bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tata kelola perusahaan dan manajemen laba terhadap kebijakan dividen di Indonesia
Authors: Chandra Budi , Junita Novia
Published: March 2021

This research expected to understand the effect of corporate governance and earning management on dividend policy. The dependent variable selected for the research was the dividend payout ratio, while the independent variable was determined by the size of the board of commissioners, independence of board commissioners, managerial ownership, individual ownership, institutional ownership, directional accrual, firm age, firm size, leverage, and profitability. Samples for research were all companies registered under the Indonesia Stock Exchange, these were chosen using a purposive sampling method with a total of 865 observational data that met the criteria for 5 years. The panel regression method is used to analyze the impact of each independent variable on the dependent variable. The fixed-effects model is found to be the best regression model in this research. The research concludes that individual ownership, institutional ownership and profitability have a significant positive effect on dividend policy. Meanwhile, the size of the board of commissioners, independence of board commissioners, managerial ownership, earning management, firm size, firm age and leverage do not affect dividend policy. Real earning management and ownership factors are encouraged in future studies such as family ownership, public ownership, and foreign ownership in examining the impact on dividend policy.
Interactions between deep-water gravity flows and active salt tectonics
Authors: Cumberpatch Zoë A. , Kane Ian A. , Soutter Euan L. , Hodgson David M. , Jackson Christopher A-L. , Kilhams Ben A. , Poprawski Yohann
Published: March 2021

Behavior of sediment gravity flows can be influenced by seafloor topography associated with salt structures; this can modify the depositional architecture of deep-water sedimentary systems. Typically, salt-influenced deep-water successions are poorly imaged in seismic reflection data, and exhumed systems are rare, hence the detailed sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture of these systems remains poorly understood.

The exhumed Triassic (Keuper) Bakio and Guernica salt bodies in the Basque–Cantabrian Basin, Spain, were active during deep-water sedimentation. The salt diapirs grew reactively, then passively, during the Aptian–Albian, and are flanked by deep-water carbonate (Aptian–earliest Albian Urgonian Group) and siliciclastic (middle Albian–Cenomanian Black Flysch Group) successions. The study compares the depositional systems in two salt-influenced minibasins, confined (Sollube basin) and partially confined (Jata basin) by actively growing salt diapirs, comparable to salt-influenced minibasins in the subsurface. The presence of a well-exposed halokinetic sequence, with progressive rotation of bedding, beds that pinch out towards topography, soft-sediment deformation, variable paleocurrents, and intercalated debrites indicate that salt grew during deposition. Overall, the Black Flysch Group coarsens and thickens upwards in response to regional axial progradation, which is modulated by laterally derived debrites from halokinetic slopes. The variation in type and number of debrites in the Sollube and Jata basins indicates that the basins had different tectonostratigraphic histories despite their proximity. In the Sollube basin, the routing systems were confined between the two salt structures, eventually depositing amalgamated sandstones in the basin axis. Different facies and architectures are observed in the Jata basin due to partial confinement.

Exposed minibasins are individualized, and facies vary both spatially and temporally in agreement with observations from subsurface salt-influenced basins. Salt-related, active topography and the degree of confinement are shown to be important modifiers of depositional systems, resulting in facies variability, remobilization of deposits, and channelization of flows. The findings are directly applicable to the exploration and development of subsurface energy reservoirs in salt basins globally, enabling better prediction of depositional architecture in areas where seismic imaging is challenging.
Deformed displacive halite crystals: Diagenetic or tectonic origin?
Authors: Leitner Christoph , Marschallinger Robert , Huber Konstantin
Published: March 2021

Displacive halite crystals in fine-grained sediments are a common feature of evaporitic sequences worldwide. The crystal habit of halite precipitated from pure aqueous solution under laboratory conditions is a cube: equal side lengths (a = b = c) and rectangular angles (ab = bc = ac = 90°). Crystals with deformed-looking shape appear in mudstone of Permian evaporites of the Eastern Alps. They expose platy, rod-like, parallelepiped-like or rhomb-like shapes. The aim of the study was to explain the origin of these shapes. Samples were taken in the Altaussee, Berchtesgaden, and Hallstatt mines. Representative mudstone samples were scanned by high-resolution X-ray CT, and halite shapes were restored by 3D software. Additionally, 327 euhedral halite crystals were dissected from mudstone and subjected to individual shape analysis. Their sizes range from 3 to 30 mm in thirteen specimens. Crystals are compact, but a slightly platy preference prevails in all samples. Approximately 80% of all objects expose angles > 1° deviating from the right angle, but only ∼ 15% contain angles > 20°. The maximum deviation from the right angle was ca. 33°. Most objects combine a platy shape (a ≈ b ≠ c) with only one angle deviating from the right angle (2× 90°). The acute angle is preferably oriented parallel to the layering. We interpret a primary rectangular crystal growth to platy shapes in the mudstone (reduced fluid circulation). The displacive halite crystals subsequently deformed during compaction of the mudstone. Halite in deformed shapes was replaced by datable polyhalite ca. 15 My after deposition, which rules out deformation during Alpine tectonics.
Cone beam computed tomography for the diagnosis of external root resorption associated with orthodontic treatment: A review.
Authors: Burgos-Urey Mariela , Llaguno-Rubio Jhoana Mercedes
Published: March 2021

