments and Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) as the analysis technique applied to the time-series generated from the daily logs. The findings indicated that teachers who make information from their working environment explicit more are also able to make new insights explicit more. The routine with which teachers make information explicit was found to be mostly unrelated to making new insights explicit. To reach their levels of engagement in reflection, some teachers organized opportunities to reflect with determined intervals, others seemed to recognize those opportunities as the working environment provided them, and some used a combination thereof. Moreover, the use of daily and monthly logs seemed to fit better to some participants than others. Only sometimes does organizing constancy in engagement in reflection seem to relate to the levels thereof. This study provides an example of how logs and RQA can be adopted to tap into professional learning as a dynamic and situated process in support of school improvement and educational change.
Why Must Everything Be So Complicated? Demands and Challenges on Methods for Analyzing School Improvement Processes
Authors: Feldhoff Tobias , Radisch Falk
Published: June 2021

In the recent years, awareness has risen by an increasing number of researchers that we need studies that appropriately model the complexity of school improvement if we want to increase our knowledge about school improvement substantially and to close the identified research gaps within this field (Feldhoff T, Radisch F, Klieme E, J Educ Admin 52(5):565–736, 2014; Hallinger P, Heck RH, School Effect School Improv 22(2):149–173, 2011; Sammons P, Davis S, Day C, Gu Q, J Educ Admin 52(5):565–589, 2014). So far, respective quantitative studies, that appropriately consider those complexities, have hardly been realized because of the high efforts of current methods and costs involved (Feldhoff T, Radisch F, Bischof LM, J Educ Admin 2(54):209–240, 2016). It is, therefore, apparent to look for new, innovative methods that can adequately take into account the complexity of school improvement. For a reasonable search and selection of innovative methods, it is necessary to describe the systematic complexity of school improvement and the resulting requirements for the methods in more detail. This is a central goal in this chapter. For this reason, we present our framework of complexity. We then formulate questions that will prompt the reader to reflect critically upon the methods in general and especially in this volume.
School Improvement Capacity – A Review and a Reconceptualization from the Perspectives of Educational Effectiveness and Educational Policy
Authors: Reynolds David , Neeleman Annemarie
Published: June 2021

It is argued that the field of school improvement (SI) has developed rapidly over the last 30 years, but that it needs to develop further to help in the development of educational systems around the world. Specifically: (1) The early focus in the field which argued for ‘contextually variable’ interventions needs to be rediscovered in a world where solutions are increasingly regarded as universals (as in the PISA discourse); (2) The field needs to focus more on classrooms and teaching given that contemporary analyses show much greater explanatory variance there than at the (much studied) school ‘level’; (3) The field needs to move beyond using simplistic formulations about what makes ‘good’ schools to embrace formulations that concern how to make schools ‘good’; (4) The field needs to move beyond the simplistic early analyses of either the home determinants of learning or ‘school’ ones and acknowledge that both schools and communities/homes need to be synergistically the focus of our improvements efforts. There are therefore questions to ask about the current utility of SI for professionals in education who may be orientated to a different skill set than that of educational effectiveness and improvement currently.
Reframing Educational Leadership Research in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: NG David
Published: June 2021

For the last three decades, reviews on instructional leadership have pointed to studies that predominantly adopted conventional social science research methodologies, specifically analytical tools, such as descriptive, causal factor, correlational and advanced modelling. These methods have constraints and limitations, which include that variable-based linear models measures are treated as ‘rigorously real’ measures of social reality, that individuals use rational deduction (ignoring the value premise of decision-making), and that individuals are treated as independent and individualized. This paper proposes and illustrates how research approaches of complexity science can be applied within the social system to address complex instructional leadership questions. Consequently, reframing instructional leadership research through the lens of complexity science provides the most viable approach to understand the adaptive processes and the dynamic system of schools.
The Structure of Leadership Language: Rhetorical and Linguistic Methods for Studying School Improvement
Authors: Lowenhaupt Rebecca
Published: June 2021

