bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching Presence vs. Student Perceived Preparedness for Testing in Higher Education Online English Courses During a Global Pandemic? Challenges, Tensions, and Opportunities
Authors: Morales Ronald , Frenzel Mónica , Bravo Paula Riquelme
Published: May 2022

In the context of a global pandemic that started in 2020, the Chilean higher education institution Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) faced the challenge of giving continuity to its already established blended program for English courses while also starting the implementation of a high-stakes certification assessment for its students using the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) Bridge. This study sought to evaluate how much of a mediating factor online teaching presence could be in the context of test preparation within a language course in aspects related to autonomous learning and perceived learning outcomes. A mixed-methods approach was used. It included a survey applied to 1,642 eligible students of the English program. These quantitative data were complemented with students’ comments and teacher interviews. After triangulating quantitative and qualitative data, teaching presence was clearly perceived to be a relevant aspect of the online experience in the studied courses. However, both students’ and teachers’ voices evidenced pervasive challenges and tensions that hinder the potentially transformative benefits that online learning is expected to bring about.
The Role of Academic Buoyancy and Social Support on English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Motivation in Higher Education
Authors: Jia Yanxian , Cheng Ling
Published: May 2022

Since motivation determines progress in the class, it has a significant role in the field of learning English as a foreign language (EFL), contributing to a successful learning process. Therefore, teachers need to motivate learners to achieve their learning goals and provide them with a meaningful learning process in stressful situations. Two factors are required to successfully overcome challenges in scholastic circumstances, such as academic buoyancy and social support. The former can be a significant element in a psycho-educational setting that helps learners with academic difficulties and the latter is another term that is deemed as an important predictor of academic motivation even when considering perceived support from teachers and peers. The functions of academic buoyancy and social support factors in the process of learning and their association with students’ motivation have not been taken into account so far. As a result, this review has implications for scholars, theorists, and practitioners in quest of better investigating and addressing the roles of buoyancy and social support on students’ motivation.
Impact of Familiarity and Green Image on Satisfaction and Loyalty Among Young Green Hotels’ Guests – A Developing Country’s Perspective
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Qi , Wong Philip Pong Weng
Published: May 2022

Familiarity and green image influencing travelers’ green hotel patronage have often been overlooked in previous research. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of the two dimensions of familiarity and the two dimensions of image with the overall image, satisfaction, and loyalty. The theoretical research model used in this study was based on the stimulus–organism–response framework. The research design for this study employed a quantitative approach using a purposive sampling method involving 488 student responses. The tests of the proposed hypotheses were conducted using SPSS and AMOS. The results of the study showed that experiential familiarity and informational familiarity positively influenced cognitive image and affective image, respectively, while cognitive image had a positive influence on the affective image. In addition, cognitive and affective images have a positive influence on the overall image, and the overall image is shown to have a positive impact on satisfaction and loyalty. Finally, satisfaction was found to have a positive influence on loyalty, while satisfaction plays a partial meditation role in the relationship between overall image and loyalty.
Implementation of a Remote Instrumental Music Course Focused on Creativity, Interaction, and Bodily Movement. Preliminary Insights and Thematic Analysis
Authors: Schiavio Andrea , Nijs Luc
Published: May 2022

In a newly designed collaborative online music course, four musical novices unknown to each other learned to play the clarinet starting from zero. Over the course of 12 lessons, a special emphasis was placed on creativity, mutual interaction, and bodily movement. Although addressing these dimensions might be particularly challenging in distance learning contexts, a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with the learners revealed how the teaching approach proposed has generally facilitated learning. Qualitative findings highlight the importance of establishing meaningful relationships with the musical instrument as well as with other students to build musicality, and of the interplay between creativity and control in individual and collective music-making activities. We suggest that remote music tuition with a small group can be a valuable resource to start learning music and that a creative, collaborative, and movement-based approach can contribute to musical growth.
Multiple Players Tracking in Virtual Reality: Influence of Soccer Specific Trajectories and Relationship With Gaze Activity
Authors: Vu Alexandre , Sorel Anthony , Limballe Annabelle , Bideau Benoit , Kulpa Richard
Published: May 2022

