bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensorless control of dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor based on speed feedback and frequency-variable tracking
Authors: Gao Hanying , Dong Yao
Published: November 2023

The dual three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) control system is characterized by its high reliability, slight torque fluctuation and low harmonic content. It is very suitable for systems requiring high power output and high reliability, for instance, electric vehicles, aerospace and military equipment. In this paper, a full speed domain sensorless control technology for dual three-phase PMSM is proposed which solves the limitations of other sensorless controls, improves system accuracy and stability, and has high practicality in fields such as new energy vehicles. The mathematical model of this motor in a static coordinate system is established, and the sine and cosine signals along with the velocity and angle information are obtained by using the flux linkage observer. Moreover, the estimated angle error parameter is introduced into the flux linkage observer; as a result, the estimation accuracy is improved by the estimated speed feedback, and the current frequency is tracked by the stator current Frequency-Variable Tracker (FVT) to reduce the current error. Meanwhile, to make the observer’s estimation more accurate and to improve its ability to resist disturbance, a rotor disturbance is added to act as a disturbance variable. Through the mechanical motion equation of the motor, a fourth-order Extended State Observer (ESO) is built to calculate the rotor position and speed. Finally, the technology accuracy is verified using simulation and experimental results. The findings prove that the sensorless detection technology, with speed feedback introduce in this paper, has good reliability and high precision for dual three-phase PMSM under dynamic and static conditions.
The handheld fan for chronic breathlessness: Clinicians’ experiences and views of implementation in clinical practice
Authors: Brown Joshua , Miller Isobel , Barnes-Harris Matilda , Johnson Miriam J. , Pearson Mark , Luckett Tim , Swan Flavia
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The handheld fan (‘fan’) is useful for chronic breathlessness management, however little is known about clinicians’ implementation of the fan in clinical practice.

Aim

To explore clinicians’ experiences and views of fan implementation.

Methods

A qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews. Participants were purposively sampled from clinicians who had completed an on-line fan implementation survey and were willing to participate. A topic guide was developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Data were analysed using an inductive approach informed by the TDF.

Findings

Twelve clinicians participated (doctors n = 4; nurses n = 4; allied health professionals n = 4) from respiratory and palliative care. Analysis generated three major themes: i) Clinician knowledge and skills in fan implementation, ii) environmental constraints on fan use and iii) clinician beliefs about the consequences of fan use.

Implementation by clinicians was positively influenced by having a scientific rationale for fan use presented (mechanism of action). Clinicians believed that the fan relieved breathlessness and did not carry a significant infection risk. Opportunity for fan use varied across healthcare settings; key environmental influences were COVID-19 restrictions, lack of access to resources and funding to provide fans, particularly in acute and respiratory services. Clinicians commonly encountered scepticism among patients and colleagues who felt the fan was an implausible intervention for breathlessness.

Conclusion

Implementation of the fan is motivated by clinician beliefs about patient-benefit, a scientific rationale to counter clinician and patient scepticism, and access to fans in clinic. Funding to allow patients to be supplied with and taught how to use a fan would support uptake. Research is needed to address concerns about infection risk.
Awareness, attitudes, and beliefs about palliative care: Results from a representative survey of the Italian-speaking Swiss population
Authors: Diviani Nicola , Bennardi Marco , Gamondi Claudia , Saletti Piercarlo , Stüssi Georg , Delbue-Luisoni Michel , Rubinelli Sara
Published: November 2023

Objective

To understand the knowledge and awareness of palliative care in the Italian-speaking Swiss general population, describing main misconceptions or false beliefs and their relationship with attitudes towards palliative care.

Methods

Cross-sectional representative population survey (N = 313).

Results

We observed a high awareness of «palliative care,» although it is mainly associated with pain management and the very last days of life. While false beliefs are relatively rare, there is low awareness of goals, targets, and services offered by palliative care. Overall the Italian-speaking Swiss population has a good predisposition towards palliative care, but negative attitudes are more common among those who lack knowledge. More than one-third of respondents are interested in receiving more information about palliative care, especially from their healthcare providers or through dedicated information points.

Conclusion and practice implications

Health communication interventions to promote palliative care are needed because there is still significant unclarity about the goals of palliative care, which negatively affects its acceptance. This study instructs on how to intervene specifically in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, including what to communicate and how. Further, our findings can inspire similar studies in other Swiss regions or countries that can optimize recognition, knowledge, and understanding and contribute to filling gaps in populations’ health service demand and utilization.
Automated surgical planning in spring-assisted sagittal craniosynostosis correction using finite element analysis and machine learning
Authors: Jacob Jenson , Bozkurt Selim
Published: November 2023