External root resorption (ERR) is a highly prevalent, multifactorial problem frequently associated with orthodontic treatment. Treatment is complex due to the lack of solid knowledge regarding predisposing factors, systematic management for diagnosis and follow-up protocols or thefundamental theoretical bases of adequate imaging tools for each situation. This review describes the indications of the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the factors related to its development and the characteristics of the techniques used in the diagnosisand monitoring of ERR in orthodontics. We compared the advantages and disadvantages of CBCT based on the risk/benefits. Methods: We have reviewed and summarized the information and the risk factors available on ERR in orthodontics and the use of CBCT in the diagnosis and follow-up of ERR with the aim of developing a management protocol. Likewise, CBCT is compared with other imaging techniques frequently used in ERR. The articles reviewed in this study coincide in terms of the advantages of precision of CBCT in the detection and linear and volumetric measurement of ERR associated with orthodontics over two-dimensional techniques. However, CBCT cannot completely replace other imaging techniques since its effectiveness is not significantly greater in cases with moderate ERR compromise. The use of CBCT should be optimized following specific criteria for its application.
Effect of Clay Type on Emulsion Formation in Steam and Solvent Steamflooding
Authors: Kar Taniya , Hascakir Berna
Published: March 2021

The objectives of this study are to perform a fundamental analysis of the mutual interactions between crude oil components, water, hydrocarbon solvents, and clays, and to determine the optimum hydrocarbon solvent in solvent steamflooding for a particular reservoir type. The water/oil emulsion formation mechanism in the obtained oil for steam and solvent steamflooding processes has been studied via intermolecular associations between asphaltenes, water, and migrated clay particles. A series of 21 steam and solvent-steamflooding experiments has been conducted, first without any clays in the oil/sand packing, and then using two different clay types in the reservoir rock: Clay 1, which is kaolinite, and Clay 2, which is a mixture of kaolinite and illite. Paraffinic (propane, n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane) and aromatic (toluene) solvents are coinjected with steam. Cumulative oil recovery is found to decrease in the following order: no clay, Clay 1, Clay 2. Based on the obtained produced oil analyses, Clay 1 and Clay 2 are found to have an affinity with the water and oil phases, respectively. Moreover, the biwettable nature of Clay 2 makes it dispersed in the oil phase toward the oil/water interface, stabilizing the water/oil emulsions. Paraffinic solvent n-hexane is found to be an optimum coinjector for solvent steamflooding in bitumen recovery.
Diverse and abundant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ecological floating beds used to treat eutrophic water
Authors: Xu Zhouying , Lv Yichao , Jiang Yinghe , Luo Xiaodong , Gui Xuelin , Ban Yihui
Published: March 2021

An increasing number of investigations have demonstrated the universal existence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the accurate distribution and functions of AMF inhabiting aquatic ecosystems, especially ecological floating bed (EFB) which was constructed for the remediation of polluted waterbodies.In this study, we collected root samples of Canna generalis, Cyperus alternifolius and Eichhornia crassipes from three EFBs floating on two eutrophic lakes in Wuhan, China, to investigate the resources and distribution of AMF in EFBs using Illumina Mi-seq technology. A total of 229 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 21 taxon from 348,799 Glomeromycota sequences were detected. Glomus was the most dominant AMF in the three EFBs while the second dominant AMF was related to Acaulospora. Different aquatic plant species exhibited varying degrees of AMF colonization (3.83%~71%), diversity (6~103 OTUs, 3~15 virtual taxa) and abundance (14~57551 sequences). Low AMF abundance but relatively high AMF diversity were found in C. alternifolius which is usually considered as non-mycorrhizal, demonstrating the high accuracy of Illumina sequencing. In addition, results from this study suggested a lognormal species abundance distribution was observed across AMF taxa in the three plant species, and the AMF community composition was closely related to pH, nitrogen and phosphorus.Overall, our data demonstrated that diverse and abundant AMF communities were living in EFBs, and the AMF community composition was closely related to the water quality of eutrophic lakes treated by EFBs, providing potential possibility for the applications of AMF in plant-based bioremediation of wastewater.
Medienhandeln Heranwachsender im Spannungsfeld schulischer und familialer Lernumgebungen
Authors: Rummler Klaus , Müller Jane , Kamin Anna-Maria , Richter Lea , Kammerl Rudolf , Potzel Katrin , Grabensteiner Caroline , Schneider Stingelin Colette
Published: March 2021

