bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Critical Thinking: A Program Review of Doctor of Audiology Students
Authors: Hurley Annette , Guidry Megan , Majoue Megan , Hebert George 
Published: December 2023

Purpose:
Critical thinking is a crucial component of health care, and its importance has been recognized in training medical professionals. This study reports critical thinking skills for entering doctor of audiology (AuD) students and the trajectory of the change in critical thinking skills measured 2 times over a period of 3 years.

Method:
This longitudinal, descriptive, and exploratory design was implemented for programmatic review. Critical thinking skills were measured using the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT; Insight Assessment) upon entering the program and compared to measurements during the final month of academic coursework. Descriptive statistics, exploratory analyses of the HSRT scores among cohorts, the relationship of the HSRT to the graduate record examinations (GREs), and changes in the HSRT over time using a repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance were conducted.

Results:
There were no significant differences in critical thinking skills between any of the cohort years. There was a significant correlation between the GRE verbal scores and OVERALL HSRT. Improvements in critical thinking skills were found between the time the students entered the graduate program and their final academic semester. Greater gains were reported for students who initially scored below the 50th percentile on the OVERALL HSRT.

Conclusions:
This program review showed improvement in the critical thinking skills of AuD students during their academic training program. Information regarding critical thinking skills may be useful for programs to monitor students' clinical thinking skills and possibly include clinical and didactical activities to promote critical thinking skills.
A Systematic Review of Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry Normative Data
Authors: Walters Rameen K. , Gudipudi Rachana , Gordis Tamar , Davidson Kate , Nguyen Shaun A. , O'Rourke Ashli K. 
Published: December 2023

Purpose:
The utilization of high-resolution pharyngeal manometry (HRPM) in the evaluation of pharyngeal dysphagia has been increasing; however, standardization of its use has lagged behind. Without standardization using normative values, it is difficult for clinicians to adopt this emerging technology into meaningful use. Our goal is to map and compare the published normative values for common HRPM metrics in order to help establish consensus reference values.

Method:
A systematic review was conducted on prospective and retrospective studies that included HRPM metrics, defined by an international working group consensus, in healthy adult populations. Data on the following variables were extracted when available: contractile integrals of the pharynx (PhCI), velopharynx, mesopharynx, and hypopharynx, as well as the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), relaxation time (RT), maximum admittance, and hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressure.

Results:
Thirty studies were included. Significant variation existed in the technique and equipment used to perform procedures between the different studies. Lower PhCIs and UES IRPs were seen in younger compared to older individuals. Higher UES RTs were found in individuals in the upright position compared to the supine position and in those using larger boluses sizes or smaller catheters.

Conclusions:
Due to the wide variety of protocols, catheter configurations, manufacturers, and software used in the existing literature, it is difficult to formulate consensus on HPRM normative values using pooled data. Prospective studies adhering to standardized HRPM protocols for specific catheter configurations and manufacturers with larger cohorts of normal individuals are necessary to establish proper reference values for HRPM metrics.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24843753
Image‐based crop row detection utilizing the Hough transform and DBSCAN clustering analysis
Authors: Zhao Richeng , Yuan Xianju , Yang Zhanpeng , Zhang Lei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMore accurate methods for crop row detection benefit intelligent operation of agricultural machinery, especially avoiding mishandling or crushing crops. For achieving such a target, a traditional method combining the ExGR exponents, Otsu algorithm, Canny method, Hough transform and DBSCAN clustering analysis is proposed so that centerlines of crop rows can be detected effectively without manual intervention. Specifically, ExGR exponents are first adopted to gray green plants. The threshold of binarization will be further obtained by the Otsu algorithm. Further adopting the edge detection algorithm (Canny), edges of crops can be determined. Finally, combining the Hough transform and DBSCAN clustering analysis, the crop row detection is effectively available. Utilizing these methods, numerical simulation and their comparisons with existing methods are also achieved. For example, the Canny algorithm is relatively accurate than the Suzuki algorithm as well as their combinations with a geometric center extraction method if the density of weed is high. Compared with the K‐means clustering method, the DBSCAN algorithm is more suitable to characterize crop rows optimally in more complex conditions. It is validated from experiments that the combination of Canny algorithm, Hough transform and DBSCAN clustering is better than other mentioned traditional methods.
eRASSU J060839.5–704014: A double degenerate ultra-compact binary in the direction of the LMC
Authors: Maitra C. , Haberl F. , Vasilopoulos G. , Rau A. , Schwope A. , Friedrich S. , Buckley D. A. H. , Valdes F. , Lang D. , Macfarlane S. A. 
Published: December 2023