Sagittal synostosis is a condition caused by the fused sagittal suture and results in a narrowed skull in infants. Spring-assisted cranioplasty is a correction technique used to expand skulls with sagittal craniosynostosis by placing compressed springs on the skull before six months of age. Proposed methods for surgical planning in spring-assisted sagittal craniosynostosis correction provide information only about the skull anatomy or require iterative finite element simulations. Therefore, the selection of surgical parameters such as spring dimensions and osteotomy sizes may remain unclear and spring-assisted cranioplasty may yield sub-optimal surgical results. The aim of this study is to develop the architectural structure of an automated tool to predict post-operative surgical outcomes in sagittal craniosynostosis correction with spring-assisted cranioplasty using machine learning and finite element analyses. Six different machine learning algorithms were tested using a finite element model which simulated a combination of various mechanical and geometric properties of the calvarium, osteotomy sizes, spring characteristics, and spring implantation positions. Also, a statistical shape model representing an average sagittal craniosynostosis calvarium in 5-month-old patients was used to assess the machine learning algorithms. XGBoost algorithm predicted post-operative cephalic index in spring-assisted sagittal craniosynostosis correction with high accuracy. Finite element simulations confirmed the prediction of the XGBoost algorithm. The presented architectural structure can be used to develop a tool to predict the post-operative cephalic index in spring-assisted cranioplasty in patients with sagittal craniosynostosis can be used to automate surgical planning and improve post-operative surgical outcomes in spring-assisted cranioplasty.
Trends and determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Indonesia: A multivariate decomposition analysis
Authors: Nurokhmah Siti , Middleton Lucinda , Februhartanty Judhiastuty , Hendarto Aryono
Published: November 2023

Background

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is key to reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality, however, little is known about the determinants of the trends of EIBF prevalence in Indonesia. This study aims to assess the contributing factors to the changes in the prevalence of EIBF between 2007 and 2017.

Methods

We analysed data from the 2007, 2012, and 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys to estimate the trends in EIBF. A multivariate logistic decomposition model was fitted to examine variables associated with changes in the percentage of EIBF from 2007 to 2017. The contributing factors to changes in EIBF prevalence were categorized into either compositional or behavioural changes, with each of them divided into portions or percentages of contribution (pct) of the independent variables. The former refers to the changes in the distribution of samples, while the latter refers to the changes in the behavioural responses toward EIBF in both surveys. All analyses accounted for the complex study design and potential confounding factors.

Results

An increase in the prevalence of EIBF from 49.9% to 56.5% was recorded between 2012 and 2017, with an overall increase of 16.9 percentage points from 2007 to 2017. At the aggregate level, the compositional differences did not significantly contribute to the changes in the percentage of EIBF, while 98.3pct (p < 0.001) was associated with changes in mothers’ behavioural response towards EIBF. The composition changes in the geographical region of Sumatra, and caesarean delivery negatively contributed to the changes in EIBF prevalence with -0.6pct and -14.2pct, respectively. However, the compositional differences in those living in Kalimantan & Sulawesi, first-time mothers, and small-born infants positively contributed to the change. Behaviour changes in mothers with higher education (8.8pct), from higher income households (-17.5pct), and those residing in Sumatra (-8.2pct) and Kalimantan & Sulawesi (-10.2pct) significantly contributed to the upward trend in EIBF prevalence.

Conclusions

Almost half of the newborns experienced delayed breastfeeding initiation despite the improvement in the prevalence of EIBF. Therefore, further research and interventions on behaviour change in mother’s attitudes towards EIBF, especially among those undergoing caesarean delivery, living in Kalimantan or Sulawesi, and from wealthier households, are recommended to close this gap.
How can new energy development reduce CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence of inverted U-shaped relationship in China
Authors: Xiong Feng , Mo HuiDong
Published: November 2023

This article is based on the statistical yearbook data of 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Tibet Autonomous Region) from 2000 to 2017, a total of 18 years of statistical yearbook data was used to conduct in-depth research on the reduction of CO2 emissions from the development of new energy in the region. First, it is proposed that the regional new energy development has a significant negative effect on CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, this impact has a significant time lag effect, and the development of new energy cannot be quickly and effectively applied in the short term to replace traditional fossil energy in the dynamic model. Therefore, there is a significant positive impact in the short term, but the significant negative effect of new energy development on CO2 emission can be shown in the long run. Secondly, the new energy development has a significant non-linear impact on CO2 emissions, showing an inverted U-shaped relationship, which confirms the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) of CO2 emissions based on new energy development. Finally, in order to alleviate the continuous impact of national economic development on CO2 emissions, the DID model is used to prove that the level of technological innovation has a significant moderating effect on the CO2 emission reduction effect of new energy development, which confirms theoretically the importance of technological innovation in accelerating new energy substitution and improving energy efficiency.
Rates of subsequent surgeries after meniscus repair with and without concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Kahan Joseph B. , Burroughs Patrick , Petit Logan , Schneble Christopher A. , Joo Peter , Moran Jay , Modrak Maxwell , Mclaughlin William , Nasreddine Adam , Grauer Jonathan N. , Medvecky Michael J.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of secondary knee surgery for patients undergoing meniscus repair with or without concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr).

Methods

Utilizing a large national database, patients with meniscal repair with or without concurrent arthroscopic ACLr were identified. The two cohorts were then queried for secondary surgical procedures of the knee within the following 2 years. Frequency, age distribution, rates of secondary surgery, and type of secondary procedures performed were compared.

