bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equitable STEM+CS learning experiences for girls of color: nurturing an independent learning approach via a learning ecosystem
Authors: Yamaguchi Ryoko , Hankerson Madrigal Veronica , Eaton Cyntrica N. , Burge Jamika D.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

There is a critical need to understand how to attract Black girls and other girls of color to the science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science (STEM+CS) field. This study aims to look at the design and implementation of a CS learning ecosystem that supports girls of color in acquiring critical CS skills starting in middle school.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed-method case study included 53 girls, between the ages of 11 and 13, in four US middle schools. Study methods included the analysis of a pre-program student survey, longitudinal interviews and focus groups, weekly observations and computing artifacts.

Findings

Program participants were interested in CS, were confident in their ability to learn CS, had prior coding and CS experience and had parents and teachers who encouraged them to learn CS. But some students showed dependent learning behaviors while engaging in CS activities. These included relying on instructors and being reticent to make mistakes–behaviors that limit learning. The CS learning ecosystem supported students as they shifted from applying dependent learning approaches to applying independent learning approaches. Instructors sustained a growth mindset and supported productive struggle as students learned CS skills.

Originality/value

A CS learning system supported equitable learning experiences and helped students develop independent learning behaviors that led to deeper engagement in CS.
Hundi payment mechanism on the border trade between Myanmar and Northern Thailand: what you do not know about?
Authors: Panthamit Nisit , Panthamitr Paisarn , Tian Guowei
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to convey the understanding of the ecosystem – how “hundi” works on the border trade between Myanmar and northern Thailand, which is an informal transfer system and is widely used as an alternative banking system. Even though the role of hundi is unable to declare the sources of money under the standard settlement of formal banking system, a failure to operate of its official mechanism are carrying using hundi, as a financial platform across the border between Thailand and Myanmar. This study surveys the best practice mechanism for the regional and international cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on relevant literature, open-source reporting, and interviews with more than 30 interviewees on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. Interviewees includes border-trader, money changer, money transfer operators, business leaders, hundi operators, immigrant labors, government officials and commercial banking staffs.

Findings

This study provides a unique insight of hundi system, which work as the alternative mode of formal banking. It is an informal fund transfer payment platform used on the border between Thailand and Myanmar in the past five decades. It insists that hundi plays a significant role in both substitution and complementary on the trade and payment across the border of Myanmar–Thailand. Even though confronting with the barriers of financing of terrorism (anti money laundering AML/combating the financing of terrorism CFT) risk, the competition with the expanding and modernizing formal banking sector, and the introduction of Fintech and mobile money services. In the short term, these are unlikely to eliminate the hundi system completely, but may instead push hundi operators towards adopting these networks and technologies in their own operations.

Social implications

This paper will be a useful source for academics, development professionals, policymakers, law enforcement agencies and business actors who are seeking to understand Myanmar’s informal payment system, hundi.

Originality/value

This is the latest work for border trade payment or trade financing role of hundi which has hidden under the informal market of the border for several decades. It has few research of hundi on border trade and payment, particularly after the military coup in 2021 which made hundi return to be on the spotlight and simultaneous mechanism of border trade and payment ecosystem of Myanmar. This paper will be a useful source for academics, development professionals, policymakers, law enforcement agencies and business actors who are eager to understand Myanmar’s informal payment system, hundi, especially during the hardship.
Is phubbing due to social media impacting my well-being – demystifying the FOMO, CSMU, phubbing loop among school and university cohorts
Authors: Joshi Meha
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Emergent research suggests that compulsive social media usage (CSMU) has a correlational link with well-being. Previous research in this area primarily focused on the prevalence, dynamics and consequences of social media usage. However, the knowledge of these occurrences among school and university students is still in its infancy stage. This research study addresses the knowledge gap by investigating the nexus between fear of missing out (FOMO), phubbing, CSMU and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional surveys were conducted for collecting the data of school students and university students during COVID-19 when the exposure to the Internet and social media among the students had increased tremendously. Multivariate analysis and Moderated Mediated analysis techniques were performed to analyze the data using the structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The results indicated that while on one side, students experience “FOMO”, on the other, they phone snub the individuals available to them to interact. FOMO significantly influences well-being; phubbing also has a significant impact on well-being; phubbing partially mediates the relationship between CSMU and well-being. However, for university students, the full mediation of phubbing in the relationship between CSMU and well-being was confirmed. It was also found that sleep fully mediated the relationship between CSMU and well-being.

