bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing anxiety and stress levels in undergraduate nursing students during their clinical placements: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: García-Velasco Leticia , Alcoceba Irene , García Sara , López María , Albertos Irene , Castro María José , Jiménez José María 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
To analyse the impact of stressors and anxiety on undergraduate nursing students during their clinical placements.
Background
Undergraduate nursing students’ perceived lack of skills to perform the different activities and techniques required is regarded as one of the most relevant stressors in clinical placements, which thus becomes a challenge in their training. Understanding the sources of stress and how it varies throughout their training makes it possible to plan appropriate intervention and support strategies to equip them with the necessary skills for their future professional careers.
Methods
A pre-test/post-test prospective longitudinal quasi-experimental study. 113 third-year undergraduate nursing students carrying out their clinical placements (Practicum I) in two tertiary hospitals in the public health system. In the 2021–2022 academic year, the validated KEZKAK questionnaire was administered to assess stressors in clinical placements, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure student anxiety levels.
Results
Ninety-three students participated in the study; 77.66% were female and 21.28% male, with a mean age of 23 ± 6 years. The KEZKAK overall mean score underwent a significant change when comparing the beginning of clinical placements with the end (2.84 ± 0.45 points vs 2.53 ± 0.44 points; p < 0.001), as was the case with the data on anxiety levels obtained using the STAI (2.37 ± 0.21 vs 2.23 ± 0.21; p < 0.001). Female students reported higher levels of stress than male students, and all the stress factors analysed decreased after the clinical placements.
Conclusions
A decrease in the levels of anxiety and perceived stress was evidenced through factors linked to the clinical placements of undergraduate nursing students. The organisational implementation of Practicum I had a positive impact on students, helping them to cope with their clinical practice period in a hospital environment.
Word Segmentation of Ancient Tamil Text extracted from inscriptions
Authors: S Sandeep , S Sanjith , Sudarsan Bharadwaj 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The absence of word boundaries between words in scriptio continuo languages hinder the development of NLP models for such languages. The objective of this research is to facilitate the building of NLP models for scriptio continuo languages by designing a word segmentation model for predicting word boundaries between letters in sentences, focusing particularly on ancient Tamil scripts. We have utilized a N-gram Naive Bayes model to predict the existence of word boundaries between two characters in a scriptio continuo text. We trained and assessed the model on a dataset of ancient Tamil writing, achieving an accuracy of 91.28%. Efficiently segmenting ancient Tamil texts not only helps preserve and comprehend historical manuscripts, but it also enables advancements in automated text segmentation. This model will assist archaeologists in constructing NLP models utilizing ancient Tamil, allowing for the extraction of significant information from ancient Tamil manuscripts without the need for a language expert. Additional research may be undertaken to examine more effective techniques for word segmentation with better performance, managing scripts from several centuries and developing models for additional languages.
Preparing Integrated STEM Educators In PNG: The Enabling and Constraining Factors
Authors: Kravia Kainaro , Matthew Readette , Hagoya John , Havave Jonika , DeBritto Savitha , Ambelye Jeffrey , Zeming Agewa , Sakopa Prisilla , Bourke Terri , Chandra Vinesh , Beutel Denise , Mallet Dann 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is a high priority in many countries, seen to enable future economic growth and competitiveness. Teachers play a central role in this endeavour. This paper reports on an Australian government funded research project in Papua New Guinea evaluating the extent to which a post-graduate science teacher education course prepared future teachers as integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) educators. We conducted 11 interviews to determine stakeholders’ current understandings of integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in education, what enables and constrains STEM education practices, and how they could be improved in Papua New Guinea. Margaret Archer’s emergent properties were used as a robust theoretical frame to analyse the data. While some enabling conditions were present, findings revealed a broad lack of understanding about integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, as well as significant structural constraints. Recommendations are made for how integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths practices can be improved moving forward which include a coordinated national approach to increase integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths understanding and integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths teacher education.