The perceptual-cognitive ability to track multiple moving objects and its contribution to team sports performance has traditionally been studied in the laboratory under non-sports specific conditions. It is thus questionable whether the measured visual tracking performance and the underlying gaze activity reflected the actual ability of team sports players to track teammates and opponents on a real field. Using a Virtual Reality-based visual tracking task, the ability of participants to track multiple moving virtual players as they would do on a soccer field was observed to pursue two objectives. (i) See the influence of different scenario types (soccer-specific trajectories versus pseudo-random trajectories) on the visual tracking performance of soccer (n = 15) compared to non-soccer players (n = 16). (ii) Observe the influence of spatial features of the simulated situations on gaze activity between soccer players and non-soccer players. (i) The linear mixed model regression revealed a significant main effect of the group but no interaction effect between group and the type of trajectories, suggesting that the visual tracking ability of soccer players did not benefit from their specific knowledge when they faced scenarios with real game trajectories. (ii) Virtual players’ spatial dispersion and crowding affected the participants’ gaze activity and their visual tracking performance. Furthermore, the gaze activity of soccer players differed in some aspects from the gaze activity of non-soccer players. Assumptions are formulated as to the implication of these results in the difference in visual tracking performance between soccer players and non-soccer players. Overall, using soccer-specific trajectories might not be enough to replicate the representativeness of the field conditions in the study of visual tracking performance. Multitasking constraints should be considered along with motor-cognitive dual-tasks in future research to develop the representativeness of visual exploration conditions.
Sustaining eSports Industry and Regulatory Focus: Empirical Evidence From Chinese Universities
Authors: Zhao Gongyan , Cheng Yue , Liu Xingguo , Meng Wentao
Published: May 2022

This study examined the factors that affect the attitude and behavioral intentions toward electronic sports (eSports) among students of higher education institutions based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The conditional impact of preventive regulatory focus was analyzed in various aspects developed on the regulatory focus theory. These aspects comprised of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk on the attitude toward eSports. Accordingly, data were collected from 293 students of higher education institutions in China's Henan Province, presenting a 54.56% response rate. The PLS-SEM analysis was subsequently implemented to confirm the proposed hypotheses. The empirical findings confirmed the significant positive impact of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on the attitude toward eSports. However, perceived risk negatively affected the attitude toward eSports. Meanwhile, the findings on the moderating hypotheses found a negligible impact on preventive regulatory focus. This impact was found explicitly on the perceived usefulness-perceived ease of use link with attitude toward eSports. However, the preventive regulatory focus negatively moderated the perceived risk attitude toward eSports. Finally, the implication and limitations were illustrated at the end of the paper.
Electrophysiological Changes Between Patients With Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts: An Event-Related Potential Study
Authors: Yoon Sung Hoon , Shim Se-Hoon , Kim Ji Sun
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Inhibitory control is regarded as an important ability related to the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempts. In event-related potential, patients with dysfunction of inhibitory control demonstrate a reduction in the no-go amplitude. This study aimed to determine the association between the no-go event-related potential component and suicidal behaviors among suicide attempters and ideators who never attempted suicide.

Methods

Overall, 150 patients who visited the emergency room by suicide attempts or patients who visited the psychiatric department with suicidal ideation were recruited and instructed to perform a go/no-go task during electroencephalography recording. The Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale, and Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale were used. Individuals were divided into two groups: those with suicide attempt group) and with suicidal ideation (SI group) without SA. The psychological characteristics and event-related potentials of the two groups were compared. Correlation analyses were conducted to test the association between the clinical characteristics and event-related potentials.

Results

The SA group had significantly decreased no-go P3 amplitudes at all electrodes compared to the SI group. In the correlation analysis between the clinical measurements and event-related potentials in all the participants, no-go P3 amplitudes in whole electrode sites were negatively correlated with the scores of the acquired capability for the suicide scale.

Conclusions

This study revealed that suicide attempters have dysfunction in controlling inhibition compared to suicide ideators reflected in the no-go P3. Our findings suggested that no-go P3 can be a biomarker associated suicide attempts in suicide ideators.
Prediction of Antidepressant Efficacy by Cognitive Function in First-Episode Late-Life Depression: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pan Weigang , Liu Chaomeng , Zhu Dandi , Liu Yi , Mao Peixian , Ren Yanping , Ma Xin
Published: May 2022

The response rate of treatment for late-life depression (LLD) is only 25–60%. The cognitive impairment associated with LLD often affects the effectiveness of antidepressants and may has the potential ability to predict response. This study seeks a biomarker for baseline cognitive function to predict efficacy of antidepressants. Sixty patients diagnosed with LLD received escitalopram or sertraline treatment for 8 weeks. Clinical symptom was measured using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17) and cognitive function was measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Trail Making Test (TMT) before and after 8-week treatment. Patients were divided into treatment effective group (TE) and treatment ineffective group (TI) according to reduction rate in scores of HAMD-17 after treatment. Thirty-eight matched healthy controls (HC) were assessed using RBANS and TMT. There was significant decrease of score of RBANS and increase of score of TMT in patients with LLD compared with HC. Regression analysis revealed that change in HAMD-17 score was significantly positively associated with baseline score of picture naming, figure copy, digit span, and delayed memory. The preliminary findings suggested that working memory, attention, visuospatial, language function, and delayed memory should be examined further as a means of providing the useful objective biomarkers of treatment response.