Die häusliche und schulische Lernumgebung von Heranwachsenden ist heute durch digitale Medien (mit-)geprägt. Gegenstand des Beitrags ist die Bearbeitung von Hausaufgaben und die Rolle, welche digitale Medien hierbei spielen. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt in diesem Kontext auf der Nutzung mobiler Instant-Messaging-Angebote – insbesondere spezieller Gruppenchats von Schulklassen, also Klassenchats. Die Autorinnen und Autoren betrachten das Verhältnis zwischen Schule, Familie und digitalen Medien und diskutieren hierfür Zwischenergebnisse aus drei laufenden Forschungsprojekten. Projekt (1) bearbeitet die Frage nach Gelingensbedingungen für eine anregungsreiche, kompetenz- und kindorientierte Gestaltung der digitalen häuslichen Lernumwelt. Inwiefern Klassenchats von Schülerinnen und Schülern eingesetzt werden, um Heteronomie zu bewahren bzw. Autonomie zu gewinnen, steht im Fokus von Projekt (2). Projekt (3) betrachtet Medienhandeln im Umfeld häuslicher Lernaktivitäten und stellt unterschiedliche Rekonstruktionen der Herstellung von Selbst- und Weltverhältnissen als Medienbildung mit Hardware, Repräsentationen sowie Lehr-/Lernmitteln vor. Alle drei Projekte betrachten die Mediennutzung von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Blick auf Optimierungsprozesse aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln. Vor allem der Erwerb von Informations- und Recherchekompetenz definiert die Rolle von Alltagsmedien im Lernalltag neu.
SPORTS LAW AT THE CURRENT STAGE OF CHANGES AND REFORMS OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATION OF UKRAINE
Authors: Kobzeva T.A. , Kulish I.O.
Published: March 2021

By the beginning of the new millennium, a common understanding of the role and place of sport in the state, society and personality had developed in the world’s leading countries.
Being an integral part of social life, sport is often called the socio-economic phenomenon, one of the most important parts of the foundations for building modern social values and culture.
Sport is a social phenomenon that has a tremendous impact on various spheres of society: economy, management, culture, education, international relations, political processes, and, most importantly, the nation’s health.
Today, the country is in a fragile phase of development and change. We have never before been able to change the internal situation and system. But it is important to focus not only on general issues but also on more everyday ones such as sports.
The level of development of sport is always an indicator in the world of the country’s development on the international stage, the health of the nation and its spiritual and patriotic filler. Today, sports law in the country is just beginning to develop and become established, but it can already be seen that almost every leading law firm in the country provides services in the field of sports law separately.
Unfortunately, there is almost no legal regulation in the field of sports in Ukraine. Recently, however, both administrative and criminal liability have been introduced for some violations, which is a good signal. It is necessary to cover the analysis and improvement of the legislation, because only in this way will the legal and actual development of the industry be achieved.
The analysis of national and foreign legislation, works of scientists is carried out in this work, and directions of further reformation and development of the field of sports and physical culture are developed. The correlation of the norms of the domestic legislation with the norms of the international legislation and the introduction of the necessity of introducing our state into the international sports institutions are also analyzed. Developing approaches will help develop amateur and professional sports, take another step in the fight against corruption and improve society.
Keywords: sports, sports law, international sports law, physical culture, Olympic Committee, doping, administrative management, corruption, health.
E-government in Ukraine: current achievements, reform issues and activities of the Ministry of digital transformation of Ukraine
Authors: Myrgorod-Karpova V.V. , Shevtsov Y.A.
Published: March 2021

Over the past 10 years, Ukraine has been undergoing very active reform processes. Changes are taking place in all areas that are under state control, and the methods and means of reform are very diverse. The basis for such processes is the need to solve a large number of social, political and economic problems, including within the framework of the state direction in European integration. In addition, this is a particularly relevant issue recently, given the obvious problems in various industries and the availability of certain opportunities to solve them.
The main areas of reform today concern the sphere of public administration, as one of the most important, directly related to other areas and containing a large number of problems of organization and functioning. One of the main methods that meets modern requirements is the digitalization of public administration – the introduction of digital technologies in the processes of public administration, public obedience and control. Thus, in Ukraine there was a direction of public administration, which is called “Electronic government” or “E-government”. This “innovation” is quite ambiguous, because it covers a very wide range of public relations, provides for a large number of changes, but it does not have a systematic and clear measures, according to which, the effectiveness of changes is lower than expected.
In addition, new problems arose in the reform process due to the wrong approach to its implementation.
At the same time, the world practice of E-uryaduvannya has a significant number of examples of successful implementation of digital technologies in the sphere of public administration. It can be argued that the correct solution would be to use the successful solutions of other States that have already completed the transition to the E-government system. So, there is a real problem that needs to be solved as quickly as possible.
Keywords: E-government, Electronic governance, reform, digitalization, public administration.
Examining the Dimensionality and Monotonicity of an Attitude Dataset based on the Item Response Theory Models
Authors: KARTAL Seval , MOR DİRLİK Ezgi
Published: March 2021