Context. During four all-sky surveys (eRASS1–4), eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument aboard Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) detected a new supersoft X-ray source, eRASSU J060839.5−704014, in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).
Aims. We arranged follow-up observations in the X-ray and optical wavelengths and further searched in archival observations to reveal the nature of the object.
Methods. Using X-ray observations with XMM-Newton we investigated the temporal and spectral behaviour of the source.
Results. We discover pulsations at 374 s with a pulse profile consistent with 100% modulation. We identify two other periodicities in the eROSITA data, which we establish as aliases due to the sampling of the eROSITA light curve. We identify a multi-wavelength counterpart to the X-ray source in UVW1 and g, r, i, and z images obtained by the optical/UV monitor on XMM-Newton and the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The timing and spectral characteristics of the source are consistent with a double degenerate ultra-compact binary system in the foreground of the LMC. eRASSU J060839.5−704014 belongs to a rare class of AM CVns, which are important to study in the context of progenitors of SN Ia and for persistent gravitational wave detection.
Conclusions. We identify eRASSU J060839.5−704014 as a new double degenerate ultra-compact binary located in the foreground of the LMC.
College students’ potential purchase intention of electric two-wheeled vehicles
Authors: Jou Rong-Chang , Lai Chih-Hung , Chen Tzu-Ying 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDue to the rise of renewable energy/green energy issues in recent years, many countries have agreed to adopt the forms of environmental protection, cleanliness, and no impact on the environment for the sources and composition of energy. They have also drawn up relevant international agreements (i.e., Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement) to strictly limit and manage CO2 emissions. The newly advocated electric vehicles have gradually been regarded as a method to improve the environment by all countries. Through the introduction of new electric transport modes, the innovation and reform of the energy structure are promoted, and traditional transportation has also changed. In recent years, Taiwan has promoted the policy of replacing traditional fuel two-wheeled vehicles with electric two-wheeled vehicles (ETWVs), and gradually increased the number of ETWVs in Taiwan by replacing old fuel vehicles and subsidizing the purchase of ETWVs. This study is aimed at college students to explore the important factors that affect their willingness to buy ETWVs. As college students are the first group to buy ETWVs, if their willingness to buy ETWVs can be increased, environmental sustainability may be enhanced. Through a questionnaire designed to investigate the two-wheeled vehicle use preferences of college students in Taiwan, this paper explores the significant factors affecting college students’ purchase of ETWVs. This study applies Logistic Regression and Ordered Logit models, and the results of model estimation show that household income, gender, environmental awareness, recognition of ETWVs, the fuel costs of existing vehicles, number of people in each household, operational efficiency of ETWVs, and subsidy and incentive measures will all positively affect the purchase intention of college students.
Discourse markers in Spanish in the Tijuana-San Diego border area
Authors: Mata R. , Moore John 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study examines the use of discourse markers among speakers of Spanish residing in Tijuana, Mexican immigrants
in San Diego, and heritage Spanish speakers in San Diego. We find a core set of discourse markers that is common to all speakers,
as well as subsets of discourse markers for Tijuana, San Diego immigrant, and San Diego heritage speakers. Four English discourse
markers are attested in the border: okay as a general, established borrowing; so only among
immigrant and heritage speakers; and like and you know only among heritage speakers. In a
language-contact situation, discourse markers whose lexical content is less analyzable and whose functions are more operational
detach first from the pragmatically-dominant language (Matras 1998). We find that the
operational properties of okay, like, and you know make them borrowable into the Spanish of the
border. However, so is borrowed in San Diego with operational and content-related features by heritage speakers,
and with content-related features only by immigrant speakers.
Bread 41 Bakery: Minimizing Waste and the Food Waste Hierarchy
Authors: Dodds Rachel 
Published: December 2023

Summary
Eoin Cluskey had a passion for sustainability but knew it took more than one person to make a difference. Bread 41 is an organic bakery located in Dublin’s inner city whose vision is ‘to create a movement that reaches into every community throughout the island of Ireland’. With a purpose based on sustainability principles that aim to have their customers eat real bread and appreciate real hand-crafted pastries, Bread 41’s goal was to drive exceptional hospitality in a sustainable way.

Information
© The Authors 2023
Virtual Area Guide Training program in Sri Lanka
Authors: Pathirana M.T. , Scott N. , Ekanayake M.P. 
Published: December 2023

Summary
This case study examines the transformation of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry through a pioneering Virtual Area Guide Training Program, fostering sustainability in challenging times.
This case study explores the innovative Virtual Area Guide Training Program conducted in Sri Lanka in 2022, aimed at transforming the tourism sector from informal to formal, enhancing sustainability. In the face of challenges like terrorism, the pandemic, and an economic crisis, the program selected and trained 20 individuals from the underdeveloped Uva province as tour guides. The unique program, conducted virtually, integrated academic and industry expertise to equip participants with essential skills and licenses. The participants’ success in work-integrated learning and their transition to becoming licensed tour guides highlight the program’s impact. The case study recommends policies that promote long-term sustainability and inclusivity in the tourism industry, emphasizing the importance of contextualizing solutions for local communities.