Results

In total, 1,585 patients were identified: meniscus repair with ACLr was performed for 1,006 (63.5%) and isolated meniscal repair was performed for 579 (36.5%). Minimum of two year follow up was present for 487 (30.7% of the overall study population).

Secondary surgery rates were not significantly different between meniscus repair with concurrent ACLr and isolated meniscus repairs with an overall mean follow up of 13 years (1.5–24 years) (10.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.126). For the 2 year follow up cohort, secondary surgery rates were not significantly different (19.3% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.1098). There were no differences in survivorship patterns between the two procedures, both in the larger cohort (p = 0.2016), and the cohort with minimum 2-year follow-up (p = 0.0586).

Conclusion

The current study assessed secondary surgery rates in patients undergoing meniscus repair with or without concurrent ACLr in a large patient database. Based on this data, no significant difference in rates of secondary knee surgery was identified.
Predicting need for heart failure advanced therapies using an interpretable tropical geometry-based fuzzy neural network
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Aaronson Keith D. , Gryak Jonathan , Wittrup Emily , Minoccheri Cristian , Golbus Jessica R. , Najarian Kayvan
Published: November 2023

Background

Timely referral for advanced therapies (i.e., heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device) is critical for ensuring optimal outcomes for heart failure patients. Using electronic health records, our goal was to use data from a single hospitalization to develop an interpretable clinical decision-making system for predicting the need for advanced therapies at the subsequent hospitalization.

Methods

Michigan Medicine heart failure patients from 2013–2021 with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% and at least two heart failure hospitalizations within one year were used to train an interpretable machine learning model constructed using fuzzy logic and tropical geometry. Clinical knowledge was used to initialize the model. The performance and robustness of the model were evaluated with the mean and standard deviation of the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC), and the F1 score of the ensemble. We inferred membership functions from the model for continuous clinical variables, extracted decision rules, and then evaluated their relative importance.

Results

The model was trained and validated using data from 557 heart failure hospitalizations from 300 patients, of whom 193 received advanced therapies. The mean (standard deviation) of AUC, AUPRC, and F1 scores of the proposed model initialized with clinical knowledge was 0.747 (0.080), 0.642 (0.080), and 0.569 (0.067), respectively, showing superior predictive performance or increased interpretability over other machine learning methods. The model learned critical risk factors predicting the need for advanced therapies in the subsequent hospitalization. Furthermore, our model displayed transparent rule sets composed of these critical concepts to justify the prediction.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the ability to successfully predict the need for advanced heart failure therapies by generating transparent and accessible clinical rules although further research is needed to prospectively validate the risk factors identified by the model.
Field-based detection of bacteria using nanopore sequencing: Method evaluation for biothreat detection in complex samples
Authors: Tyler Andrea D. , McAllister Jane , Stapleton Helen , Gauci Penny , Antonation Kym , Thirkettle-Watts David , Corbett Cindi R.
Published: November 2023

From pathogen detection to genome or plasmid closure, the utility of the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION for microbiological analysis has been well documented. The MinION’s small footprint, portability, and real-time analytic capability situates it well to address challenges in the field of unbiased pathogen detection, as a component of a security investigation. To this end, a multicenter evaluation of the effect of alternative analytical approaches on the outcome of MinION-based sequencing, using a set of well-characterized samples, was explored in a field-based scenario. Three expert scientific response groups evaluated known bacterial DNA extracts as part of an international first responder (Chemical, Biological, Radiological) training exercise. Samples were prepared independently for analysis using the Rapid and/or Rapid PCR sequencing kits as per the best practices of each of the participating groups. Analyses of sequence data were in turn conducted using varied approaches including ONTs What’s in my pot (WIMP) architecture and in-house computational pipelines. Microbial community composition and the ability of each approach to detect pathogens was compared. Each group demonstrated the ability to detect all species present in samples, although several organisms were detected at levels much lower than expected with some organisms even falling below 1% abundance. Several ‘contaminant’ near neighbor species were also detected, at low abundance. Regardless of the sequencing approach chosen, the observed composition of the bacterial communities diverged from the input composition in each of the analyses, although sequencing conducted using the rapid kit produced the least distortion when compared to PCR-based library preparation methods. One of the participating groups generated drastically lower sequencing output than the other groups, likely attributed to the limited computer hard drive capacity, and occasional disruption of the internet connection. These results provide further consideration for conducting unbiased pathogen identification within a field setting using MinION sequencing. However, the benefits of this approach in providing rapid results and unbiased detection must be considered along with the complexity of sample preparation and data analytics, when compared to more traditional methods. When utilized by trained scientific experts, with appropriate computational resources, the MinION sequencing device is a useful tool for field-based pathogen detection in mixed samples.
‘Neorealism is a scam’: Fernando Vallejo, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and Italy’s connection to Colombian cinema
Authors: Hennessey Brendan
Published: November 2023

