bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of Boccia Throw Test Instrument for Athletes with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Doewes Rumi Iqbal , Nuryadin Islahuzzaman , Hendarto Singgih , Purnama Sapta Kunta 
Published: April 2022

Background: Boccia is an accuracy game for athletes with cerebral palsy. In a Boccia game, the players throw a red- or blue-colored leather ball towards a white-colored target ball called the jack. Points are awarded to the colored balls with the closest distance to the jack.
Aims: This development research aims to design a Boccia throw test instrument for novice athletes with cerebral palsy and test the instrument's validity and reliability.
Methods: We use research and development with a 6-step instrument development method by Gall, Gall, and Borg. The subject of this research was 20 novice Boccia athletes who completed six trials to test the validity and reliability of the test instrument. Analysis was conducted through corrected item-total correlation and Cronbach’s Alpha using SPSS.
Results: This research has produced a boccia throwing test instrument for cerebral palsy athletes with a throwing target in the form of a circle diameter of 25 cm, which is placed 5 meters from the ball throwing area. This instrument has proven its validity and reliability based on the validity value on the corrected item-total correlation > 0.05 and the reliability value on Cronbach's alpha > 0.80.
Conclusion: The resulting test instrument is valid and reliable to assess the Boccia throwing accuracy skill in novice players.
Detectando caras en un contexto de sorpresa e incertidumbre
Authors: Gordillo León Fernando , Mestas Hernández Lilia , Fernández Núñez Miguel , Pérez Nieto Miguel Ángel , Arana Martínez José M. 
Published: April 2022

Threatening expressions are detected quickly and accurately, warning the observer of the presence of a potential danger. During the detection process, a facial expression of surprise could play an important role as a cue for orientation in conditions of uncertainty that call for a swift and precise response. With a view to analysing this contingency, an experiment was conducted in which 70 subjects undertook a spatial cueing task that involved facial expressions of surprise (vs. neutral ones) as orientation cues, and facial expressions of fear, anger and happiness as target stimuli. The results revealed a priming effect of the expression of surprise solely in the detection of the expression of anger, reducing response times and the percentage of errors. The data indicate that the expression of surprise, when processed as an independent stimulus, could prime the detection of those stimuli that constitute a direct threat, such as the expression of anger, with this being a crucial distinction for understanding the circumstances in which the expression of anger is detected more effectively than other kinds of expressions.
Las expresiones de amenaza son detectadas con rapidez y precisión, advirtiendo a quienes las observan de la presencia de un potencial peligro. Durante el proceso de detección, la expresión de sorpresa podría jugar un papel importante como clave de orientación en condiciones de incertidumbre donde se requiere una respuesta rápida y precisa. Con el objetivo de analizar este supuesto se plateó un experimento en el que participaron 70 sujetos que realizaron una tarea de señalización espacial, donde se utilizaron expresiones faciales de sorpresa (vs. neutra) como claves de orientación, y expresiones faciales de miedo, ira, alegría y neutras como estímulos objetivo. Los resultados mostraron un efecto facilitador de la expresión de sorpresa solo en la detección de la expresión de ira, reduciendo los tiempos de respuesta y el porcentaje de errores. Los datos apuntan a que la expresión de sorpresa, cuando se procesa como un estímulo independiente, podría facilitar la detección de aquellos estímulos que supongan una amenaza directa, como la expresión de ira, siendo esta distinción clave para entender en qué condiciones se detecta más eficazmente la expresión de ira respecto a otro tipo de expresiones.
Strategic decision making and prediction differences in autism
Authors: Mantas Vasileios , Pehlivanidis Artemios , Papanikolaou Katerina , Kotoula Vasileia , Papageorgiou Charalambos 
Published: April 2022

Background
Several theories in autism posit that common aspects of the autism phenotype may be manifestations of an underlying differentiation in predictive abilities. The present study investigates this hypothesis in the context of strategic decision making in autistic participants compared to a control group.

Method
Autistic individuals (43 adults, 35 male) and a comparison group (42 adults, 35 male) of age and gender matched individuals, played a modified version of the prisoner’s dilemma (PD) task where they were asked, if capable, to predict their opponents’ move. The predictive performance of the two groups was assessed.

