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Schools are ideal settings to promote adolescent physical activity (PA), yet school-based interventions have shown limited long-term impact. This position paper presents key issues surrounding school-based PA interventions. Collaborative conceptual thinking drawing on multi-author expertise and available evidence advanced our understanding and opinion. Key arguments: 1) the adoption of a systems approach, which maximizes partnership action and leverages policy, is crucial for understanding the complexities of implementing whole-school programs; 2) a reorientation to an assets perspective optimizes existing strengths and resources allowing greater emphasis on the full range of physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits that PA provides, and 3) a move beyond traditional positivist research designs to advance our knowledge of what works better, for whom and in what context is needed for greater progress We provide suggestions, specifically advocating for systems approaches, as a realistic way to improve how we support PA in schools in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-profit organisations are increasingly collaborating with celebrities to increase charitable donations. Consequently, choosing the right endorser to promote charitable giving is central to the communication strategy. The present research investigates how the attractiveness and credibility of celebrities, as well as cause-endorser matchup and meaning transfer, influence people's donations. This research provides evidence of serial and parallel mediation effects by measuring and manipulating the four constructs in four separate studies. We demonstrate that credibility mediates the effect of attractiveness on generosity. Additionally, we highlight two legitimation pathways to explain how attractive endorsers become perceived as more credible cause promoters. This study provides a comprehensive model that illustrates, through an affective-cognitive-conative sequence, how attractiveness, congruence and meaning, and then credibility leads to charitable donations. Accordingly, we provide non-profit organisations with concrete and actionable recommendations for selecting celebrity endorsers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's online environment, children inevitably encounter personalized advertising. However, research suggests that children are not yet able to cope with this advertising type. This study therefore investigates whether literacy training helps children recognize personalized advertising. The 2 (personalized versus nonpersonalized ad) × 2 (literacy training versus no training) between-subjects design experiment (N = 166) suggests that personalized advertising decreased children's (9 to 13 years) brand attitude but increased their purchase intentions. Moreover, training helped children to better recognize personalized ads. Contrary to the expectations, this targeting recognition positively affected brand attitude and purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing customer requirements and turbulent markets require suitably adapted capabilities to proactively cope with rapid changes. Agile manufacturing emerged in the late 1990s as a competitive concept to respond to these business challenges. While several seminal research works address agility in terms of concept definition, drivers and strategic capabilities, there is a lack of implementation frameworks of agile manufacturing. The current paper is concerned with the question of how to improve the agility of manufacturing companies. To address this question, a framework is iteratively developed with the aim of supporting decision makers in planning and implementing agility improvement projects. To this end, Design Science Research (DSR) methodology is used in conjunction with CIMO-logic (Context, Intervention, Mechanism, Outcome). The iterative development of the framework relies heavily on insights from case studies and from practitioners in the broad manufacturing sector. The paper provides evidence of the validity of the framework as well as outlining further research perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been increasing calls within critical disability studies to move beyond ethnocentric Global North/Western interpretive lenses, especially when doing work in countries that have historically been oppressed by such cultures. These lenses rarely embrace the unique cultural nuances and social structures of different communities such that meaningful social justice is not possible. In this paper, we propose that cultural praxis (based on the work of Paulo Freire) could be a necessary paradigmatic shift toward amplifying disability research beyond ethnocentrism and toward culturally reflexive and relevant study. We show how we developed this methodological process through conceptual representations of our evolved thought, author reflections, and theoretical groundings. We invite dialogue from colleagues invested in socially-just research, and hope this approach begins further conversations and methods for doing meaningful, culturally specific work to achieve cultural praxis in physical education and wider realms of critical disability studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While engagement has enjoyed an abundance of academic and practitioner attention recently, few studies have examined engagement from the perspective of end users utilizing products and brands at work. In acknowledgement of the important role end users play in B2B sales and service ecosystems, the current study applies both social exchange and social identity theories to illuminate the process through which B2B end user engagement develops. By using scenarios with random assignment – an under-utilized approach in sales research – our results suggest that the perceived interactivity of supplier firm activities moderates the relationship between cognitive engagement and behaviors such that it nudges end users toward proactively advocating for the supplier firm brand. Moreover, the supplier firm activity is even more effective when a salesperson personally introduces the initiative to end users. Hence, with intentional and interactive connection, salespeople can influence end user engagement behaviors and add value to the sales process, a key insight for supplier firms. Finally, we explore two key drivers of end user engagement: end user work identity and need to belong. A better understanding of how and why end user engagement and subsequent behaviors develop will help salespeople connect more effectively with end users and ultimately drive more sales. These contributions meaningfully increase our understanding regarding contextual influences of end user engagement within the B2B sales arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single and multiple random change points (RCPs) in survival analysis have arisen naturally in oncology trials, where the time to hazard rate change differs from one subject to another. Recently, Xu formulated and discovered important properties of these survival models using a frequentist approach, allowing us to estimate the hazard rates, rate parameters of the exponential distributions for the RCPs, expected survival and hazard functions. However, these methods did not provide an estimation of the uncertainty or the confidence intervals for the parameters and their differences or ratios. Therefore, statistical inferences were not able to be drawn on the parameters and their comparisons. To solve this issue, this article implements a Gibbs sampler method to estimate the above parameters and the differences or ratios alongside the 100(1 $ - $− $\alpha $α)% highest posterior density (HPD) intervals calculated from Chen–Shao’s algorithm. The estimated rate parameters from the methods in Xu serve as empirical values in the Gibbs sampler method. Thus, formal statistical inferences can now be readily drawn. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed methods yield robust estimates, with the samples from the marginal posterior distributions converging rapidly and exhibiting favorable behavior. The 95% HPD intervals also demonstrate excellent coverage probabilities. This proposed method has a multitude of applications in clinical trials such as efficient clinical trial design and sample size adjustment based on the estimated parameter values at interim analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing novel strains of Enterococcus previously isolated from the vaginal source of pregnant women were selected based on ropy structure formation. The two selected strains, E.villorum SB-2 and E.rivorum S22-3, were found to be producing 2.87 g/l and 3.14 g/l EPS, respectively, in the minimal media (M17 media) after 24-hour fermentation under anaerobic condition. Both the strains have probiotic properties and have the potential to be used for industrial applications. The production media and fermentation conditions were optimized to enhance the EPS production using the one-factor method, Placket-Burman factorial designing and Central composite design (CCD) of Response surface methodology (RSM). The most relevant factors affecting the EPS yield were sucrose, yeast extract and pH for E.villorum SB2 and sucrose, yeast extract and magnesium sulfate for the E.rivorum S22-3 as determined by Placket-Burman design, whose concentrations were further optimized using CCD. The optimized fermentation conditions gave the total EPS of 9.76 g/l (4 times the initial production) from E.villorum SB-2 and 7.74 g/l (2.5 times the initial production) from E.rivorum S22-3, respectively, after 36-hour incubation at 37 °C. These optimization studies might be helpful during scale-up process for the industrial scale production of these exopolysaccharide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe mass transfer performance of isopropanol (IPA) absorption by triethylene glycol (TEG) aqueous solution in a spray-bed absorber was investigated, and the mass transfer coefficients predicted by an artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology were compared in this study. The operating variables affecting the mass transfer performance of a spray-bed absorber include the gas and TEG fluxes, concentration of IPA, concentration of TEG aqueous solution, and operating temperature. The experimental results demonstrated that the mass transfer coefficient of a spray-bed absorber increased with increases in gas and liquid fluxes and decreased with increases in concentration of IPA. The Back-Propagation algorithm in the ANN model was selected to predict the mass transfer coefficients of the spray–bed absorption system. Hidden layers with 2, 4 and 6 neurons respectively were set to analyze the effect of the number of neurons on the target value, and then different transfer functions were used to compare the accuracy in predicting mass transfer coefficient. Finally, the influences of the number of hidden layers and different learning rules on the prediction of mass transfer coefficients were examined. The simulated results showed that the average error of the ANN using the TanhAxon transfer function, the Conjugate Gradient learning rule, two hidden layers, and 6 neurons in each hidden layer was within 1%. The results not only verified the successful establishment of the experimental device but also proved the accurate prediction of mass transfer coefficients by the ANN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Little is known about the outcomes that are most important to prosthesis users and funders. A Prosthetic Interventions Core Outcome Set (PI-COS) will help researchers and practitioners measure outcomes that are the most important to prosthesis users and funders. Materials and methods: Prosthesis users and funders rated the importance of 121 International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) second-level categories using a two-round Delphi survey. A Consensus Meeting using the nominal group technique resolved rating differences between groups. The ICF second-level categories were ranked according to importance and a K-Means Cluster Analysis helped establish the PI-COS. Results: 65 users and 8 funders completed the Delphi surveys, followed by a Consensus Meeting. 26 ICF second-level categories were considered important to prosthesis users and funders and a PI-COS of 14 ICF second-level categories drawn predominantly from five ICF chapters was established: Sensory Functions and Pain (b2), Neuromusculoskeletal and Movement-related Functions (b7), General Tasks and Demands (d2), Mobility (d4), and Products and Technology (e1). Conclusions: The PI-COS describes the outcomes that are most important to prosthesis users and funders. The PI-COS can help focus on the most important outcome measures in clinical practice and research, including future prosthetic health economic evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After stroke, upper limb somatosensation can be impaired which affects motor control. Vision is often used to compensate for this. A clinical assessment which assesses the combined sensorimotor function in the absence of vision would be beneficial in studies targeting sensorimotor improvement. Methods and materials: We adapted the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) to be performed without vision and called this modified version the sensorimotor ARAT (sARAT). Sixty healthy participants and 22 participants with chronic stroke performed the ARAT, sARAT, Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FM-UE) and Erasmus modified Nottingham sensory assessment (EmNSA). Discriminative validity of sARAT was evaluated by comparing performance between healthy participants and participants with chronic stroke. Convergent validity was evaluated by correlating sARAT with FM-UE and EmNSA. Results: Participants with stroke performed worse on the sARAT compared to healthy participants (p < 0.001), with median scores of 52 (IQR 32-57) and 57 (IQR 57-57), respectively. The sARAT showed high correlations with FM-UE and EmNSA (r = 0.80-0.90). Conclusions: The sARAT shows good discriminative and convergent validity in people with chronic stroke. It allows a quick assessment of the combined upper limb sensorimotor function, by performing the well-known ARAT with the eyes closed. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The sensorimotor adaptation of the Action Research Arm Test (sARAT) is a clinical assessment of upper limb activity which is performed with the eyes closed. Combining the gold standard ARAT with the sensorimotor adaptation sARAT can inform about the influence of somatosensory impairments on upper limb activity in stroke survivors when vision is blocked. The sARAT shows good discriminative and convergent validity in persons with chronic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWe examined how young adults processed ecolabels (i.e. environmental warning labels), specifically by investigating how different warning message conditions and issue-relevant factors influenced the effectiveness of environmental warning messages. Findings from a 3 (message context formats: ads vs. positive PSAs vs. negative PSAs) x 3 (product categories: conservation vs. recycling vs. eco-friendly) mixed within- and between-subjects experimental design indicated that the effectiveness of ecolabels, assessed via message recall, message recognition, attitudes, and behavioral changes, was influenced by various issue-relevant determinants, as well as message context formats and context-induced moods. We also found that these predictors exhibited distinct patterns of influences for different types of environment-friendly products. Theoretical implications, as well as empirical suggestions for environmental communication professionals and policymakers to enhance the