Originality/value

This study provides novel highlights of the differential effects of FOMO, phubbing, sleep hygiene and well-being among the university and school-attending cohorts.
Exploring police legitimacy and other factors in predicting cooperation with police in the Atlanta Korean American community
Authors: Sohn Jiseun , Park Insun , Lee Gang , Choi Sinyong
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Limited research exists on the perceptions of police within specific ethnic minority groups. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the experiences of Korean and Korean American residents in the Metro Atlanta area regarding their perceptions of cooperation with the police, particularly in relation to hate crimes, along with their perceptions of police legitimacy and other relevant factors. By focusing on this specific population, the study aims to shed light on their unique perspectives and contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between ethnic minorities and law enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ sample comprised 128 Korean residents who were asked about their demographics, victimization experiences, self-rated English proficiency and police legitimacy. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to investigate the impact of police legitimacy, victimization experiences and English-speaking skills on the participants' level of cooperation with the police.

Findings

Police legitimacy and self-rated levels of English proficiency emerged as the most significant factors in predicting the level of cooperation among residents with the police. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced crime victimization in the past were more willing to cooperate with the police compared to those who have not. Additionally, men showed a higher tendency to cooperate with the police compared to women participants.

Originality/value

The findings of this study suggest important implications for the policies and strategies aimed at enhancing the relationship between the Korean American community and the police. These implications include the need for improved language support for non-English speaking community members and the importance of building trust and fostering mutual understanding to cultivate positive police-community relations. By implementing measures based on these findings, it is recommended to promote a more inclusive and effective approach to policing within the Korean American population.
Radial scar appearances on contrast‐enhanced mammography
Authors: Pienaar Wilmi Elizabeth , Taylor Donna Blanche , Wylie Elizabeth
Published: July 2023

With modern technological advances in imaging, radial scars are more frequently encountered in clinical practice. The management of radial scars remains challenging due to associated upgrade to malignancy at excision. Contrast‐enhanced mammography (CEM) has a similar sensitivity compared to MRI in addition to lower cost, better availability and fewer contra‐indications. CEM is reported to have an overall excellent negative predictive value for malignancy. In this study, imaging of 55 patients with a core biopsy diagnosis of radial scar since the introduction of CEM into local practice was reviewed. Nine patients underwent CEM as part of their diagnostic work‐up and these appearances are presented as a pictorial essay to demonstrate enhancement patterns of radial scars on CEM in this cohort and consider how this knowledge may influence management.
Rapidly developing intrathoracic low‐grade fibromyxoid sarcoma: A case report
Authors: Narukami Eri , Anayama Takashi , Yamamoto Marino , Bunno Yujiro , Miyazaki Ryohei , Okada Hironobu , Iguchi Mitsuko
Published: July 2023

Low‐grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare mesenchymal tumor that primarily arises in the limbs and trunk of young adults, and rarely in the thoracic cavity. An 84‐year‐old Japanese woman presented with a right intrathoracic mass which was 8 cm in size. CT‐guided needle biopsy did not provide a definitive diagnosis. Perioperatively, a mass was found in the right lower lobe of the lung and was suspected to have invaded the chest wall at the sixth–eighth ribs. A right lower lobectomy and combined chest wall resection were performed. Microscopic examination revealed that the tumor was a low‐grade spindle cell tumor originating from the pleura demonstrating focal invasion of the lung. The tumor exhibited positivity for MUC4, and FUS gene translocation was confirmed through fluorescence in situ hybridization. Unfortunately, 10 months postoperatively, tumor recurrence was noted as peritoneal dissemination, and the patient passed away 13 months postoperatively. Although LGFMS may be diagnosed histologically as a low‐grade tumor by needle biopsy, in this case, it was highly malignant. Postoperative long‐term regular medical follow‐up is recommended considering the highly malignant nature of the tumor and the high risk of local recurrence and pulmonary metastasis.
Separability, spillovers, and segmented markets : Evidence from dairy in India
Authors: Narayanan Sudha , Negi Digvijay S , Gupta Tanu
Published: July 2023

A long history of empirical research has focused on testing whether and when household consumption and production decisions are separable. If markets were perfect, household consumption would be independent of production. In this article, we propose that market channel choice complicates this relationship. Our analysis of household panel data from rural India, focusing on dairy, leads us to four key conclusions. First, milk consumption is correlated with production, and markets are not a complete substitute for household production. Second, a large presence of formal milk buyers in a village is associated with lower milk consumption in dairy households, overturning the positive association of participation in formal value chains with household milk consumption. Third, contrary to expectations, for households that do not own dairy animals and net buyers, the presence of formal value chains remains uncorrelated with milk consumption. Fourth, we infer, test for and find suggestive evidence of segmented milk markets, that is, different types of households participate in different markets for milk that do not seem to interact with each other. Policymakers focused on market development or production‐based strategies need to factor in the possibility of market segmentation based on market channels while designing interventions.
The current status and outlook for insecticide, acaricide and anthelmintic resistances across the Australian ruminant livestock industries: assessing the threat these resistances pose to the livestock sector
Authors: Kotze AC , Hunt PW
Published: July 2023

