bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baby HABIT-ILE intervention: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial in infants aged 6–18 months with unilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Carton de Tournai Astrid , Herman Enimie , Gathy Estelle , Ebner-Karestinos Daniela , Araneda Rodrigo , Dricot Laurence , Macq Benoît , Vandermeeren Yves , Bleyenheuft Yannick
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Research using animal models suggests that intensive motor skill training in infants under 2 years old with cerebral palsy (CP) may significantly reduce, or even prevent, maladaptive neuroplastic changes following brain injury. However, the effects of such interventions to tentatively prevent secondary neurological damages have never been assessed in infants with CP. This study aims to determine the effect of the baby Hand and Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (baby HABIT-ILE) in infants with unilateral CP, compared with a control intervention.

Methods and analysis

This randomised controlled trial will include 48 infants with unilateral CP aged (corrected if preterm) 6–18 months at the first assessment. They will be paired by age and by aetiology of the CP, and randomised into two groups (immediate and delayed). Assessments will be performed at baseline and at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after baseline. The immediate group will receive 50 hours of baby HABIT-ILE intervention over 2 weeks, between first and second assessment, while the delayed group will continue their usual activities. This last group will receive baby HABIT-ILE intervention after the 3-month assessment. Primary outcome will be the Mini-Assisting Hand Assessment. Secondary outcomes will include behavioural assessments for gross and fine motricity, visual–cognitive–language abilities as well as MRI and kinematics measures. Moreover, parents will determine and score child-relevant goals and fill out questionnaires of participation, daily activities and mobility.

Ethics and dissemination

Full ethical approval has been obtained by theComité d’éthique Hospitalo-Facultaire/Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels (2013/01MAR/069 B403201316810g). The recommendations of the ethical board and the Belgian law of 7 May 2004 concerning human experiments will be followed. Parents will sign a written informed consent ahead of participation. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

NCT04698395. Registered on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 2 December 2020 and NIH Clinical Trials Registry on 6 January 2021. URL of trial registry record:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04698395?term=bleyenheuft&draw=1&rank=7.
Enhanced impact of psoriasis severity on the treatment demands of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study based on a national psoriasis registry in China
Authors: Yang Zhihui , Jin Yu , Wang Mingyue , Li Ruoyu , Li Wen-Qing , Li Hang
Published: February 2024

Objectives

The personalised treatment demands of patients with psoriasis did not get significant attention during the pandemic lockdown. This study aimed to investigate the treatment demands of patients with psoriasis with different severities, stratified by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Design

Cross-sectional study design.

Setting

Multicentre study based on a national psoriasis registry in China.

Participants

A total of 22 425 adult patients with psoriasis were enrolled between August 2020 and September 2021.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were patient demands for quick healing of skin lesions and improving mental health, which were collected by questionnaires. Multivariable logistic models were used to examine the impact of disease severity, as measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA) and Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA), on treatment demands, as stratified by COVID-19 pandemic conditions (lockdown vs non-lockdown).

Results

Increasing PASI score significantly increased patient demands for rapid healing of skin lesions and improving mental health during non-lockdown periods. The magnitude of both associations further increased during the COVID-19 lockdown from an OR of 1.45 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.65) to 2.19 (95% CI 1.57 to 3.05) and 2.21 (95% CI 2.03 to 2.40) to 2.82 (95% CI 2.24 to 3.55), respectively. The skin lesion healing demand was more triggered by the overall irritation level (measured by IGA, OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.99 during non-lockdown periods vs OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.63 to 4.49 during lockdowns), while the mental health improving demand was more triggered by lesion coverage (measured by BSA, OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.85 to 2.19 vs OR 3.27, 95% CI 2.57 to 4.15).

Conclusions

Psoriasis aggravation significantly increased patients’ treatment demands, especially during lockdowns. The used psoriasis severity measures highlighted patients’ treatment demands differently. This suggests more accessible and personalised healthcare for patients with psoriasis should be available during future pandemics.
Development, piloting and evaluation of an app-supported psychosocial prevention intervention to strengthen participation in working life: a study protocol of a mixed-methods approach
Authors: Stephan Johannes , Gehrmann Jan , Stullich Ananda , Hoffmann Laura , Richter Matthias
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Rates of incapacity to work due to mental disorders have increased in many European countries. The consequences of persistent stress can impact individuals’ physical and psychological well-being and gradually develop into chronic stress. Mental disorders or symptoms of burn-out syndrome can have severe consequences. Mental disorders leading to work incapacity significantly burden the health system. Prevention interventions can protect against burn-out, depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. Digital health is a promising approach to increase the utilisation of effective prevention interventions. This mixed-methods study evaluates a newly developed app-supported psychosocial prevention intervention called ‘RV Fit Mental Health’ to strengthen participation in working life.