Information
© The Authors 2023
A robust GNSS sensors in presence of signal blockage for USV application
Authors: Liu Wei , Huang Hua , Hu Yuan , Han Bing , Wang Shengzheng 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Unmanned surface vehicle (USV) can navigate autonomously via the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). However, the traditional GNSS scalar tracking loop easily loses lock in low carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) situations, such as signal occlusion and weak signals. Meanwhile, an increase in the carrier/code phase error leads to an increase in the measurement error of the navigation filter, which decreases the accuracy of the position estimation. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a carrier and code tracking structure based on a forward and backward Kalman filter to dynamically adjust the gain of the vector tracking loop. The carrier and code phase errors calculated by the loop discriminators were linearly transformed into pseudo-range rate and pseudo-range errors after filtering and smoothing, which were used as the measurements of the navigation filter. The signal CNR was used to adaptively adjust the measurement noise covariance matrix of the loop filters. The field tests used a commercial receiver’s navigation solution as the reference. In the stationary test, the proposed structure reduced the localization error by 44.3% compared with the traditional methods. In kinematic experiments, the proposed structure reduced the carrier and code phase errors in a harsh signal environment and improved the positioning accuracy at the source. The test results demonstrate that the proposed GNSS tracking method can provide a possible solution for the development of navigation systems for USV.
A novel 6-dimensional force measurement based on the electric 6-DOF loading device
Authors: Sang Yong , Liao Lianjie , Chen Tao , Liu Jiakuo 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The 6-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) platform has gained popularity in industry owing to its advantages, especially in indoor simulation experiment requiring six-dimensional force environments. However, up to date, the measurement of such six-dimensional forces is challenging due to complex structures, difficult decoupling, and high costs. In this study, an electric 6-DOF loading device designed by ourselves is presented, with an ability to load high precision displacement and force. To measure the six-dimensional force of the device’s moving platform, this paper proposes a scheme involving embedding tension-compression sensors in each leg of the device and describes the mechanical model of the device. Then a novel method with a variable transformation matrix is proposed, complemented by a decoupling study that optimizes the variable transformation matrix. Finally, we validate the proposed method through an external force loading experiment. The results indicate that the error in Fy experiment is less than 2.7%, and the error in Fz experiment is less than 1.6%. The novel method exhibits high accuracy, easy installation, fast response, and low cost.
The Abrupt Resumptions of Pulsations in α Cygni (Deneb)
Authors: Abt Helmut A. , Guzik Joyce A. , Jackiewicz Jason 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Paddock’s 1927–1935 radial velocities of α Cygni (Deneb) show semi-regular pulsations with a dominant period of about 12 days. Lucy found many periods of lesser amplitude. In Paddock’s data and subsequent 1956 data from Abt, after the large-amplitude pulsations seemed to damp down, abruptly new sets of pulsations started within a fraction of a day. Five of those resumptions occurred with intervals averaging 72.4 ± 0.3 days. These resumptions seem to start at any phase during the pulsations. We are unaware of this behavior in any other star. We also find evidence of this behavior in the 1977–1982 radial velocity data of Parthasarathy & Lambert and the 1997–2001 photometry/radial velocity data of Richardson et al., as well as in photometric data from the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) spacecraft and ground-based visual observations in the AAVSO International Database. The ground-based data have too infrequent sampling intervals to confirm the ∼70-day resumption intervals or to pinpoint the day and phase of abrupt amplitude increase. The TESS data, with 2-minute cadence, shows one instance of pulsation resumption, but does not have a long enough time series to confirm a ​​​​​70-day interval. Without any evidence for duplicity, we cannot explain this behavior as being due to a companion in a highly eccentric orbit. α Cygni is one of the Luminous Blue Variables (supergiants) and these resumptions may be related to the microvariations produced in convective layers below their atmospheres, pulsation-driven shocks and rarefactions, or pulsation-convection interactions. We encourage further observations by ground-based observers and using the TESS spacecraft to confirm the ∼70-day resumption interval and lack of correlation with pulsation phase in both radial velocity and light curve data.
Towards user-centric BCI design: Markov chain-based user assessment for mental imagery EEG-BCIs