effectiveness of ecolabels and young adults’ awareness of environmental threats, were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual desire has often been conceptualized and studied as an individual trait. However, empirical evidence suggests that there is also value in studying it as a state and dyadic construct. Through a daily diary study with a randomized controlled experimental design, we aimed to explore (i) how the roles that partners fulfill in dyadic interactions are associated with daily fluctuations in dyadic sexual desire, (ii) whether these roles can be leveraged to affect sexual desire for one’s partner, and (iii) whether effects of partner interactions on dyadic sexual desire vary by gender. In total, 163 mixed-gender couples (N = 326), with a mean age of 30.3 years (SD = 7.95), participated. During 22 consecutive days, participants reported daily on their dyadic sexual desire, as well as on several aspects of their interactions. Couples in the experimental condition additionally received assignments that manipulated their partner interactions. Analyzing our data using Multilevel Modelling techniques for longitudinal dyadic data, we found that daily dyadic sexual desire was associated with what each partner takes, gives, and receives in relation with their affiliation, sexuality and exploration needs. Additionally, women’s sexual desire was associated with what their partner reported taking, giving, and receiving during affiliative interactions, and with perceived but not enacted responsiveness to their sexuality and exploration needs. Our results suggest that daily ebbs and flows of sexual desire may be partly explained by temporal changes in interactions between partners, making them possible valuable targets for clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this experimental study, we delve into the performance of an active mixer that utilizes liquid metal droplets. Our mixer configuration follows an innovative Y-type design, where two liquid metal-based pumping mechanisms operate within the minichannel inlet branches. By applying alternating current voltage to both sides of the liquid metal, we induce a surface tension gradient, propelling the fluid from the reservoirs toward the minichannel. Notably, the two entering liquids are distinctly colored, allowing us to quantify mixing using a Mixing Index (MI) definition and image processing techniques. Our investigation centers on four key variables governing mixer performance: applied voltage, liquid metal droplet diameter, input angle between the branches, and minichannel width. Given the experimental nature of our research, we employ a central composite design method within the framework of design of experiments (DoE). From our obtained experimental results, we establish correlations between MI and the other variables. Our examination of the four mentioned parameters revealed that liquid metal droplet diameter exerts the most significant influence on the mixing index. Following this, in descending order of impact, we find applied voltage, input angle, and channel width. In the optimal dimensions of our mixer, we achieve a remarkable maximum MI of 0.867. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of tweety homolog 3 (TTYH3) has been studied in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and gastric cancer. The results showed that TTYH3 is highly expression in cervical cancer tissues and cells and high TTYH3 expression correlates with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. TTYH3 markedly reduced the apoptosis rate and promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion. Silencing of TTYH3 has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on cervical cancer progression. Moreover, TTYH3 enhanced EMT and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, TTYH3 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, TTYH3 promoted cervical cancer progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. HIGHLIGHTS: TTYH3 is upregulated in cervical cancer tissue and cells. TTYH3 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation. TTYH3 inhibits cervical cancer cell apoptosis. TTYH3 induces cervical cancer cell migration and invasion. TTYH3 activates the Wnt signaling in cervical cancer cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies analyzing postures and mobility of the thoracic spine in the context of cervicogenic headache are missing. Insight in these parameters is needed since the cervical and thoracic spine are biomechanically related. Objective: To compare self-perceived optimal and habitual postures, active-assisted maximal range of motion, and repositioning error of the upper-thoracic and lower-thoracic spine between a cervicogenic headache-group and matched healthy control-group before and after a 30 min-laptop-task. Methods: A non-randomized longitudinal design was used to compare thoracic postures and mobility between 18 participants with cervicogenic headache (29–51 years) and 18 matched healthy controls (26–52 years). Outcomes were: self-perceived optimal and habitual postures, active-assisted maximal range of motion, and repositioning error of the upper-thoracic and lower-thoracic spine evaluated in sitting with a 3D-Vicon motion analysis system. Results: Habitual upper-thoracic postures in the cervicogenic headache-group were significantly (p =.04) less located toward the maximal range of motion for flexion compared to the control-group, self-perceived optimal upper-thoracic posture was significantly (p =.004) more extended in the cervicogenic headache-group compared to the control-group, and self-perceived optimal lower-thoracic posture could not be reestablished in the cervicogenic headache-group after the laptop-task (p =.009). Conclusion: Thoracic postures differ between a cervicogenic headache-group and control-group. These differences were detected by expressing the habitual thoracic posture relative to its maximal range of motion, and by analyzing the possibility of repositioning the thoracic spine after a headache provoking activity. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the contribution of these musculoskeletal dysfunctions to the pathophysiology of cervicogenic headache. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and validate a novel questionnaire aimed at providing a structured, evidence-based methodology for hearing aid recommendation and selection using self-reported importance ratings for different modern hearing aid features. Design: The initial questionnaire items were created through a concept mapping approach that involved input from hearing aid users. Hearing care professional focus groups (n = 10) were conducted to assess questionnaire content and design, and to guide modifications. Validation of this initial 34-item version of the questionnaire was conducted using an anonymous online survey tool (Qualtrics). Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the dataset, using principal axis factoring. Questionnaire reliability and inter-item correlation were assessed. Items with low factor loading and high cross-loading were removed. Study sample: Two hundred and eighteen adult participants with a self-reported hearing loss (median age = 48 years, range = 18–95 years) completed the questionnaire. Results: Analysis and item removal resulted in a 28-item questionnaire. Three factors were identified, dividing the hearing aid features into the subscales: "Advanced connectivity & streaming", "Physical attributes & usability", and "Sound quality & intelligibility". Conclusion: This study has resulted in a patient-oriented questionnaire that allows clinicians to gather patient input in a structured manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the efficiency of mechanical energy flow in the torso and bat head speed at impact. Ninety-eight amateur baseball players batted a light ball tossed from the pitcher direction 3.2 m away. The batting motion and ground reaction forces acting on each foot were recorded using a motion capture system and two force plates, respectively. The mechanical powers of the joint forces and joint torques were calculated to measure the generation, absorption, and transfer of mechanical energy in the torso. The transfer efficiency of mechanical energy in the torso was defined as the ratio of the mechanical energy inflow into the thorax from the torso joint to the mechanical energy outflow from the pelvis to the torso joint. The correlation coefficient between the bat head speed and transfer efficiency of mechanical energy in the torso was very low. Conversely, the mechanical energy flow in the torso was significantly correlated to the bat head speed. Therefore, the results suggest that the torso in baseball batting is not utilised for the generation of mechanical energy but acts as a pathway for the transfer of mechanical energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are significant challenges associated with conducting research with a researcher from another institution, in another country or with another culture, and even more challenges when all three factors apply. This paper critically appraises the complexities of a cross-cultural, international and collaborative research project, and identifies the challenges for the researchers and their organisations, and the ways in which these were managed. It evaluates the process of obtaining ethics approval from two organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and Fiji. This paper presents the perspectives of both the researchers and the organisations providing ethics approval. There is often concern that research conducted by someone from a 'global north' country (here, Aotearoa New Zealand) in a 'global south' country (here, Fiji) will have power asymmetries, and that research will disadvantage the researched community, or not provide any benefit back to them; this project directly addressed these concerns. The research outputs, and research outcomes and impact, need to be considered at the research design stage to ensure they are appropriate for the community in which the research is being conducted. While organisations may be reluctant to approve research conducted in a different culture and country, the risks can be managed and mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric orthogonal arrays are very useful in theoretical studies and practical applications. However, it is difficult to construct such designs of high strength. In this article, we use the generator matrix method to obtain some asymmetric orthogonal arrays of strength three. Then we combine it with the general (further) replacement procedure to get more general asymmetric orthogonal arrays of high strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthogonal arrays (OAs) are widely applied in the statistical design of experiments. The Hamming distances of OAs play an increasingly important role in various areas; however, it is difficult to use Hamming distances, especially for tight and mixed orthogonal arrays (MOAs). For example, two OAs with the same parameters may have distinct Hamming distances due to their different structures and constructions. In addition, studies on Hamming distances of tight OAs are scant, with the exception of a study indicating that a tight symmetrical OA of strength 2 has a constant Hamming distance. In this article, we calculate Hamming distances for high-strength OAs, including all tight symmetrical OAs of strength 3, 4, and 5. Interestingly, the Hamming distances do not depend on the constructions or structures of the arrays. Additionally, we study the Hamming distances of several classes of MOAs of strength 2 and 3, some of which are not related to the structures of the arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online vendors often deploy limited-time and limited-quantity cues on their e-commerce sites to influence consumers purchase decisions. Although these scarcity cues can reflect genuine restrictions in the availability of goods, they are increasingly considered as ill-intentioned nudges or 'dark patterns' due to their omnipresence and success in persuading consumers. In an online experiment (N = 202), we examined the effects of limited-time and limited-quantity cues on perceived task load, perceived benevolence, and user experience. Results suggest that participants associated scarcity cues with a lack of benevolence from online vendors. E-commerce site design without scarcity cues provided participants with a superior hedonic and pragmatic user experience. In the case of limited-time scarcity cues, participants reported frustration-related negative emotions. We discuss the implications of these findings from the perspectives of dark pattern researchers, designers, and online vendors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhythm is essential in early music education. To acquire rhythm abilities, the synchronisation between body and rhythm patterns is fundamental. Extensive research has shown the link between the auditory-motor system and rhythm acquisition; however, other sensorimotor systems also improve rhythm skills. Rhythm acquisition can be trained using new technologies, such as video games; however, most of these use mainly auditory stimuli to improve it. Therefore, in this work, we explore tactile stimuli to improve rhythm skills using a video game and how visual elements affect rhythm perception using different stimuli. We evaluate and compare the synchronisation of 27 participants following either vibrotactile or auditory stimuli emitted through a rhythm video game in two difficulty levels and we evaluated the user experience. Consistent with the literature, our results indicate that participants synchronised slightly better using auditory than vibrotactile stimuli and players' performance was better when they had visual guides. A fatigue effect persisted and increased over playtime in both conditions. In the current study, usability measures indicate no significant differences. These findings suggest that vibrotactile stimuli are also suitable to train rhythm skills in a video game environment and the game-elements play an important role in players' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to test the effects of two message features (source and level of autonomy support) that are commonly found in short-form social media (e.g. TikTok) videos about Pap tests. The source is defined as who is communicating the message, and autonomy support refers to providing an individual with the independence, respect, and choice to make their own decision. In an online experiment, 636 females aged 21–29 viewed TikTok videos about Pap tests varying in source (doctor vs. peer) and level of autonomy support (either using controlling language to demand getting a Pap test or being supportive of one's choice of whether they receive a Pap test) and then responded to outcomes measures including perceived source credibility, perceived message effectiveness, attitude toward the message, attitude toward Pap tests, intention to engage with the videos, and intention to get a Pap test. Doctors were perceived as more credible than peers, and doctor videos were perceived to be more effective than peer videos. Autonomy support interacted with source, such that autonomy-supportive videos delivered by a doctor improved attitude toward the messaging and attitude toward Pap tests. Regardless of the source, autonomy-supportive videos increased intention to engage with the content on social media. As Pap test rates have recently declined among young women in the United States and viewing of Pap test-related videos has skyrocketed on the TikTok platform, short-form social media sites like TikTok may be an effective health communication tool for health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaching has a well-established history over the