bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preconception TSH and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in China: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Du Hanze , Wu Danning , Zhou Xiang , Yang Hongbo , Zhu Huijuan , Chen Shi , Pan Hui
Published: April 2022

Background

The relationship between maternal thyroid function and pregnancy outcomes remains controversial and the safe range of TSH is still unclear in women planning pregnancy.

Methods

This population-based cohort study enrolled Chinese women who became pregnant in 30 provinces from 2010 to 2012 from the National Free Preconception Checkups Project. The maternal TSH level within 6 months before pregnancy and different pregnancy outcomes were collected and analyzed using restricted cubic spline regression model for dose-response relationship and potential optimal cutoff values. Logistic regression was used to reveal the relationship between different TSH groups and the risk of adverse outcomes.

Results

Among 175 112 women, a J-shaped association was revealed between TSH and large for gestational age (LGA; P < 0.001). When TSH was lower than 1.27 or 0.91 mIU/L, lower TSH was associated with higher odds ratio of low birth weight (LBW; P = 0.003) or preterm delivery (P < 0.001). There was no significant association of preconception TSH with SGA, macrosomia, fetal anomalies, stillbirth, natural or induced abortion, and cesarean delivery. The range of TSH for odds ratio lower than 1.0 was within 0.91 to 1.82 mIU/L in dose-response association. Compared with TSH 0.91 to 1.82 mIU/L, TSH low (< 0.40 mIU/L and 0.40-0.90 mIU/L) and high (1.83-2.49 mIU/L, 2.50-3.99 mIU/L, and >4.00 mIU/L) were associated with higher risk of preterm delivery and LGA. There was no significant association between TSH groups and the risk of LBW except for TSH < 0.40 mIU/L.

Conclusion

Preconception TSH was associated with preterm delivery, LGA, and LBW. Preconception TSH had a bidirectional effect on LGA, indicating a potential mechanism regarding influence of TSH on birth weight. TSH within 0.91 to 1.82 mIU/L was the potential safe range for preconception women.
A Prospective, Cohort Study of the Effect of Acute and Chronic Malnutrition on Length of Stay in Children Having Surgery in Rwanda
Authors: Seneza Celestin , McIsaac Daniel I. , Twagirumugabe Theogene , Bould M. Dylan
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Malnutrition is common in pediatric surgical patients, but there are little data from low-income countries that estimate the association of malnutrition with surgical outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with length of stay (LOS) among pediatric surgical patients in Kigali, Rwanda.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective observational cohort study. We enrolled surgical patients between 1 month and 15 years of age. We measured the association of acute malnutrition (wasting) and chronic malnutrition (stunting) with postoperative LOS using log-gamma regression to account for the skewed LOS distribution. Adjustment was made for sex, age, elective versus emergency surgery, household income, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification.

RESULTS:

Of 593 children, 124 children (21.2%) had acute malnutrition (wasting) with 39 (6.6%) severely wasted. A total of 160 (26.9%) children had chronic malnutrition (stunting), with 81 (13.7%) severely stunted. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) LOS after surgery was 2 (1–5) days for children with mild/no wasting, 6 (2.5–12.5) days for children with moderate wasting, and 6 (2–15) days with severe wasting. Median (IQR) LOS after surgery was 2 (1–6) days for children with mild/no stunting, 3 (1–3) days for children with moderate stunting, and 5 (2.3–11.8) days with severe stunting malnutrition. After adjustment for confounders, the moderate wasting was associated with increased LOS, with ratio of means (RoM), 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–2.0; P < .0001. Severe wasting was not associated with increased LOS (RoM, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9–1.7; P = .12). Severe, but not moderate, stunting was associated with increased LOS (RoM, 1.9; 1.5–2.4; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Malnutrition is prevalent in >20% of children presenting for surgery and associated with increased LOS after surgery, even after accounting for individual and family-level confounders. Although some aspects of malnutrition may relate to the surgical condition, severe malnutrition may represent a modifiable social risk factor that could be targeted to improve postoperative outcomes and resource use. Severely stunted children should be identified as at risk of having delayed recovery after surgery.
Forced Migration and the Childbearing of Women and Men: A Disruption of the Tempo and Quantum of Fertility?
Authors: Saarela Jan , Wilson Ben
Published: April 2022