The Australian ruminant livestock industries are faced with the need to control parasitic infectious diseases that can seriously impact the health of animals. However, increasing levels of resistance to insecticides, anthelmintics and acaricides are substantially reducing the ability to control some of these parasites. Here we review the current situation with regard to chemical resistances in parasites across the various sectors of the Australian ruminant livestock industries and assess the level of threat that these resistances pose to the sustainability of these sectors in the short to long terms. We also look at the extent to which testing for resistance occurs across the various industry sectors, and hence how well‐informed these sectors are of the extent of chemical resistance. We examine on‐farm management practices, breeding of parasite‐resistant animals, and non‐chemical therapeutics that may act as short to long term means to reduce the current reliance on chemicals for parasite control. Finally, we look at the balance between the prevalence and magnitude of current resistances and the availability and adoption rates of management, breeding and therapeutic alternatives in order to assess the parasite control outlook for the various industry sectors.
Comparison of face‐based and voice‐based first impressions in a Chinese sample
Authors: Jiang Zhongqing , Li Dong , Li Zhao , Yang Yi , Liu Yangtao , Yue Xin , Wu Qi , Yang Hong , Cui Xiaolin , Xue Peng
Published: July 2023

People often form first impressions of others based on face and/or voice cues. This study aimed to compare the first impressions formed under these two cues. First, we compared free descriptions based on face and voice cues and found differences in the content and frequency of the personality words. We then compiled three wordlists used for face‐based and voice‐based first impression evaluations separately or simultaneously. Second, using these wordlists, we compared face‐based and voice‐based first impression ratings and found that both had significant intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability. However, using the mean of the actors' self‐rating and their acquaintance rating as the validity criterion, only the ratings of ‘ingenuous’ and ‘mature’ traits in the face‐based first impression evaluation were significantly correlated with the validity criterion. Factor analysis revealed that face‐based first impression had the dimensions of capability and approachability, while voice‐based first impression had capability, approachability and reliability. The findings indicate that stable first impressions can be formed by either face or voice cues. However, the specific composition of impressions will vary between the cues. These results also provide a foundation for studying first impressions formed by an integrated perception of voice and face cues.
What are the Experiences of the Female Body‐modified Therapist in the Consulting Room? An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Snelson Lucy
Published: July 2023

This article considers the position of the female tattooed body within the context of the ‘caring professions'. Tattoos are increasingly popular within these workplaces, but a stigma persists. The limited psychoanalytic research on body modifications in the consulting room concludes that tattoos are either a superficial fashion choice or an indicator of deviance and/or self‐harm. To initiate a conversation that can move away from the current pathologizing paradigm, I have considered the ways in which tattooing can be considered as a creative ‘working through’, distinct from an aggressive ‘acting out’. The research utilized an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to examine the lived experiences of female therapists, with body modifications, in the consulting room. All participants focused on their tattoos as their significant body modification and experiences varied depending on the specifics of the client work, professional environment and beliefs about perceptions of tattoos from the wider population. Identified themes were: appearance of self in the consulting room; the perceived communication of one's inner world through inked skin and integration of the process of tattooing. Professionalism was emphasized as an integral consideration for revealing or concealing tattoos in the consulting room and specifically this was heightened in relation to being female.
Smart analysis of anxiety people and their activities using heterogeneous quasiperiodic process
Authors: Zhao Ludi , Guo Xuting , Song Guanpeng
Published: July 2023

The increase in anxiety levels worldwide can be described as a serious global health threat. Around 500 million people suffer from mental disorders and are suffering from depression, and other mental‐oriented disabilities. The new technological paradigms such as the Internet of Things (IoT) were employed for detecting, and treating these disorders, which are being proposed, developed, and provide new capabilities to detect, assess and care for anxious people. These possibilities lead to several issues that are identified, which relate to patient privacy and confidentiality, security challenges such as data security, and the organization of IoT systems. To rectify these issues, we implement the Smart analysis of anxious people and their activities using Heterogeneous computing with virtual sensing. This system consists of the health application featuring the technique of the internet of things, heterogeneous computing, Cognitive Quasiperiodic motion, and Pentagonal tiling. This system introduces the internet of things‐assisted smart analysis of anxiety against people with their activities. It performs the optimization analysis for improving the levels. The observational results focus on how to deal with the issues which were overcome in the analysis levels of the anxiety disorders, which show that time spent using the heterogeneous computing with the virtual sense proves more accuracy (92.3%), specificity (Degrees of anxiety severity by 20%), precision (Analysis of anxiety stress level by 65%), and recall (Anxiety chances percentile by 65.34%). The proposed model is simulated, and the outcomes are compared with the prevailing methods for evaluating the parameters like accuracy, end‐end‐end delay, energy consumption, network lifetime, and throughput.
Necrobiosis lipoidica in childhood: a review of literature with emphasis on therapy
Authors: Schiefer‐Niederkorn Anna , Sadoghi Birgit , Binder Barbara
Published: July 2023