Clinical Trials Registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR2100042370].
Motherhood Health Penalty: Impact of Fertility on Physical and Mental Health of Chinese Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Jiang Yao , Yang Fan
Published: May 2022

Background

The negative consequences of childbearing on mothers are called the motherhood penalty, and it manifests in the aspects of women's physical and mental health. In May 2021, China relaxed its birth policy that allowed a married couple to have three children. It gives women the opportunity to have more children, but also may increase more risks to mothers' physical and mental health.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to clarify the relationships between the fertility and the physical/mental health of women of childbearing age and empirically confirm the existence of the motherhood health penalty in China.

Materials and Methods

Using a nationally representative dataset from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2018, we examined the effects of fertility on the physical and mental health of Chinese women of childbearing age. Physical health was self-rated, and mental health was assessed according to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. The instrumental variable approach and the models of inverse probability of treatment weighting of propensity scores and regression adjustment were employed to overcome the endogeneity between fertility and health of women.

Results

The empirical results showed that the total number of births had significant adverse impacts on the physical and mental health of women of childbearing age, which empirically demonstrated the existence of the motherhood health penalty in China. The results of heterogeneity analysis indicated that the physical and mental health of the rural women was more easily affected by childbearing compared with that of the urban samples. In a mechanism analysis, the pathways of income and the multiple roles played by mothers were found to mediate the impacts of the total number of births on the physical and mental health of women. The robustness checks showed that the results of this study were robust.

Conclusions

The findings of this study extend the motherhood penalty to the health domain, and they have important implications for improving healthcare policy for women of childbearing age in China and other countries and regions and promoting gender equality in the healthcare field.
Association Between Social Support and Perceived Stress: A Cross-Sectional Study on Staffs of the Epidemic Prevention During the Covid-19 Epidemic in China
Authors: Zhang Ling , Fu Binbin , Xu Yi , Zhang Qi , Peng Shuzhen , Tan Xiaodong
Published: May 2022

Background

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown considerably affects people's life in China, both physically and mentally. Staffs of the epidemic prevention and control in the community have played an irreplaceable role during community lockdown period in Wuhan. However, few studies have focused on their health status during epidemic prevention. This study aimed to appraise the available evidence of health conditions of them and explore the influencing factors.

Method

Used a multistage sampling method, we conducted a survey in staffs of the epidemic prevention and control in the community (N = 503). Descriptive analysis was used to characterize the respondents. T-test and analysis of variance were for group differences analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to verify the scale validity, correlation analysis and pathway analysis and Structural equation model (SEM) was used to study the relationship between stress perception, social support, mental resilience and sleep quality. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0, R version 4.1.3 and Mplus 8.3.

Results

The mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score of the respondents was 13.28 ± 7.31 and 51.1% had higher PSS score than the normal. In the absence of social support, people's sleeping quality and psychological resilience may decrease, their perceived stress may elevate and compromise mental health correspondingly. Social support could affect perceived stress directly, while Sleep quality and psychology resilience played significant partial mediating roles in social support affecting perceived stress. The mediating effects accounted for 50.8% of the total.

Conclusion

Staffs of the epidemic prevention and control in the community suffered from poor sleep quality and high level of stress perception. Establishment of good social support may effectively reduce their stress and this effect is mediated by sleep quality and psychological resilience. Physical health status would affect the staffs' mental health and they more attention should be paid to those with poor physical health.
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Among Narcotic and Stimulant Users Referred to Maintenance Methadone Therapy Centers in Ahvaz City: Iran
Authors: Saki Fatemeh , Cheraghi Maria , Mohamadian Hashem , Ghorbanyjavadpour Fataneh
Published: May 2022