It is well known that migrant fertility is associated with age at migration, but little is known about this relationship for forced migrants. We study an example of displacement in which the entire population of Finnish Karelia was forced to move elsewhere in Finland in the 1940s. This displacement was unique because of its size and scale, because we have data on almost the whole population of both men and women who moved, and because of the similarity between origin and destination. These aspects enable us to investigate the disruptive impact of forced migration, net of other factors such as adaptation and selection. For all ages at migration from one to 20, female forced migrants had lower levels of completed fertility than similar women born in present-day Finland, which suggests a permanent impact of migration. However, women born in the same year as the initial forced migration showed no difference, which may indicate the presence of a counterbalancing fertility-increasing effect, as observed elsewhere for people born during a humanitarian crisis. There is less evidence of an impact for men, which suggests a gendered impact of forced migration—and its timing—on fertility. Results are similar after controlling for social and spatial mobility, indicating that there may be no major trade-off between reproduction and these forms of mobility.
Early Detection and Management of Venous Thrombosis in Skull Base Surgery: Role of Routine Doppler Ultrasound Monitoring
Authors: Abunimer Abdullah M. , Lak Asad M. , Calvachi Paola , Smith Timothy R. , Aglio Linda S. , Almefty Kaith K. , Dunn Ian F. , Bi Wenya Linda , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Al-Mefty Ossama
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), causes postoperative morbidity and mortality in neurosurgical patients. The use of pharmacological prophylaxis for DVT prevention in the immediate postoperative period carries increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage, especially after skull base surgeries.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the impact of routine Doppler ultrasound monitoring in prevention and tiered management of VTE after skull base surgery.

METHODS:

We retrospectively analyzed a large cohort of consecutive adult patients who were prospectively and uniformly managed with routine monitoring by Doppler ultrasound for DVT after resection of a skull base tumor.

RESULTS:

A total of 389 patients who underwent 459 surgeries for intracranial tumor resection were analyzed. Skull base meningioma was the most common pathology. Forty-four (9.59%) postoperative VTEs were detected: 9 (1.96%) with PE with or without DVT and 35 (7.63%) with DVT alone. Four cases of subsegmental PE were diagnosed without evidence of lower extremity DVT, possibly in the setting of peripherally inserted central catheters maintenance. One patient had a preoperative proximal DVT and underwent a prophylactic inferior vena cava filter but expired from PE after discharge. Prior history of VTE (risk ratio [RR] 5.13; 95% CI 2.76-7.18; P < .01), anesthesia duration (RR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.27; P = .02), and blood transfusion (RR 1.95; 95% CI 1.01-3.37; P = .04) were associated with VTE development on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION:

Routine postoperative venous ultrasound monitoring detects asymptomatic DVT guiding management. This is an alternative strategy to prescribing pharmacological VTE prophylaxis immediately after lengthy surgeries for intracranial tumors. Peripherally inserted central catheters were associated with subsegmental PE.
Atuação do enfermeiro em saúde mental na estratégia de saúde da família
Authors: Maia Gusmão Ricardo Otávio , Viana Tiê Menezes , De Araújo Diego Dias , Vieira Torres Jaqueline D`Paula Ribeiro , Silva Junior Rene Ferreira da
Published: April 2022

Objetivos: conhecer a atuação do enfermeiro e os cuidados desempenhados em saúde mental na Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Método: estudo descritivo e qualitativo, tendo como cenário um polo de matriciamento em saúde mental. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevista individual, com questionário semiestruturado. Resultados: os resultados obtidos foram agrupados e discutidos por meio das seguintes categorias: ações de enfermagem no campo da saúde mental desenvolvidas na Estratégia de Saúde da Família e apoio matricial em Saúde Mental como elemento facilitador da prática de enfermagem. Conclusão: os enfermeiros têm desenvolvido ações de enfermagem no campo da saúde mental na Estratégia de Saúde da Família, e o apoio matricial atua como principal elemento facilitador da prática de enfermagem, reafirmando a Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira. Em contrapartida, a sobrecarga de ações e a restrita formação em saúde mental são elementos que dificultam o trabalho desse profissional.
Easing batch image processing from OMERO: a new toolbox for ImageJ
Authors: Pouchin Pierre , Zoghlami Rayan , Valarcher Rémi , Delannoy Maxence , Carvalho Manon , Belle Clémence , Mongy Marc , Desset Sophie , Brau Frédéric
Published: April 2022

The Open Microscopy Environment Remote Objects (OMERO) is an open source image manager used by many biologists to store, organize, view and share microscopy images, while the open source software ImageJ/Fiji is a very popular program used to analyse them. However, there is a lack of an easy-to-use generic tool to run a workflow on a batch of images without having to download them to local computers; and to automatically organize the results in OMERO. To offer this functionality, we have built three tools in Java language: “Simple OMERO Client”, a library to communicate with an OMERO database from Java softwares ; an ImageJ/Fiji plugin to run a macro-program on a batch of images from OMERO and “OMERO Macro extensions“, a dedicated vocabulary to interact with OMERO in macro-programming. The latter is intended for developers, with additional possibilities using tag criteria, while the “Batch OMERO plugin” is more geared towards non-IT scientists and has a very easy to use interface. Both tools are illustrated with a use case.
Effects of 3% binahong (Anredera cordifolia) leaf extract gel on alveolar bone healing in post-extraction tooth socket wound in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Hanafiah Olivia Avriyanti , Hanafiah Diana Sofia , Dohude Gostry Aldica , Satria Denny , Livita Livita , Moudy Nindha Siti , Rahma Rahma
Published: April 2022

Background: Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) STEENIS) is a widely available herbal plant in Indonesia and has been intensely researched for its healing abilities due to its biological activities, but few have studied its capability in accelerating hard tissue healing in post-extraction tooth sockets. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of 3% binahong leaf extract gel on alveolar bone healing in post-extraction sockets in Wistar rats.