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare chronic granulomatous disease that manifests as sharply demarcated, telangiectatic, brownish‐red plaques with atrophic yellowish centers prone to ulceration and occurs predominantly on the shins. In children, NL is extremely rare, but resistance to therapy, troublesome cosmetic appearance, painful ulcerations, and possible development of squamous cell carcinoma in long‐persisting lesions are challenges during treatment. Our review includes 29 reports of NL in patients aged <18 years published from 1990 on PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline. The mean age of patients was 14.3 years, with a female predominance of 2 : 1 and a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (80%). Data showed that potent topical steroids up to twice daily is the first‐line treatment. For refractory cases, therapy can be switched to tacrolimus. Ulcerations benefit from phase‐adapted wound care and anti‐inflammatory medical dressings such as medical honey. Adding hyperbaric oxygenation to local or systemic therapy in difficult‐to‐treat ulcerated lesions can be considered. Refractory cases may be switched to topical photochemotherapy or systemic treatment with TNF‐α inhibitors, systemic steroids (preferably in non‐diabetic patients), pentoxifylline, or hydroxychloroquine. Necrobiosis lipoidica in childhood is difficult to treat, with a treatment failure rate of 40%. Therefore, further research through patient registries is recommended.
Considering dispersal costs to understand fish community dissimilarity in a high‐gradient basin of North America
Authors: de Rezende Breno Laio Medeiros , Dala‐Corte Renato Bolson , Melo Adriano S.
Published: July 2023

Freshwater fish metacommunities are best understood when considering the dendritic structure of riverine networks. The dendritic structure imposes restrictions to dispersal associated with the connectivity. Many structures restrict the movement of fish even more, such as dams and the terrain slope (dispersal costs). We investigated the influence of environmental predictors and dispersal costs on the beta diversity of freshwater fishes from the Upper Tennessee River using Generalised Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM). In addition, we tested the effects of asymmetrical dispersal costs (high costs for upstream dispersal) on the nestedness of native and non‐native fishes. Environmental predictors were more important than dispersal costs for explaining the overall fish dissimilarity in the GDM models, with the turnover capturing most of the explanation compared to the species richness difference. Dam heights were the most important dispersal cost variable in the GDM, mainly for species turnover. Overall dissimilarity of the native fish subset was better explained by environmental and dispersal variables than non‐native fish (20.03% vs. 8.41%). Considering the native species assemblage subset, dispersal cost related to maximum channel slope between pairs of sites and watercourse distance increased the nestedness of adjacent upstream–downstream sites, whereas those attributed to dams reduced the nestedness. The results support that dams increase overall dissimilarity in the native fish metacommunity of the Upper Tennessee basin, but also reduce the nestedness of adjacent sites. Our findings improve the knowledge on how mechanisms and processes associated with dispersal costs in watersheds under the effects of dams create patterns of dissimilarity and nestedness.
Differences in patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) by disease severity in light chain (AL) amyloidosis
Authors: D'Souza Anita , Szabo Aniko , Akinola Idayat , Finkel Muriel , Flynn Kathryn E.
Published: July 2023

Objective

To assess the impact of organ involvement on patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in light chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Methods

PROs were evaluated using the KCCQ‐12, PROMIS‐29 + 2, and SF‐36 in individuals with AL amyloidosis. The 2004 Mayo system was used to stage disease and cardiac, neurologic, and renal involvement was considered. Global physical and mental health (MH) scores, physical function (PF), fatigue, social function (SF), pain, sleep, and MH domains were evaluated. Effect sizes between scores were measured using Cohen's d.

Results

Of 297 respondents, the median age at diagnosis was 60 years with 58% cardiac, 58% renal, and 30% neurologic involvement. Fatigue, PF, SF, and global physical health with PROMIS and SF‐36 discriminated the most by stage. Significant discrimination in PROMIS and/or SF‐36 was seen in PF, fatigue, and global physical health with cardiac involvement. For neurologic involvement, PF, fatigue, SF, pain, sleep, global physical, and MH with PROMIS and role physical, vitality, pain, general health, and physical component summary with SF‐36 were discriminatory. For renal amyloid, pain by SF‐36 and PROMIS, and SF‐36 MH and role emotional subscales were significant.