In the current study, the factor structure of an attitude scale was analyzed by using the two different item response theory models that allow modeling non-monotonic item response curves. The current study utilized the two models to examine whether the two-factor solution of factor analysis may be caused by method effect, or by the failure of the analysis in describing and fitting the dataset because of the monotonicity assumption. This study was conducted on a dataset obtained from 355 undergraduate students who were studying at the Middle East Technical University. The data were obtained by carrying out the Attitude Scale Towards Foreign Languages as Medium of Instruction, which was developed by Kartal and Gülleroğlu (2015). The fit of the scale items to the generalized graded unfolding model was examined based on the item response curves, item parameters, item fit statistics and fit graphics. For Mokken scaling, scalability coefficients were calculated, dimensionality analyzes were conducted by using the Automated Item Selection Procedure. The monotonicity assumption was investigated based on the rest-score group methods. The results of the current study revealed that items of the attitude scale fit to the unidimensional models that do not assume monotone increasing item response curves for all items, while the factor analysis suggested a two-factor solution for the data. Researchers are recommended to utilize statistical techniques that can identify any possible violation of the monotonicity assumption and model items having non-monotonic response curves to examine dimensionality of their data.
Analysis of the effect of pressure control on leakages in distribution systems by FAVAD equation and field applications
Authors: Özdemir Özgür , Fırat Mahmut , Yılmaz Salih , Usluer Mustafa
Published: March 2021

Pressure has an important effect on the occurrence of failures/leaks in water distribution systems (WDSs) or the change of leakage in existing leakages. For this reason, monitoring the pressure is important especially for analyzing the changes in the day and night, determining the fluctuations and applying pressure management (PM) to ensure normal operating conditions. In this study, the effect of pressure on water losses and minimum night flow (MNF) was carried out according to the Fixed and Varied Area Discharge (FAVAD) approach, which allows the amount of leakage to be calculated based on the change in pressure and field tests. The minimum flow rate and potential leakage were determined under the network operating conditions before the pressure control in a region. Then, considering the features of the region, pressure was reduced with the pressure control system and MNFs and leaks were monitored. By reducing the pressure from 9.10 bar to 3.2 bar in the region, the MNF rate was reduced from 6.95 l/s to 3.29 l/s. The daily water savings in the system inlet volume is 78.44 m3/day and the annual saving is 28,624 m3/year. The results obtained are very important for practitioners in terms of implementing PM in the field.
Multi-objective optimal operation of reservoir group in Jialing River based on DREAM algorithm
Authors: Diao Wei , Peng Peiyi , Zhang Chunze , Yang Shuqing , Zhang Xujin
Published: March 2021

With the implementation of the most stringent water resources management system and the advancement of the construction process of reservoir terrace basins, the research and application of the theory and method of joint operation of reservoir groups are becoming more and more important. The Differential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM) algorithm is a sampling algorithm based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method proposed in recent years. The algorithm satisfies ergodicity and is good at handling problems with multivariate nonlinearity, high dimensionality, and multi-peaks, and as such the algorithm is a new global optimization solution. This paper elaborated the solution mechanism of the standard DREAM algorithm, and the algorithm was applied to the optimal operation model of the reservoir group in Jialing River. First, we optimized and analyzed the multi-objective supply operation model of the reservoir group water in Jialing River. Then the multi-attribute decision-making and evaluation index system of water supply operation rules for the reservoir group to assess the optimization of the operation model was adopted. Finally based on the results of the evaluation, the best water supply operation scheme for the reservoir group of Jialing River was selected. The results show that the Baozhusi Reservoir can fully meet the planned water supply requirements in dry years, while the two reservoirs, Shengzhong and Tingzikou, need to be weighed against the evaluation indexes of water supply operation. The research provides a theoretical basis for the DREAM algorithm in the optimal operation of the reservoir group and the actual operation scheme for the reservoir group of Jialing River.
A CONSTRUÇÃO DO CONHECIMENTO SEGUNDO A EPISTEMOLOGIA GENÉTICA
Authors: Lima Claucida , Finimundi Nóbile Márcia
Published: March 2021