past two decades as a development tool and it can help entrepreneurs deal with the psychological challenges of building a venture. But there is a lack of understanding how coaching can support entrepreneurs on their journey. This study uses a coaching psychology framework to investigate the effectiveness of evidence-based (EB) coaching for entrepreneurs. The aim of this study was to understand how coaches can support cognition change, wellbeing, and accelerated performance improvement of entrepreneurs. The study used a within participant design, and data were collected using a pre and post coaching survey. The study involved n = 19 participants who were early-stage entrepreneurs. Pre and post surveys were assessed using paired sample t-tests. For cognitions, the results indicate higher levels in solution-focused thinking, hope sub-scales agency thinking and goal-orientation. No changes were found for sub-scales pathways thinking and self-efficacy. For Wellbeing, the findings show psychological wellbeing increased with sub-scales autonomy, self-acceptance, personal growth and purpose in life while relationship with others and environment mastery did not change. Negative emotions reduced while positive emotions did not change. For performance, the results show that participants progressed significantly towards attaining their coaching goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance (AR) rates in Vietnam are among the highest in Asia, and recent infections due to multi-drug resistance in the country have caused thousands of deaths each year. This study investigated a Vietnamese community's preferences for antibiotic treatment and its knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotics. A discrete choice experiment-based survey was developed and administered to the population of interest. The respondents were given sociodemographic-, knowledge- and attitude-related items and 17 pairs of choice tasks. Two hypothetical options were included in each choice task. Latent class analysis was conducted to determine the differences among the respondents' preferences. Among 1,014 respondents, 805 (79.4%) gave valid questionnaires. A three-latent-class model with four covariates (age, healthcare-related education or career, occupation, and attitude classifications) was used in the analysis. All five attributes significantly influenced the respondents' decisions. The majority, including young employed respondents with non-healthcare-related work or education, found treatment failure more important. Older respondents who had healthcare-related education/careers and/or appropriate antibiotic use- and antibiotics resistance-related attitudes, regarded contribution to antibiotic resistance as an important attribute in selecting antibiotic treatments. Unemployed individuals with correct knowledge identified the cost of antibiotic treatment as the most essential decision-making factor. Findings suggest minimal antibiotic impact on resistance; only 7.83% view it as amajor concern. The respondents exhibited substantial preference heterogeneity, and the general Vietnamese public had poor knowledge of and attitudes toward antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. This study emphasizes the need for individual responsibility for antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Computer-Mediated-Communication (CMC) gains prevalence in managerial practices, this study investigates the effect of managerial humor on employees’ perceptions of ability, motivation, and tendency to act. To date, the effect of humor on communication effectiveness remains unclear. Utilizing an experimental design with 923 participants, we compare humorous and non-humorous microcopy requests in CMC through a diff-in-diff regression analysis. Results show that non-humorous microcopy fosters higher motivation, action propensity, and perceived task execution ability compared to humorous microcopy. Perceived ability interacts with the other variables, yielding diverse contextual outcomes. This study reveals both the negative and positive effects of humor in CMC, providing insights for managers. The findings emphasize the importance of considering situational context and employees’ perceived task execution ability when choosing a persuasive approach in CMC requests, offering practical guidance for managers aiming to enhance communication with employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the correlation between the contribution rates of fusional convergence from the dominant and non-dominant eye and suppression depth and exotropia control. Study design: Cross-sectional prospective study. Methods: The fusional convergence of 25 participants with intermittent exotropia (mean age 10.8 ± 3.4; range 6–18 years) was measured with an eye-tracking system. The contribution rate was defined based on the amplitude of fusional convergence during refusion relative to the exo-deviation angle. The suppression depth was assessed, and exotropia control was evaluated using the intermittent exotropia Office Control Score. We analyzed the correlations between the contribution rate from the dominant and non-dominant eyes and the suppression depth or control score. Results: There was a negative correlation between the dominant eye's contribution rate and the suppression depth in both eyes (r = −0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.97 to − 0.20 in the fixated dominant eye and r = −0.91, 95%CI: −0.95 to − 0.40 in the fixated non-dominant eye). There was a negative correlation between the dominant eye's contribution rate and the control score at a 4-meter distance (r = −0.53, 95%CI: −0.76 to − 0.17). Conclusion: Suppression in intermittent exotropia patients could affect the fusional convergence in the dominant eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Couples' joint coping is important in managing the impact of breast cancer. However, measures assessing couples' communication as a way of coping are insufficient. This study aimed to generate a self-report valid and reliable measure of couples' coping with a particular focus on communication. Method: We used baseline data of 343 couple dyads who participated in a randomized clinical trial targeting marital communication. Women were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in the past eight months; couples were married or in an intimate relationship for at least six months, could read and write English, and lived within 100 miles of the study center. An expert panel selected items with conceptual fit from the Mutuality and Interpersonal Sensitivity Scale (MIS) that was originally designed to evaluate marital communication about breast cancer. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a 12-item measurement model with four factors: Keeping the communication open with each other about breast cancer (4 items), Sharing a positive outlook on breast cancer (2 items), Avoiding discussion of negative thoughts and feelings about breast cancer (3 items), and Spending sufficient time together talking about breast cancer (3 items). Reliability ranged from 0.76 to 0.87 for women and 0.70 to 0.83 for spouses. Conclusion: This new measure has potential application in clinical practice and future research to assess couple's joint coping efforts especially through communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Inspired by the resource-based view, this study focuses on two types of capabilities: dynamic (i.e. agility) and ordinary (sales capabilities). We aim to investigate whether SMEs that cultivate exceptional sales capabilities still need to enhance them through agility to maintain their sales growth and under what conditions. Design/methodology/approach: We use a descriptive research design and survey a sample of 235 SMEs from B2B industries in Croatia. We empirically test the conceptual framework with the SPSS Process macro. Findings: Our study results confirm that