Methods: In this study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to twelve groups. After the extraction of the left mandibular incisor, sockets in Group I to IV were given 3% binahong leaf extract gel, group V to VIII were given a control gel, and group IX to XII were given Gengigel® for 14 days. The residual socket volume (RSV) and fibroblast proliferation were observed on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day post-extraction, while the osteoblast and osteocyte proliferation were observed on the 7th, 14th, and 28th day post-extraction. The RSV data were analysed using repeated measure ANOVA and one-way ANOVA, while the histopathological data were analysed using one-way ANOVA.

Results: The results showed that the binahong group had the lowest RSV and the highest fibroblast proliferation compared to the other groups on the 7th day (p<0.05) and the highest osteoblast and osteocyte proliferation compared to the other groups on the 14th day (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The experiment showed that 3% binahong leaf extract gel could accelerate wound closure, which was characterized by a greater decrease in the RSV value in comparison to the other treatment groups and could enhance alveolar bone healing by increasing the proliferation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.
Missed nursing care in acute care hospital settings in low-middle income countries: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Imam Abdulazeez , Obiesie Sopuruchukwu , Aluvaala Jalemba , Maina Michuki , Gathara David , English Mike
Published: April 2022

Background:  Missed nursing care (care left undone or task incompletion) is viewed as an important early predictor of adverse patient care outcomes and is a useful indicator to determine the quality of patient care. Available systematic reviews on missed nursing care are based mainly on primary studies from developed countries, and there is limited evidence on missed nursing care from low-middle income countries (LMICs). We propose conducting a systematic review to identify the magnitude of missed nursing care and document factors and reasons associated with this phenomenon in LMIC settings.

Methods and analysis:  This protocol was developed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will conduct literature searching across the Ovid Medline, Embase and EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases, from inception to 2021. Two independent reviewers will conduct searches and data abstraction, and discordance will be handled by discussion between both parties. The risk of bias of the individual studies will be determined using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical permission is not required for this review as we will make use of already published data. We aim to publish the findings of our review in peer-reviewed journals

PROSPERO registration number:CRD42021286897 (27thOctober 2021)
Malignant neoplasms of the lips, oral cavity and pharynx – state of the problem
Authors: Rybachuk Ann , Hbur Zoriana , Zavada Oksana , Krylova Irina
Published: April 2022

The aim: to consider the existing methods of diagnosis, clinical course and treatment of most common malignant tumors of soft tissues of maxillofacial area and oral cavity. Materials and methods. Method of economical analysis, method of system analysis, medical – statistical method, mathematical modeling method, information-analytical method. Results. Types and clinic of the most widespread tumors of the specified area are considered. The technique of examination at the specified pathology with use of auxiliary methods of diagnostics is described. The main methods of special treatment of cancer patients are mentioned. The clinical course of four stages of maxillofacial cancer was analyzed on the example of lip cancer. It is confirmed that morphological methods are the most informative of all currently available diagnostic tools and their brief description is given. Conclusions. Early diagnosis of malignant neoplasms, timely recognition and treatment of precancerous conditions against which cancer develops, is the main task of a general practitioner for the prevention of cancer. The dentist at the stage of planned rehabilitation of the oral cavity should pay attention to all changes in the mucous membrane. The formation of high-risk cancer groups and their in-depth examination can increase and detect precancerous diseases and malignant neoplasms in the early stages, which can serve as a real basis for the prevention of cancer of the maxillofacial region, oral mucosa, tongue and lips.
Narodziny nabytego obywatelstwa
Authors: Joppke Christian
Published: April 2022

