bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, four-way crossover trial to demonstrate the comparative pharmacodynamic equivalence of a non-invasive diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency in a healthy population: the STARLIT-2 study protocol
Authors: Date Kathryn L , Baster Kathleen , Caunt Sharon L , Cohen Judith , Debono Miguel , Fearnside Jane , Johnson Trevor N , Ross Richard J , Taylor Rosie N , Elder Charlotte J
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Cortisol is an essential stress hormone and failure of its production, known as adrenal insufficiency (AI), is associated with significant mortality due to adrenal crisis. The Short Synacthen Test (SST) is the current diagnostic test of choice for AI, but it is both invasive and resource intensive. Globally, there is an unmet need for a non-invasive, cost-effective test. A novel formulation, Nasacthin, has been developed, which can be delivered intranasally, with the resultant glucocorticoid levels measured in saliva instead of blood. The Salivary Test of Adrenal Response to Liquid Intranasal Tetracosactide (STARLIT-2) study aims to clinically validate the Nasacthin test in healthy volunteers.

Methods and analysis

STARLIT-2 is a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, four-way crossover trial. 32 healthy adults and children will be randomised to receive each of four study drugs (Synacthen, Nasacthin and their respective placebos) over four study visits (one per visit). Paired blood and saliva samples will be collected from participants at baseline, and then at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after drug administration. Additional salivary samples will be collected at 180, 240, 360 and 480 min after drug administration. The primary outcome measures are to compare the mean serum cortisol at 30 min after Synacthen or Nasacthin dose, with a view to determine non-inferiority; and to compare the mean change from baseline in serum cortisol at 30 min after active and placebo doses of both Synacthen and Nasacthin, aiming to demonstrate superiority of active over placebo. In addition, the proportion of participants for which Nasacthin produces a rise above a preset serum cortisol threshold at 30 min will be determined, with the negative per cent agreement with the SST calculated using the SST as the reference standard.

Ethics and dissemination

The study and its amendments have been reviewed and approved by South Central–Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, and feedback to trial participants will be facilitated following consultation with patient and public involvement and engagement groups.

Trial registration number

NCT62724177
Novel electroretinography devices to detect hydroxychloroquine retinopathy: study protocol for a diagnostic accuracy and feasibility study
Authors: Lee Chan Ning , Wafa Hatem A , Murphy George , Galloway James , Mahroo Omar A , Jackson Timothy L
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Annual screening for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy is recommended, and electroretinography (ERG) is considered a gold-standard test, but there are screening shortfalls and standard ERG is burdensome and has limited availability. Newer, portable ERG devices using skin-based electrodes may increase screening capacity but need validation. This study aims to determine initial device accuracies and feasibility of further research.

Methods and analysis

Prospective diagnostic device accuracy and feasibility study comparing novel ERG devices to standard screening tests. Three groups of 35 participants on HCQ, categorised by HCQ retinopathy (definite, possible and no retinopathy), and 35 healthy control participants, recruited by consecutive sampling, will have full field and multifocal ERG index tests, delivered using skin-contact electrodes by two devices—RETEval full-field and UTAS multifocal ERG, both manufactured by LKC Technologies (Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA), compared with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence reference tests graded by two masked, independent retinal specialists. Eligible HCQ participants will either have diagnosed HCQ retinopathy or be eligible for screening per UK guidelines. Healthy control participants will have no prior HCQ exposure and be of similar age and sex to HCQ participants. Primary outcome is device-specific sensitivity and specificity. Secondary outcomes include the effect of dilation on device outputs, analysis of discriminatory waveforms, device acceptability and recruitment rate. Safety outcomes include adverse and serious adverse events and device events.

Ethics and dissemination

Cambridge East ethics committee gave a favourable opinion (24/EE/0011, 23/02/2024). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed ophthalmology journal.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.govNCT06035887.
To what extent did households in developing countries forgo needed healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic? Repeated survey estimates from 25 countries in 2020 and 2021
Authors: Kakietek Jakub , Dayton Eberwein Julia , Kerr Amanda , Stacey Nicholas
Published: December 2024

Introduction

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, health system disruptions, fear of becoming infected with COVID-19, mobility restrictions and lockdowns, and reduced household incomes likely contributed to households forgoing needed healthcare. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of forgone healthcare and how its drivers changed between the early period of the pandemic in 2020 and the first half of 2021.

Methods

Using repeated measures collected over two time periods in 63 000 households in 25 low-income and middle-income countries, this analysis documents how the prevalence of forgone healthcare and its drivers changed between 2020 and 2021.

Results

In 2020, in the sample pooled across all countries, 17.9% of households reported not being able to obtain needed healthcare. The prevalence of forgone care was 15.6% in low-income countries (LICs), 17.0% in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) and 20.5% in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs). In 2021, the prevalence of forgone care was lower—10.3% in the pooled sample, 7.9% in LICs, 15.1% in LMICs and 5.3% in UMICs. Financial barriers were the most common reason for not obtaining needed healthcare in both time periods: 42% in 2020 and 45% in 2021 and were higher in LICs and LMICs than in UMICs.