Methods and analysis

The study uses a three-stage parallel mixed-methods design. This study accompanies the development (stage 1), piloting (stage 2) and evaluation (stage 3) of the new intervention. Within the stages, there is a quantitative as well as a qualitative research strand. Employed persons with an incipient mental disorder will be included. Additionally, experts within the project or connected areas will be included. Quantitative data will be analysed using multifactorial variance analyses in a pre–post design. Qualitative data will be analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study is a comprehensive research approach to investigate the development, piloting and evaluation of an app-supported psychosocial app-based prevention intervention. The rigour of the study will be achieved through data triangulation.

Ethics and dissemination

All participants will receive detailed study information and give written informed consent before data collection. Ethical approval was obtained from the Technical University of Munich Ethics Committee. All data collection will follow all legislative rules regarding data protection, also following the Declaration of Helsinki. The study results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration numbers

DRKS00030818 and DRKS00033080.
Patient experiences with patient-led, home-based follow-up after curative treatment for colorectal cancer: a qualitative study
Authors: Swartjes Hidde , Aarts Charlotte J H , Deuning-Smit Esther , Vromen Heleen A B , de Wilt J H W (Hans) , Vos Julien A M , Custers José A E
Published: February 2024

Objectives

The number of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in need of oncological follow-up is growing. As a response, patient-led, home-based follow-up (PHFU) was developed, implemented and assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate how patients experienced PHFU.

Design

A qualitative study with individual semistructured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed through an inductive, double-coding approach.

Setting

A university medical centre in the Netherlands.

Participants

12 curatively treated patients with CRC who received PHFU were included after purposive sampling.

Results

Overall, participants (N=12) were satisfied with PHFU. The time and cost-saving aspects for patient and hospital were evidently valued. PHFU was experienced as a shared effort, but patients felt like the primary responsibility remained in the hospital. Patients mentioned a decreased personal interaction with their healthcare provider (HCP) and felt a higher threshold to ask for help. However, all major questions were still addressed. Patients felt sufficiently competent to interpret their individual test results but experienced difficulty in interpreting repeated increases in carcinoembryonic antigen levels within the normal range. Educational status, age and a complicated disease course were seen as factors limiting the applicability of PHFU, and it was expressed that PHFU should be offered as an alternative instead of a novel standard of care.

Conclusions

According to patients, PHFU has great potential. However, PHFU may not be suitable for every CRC patient, and factors such as educational status, age and disease course should be taken into consideration. Patient and HCP have a shared responsibility to help successfully organise PHFU in practice.
Study protocol for FASTRAK: a randomised controlled trial evaluating the cost impact and effectiveness of FAST-MRI for HCC suRveillance in pAtients with high risK of liver cancer
Authors: Nahon Pierre , Ronot Maxime , Sutter Olivier , Natella Pierre-André , Baloul Samia , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle , Audureau Etienne
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using semi-annual liver ultrasound (US) is justified in patients with cirrhosis. In this context, US has a low sensitivity (<30%) for the detection of HCC at the very early stage (ie, Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) 0, uninodular tumour <2 cm). The sensitivity of abbreviated liver MRI (AMRI) is reported to exceed 80%, but its use is hampered by costs and availability. Our hypothesis is that AMRI used as a screening examination in patients at high risk of HCC (>3% per year) could increase the rates of patients with a tumour detected at an early stage accessible to curative-intent treatment, and demonstrate its cost-effectiveness in this population.

Methods and analysis

The FASTRAK trial is a multicentre, randomised controlled trial with two parallel arms, aiming for superiority and conducted on patients at high risk for HCC (yearly HCC incidence >3%). Randomisation will be conducted on an individual basis with a centralised approach and stratification by centre. After inclusion in the trial, each patient will be randomly assigned to the experimental group (semi-annual US and AMRI) or the control group (semi-annual US alone). The main objective is to assess the cost/quality-adjusted life year and cost/patient detected with a BCLC 0 HCC in both arms. A total of 944 patients will be recruited in 37 tertiary French centres during a 36-month period and will be followed-up during 36 months.

Ethics and dissemination

The FASTRAK trial received ethical approval on 4 April 2022. Results will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentation at international conferences.

Trial registration number

Clinical trial number (ClinicaTrials.gov)NCT05095714.
How much does government’s short-term response matter for explaining cross-country variation in COVID-19 infection outcomes? A regression-based relative importance analysis of 84 countries
Authors: Liu Gordon G , Peng Xiaoyun , Yang Hanmo , Yi Junjian
Published: February 2024

Objective

We study the predetermined characteristics of countries in addition to their government non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to shed light on the correlates of the variation in COVID-19 infection outcomes across countries.

Methods and analysis

We conduct a systematic investigation of the validity of government responses in 84 countries by gradually adding the predetermined cultural, natural and socioeconomic factors of each country using a fixed-effect model and daily panel data. A relative importance analysis is conducted to isolate the contribution of each variable to the R2of the model.