Results
Overall, participants in the autism group had a significantly lower number of correct predictions. Moreover, autistic participants stated, significantly more frequently than the comparison group, that they were unable to make a prediction. When attempting a prediction however, the success ratio did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions
These findings indicate that there is a difference in prediction performance between the two groups. Although our task design does not allow us to identify whether this difference is due to difficulty to form a prediction or a reluctance in registering one, these findings could justify a role for prediction in strategic decision making during the PD task.
Assessment of Information and Communication Technology Tools’ Usage in Agricultural Extension among Cassava Peasants in Rangwe Sub-County, Kenya
Authors: Caleb Dimo John , Stephen Wambugu Maina , Chesambu Ndiema Alice 
Published: April 2022

Aims: This study sought to determine selected demographic characteristics, the extent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools’ usage, opportunities in ICT, challenges in the use, strategies to improve the use, and the correlation between the selected demographic factors and ICT tools’ usage among peasants who produce cassava in Rangwe Sub-County, Kenya. Study Design: A correlation research design was used in this study conducted at Rangwe Sub-County, Kenya from 8th December 2021 to 14th January 2022.
Methodology: The study gathered data with the aid of pretested structured questionnaire from 106 Cassava Peasants (CPs) who used or not used ICT tools in agricultural extension.
Results: The response rate achieved was 100%. The majority of the CPs were female (62%), middle-aged (36-50 years), attained primary education (52%), and earned the lowest average annual income (X ≤ KES160, 000). The majority of ICT tools users in extension were males, elite, higher-income earners, and youths. The largest percentage of ICT tools users mentioned, ICT tools availability as one of the opportunities in ICT, expensiveness as the main challenge in the use, ICT services subsidies as one of the improvement strategies. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that a correlation between the selected demographic factors and ICT tools’ usage was statistically significant at a 1% level of significance (P=.000).
Conclusion: Adoption of ICT tools in agricultural extension services is directly proportional to income, gender equality, and education, while it is inversely proportional to age. The provision of supporting policies for the selected demographic factors, availability of training centers, and subsidized credit interest rate would increase ICT tools usage in extension.
Mangrove-epiphytic Plants in Selected Mangrove Rehabilitation Areas of Davao Occidental, The Philippines
Authors: Pacyao John Paul R. , Llameg Marlyn B. , Jondonero John Christopher O. 
Published: April 2022

The study was conducted in the mangrove rehabilitation sites of Malita, Davao Occidental, Philippines particularly Sitio Agdao of Brgy. Tubalan, Sitio Baybay of Brgy. Buhangin and Sitio Lahusan of Brgy. Fishing Village from October to December 2020. Preliminary stations were established: Station 1 in Sitio Agdao, Station 2 in Sitio Baybay and the Station 3 in Sitio Lahusan. These sites are considered to be a slightly undisturbed mangrove forest dominated by species of mangrove trees.
The free exploration method was carried out first before the conduct of the study. Samples consisted of host plants and their associates (epiphytes) are collected for proper identification. Three study areas were assessed by the number of individual species to calculate their relative abundance and density.
A total of 7 species identified individually among of the three-study areas. The study also shows that species of mangrove epiphytes in the study area composed of 3 to 5 species per station and exhibit 1 to 3 identified species per plot and individual species per station revealed that Davalia denticulata and Aglaomorpha quercifold were the most common species of mangrove epiphytic plants in almost all three study areas. However, Lahusan sampling station occurred numerous quantities of Mangrove epiphytic plants species among 3 identified study areas including Imprerata cycindrica that cannot be found in Agdao and Baybay Stations.
Statistically, no significant difference was observed among study areas.
The Influence of Measurement Errors on Generalized Estimator of Population Mean
Authors: Ikechukwu Boniface Okafor, , Aloysius Chijioke Onyeka , Ogbonna C. J. , Chinyeaka Hostensia Izunobi , Lawrence Chizoba Kiwu 
Published: April 2022