Introduction

We aimed to assess quality of life related to oral health in narcotic or stimulant users those were referred to maintenance methadone therapy (MMT) centers in Ahvaz City, Iran.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional study based on exploratory approach which has conducted on 187 narcotic and stimulant users in Ahvaz city; during 15th May till September 2020. Data was selected by available non-random sampling method. The data collection tools included the demographic variables and the standard OHIP-14 questionnaires. All tests were used as descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance. P-values of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The mean and standard deviation of the participants' age was 36.03 ± 8.98 years. The quality-of-life scores related to oral health were totally 34.89 ± 6.50 as well as 37.37 and 33.96 in narcotic and stimulant users, respectively. The total quality of life related to OHIP-14 did not have a significant relationship with variables of age, life companions, level of education, number of children, economic status, employment status, insurance status, underlying disease, toothbrush use status, last dentist visit, and number of missing teeth (P > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found between the quality of life related to oral health based on the type of substance used (narcotic or stimulant), so that the mean quality of life related to oral health was higher in narcotic than stimulant users (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Quality of life related to OHIP-14 was more unfavorable in stimulant users than narcotic users. So, policy makers and authorities are required to focus their interventions and research programs to improve health-related quality of life in users, especially stimulant.
Preparation of IgY Oriented Conjugated Fe3O4 MNPs as Immunomagnetic Nanoprobe for Increasing Enrichment Efficiency of Staphylococcus aureus Based on Adjusting the pH of the Solution System
Authors: Shi Xuening , Sun Hongbin , Li Hang , Wei Shengnan , Jin Jin , Zhao Chao , Wang Juan , Li Hui
Published: May 2022

Immunomagnetic separation based on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) has been widely performed in sample pretreatment. The oriented conjugation strategy can achieve a better capture effect than the N-(3-dimethylamlnopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) /N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) method. However, immunoglobulin yolk (IgY) cannot be oriented through an SPA strategy like immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this article, an oriented conjugation nanoprobe was prepared for the enrichment of bacteria based on pH adjusting. The main factors affecting the enrichment efficiency were studied, such as the pH of the buffer system, the concentration of IgY, the concentration of nanoprobe, and the enrichment time. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment efficiency toward target bacteria could reach 92.8%. Combined with PCR, the limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 103 CFU/ml, which was lower than the PCR only. In conclusion, we provided a new protocol for the oriented conjugation of IgY and high sensitivity detection with simple pretreatment.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Post-Abortion Contraceptive Utilization and Associated Factors in Ethiopia
Authors: Wake Getu Engida , Fitie Girma Wogie , Tizazu Michael Amera
Published: May 2022

Background

Post-abortion contraceptive utilization is the initiation and use of family planning methods at the time of management of abortion or before fertility returns. A significant discrepancy was reported regarding the prevalence and its associated factors of post-abortion contraceptive utilization in Ethiopia. So, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of post-abortion contraceptive utilization and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline was used. The databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane library, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and additional searches by using direct Google search, libraries, and preprint were searched. Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI) was used for critical appraisal.

Results

A total of 17 studies with 13,075 individuals were included. Of these, 14 studies with 5,719 individuals were used to estimate the prevalence. The pooled prevalence of post-abortion contraceptive utilization in Ethiopia was 63.64% (95% CI: 57.75–69.53). The subgroup analysis reported the highest prevalence of post-abortion contraceptive utilization in a study conducted in Addis Ababa (77.40%), a study published in 2015–2021 (66.15%), and among studies with a sample size >400 (66.84%). The pooled odds ratio (OR) of post-abortion contraceptive utilization for the mothers who had post-abortion family planning counseling was 4.15 (95% CI = 1.30, 13.2), and history of family planning utilization was 4.28 (95% CI = 2.66, 6.89).

Conclusions

The pooled prevalence of utilization of post-abortion contraceptives in this meta-analysis remains low. Post-abortion family planning counseling and the history of the utilization of modern family planning methods were significantly associated with the practice of post-abortion contraceptives. The Ministry of Health should encourage post-abortion family planning utilization, making more efforts on post-abortion contraceptive counseling. Health facilities should work hard to strengthen the family planning counseling service, especially focusing on those who had no previous family planning utilization.
COVID-19 Pandemic and the Operation of a Tertiary Hospital in Tianjin—The Impact of Internet Healthcare on Hospital Business Indicators
Authors: Chen Jia , Jie Liu , Su Xiao , Zhang Xin , Guo Dandan , Wang Jiajing , Deng Meili , Cui Mingrui , Gao Meijian , Zhang Hong , Song Yijun
Published: May 2022

Objective

To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital business and the contribution of Internet healthcare to hospital operations during the epidemic by analyzing the degree of impact on major business indicators.

Methods

The three-year period from 2019 to 2021 was compared and analyzed, and the main medical business indicators such as outpatient and emergency visits, inpatients, operations, patient improvement rate, cure rate and fatality rate in tertiary hospitals were compared and analyzed, and the impact of the epidemic on medical services and hospital operation was analyzed. degree and the impact of Internet medical development on medical service capacity.