Conclusions

Fatigue, PF, SF, and global physical health can discriminate stage, cardiac and neurologic, but not renal, AL amyloidosis involvement.
Experimental and computational studies of load ratio effect on fatigue crack growth rates in Alloy 709 at elevated temperatures
Authors: Ramirez Jose , Potirniche Gabriel P. , Shaber Nicholas , Stephens Robert , Charit Indrajit
Published: July 2023

Experimental testing and finite element simulations of fatigue crack growth were performed in austenitic 20Cr‐25Ni (Alloy 709) steel at different load ratios and elevated temperatures. The experimental tests were performed using compact tension specimens, and crack growth rates were measured at stress intensity factors ranging between 5 and 35 MPa√m. Fractographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy indicated crack surface roughness and secondary cracking depending on testing temperature and load ratio. Finite element simulations of fatigue crack growth were performed to compute plasticity‐induced crack opening loads and predict crack growth rates. Predictions of fatigue crack growth rates using finite element simulations were performed using the computed crack‐tip opening loads, and they are shown to match well the experimental measurements.
COVID‐19 and the role of gender, earnings, and telecommuting in parents' employment
Authors: Scarborough William J. , Collins Caitlyn , Landivar Liana Christin , Ruppanner Leah , Huffman Matt L.
Published: July 2023

Objective

To understand how married mothers' and fathers' earnings and ability to telecommute structured their employment throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

We weigh two competing explanations—rational choice and gendered resources—to evaluate the association between married parents' financial and workplace resources and sustained employment throughout the pandemic.

Method

We use hierarchical logistic regression models to analyze rotating panel data from the current population survey for respondents in dual‐earner, different‐sex marriages who are aged 25 to 54 with children 12 years or younger from January 2020 through August 2021. We restrict our analysis to those who were employed prior to the start of the pandemic to isolate pandemic‐related exits.

Results

We find that being the primary earner (i.e., earning at least half of the household income) prior to the start of the pandemic did not protect mothers from employment exits during the pandemic. Fathers' primary earner status did help sustain their employment. In contrast, access to telecommuting was an important resource to help sustain mothers' work attachment throughout the pandemic but had little association with fathers' employment.

Conclusion

Rational choice explanations help explain married fathers' but not mothers' employment during the pandemic. Gendered resources better explain mothers' employment. Mothers who were primary earners were still pulled away from employment as caregiving demands grew during the pandemic. Telecommuting supported mothers' employment by offering flexibility in addressing these competing work and family demands, but not by challenging conventional gender divisions of labor among different‐sex couples.
Anatomical predictors of need for decompressive craniectomy after stroke using voxel‐based lesion symptom mapping
Authors: McCullough‐Hicks Margy , Topiwala Karan , Christensen Soren , Ruiz‐Betancourt Daniel , Mlynash Michael , Albers Gregory W.
Published: July 2023

Background and Purpose

Malignant cerebral edema (MCE) secondary to ischemic stroke is a highly morbid condition. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is the only treatment for MCE that has been shown to reduce mortality. We examined whether early infarction and/or hypoperfusion in specific topographic regions was predictive of the need for later DC.

Methods

A retrospective database of patients evaluated for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke at Stanford between 2010 and 2019 was used. Thirty patients with LVO and baseline perfusion MRI who underwent DC were evaluated. Propensity matching based on age, lesion size, and recanalization status was performed on the remaining cohort. Baseline masks of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) + Tmax >6 seconds lesions were generated using automated perfusion software. Voxel‐based lesion symptom maping was used to perform logistic regression at each voxel to generate statistical maps of lesion location associated with DC. Hemispheres were combined to increase statistical power.

Results

Sixty patients were analyzed. After adjusting for age, lesion size, and recanalization status as covariates, scattered cortical regions, predominately within the temporal and frontal lobe, were mildly to moderately predictive of the need for DC (z‐scores: 2.4‐6.74, p < .01).

Conclusions

Scattered temporal and frontal lobe regions on baseline diffusion and perfusion MRI were found to be mildly to moderately predictive of the need for subsequent DC in patients with LVO stroke.
Factors that influence family‐focused practice in Chinese mental health workers: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Yao Hao , Guan Lili , Zhou Tianhang , Zhang Changchun , Pan Yang , Han Jinxiang , He Rui , Chang Zhengjiao , Du Chunyu , Wu Tingfang , Sun Jingwen , Yuan Yilin , Maybery Darryl , Ma Hong
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Family‐focused practice has become an emerging paradigm in mental health services. However, little is known about family‐focused practice and associated factors in Chinese mental health workers.