Results

Government NPIs are effective in containing the virus spread and explain approximately 9% of the variations in the pandemic outcomes. COVID-19 is more prevalent in countries that are more individual-oriented or with a higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, while a country’s government expenditure on health as a proportion of GDP and median age are negatively associated with the infection outcome. The SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle and the impacts of other unobserved factors together explain more than half of the variation in the prevalence of COVID-19 across countries. The degree of individualism explains 9.30% of the variation, and the explanatory power of the other socioeconomic factors is less than 4% each.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 infection outcomes are correlated with multivariate factors, ranging from state NPIs, culture-influenced human behaviours, geographical conditions and socioeconomic conditions. As expected, the stronger or faster are the government responses, the lower is the level of infections. In the meantime, many other factors underpin a major part of the variation in the control of COVID-19. As such, from a scientific perspective, it is important that country-specific conditions are taken into account when evaluating the impact of NPIs in order to conduct more cost-effective policy interventions.
Missingness matters: a secondary analysis of thromboelastography measurements from a recent prehospital randomized tranexamic acid clinical trial
Authors: Donohue Jack K , Iyanna Nidhi , Lorence John M , Brown Joshua B , Guyette Frances X , Eastridge Brian J , Nirula Raminder , Vercruysse Gary A , O'Keeffe Terence , Joseph Bellal , Neal Matthew D , Sperry Jason L
Published: February 2024

Background

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been hypothesized to mitigate coagulopathy in patients after traumatic injury. Despite previous prehospital clinical trials demonstrating a TXA survival benefit, none have demonstrated correlated changes in thromboelastography (TEG) parameters. We sought to analyze if missing TEG data contributed to this paucity of findings.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of the Study of Tranexamic Acid During Air Medical and Ground Prehospital Transport Trial. We compared patients that received TEG (YES-TEG) and patients unable to be sampled (NO-TEG) to analyze subgroups in which to investigate TEG differences. TEG parameter differences across TXA intervention arms were assessed within subgroups disproportionately present in the NO-TEG relative to the YES-TEG cohort. Generalized linear models controlling for potential confounders were applied to findings with p<0.10 on univariate analysis.

Results

NO-TEG patients had lower prehospital systolic blood pressure (SBP) (100 (78, 140) vs 125 (88, 147), p<0.01), lower prehospital Glascow Coma Score (14 (3, 15) vs 15 (12, 15), p<0.01), greater rates of prehospital intubation (39.4% vs 24.4%, p<0.01) and greater mortality at 30 days (36.4% vs 6.8%, p<0.01). NO-TEG patients had a greater international normalized ratio relative to the YES-TEG subgroup (1.2 (1.1, 1.5) vs 1.1 (1.0, 1.2), p=0.04). Within a severe prehospital shock cohort (SBP<70), TXA was associated with a significant decrease in clot lysis at 30 min on multivariate analysis (β=−27.6, 95% CI (−51.3 to –3.9), p=0.02).

Conclusions

Missing data, due to the logistical challenges of sampling certain severely injured patients, may be associated with a lack of TEG parameter changes on TXA administration in the primary analysis. Previous demonstration of TXA’s survival benefit in patients with severe prehospital shock in tandem with the current findings supports the notion that TXA acts at least partially by improving clot integrity.

Level of evidence

Level II.
Reinvestigation of $$^{91}$$Sr and $$^{95}$$Y atomic masses using the JYFLTRAP Penning trap
Authors: Jaries A. , Stryjczyk M. , Kankainen A. , Eronen T. , Ge Z. , Mougeot M. , Raggio A. , Ruotsalainen J.
Published: February 2024

We report on the precise mass measurements of the $$^{91}$$

91

Sr and $$^{95}$$

95

Y isotopes performed using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The mass-excess values from this work, $${\textrm{ME}(^{91}\textrm{Sr}) = -83645.5(13)}$$

ME

(
91

Sr
)

=
-
83645.5

(
13
)

 keV and $${\textrm{ME}(^{95}\textrm{Y}) = -81226.4(10)}$$

ME

(
95

Y
)

=
-
81226.4

(
10
)

 keV, deviate by 6.5(52) keV and $$-18(7)$$

-
18
(
7
)

 keV from the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020 (AME20). In the case of $$^{91}$$

91

Sr the new result disagrees with the ISOLTRAP value, while for $$^{95}$$

95

Y, it agrees with the older JYFLTRAP value.
Stability and localization of the Lp Bergman kernel
Authors: Zhang Liyou , Zhang Ziyi
Published: February 2024