Autor artykułu analizuje pojęcie „obywatelstwa” oraz ukazuje, jak zmieniała się sama jego definicja oraz zakres przedmiotowy. Termin „obywatelstwo” wszedł do leksykonu nauk społecznych jako słowo kluczowe określające zdolność powojennego kapitalizmu do zreformowania się poprzez zapewnienie choćby w minimalnym stopniu formalnej równości materialnej tym, których początkowo postrzegano jako osoby przegrane: robotnikom lub „proletariatowi”. Obywatelstwo kojarzyło się z prawami i równością i jednocześnie stało w opozycji do kapitalizmu, który wytwarza bogactwo i nierówności. Termin ten został następnie uogólniony, wychodząc poza swoje pierwotne znaczenie jako kontrkoncepcja wobec społeczeństwa klasowego, i przeniesiony na inne rodzaje ruchów dążących do równości. W ten sposób obywatelstwo stało się metaforą i platformą do wewnątrzspołecznego wysuwania roszczeń przez wykluczone grupy. Autor śledzi rozwój koncepcji obywatelstwa w całkowicie nowym kontekście migracji międzynarodowych, reflektując nad nim jako nad „prawem” do czegoś, na co trzeba „zapracować”.
Intercultural Management as an Important Aspect of Modern Managers’ Work: Educational Challenges
Authors: Knap-Stefaniuk Agnieszka , Sorribes Joan
Published: April 2022

The issue of intercultural management has become particularly pertinent because of globalization and the internationalization of economic activity undertaken by contemporary companies. Intercultural management and its challenges are extensively analysed in numerous Polish and foreign publications. The significant role played by intercultural management primarily stems from the tremendous impact it exerts on the efficient functioning of multicultural teams, the relationships between the people in these teams, and their communication and motivation. Moreover, at present it is a crucial aspect of the everyday work of managers operating in culturally diverse work environments.
The article is of a theoretical nature. The first part describes the role and importance of manager values in the context of cultural diversity in their work environments, followed by the presentation of the concept and meaning of intercultural management. Next, the impact managers exert on the management of culturally diverse teams in modern organizations is analysed. The final part describes selected challenges connected to educating and training modern managers to work in intercultural work environments.
The aim of the article is to demonstrate the role and importance of intercultural management as a vital aspect of modern managers’ work and to identify educational challenges related to this area.
LIONNI’S LITTLE BLUE AND LITTLE YELLOW: THE JOY OF THE ENCOUNTER
Authors: Lepri Chiara
Published: April 2022

Little blue and little yellow is a narration through images. In this article, the iconic language and the verbal language are analysed. As for the visual code, it discusses the illustration’s task of this picture book and the verbal code with so minimalist amount of words. This verbal code offers the possibility of recognising a linear narrative structure for children’s tales. On the other hand, the value of diversity is exposed, because the metaphoric image is open to different interpretations. All in all, to rediscover the concept of identity construction, taking into account that gender stereotypes are being defined at early years. Key word: Gender stereotypes, identity construction, picture book, children’s literature.
Robotic Process Automation: a review of organizational grey literature
Authors: Chugh Ritesh , Macht Stephanie , Hossain Rahat
Published: April 2022

Research on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the last decade has increased but lags behind developments in practice. This study explores the definition, evolution and categories of RPA, its benefits and challenges, identifies guidelines for implementation and provides a future outlook. Since there is an evident scarcity of comprehensive grey literature reviews in the area, this study presents an extensive narrative review of organizational grey literature on RPA by analyzing sixty-one organizational reports and white papers published between 2015 and 2020. This study provides a unified definition of RPA and groups the many categories of RPA into three types: basic automation, cognitive automation, and artificial intelligence. The study identifies the benefits of RPA and categorizes them into monetary; simplicity; efficiency and productivity; flexibility and scalability; reliability and consistency; compliance and governance; customer satisfaction; employee efficiency; and other long-term organizational benefits. The main challenges of RPA are awareness and perception of RPA; uncertainty about how to prepare for RPA; change management challenges while implementing RPA; and challenges associated with RPA vendors. Three main steps of RPA implementation are highlighted. This study provides practitioners and researchers with an extensive bird’s eye insight into RPA from an industry perspective.
Social Referral Programs for Freemium Platforms
Authors: Belo Rodrigo , Li Ting
Published: April 2022

We examine how freemium platforms can design social referral programs to encourage growth and engagement without sacrificing revenue. On the one hand, social referral programs generate new referrals from users who would not have paid for the premium features. On the other hand, they also attract new referrals from users who would have paid but prefer to invite others, resulting in more referrals but fewer paying users. We use data from a large-scale randomized field experiment in an online dating platform to assess the effects of adding referrals programs to freemium platforms and changing the referral requirements on users’ behavior, namely, on their decisions to invite, pay, and engage with the platform. We find that introducing referral programs in freemium platforms can significantly contribute to increasing the number of referrals at the expense of revenue. Platforms can avoid the loss in revenue by reserving some premium features exclusively for paying users. We also find that increasing referral requirements in social referral programs can work as a double-edged sword. Increasing the referral threshold results in more referrals and higher total revenue. Yet these benefits appear to come at a cost. Users become less engaged, decreasing the value of the platform for all users. We explore two mechanisms that help to explain the differences in users’ social engagement. Finally, and contrary to prior findings, we find that the quality of the referrals is not affected by the referral requirements. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our research.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.