Conclusion

This study is a comprehensive analysis of the changes in forgone care in low-income and middle-income countries. It documents the predominance of financial barriers among those who could not obtain needed healthcare. It suggests the importance of pandemic preparedness to protect access by vulnerable households to essential healthcare service. The study also demonstrates that phone surveys could, at scale, be a cost-effective way to improve the monitoring of progress towards universal health coverage.
How to conduct and report checking transitivity and inconsistency in network-meta-analysis: a narrative review including practical worked examples, code and source data for sports and exercise medicine researchers
Authors: Belavý Daniel L , Kaczorowski Svenja , Saueressig Tobias , Owen Patrick J , Nikolakopoulou Adriani
Published: December 2024

The use of network meta-analysis (NMA) in sport and exercise medicine (SEM) research continues to rise as it enables the comparison of multiple interventions that may not have been assessed in a single randomised controlled trial. NMA can then inform clinicians on potentially better interventions. Despite the increased use of NMA, we have observed that in the SEM field, a key challenge for author groups can be the assessment and reporting of key assumptions, in particular transitivity and consistency. This paper provides SEM researchers with a practical guide on how to approach the transitivity and consistency assumptions of NMA. Using a previously published NMA in the SEM field, we provide the statistical code, source data and worked examples to facilitate understanding and best practice of NMA in the particular field. We hope these resources result in improved conduct and reporting of NMA that ultimately leads to advances in the SEM field.
Lupus nephritis randomised controlled trials: evidence gaps and under-represented groups
Authors: Nordmann-Gomes Alberto , Cojuc-Konigsberg Gabriel , Hernández-Andrade Adriana , Navarro-Sánchez Valeria , Ramírez-Sandoval Juan Carlos , Rovin Brad , Mejia-Vilet Juan M
Published: December 2024

Objective

We performed a scoping review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) assessing pharmacological therapies for the initial management of lupus nephritis (LN), focusing on study design, included populations and outcome definitions, to assess the generalisability of their results and identify gaps in the evidence.

Methods

RCTs evaluating pharmacological interventions for the initial therapy of LN published between 2000 and 2024 were evaluated. Extracted variables included study design, selection criteria, outcome definitions, populations recruited and clinical characteristics of participants. Each study arm was included as intervention and segregated into guideline-recommended regimens (cyclophosphamide (CYC), mycophenolic acid analogues (MPAAs), calcineurin inhibitors and belimumab) or other regimens. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics, and Fragility Index (FI) was estimated to assess robustness of studies.

Results

We included 124 intervention arms within 61 RCT, involving 7058 participants. Seventy-nine arms (63.7%) corresponded to guideline-recommended therapies: 33 (26.6%) MPAA, 28 (22.6%) NIH-CYC and 7 (5.6%) triple-drug therapies. While 100% of triple-drug therapies RCT were multinational, only 7.1% of NIH-CYC and 0% of tacrolimus RCTs were conducted in more than one country. Only 9 (14.8%) had follow-up ≥24 months. Ten (16.4%) RCTs exclusively included participants with severe or refractory LN. Only 29 (47.5%) reported serious adverse events, and few described patient-reported outcomes. Black and other race participants were under-represented, as well as participants from Middle East, North Africa, and the sub-Saharan African region. Response was variably defined and assessed at different intervals. Robustness of RCTs evaluating double-drug guideline-recommended therapies were mostly low, with FI ranging from 1 to 3.

Conclusions

Considering new recommendations for the management of LN, we call for broader inclusion of under-represented populations and homogenisation of study design. This study provides the rationale for evaluating unexplored treatment comparisons and conducting research on newer interventions in clinical settings where evidence is currently lacking.
Generalized uncertainty principle corrections in Rastall–Rainbow Casimir wormholes
Authors: Battista Emmanuele , Capozziello Salvatore , Errehymy Abdelghani
Published: December 2024

We explore wormhole solutions sourced by Casimir energy density involving generalized uncertainty principle corrections within the framework of Rastall–Rainbow gravity. The questions of traversability and stability, as well as the presence of exotic matter, are carefully investigated. In particular, the stability issue is addressed via an approach that has not been previously employed in the context of wormholes. This method, which represents an improved version of the so-called Herrera cracking technique, has the potential to yield novel insights in the field of wormhole geometries.
FLAME: Self-Supervised Low-Resource Taxonomy Expansion Using Large Language Models
Authors: Mishra Sahil , Sudev Ujjwal , Chakraborty Tanmoy
Published: December 2024