The aims of this paper are twofold. First, we generalize the classical Ramadanov theorem and Skwarczyński theorem for the [Formula: see text] Bergman kernels to the [Formula: see text] case, which are concerned with the compact convergence of [Formula: see text] Bergman kernels on an increasing or decreasing sequence of domains in [Formula: see text]. Second, we prove a localization principle for the [Formula: see text] Bergman kernel on bounded strongly pseudoconvex domains with smooth boundary. Utilize the localization, we study the asymptotic behavior of the [Formula: see text] Bergman kernel near strongly pseudoconvex boundary points and show that the [Formula: see text]-Schwarz content is identical to [Formula: see text] on a neighborhood of a strongly pseudoconvex boundary point.
SCT: Summary Caption Technique for Retrieving Relevant Images in Alignment with Multimodal Abstractive Summary
Authors: Rafi Shaik , Das Ranjita
Published: February 2024

This work proposes an efficient Summary Caption Technique that considers the multimodal summary and image captions as input to retrieve the correspondence images from the captions that are highly influential to the multimodal summary. Matching a multimodal summary with an appropriate image is a challenging task in computer vision and natural language processing. Merging in these fields is tedious, though the research community has steadily focused on cross-modal retrieval. These issues include the visual question-answering, matching queries with the images, and semantic relationship matching between two modalities for retrieving the corresponding image. Relevant works consider questions to match the relationship of visual information and object detection and to match the text with visual information and employing structural-level representation to align the images with the text. However, these techniques are primarily focused on retrieving the images to text or for image captioning. But less effort has been spent on retrieving relevant images for the multimodal summary. Hence, our proposed technique extracts and merge features in the Hybrid Image Text layer and captions in the semantic embeddings with word2vec where the contextual features and semantic relationships are compared and matched with each vector between the modalities, with cosine semantic similarity. In cross-modal retrieval, we achieve top five related images and align the relevant images to the multimodal summary that achieves the highest cosine score among the retrieved images. The model has been trained with seq-to-seq modal with 100 epochs, besides reducing the information loss by the sparse categorical cross entropy. Further, experimenting with the multimodal summarization with multimodal output dataset, in cross-modal retrieval, helps to evaluate the quality of image alignment with an image-precision metric that demonstrate the best results.
Hyperparameter Tuning with Gaussian Processes for Optimal Abstraction Control in Simulation-based Optimization of Smart Semiconductor Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Seok Moon Gi , Tan Wen Jun , Su Boyi , Cai Wentong , Kwon Jisu , Choi Seon Han
Published: February 2024

Smart manufacturing utilizes digital twins that are virtual forms of their production plants for analyzing and optimizing decisions. Digital twins have been mainly developed as discrete-event models (DEMs) to represent the detailed and stochastic dynamics of productions in the plants. The optimum decision is achieved after simulating the DEM-based digital twins under various what-if decision candidates; thus, simulation acceleration is crucial for rapid optimum determination for given problems. For the acceleration of discrete-event simulations, adaptive abstraction-level conversion approaches have been previously proposed to switch active models of each machine group between a set of DEM components and a corresponding lookup table-based mean-delay model during runtime. The switching is decided by detecting the machine group’s convergence into (or divergence from) a steady state. However, there is a tradeoff between speedup and accuracy loss in the adaptive abstraction convertible simulation (AACS), and inaccurate simulation can degrade the quality of the optimum (i.e., the distance between the calculated optimum and the actual optimum). In this article, we propose a simulation-based optimization that optimizes the problem based on a genetic algorithm while tuning specific hyperparameters (related to the tradeoff control) to maximize the speedup of AACS under a specified accuracy constraint. For each individual, the proposed method distributes the overall computing budget for multiple simulation runs (considering the digital twin’s probabilistic property) into the hyperparameter optimization (HPO) and fitness evaluation. We propose an efficient HPO method that manages multiple Gaussian process models (as speedup-estimation models) to acquire promising optimal hyperparameter candidates (that maximize the simulation speedups) with few attempts. The method also reduces each individual’s exploration overhead (as the population evolves) by estimating each hyperparameter’s expected speedup using previous exploration results of neighboring individuals without actual simulation executions. The proposed method was applied to optimize raw-material releases of a large-scale manufacturing system to prove the concept and evaluate the performance under various situations.
Enhanced Biochar Production via Co‐Pyrolysis of Biomass Residual with Plastic Waste after Recycling Process
Authors: Hongthong Sukanya , Sangsida Worachate , Wongcharee Surachai , Chanthakhot Aitsara , Aungthitipan Poramed , Suwannahong Kowit , Kreetachat Torpong , Rioyo Javier
Published: February 2024