This paper proposed a generalized estimator of population mean in the presence of correlated and uncorrelated measurement errors under simple random strategy. Some known estimators belong to this class of proposed estimator. Under the large sample approximation, the properties of the proposed estimator namely bias and mean squared error were obtained. Theoretical comparison was carried out on the members of the proposed class of estimators when measurement errors are correlated and when they are uncorrelated and the necessary conditions under which the proposed estimator at its optimum value is expected to be more efficient than the existing estimators of finite population mean were obtained. It was observed that correlated and uncorrelated measurement errors inflate the bias and mean squared error of the proposed estimator. The paper concluded that the proposed estimator is more efficient than usual unbiased estimator and some members of the class of proposed estimator.
Studies on Yield and Economics of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as Influenced by Spacing and Foliar Application of Zinc
Authors: Haritha Gali , Singh Rajesh , Indu Thakur 
Published: April 2022

Background: Sesame plants thrive in hot, dry weather. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds. The oil content of the seed is inversely proportional to its protein content. Most commercial cultivars of sesame are intolerant of water-logging.
The objective of the present experiment was to analyze the influence of spacing and application of zinc using foliar method on growth, yield and economics of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) during kharif season of 2021. The experiment was designed with varying combination of spacing and zinc using the Randomized Block Design which produced nine treatments with three replicates each. The treartment combinations are T1 – 25 cm X 15 cm + 0.25% ZnSO4, T2 – 25 cm X 15 cm + 0.50% ZnSO4, T3- 25 cm X 15 cm + 0.75% ZnSO4, T4- 35 cm X 15 cm + 0.25% ZnSO4, T5 – 35 cm X 15 cm + 0.50% ZnSO4, T6 – 35 cm X 15 cm + 0.75% ZnSO4, T7- 40 cm X 10 cm + 0.25% ZnSO4, T8- 40 cm X 10 cm + 0.50% ZnSO4, T9 – 40 cm X 10 cm + 0.75% ZnSO4. The combination, T9 with spacing 40 X 10 cm and 0.75% ZnSo4 recorded maximum number of capsules per plant (54.60), number of seeds per capsule (60.50), seed yield (1.20 t/ha), harvest index (31.89 %). The application of treatment T9 40 cm X 10 cm + 0.75% ZnSO4 recorded higher net return (52,016.00 INR/ha), gross return (78,217.00 INR/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.99) as well.
Conclusion: 40 cm X 10 cm + ZnSo4 – 0.75 %, had the highest results for yield characteristics such has grain yield (1.20 t/ha), gross return (78,217.00 INR/ha), net return (52,016.00 INR/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.99).
Effect of Nitrogen and Zinc levels on Yield and Economics of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
Authors: Mishra Pankaj Kumar , Singh Rajesh 
Published: April 2022

A field experimental trial entitled “Effect of Nitrogen and Zinc levels on Yield and Economics of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)” was undertaken during Rabi season (2021-2022) at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (Allahabad) (U.P.). The size of experimental field is 243m2 and soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.1), low in organic carbon (0.28 %), available Nitrogen (225 kg/ha.), available Phosphorus (19.50 kg/ha.) and available Potassium (213 kg/ha.). The treatments consisted of 3 levels of Nitrogen N1 (60 kg/ha.), N2(80 kg/ha.), N3 (100 kg/ha.) and 3 levels of Zinc Zn1 (5 kg/ha.), Zn2 (10 kg/ha.) and Zn3 (15 kg/ha.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The results revealed that the application of Nitrogen 100 kg/ha. + Zinc 15 kg/ha. recorded maximum siliqua length (5.20 cm), number of siliquae per plant (398.90), number of seeds per siliqua (24.40), test weight (3.53 g). The economic analysis demonstrates that Nitrogen 100 kg/ha. + Zinc 15 kg/ha. treatment produced higher grain yield (1.89 t/ha.), stover yield (3.11 t/ha.), gross returns (103650.00 INR/ha.), net returns (70264.08 INR/ha.) and B:C ratio (2.10). The major challenges experienced throughout the research work were mostly related to the use of nitrogen and zinc.
Impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Hernández-Runque Estela , Ron Misael , Vicente Sánchez Luís , Escalona Evelin , Promise Ogolodom Michael , Nathaniel Mbaba Awajimijan 
Published: April 2022