agility mediates sales capabilities' effect on sales growth. Furthermore, we find a significant positive moderating effect of sales orientation ambidexterity (retention coupled with the acquisition) on the indirect effect of sales capabilities on sales growth through agility. Originality: First, our study thus yields new insights on exploiting greater potential from sales capabilities through agile posture and making them at the forefront of SMEs' competitive advantage in turbulent transition markets. Second, through a moderated mediation framework, we provide actionable implications for managers by showcasing the situations in which the mediating role of agility contributes to sales growth, given the various levels of sales orientation ambidexterity. Finally, we contribute to the literature by focusing on two contextual issues: the transition country perspective and SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed and validated the Clinical Student Version of the Japanese Interprofessional Competency Self-Assessment Scale (C-JASSIC) for healthcare students in their clinical practice phase. Data obtained from 331 students (medical, 98; nursing, 99; pharmacy, 134) during orientation for interprofessional education (pre-IPE) and from 319 students (medical, 94; nursing, 93; pharmacy, 132) within a week following IPE (post-IPE) were analyzed. Exploratory pre-IPE and Confirmatory post-IPE factor analyses revealed a consistent 6-factor structure aligning with the Japanese Interprofessional Competency domains. The scale exhibited strong internal consistency, with Cronbach's α values exceeding 0.8 for all factors both pre- and post-IPE. Scores for overall competency and individual domains increased post-IPE in 234 matched cases. A notable significant pre vs post difference concerned "Understanding of Others," indicating enhanced interprofessional comprehension after clinical practice. There was a weak but significant positive correlation between IPE satisfaction and difference in pre- and post-IPE scores. However, no significant differences were observed among medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. Despite its strengths, such as its competency-based design and cultural relevance to Japan, a limitation of the study may be potential self-reporting bias. Nonetheless, C-JASSIC represents a valuable tool for seamless competency evaluations from student to professional stages, with implications for broader Asian contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of providing integrated care for older people. Taiwan is the fastest aging country in the world. In 2016, Taiwan implemented the Long-Term Care Plan 2.0 (TLTCP 2.0), aimed at providing integrated long-term care (LTC) services in communities. However, LTC service agencies have not been able to evaluate the level of integrated care they provide due to the lack of an effective assessment tool. To address this need, this study sets out to develop an integration assessment tool, namely the Self-Assessment for Service Integration in Long-Term Care (SASI-LTC), which will allow LTC agencies to self-evaluate their current level of integration from multiple perspectives. The SASI-LTC was developed based on Evashwick's framework, underwent two rounds of Delphi panels with twenty-six experts, and a pilot test with 243 valid questionnaires from administrators of Tier A agencies who are responsible for integrating LTC. The Delphi experts assessed the content with high levels of agreement using medians, the scale content validity index (SCVI) and item content validity index (ICVI). The SASI-LTC included four domains (inter-entity organization and management, integrated care coordination, integrated resources, and integrated information systems) with thirty items. The SASI-LTC showed good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.94) and good validity, and a confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit index [χ2/df = 1.38; RMSEA = 0.040; CFI = 0.963; SRMR = 0.049] in pilot testing. While the SASI-LTC is a useful and feasible tool for Taiwan's LTC service agencies to evaluate their level of integration in providing LTC services, it could also be used in other countries with minor adjustments to localization of items related to financial integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to optimize the homogeneous Fenton process used to remove phenol in a chemical industry located in Mauá (São Paulo, Brazil). Phenolic effluent exhibits significant variability in its chemical composition, which poses a great challenge in finding the optimal reagents ratio for conducting Fenton treatment. Often, there is a need for repetitions to treat the same batch, leading to increased reagent consumption and treatment time. Thus, to optimize the industrial process, the present work applied modern optimization techniques on real data, such as design of experiments (DoE) and artificial neural network (ANN). ANN was used to perform simulations in the company's process, thereby predicting the quantities of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and hydrogen peroxide. The following optimal conditions have been determined by DoE (phenol concentration ≤ 4 ppm): pH from 2.7 to 4 and temperature from 28 to 40 °C. Before the implementation of the optimized parameters, the efficiency for a single treatment was 45%. After, the efficiency was 82% and the company saved, on average, 51.6% of reagent costs. The main contribution of the present work is the development and industrial testing of data science methods that aims to optimize the industrial Fenton process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Butanol, primarily sourced from petroleum, is currently being considered as a viable alternative to gasoline. Various pathways for synthesizing 1-butanol from renewable raw materials have been explored, with a particular focus on the Guerbet reactions. This study aimed to investigate the synthesis of 1-butanol from ethanol using Mg/Al mixed oxides derived from layered double hydroxides with Mg/Al molar ratios of 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, and 10:1. The catalysts were analyzed through X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Catalytic reaction tests were performed according to a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) with three replicates at the central point (CP). Among the catalysts tested at CP, the mixed oxides with Mg/Al molar ratios of 3:1 and 5:1 exhibited the most promising results, displaying similar ethanol conversion, and 1-butanol selectivity. This similarity underscores their well-balanced combination of both acidic and basic sites. However, further assessment through a deactivation test revealed that the mixed oxides with Mg/Al molar ratio of 5:1 held the most potential for long-term 1-butanol synthesis from ethanol, thanks to its superior stability and sustained activity. Using this catalyst, other reaction tests were carried out following the CCRD, varying N2 feed flowrate, ethanol molar content in feed flowrate, and temperature. The results indicated that an increase in ethanol conversion directly correlated with higher temperatures, while the 1-butanol selectivity depended on both the N2 feed flowrate, ethanol molar content in feed flowrate, highlighting the importance of a well-balanced combination of both acidic and basic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central government has the primary responsibility for the protection of human rights. However, several factors such as decentralisation raise questions about the role of local authorities in this area. Our paper examines this issue through an interdisciplinary approach, combining international law and political sociology. Our focus lies on the case of France, the 'homeland' of human rights: do French local elected authorities always take human rights seriously? Our research design combines qualitative and quantitative