Taxonomies represent an arborescence hierarchical structure that establishes relationships among entities to convey knowledge within a specific domain. They find utility in various real-world applications, such as e-commerce search engines and recommendation systems. Consequently, there arises a necessity to enhance these taxonomies over time. However, manually curating taxonomies with neoteric data presents challenges due to limitations in available human resources and the exponential growth of data. Therefore, it becomes imperative to develop automatic taxonomy expansion methods. Traditional approaches encounter difficulties stemming from limited resources, primarily due to the small size of existing taxonomies. This scarcity of training data often leads to overfitting. In this paper, we propose
FLAME
(
F
ine-tuning
LA
rge language
M
odels for taxonomy
E
xpansion), a novel approach for taxonomy expansion in low-resource environments (i.e., limited size of existing taxonomies, lack of robust representation capabilities of pre-trained language models, etc.) by harnessing the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) that are trained on extensive real-world knowledge.
LLMs help compensate for the scarcity of domain-specific knowledge
. Specifically,
FLAME
leverages prompting in few-shot settings to extract the inherent knowledge within the LLMs, ascertaining the hypernym entities within the taxonomy. Furthermore, it employs reinforcement learning to fine-tune LLMs, resulting in more accurate predictions. Experiments on four real-world benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of
FLAME
in real-world scenarios, achieving a remarkable improvement of 12.8% in accuracy and 5.6% in Wu & Palmer metric over eleven baselines. Furthermore, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of
FLAME
through an extensive case study, error analysis and ablation studies on the benchmarks.
Counterfactual Explainer for Deep Reinforcement Learning Models using Policy Distillation
Authors: Samadi Amir , Koufos Konstantinos , Debattista Kurt , Dianati Mehrdad
Published: December 2024

Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) has demonstrated promising capability in solving complex control problems. However, DRL applications in safety-critical systems are hindered by the inherent lack of robust validation techniques to assure their performance in such applications. One of the key requirements of the verification process is the development of effective techniques to explain the system functionality, providing why the system produces specific results in given circumstances. Recently, interpretation methods based on the Counterfactual (CF) explanation approach have been proposed to address the problem of explanation in DRLs. This article proposes a novel CF explainer to interpret the decisions made by a black-box DRL. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed explanation framework, we carried out several experiments in the domains of Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) and the Atari Pong game. Our analysis demonstrates that the proposed framework generates plausible and meaningful explanations for various decisions made by deep underlying DRLs. Additionally, we discuss the practical implications of our approach for various automotive stakeholders, illustrating its potential real-world impact. Source codes are available at
https://github.com/Amir-Samadi/Counterfactual-Explanation
.
Case 336
Authors: Boitsios Grammatina , Aeby Alec , Andrei Alina Mihaela
Published: December 2024

History

A 10-month-old female infant, who was second-born, was referred for progressive macrocephaly, axial hypotonia, developmental delay, and limb stiffness. Birth had occurred at 41 weeks, after an uneventful pregnancy and delivery, to nonconsanguineous parents. Noticeably, the child could not hold her head up at 4 months or sit at 10 months of age. Her vocalizations were modulated to express contentment or anger, without developmentally appropriate babbling. Neurologic examination revealed poor visual contact, progressive macrocephaly, substantial axial hypotonia, and limb stiffness with brisk osteotendinous reflexes, suggestive of spastic diplegia. No swallowing difficulties or seizures were reported, and long-term electroencephalographic monitoring revealed no abnormalities. The patient underwent 3-T MRI (Siemens Healthineers) of the brain, including morphologic sequences and spectroscopy ( Figs 1 – 4 ), under general anesthesia with and without gadolinium-based contrast media administration (Dotarem; Guerbet).
New evidence for baroreflex and respiratory chemoreflex-mediated cerebral sympathetic activation in humans
Authors: Tymko Michael M. , Drapeau Audrey , Vieira-Coelho Maria Augusta , Labrecque Lawrence , Imhoff Sarah , Coombs Geoff B. , Langevin Stephan , Fortin Marc , Châteauvert Nathalie , Ainslie Philip N. , Brassard Patrice
Published: December 2024

The results of the current study suggest that baroreflex and respiratory chemoreflex stressors elevate cerebral sympathetic nervous activity, quantified using the brain norepinephrine spillover method. However, the observed cerebral sympathetic activation has no impact on blood flow regulation in the internal carotid artery.
Comparative Analysis of Church, Community, and National Park Forests in Biomass Carbon Stock and Climate Change Mitigation in Ethiopia: A Review
Authors: Sewagegn Geremew Bitew
Published: December 2024

Recently, biophysical, environmental, and economic indicators have provided strong evidence that natural resources in Ethiopia are severely deteriorating due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. As a result, only small remnant woody species were left around churches, national parks, and some protected community forests through legal protections and religious sanctions. The study aimed to identify the highest biomass carbon‐storing forest category for climate change mitigation in Ethiopia. The above‐ and belowground biomass carbon stock data were collected and extracted from published and unpublished scientific reports based on their relevance and linkage to the topic, publication date, quality of the source, methodological rigor, clarity, and accessibility. The biomass carbon stock variation among each category was analyzed using ANOVA version 20. The mean biomass carbon stock of church, community, and national park forests was 151.80, 303.55, and 160 tons/ha, respectively. According to the result, each forest category has been playing an important role in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation in the country. The study concludes that community forests exhibit the highest biomass carbon stock and contribute their critical role in climate change mitigation, supporting ecosystem services, and maintaining ecological stability.
Self‐Expandable Metal Stent for Palliation of Dysphagia in Cancer Esophagus at a Tertiary Care Center of North‐East India: A Prospective Study
Authors: Kundalia Rohin , Kodali Revanth Kumar , Deka Dibyajyoti , Talukdar Abhijit , Jyoti kalita Deep , Das Gaurav , Sharma Shivaji , Malhotra Mohit
Published: December 2024