Funding: This work was funded by Fundac¸ão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [UID/ ECO/00124/2019, UIDB/00124/2020, UIDP/00124/2020, and Social Sciences DataLab - PINFRA/22209/2016], POR Lisboa, and POR Norte [Social Sciences DataLab, PINFRA/22209/2016].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4301 .
Dynamic Trade Finance in the Presence of Information Frictions and FinTech
Authors: Lee Hau , Tang Christopher , Yang S. Alex , Zhang Yuxuan
Published: April 2022

Problem definition: The paper focuses on an innovative bank-intermediated trade finance contract, which we call dynamic trade finance (DTF, under which banks dynamically adjust loan interest rates as an order passes through different steps in the trade process). We examine the value of DTF, the impact of process uncertainties, and the associated information frictions on this value and the strategic interaction between DTF and FinTech. Academic/practical relevance: As more than 30% of global trade involves bank-intermediated trade finance, examining contract innovation in trade finance (DTF) and its strategic interaction with FinTech is of practical importance. Also, analyzing trade finance in the presence of process dynamics and information frictions complements the existing academic literature. Methodology: We construct a parsimonious model of a supply chain process consisting of two steps. The duration of each step is uncertain, and the process may fail at either step. Information delay may also occur when verifying the process passing a step. The seller borrows from a bank to finance this two-step process either through uniform financing (the interest rate remains constant throughout the process) or DTF (the interest rates are adjusted according to a precommitted schedule as the process passes each step). When lending, the bank faces a regulatory capital requirement (the bank is required to hold capital reserve when issuing risky loans) or information asymmetry (the seller/borrower possesses more accurate information about the trade process than the bank). Results: The value of DTF lies in its ability to reduce transactional deadweight loss (under the regulatory capital requirement) and screening (separate high-quality borrowers from the low-quality ones under information asymmetry). This value is greater for more reliable or lengthier trade processes, yet DTF’s ability to screen is stronger when the process is less reliable. The severity of information delay hurts the value of DTF convexly. FinTech that expedites information transmission and verification and enables automatic execution complements DTF, and those that segment customers more efficiently could substitute DTF. Managerial implications: Our results shed light on how the underlying trade process dynamics and the type of information frictions involved affect the optimal deployment of contract innovations (DTF) and FinTech in trade finance.
Effects of Working Memory Capacity and Noise Placement on Passive Sentence Processing in Elderly Adults: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Son Minjung , Oh Seung-Ha , Kyong Jeong-Sug , Sung Jee Eun
Published: April 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of working-memory (WM) capacity on age-related changes in abilities to comprehend incomplete passive sentences using eye tracking.Methods: A total of 45 individuals participated in the study. The incomplete sentences were made by replacing dative case makers or verbs with white noise. A composite measure of WM scores was used as an index of WM capacity.Results: The elderly group and the lower WM group showed worse performance in accuracy and response time under the both noise conditions. All groups showed worse performance under the verb noise conditions in accuracy and response time. In accuracy, a two-way interaction between the age groups and the WM groups was significant. There was a correlation between the noise locations and the age groups in response time. In target advantage ratio (TA), there was a correlation between the regions and the age groups under the both conditions. Moreover, the main effect of the region was significant under the verb noise.Conclusion: Ageing reduces the ability of sentence processing and the sentences without verbs were more difficult to process for all groups. Also, the WM capacity can affect sentence processing and the affect increases with ageing. TA results showed that elderly adults use an inefficient strategy when dealing with incomplete passive-sentences, affected by reduced cognitive function due to ageing. Also, TA results suggested that WM capacity plays different roles in online and offline sentence processing.
The Effects of Text-based AAC Intervention on Letter-phoneme and Word Recognition for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: You Young Sin , Yeon Seok Jeong , Lee Youngsun
Published: April 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of text-based AAC intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder.Methods: In this study, text-based AAC intervention was conducted on 3 children with autism spectrum disorder aged 6 years and older who had limited verbal skills by applying a multiple probe baseline design across participants. Letter-phoneme and word recognition ability in the baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases were examined.Results: The result of this study showed that text-based AAC intervention had a positive effect on improving the letter-phoneme and word recognition ability of children with autism spectrum disorder.Conclusion: Text-based AAC intervention using various visual symbols had a positive effect on improving the early literacy skills of children with autism spectrum disorder. This study is meaningful in that it examines the possibility of expanding from graphic symbols to text symbols through the use of the text-based AAC intervention even though verbal skills are limited.
Temporal Properties of Vocal Turn-Taking between Parents and Young Children with Typical Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Gangeun , Lee Youngmee
Published: April 2022