In this chapter, I discuss the justification for a linguistic turn in the study of school improvement with an emphasis on the language of leadership, and in particular persuasion, in the implementation of reform. In addition to exploring the ways in which discourse analysis can be used more generally to understand the nature of school improvement, I also focus on the particular method of rhetorical analysis as it can be leveraged to understand how the structure of language can be in and of itself an improvement strategy for educational leaders. After discussing the methodological approach, I share examples of studies of principals’ talk in the context of reform and the findings that emerged. I then consider the methodological implications of this rhetorical and linguistic turn, before ending with implications for future research and practice about the role of language in improvement efforts.
Designing and Piloting a Leadership Daily Practice Log: Using Logs to Study the Practice of Leadership
Authors: Spillane James P. , Zuberi Anita
Published: June 2021

This article aims to validate the Leadership Daily Practice (LDP) log, an instrument for conducting research on leadership in schools. Using a combination of data sources—namely, a daily practice log, observations, and open-ended cognitive interviews—the authors evaluate the validity of the LDP log. Formal and informal leaders were asked to complete the LDP log for 2 weeks; observers shadowed a subsample of leaders in each school, 1 day per week. Using the three sources of data, the authors analyzed interview responses (specifically, the participants’ interpretations of the log); they matched log entries with observer recordings; and they compared (a) the characteristics of the social interactions that were entered into the log with (b) the overall sample of interactions that occurred while observers shadowed participants. The study shows that LDP log entries capture school leadership interactions as recorded by independent observers; it also demonstrates that study participants, with some exceptions, were not biased toward reporting certain types of interactions over others. Still, some log terminologies were problematic for participants, as was the limited sampling period of 2 weeks. The authors propose ways to (a) change the LDP log to reflect the concerns raised by participants in the cognitive interviews and (b) alter the sampling scheme to capture leadership around the school year. The LDP log is less costly and time-consuming than in-depth ethnographic studies, and it is an important tool for researchers who aim to collect data in schools, one that reaches beyond surveys.
Preferential Attachment with Location-Based Choice: Degree Distribution in the Noncondensation Phase
Authors: Grauer Arne , Lüchtrath Lukas , Yarrow Mark
Published: June 2021

We consider the preferential attachment model with location-based choice introduced by Haslegrave et al. (Random Struct Algorithms 56(3):775–795, 2020) as a model in which condensation phenomena can occur. In this model, each vertex carries an independent and uniformly distributed location. Starting from an initial tree, the model evolves in discrete time. At every time step, a new vertex is added to the tree by selectingrcandidate vertices from the graph with replacement according to a sampling probability proportional to these vertices’ degrees. The new vertex then connects to one of the candidates according to a given probability associated to the ranking of their locations. In this paper, we introduce a function that describes the phase transition when condensation can occur. Considering the noncondensation phase, we use stochastic approximation methods to investigate bounds for the (asymptotic) proportion of vertices inside a given interval of a given maximum degree. We use these bounds to observe a power law for the asymptotic degree distribution described by the aforementioned function. Hence, this function fully characterises the properties we are interested in. The power law exponent takes the critical value one at the phase transition between the condensation–noncondensation phase.
Introducing Identity
Authors: Griffiths Owen , Ahmed Arif
Published: June 2021

The best-known syntactic account of the logical constants is inferentialism . Following Wittgenstein’s thought that meaning is use, inferentialists argue that meanings of expressions are given by introduction and elimination rules. This is especially plausible for the logical constants, where standard presentations divide inference rules in just this way. But not just any rules will do, as we’ve learnt from Prior’s famous example of tonk, and the usual extra constraint is harmony. Where does this leave identity? It’s usually taken as a logical constant but it doesn’t seem harmonious: standardly, the introduction rule (reflexivity) only concerns a subset of the formulas canvassed by the elimination rule (Leibniz’s law). In response, Read [5, 8] and Klev [3] amend the standard approach. We argue that both attempts fail, in part because of a misconception regarding inferentialism and identity that we aim to identify and clear up.