Aim

To examine family‐focused practice and associated factors in Chinese mental health workers.

Method

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in a convenience sample of mental health workers (n = 515) in Beijing, China. The Family‐Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire was used to measure family‐focused practice, as well as worker, workplace and client factors that might influence family‐focused practice. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with family‐focused practice.

Results

On average, the participants exhibited a moderate level of engagement in family‐focused practice. The factors that most significantly influenced family‐focused practice in Chinese mental health workers were skill and knowledge, worker confidence and time and workload. Moreover, psychiatrists were found to engage more in family‐focused practice than psychiatric nurses, and community mental health workers were more active in family‐focused practice than hospital‐based ones.

Discussion

This study provided important data concerning family‐focused practice and associated factors in Chinese mental health workers.

Implications for Practice

The varying level of Chinese mental health workers to engage in family‐focused practice has advocacy, training, research and organizational implications for mental health services in China and elsewhere.
Effects of head‐down tilt on optic nerve sheath diameter in healthy subjects
Authors: Ustick Jessica J. , Pardon Laura P. , Chettry Pratik , Patel Nimesh B. , Cheng Han
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Intracranial pressure increases in head‐down tilt (HDT) body posture. This study evaluated the effect of HDT on the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in normal subjects.

Methods

Twenty six healthy adults (age 28 [4.7] years) participated in seated and 6° HDT visits. For each visit, subjects presented at 11:00 h for baseline seated scans and then maintained a seated or 6° HDT posture from 12:00 to 15:00 h. Three horizontal axial and three vertical axial scans were obtained at 11:00, 12:00 and 15:00 h with a 10 MHz ultrasonography probe on the same eye, randomly chosen per subject. At each time point, horizontal and vertical ONSD (mm) were quantified by averaging three measures taken 3 mm behind the globe.

Results

In the seated visit, ONSDs were similar across time (p > 0.05), with an overall mean (standard deviation) of 4.71 (0.48) horizontally and 5.08 (0.44) vertically. ONSD was larger vertically than horizontally at each time point (p < 0.001). In the HDT visit, ONSD was significantly enlarged from baseline at 12:00 and 15:00 h (p < 0.001 horizontal and p < 0.05 vertical). Mean (standard error) horizontal ONSD change from baseline was 0.37 (0.07) HDT versus 0.10 (0.05) seated at 12:00 h (p = 0.002) and 0.41 (0.09) HDT versus 0.12 (0.06) seated at 15:00 h (p = 0.002); mean vertical ONSD change was 0.14 (0.07) HDT versus −0.07 (0.04) seated at 12:00 h (p = 0.02) and 0.19 (0.06) HDT versus −0.03 (0.04) seated at 15:00 h (p = 0.01). ONSD change in HDT was similar between 12:00 and 15:00 h (p ≥ 0.30). Changes at 12:00 h correlated with those at 15:00 h for horizontal (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and vertical ONSD (r = 0.73, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The ONSD increased when body posture transitioned from seated to HDT position without any further change at the end of the 3 h in HDT.
Plasma cell‐free DNA concentration increases during luteolysis in beef cows
Authors: Lopez‐Duarte Maria Camila , Londoño Camila , Lasso Sergio , Heredia Daniella , Brown Morgan , DiLorenzo Nicolas , Pohler Ky , Gonella Angela
Published: July 2023

During cell death, DNA is fragmented and reaches the bloodstream in the form of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA). Luteal cells must undergo an apoptotic process during structural luteolysis to begin a new oestrous cycle. We hypothesized that cfDNA concentrations would increase when inducing luteolysis by applying prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) analog to the cycling cow. Multiparous non‐pregnant and non‐lactating Angus cows (Bos taurus; n = 15) were synchronized using the 7‐day CoSynch + CIDR protocol. Ten days after oestrus was detected, two treatments were applied (PGF2α, n = 10; or Con, n = 5). Twice a day, grey mode and colour Doppler ultrasonography were used to calculate area (CL‐A) and luteal blood perfusion (LBP%). Additionally, we collected one blood sample for plasma progesterone (P4) and cfDNA concentrations for four consecutive days. Data analysis was performed using the GLM procedure of SAS. The luteolysis induction was demonstrated by a decrease in P4 concentrations (p ≤ .01) and CL‐A (p ≤ .01) in the PGF2α group after 12 h of the PGF2α injection. Reduction of LBP% (p ≤ .01) in the PGF2α group after 36 h of the injection. The concentration of cfDNA showed a significant increase (p = .05) after 48 h of the PGF2α application in the PGF2α group. In conclusion, cfDNA showed a significantly increased concentration after luteolysis induction, which can imply that cfDNA could be used as a luteolysis biomarker in plasma.
Validation Assessment of a Relationship between Teaching Practice and Professional Engineer Certification: A Pilot Study and Survey Evaluation
Authors: Md Lazim Nurul Asmak , Abdullah Rini Asnida , Syed Ariffin Sharifah Hafizah , Hassan Sitti Asmah , A. Samah Narina , Jamal Mohamad Hidayat , Jusoh Siti Norafida , Jaffri Hadijah
Published: July 2023