Objectives: The temporal response characteristics in vocal turn-taking are related to the language and emotional development of infants. This study identified the temporal response patterns in the vocal turn-taking between parents and infants with typical development through systematic literature and meta-analysis.Methods: Using eight databases, the appropriateness of the literature was evaluated according to the Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study design (PICOS) criteria. As a result, seven articles which met the inclusive criteria were selected. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted. The effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’s g.Results: As a result of the systematic literature review, the selected literature had a low risk of bias. In a considerable number of articles, mothers and infants before 12 months of age participated. The duration of parents’ vocalization was significantly longer than that of infants. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the switching pause between parents and infants.Conclusion: These results suggest that although infants have less duration of vocalization than their parents due to lack of linguistic experience, infants may know the rules of switching pause in verbal communication. Future research should examine parents and infants with diverse communication disorders such as hearing loss and autism spectrum disorders. In addition, these findings have implications for assessment and early intervention designed to target parents’ communication behaviors.
Analysis of Change in Relationship between Communication and Social Competence: Comparison of Children and Adolescents by Grade Level
Authors: Lee Eun Ju
Published: April 2022

Objectives: It is known that communication and social competence are related, but it is not known specifically which detailed items are involved in this relationship. Therefore, this study analyzed the relationship of the evaluation results of social communication competence by grade level (high school, middle school, elementary school) presented in the longitudinal data of the Analysis on the Actual Status and the Quality of School Education in Korea (AASQSEK) school panel of Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI).Methods: The mean comparison, correlation measurement, and multi-group structural equation modeling analysis (multi-group SEM) of observed variables (communication, social cooperation, social responsibility competence) were conducted for each multi-age group (6th grade in elementary school, 3rd grade in middle school, and 2nd grade in high school).Results: 1) 6th graders rated all communication and social competence questions the highest. 2) It was found that the third-year middle school students’ communication competence and social cooperation were the lowest among the three grade levels. 3) Social responsibility was significantly lower in the 3rd grade of middle school and 2nd grade of high school compared to the 6th grade of elementary school. 4) In addition, the relationship between communication and social competence showed a significantly lower effect as the grade level increased.Conclusion: Social communication competence scores can be influenced by grade level factors, so clinicians should consider grade level factors in the interpretation of the results of the Social Communication Competence (SCC) assessment.
The Effect of the Strategy of Three Types Questions in Interactive Book Reading on Language Delayed and Typically Developed Children’s Learning of Vocabulary
Authors: Chae Miseon , Yim Dongsun
Published: April 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare and examine the children’s performance between Language Delayed (LD) and Typically Developed (TD) children in vocabulary learning tests (expressive, receptive, definition) across three-reading strategies (eliciting question, non-eliciting question, decontextualized question) in adult-child book reading assessment.Methods: A total of 22 children (12 children with LD and 10 TD children) aged 4 to 5 years participated in this study. The participants performed vocabulary learning tests (expressive, receptive, definition) across 3 reading strategies after 8 reading sessions.Results: LD children received significantly lower scores than TD children on expressive · receptive vocabulary learning and definition tasks. Moreover, in the case of expressive vocabulary, there was no significant group difference in eliciting questions. In addition, in the definition task, the group difference according to strategies was greater when using the decontextualized questions, than when using the non-eliciting questions.Conclusion: It turned out that children with LD have difficulties in receptive · expressive vocabulary learning and definition. Also, it was remarkable that the pattern of relationship between these performances was different in each group. In particular, TD children scored the highest in expressive vocabulary learning under the decontextualized question strategy, whereas in the case of children with LD, they scored the highest under the eliciting question strategy. It suggests that the necessity for mediation of non-experts, such as parents or caregivers, plays an important role in word learning and intervening for children with LD through educating and using an effective reading strategy.
The Effect of AAC Display Types on Message Production and Its Relationship with Reading Ability in Patients with Cognitive-Communication Disorders
Authors: Kim Minseon , Shin Sangeun
Published: April 2022

Objectives: To provide empirical evidence that can be applied in medical settings, this study aimed to examine the effects of AAC display types on message production ability in patients with cognitive-communication disorders who are hospitalized and the correlation with the patients’ reading abilities.Methods: Twenty patients with cerebral vascular accidents who were diagnosed with cognitive-communication disorders participated in this study. Message production abilities were examined by measuring accuracy scores and response times under three AAC display conditions: (1) text-based visual scene display (VSD), (2) mixed type (text and graphic symbol-based) of VSD, and (3) graphic symbol-based GRID.Results: The graphic symbol-based GRID showed significantly high accuracy scores and short response time compared to the text-based VSD. There was no significant difference between the graphic symbol-based GRID and the mixed type of VSD in terms of accuracy scores and response time. In addition, significant correlations between the VSD type of display and the reading task scores were found.Conclusion: This study showed that the VSD types of AAC display do not enhance the communication efficacy more than the graphic symbol-based GRID in medical settings. It is at odds with a previous study that claims the effectiveness of text-based VSD without considering patients’ reading ability. These results suggest that rather than perceiving VSD itself to be more effective than other display types, it is important to provide individual graphic symbols so that reading impaired patients can understand the meaning of each message.
Comparison between the Eyelink and the E-Tran Boards in Message Production of Healthy Adults
Authors: Kim Suhee , Shin Sangeun
Published: April 2022