Background and Aim: Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer in India with a incidence of around 4.5%. Dysphagia is the primary manifestation of advanced esophageal cancer in 80%–90% of patients. Dysphagia is one of the most distressing and debilitating symptom for the patients. The use of self‐expanding metallic stents (SEMS) has revolutionized the treatment of dysphagia in esophageal cancer patients. This study aims to assess the role of SEMS in the palliation of dysphagia in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: This was a single‐center, prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, India, from April 2019 to March 2020. Patients were assessed after stent placement for improvements in dysphagia, pain relief, nutritional status, and associated complications.

Results: One week after stent placement, 65.3% of patients were able to tolerate semisolid food and 6.1% could tolerate solids. Prior to stent insertion, 87.8% had Grade 4 dysphagia, but at 6 months post‐SEMS placement, 90.2% had only Grade 1 dysphagia. This represented a statistically significant improvement in the dysphagia grade, with a p value less than 0.0001. Further analysis using ANOVA and paired t‐tests showed significant improvements in weight, body mass index (BMI), and serum albumin at 1, 3, and 6 months after stent placement, with p values less than 0.001.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the placement of SEMS is a safe and effective palliative intervention for management of dysphagia in carcinoma esophagus, leading to improvements in patient nutrition and quality of life, with relatively few associated complications.
Perfect Roman {3}‐Domination in Graphs: Complexity and Bound of Perfect Roman {3}‐Domination Number of Trees
Authors: Almulhim Ahlam
Published: December 2024

A perfect Roman {3}‐dominating function on a graph G = (V, E) is a function f : V⟶{0, 1, 2, 3} having the property that if f(v) = 0, then ∑u∈N(v)f(u) = 3, and if f(v) = 1, then ∑u∈N(v)f(u) = 2 for any vertex v ∈ V. The weight of a perfect Roman {3}‐dominating function f is the sum ∑v∈Vf(v). The perfect Roman {3}‐domination number of a graph G, denoted by , is the minimum weight of a perfect Roman {3}‐dominating function on G. In this paper, we initiate the study of a perfect Roman {3}‐domination, and we show that the decision problem associated with a perfect Roman {3}‐domination is NP‐complete for bipartite graphs. We also prove that if T is a tree of order n ≥ 2, then and characterize trees achieving this bound, and we give an infinity set of trees T of order n for which approaches this bound as n goes to infinity. Finally, we give the best upper bound of for some classes of graphs including regular, planar, and split graphs in terms of the order of the graphs.
Detection, Evaluation, and Reinforcement of Anchor Bolt Foundation Damage After Wind Turbine Tower Collapse
Authors: Lv Weirong , Gan Dejia , Yao Shuai , Qi Jingjing , Lu Beirong , Wu Jiaqiang
Published: December 2024

This paper presents an on‐site anchor bolt tension‐force versus deformation detection method, which enables the assessment and evaluation of the extent of damage in the anchored zone of anchor bolts buried deep within concrete. In addition, considering different toppling modes and their respective force mechanisms, the paper proposes using the entire cross‐sectional plastic bending moment with a 0.4 impact coefficient as the actual effective bending moment for the anchor bolt foundation. This is employed to calculate the tensile forces in the anchor bolts and the local compressive bearing capacity of the concrete above the lower anchor plate. The computational results indicate that the plastic damage in the anchored zone of problematic anchor bolts is primarily caused by the crushing of concrete above the lower anchor plate rather than axial plastic deformation of the anchor bolts. Accordingly, targeted reinforcement schemes for repairing lower anchor plate deformations and replacing locally crushed concrete are proposed and successfully applied, providing practical reference for engineering applications.
WOMEN TRAPPED BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPHERES: MANIFESTATIONS OF ALIENATION
Authors: Gür Didem , Aksoy Beyhan
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the perception of femininity shaped by gender norms at the intersection of public and private spheres, and to which of these spheres women feel they belong more. This examination examines not only the ties or new forms of relations that women establish towards the private sphere, but also the alternatives available for the continuity of the private sphere and the meanings they carry in social relations. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 female workers in factories in Istanbul, and the data were interpreted through critical discourse analysis. According to the results of the research, women become strangers to the private sphere, which is characterized as their “place,” and cannot fully find a place in the public sphere. While women are not enough for the private sphere to which they feel they belong and cannot fully find a place for themselves in the male-dominated public sphere, they also become strangers to the gender norms they have internalized and their assumptions about being a woman. Women are squeezed between the private and public spheres and become alienated by losing their belonging, identity, and beliefs about their gender.
Modeling the Mutation and Competition of Certain Nutrient-Producing Protocells by Means of Specific Turing Machines
Authors: Kicsiny Richárd , Hufnagel Levente , Lóczi Lajos , Székely László , Varga Zoltán
Published: December 2024