A Case Study for Flood Impact Analysis to Develop SustainableFlood Management Measures in Pakistan
Authors: Rashid Haroon , Kentel Aysu Sagun 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Pakistan faces rapid flooding risk because of climatic, economic and social changes. Catastrophic events, especially floods, cause various inequities which effect the sustainable development of counties with ecological, financial, social and political costs that remain constant throughout generations. It is, therefore, of supreme importance to forecast the future effect of flood damage and take action to mitigate the negative impacts and losses caused by floods. The aim of this research study is to explore the flood disasters in Pakistan and highlight the need to mitigate them for the sustainable development of the country. In this research, a case study is conducted to estimate the impacts of the flood on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), affected population and urban damage by using an online intelligent platform, Aqueduct Global Flood Analyser. Different scenarios are created to predict the possible damage using 10-year flood protection level. The results of the study show that 10-year flood protection level can save $18.6 billion on the GDP, reduce urban damage to $2.6 billion and reduce the effects on 4.9 million of the country’s population by 2030. The results of the study reveal that increases in annual affected GDP, affected population and urban damage are more based on severe climate change and socio-economic development trends need to be improved. Line departments such as PDMA (Provincial Disaster Management Authority) and NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) need to make further progress in flood management by enhancing preparedness and response capabilities, which includes improving early warning systems, coordination, and the efficiency of rescue operations.
Smartphone Behavior and Loneliness Among Older Couples in China: Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling
Authors: Huang Siqi , Zhang Wanjia , Xie Yucen , Gao Bo , Zhou Huan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Much evidence suggests that smartphone behavior is associated with loneliness, but no studies have examined the relationship at the dyadic level in Chinese older couples. The aim of this study is to determine whether smartphone behavior is associated with loneliness in individuals and their spouse.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 202 older couples from two community healthcare centers in Chengdu, China, between October 2022 and May 2023. The actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was constructed to investigate the interdependent effect between smartphone behavior (i.e., smartphone proficiency, smartphone duration, smartphone usage, and overall smartphone behavior score) and loneliness.
Results
In terms of actor effects, the smartphone behavior index of husbands and wives negatively affected their own loneliness, including smartphone proficiency, smartphone duration, smartphone usage, and overall smartphone behavior score, whereas no such effect existed between wives’ smartphone usage and their own loneliness. Some significant partner effects were observed, i.e., husbands’ smartphone duration and overall smartphone behavior score were associated with their wives’ lower loneliness.
Conclusions
This research indicated the dyadic interdependence of smartphone behavior and loneliness in older couples. Future mental health interventions for the older people should treat the couple as a unit.
Assessing disordered eating behaviours and attitudes: Factor structure and measurement invariance of the Arabic version of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alyami Mohsen M. , Al-Dossary Saeed A. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The factorial structure of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) has been found inconsistent across studies and samples. This study examined the factorial structure and measurement invariance of the Arabic version of the EAT-26 in a large non-clinical Saudi sample.
Methods
1,734 Saudi adults (Mage 26.88 and SD 9.13), predominantly female, completed an online survey. Confirmatory factor analysis evaluated several established factorial models to identify the best-fitting model for the Arabic version of the EAT-26.
Results
The original three-factor model and two other common models demonstrated poor fit. Instead, a 16-item, four-factor structure [(Self-Perceptions of Body Weight), (Dieting), (Awareness of Food Contents), and (Food Preoccupation)] showed acceptable fit ([CFI = 0.904; SRMR = 0.0554; RMSEA = 0.073 [90% CI: 0.068–0.077]). Internal consistency was good, and measurement invariance was supported across sex and BMI categories.
Conclusions
These findings suggest the need for culturally relevant validation of the EAT-26 among Arabic-speaking populations, as the factorial structure differed from previous models. Future research should further examine this revised 16-item, four-factor structure in clinical settings.
Effect of in Situ Thermal Treatment on ABS Parts produced by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Authors: Nguyen Khanh Q. , Vuillaume Pascal Y. , Hu Lei , Vachon Andro , Diouf-Lewis Audrey , Marcoux Pier-Luc , Robert Mathieu , Elkoun Saïd 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), an economical additive manufacturing (AM) technique, is widely used for extruding thermoplastic filaments. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a widely used polymer for FDM technique due to its inexpensive cost, strong impact strength, great durability, and intriguing uses. ABS materials are used for interior parts of automotive applications, drug-delivery systems, tracheal tubes, valves for ventilators, and medical masks. Nonetheless, shrinkage and warping are the primary weaknesses of ABS during the FDM process, affecting the dimensional stability of printed parts. In this context, a patent-pending radiant heating system has been developed to improve the overall performance of printed parts. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of in situ thermal treatment on the interlayer adhesion and mechanical properties of printed ABS parts. The thermal treatment was carried out on a radiant heating system at 240oC and a printing speed of 35 mm.s− 1. The physical and mechanical of ABS parts printed with and without radiant heating were then characterized. Various techniques including tensile tests, X-ray microtomography (µ-CT), optical profilometry (OP), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), were conducted to investigate mechanical, microstructural, and topological properties of printed ABS parts. The results show that treated samples exhibit better interlayer adhesion than untreated ones. In addition, the treated samples had a lower porosity (1.6%) than the untreated samples (3%). Furthermore, the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break of treated samples increased by 62%, 6%, and 110%, respectively compared to untreated ones.