A presente investigação teve como objetivo analisar os postulados da Epistemologia Genética. Para tanto, teve como ponto inicial os Modelos Epistemológicos e Pedagógicos que influenciam as concepções de aprendizagem dos educadores e, consequentemente, suas práticas na escola. Ademais, este trabalho pretende-se a discorrer sobre os postulados da base da teoria em questão, tais como: conceito de sujeito e objeto, características dos estádios, os quatro fatores que influenciam no desenvolvimento, a diferença entre desenvolvimento e aprendizagem, as equilibrações etc; refletindo sobre o papel da escola na construção do conhecimento pelo sujeito epistêmico e desmistificando alguns mal-entendidos com relação a esses conceitos, que saíram caros para a educação. A natureza desta investigação é qualitativa. Foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica, cujo aporte teórico foram as obras de Jean Piaget. Como resultados destacou-se que a concepção Epistemológica mais eficaz para a construção do conhecimento é a Construtiva, representada por um Modelo Pedagógico Relacional. Segundo Becker (2012) os Modelos Pedagógicos (Pedagogia Diretiva e Não Diretiva) e epistemológicos (Empirismo e Apriorismo) comprovadamente são senso comum, ou seja, desaprovados cientificamente, ultrapassados. A pesquisa demonstrou também que, embora as concepções empiristas e aprioristas sejam consideradas ultrapassadas, ambas ainda subsidiam a prática da maioria dos professores.
A CAPES E SUAS SETE DÉCADAS
Authors: Cabral Thiago Luiz de Oliveira , Silva Fernanda Cristina da , Pacheco Andressa Sasaki Vasques , Melo Pedro Antônio de
Published: March 2021

Este estudo teve como objetivo principal apresentar o panorama da pós-graduação nacional, modalidade stricto sensu, desde a criação da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Capes aos dias atuais. Para isso, realizaram-se pesquisas em relatórios institucionais e de sistemas públicos, bem como recorreu-se a fontes bibliográficas, legislações específicas e à elaboração de estatísticas descritivas no que concerne à evolução da pós-graduação nacional. Como principais conclusões, destaca-se que a pós-graduação surgiu, sobretudo, da necessidade nacional de qualificação de pessoal para o atender às demandas dos empreendimentos públicos e privados que forneceriam as bases para o desenvolvimento do país. A trajetória da pós-graduação brasileira não se dissocia da criação da Capes e da condução de seus Coordenadores, em especial, Anísio Teixeira, seu fundador. Destaca-se o crescimento tanto do número de cursos oferecidos, como do quantitativo de matrículas e titulações da pós-graduação nacional, embora de maneira assimétrica em relação às regiões do país. Para pesquisas futuras, sugere-se realizar uma análise da evolução dos números da pós-graduação brasileira stricto sensu desde a sua origem, com base em evidências e acontecimentos históricos, no Plano Nacional de Pós-Graduação e na Estratégia Nacional de Desenvolvimento.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding COVID-19 Ocular Manifestations in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsaedi Mohammed G. , AlQahtani Bader S. , Zahrani Anhar Khalid , Alshareef Shaima E. , Alzubaidy Khlood A. , Alzubaidy Basant A. , Alharbi Suzan Y. , Almutairi Osama M. , Alharby Mosa B. , Basheikh Ahmed A.
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Ocular manifestations, such as conjunctivitis, redness, and tearing, were reported in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Objective:

To investigate the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice about the ocular manifestations of COVID-19 and protective eye measures among the general population in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted over two months with 800 participants from the general population and a 39-item online structured validated questionnaire using Google Forms. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program version 20 and a P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results and Discussion:

Among the participants (n = 800), 71.9% were females, 50% were highly educated, and 61.8% had moderate incomes. The overall mean total knowledge score was 25.185 ± 3.774, with significant differences regarding age group, gender, and income. Most of the Saudi residents with high monthly incomes, especially females, were knowledgeable regarding the ocular manifestations of COVID-19 (25.0957 ± 3.4311). The average total knowledge, attitude, and practice score was 42.1419 ± 4.833, which was average (medium level), with significant differences regarding age group, gender, and income; a high mean was obtained from the age group >50–60, females, and high-income class.

Conclusion:

Detailed information about the epidemiology of COVID-19 and an understanding of emerging related health issues, such as ocular manifestations, should be empowered to the public while considering the least knowledgeable groups.
The use of audio-visual media in improving Culinary students learning outcomes in Chicken Carcass material
Authors: Mashudi Mashudi , Komariah Kokom , Irvan Farizqo
Published: March 2021

This research aimed to find out the effectiveness of audio-visual media (picture, video, audio) on culinary students’ learning outcomes in Chicken Carcass material. The researcher implemented a quasi-experimental method with a nonequivalent control group design. The subjects of this study were the 10th-grade students of SMK Negeri 8 Medan in the Academic Year of 2016/2017. Cluster random sampling was applied in this study, which consisted of one experimental class and one control class. Meanwhile, some hypothetical tests used in this study were n-gain, independent t-test, and dependent t-test. The n-gain score of learning outcomes in the experimental class is higher than the control class, which is 0.5 and categorized as moderate. Students’ learning outcomes between those who were taught using audio-visual media and without audio-visual media in Chicken Carcass material indicated a significant difference with a significance score of 0.000 ≤ 0.05. The audio-visual media effectively improve the learning outcomes of the 10th-grade students of the culinary department in Chicken Carcass material.
Developing competency-based assessment at vocational high school (VHS) in Bali
Authors: Wahyuni Dessy Seri
Published: March 2021