Objectives: People with complex communication needs who have intact literacy skills such as individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may require a complementary approach by using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools that allow them to communicate only with eye movements. To provide empirical evidence on letter-based AAC intervention for adults with severely limited physical movement, this study examined message production ability in two eye-gazed selection conditions by using the Eyelink board and the E-Tran board.Methods: Forty healthy young adults participated in this study. They completed the message production task by using the Eyelink board and the E-Tran board for the same target messages. Task performance was analyzed by measuring the accuracy scores and response times.Results: When participants used the Eyelink board, the accuracy scores were significantly higher than that of the E-Tran board. They also showed a significantly shorter response time with the Eyelink board. The preference survey showed that the Eyelink board scored high.Conclusion: This study has clinical implications showing that the Eyelink board is a more accurate and efficient way as an eye-gaze low-tech AAC system for people with severely impaired physical movement compared with the E-Tran board. Based on these results, clinical support and training need to be provided to help them use the boards in their daily life with their communication partners.
Predictive Indicators of Kinematic Writing Ability in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Focusing on Cognition, Depression, and Motor Abilities
Authors: Lee Han Sol , Youn Jinyoung , Ahn Jong Hyeon , Cho Jin Whan , Na Duk L. , Yoon Ji Hye
Published: April 2022

Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) can affect not only motor abilities but also cognition and depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive indicators of kinematic writing ability in patients with Parkinson’s disease.Methods: Seventy-two subjects (47 patients with PD, 25 normal adults [NA]) performed tasks; including sentence writing along visual cues using software that could measure pen pressure, letter size, and writing speed.Results: Firstly, discriminant analysis showed that the writing speeds were good discriminators for the PD group. Secondly, the PD group showed positive correlation between the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score and pen pressure in the ‘writing within square blanks task’. They also showed a positive correlation between the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score and letter size in the ‘free writing task’. The PD group showed a negative correlation between UPDRS score and writing speed in the ‘writing within square blank task’. Thirdly, the MoCA-K score showed significant explanatory power for pen pressure, and the UPDRS score showed significant explanatory power for the writing speed in the PD group.Conclusion: This study is significant in that it confirms the importance of considering various factors such as cognitive ability when examining the writing characteristics of patients with PD, which have been focused only on motor skills so far.
Exploring Text Mining as a Vocabulary Evaluation Method: Focusing on Utterance Data from Children and Adolescents
Authors: Oh So Jung , Yoon Ji Hye , Lee YoonKyoung
Published: April 2022

Objectives: Recently, awareness of the need for computerized language analysis using natural language processing technology is increasing, but interest has been focused on morpheme analysis and automatic measurement. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of evaluating language samples, especially vocabulary, using the text mining method, which is one of the big data analysis methods.Methods: A total of 14 elementary and middle school students with typical development participated in conversations on topics such as family, school, and hobbies; and the utterances collected in the conversation were analyzed by group, using web-based text-mining program for 1) frequency analysis and word cloud, 2) semantic network analysis based on connection centrality, 3) CONCOR analysis that clusters topics based on meaning. Then, the utterances of two children in each group were individually analyzed with the same procedure.Results: In the vocabulary cloud of elementary school and middle school students’ group data, family names and school-related vocabulary appeared as top words, and topics such as daily routine, family time, relatives and holidays were clustered. By presenting the visualized result using the text mining method, it was possible to intuitively grasp the content. It was possible to understand the relationship between the vocabularies in order to understand the overall content structure.Conclusion: Text mining methods were confirmed to be viable tools for individualized and qualitative vocabulary evaluation and a supplement the traditional vocabulary evaluation method.
Treating common skin conditions: psoriasis and eczema
Authors: Nazarko Linda
Published: April 2022

Age-related changes lead to an increase in skin problems, meaning around 80% of older people have a treatable skin condition. A study of residents in 10 German care homes found that almost every resident had at least one skin problem. Ageing and poor physical health can make it difficult for older people to care for their skin and eczema can develop.

An estimated 1.8 million people in the UK have psoriasis. This inflammatory skin condition causes symptoms that range from mild to severe. Most people with psoriasis are cared for in primary care but, on occasion, may require specialist treatment.