This article analyses the connection between Italian and Colombian cinema through the novels and films of Colombian author and filmmaker Fernando Vallejo (1942–present). It examines Vallejo’s autofictional novel, Los caminos a Roma (The Roads to Rome) (1988) where he recounts his experience as a student at Rome’s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in 1966, criticizes Italian neorealism and auteurism, and articulates his embryonic idea to create a film set during Colombia’s civil war. In his critique of Italian cinema, I argue that Vallejo embodies a certain hostility towards European film, its institutions and especially Italian neorealism that was percolating in the Latin America of the 1960s and 1970s. Exploring the historiography of Italy’s relationship with Latin American cinema, I remark on an emergent (and problematic) privileging of Italian neorealism as a prototype for New Latin American Cinema (NLAC) and consider how Vallejo’s filmmaking was shaped in opposition to Italian archetypes.
Federico Fellini’s effect in Argentine cinema: The case of Leonardo Favio
Authors: Vargau Marina
Published: November 2023

A self-taught artist initially trained alongside Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, and considered today by both his country’s critics and his peers as one of the most important Argentinean directors, if not the most important, Leonardo Favio (1938–2012) often expressed his views on Italian cinema and Federico Fellini’s films without openly acknowledging their effect on his films. Despite this positioning, I intend to illustrate in this article how Favio’s cinematic universe has been traversed and shaped by Italian cinema, as by a red thread. More precisely, I aim to highlight how Favio, after incorporating several themes, characters and approaches of neorealist cinema in his only short and in his first film, included dialogues with Fellini’s cinematic universe in almost all his subsequent releases. The encounter with the cinema of Italian Maestro, without ever diminishing the originality and specificity of Favio’s films, turns them into a sort of resonance box for Fellinian echoes.
Elsa de’ Giorgi: Storia, discorsi e memorie del cinema, Mariapia Comand (2022)
Authors: O’Rawe Catherine
Published: November 2023

Review of: Elsa de’ Giorgi: Storia, discorsi e memorie del cinema, Mariapia Comand (2022)

Milan-Udine: Mimesis, 279 pp.,

ISBN 978-8-85756-312-1, p/bk, €24
Effects of the combined use of a probiotic and chromium methionine chelate on the functional state of broiler chickens
Authors: Kazakova Tatiana , Marshinskaia Olga
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim: An increase in the productivity of broiler chickens is possible when creating an optimal food base that provides birds with all of the nutrients and biologically active substances required for the fullest realization of their genetic potential. In this regard, we examined the effects of the addition of a water-based probiotic and a chelated form of chromium (Cr) to the diet of birds.

Materials and Methods: Sixty 14-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were used in this study. The birds were assigned to two groups of 30 birds according to their body weights. The control broilers received distilled water with the basal diet, and the experimental group received a probiotic preparation in drinking water and Cr methionine chelate (Cr-Met) in the diet. The feeding period lasted 28 days. Growth performance indices were measured throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, blood sampling was performed to assess blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant system indicators, and trace elements.

Results: We found that the introduction of a probiotic preparation and a chelated form of Cr into the diet of broiler chickens had a positive effect on meat productivity, which was characterized by a 17% increase in the average daily gain of birds (p = 0.05) and a 14% increase in body weight (p = 0.01). Consequently, the yield of the slaughtered carcass increased by 5.8% (p = 0.05). Against the background of the consumption of the developed diet, broiler chickens exhibited a 14% decrease in feed conversion accompanied by an increase in the level of digestibility of dietary nutrients. In addition, glucose levels were decreased by 20% (p = 0.03) against the background of a 76% increase in the total protein concentration (p = 0.01). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were increased by 13% (p = 0.02) and 7.5% (p = 0.03), respectively. Elemental analysis of blood serum revealed a 99% decrease in the Fe level versus the control (p = 0.02) and a 31% increase in the Zn level (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: We conclude that feeding broiler chickens is a multicomponent probiotic supplement combined with Cr-Met promotes growth and nutrient absorption, and optimizes metabolic processes.

Keywords: antioxidant, broiler chickens, chromium, distilled water.
PROVISION AND EVALUATION OF TESTABILITY OF THE DESIGN OF COMPLEX RADIO-ELECTRONIC MEANSDEVICES AT THE STAGES OF THEIR DESIGN
Authors: Irzaev G. Kh.
Published: November 2023

The influence of modern X-ray and electrical methods for monitoring and diagnosing complex radio-electronic means on their design and layout solutions is considered. The most significant design principles for the design of traceable electronic products are formulated in the form of qualitative recommendations on the structural continuity of the components, the effective location of control points, ensuring the accessibility of the structure to unhindered measurements, and the creation of technological control and diagnostic maps. A system of particular indicators of the controllability of the design of the components of radio electronic means has been developed, which determine the convenience of monitoring and diagnosing their technical condition and making decisions to improve the operational manufacturability. Using the example of evaluating the testability of the designed device for operational monitoring of the state of on-board equipment of aircraft, it is shown that the proposed system of indicators made it possible to quantify the design decisions made by the designer, which influenced the increase in this indicator for the designed product compared to its analogue.
Morphometric Analysis of Chili Leaves with Yellow Curly Symptom Using Digital Image Processing Approach and Data Mining Algorithm
Authors: Hasan Asmar , Taufik Muhammad , Bande La Ode Santiaji , Khaeruni Andi , Mallarangeng Rahayu , Gusnawaty HS  , Asniah  , Syair  , Rahman Abdul
Published: November 2023