The Embira Bark Fiber: a Sustainable Amazon Tape
Authors: Tavares Sheron S. , Neuba Lucas Mendonça , COLORADO HENRY , Monteiro Sergio Neves , Meyers Marc André 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The embira bark fiber is routinely used in Brazil to construct simple structures because of its ease of extraction, flexibility, and considerable strength. It plays an important role, somewhat similar to duct tape, and is commonly used for temporary repairs and tying objects. The flexible bark is removed from the tree by making two cuts into it and manually pulling off the fibrous structure. Three similar but distinct embira bark fibers are characterized structurally and mechanically: embira branca, embira capa bode, and embira chichá. The bark separates readily into strips with thicknesses between 0.3 and 1 mm, enabling it to be twisted and bent without damage. The structure consists of aligned cellulose fibers bound by lignin and hemicellulose. Thus, it is a natural composite. The tensile strength of the three fibers varies in the range of 25 to 100 MPa, with no clear difference between them. There is structural and strength consistency among them. The mechanical strength of embira branca is measured for different fiber bundle diameters and is found to increase with decreasing diameter. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that degradation of the fibers initiates at 251⁰C, consistent with other lignocellulosic fibers X-ray diffraction identifies two major components: the monoclinic crystalline structure of cellulose and an amorphous phase; the crystallinity index is approximately 50%.
A prediction of mutations in infectious viruses using artificial intelligence
Authors: Choi Won Jong , Park Jongkeun , Seong Do Young , Chung Dae Sun , Hong Dongwan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Many subtypes of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged since its early stages, with mutations showing regional and racial differences. These mutations significantly affected the infectivity and severity of the virus. This study aimed to predict the mutations that occur during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and identify the key characteristics for making these predictions. We collected and organized data on the lineage, date, clade, and mutations of SARS-CoV-2 from publicly available databases and processed them to predict the mutations. In addition, we utilized various artificial intelligence models to predict newly emerging mutations and created various training sets based on clade information. Using only mutation information resulted in low performance of the learning models, whereas incorporating clade differentiation resulted in high performance in machine learning models, including XGBoost (accuracy: 0.999). However, mutations fixed in the receptor-binding motif (RBM) region of Omicron resulted in decreased predictive performance. Using these models, we predicted potential mutation positions for 24C, following the recently emerged 24A and 24 B clades. We identified a mutation at position Q493 in the RBM region. Our study developed effective artificial intelligence models and characteristics for predicting new mutations in continuously evolving infectious viruses.
Public assistance program and food diversity among older people: a cross-sectional study using the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study data Subheadings: Public assistance program and food diversity
Authors: Tanaka Kotone , Nishioka Daisuke , Nakagomi Atsushi , Ueno Keiko , Ide Kazushige , Murayama Nobuko , Kondo Katsunori 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Food diversity plays an important role in people’s healthy and affluent lives. However, poverty and eating alone can create multi-dimensional barriers to their food diversity. Although public assistance programs guarantee a minimum income to those in need, financial support alone may not be sufficient to support the health of people in poverty.
Methods
This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Japanese Gerontological Evaluation Study (2022), involving 14,467 participants aged 65 and older. The Dietary Variety Score (DVS), ranging from 0 to 10 (higher scores indicate higher dietary variety), assessed dietary diversity based on the regular consumption of ten food groups. Receiving public assistance was categorized as “yes” or “no.” Eating together was defined as eating with others every day. To assess the relationship between receiving public assistance and the dietary variety score, we calculated the unstandardized coefficient (β) and p values using a general linear model. Additionally, the interaction between public assistance and eating together was examined. As covariates, we adjusted for sociodemographic factors such as age, disease, marital status, and living alone.