Biomass pyrolysis for oil production results in biochar byproduct, whose characteristics can be improved by the reuse of waste plastics. While the plastic recycling process leads to a large amount of plastic waste that cannot be reused, this underutilized feedstock holds the potential for coprocessing with biomass, thereby increasing the likelihood of producing valuable biochar products. This study sought to evaluate how the inclusion of plastic waste influences the pyrolysis of biomass residue. To this end, sawdust and hardwood biomass were chosen as materials to investigate how the presence of plastics might alter the properties of the resulting chars. Synergies were observed among the biomass components, particularly in samples with higher lignin content from hardwood biomass, which resulted in increased biochar yields. The results showed that a 20% blend of plastic waste with wood at 300°C produced a solid char with a yield of 40% by weight. Co‐pyrolysis of the biochar derived from blends of 20 wt. % PP with both sawdust and hardwood resulted in significant enhancement of various properties of the resulting biochar, including surface area, carbon content, hydrophobicity, and aromaticity. This enhancement had a favorable effect on the carbon content and calorific values of the biochar. These enhanced properties significantly contributed to the biochar’s capacity for sorbing substances like various heavy metals. It can be proved that this result showed the importance of the energy content of biochar and its potential use for renewable applications. The beneficial combined effect seen in the plastic blends can be credited to the interaction between the biomass and polymer components, resulting in the production of fewer volatile products at higher temperatures. It can be suggested that biochar from biowaste and plastic waste not only reduces environmental impact but also converts it into a valuable and eco‐friendly product.
Validation of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation in the Colombian Population
Authors: Larrarte C. , Vesga J. , Ardila F. , Aldana A. , Perea D. , Sanabria M.
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Chronic kidney disease prevention programs must identify patients at risk of early progression to provide better treatment and prolong kidney replacement therapy-free survival. Risk equations have been developed and validated in cohorts outside of Colombia, so this study aims to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the four-variable kidney failure risk equation in a Colombian population where it has yet to be validated. Methods. External validation study of a kidney failure risk equation using a historical cohort of patients with CKD stages 3, 4, and 5, adults without a history of dialysis or kidney transplantation with a two-year follow-up, belonging to the Baxter Renal Care Services Colombia network. The discriminatory capacity of the model was evaluated by the concordance index using Harrell’s C statistic, and the time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was estimated using the nearest neighbor method, as well as the optimal cut-off point for sensitivity and specificity. Calibration was determined by the degree of agreement between the observed outcome and the probabilities predicted by the model using the Hosmer–Lemeshow statistic. Results. A total of 5,477 patients were included, with a mean age of 72 years, 36.4% diabetic, and a mean baseline eGFR of 36 ml/min/1.73 m2. The rate of dialysis initiation was three events per 100 patient-years, 95% CI (2.9–3.6). The optimal cutoff for sensitivity was 0.94, for specificity, 0.76, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.92. Harrell’s C-statistic was 0.88 for the total population, 0.88 for diabetic patients, and 0.93 for those 65 years or older. The validation of the model showed good calibration. Conclusions. In this Colombian cohort, the four-variable KFRE with a two-year prediction horizon has excellent calibration and discrimination, and its use in the care of CKD Colombian patients is recommended.
The VP1/2 Protein of a New Recombinant PRV Strain Promotes the Infectivity and Pathogenicity of PRV in Northeastern China
Authors: Pan Yan , Yao Xin , Yang Tian-Ning , Li Jin-Long , Shi Dong-Fang
Published: February 2024

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is an acute infectious disease characterized by neurological and respiratory symptoms. In order to have a better understanding of the current prevalence of PRV in northeastern China, a strain of PRV was isolated by us. Then, protein structure analysis and pathogenicity testing of the virus were performed to give insight into the characterization of the isolated PRV strains. In this study, the PRV strain named CH/HLJPRVJ/2023 was isolated and identified. Genome‐wide phylogenetic analysis shows CH/HLJPRVJ/2023 and HeN1 have higher homology. The CH/HLJPRVJ/2023 strain had the highest homology with HeN1 strain (97.3%) and the lowest homology with Bartha‐K61 (89.2%). Recombinant evolution analysis shows CH/HLJPRVJ/2023 shows many variants in OBP, AN, UL21, UL17, VP11/12, and VP1/2 fragments, which predict its unique genetically. VP1/2, an effector protein of capsid transport and neuroinvasion, has mutations and deletions in its amino acids, which cause changes in the protein conformation of CH/HLJPRVJ/2023. Besides the typical neurologic and respiratory lesions, infection with highly pathogenic CH/HLJPRVJ/2023 can lead to damage to the colonic villi and colonic barrier in piglets. This study will provide a basis for knowledge about the prevalence, genetic evolution, and vaccine optimization of endemic PRV strains in northeastern China.
Analysis of Foundation Pit Support Selection and Design Problems in Deep Soft Soil Area
Authors: Zang Mengmeng , Peng Quan , Wang Cuiying
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study is to address challenges encountered in the design of foundation pit support systems for soft soil areas, which include vague calculation methodologies, insufficiently representative parameters, and limited design engineer experience. To address these issues, we conducted a comprehensive review of successful and failed case studies and observed that actual working conditions significantly impact the calculation method of soil and water pressures as well as the selection of representative strength values. Furthermore, we found discrepancies between the current calculation methods for factors such as antiuplift and overall stability and practical applications. When calculating forces like sliding torque and antisliding moment, the choice between using saturated or buoyant gravity can have significant implications. Additionally, we observed that under high pit edge loads, such as 20 kPa, the maximum bending moment in cantilever piles can significantly increase, necessitating stringent limits on these loads. Therefore, in designing foundation pit support systems for soft soil areas, it is essential to consider practical site conditions and lessons learned from previous projects. By selecting appropriate calculation methods and parameters, we can ensure the accuracy and safety of these critical structures.
VIABAHN® Stent Graft Implantation for Iatrogenic Arteriovenous Fistula and Pseudoaneurysm of the Deep Femoral Artery
Authors: Yamazaki Daisuke , Fujihashi Takahide , Amamizu Hirokazu , Kobayashi Tomoka , Takahashi Toru
Published: February 2024