This paper aims to resolve the difficulties of implementing competency-based assessment (CBA) in vocational high school while practicing in the workplace. This research was performed employing a qualitative exploratory descriptive (QED) method. The respondents are 109 participants from vocational teachers, industry experts, VHS students, and technical certification organizations. The implementation of CBA generates graduates' competency standards in schools that meet the industry's competency needs. CBA is carried out by creating competency levels, college and workplace learning as students practice doing industrial work. This study's findings suggest aspects of CBA that provide a fair degree of application of the student's business work activities and presents an approach to explaining training that is not limited to learning contexts.
Machine Learning for Risk Group Identification and User Data Collection in a Herpes Simplex Virus Patient Registry: Algorithm Development and Validation Study
Authors: Surodina Svitlana , Lam Ching , Grbich Svetislav , Milne-Ives Madison , van Velthoven Michelle , Meinert Edward
Published: March 2021

Background

Researching people with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is challenging because of poor data quality, low user engagement, and concerns around stigma and anonymity.

Objective

This project aimed to improve data collection for a real-world HSV registry by identifying predictors of HSV infection and selecting a limited number of relevant questions to ask new registry users to determine their level of HSV infection risk.

Methods

The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2015-2016) database includes the confirmed HSV type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively) status of American participants (14-49 years) and a wealth of demographic and health-related data. The questionnaires and data sets from this survey were used to form two data sets: one for HSV-1 and one for HSV-2. These data sets were used to train and test a model that used a random forest algorithm (devised using Python) to minimize the number of anonymous lifestyle-based questions needed to identify risk groups for HSV.

Results

The model selected a reduced number of questions from the NHANES questionnaire that predicted HSV infection risk with high accuracy scores of 0.91 and 0.96 and high recall scores of 0.88 and 0.98 for the HSV-1 and HSV-2 data sets, respectively. The number of questions was reduced from 150 to an average of 40, depending on age and gender. The model, therefore, provided high predictability of risk of infection with minimal required input.

Conclusions

This machine learning algorithm can be used in a real-world evidence registry to collect relevant lifestyle data and identify individuals’ levels of risk of HSV infection. A limitation is the absence of real user data and integration with electronic medical records, which would enable model learning and improvement. Future work will explore model adjustments, anonymization options, explicit permissions, and a standardized data schema that meet the General Data Protection Regulation, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and third-party interface connectivity requirements.
Virtual Reality–Based Psychotherapy in Social Anxiety Disorder: fMRI Study Using a Self-Referential Task
Authors: Hur Ji-Won , Shin Hyemin , Jung Dooyoung , Lee Heon-Jeong , Lee Sungkil , Kim Gerard J , Cho Chung-Yean , Choi Seungmoon , Lee Seung-Moo , Cho Chul-Hyun
Published: March 2021

Background

Although it has been well demonstrated that the efficacy of virtual reality therapy for social anxiety disorder is comparable to that of traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, little is known about the effect of virtual reality on pathological self-referential processes in individuals with social anxiety disorder.

Objective

We aimed to determine changes in self-referential processing and their neural mechanisms following virtual reality treatment.

Methods

We recruited participants with and without a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder to undergo clinical assessments (Social Phobia Scale and Post-Event Rumination Scale) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Participants with social anxiety disorder received virtual reality–based exposure treatment for 6 sessions starting immediately after baseline testing. After the sixth session, participants with social anxiety disorder completed follow-up scans during which they were asked to judge whether a series of words (positive, negative, neutral) was relevant to them.

Results

Of 25 individuals with social anxiety disorder who participated in the study, 21 completed the sessions and follow-up; 22 control individuals also participated. There were no significant differences in age (P=.36), sex (P=.71), or handedness (P=.51) between the groups. Whole-brain analysis revealed that participants in the social anxiety disorder group had increased neural responses during positive self-referential processing in the medial temporal and frontal cortexes compared with those in the control group. Participants in the social anxiety disorder group also showed increased left insular activation and decreased right middle frontal gyrus activation during negative self-referential processing. After undergoing virtual reality–based therapy, overall symptoms of the participants with social anxiety disorder were reduced, and these participants exhibited greater activity in a brain regions responsible for self-referential and autobiographical memory processes while viewing positive words during postintervention fMRI scans. Interestingly, the greater the blood oxygen level dependent changes related to positive self-referential processing, the lower the tendency to ruminate on the negative events and the lower the social anxiety following the virtual reality session. Compared with that at baseline, higher activation was also found within broad somatosensory areas in individuals with social anxiety disorder during negative self-referential processing following virtual reality therapy.