It is very important to model the behavior of protocells as basic lifelike artificial organisms more and more accurately from the level of genomes to the level of populations. A better understanding of basic protocell communities may help us in describing more complex ecological systems accurately. In this article, we propose a new comprehensive, bilevel mathematical model of a community of three protocell species (one generalist and two specialists). The aim is to achieve a model that is as basic/fundamental as possible while already displaying mutation, selection, and complex population dynamics phenomena (like competitive exclusion and keystone species). At the microlevel of genetic codes, the protocells and their mutations are modeled with Turing machines (TMs). The specialists arise from the generalist by means of mutation. Then the species are put into a common habitat, where, at the macrolevel of populations, they have to compete for the available nutrients, a part of which they themselves can produce. Because of different kinds of mutations, the running times of the species as TMs (algorithms) are different. This feature is passed on to the macrolevel as different reproduction times. At the macrolevel, a discrete-time dynamic model describes the competition. The model displays complex lifelike behavior known from population ecology, including the so-called competitive exclusion principle and the effect of keystone species. In future works, the bilevel model will have a good chance of serving as a simple and useful tool for studying more lifelike phenomena (like evolution) in their pure/abstract form.
Effects of Migration on Farm Labour among Rice Farmers in Mamou Prefecture, Guinea Conakry
Authors: Thomas Kehinde Adesina , Oyebode Lukman Abiodun , Toure Siaka
Published: December 2024

One of the critical assets directed at agricultural production is labour. In this context, the effects of migration on farm labour among rice farmers in Mamou Prefecture, Guinea Conakry, were assessed. To achieve this goal, 140 respondents were sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data to present results and test for correlation between ranked variables. Prominent among the push factors responsible for farm labour migration were poverty (

, sd = 0.83), poor healthcare services (

, sd = 0.74) and unemployment

sd = 0.61),) while good government policies (

, sd = 0.75) and food security (

, sd = 0.63) were the pull factors. The highest-ranked migration types with effects on farm labour migration were short term (

, sd = 0.45), internal (

, sd = 0.78) and individual (

, sd = 1.45) migration. Farm labour was unavailable (77.1%) in the study area on a cumulative scale. There was an inverse relationship between unemployment (rho = −0.019, p = 0.024), method of land preparation (rho = −0.219, p = 0.009), marital status (rho = −0.178, p = 0.036), family/friends (rho = −0.184, p = 0.030) and farm labour availability, whereas the relationship was direct for the availability of raw materials for production (rho = 0.240, p = 0.004) and farm labour availability. The enacting and sustaining of enabling government policies to improve the livelihoods and the intensifying of agricultural mechanisation are recommended in order to stem migration and sustain farm labour availability.
AI Integration in Biology Education: Comparative Insights into Perceived Benefits and TPACK among South African and Indonesian Pre-service Teachers
Authors: Mnguni Lindelani , Nuangchalerm Prasart , El Islami R. Ahmad Zaky , Sibanda Doras , Ramulumo Moleboheng , Sari Indah Juwita
Published: December 2024

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in biology education offers transformative potential, yet teacher preparedness for AI remains under-researched. This study explores the perceived benefits of AI integration and self-reported Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) among pre-service biology teachers from a South African university (n = 62) and an Indonesian university (n = 51). Using a comparative survey design, data were collected via an online questionnaire. Indonesian participants reported higher Technological Knowledge and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge levels, though both groups viewed AI integration positively, with no significant differences in perceived benefits. Among Indonesian participants, Technological Knowledge strongly correlated with perceived benefits, especially for peer collaboration. These findings highlight the importance of tailored teacher training and equitable technological resource allocation to enhance AI integration in biology education. The study underscores the critical role of technological and pedagogical knowledge in fostering positive attitudes toward AI adoption in diverse educational settings.
The Use of Educational Technology (Ed Tech) to Improve Student’s Learning Rational Functions: Conceptual and Procedural Understanding
Authors: Bekene Bedada Tola
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to ascertain how teaching rational function to students using the GeoGebra and cycle model affected their conceptual and procedural comprehension. To achieve the purpose, the study used a quasi-experimental pre-posttest design with a quantitative methodology. Thirty four learners in grade eleven in Ethiopia school comprised the study’s sample, of which sixteen were in the experimental (eg) and eighteen were in the control groups (cg). The data obtained from pretest and post-test were analyzed using spss v.20. The study showed that difference between the eg’s and cg’s achievement was statistically significant, with the eg’s effect size being 0.38 and the cg’s being 0.544 following procedural and conceptual interventions, respectively. The study advise Ethiopian schools should embrace GeoGebra software in conjunction with the three theories through a continuous special capacity building approach, keeping in mind the software’s limitations and constraints as these results are in line with international research.
Illustrated key to the genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in the Neotropical region
Authors: HUBER JOHN T. , READ JENNIFER D. , TRIAPITSYN SERGUEI V.
Published: December 2024