Femoral arteriovenous access is most commonly used in endovascular diagnosis and treatment. Complications arising during femoral arteriovenous access include hematoma, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula. A 66-year-old woman diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was treated with catheter ablation. This patient had a high femoral artery bifurcation, and we punctured the femoral vein by the conventional Merkmal method, which led to a femoral vein puncture through the deep femoral artery. The next day, echography revealed a pseudoaneurysm communicating with the deep femoral artery. We performed a thrombin injection without complication, and the pseudoaneurysm was occluded. However, echography three days after thrombin embolization showed a recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm and an arteriovenous fistula connecting to the common femoral vein. The first choice for the treatment of pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistula is surgical treatment, but in addition to the lack of vascular surgery in our hospital, the patient did not want an invasive treatment and strongly preferred to be treated with a catheter. We performed endovascular treatment by VIABAHN® stent graft insertion. VIABAHN® stent graft was implanted at the deep femoral artery, and the patient was discharged without complications. VIABAHN® stent graft placement in the deep femoral artery sealed the entrance of the pseudoaneurysm and the arteriovenous fistula at once, which simultaneously treated both the pseudoaneurysm and AV fistula, and helped avoid the use of an invasive surgical procedure.
Impact of the Tricuspid Valve Detachment Technique on Hard‐to‐Expose Ventricular Septal Defect Closure
Authors: Yamazaki Shiho , Koizumi Junichi , Saito Daiki , Tabayashi Azuma , Goto Takuya , Kondo Norihiro , Ikai Akio , Kin Hajime
Published: February 2024

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure is a common procedure in congenital heart surgery. The exposure of VSDs can be challenging, especially in cases involving the tricuspid septal or anterior leaflets, chordae, or subvalvular apparatus. Although tricuspid valve detachment has been suggested to improve surgical visibility, its long‐term effects remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the outcomes of VSD closure with or without tricuspid valve detachment and assessed the impact of this technique on postoperative tricuspid valve function and atrioventricular conduction. In total, 175 patients who underwent isolated VSD closure through the right atrium were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the tricuspid valve detachment group (n = 17, 9.7%) and the nontricuspid valve detachment group (n = 158, 90.3%). Patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups, and medical records and echocardiography reports were reviewed for each patient. The primary outcomes were mortality and reoperation, whereas the secondary outcomes included residual VSD, tricuspid valve regurgitation, advanced atrioventricular block, and aortic valve regurgitation. Clinical variables were compared between the two groups. Overall, tricuspid valve detachment did not increase perioperative complications or affect long‐term tricuspid valve function. There were no cases of mortality or reoperation in either group. Although the tricuspid valve detachment group had longer bypass and cross‐clamp times, this did not significantly affect ventilation or intensive care unit stay duration. Follow‐up echocardiography revealed no significant intergroup differences in tricuspid regurgitation, residual shunt, or aortic valve regurgitation. In conclusion, tricuspid valve detachment is a safe and reliable technique for the complete closure of hard‐to‐expose VSDs without compromising tricuspid valve function. Moreover, it does not increase the risk of adverse events, and its outcomes remain favorable during short‐ and long‐term follow‐ups.
Taenia solium Cysticercosis and Taeniosis Reporting in the Current Medical and Veterinary Diseases Reporting Systems in Tanzania: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Mlowe Fredy , Mlangwa James , Mkupasi Ernatus , Winkler Andrea S. , Nyerere Antony D. , Churi Ayubu , Ngowi Helena , Karimuribo Esron
Published: February 2024

Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniosis (TSCT) are two forms of a zoonotic disease caused by T. solium tapeworm. Towards promotion of a One Health approach to the control of TSCT, we assessed TSCT reporting in the medical and veterinay sectors in Tanzania. We conducted a cross‐sectional study between January and April 2020 in Babati and Mbulu districts (northern Tanzania), Kongwa district (central Tanzania), Mbinga and Nyasa districts (southern Tanzania), and the Zonal Veterinary Centres in Iringa (southern Tanzania) and Arusha (northern Tanzania) regions. A questionnaire was administered to 154 officers in charge (OsIC) of primary healthcare facilities (PHFs) and 110 meat inspectors (MIs) to collect quantitative data. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to 16 medical and 17 veterinary officers from level one healthcare facilities and district livestock offices, respectively, to their respective ministries. OsIC admitted absence of specific reporting (100%, n = 154) of T. solium taeniosis and neurocysticercosis (NCC) in the medical diseases reporting system (MDRS) despite the presence of optimum facilitation in terms of report preparation and submission (92.2%, n = 154) with 83.8% (n = 154) timely report submission rate. The veterinary diseases reporting system (VDRS) accommodated porcine cysticercosis (PCC) reporting. Nevertheless, approximately 77.3% (n = 110) of the MIs admitted inadequate facilitation in VDRS that hindered efficient reporting of PCC among other diseases. In addition, all MIs admitted that disease reports submitted were incomplete, submitted late (73.3%, n = 110), or not submitted at all (88.8%, n = 110). Similarly, KIIs results revealed suboptimal facilitation and reporting efficiency in VDRS than it was with the MDRS. It is concluded that the MDRS did not provide for specific reporting of taeniosis and NCC. Inadequate facilitation of the general VDRS hindered efficient PCC reporting despite its provision for PCC reporting. A One Health approach in strengthening the medical and veterinary diseases reporting systems for efficient TSCT reporting is recommended.
The Influence of Authentic Leadership Perception on Clinical Nurses’ Voice Behaviour and the Mediating Effect of Conscientiousness
Authors: Fan YuJun , Qu Xiaoyuan , Zhang Wuxing , Tao Zhimin , Chen Chaoran
Published: February 2024

Aims and Objectives. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of authentic leadership and conscientiousness on the voice behaviour exhibited by nurses. Background. Clinical nurses, being integral members of the medical system and actively engaged with patients and their families, possess significant influence in addressing various work-related issues and contribute significantly to the advancement of clinical services and the overall stability of hospitals within the nursing team. Consequently, it is imperative to prioritize the consideration of nurses’ recommendations in order to identify the factors that can effectively enhance their enthusiasm in vocalizing their concerns. Design. Data in this cross-sectional descriptive study were collected from March 2021 to August 2021 by the online survey method. Methods. A total of 679 Chinese nurses were surveyed with a Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Scale, an Authentic Leadership Scale, and a Voice Behaviour Scale. Because the data were normally distributed in our study, Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was used to conduct the correlation analysis of the study variables. The structural equation model was used to examine the mediating role of conscientiousness. Results. The results showed that the influencing factors of nurses’ voice behavior were education background, employment mode, nursing seniority, and monthly income (p<0.05). In addition, authentic leadership, conscientiousness, and voice behaviour were significantly positively correlated (the correlation coefficients are 0.632 and 0.630, respectively, p<0.05). Conscientiousness plays a partial mediating role in authentic leadership. Conclusion. Authentic leadership was the key to improving the voice behaviour of nurses; as a mediating mechanism, conscientiousness further explained how authentic leadership promoted the voice behaviour of nurses. The effects of authentic leadership, conscientiousness, and voice behaviour could be used to guide the management of clinical nurses. In particular, the authentic leadership style perceived by nurses and the conscientiousness of nurses would contribute to the generation of voice behaviour.
A cognitive level evaluation method based on machine learning approach and Bloom of taxonomy for online assessments
Authors: Chanaa Abdessamad , El Faddouli Nour-eddine
Published: February 2024

Adaptive online learning can be realized through the evaluation of the learning process. Monitoring and supervising learners’ cognitive levels and adjusting learning strategies can increasingly improve the quality of online learning. This analysis is made possible by real-time measurement of learners’ cognitive levels during the online learning process. However, most of the currently used techniques for evaluating cognitive levels rely on labour-intensive and time-consuming manual coding. In this study, we explore the machine learning (ML) algorithms and taxonomy of Bloom’s cognitive levels to explore features that affect learner’s cognitive level in online assessments and the ability to automatically predict learner’s cognitive level and thus, come up with a recommendation or pedagogical intervention to improve learner’s acquisition. The analysis of 15,182 learners’ assessments of a specific learning concept affirms the effectiveness of our approach. We attain an accuracy of 82.21% using ML algorithms. These results are very encouraging and have implications for how automated cognitive-level analysis tools for online learning will be developed in the future.
Transformation of Bima local wisdom values through social studies e-book media
Authors: Ardiansyah Suriadi , Komalasari Kokom , Maryani Enok , Wiyanarti Erlina
Published: February 2024