Conclusions

These fMRI findings might reflect the enhanced physiological and cognitive processing in individuals with social anxiety disorder in response to self-referential information. They also provide neural evidence of the effect of virtual reality exposure therapy on social anxiety and self-derogation.
Analyzing Cross-country Pandemic Connectedness During COVID-19 Using a Spatial-Temporal Database: Network Analysis
Authors: Chu Amanda MY , Chan Jacky NL , Tsang Jenny TY , Tiwari Agnes , So Mike KP
Published: March 2021

Communicable diseases including COVID-19 pose a major threat to public health worldwide. To curb the spread of communicable diseases effectively, timely surveillance and prediction of the risk of pandemics are essential. The aim of this study is to analyze free and publicly available data to construct useful travel data records for network statistics other than common descriptive statistics. This study describes analytical findings of time-series plots and spatial-temporal maps to illustrate or visualize pandemic connectedness. We analyzed data retrieved from the web-based Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation dashboard, which contains up-to-date and comprehensive meta-information on civil flights from 193 national governments in accordance with the airport, country, city, latitude, and the longitude of flight origin and the destination. We used the database to visualize pandemic connectedness through the workflow of travel data collection, network construction, data aggregation, travel statistics calculation, and visualization with time-series plots and spatial-temporal maps. We observed similar patterns in the time-series plots of worldwide daily flights from January to early-March of 2019 and 2020. A sharp reduction in the number of daily flights recorded in mid-March 2020 was likely related to large-scale air travel restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The levels of connectedness between places are strong indicators of the risk of a pandemic. Since the initial reports of COVID-19 cases worldwide, a high network density and reciprocity in early-March 2020 served as early signals of the COVID-19 pandemic and were associated with the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in mid-March 2020. The spatial-temporal map of connectedness in Europe on March 13, 2020, shows the highest level of connectedness among European countries, which reflected severe outbreaks of COVID-19 in late March and early April of 2020. As a quality control measure, we used the aggregated numbers of international flights from April to October 2020 to compare the number of international flights officially reported by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the data collected from the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation dashboard, and we observed high consistency between the 2 data sets. The flexible design of the database provides users access to network connectedness at different periods, places, and spatial levels through various network statistics calculation methods in accordance with their needs. The analysis can facilitate early recognition of the risk of a current communicable disease pandemic and newly emerging communicable diseases in the future.
Artificial Intelligence–Aided Precision Medicine for COVID-19: Strategic Areas of Research and Development (Preprint)
Authors: Santus Enrico , Marino Nicola , Cirillo Davide , Chersoni Emmanuele , Montagud Arnau , Santuccione Chadha Antonella , Valencia Alfonso , Hughes Kevin , Lindvall Charlotta
Published: March 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can play a key role in preventing, detecting, and monitoring epidemics. In this paper, we provide an overview of the recently published literature on the COVID-19 pandemic in four strategic areas: (1) triage, diagnosis, and risk prediction; (2) drug repurposing and development; (3) pharmacogenomics and vaccines; and (4) mining of the medical literature. We highlight how AI-powered health care can enable public health systems to efficiently handle future outbreaks and improve patient outcomes.
Acceptance and Use of Home-Based Electronic Symptom Self-Reporting Systems in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Cho Youmin , Zhang Huiting , Harris Marcelline Ruth , Gong Yang , Smith Ellen Lavoie , Jiang Yun
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Electronic symptom self-reporting systems (e-SRS) have been shown to improve symptoms and survival in patients with cancer. However, patient engagement in using e-SRS for voluntary symptom self-reporting is less optimal. Multiple factors can potentially affect patients’ acceptance and engagement in using home-based e-SRS. However, such factors have not been fully explored in cancer populations.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to understand the acceptance and use of home-based e-SRS by patients with cancer and identify associated facilitators and barriers.

METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO (January 2010 to March 2020) were searched using a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords such as symptom self-reporting, electronic/technology, cancer, and their synonyms. Included studies focused on the use of home-based e-SRS by patients with cancer and their families. Studies on patients’ use of e-SRS in clinical settings only were excluded. Of the 3740 papers retrieved, 33 were included in the final review. Factors associated with patient acceptance and use of e-SRS were extracted and synthesized.