Although both conditions differ, psoriasis and eczema require meticulous skin care to reduce the risks of complications such as infection and discomfort. This article provides nurses with information about how to support people with eczema and psoriasis, how to manage these conditions and reduce the risks of complications.
Diurnal Thermal Energy Storage For Cogeneration Applications
Authors: Somasundaram Dr. Sriram , Drost Dr. Kevin , Brown Mr. Daryl R.
Published: April 2022

Thermal energy storage can help cogeneration meet the chal-lenges of the 1990s by increasing the flexibility and performance ofcogeneration facilities . Thermal energy storage also allows a cogenera-tion facility to provide dispatchable electric power while providing aconstant thermal load.The first of two studies reported here focused on the relativeperformance and economic benefits of incorporating a diurnal TESsystem with a simple-cycle gas turbine cogeneration system to producedispatchable power during peak- and/or intermediate -demand periods.The r esults showed that the oil/rock storage system for TES was themost attractive option for the assumed thermal load quality .The second study evaluated the cost of power produced by acombined-cycle cogeneration plant integrated with thermal energystorage (CClr ES/Cogen ). The results indicate relatively poor economicprospects for int egrating TES with a combined-cycle cogenerationpower plant. However, system design optimization and reductions instorage media costs might improve the economics, perhaps enough tomake the CClrES/Cogen an attractive option for incremental peakpower production.In addition to the economic considerations, environmental factorsdue to the use of thermal energy storage with conventional cogenera-tion syst ems are also reported .
Using Distributed Energy Resources
Authors: U.S. Department of Energy
Published: April 2022

This article was derived from the U.S. DOE, Federal Energy Man-agement Program (FEMP) guide of the same name by the editor-in-chief.This “how-to guide” was designed to define distributed energy re-sources (DER) and to assist federal facility and energy managers in as-sessing DER at their facilities. Every attempt has been made to be trueto the original document; however, some changes have been made to fitthe style of this journal. To get an original of the how-to guide, visitFEMP’s web site at www.eren.doe.gov/femp.
Electric Energy Supply in Nigeria, Decentralized Energy Approach
Authors: Ajao K.R. , Ajimotokan H.A. , Popoola O.T. , Akande H.F.
Published: April 2022

An analysis of Nigeria’s electricity supply problems and prospectsfound that the electricity demand in Nigeria far outstrips the supply,which is epileptic in nature. The acute electricity supply hinders thecountry’s development, notwithstanding the availability of vast naturalresources in the country. Nigeria is endowed with abundant renewableenergy resources, the significant ones being solar energy, biomass, wind,small and large hydropower with the potential for hydrogen fuel, geo-thermal and ocean energies. Decentralized energy is the production ofelectricity at or near the point of use, irrespective of size, fuel or technol-ogy. The adoption of renewable energy technologies in a decentralizedenergy manner, especially for rural communities and in stand-aloneapplications, will improve electricity supply and enhance the overalleconomic development.
Methodology to Perform a Combined Heating and Power System Feasibility Study for Industrial Manufacturing Facilities
Authors: Wheeley Chad , Mago Pedro , Luck Rogelio
Published: April 2022

This article considers combined heating and power (CHP) systems based on topping cycles, in which electricity is generated by a prime mover and heat is then recovered from the exhaust and utilized to offset all or a portion of the facility’s process and/or space heating requirements. The article presents a methodology to perform a base load CHP system assessment and feasibility study for industrial manufacturing facilities as well as to determine emissions reductions that may result from utilization of such a system. In order to determine the best and most viable option for the facility in question, the proposed methodology can be used to size different systems which utilize diverse technologies and fuel sources, perform an economic analysis of each proposed option, and then compare the benefits and setbacks of each type of CHP system considered. The economic analysis will provide a broad insight as to which proposed system will show the best payback if installed. In addition to the economic analysis, the proposed methodology can be used to determine the potential reduction of emissions associated with utilization of the CHP system. Examples are presented to describe in detail the application of this methodology.
An Experimental Study of a Novel Prototype for Thermoelectric Power Generation from Vehicle Exhaust
Authors: Li Weizhong , Liu Changxin
Published: April 2022

In a vehicle’s internal combustion engine, about 30% of the pri-mary energy is discharged as waste heat in the exhaust gases. Wasteheat recovery (WHR) is a noticeable promising application of thermo-electric power generation (TEG). This is essentially a case of mobilecogeneration where a vehicle utilizes a significant fraction of the fuelenergy in the form of combined heat and power. In this article, a novelprototype for TEG from vehicle exhaust has been proposed. After sys-tem modeling, an experiment structure has also been built and testedfor further study. Results of theoretic analysis and experiment reason-ably show this prototype can be employed for exhaust heat recovery.The prototype can generate a maximum power output of about 202Wwhen hot side temperature is 473K with 4.04% of system thermal effi-ciency. System optimization and future improvement of the prototypehas also been discussed. Finally, based on a vehicle made by our re-search funder, economic value for commercialization in diesel vehicleshas been analyzed.