This paper summarizes the current knowledge on Neotropical Mymaridae. Separate identification keys for females, and for males where known, are given for the 60 valid genera of Mymaridae in the Neotropical region south of Mexico but including Bermuda and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. The subgenera of four genera (Anagrus Haliday, Anaphes Haliday, Erythmelus Enock and Polynema Haliday) are also included in the key to females. The genera are illustrated with 356 photographs. The 298 valid species reported from the region are catalogued. Host genus and, sometimes, species records are reported for 15 genera and 61 species of Mymaridae from rearings undertaken in the region. The hosts identified to order and sometimes to family are known for a few additional genera. An appendix lists the 34 species from Mexico but not recorded in the Neotropical region as defined in this publication. Tanyostethium Yoshimoto, syn. n., is synonymized under Erdosiella Soyka and its type species Tanyostethium elongatum Yoshimoto is transferred to Erdosiella as Erdosiella elongatum (Yoshimoto), comb. n. †Palaeopatasson Witsack, syn. n., is synonymized under Schizophragma Ogloblin and its type species, †Palaeopatasson grollei Witsack is transferred to Schizophragma as Schizophragma †grollei (Witsack), comb. n. One new genus in the Polynema group of genera is described from the New World, Quasipalaeoneura Triapitsyn & Huber, gen. n., with the type species Polynema mymaripennis Dozier. Palaeoneura mymaripennis (Dozier) and P. durwest Triapitsyn are transferred to Quasipalaeoneura as, respectively, Quasipalaeoneura mymaripennis (Dozier), comb. n. and Quasipalaeoneura durwest (Triapitsyn), comb. n..
Taxonomic revision of the family Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) in Korea, including seven newly recorded species of the genus Coleophora Hübner
Authors: KOO JUN-MO , CHO SOOWON
Published: December 2024

We report seven species of the family Coleophoridae (Gelechioidea) for the first time in Korea: Coleophora clypeiferella Hofmann, 1871; C. kamchatica (Anikin, 1999); C. lativittella Erschoff, 1877; C. levantis Baldizzone & Oku, 1988; C. parthenica Meyrick, 1891; C. uliginosella Glitz, 1872; and C. vacciniella Herrich-Schäffer, 1861. Diagnostic characteristics, redescription, and biological information based on previous research by various authors for each of the seven species are provided. Additionally, we include two species, C. montaniella Oku & Kusunoki, 2018, and C. artemisicolella Bruand, 1855, which were not included in the Korean checklist of the family due to an oversight, despite evidence of their distribution in Korea, and exclude two species, C. ulmivorella Oku, 1965, and C. yomogiella Oku, 1974, which turned out to be misidentified. Consequently, with these updates, the total number of known Korean species has been confirmed to be 43 species, an increase from the previously identified 36 species. Furthermore, high-resolution photographs are also provided for 22 species among the previously known 36 species.
Catalogue of the Family Panorpidae (Mecoptera) in Canada, México and the United States
Authors: DICKSON KATHRYN
Published: December 2024

Panorpa is the sole genus of the family Panorpidae (Mecoptera) occurring in North America. Here is presented a new catalogue that updates the list of Panorpa species present in Canada, México and the United States, last summarized by Penny and Byers (1979) and Penny (1997) and, for México, by Byers (2011) and Contreras-Ramos et al. (2014). In 1979 there were 46 species listed, but since then identifications of new species and new synonymies have brought the total count to 91 species. This catalogue provides for each species its valid name, complete bibliography, type specimen depository, type locality, distribution by province/state, and a synonymy of names applied.
Benchtop centrifugation: An effective method for reducing lipaemia associated interference in grossly lipaemic samples?
Authors: Hall James L. , Carlton Henry C. , Shipman Kate E.
Published: December 2024

Background

Grossly lipaemic samples are a significant cause of analytical errors, potentially impacting patient care. The causes of lipaemia are varied and often unavoidable, while methods to reduce lipaemia through gold-standard ultracentrifugation are limited by availability, transportation and cost. Benchtop centrifugation has been proposed as an alternative method to reduce lipaemia.

Methods

Fifty-three grossly lipaemic serum samples (lipaemia >201.8 mg/dL) that were unsuitable for analysis were selected and centrifugated at 18840 g for different time-periods with lipaemia measured prior to and after centrifugation. Core analytes were measured on serum samples free of lipaemia before and after 30 min of centrifugation at 18840 g to assess the effect of the centrifugation process.

Results

After centrifugation for 5 min, 90% of grossly lipaemic samples were either ideal (lipaemia <50 mg/dL) or adequate (lipaemia 50.1–201.7 mg/dL) for analyte testing. All samples were either adequate or ideal for testing following centrifugation for 30 min. Although some analytes showed a statistically significant change in the measured concentration post high-speed centrifugation, none had clinically significant changes according to analyte specific reference change value (RCV) analysis. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) demonstrated the most notable reductions in activity, but these did not exceed their RCV.