Gejala kuning keriting pada daun cabai umumnya disebabkan oleh infeksi Begomovirus. Daun tanaman terinfeksi tidak hanya mengalami perubahan warna sebagai indikator rusaknya klorofil tetapi juga mengalami perubahan morfologi bentuk. Penelitian ini bertujuan menguantifikasi gejala infeksi Begomovirus berdasarkan perubahan morfologi bentuk daun menggunakan pengolahan citra digital dan algoritma data mining yang akan memudahkan dalam pemantauan dan analisis perkembangan penyakit tanaman. Total 33 citra daun cabai rawit bergejala kuning keriting maupun tidak bergejala menjadi dataset penelitian ini. Citra daun cabai tersebut diolah dan diekstrak karakteristik bentuknya berupa circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, dan solidity menggunakan aplikasi Fiji-ImageJ. Selanjutnya dilakukan uji beda (uji-t), pengelompokan citra menggunakan algoritma Simple K-Means, dan evaluasi ketepatan hasil pengelompokan berdasarkan indeks ARI dan NMI. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara umum ada perbedaan bentuk yang nyata antara daun bergejala dengan daun tidak bergejala. Daun cabai rawit bergejala kuning keriting memiliki rata-rata nilai aspect ratio dan solidity yang lebih kecil dibandingkan daun cabai tidak bergejala, sebaliknya memiliki rata-rata nilai circularity dan roundness yang lebih besar dibandingkan daun cabai tidak bergejala. Evaluasi ketepatan pengelompokan sampel daun cabai rawit bergejala maupun tidak bergejala berdasarkan indeks ARI dan NMI menghasilkan nilai terbaik untuk pengelompokkan ke dalam dua kelompok.
Design-Based Research
Authors: Cochrane Thomas , Galvin Kelly , Buskes Gavin , Lam Lionel , Rajagopal Vijay , Glasser Solange , Osborne Margaret , Loveridge Ben , Davey Catherine , John Sam , Townsin Louise , Moss Timothy
Published: November 2023

This concise paper explores how Design-Based Research (DBR) can practically guide pedagogical innovation through collaborative curriculum design. We illustrate this with four short case studies (vignettes) of DBR implemented in different discipline contexts in higher education. An examination of the common characteristics of these four project designs show how DBR can be practically implemented as a transferable educational design framework. Future work includes deeper analysis and reporting on the longitudinal impact on student learning of these projects in a subsequent full journal paper.
Unlocking empathy and preparedness
Authors: Farley Helen , Herrera Erika
Published: November 2023

Developments in virtual reality (VR) technology and the increased availability of high-speed internet, have increased the affordability and accessibility of VR. This paper investigates the potential of VR to supplement the theoretical coursework of a large criminal justice course in Aotearoa New Zealand. By simulating interactions with people in prison, VR could offer a unique training platform where students develop essential skills, including communication, conflict resolution, and empathy, within a controlled environment. This ensures that trauma-sensitive issues can be addressed safely and effectively, providing students with invaluable experiential learning opportunities. Using VR, students could engage in simulated scenarios that mirror real-life. This immersive environment would allow them to gain firsthand experience and explore their emotional responses in a safe setting. Students could develop a deeper understanding of their triggers, manage their trauma, and acquire the necessary coping mechanisms to handle the challenging situations they may face in their future careers.
Prior knowledge as a limiting factor in critical thinking skills development
Authors: Allen Ellinor , Jevons Colin
Published: November 2023

Recently, advances in generative AI have highlighted the importance of skills that (currently) are exclusively human characteristics, of which insightful critical thinking is one. Critical thinking is vital for many professional careers where technological advances, outsourcing, globalisation, and more recent global pandemic impacts on the business world have made higher-level cognitive skills essential at the entry level in disciplines such as accounting. Yet despite critical thinking being a common university graduate attribute, accounting graduates are not meeting employers’ expectations in relation to thinking skills. This study investigates whether a pedagogical intervention that emphasises knowledge construction could stimulate student critical thinking skills.
Can gamification improve student engagement and learning?
Authors: Mitchell Bruce , Co Mary Jesselyn
Published: November 2023