Results

During the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of hospital outpatient and emergency visits, inpatients, and operations decreased significantly; after the normalization of the epidemic, the main medical business indicators such as outpatient and emergency visits, inpatients, and operations gradually returned to pre-epidemic levels; patient improvement rate, the cure rate and mortality rate and other indicators did not change significantly. During the epidemic period, the number of visits to the Internet outpatient clinic has increased significantly, which has significantly improved the hospital's medical service capacity.

Conclusion

With the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, the main business indicators of Tianjin tertiary hospitals have gradually recovered. The operation of Internet medical care during the epidemic has changed the management and operation mode of the hospital to a certain extent, improved the main business indicators of the hospital, and eased the pressure on the hospital's economic operation.
Mixed FSO/RF Based Multiple HAPs Assisted Multiuser Multiantenna Terrestrial Communication
Authors: Singya Praveen Kumar , Alouini Mohamed-Slim
Published: May 2022

In this work, a mixed free-space optics (FSO)/radio-frequency (RF) based multiple serial high altitude platforms (HAPs) assisted multiuser multiantenna terrestrial communication system is considered. For the considered multi-hop system, earth station to HAP and HAP to HAP links are assumed as FSO links, and HAP to terrestrial mobile users (MUs) link is assumed as RF link. At the FSO detector both the heterodyne detection and intensity modulation direct detection techniques are considered. Atmospheric turbulence of the ES to HAP FSO link is modeled with Gamma-Gamma fading along with the pointing error impairments. As HAP situates in the stratosphere, negligible atmospheric turbulence exists at HAP altitude (20 km), hence, only pointing error is considered for the inter HAP links. Further, the HAP consists of multiantenna array to provide high data-rates to the terrestrial users via RF links, considered to be Nakagami-m distributed. The intermediate HAPs perform selective decode-and-forward relaying and opportunistic user scheduling is performed for the best user selection. For the performance analysis, analytical expression of overall outage probability is obtained and the impact of various selection parameters like pointing error, FSO detection type, MU selection, number of antennas, and RF fading severity are observed on the outage performance. Asymptotic outage probability is also derived to obtain the diversity order of the considered communication system. Further, considering various modulation schemes, a generalized average bit-error-rate expression is derived and the impact of pointing error, FSO detection type, MU selection, number of antennas, and RF fading severity are observed on its performance. Finally, derived results are validated through Monte-Carlo simulations.
Teammates Instead of Tools: The Impacts of Level of Autonomy on Mission Performance and Human–Agent Teaming Dynamics in Multi-Agent Distributed Teams
Authors: Rebensky Summer , Carmody Kendall , Ficke Cherrise , Carroll Meredith , Bennett Winston
Published: May 2022

Human–agent teaming (HAT) is becoming more commonplace across industry, military, and consumer settings. Agents are becoming more advanced, more integrated, and more responsible for tasks previously assigned to humans. In addition, the dyadic human–agent teaming nature is evolving from a one–one pair to one–many, in which the human is working with numerous agents to accomplish a task. As capabilities become more advanced and humanlike, the best method for humans and agents to effectively coordinate is still unknown. Therefore, current research must start diverting focus from how many agents can a human manage to how can agents and humans work together effectively. Levels of autonomy (LOAs), or varying levels of responsibility given to the agents, implemented specifically in the decision-making process could potentially address some of the issues related to workload, stress, performance, and trust. This study sought to explore the effects of different LOAs on human–machine team coordination, performance, trust, and decision making in hand with assessments of operator workload and stress in a simulated multi-unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) task. The results of the study can be used to identify human factor roadblocks to effective HAT and provide guidance for future designs of HAT. Additionally, the unique impacts of LOA and autonomous decision making by agents on trust are explored.
Causality Between Urbanization and Economic Growth: Evidence From the Indian States
Authors: Shaban Abdul , Kourtit Karima , Nijkamp Peter
Published: May 2022

There is an abundance of studies on the urban-rural dichotomy. In the mainstream economic and regional science literature, the urban centers have usually been described as growth machines, growth poles, or growth foci, and urbanization as a driver of economic growth. It is commonly assumed that the assemblage of factors of production in urban centers will create economies of scale, and that economic growth will trickle down from these centers to the periphery. Most of these studies hypothesize a mono-directional causal relationship between urbanization and economic growth. However, there are ample possibilities of reverse causalities in regions where the propulsive powers of urban centers are weaker and where social overhead capital (SOC) is not adequately developed in non-urban regions. In this situation, even minor economic changes in non-urban economies will cause the growth of the urban population. The present paper attempts to examine the relationship between urbanization and economic growth in India at the state level during 1971–2020 by employing a bootstrap panel Granger causality test. It is found that in India the majority of the states display a unidirectional Granger causality from economic growth to urbanization. This finding indicates not only a lower propulsive power of urban centers, but also an unbalanced development of SOC between urban centers and rural areas, hence causing a migration of people to cities with a rise in their income in order to take advantage of the urban facilities.
Classification of Cassini’s Orbit Regions as Magnetosphere, Magnetosheath, and Solar Wind via Machine Learning
Authors: Yeakel Kiley L. , Vandegriff Jon D. , Garton Tadhg M. , Jackman Caitriona M. , Clark George , Vines Sarah K. , Smith Andrew W. , Kollmann Peter
Published: May 2022