Conclusions

Benchtop centrifugation shows potential laboratory utility in reducing lipaemia whilst maintaining clinically reliable results, however small sample sizes preclude firm conclusions. Further research is warranted to increase the sample size with finer time-point tuning, sub-group analysis and temperature analysis, due to the potential for sample heat injury, to balance practicality and accuracy.
Improving Classroom Engagement and Reducing Exclusionary Discipline: A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Inclusive Skill-Building Learning Approach During COVID-19
Authors: Nese Rhonda N. T. , Nese Joe F. T. , Santiago-Rosario María R. , Izzard Sara , Newson Alex , Pimentel-Mannan Irin , Lissman Dana Cohen , Daza Tony , Triplett Danielle , Malose Saki
Published: December 2024

This study examined the impact of a classroom-level component of The Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach (ISLA), an instructional and restorative alternative to exclusionary discipline, on student behaviors and school discipline practices in middle schools. Intervention implementation, classroom observations, and all other data collection took place once schools resumed in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus the study design was modified to a quasi-experimental design that included a control sample. Findings showed that focusing on classroom-level prevention alone increased students’ active engagement, decreased disruptive behaviors, and resulted in lower rates of exclusion from the learning environment for treatment schools.
An Evaluation of a Jordanian Version of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition Brief Form (BOT-2BF) for Use with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Al-Zboon Eman Khleif Ali , Abdel Latif Moukhles Aljaiuossi Noof
Published: December 2024

In the current study, we tested a Jordanian version of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition, Brief Form (BOT2-BF) for use with children with autism. Study participants were a convenience sample of 140 children in Jordan, aged 4–8 years, including70 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 70 children without disabilities. The BOT 2-BF consists of 12 items divided into eight main areas: fine motor skills, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, balance, speed and agility, coordination of the upper extremities, and strength. We administered the Jordanian version of the scale individually to all the participants and found it to have acceptable construct validity, internal item consistency, internal sub-scale correlations, discriminant validity for our two groups, and factorial validity on confirmatory factor analysis. The scale also had acceptable split-half reliability. This study is the first Arabic adaptation of the BOT-2BF, and it is the first study to show utility of this instrument for children with ASD. We present further recommendations for research and practice.
Uncovering Patterns in Overdose Deaths: An Analysis of Spike Identification in Fatal Drug Overdose Data in Massachusetts, 2017-2023
Authors: Lee Hannah , Otero-Leon Daniel , Dong Huiru , Stringfellow Erin J. , Jalali Mohammad S.
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

Yearly rolling aggregate trends or rates are commonly used to analyze trends in overdose deaths, but focusing on long-term trends can obscure short-term fluctuations (eg, daily spikes). We analyzed data on spikes in daily fatal overdoses and how various spike detection thresholds influence the identification of spikes.

Materials and Methods:

We used a spike detection algorithm to identify spikes among 16 660 drug-related overdose deaths (from any drug) reported in Massachusetts’ vital statistics from 2017 through 2023. We adjusted the parameters of the algorithm to define spikes in 3 distinct scenarios: deaths exceeding 2 adjusted moving SDs above the 7-, 30-, and 90-day adjusted moving average.

Results:

Our results confirmed the on-the-ground observation that there are days when many more people die of overdoses than would be expected based on fluctuations due to differences among people alone. We identified spikes on 5.8% to 20.6% of the days across the 3 scenarios, annually, constituting 11.1% to 31.6% of all overdose deaths. The absolute difference in percentage points of days identified as spikes varied from 5.2 to 11.5 between 7- and 30-day lags and from 0 to 4.6 between 30- and 90-day lags across years. When compared with the adjusted moving average across the 3 scenarios, in 2017 an average of 3.9 to 5.5 additional deaths occurred on spike days, while in 2023 the range was 3.7 to 6.0.

Practice Implications:

A substantial percentage of deaths occurred annually on spike days, highlighting the need for effectively monitoring short-term overdose trends. Moreover, our study serves as a foundational analysis for future research into exogenous events that may contribute to spikes in overdose deaths, aiming to prevent future deaths.
Sound absorption performance of corncob/hemp composite fabric material
Authors: Zhu Yijun , Ye Xiqian , Huang Juan , Deng Zhongmin , Liu Xueting
Published: December 2024

Agro-industrial waste corncob was used to develop a new thin corncob/hemp composite fabric (CHCF) material to improve the sound absorption performance of fiber materials. CHCF materials were prepared from agro-industrial waste corncob pellets and natural hemp fiber by spreading corncob pellets in hemp fiber webs, layering, and high-temperature treatment. The sound absorption performances of the CHCF material, corncob material, and hemp fiber nonwoven fabric were compared, and the effects of the size, content, and gradient mass of corncob pellets, and the gradient thickness of the hemp fiber web on sound absorption by CHCF materials were also analyzed. The results showed that the CHCF material with a smaller thickness exhibited better sound absorption than corncob material and hemp fiber nonwoven fabric, and the smaller the corncob pellet size, the better the sound absorption. The content of corncob pellets had a significant impact on the sound absorption of CHCF. The gradient structures were conducive to further improving the sound absorption of CHCF materials.
Analyses of micro-structure and mechanical behavior of polyester pre-oriented filament with dark color by adjusting linear density
Authors: Yao Li , Han Wu , Zhaoqun Du , Taohai Yan , Zhi Chen
Published: December 2024