Engineering courses are regarded as challenging that require a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Inadvertently, these components present challenges to the teaching and learning (T&L) process in the classroom and up to the author's knowledge, there is no study reported in relation with professional engineer certification and UTM-NALI teaching practices. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between engineering educators with professional engineer certification and their teaching methods in particular UTM-NALI. This is a pilot study with small respondents and to validate survey questions for assessment in larger samples. Additional questions regarding the obstacles, recommendations, and example characteristics are also offered. The data on the performance of students and the distinction between certified and uncertified lecturers are discussed. Through their participation in T&L in the classroom, lecturers with and without professional engineer qualifications can be seen experiencing the effects of the NALI model. Even though hybrid classes that were conducted to help pupils catch up with previous Malaysian MCOs (movement control orders) can limit this study, through the test findings, this study can be carried out for larger samples to get congruent conclusions of proposed research.
From Childhood Dream to University Journey: My Path to Becoming a Chemical Engineer
Authors: Alshaikh Anas
Published: July 2023

From an early age, children harbor vivid dreams of their ideal future professions, fueling their aspirations and shaping their journey toward fulfilling careers. A dream that starts prior to school and grows along the journey. In this paper, I delve into the intricate factors that shaped my aspiration to become an engineer and how they molded my professional engineering identity. I adopted autoethnography and narrative inquiry approaches, delving into personal experiences and employing qualitative research methods. Through this exploration, I uncover the profound impact of societal perception theory and social learning theory on shaping my career aspirations from an early age. Reflecting on my own journey as a chemical engineering student, I trace my fascination with science back to my childhood and unveil the pivotal decision to pursue chemical engineering. Within this paper, I extensively discuss the educational environment, teaching methods, and familial influences that played crucial roles in shaping my chosen path. Furthermore, I tackle the challenges encountered throughout my university education, encompassing academic hardships, technical assessments, and the abrupt transition to online learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, my unwavering passion for chemical engineering was revitalized through hands-on application and interdisciplinary courses. This study places great emphasis on the significance of comprehensive engineering education in fostering the development of essential professional skills, critical thinking prowess, and problem-solving abilities. It serves as a testament to the multifaceted nature of engineering education and its profound influence in shaping an individual's engineering identity. Through this meticulous exploration, I aim to provide valuable insights into the underlying dynamics that drive individuals towards engineering as a profession and contribute to the broader understanding of engineering education's transformative power.
Review on Chemical Engineering Capstone Design Teaching Model to Drive Continuous Improvement and Achieving Program Outcomes
Authors: Pauzi Aziah , Kasim Farizul Hafiz
Published: July 2023

Project-based Learning (PjBL) is a well-known paradigm for engineering design education, with numerous case studies published in the literature. Capstone is intended to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for professional practice. Consequently, this paper suggests a teaching and learning model as a new paradigm for capstone design projects in an effort to perpetually enhance engineering education, particularly in chemical engineering design courses. Rigorously assessing students’ knowledge of the design process is essential for understanding how to best create learning environments to facilitate the development of such knowledge. Such assessment is also quite difficult and hence there is a lack of assessment tools capable of measuring the design process knowledge of every student. The model also intends to assess whether students can explain their tasks through PBL. Besides, it provides such a structure for aligning course learning outcomes, methods of teaching including teaching strategy and learning activity, and methods for assessing students’ performance. Instead of prioritizing student outcomes and mapping them to direct metrics related to curriculum, the model is also used to highlight areas of engineering education where significant opportunities exist for improving the preparedness of our students for capstone and ultimately for professional practice. This paper also addresses an early stage of a study to seek the challenges in incorporating complex engineering problems during designing a capstone design model.
Perspective towards the Perceived Benefits and Challenges on Building Information Modelling - Facility Management (BIM-FM) Integration at an Early Stage of BIM Projects
Authors: Ariffin Erni Yusnida , Mustafa Nur Emma , Sapri Maimunah
Published: July 2023