Management education has traditionally been delivered in tedious and disengaging manner. Students manifest their disengagement in five dimensions -  values, motivation, behavioural, interactional and competing involvements. This research targets motivation, behavioural and interactional disengagement using gamification. This project aims to investigate the impact of implementing gamification elements in an undergraduate managerial communication course on the students’ engagement and academic performance. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this project develops an online and in-class gamified learning intervention by aligning game attributes to desired behaviours and learning outcomes. Using a pre- and post-test survey, the researchers will examine student perceptions of the gamification intervention. Students’ written reflections on their gamification experience will also be subject to a thematic analysis. The researchers anticipate an improvement in student engagement and learning outcomes. Based on the findings, a set of design principles to guide future gamification interventions will be developed.
Thyroid hormone increases fatty acid use in fetal ovine cardiac myocytes
Authors: Chattergoon Natasha , Louey Samantha , Jonker Sonnet S. , Thornburg Kent L.
Published: November 2023

Cardiac metabolic substrate preference shifts at parturition from carbohydrates to fatty acids. We hypothesized that thyroid hormone (T3) and palmitic acid (PA) stimulate fetal cardiomyocyte oxidative metabolism capacity. T3 was infused into fetal sheep to a target of 1.5 nM. Dispersed cardiomyocytes were assessed for lipid uptake and droplet formation with BODIPY‐labeled fatty acids. Myocardial expression levels were assessed PCR. Cardiomyocytes from naïve fetuses were exposed to T3 and PA, and oxygen consumption was measured with the Seahorse Bioanalyzer. Cardiomyocytes (130‐day gestational age) exposed to elevated T3 in utero accumulated 42% more long‐chain fatty acid droplets than did cells from vehicle‐infused fetuses. In utero T3 increased myocardial mRNA levels of CD36, CPT1A, CPT1B, LCAD, VLCAD, HADH, IDH, PDK4, and caspase 9. In vitro exposure to T3 increased maximal oxygen consumption rate in cultured cardiomyocytes in the absence of fatty acids, and when PA was provided as an acute (30 min) supply of cellular energy. Longer‐term exposure (24 and 48 h) to PA abrogated increased oxygen consumption rates stimulated by elevated levels of T3 in cultured cardiomyocytes. T3 contributes to metabolic maturation of fetal cardiomyocytes. Prolonged exposure of fetal cardiomyocytes to PA, however, may impair oxidative capacity.
Planetarium Dantis: »’l volger del ciel«
Authors: Hoffmann Susanne M.
Published: November 2023

Diese Niederschrift ist eine Abfolge von reichlich bebilderten Erklärungen der Astronomie in der Göttlichen Komödie von Dante Alighieri. Die Textauswahl wurde von Bodo Zöll und Karl-Philipp Ellerbrock in Vorbereitung der Eröffnung der Tagung der Deutschen Dante-Gesellschaft 2022 getroffen. Bei diesem Anlass haben die Professoren Dieter Blume und Edoardo Costadura der Universität Jena Passagen aus der Comedia und Erläuterungen dazu im Planetarium vorgetragen, während ich selbst als Astronomin die Ehre hatte, die geschilderten Passagen live in der Kuppel zu erklären. Diesen Visualisierungen von Dantes Astronomie stelle ich hier einige basis-astronomische Erklärungen voran.
Der Wanderer in der Stadt
Authors: Fajen Robert
Published: November 2023

Riassunto

Nella Commedia, Dante immagina due città opposte: Dite, la gremita città infernale, è rappresentata in termini puramente materici, ed è caratterizzata da confini nettamente demarcati (mura, creste, fossi, dirupi ecc.) che separano le anime dannate, mentre la città celeste del Paradiso è esaltata come luogo spirituale dove i beati e gli angeli comunicano, attraverso soglie e gradi, in perfetta armonia con Dio. Tuttavia, gli incontri del viaggiatore nella prima cantica dimostrano, fin dall’inizio, che anche nella folla urbana dell’Inferno esistono, malgrado l’assenza dell’amore divino, modi di convivenza che salvaguardano la dignità della natura umana in quanto creazione di questo amore. Fuori dalle mura ferree di Dite, nel ›sobborgo‹ della città infernale (Inf. III–VIII), Dante evoca diverse modalità di rapporti civili, tutti determinati dal codice della cortesia. Questo modo di entrare in contatto permette agli interlocutori di rispettare la libertà individuale dell’altro lasciandogli spazi propri di scelte autonome. Non sembra quindi un caso che la prima interazione con anime dannate dopo la porta dell’Inferno, il colloquio con la »bella scola« del Canto IV, avvenga proprio ai piedi delle mura del »nobile castello«, designando così il luogo emblematico della corte, un’entità assente nella realtà comunale di Firenze. Anche il primo dialogo con un’anima dannata, Francesca da Rimini, è definito attraverso la forma comunicativa della cortesia. Addentrandosi ulteriormente nell’abisso infernale, il pellegrino conversa cortesemente con alcune anime dannate, talvolta in un tono più distaccato (Ciacco), talvolta in maniera battagliera, ma piena di rispetto reciproco (Farinata degli Uberti). Infine, nei canti XV e XVI, Dante descrive, prima nell’incontro con Brunetto Latini, poi in quello con Guido Guerra, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi e Jacopo Rusticucci, una serie di esempi di comportamento cortese che suggeriscono, in mezzo alla moltitudine di Dite, la possibilità di una convivenza urbana evoluta ed equilibrata, che supera la realtà violenta delle città italiane del Medioevo.
»La egregia città di Fiorenza, oltre a ogn’altra italica bellissima«
Authors: Doering Pia Claudia
Published: November 2023