The number of fiber components of polyester filaments has an important influence on the strength and feel of filaments and textile products. The number of polyester filaments can be adjusted by selecting the number of spinneret holes on the spinneret plate during spinning. Four kinds of polyester pre-oriented filaments (POFs) with different linear density were prepared from different production lines, named as POF1 (144 dtex/36 f), POF2 (185 dtex/48 f), POF3 (145 dtex/72 f), and POF4 (280 dtex/96 f), respectively. By testing and analyzing these filaments, their differences in micro-structure and properties were discussed. The morphology, molecular structure, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of four kinds of polyester POFs were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, filament color, and mechanical properties. By analyzing the difference of four kinds of polyester POF with different linear density in various characteristics, it provides guidance for the industrial production of polyester filament and the improvement of filament level. Experimental results show that they have smooth overall appearance, no major defects, and good spinnability. The degrees of order of the four kinds of polyesters were all lower than 5%. The degrees of orientation of the four kinds of polyesters were all about 80%. In terms of thermal properties, the larger the linear density is, the higher the melting temperature is. For color results, the higher the reflectance value of polyester filaments, the darker the color of polyester filaments. In addition, the breaking elongation and static and dynamic friction properties of POF1, POF2, and POF4 are close and they are all larger than POF3, which may be explained bf the fact that the linear density of polyester POF3 is significantly lower than that of the other three polyester POFs.
Analysis of the influence of post-processing parameters on the curling phenomenon of knitted fabrics using pixel images
Authors: Zhao Kongwei , Cao Shengbin , Xu Guangbiao , Ejegu Hermela
Published: December 2024

Curling is a common phenomenon in knitted fabrics, which can affect production efficiency and quality, and edge curling is greatly affected by dyeing and finishing processes. This article proposes a pixel-analysis-based testing method to quantify edge curling problems and reveal the relationship between curling and dyeing parameters. This study investigated three different colors (white, blue, and black) on the same fabric sample. For each color, three finishing methods were used: no softener, adding softener, and high-temperature setting after adding softener. The results showed that the rolled edges of the fabric were severe, and even without the addition of softener, the rolled edges of all three colors of fabrics were improved significantly after dyeing. The rolled edges of white fabrics are the lightest, whereas the curled edges of blue and black fabrics gradually increase. Softener effectively improves the problem of edge curling by reducing the friction coefficient between yarns, decreasing internal stress in fabrics, and lowering the bending stiffness of yarns. The mechanical effects of high-temperature setting and pressure flatten the fuzz, which can reduce the friction coefficient and bending stiffness of the yarn, and also help improve edge curling.
Investigating the effects of cognitive scenarios between real fabric and fabric visual representations
Authors: Xing Bo , Shao Qingqing , Zeng Xianyi , Koehl Ludovic , Wang Jun
Published: December 2024

The present study delves into the cognitive aspects of fabric hand evaluation, particularly under varying scenarios of real touch and visual representations (image, video). Conducted within a cognitive psychology framework, the study used a two-step rating-based double-faced applicability (DFA) test across a panel of 30 experts who evaluated 101 textile samples using 20 semantic differential descriptors. The findings indicate scenario-based discrepancies, especially pronounced within the thermal-wet sensation properties, underscoring the difference between real touch and visual representations on sensory ratings. By implementing the DFA test, the research reveals biases inherent in fabric hand evaluations and suggests modifications to enhance validity. This work not only contributes to textile quality assessment methods by recognizing scenario effects but also advances the understanding of the cognitive processing behind textile sensory perception.
Upzoning and gentrification: Heterogeneous impacts of neighbourhood-level upzoning in New York City
Authors: Kim Minjee , Lee Hyojung
Published: December 2024

In light of the calls to relax restrictive density regulations, this paper examines how increasing residential development capacity, i.e. upzoning, may change the demographic, socio-economic and housing characteristics of the affected neighbourhoods. We examine the neighbourhood-level upzonings of New York City to answer this question. We find that upzoning is positively associated with signs of gentrification – upzoned neighbourhoods became whiter, more educated and more affluent in the long run. Upzoning is also associated with increases in housing production, but housing prices also increased. Most importantly, we find that these effects varied significantly by the intensity of upzoning and the pre-upzoning local contexts. Neighbourhoods affected by intense upzonings experienced gentrification more intensely, along with greater housing production, rent growth and housing price appreciation. Black-majority and low-income neighbourhoods experienced gentrification to the greatest extent, while neighbourhoods with high demand for housing saw the greatest increases in housing supply. We discuss different mechanisms of gentrification likely at play for the different types of neighbourhoods.