RESULTS

Most e-SRS were web based (22/33, 66%) or mobile app based (9/33, 27%). The e-SRS initial acceptance, represented by patient enrollment rates, ranged from 40% (22/55) to 100% (100/100). High e-SRS acceptance was rated by 69% (59/85) to 77.6% (337/434) of the patients after they used the system. The e-SRS use, measured by patients’ response rates to questionnaires (ranging from 1596/3521, 45.33% to 92%) or system log-on rates (ranging from 4/12, 33% to 99/100, 99%), declined over time in general patterns. Few studies (n=7) reported e-SRS use beyond 6 months, with the response rates ranging from 62% (40/64) to 85.1% (541/636) and the log-on rates ranging from 63.6% (103/162) to 77% (49/64). The availability of compatible devices and technical support, interactive system features, information accessibility, privacy, questionnaire quality, patient physical/psychosocial status, and age were associated with patient acceptance and use of home-based e-SRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptance and use of home-based e-SRS by patients with cancer varied significantly across studies, as assessed by a variety of approaches. The lack of access to technology has remained a barrier to e-SRS adoption. Interactive system features and personalized questionnaires may increase patient engagement. More studies are needed to further understand patients’ long-term use of home-based e-SRS behavior patterns to develop personalized interventions to support symptom self-management and self-reporting of patients with cancer for optimal health outcomes.
Human Factors and Technological Characteristics Influencing the Interaction with AI-enabled Clinical Decision Support Systems: A Literature Review (Preprint)
Authors: Knop Michael , Weber Sebastian , Mueller Marius , Niehaves Bjoern
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

The digitization and automation of diagnostics and treatments promise to alter the quality of health care and improve patient outcomes, while undersupply of medical personnel, high workload on medical professionals, and medical case complexity increase. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been proven to help medical professionals in their everyday work through their ability to process vast amounts of patient information. Still, a comprehensive adoption is partially disrupted by specific technological or personal characteristics. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), CDSS become adaptive technologies with human-like capabilities, able to learn and destined to change their characteristics over time. Yet, research has not reflected on the characteristics and factors essential for effective collaboration between human actors and AI-enabled CDSS.

OBJECTIVE

Our study seeks to summarize the factors influencing an effective collaboration between medical professionals and AI-enabled CDSS. These factors are essential for medical professionals, management, and technology designers to reflect on the adoption, implementation, and development of AI-enabled CDSS.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review including three different meta-databases, screening over 1000 articles and including 101 of them for full-text assessment. In the end, seven met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed for our synthesis.

RESULTS

We identified the technological characteristics and human factors that appear to have an essential effect on the collaboration of medical professionals and AI-enabled CDSS in accordance with our research objective, namely training data quality, performance, explainability, adaptability, medical expertise, technological expertise, personality, cognitive biases, and trust. Comparing our results with those from research on non-AI CDSS, some characteristics/factors retain their importance, while others gain or lose relevance due to the uniqueness of human-AI interaction. However, only a few studies mention theoretical foundations and patient outcomes related to AI-enabled CDSS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides a comprehensive overview of relevant characteristics and factors that influence the interaction and collaboration of medical professionals and AI-enabled CDSS. Rather limited theoretical foundations are currently hindering the possibility of creating adequate concepts and models to explain and predict interrelations between these characteristics and factors. For an appropriate evaluation of human-AI collaboration, patient outcomes and the role of patients within the decision-making process should be taken into consideration.

CLINICALTRIAL
Home-Based and Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study (Preprint)
Authors: Ganeshan Smitha , Tse Crystal , Beatty Alexis
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to reduce mortality, morbidity, and hospitalizations. Increasingly, digital tools have augmented the ease of delivering programs outside of the traditional rehabilitation center setting. Because of the need for distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, many cardiac rehabilitation (CR) centers suspended in-person services and pivoted to home-based CR (HBCR).

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we qualitatively evaluated implementation of HBCR, which included weekly phone or video visits for individualized exercise plans, nutrition and health education counseling, wellness sessions, and optional mobile phone applications.

METHODS

Patient participants and staff members (physician, nurses, exercise physiologists, dietician, administrative staff) participated in semi-structured interviews. Two independent reviewers coded interview transcripts for emergent themes and pre-specified themes from the Theory of Planned Behavior, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients and 7 staff were interviewed. Narrative descriptions highlighted the isolation, fear, and disruption of life activities during COVID-19. Key facilitators of the HBCR patient experience included strong relationships with staff who served as coaches and sources of accountability and the ability of HBCR to deliver an individually tailored experience within a patient’s home. Important organizational factors for implementation included leadership buy-in, culture of change, and support for staff. Though technology tools facilitated communication and accountability, not all participants embraced technology and some reported challenges with use.

CONCLUSIONS

Individually tailored HBCR can facilitate access for patients to participate outside of a CR center. Ongoing research is needed to understand the long-term outcomes of flexible delivery models that may include both in-person and remote visits, and the role of technology in these models.
Oscillation results for a certain class of fourth-order nonlinear delay differential equations
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Cesarano Clemente
Published: March 2021

In this work, we study the oscillation of the fourth order neutral differential equations with delay argument. By means of generalized Riccati transformation technique, we obtain new oscillation criteria for oscillation of this equation. An example is given to clarify the main results in this paper.