Riassunto

Firenze è di grande importanza per il Decameron di Boccaccio. Non solo vi si svolge la storia di cornice, ma anche numerose novelle sono ambientate nella città o nel contado fiorentino. Le ragioni sono due: l’ascesa economica della città e la sua fioritura culturale. Questo articolo esamina il modo in cui l’espansione economica e lo sviluppo culturale sono rappresentati e valutati nel Decameron, sia individualmente che nella loro interazione.
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Indian nonsmokers: a systematic review & meta-analysis
Authors: Suri Tejas M. , Ghosh Tamoghna , Mittal Saurabh , Hadda Vijay , Madan Karan , Mohan Anant
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Nonsmokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are neglected despite constituting half of all cases in studies from the developed world. Herein, we systematically reviewed the prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers in India.

Content

We searched Embase, Scopus, and PubMed databases for studies examining the prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers in India. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist to assess included studies’ quality. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model.

Seven studies comprising 6,903 subjects were included. The quality of the studies ranged from 5/9 to 8/9. The prevalence of COPD varied between 1.6 and 26.6 %. Studies differed considerably in demographics and biomass exposure profiles of subjects. Among the four studies that enrolled both middle-aged and elderly Indian nonsmokers not screened based on biomass fuel exposure, the pooled prevalence of COPD was 3 % (95 % CI, 2–3 %; I2=50.52 %, p=0.11). The pooled prevalence of COPD among biomass fuel-exposed individuals was 10 % (95 % CI, 2–18 %; I2=98.8 %, p<0.001).

Outlook

Limited evidence suggests a sizable burden of COPD among nonsmokers and biomass fuel-exposed individuals in India. More epidemiological studies of COPD in nonsmokers are needed from low and middle-income countries.
The Role of Gender in the Realisation of Apologies in Local Council Meetings: A Variational Pragmatic Approach in British and New Zealand English
Authors: Thaler Marion , Elsweiler Christine
Published: November 2023

This variational pragmatic study investigates the realisation of apologies in local council meetings in New Zealand and Britain. Specifically, it aims to establish to what extent the macro-social factors gender and region influence the choice and combination of apology strategies. The data are drawn from two multi-modal corpora,The Corpus of Australian and New Zealand Spoken English(CoANZSE) andThe Corpus of British Isles Spoken English(CoBISE).Our findings reveal general shared trends both across the two regional varieties and the two gender groups. Apologies are mostly realised bysorryforms and speakers prefer to use just one single apology strategy. Nevertheless, within these general trends, some distinct gender patterns are manifest. Overall, though, our findings indicate that the influence of gender and region on the realisation of apologies is limited. The communicative setting of council meetings seems to exert a bigger impact on the apology behaviour of the councillors.
Bicomponent polymorphs of salicylic acid, their antibacterial potentials, intermolecular interactions, DFT and docking studies
Authors: Khan Shahab , Rahman Mudassir , Marwani Hadi M. , Althomali Raed H. , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: November 2023

In this research work, bicomponent structures of salicylic acid were synthesized by reflux condition. The cofomers used were 1-10-phenanthroline, 5-chlorobenzotiazole, and 2-amino-5-methylpyridine. The yield of resultant crystals was calculated at about 60–70 %. It was concluded that bicomponent polymorphs 1–3 were formed by treating salicylic acid (SA) with 10-phenathroline (1-10-Phen), 5-chlorobenzotiazole (5-ClB), and 2-amino-5-methylpyridine (2A-5M-P) respectively. The intermolecular interactions were further confirmed by their computational studies. Molecular docking revealed that the binding nature of salicylic acid can be tuned upon cocrystallization or molecular salt formulation. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities (against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria) were also performed in this study. The MP, and FT-IR, were used for the structure elucidation.
Test-Retest Reliability and Convergent Validity of Piezoelectric Force Plate Measures of Single-Leg Sit-to-Stand Performance in Trained Adults
Authors: Makaracı Yücel , Nas Kazım , Ruiz-Cárdenas Juan D. , Gündüz Kerem , Aydemir Mustafa , Orange Samuel T.
Published: November 2023