Several machine learning algorithms and feature subsets from a variety of particle and magnetic field instruments on-board the Cassini spacecraft were explored for their utility in classifying orbit segments as magnetosphere, magnetosheath or solar wind. Using a list of manually detected magnetopause and bow shock crossings from mission scientists, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR) and recurrent neural network long short-term memory (RNN LSTM) classification algorithms were trained and tested. A detailed error analysis revealed a RNN LSTM model provided the best overall performance with a 93.1% accuracy on the unseen test set and MCC score of 0.88 when utilizing 60 min of magnetometer data (|B|, Bθ, Bϕ and BR) to predict the region at the final time step. RF models using a combination of magnetometer and particle data, spanning H+, He+, He++ and electrons at a single time step, provided a nearly equivalent performance with a test set accuracy of 91.4% and MCC score of 0.84. Derived boundary crossings from each model’s region predictions revealed that the RNN model was able to successfully detect 82.1% of labeled magnetopause crossings and 91.2% of labeled bow shock crossings, while the RF model using magnetometer and particle data detected 82.4 and 74.3%, respectively.
How University Students Assess Their Water Skills
Authors: Dimitrić Goran , Jakšić Milorad , Sadri Filip , Šajber Dorica , Kaurin Tanja , Zenić Nataša , Tabakova Elena
Published: May 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the gender differences between students' actual and perceived water abilities, how respondents assess risk in the described situations, and whether there are gender differences for those situations. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 students aged 19–20 years (males, n = 88; females, n = 62) from the faculty of sport and physical education, University of Novi Sad. Using calculated frequencies and estimates, students' self-assessment and actual measures of their swimming and survival skills and their perceived risk of drowning are described. Based on the results, Mann-Whitney U tests were applied. The differences between independent variables (gender) were analyzed according to dependent measures (water competency). To determine the significance of the relationship between actual and perceived skills, Spearman-rank correlation coefficients were calculated. The results of this study confirmed gender differences between students' actual and perceived water abilities, and that the male and female students had inaccurate perceptions of their own perceived and real water abilities. Both male and female students, with high precision, assessed their ability to swim long distances (rs = 0.601; rs = 0.694) just as female students assessed their ability to float (rs = 0.698). Male students greatly overestimated their backstroke swimming, while female students underestimated their ability to dive into the water. Both groups overestimated underwater swimming and underestimated their surface dive skill. Also, there was gender differences between students in assessing the risk for described situations.
Creatine O'Clock: Does Timing of Ingestion Really Influence Muscle Mass and Performance?
Authors: Candow Darren G. , Forbes Scott C. , Roberts Michael D. , Roy Brian D. , Antonio Jose , Smith-Ryan Abbie E. , Rawson Eric S. , Gualano Bruno , Roschel Hamilton
Published: May 2022

It is well-established that creatine supplementation augments the gains in muscle mass and performance during periods of resistance training. However, whether the timing of creatine ingestion influences these physical and physiological adaptations is unclear. Muscle contractions increase blood flow and possibly creatine transport kinetics which has led some to speculate that creatine in close proximity to resistance training sessions may lead to superior improvements in muscle mass and performance. Furthermore, creatine co-ingested with carbohydrates or a mixture of carbohydrates and protein that alter insulin enhance creatine uptake. The purpose of this narrative review is to (i) discuss the purported mechanisms and variables that possibly justify creatine timing strategies, (ii) to critically evaluate research examining the strategic ingestion of creatine during a resistance training program, and (iii) provide future research directions pertaining to creatine timing.
Multiple Protocols Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the Maintenance of Ovarian Function in Patients After Ovarian Cystectomy
Authors: Yu Jie , Qi Yin-Liang , Lu Da-Wei , Fang Qian-Jin , Li Lan , Sang Lin
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study aims to explore the effect of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy on ovarian function after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.