Authors: Ivanov Nicolas , Lio Aaron , Chau Tom 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective. While electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have many potential clinical applications, their use is impeded by poor performance for many users. To improve BCI performance, either via enhanced signal processing or user training, it is critical to understand and describe each user’s ability to perform mental control tasks and produce discernible EEG patterns. While classification accuracy has predominantly been used to assess user performance, limitations and criticisms of this approach have emerged, thus prompting the need to develop novel user assessment approaches with greater descriptive capability. Here, we propose a combination of unsupervised clustering and Markov chain models to assess and describe user skill. Approach. Using unsupervised K-means clustering, we segmented the EEG signal space into regions representing pattern states that users could produce. A user’s movement through these pattern states while performing different tasks was modeled using Markov chains. Finally, using the steady-state distributions and entropy rates of the Markov chains, we proposed two metrics taskDistinct and relativeTaskInconsistency to assess, respectively, a user’s ability to (i) produce distinct task-specific patterns for each mental task and (ii) maintain consistent patterns during individual tasks. Main results. Analysis of data from 14 adolescents using a three-class BCI revealed significant correlations between the taskDistinct and relativeTaskInconsistency metrics and classification F1 score. Moreover, analysis of the pattern states and Markov chain models yielded descriptive information regarding user performance not immediately apparent from classification accuracy. Significance. Our proposed user assessment method can be used in concert with classifier-based analysis to further understand the extent to which users produce task-specific, time-evolving EEG patterns. In turn, this information could be used to enhance user training or classifier design.
Degree of differentiation impacts neurobiological signature and resistance to hypoxia of SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Voogd E J H F , Doorn N , Levers M R , Hofmeijer J , Frega M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective. SH-SY5Y cells are valuable neuronal in vitro models for studying patho-mechanisms and treatment targets in brain disorders due to their easy maintenance, rapid expansion, and low costs. However, the use of various degrees of differentiation hampers appreciation of results and may limit the translation of findings to neurons or the brain. Here, we studied the neurobiological signatures of SH-SY5Y cells in terms of morphology, expression of neuronal markers, and functionality at various degrees of differentiation, as well as their resistance to hypoxia. We compared these to neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), a well-characterized neuronal in vitro model. Approach. We cultured SH-SY5Y cells and neurons derived from hiPSCs on glass coverslips or micro-electrode arrays. We studied expression of mature neuronal markers, electrophysiological activity, and sensitivity to hypoxia at various degrees of differentiation (one day up to three weeks) in SH-SY5Y cells. We used hiPSC derived neurons as a reference. Main results. Undifferentiated and shortly differentiated SH-SY5Y cells lacked neuronal characteristics. Expression of neuronal markers and formation of synaptic puncta increased during differentiation. Longer differentiation was associated with lower resistance to hypoxia. At three weeks of differentiation, MAP2 expression and vulnerability to hypoxia were similar to hiPSC-derived neurons, while the number of synaptic puncta and detected events were significantly lower. Our results show that at least three weeks of differentiation are necessary to obtain neurobiological signatures that are comparable to those of hiPSC-derived neurons, as well as similar sensitivities to metabolic stress. Significance. This indicates that extended differentiation protocols should be used to study neuronal characteristics and to model brain disorders with SH-SY5Y cells. We provided insights that may offer the basis for the utilization of SH-SY5Y cells as a more relevant neuronal model in the study of brain disorders.
Pedestal main ion particle transport inference through gas puff modulation with experimental source measurements
Authors: Rosenthal A.M. , Hughes J.W. , Laggner F.M. , Odstrčil T. , Bortolon A. , Wilks T.M. , Mordijck S. , Miller M.A. , Sciortino F. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Transport in the DIII-D high confinement mode (H-mode) pedestal is investigated through a periodic edge gas puff modulation (GPM) which perturbs the deuterium density and source profiles. By using absolutely calibrated experimental edge ionization profile measurements, radial profiles of diffusion (D) and convection (v) are calculated into the pedestal region without depending on modeling the edge ionization source. An analytic approach with closed-form expressions for the D and v profiles and a more advanced Bayesian approach show evidence of an inward particle convection on the order of 1 m s−1 extending to normalized poloidal flux (

Ψ

N

) of 0.98. Meanwhile, diffusion reaches a minimum value of

(
0.03
±
0.02
)

m2 s−1 in the pedestal region. Notably, the Bayesian approach, which utilizes the Aurora 1.5 D forward model inside the IMPRAD OMFIT module, provides radially resolved transport profiles with associated uncertainty without requiring an explicit form for the perturbation to the density profile or source. The combination of experimental ionization measurements and Bayesian inference provides an enhanced robust framework for investigating edge particle transport coefficients to experimentally test transport physics in order to improve predictive capabilities in the tokamak edge.
Asymptotic behaviour of the non-oscillating solutions of first order nonlinear impulsive functional-differential equations of neutral type
Authors: Donev V I 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This paper deals with nonlinear first-order impulsive functional-differential equations of neutral type with variable coefficients. The asymptotic behaviour of the non-oscillating solutions of such equations is investigated as a function of the values of the variable coefficient in the neutral term to serve as a basis for further studies of the oscillation of the solutions of such equations.