Makaracı, Y, Nas, K, Ruiz-Cárdenas, JD, Gündüz, K, Aydemir, M, and Orange, ST. Test-retest reliability and convergent validity of piezoelectric force plate measures of single-leg sit-to-stand performance in trained adults. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2373–2380, 2023—The single-leg sit-to-stand (STS) test has emerged as a promising method of assessing lower-limb functional strength and asymmetry. However, the reliability of its performance parameters on a force plate has not been explored. This study examined the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the single-leg STS test performed on a piezoelectric-based force plate in trained subjects. Thirty trained male adults (age: 21.4 ± 1.7 years) performed 3 separate single-leg STS days of testing to assess both intraday and interday reliability. Performance parameters included STS time, ground reaction force (GRF), and center of pressure (CoP) sway velocity. The relationship between single-leg STS parameters and unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) variables was assessed for convergent validity. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for reliability analyses, and convergent validity was assessed with Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ). In the dominant leg, single-leg performance parameters showed moderate-to-excellent intraday reliability (ICC = 0.65–0.90, CV = 4.3–11.2%) and moderate interday reliability (ICC = 0.54–0.74, CV = 5.8–13.5%). In the nondominant leg, all single-leg STS performance parameters showed good intraday (ICC = 0.79–0.86, CV = 3.8–9.8%) and interday reliability (ICC = 0.75–0.82, CV = 4.6–9.7%). STS times in the dominant and nondominant legs were inversely related to unilateral CMJ velocity (ρ = −0.47 and −0.38, respectively). CoP sway velocity in the nondominant leg showed positive correlations with unilateral CMJ power and velocity (ρ = 0.38 and 0.54, respectively). In conclusion, the force plate–based single-leg STS test provides reliable measures of STS time, GRF, and CoP sway velocity in trained adults and could be used to assess lower-limb function and asymmetry.
Within-Subject Principal Component Analysis of External Training Load and Intensity Measures in Youth Soccer Training
Authors: Marynowicz Jakub , Lango Mateusz , Horna Damian , Kikut Karol , Konefał Marek , Chmura Paweł , Andrzejewski Marcin
Published: November 2023

Marynowicz, J, Lango, M, Horna, D, Kikut, K, Konefał, M, Chmura, P, and Andrzejewski, M. Within-participant principal component analysis of external training load and intensity measures in youth soccer training. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2411–2416, 2023—The aim of this study was to identify which combination of external training load (EL) and external intensity (EI) metrics during youth soccer training sessions captured similar or unique information. Data were collected from 18 youth soccer players during an 18-week in-season competition period using a 10-Hz global positioning system, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and session-RPE (sRPE). External training load measures included total distance (TD, in meters), PlayerLoad (PL, in arbitrary units), high-speed running distance (HSR, in meters), and number of accelerations (ACC, n). All EL metrics were also divided by session duration (minutes) to obtain EI values. A total of 804 training observations were undertaken (43 ± 17 sessions per player). The analysis was performed by use of the principal component analysis technique. The first principal component (PC) captured 49–70% and 68–89% of the total variance in EI and EL, respectively. The findings show that from the 5 EI metrics, most of the information can be explained by either TD per minute or PL per minute, with a loading from 0.87 to 0.98 and from 0.76 to 0.95, respectively. The majority of EL information can be explained by PL (loading: 0.93–0.98), TD (loading: 0.95–0.99), ACC (loading: 0.71–0.91), or sRPE (loading: 0.70–0.93). The second PC for EL metrics is most strongly correlated with HSR, with loadings from 0.53 to 0.84. The results suggest that the majority of the information contained in the EL variables can be captured in 1 PC without losing much information. The findings suggest that stakeholders who intend to provide a fast and holistic view of EL information in a daily training environment should report TD, PL, ACC, or sRPE plus HSR to coaching staff as a metrics that provides additional unique information.
Assessing Limb Dominance and Interlimb Asymmetries Over Multiple Angles During Change of Direction Speed Tests in Basketball Players
Authors: Gonzalo-Skok Oliver , Dos'Santos Thomas , Bishop Chris
Published: November 2023

Gonzalo-Skok, O, Dos' Santos, T, and Bishop, C. Assessing limb dominance and interlimb asymmetries over multiple angles during change of direction speed tests in basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2423–2430, 2023—The aims of this study were to establish whether directional dominance is displayed during change of direction (COD) tasks across various angles, to determine the angle-variation data for the asymmetry magnitude and direction, and to analyze the relationships in COD performance (completion time and COD deficit) across tasks. Twenty-four young (U-16 to U-20), highly trained male basketball players performed a 10-m linear sprint test and four 10-m COD tests (45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°) in left and right directions. Change of direction performance was determined via total times and COD deficit, and asymmetry comparisons were made between faster and slower directions and dominant leg (DL) (i.e., first step leg in lay-up) and nondominant leg (NDL). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between DL and NDL for any task excluding 45° COD (p < 0.05, effect size [ES] = 0.44–0.78), but significant differences were established between faster and slower sides for all angles (p < 0.05, ES = 0.70–1.28). Levels of the agreement in directional dominance during COD tasks were generally poor to slight (k = −0.14 to 0.14), excluding a fair agreement between COD45 and COD90 (k = 0.34). Correlations between COD total times and COD deficits between angles were moderate to very large (r = 0.32 to 0.81) and moderate to large (r = −0.30 to 0.55), respectively. Players displayed superior COD performance in a particular direction across various angles. This directional dominance is not necessarily consistent between angles, thus highlighting the angle-dependent nature of COD performance. Consequently, practitioners should investigate multiple angles and directions to create a COD angle profile for their athletes.