Methods

A total of 60 patients with ovarian cysts treated at our hospital from January 2018 to August 2020 were enrolled. According to the different treatment modalities, the patients were divided into the control and observation groups. Patients in both groups underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy with oral administration of Chinese patent medicine Kuntai capsules after surgery. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was added to patients in the observation group in addition to the treatment in the control group. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and antral follicle count (AFC) serum levels were detected in both groups before the operation and at the first and third menstrual cycles postoperatively to evaluate ovarian function.

Results

At the first and third menstrual cycles after surgery, the AMH, E2, and AFC serum levels in the two groups were significantly lower than before surgery, and the FSH and LH serum levels were higher than before surgery. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the operation, AMH, E2, and AFC serum levels in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group. FSH and LH serum levels were significantly lower than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

For patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, the adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy could significantly improve the postoperative ovarian reserve function with remarkable effects.
Perioperative Systemic Inflammation in Lung Cancer Surgery
Authors: Furák József , Németh Tibor , Lantos Judit , Fabó Csongor , Géczi Tibor , Zombori-Tóth Noémi , Paróczai Dóra , Szántó Zalán , Szabó Zsolt
Published: May 2022

Systemic inflammation (SI) is a response of the immune system to infectious or non-infectious injuries that defends the body homeostasis. Every surgical intervention triggers SI, the level of which depends on the extent of damage caused by the surgery. During the first few hours after the damage, the innate or natural immunity, involving neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells, plays a main role in the defense mechanism, but thereafter the adaptive immune response ensues. The number of leukocytes is elevated, the levels of lymphocytes and natural killer cells are reduced, and the cytokines released after surgery correlate with surgical damage. Minimally invasive thoracic surgery procedures induce less inflammatory response and reduce the immune defense in patients to a more moderate level compared with the open surgery procedures; this immunosuppression can be further diminished in spontaneous ventilation cases. The normal functioning of the immune defense is important in controlling the perioperative circulatory tumor cells. Moreover, elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines before immune therapy have a negative impact on the response, and significantly shorten the progression-free survival. Clinically, the lower are the levels of cytokines released during lung surgery, the lesser is the postoperative morbidity, especially pneumonia and wound infection. The return to normal levels of lymphocytes and cytokines occurs faster after spontaneous ventilation surgery. The use of locoregional anesthesia can also reduce SI. Herein, we review the current knowledge on the effects of different operative factors on postoperative SI and defense mechanism in lung cancer surgery.
The Role of Indocyanine Near-Infrared Fluorescence in Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Maione Francesco , Manigrasso Michele , Chini Alessia , Vertaldi Sara , Anoldo Pietro , D’Amore Anna , Marello Alessandra , Sorrentino Carmen , Cantore Grazia , Maione Rosa , Gennarelli Nicola , D’Angelo Salvatore , D’Alesio Nicola , De Simone Giuseppe , Servillo Giuseppe , Milone Marco , De Palma Giovanni Domenico
Published: May 2022

Purposes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of Indocyanine Green in control of anastomosis perfusion and on anastomotic leakage rates during laparoscopic and robotic colorectal procedures.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who underwent elective minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 was performed. All patients underwent Near-Infrared Fluorescence-Indocyanine Green system in two moments: before performing the anastomosis and after completing the anastomotic procedure. Primary outcomes were the rate of intraoperative change in the surgical resection due to an inadequate vascularization and the rate of postoperative anastomotic leakage. Secondary outcomes were the postoperative complications, both medical and surgical (intra-abdominal bleeding, anastomotic leakage).

Results

Our analysis included 93 patients. Visible fluorescence was detected in 100% of the cases. In 7 patients (7.5%), the planned site of resection was changed due to inadequate perfusion. The mean extension of the surgical resection in these 7 patients was 2.2 ± 0.62. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 patients (2.1%). Other complications included 8 postoperative bleedings (8.6%) and 1 pulmonary thromboembolism.

Conclusions

The intraoperative use of Near-Infrared Fluorescence-Indocyanine Green in colorectal surgery is safe, feasible, and associated with a substantial reduction in postoperative anastomotic leakage rate.
The Need for Head Protection Protocols for Craniectomy Patients during Rest, Transfers and Turning
Authors: Pandit Anand S. , Singhal Prabhav , Khawari Sogha , Luoma Astri M. V. , Ajina Sara , Toma Ahmed K.
Published: May 2022