The development of postmodern-era technology in the world of education is increasingly sophisticated, thus impacting the character of students and their social environment. Technological progress negatively affects the lives of today's generation. When misuse of technology is widespread, it is imperative to strengthen cultural and religious filtration. So that the influence of globalization on technological development can be minimized. So as not to damage the cultural values and morality of students as the next generation of the nation. This study aims to explain the importance of transforming the values of Bima's local wisdom "Nggusu Waru" through the media of social studies e-books. The results and conclusions of this study are efforts to develop students' social character that require teacher collaboration, supervision, and optimal parental attention so that their interest in learning is higher and minimizes deviant behavior. This research method uses research and development design. At the stage of preliminary studies with models developed by Borg and Gall. Through several stages of research, information gathering, development of initial forms of products, and initial field testing. In this step, data is collected through interviews, observation and documentation. The data is analyzed to find out some of its weaknesses and shortcomings.
Profile of open-start problem-solving with context Sarangan Lake viewed students' learning styles in junior high school
Authors: Murtafiah Wasilatul , Wardani Yulia Nindi , Darmadi Darmadi , Widodo Sri Adi
Published: February 2024

This study aims to reveal the profile of open-start problem-solving with ethnomathematics regarding student learning styles. This research is a qualitative research study on 3 out of 31 students of Junior High School of 3 Magetan taken by purposive sampling. The three students carried out four stages: understanding the problem, planning problem-solving strategies, implementing problem-solving strategies, and reviewing again. The results of the research show that students with a visual learning style solve problems by understanding problems through writing known and being asked and drawing illustrations, planning problem-solving strategies by making examples, carrying out solving strategies by working on the calculation process; students with an auditory learning style solve problems by understanding problems through writing known and being asked, planning strategies by making problems and formulating formulas used, implementing solutions by doing calculations and reviewing; students with a kinesthetic learning style solve problems by understanding issues through writing known and being asked, making examples and writing the formulas used, carrying out solving strategies by applying the calculation process and reviewing the results obtained. However, of the three styles, the results of the accepted work were not correct because they did not write down the conclusions and were not thorough enough.
Differential responses to academic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, transition, and the new normal period
Authors: Kurniawan Luky , Sutanti Natri , Aryani Eka , Laras Palasara Brahmani , Nuryana Zalik , Nastain Muhamad
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to investigate decreasing student academic stress in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, transition period, and new normal era by giving a self-help module to students. This research employed an experimental approach with a group pre-test post-test design with quantitative analytics. The perceived academic stress scale (PASS) and module evaluation scale were utilized to assess students' academic stress levels and their understanding of the module. The subjects consisted of one male student and thirty-seven female students, as the school was dominated by female students. This study indicated that students' academic stress levels during the pandemic and the new normal were in the medium range (18.82 - 19.97). The results showed that there was no significant difference in academic stress between the pandemic and the transition period (t = 1.322, p 0.05) and the data between the pandemic and the new normal (t = -1.426, p 0.05), while between the transition period and the new normal, it showed a significant difference (t = -4.189, p 0.05). The study recommends that schools develop future guidance and counseling programs to help students cope with stress and build resilience. This study's findings can inform policy decisions and academic interventions to support students' mental health and academic success during challenging times.
Impact of pre-service teachers’ self-regulation and self-efficacy on their mathematics performance in blended learning
Authors: Peteros Emerson D.
Published: February 2024

This research investigated the pre-service teachers’ self-regulation, self-efficacy, and mathematics performance in blended learning during the post Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a state university using a descriptive correlational design. There were 201 pre-service teachers who were identified using simple random sampling. They answered the two-set survey questionnaire, which assessed their self-regulation and self-efficacy, while their performances were assessed using their grades in the subject. The data gathered were treated using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that they had high self-regulation while they had a very high level of self-efficacy. At the same time, they had a very satisfactory performance in mathematics. Moreover, their self-regulation in terms of planning, monitoring, and adjusting was significantly correlated with their math performance while reflecting is not. However, no significant relationship was found between their self-efficacy and mathematics performance. Thus, instructors are encouraged to conduct monitoring during blended learning to encourage pre-service teachers to maintain their high level of self-regulation and self-efficacy in learning mathematics. In addition, future researchers may explore the same variables to validate the findings of the study because these findings are limited only to pre-service teachers and were conducted during the post COVID-19 pandemic.
Factors affecting students’ concept retention in learning science online using instructional videos
Authors: Aguanta Catherine B. , Augusto Margery Anne T. , Bajenting Jonajean V. , Buayaban Katrina Claire , Cruz El Jane P. , Fantonial Niña Faith , Kwan Jane Aubrey M. , Legaspino Jimmoy , Acut Dharel P. , Picardal Marchee T.
Published: February 2024

Effective science instruction in a blended learning approach is synonymous with the strategic use of instructional videos (IVs) to fill the gap in teacher support. This study aims to determine the IVs’ effectiveness in improving students' concept retention and overall learning experiences. The experimental group was exposed to instruction integrating IVs via embedded mixed-method design, whereas the control group was exposed to traditional lecture methods. The results showed that students' post-test scores and concept retention improved significantly in the experimental group, where students reported better learning experiences than in the control group. This beneficial effect of a technology-integrated approach can be attributed to various elements of IVs, such as engaging content, motion graphics, video length, the language used, and the speaker's perspective. This study recommends that IVs be used to enhance learning opportunities and results in the teaching and learning process.