Objective: The objective of this research was to analyze official data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American and Caribbean health care workers.
Materials and Methods: The methodology used was documentary, exploratory and descriptive research. The data were collected from official reports of international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization and figures provided by the different official spokespersons of the Latin American countries studied, for the period March 2020 - August 2021.
Results: The results showed that the top three countries with the highest number of infected and confirmed healthcare workers were Brazil with a total of 503,238 cases, Mexico with 244,711 cases and Argentina with 96,626 cases. The top three countries with the highest number of deaths of health personnel from this cause are Mexico with 4,084 cases, Peru with 1,399 cases and Brazil with 703 cases. Similarly, the countries with the highest fatality rates are Venezuela with 4.6%, Peru with 1.9% and Mexico with 1.7%.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that this pandemic has directly affected health professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean, representing one of the greatest challenges ever faced by these professionals in the performance of their duties.
Conebeam CT‐guided 3D MLC‐based spatially fractionated radiation therapy for bulky masses
Authors: Pokhrel Damodar , Bernard Mark E , Mallory Richard , St Clair William , Kudrimoti Mahesh 
Published: April 2022

AbstractFor fast, safe, and effective management of large and bulky (≥8 cm) non‐resectable tumors, we have developed a conebeam CT‐guided three‐dimensional (3D)‐conformal MLC‐based spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) treatment. Using an in‐house MLC‐fitting algorithm, Millennium 120 leaves were fitted to the gross tumor volume (GTV) generating 1‐cm diameter holes at 2‐cm center‐to‐center distance at isocenter. SFRT plans of 15 Gy were generated using four to six coplanar crossfire gantry angles 60° apart with a 90° collimator, differentially weighted with 6‐ or 10‐MV beams. A dose was calculated using AcurosXB algorithm, generating sieve‐like dose channels without post‐processing the physician‐drawn GTV contour within an hour of CT simulation allowing for the same day treatment. In total, 50 extracranial patients have been planned and treated using this method, comprising multiple treatment sites. This novel MLC‐fitting algorithm provided excellent dose parameters with mean GTV (V7.5 Gy) and mean GTV doses of 53.2% and 7.9 Gy, respectively, for 15 Gy plans. Average peak‐to‐valley dose ratio was 3.2. Mean beam‐on time was 3.32 min, and treatment time, including patient setup and CBCT to beam‐off, was within 15 min. Average 3D couch correction from original skin‐markers was <1.0 cm. 3D MLC‐based SFRT plans enhanced target dose for bulky masses, including deep‐seated large tumors while protecting skin and adjacent critical organs. Additionally, it provides the same day, safe, effective, and convenient treatment by eliminating the risk to therapists and patients from heavy gantry‐mounted physical GRID‐block—we recommend other centers to use this simple and clinically useful method. This rapid SFRT planning technique is easily adoptable in any radiation oncology clinic by eliminating the need for plan optimization and patient‐specific quality assurance times while providing dosimetry information in the treatment planning system. This potentially allows for dose‐escalation to deep‐seated masses to debulk unresectable large tumors providing an option for neoadjuvant treatment. An outcome study of clinical trial is underway.
Lithium‐Ion Battery Technology for Voltage Control of Perpendicular Magnetization
Authors: Ameziane Maria , Mansell Rhodri , Havu Ville , Rinke Patrick , van Dijken Sebastiaan 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe voltage control of magnetism is a promising path to the development of low‐power spintronic devices. Magneto‐ionics—exploiting voltage‐driven ion migration to control magnetism—has attracted interest because it can generate large magnetoelectric effects at low voltage. Here, the use of the solid‐state lithium‐ion battery technology for reversible voltage‐controlled switching between perpendicular and in‐plane magnetization states in a Co–Pt bilayer is demonstrated. Due to the small size and high mobility of lithium ions, small voltages produce an exceptionally high magnetoelectric coupling efficiency of at least 7700 fJ V–1 m–1 at room temperature. The magnetic switching effect is attributed to the modulation of spin‐orbit coupling at the Co–Pt interface when lithium ions migrate between a lithium storage layer (LiCoO2) and the magnetic interface across a lithium phosphorous oxynitride (LiPON) solid‐state electrolyte, which is corroborated by density functional theory calculations. Voltage control of magnetism in the battery structure does not show degradation over more than 500 voltage cycles, demonstrating promise for solid‐state lithium‐based magneto‐ionic devices.
Adhesive and Hydrophobic Bilayer Hydrogel Enabled On‐Skin Biosensors for High‐Fidelity Classification of Human Emotion
Authors: Yang Ganguang , Zhu Kanhao , Guo Wei , Wu Dongrui , Quan Xueliang , Huang Xin , Liu Shaoyu , Li Yangyang , Fang Han , Qiu Yuqi , Zheng Qingyang , Zhu Mengliang , Huang Jian , Zeng Zhigang , Yin Zhouping , Wu Hao 
Published: April 2022