After craniectomy, patients are generally advised to wear a helmet when mobilising to protect the unshielded brain from damage. However, there exists limited guidance regarding head protection for patients at rest and when being transferred or turned. Here, we emphasise the need for such protocols and utilise evidence from several sources to affirm our viewpoint. A literature search was first performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE, looking for published material relating to head protection for patients post-craniectomy during rest, transfer or turning. No articles were identified using a wide-ranging search strategy. Next, we surveyed and interviewed staff and patients from our neurosurgical centre to ascertain how often their craniectomy site was exposed to external pressure and the precautions taken to prevent this. 59% of patients admitted resting in contact with the craniectomy site, in agreement with the observations of 67% of staff. In 63% of these patients, this occurred on a daily basis and for some, was associated with symptoms suggestive of raised intracranial pressure. 44% of staff did not use a method to prevent craniectomy site contact while 65% utilised no additional precautions during transfer or turning. 63% of patients received no information about avoiding craniectomy site contact upon discharge, and almost all surveyed wished for resting head protection if it were available. We argue that pragmatic guidelines are needed and that our results support this perspective. As such, we offer a simple, practical protocol which can be adopted and iteratively improved as further evidence becomes available in this area.
Research on an Optimal Path Planning Method Based on A* Algorithm for Multi-View Recognition
Authors: Li Xinning , He Qun , Yang Qin , Wang Neng , Wu Hu , Yang Xianhai
Published: May 2022

In order to obtain the optimal perspectives of the recognition target, this paper combines the motion path of the manipulator arm and camera. A path planning method to find the optimal perspectives based on an A* algorithm is proposed. The quality of perspectives is represented by means of multi-view recognition. A binary multi-view 2D kernel principal component analysis network (BM2DKPCANet) is built to extract features. The multi-view angles classifier based on BM2DKPCANet + Softmax is established, which outputs category posterior probability to represent the perspective recognition performance function. The path planning problem is transformed into a multi-objective optimization problem by taking the optimal view recognition and the shortest path distance as the objective functions. In order to reduce the calculation, the multi-objective optimization problem is transformed into a single optimization problem by fusing the objective functions based on the established perspective observation directed graph model. An A* algorithm is used to solve the single source shortest path problem of the fused directed graph. The path planning experiments with different numbers of view angles and different starting points demonstrate that the method can guide the camera to reach the viewpoint with higher recognition accuracy and complete the optimal observation path planning.
A Tailored Pricing Strategy for Different Types of Users in Hybrid Carsharing Systems
Authors: Lu Rongqin , Zhao Xiaomei , Wang Yingqi
Published: May 2022

Considering the characteristics of different types of users in hybrid carsharing systems, in which sharing autonomous vehicles (SAVs) and conventional sharing cars (CSCs) coexist, a tailored pricing strategy (TPS) is proposed to maximize the operator’s profit and minimize all users’ costs. The fleet sizes and sizes of SAVs’ stations are also determined simultaneously. A bi-objective nonlinear programming model is established, and a genetic algorithm is applied to solve it. Based on the operational data in Lanzhou, China, carsharing users are clustered into three types. They are loyal users, losing users, and potential users, respectively. Results show the application of the TPS can help the operator increase profit and attract more users. The loyal users are assigned the highest price, while they still contribute the most to the operator’s profit with the highest number of carsharing trips. The losing users and potential users are comparable in terms of the number of trips, while the latter still makes more profit.
A Comparison between 3DVAR and EnKF for Data Assimilation Effects on the Yellow Sea Fog Forecast
Authors: Gao Xiaoyu , Gao Shanhong , Yang Yue
Published: May 2022

The data assimilation method to improve the sea fog forecast over the Yellow Sea is usually three-dimensional variational assimilation (3DVAR), whereas ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) has not yet been applied to this weather phenomenon. In this paper, two sea fog cases over the Yellow sea, one spread widely and the other spread narrowly along the coastal area, are studied in detail by a series of numerical experiments with 3DVAR and EnKF based on the Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The results show that the assimilation effect of EnKF outperforms that of 3DVAR: for the widespread-fog case, the probability of detection and equitable threat scores of the forecasted sea fog area are improved respectively by ~57.9% and ~55.5%; the sea fog formation of the other case completely mis-forecasted by 3DVAR was produced successfully by EnKF. These improvements of EnKF relative to 3DVAR benefit from its flow-dependent background error covariances, resulting in more realistic depiction of sea surface wind for the widespread-fog case and better moisture distribution for the other case in the initial conditions. More importantly, the correlation between temperature and humidity in the background error covariances of EnKF plays a vital role in the response of moisture to the assimilation of temperature, which leads to a great improvement in the initial moisture conditions for sea fog forecast. Extra sensitivity experiments of EnKF indicate that the forecast result is sensitive to ensemble inflation and localization factors, in particular, highly sensitive to the latter.