Results
Men recipients of public assistance had lower DVS, even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors (adjusted β: -0.72, p = 0.04). For women, there was no association between receiving public assistance and lower DVS (adjusted β: -0.19, p = 0.66). There tended to be an interaction toward a higher DVS by public assistance and eating together among only men (p = 0.07).
Conclusions
Even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, men recipients of public assistance have less food diversity than non-recipients. Men recipients were more likely to increase their food diversity by eating together. To ensure recipients’ rights to food security, the public assistance program may be effective in providing additional support to integrate recipients into communities that enable them to eat together in addition to financial support.
Effects of industrial mariculture on the eco-economic efficiency of mariculture
Authors: Dong Jinli , Shen Manhong , Yu Xuan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In the paper the undesirable SBM-DEA model was used to measure the eco-economic efficiency of mariculture in different coastal provinces of China from 2007 to 2020. It was the first time to investigate the impact of industrial mariculture structural index on the eco-economic efficiency of mariculture in China with the environmental regulation, especially from the perspective of internal mariculture structure. The results showed: as a modern mariculture mode, the increase in the proportion of industrial mariculture could promote the improvement of the eco-economic efficiency of mariculture, but the promotion effect gradually weakened with the increase in the intensity of environmental regulation. Therefore, with the development of technology and the optimization of policy, changing the structure of mariculture and increasing the proportion of industrial mariculture can further promote the eco-economic efficiency of mariculture in China.
Analysis, Design, and Simulation of a Very Low Voltage, Very Low Power, and Very High Speed Homo/Hetero Structure TFET-Based Dynamic Comparator in 65nm Technology
Authors: Dashtbayazi Mohsen , Hosseini Seyed Ebrahim , Naeemi Mohamad Ali 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyze, design, and simulate a homo/hetero structure tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET)-based dynamic comparator, which operates at very low voltage, very low power, and very high speed in a 65 nm technology. The proposed design offers a promising solution for efficient and high-performance low-power comparator design in digital applications. Through extensive simulation and analysis, the effectiveness of the proposed design is demonstrated and compared with existing designs. This study provides valuable insights for the development of high-performance, low-power comparator design in the semiconductor industry. In this paper, we present a design and simulation of a MOSFET-based dynamic comparator with improved performance in TSMC 65nm technology. The post-layout simulation is implemented in the TSMC 65nm model and validated with Design Rule Check (DRC), Layout Versus Schematic (LVS), and Parasitic Extraction (PEX) tests to ensure the reliability and robustness of the simulation results. The time domain analysis of the post-layout simulation is also provided, which shows the circuit's reliable performance. Finally, a homo/hetero-structure CTFET model with 65 nm technology is created using the III-V model, and the proposed MOSFET-based dynamic comparator is compared with the CTFET model. To provide CMOS an opportunity to compare with CTFET, a model CTFET is developed using 65nm technology. Hence, the highest sampling frequency of 25 GS/s in PDP of 0.4325 fJ has been achieved in this article. The simulation results indicate that the proposed design has improved performance in terms of speed, power consumption, and stability.
Multistate model for correlates of parity progression among women living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Olagunju Ahmed , Akinyemi Joshua O. , Afolabi Rotimi , Awolude Olutosin A. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Globally, childbearing is a major concern for women living with HIV (WLWH). This study examined parity progression and its predictors among WLWH in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. We analysed dataset from a cross-sectional study on childbearing progression among 933 respondents aged 18–49 years receiving care at the HIV Program, University College Hospital, Ibadan. Multistate model was employed for analysis. The adjusted total fertility rate was 3.54. More than 70% were likely to progress from first-to-second birth (HR = 1.77; CI: 1.40, 2.23)but none of the covariates analysed were associated with progression. WLWH were less likely of progression from second-to-third birth (HR = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.16). Having 1–2 children at HIV diagnosis (HR = 0.59; CI: 0.48, 0.71), being widowed (HR = 1.36; CI: 1.04, 1.80), having a partner with secondary education(HR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.49), partner’s employment status (HR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.80),, knowledge of partner’s HIV status (Negative) (HR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.94) were associated with progression to third birth. The estimated total fertility rate was lower than the national and the Southwest estimates. Different factors were associated with birth progression from one parity to another.