Building information modelling (BIM) is the most recent facility management (FM) technology adopted in Malaysia. However, management and information technology (IT) system improvements are required for the adoption of this technology. Incorporating BIM and FM at an early stage of a project has the potential to yield significant benefits but may also increase project risk. Through a survey, this study aims at investigating the prospective benefits and challenges of BIM-FM integration in the early phases of a BIM project. 109 (55.6%) of the 196 facility management companies in Klang Valley answered a questionnaire survey that was sent to them. To determine the perceived benefits and obstacles of the integrated BIM-FM process, mean scores and standard deviations were computed. As a result, respondents perceived positively that integrating BIM-FM in the early phase of the BIM project will increase performance, improve collaboration and communication, increase FM business values, and reduce costs and time. In the meantime, all respondents agreed that organizational, process and technological factors influence the early adoption of BIM-FM integration in the Malaysian construction industry. This study substantially contributes to the current understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of BIM-FM integration in the early stages of BIM projects in Malaysia.
Use or Misuse of Urban Streets? Exploration of Everyday Urbanism in Traditional City Centres
Authors: Adebara Temitope Muyiwa , Adebara Oyinloluwa Beatrice , Taiwo Amos Oluwole
Published: July 2023

Urban residents often transform street precincts into places for informal activities through everyday urbanism to meet their daily needs, particularly in traditional city centres. Although strict regulations and control over public space exist, people-centred (bottom-up) interventions usually occur in traditional city centres. While such action exemplifies the rights people claim to suit their requirements and improve the daily living experience, there are arguments that everyday use of the streets generates land-use problems. In this regard, using data collected through questionnaire surveys, observations, and interviews, this study explores the factors that facilitate everyday urbanism and encourage using the streets as public spaces in traditional city centres of Nigeria. This is to provide helpful information that could serve as a tool for putting everyday urbanism into urban planning and design practices. The study established that the three most common street activities in the traditional city centres were informal trading, social events/ceremonies, and cultural festivals. It was also shown that the everyday use of public spaces created a unique setting for social interaction among people and contributed to the liveliness of the city centres. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the crucial factors that facilitated and encouraged the everyday use of streets were the economic factor (18.2%), the inadequacy of environmental amenities (17.8%), and culture and social lifestyle (12.2%). This study concludes that everyday urbanism contributes significantly to creating vibrant communities and improving life quality; therefore, it is recommended that the control and management of activities in public spaces should align with people's culture, lived experiences and socioeconomic realities.
Causes of Valuation Inaccuracy in Mortgage Lending in Ethiopia
Authors: Asres Habtamu Bishaw
Published: July 2023

This study aims to add to the scarce empirical literature on mortgage valuation by ranking the variables that make inaccurate mortgage valuations. Given the central role, valuation plays in lending, high valuation inaccuracy leads to major market distortions in real estate with potentially harmful financial system repercussions. Thus, this study is envisioned to investigate the causes of valuation inaccuracy for mortgage purpose in commercial banks in Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed design. Data were collected from valuers through questionnaires and interviews using purposive, snowball, and convenience sampling techniques. To investigate the impact of the factors on valuation inaccuracy, an ordinal regression model was used. The study revealed that inappropriate valuation methods, the inadequacy of the market data, and property market imperfection were the most significant predictors. However, there are moderately significant causes which include the characteristics of the property market, valuation regulatory framework, and absence of the valuation standard. Client pressure, ethics, and competence of valuers were insignificant predictors. This paper recommends that the government should establish a government agency that is independent and in charge of valuation regulation, developing legal frameworks, and intervening in the property market. Based on the framework valuers should use an appropriate valuation method. Moreover, there should be an establishment of central databases that valuers relied on.
Dynamic Relationships among Composite Property Prices of Major Chinese Cities: Contemporaneous Causality through Vector Error Corrections and Directed Acyclic Graphs
Authors: Xu Xiaojie , Zhang Yun
Published: July 2023

The present study is the first one that investigates dynamic relations among composite real estate price indices of ten different cities in China during the years from 2005 to 2021. Utilizing the data recorded on a monthly basis, we apply VECM (vector error-correction modeling) and DAGs (directed acyclic graphs) in order to characterize contemporaneous causal relations among the ten real estate price indices. We use the PC algorithm to identify a pattern with non-directed edges and the LiNGAM algorithm to determine the causal ordering, based on which we calculate the results of innovation accounting. The LiNGAM algorithm adopted here effectively utilizes non-normality for facilitating the arrival of complete causal orderings. Our results show that price dynamics revealed through processes of price adjustments due to shocks to prices are rather sophisticated and such dynamics are, in general, dominated by price indices of Shanghai and Shenzhen, which are two top-tier cities among the four top-tier cities in China. This indicates that policy design on composite property prices should be focusing on price indices of Shanghai and Shenzhen.