AbstractTraditional human emotion recognition is based on electroencephalogram (EEG) data collection technologies which rely on plenty of rigid electrodes and lack anti‐interference, wearing comfort, and portability. Moreover, a significant distribution difference in EEG data also results in low classification accuracy. Here, on‐skin biosensors with adhesive and hydrophobic bilayer hydrogel (AHBH) as interfaces for high accuracy emotion classification are proposed. The AHBH achieves remarkable adhesion (59.7 N m−1) by combining the adhesion mechanism of catechol groups and electrostatic attraction. Meanwhile, based on the synergistic effects of hydrophobic group rearrangements and surface energy reduction, the AHB‐hydrophobic layer exhibits 133.87° water contact angles through hydrophobic treatment of only 0.5 h. Hydrogen and electrostatic bonds are also introduced to form a seamless adhesive‐hydrophobic hydrogel interface and inhibit adhesion attenuation, respectively. With the AHBH as an ideal device/skin interface, the biosensor can reliably collect high‐quality electrophysiological signals even under vibration, sweating, and long‐lasting monitoring condition. Furthermore, the on‐skin electrodes, data processing, and wireless modules are integrated into a portable headband for EEG‐based emotion classification. A domain adaptive neural network based on the transfer learning technique is introduced to alleviate the effect of domain shift and achieve high classification accuracy.
Recent Advances in SnSe Nanostructures beyond Thermoelectricity
Authors: Li Feng , Wang Huide , Huang Ruijia , Chen Wenwen , Zhang Han 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLayered SnSe is an emerging class of black phosphorus, which is non‐toxic, eco‐friendly, and chemically stable. Recently, SnSe nanostructures have triggered more research interest and enabled broad applications beyond demonstrating their great performances on thermoelectricity. However, there are also a great many significant studies of SnSe nanostructures beyond thermoelectricity. SnSe quantum dots, nanosheets, nanowires, and thin films with diverse morphologies have been synthesized using various chemical and physical preparation approaches. SnSe is a multi‐phase semiconductor, and its nanostructures endow unique properties, including small electron effective mass, ultralow thermal conductivity, huge anisotropy, and the largest 2D piezoelectric coefficient ever predicted. The versatility of SnSe nanostructures can enable potential applications ranging from ultrafast photonics, logic devices, photodetectors, solar cells, photocatalysis, energy storage, and biology to more cutting‐edge interdisciplinary subjects. In this review, the recent advances made in SnSe nanostructures are summarized, covering basics, synthesis, properties, and applications, just giving a passing comment on thermoelectricity. An in‐depth perspective on the challenges and prospects of SnSe nanostructures toward broad and practical applications is also given.
A Bidirectional Soft Diode for Artificial Systems
Authors: Davletshin Artur , Underwood Thomas C. , Song Wen 
Published: April 2022

AbstractArtificial material systems that seek to mimic the basic processes of life must perform multiple complex functions, including responsiveness, motion, and metabolism. Networks of programmable materials offer a pathway toward achieving these functions by altering local chemical, physical, and structural properties to enable control. The ability to perform multiple complex functions in a single soft elastomeric material system is demonstrated by reconfiguring, in situ, passive bistable fluidic diodes that are inspired by mammalian venous valves. It is shown how pneumo‐mechanical programmability allows these silicone elastomer diode assemblies to accomplish, without rearranging the fluidic circuit, multiple functions, including pumping (motion), energy storage/discharge (metabolism), logic operations (response), and signal filtering/rectification. The ability to achieve multiple functions through in situ programming may lead to the development of efficient artificial systems capable of complex functions in compact, remote applications.