methods. After providing a background of the international legal context, this paper will present the findings on human rights local perceptions and practices of elected representatives. Human rights' perceptions of these subnational political actors strongly depend on their educational qualifications and personal commitments. The same applies to the hierarchy that they draw between fundamental freedoms, social rights, and environmental rights. By contrast, local practices in favour of human rights vary most importantly according to the local authorities' status and demographic weight, rather than their political hue. When human and financial resources are scarce, the goodwill showcased by local elected representatives is not sufficient to foster the proper implementation of human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of dual-task training on balance and knee proprioception in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions in older adults with significant imbalance and high risk of falling. This pre-posttest experimental design included 83 older adults (43 males, 40 females), selected based on age criteria (65–75 years) and specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants underwent dual-task training consisting of 30-minute sessions, three times per week, for four weeks (totaling 12-sessions). Measures included Berg Balance Scale and knee proprioception deficit before and after dual-task training. The study showed statistically significant effect of dual-task training on balance (p < 0.001) and knee proprioception in both weight-bearing (p < 0.001) and non-weight-bearing (p < 0.001) in older adults. Pre-and post-measurements of independent variables between male and female older adults showed no significant difference. Dual-task training improves balance and knee proprioception in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions in older individuals, thereby enhancing stability and reducing the risk of falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R) is a well-established measure for measuring illness representations with sound psychometric properties. However, one limitation is that it provides a generic measure of illness representations and lacks specificity to individual health conditions, making it difficult to capture the nuances of illness beliefs for different populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop reliable and valid versions of the IPQ-R for young people with anxiety and depression to better understand how they perceive and cognitively represent the course, severity, impact, and treatability of their anxiety and depression. Methods: This mixed-methods study consisted of a qualitative study, involving semi-structured interviews (n = 26) followed by think-aloud interviews (n = 13), and a quantitative study (n = 349), resulting in the development of the IPQ-Anxiety (IPQ-A) and IPQ-Depression (IPQ-D). Item development is reported, along with the psychometric properties of the measures. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the IPQ-A and IPQ-D with the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (B-IPQ) across equivalent dimensions. Results: Results suggest that the IPQ-A, IPQ-D, B-IPQ-A and B-IPQ-D are valid and reliable tools for measuring mental illness representations. The measures show acceptable model fit, high factor loadings, and good to excellent internal consistency, test – retest reliability across subscales and concurrent validity with mental health measures. Conclusions: The development of these measures represents an important step in the field of youth mental health by providing the opportunity for reliable assessment of young people's conceptualisations of their anxiety and depression. Better understanding of young people's illness beliefs has the potential to open a range of intervention possibilities by prioritising illness perceptions over the supposed objective condition severity and trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the effects of board games on children in a range of cognitive areas, considering both inclusion (i.e. pre- and post-comparisons, playing style [board games], participants belonging to PreKinder and Kindergarten, and experimental approach) and exclusion criteria (i.e. video games). Nineteen articles were selected using both PsycInfo and PubMed as databases. All of them, except one study, focused on exploring the relationship between board games and mathematical knowledge and numerical skills. These studies show that in 52% of the analysed tasks, significant gains were found considering pre- and post-comparisons in math skills. When comparing intervention and control groups, significant differences appeared for 32% of the cases. Board games enhance mathematical abilities for children from 45.6 to 100.6 months since they help achieve statistically significant gains. Future studies should be designed to explore the effects that these games could have on other cognitive and developmental skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) allows patients to define their goals and preferences. Spending more time at home and less time in the hospital, along with avoiding death in the hospital, are often considered desirable outcomes of palliative care (PC). In 2015, 36% of cancer patients died in the hospital and 13% died at home in Norway. Method: From 2015 to 2022, this prospective controlled non-randomized intervention trial observed 144 cancer patients with or without an organized ACP conversation in primary health care and a summarizing palliative plan (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02170168, 23 June 2014). The patients were identified through contact with the local cancer outpatient clinic or hospital-based PC team. Results: A total of 128 patients died during the observation period. Of these, 67 patients had an organized ACP conversation and summarizing palliative plan (intervention (I) group) and 61 had not (control (C) group). Dying in the hospital was significantly less common for patients in the I group compared to the C group (17.9% vs. 34.4%; X2 (1, n = 128) = 4.55, p = 0.033). There were no differences between the groups in terms of where they spent their time in the last 90 days of life (home, nursing home, or hospital). Most patients (62%) preferred to die at home. The observed differences between the groups regarding preferred and actual places of death did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: With organized ACP conversations in primary health care and a summarizing palliative plan, cancer patients died less often in the hospital in our observational study. A structured ACP approach integrating palliative care for cancer patients into primary health care can support patients´ preferences at the end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated on aluminium alloy plates with two different experimental procedures using the dip coating method. Each procedure was optimised using the Taguchi design to evaluate the significance of factors such as SiC abrasive paper number, etching time, and chemical modification time. By determining three levels for these factors, the L9 orthogonal array was formed. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements determined the wettability of the surfaces against the water. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the general appearance and roughness of the surfaces. The coating thickness of the surfaces was also measured. For both experimental procedures, the most effective parameter in providing superhydrophobic coatings on the surfaces was determined as the etching time. SEM analyses demonstrated the roughness created by the clustered and protruding structures formed on the surface after the coating. The WCAs above 150° indicate that superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pediatric pulmonary hypertension is a rare condition. Survival remains poor in the current management era. There is a lack of data regarding the medical management of pediatric pulmonary hypertension and most pulmonary vasodilators are used off-label in children. Areas covered: Pediatric pulmonary hypertension clinical trials' design and realization face many hurdles, including poor recruitment, limited available pharmacologic and physiologic data in children of various ages, ethical issues, and the lack of validated trial endpoint. Innovative clinical trial designs have emerged and may allow us to overcome some of these issues. Extrapolation of adult data to children, with additional pharmacokinetic and safety data, remains extremely important and valid in etiologies where the pediatric and the adult pathophysiologies are believed to be similar. Expert opinion: Close collaboration between sponsors, regulators, patients, caregivers, physicians and researchers is necessary to develop efficacious and safe drugs for pediatric pulmonary hypertension. The increasing involvement of patients' and caregivers' participation in the development of clinical trials should help shape future research that is feasible and meaningful to the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy research in school gardening is lacking. Development of a psychometrically sound survey can fill this gap. Purpose: The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to develop and validate a Functional Health Literacy Survey for School Gardening (FHLS-SG), and 2) to determine the effect of health literacy on reciprocal determinism between the individual, environmental, and behavioral factors of school gardening. Methods: 651 children in grades K-4 took the FHLS-SG with 31 questions about gardening and health literacy aligned to social cognitive theory. Results: Cronbach's alpha for 6 factors ranging from 0.69 to 0.84, and test-retest reliability ranging from 0.59 to 0.81 were statistically significant. Health literacy showed a small mediation effect (M) between vegetable eating behavior and the individual (M = 0.27) and vegetable eating behavior and the garden environment (M = 0.22). Health literacy had the strongest mediation effect (M = 0.36) between the garden environment and the individual. Discussion: When classroom environment was used as a covariate, health literacy mediated all relationships between the individual, environmental, and behavioral factors with small to medium effects (p <.01). Translation to Health Education Practice: Reciprocal determinism between individual, behavioral, and environmental factors was supported. Health literacy mediated all relationships with small to medium effects. The FHLS-SG can assess the mediating effect of health literacy on vegetable eating behavior within school garden environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians are tasked with early fluid resuscitation for patients with sepsis. Traditional methods for prehospital fluid delivery are limited in speed and ease-of-use. We conducted a comparative effectiveness study of a novel rapid infusion device for prehospital fluid delivery in suspected sepsis patients. This pre-post observational study evaluated a hand-operated, rapid infusion device in a single large EMS system from July 2021-July 2022. Prior to device deployment, EMS clinicians completed didactic and simulation-based device training. Data were extracted from the EMS electronic health record. Eligible patients included adults with suspected sepsis treated by EMS with intravenous fluids. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients receiving goal fluid volume (at least 500 mL) prior to hospital arrival. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, disposition, and length of stay. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare outcomes between 6-month pre- and post-implementation periods (July-December 2021 and February-July 2022, respectively), adjusting for patient demographics, abnormal prehospital vital signs, and EMS transport interval. Of 1,180 eligible patients (552 in the pre-implementation period; 628 in the post-implementation period), the mean age was 72 years old, 45% were female, and 25% were minority race-ethnicity. Median (interquartile range) fluid volume (in mL) increased between the pre- and post-implementation periods (600 [400,1,000] and 850 [500–1,000], respectively). Goal fluid volume was achieved in 70% of pre-implementation patients and 82% of post-implementation patients. In adjusted analysis, post-implementation patients were significantly more likely to receive goal fluid volume than pre-implementation patients (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–2.66). Pre-post in-hospital mortality was not significantly different (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.59–1.39). In a single EMS system, sepsis education and introduction of a rapid infusion device was associated with achieving goal fluid volume for suspected sepsis. Further research is needed to assess the clinical effectiveness of infusion device implementation to improve sepsis patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exoskeleton robots are a promising solution to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in different work environments, but a specific usability scale for evaluating them is lacking. This study aimed to develop and verify a preliminary Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) for the lower limb exoskeletons by creating a draft survey questionnaire from existing questions in prior studies. An experiment was conducted with 20 participants who performed a specific task while wearing three lower limb robots and provided subjective feedback using the developed questionnaire. Data were analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), resulting in a usability evaluation questionnaire for exoskeleton robots clustered into four main factors: mobility, adjustability, handling and safety. This study's findings are expected to be useful in evaluating the usability of the lower limb exoskeletons in both general production sites and agricultural work, which can aid in reducing the prevalence of lower limb MSDs. Practitioner Summary: This study developed a preliminary subjective usability evaluation questionnaire for exoskeleton robots. The questionnaire is clustered into four main factors: mobility, adjustability, handling and safety. These findings provide a valuable tool for assessing exoskeleton usability, potentially reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in various work environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic, remote work and new technologies have heightened workplace pressures. Effective response and essential organizational changes require business leaders to be more adaptable, with managers' presence playing a pivotal role in successful implementation. The study assesses a brief mindfulness-based emotional regulation for managers (MBERM) intervention, to reduce workplace stress and enhance managerial well-being. Methods. An 8-week non-randomized controlled trial was conducted with a waiting list control group and an intervention group. Pre–post differences were measured by Student's t test or Wilcoxon test, and effect size calculated using the Hedge's g formula. The sample included 23 managers (17 men and six women) with average age 50 years. The study assessed anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychological flexibility, perceived self-efficacy, general work-related well-being, perceived stress and mindfulness. Results. Statistically significant changes were observed in the intervention group in depression, anxiety, work-related acceptance and action, general self-efficacy, exhaustion, alienation, stress and non-reactivity. The control group showed no statistically significant changes in any of the variables. Conclusion. The MBERM intervention could improve the emotional and work-related well-being of managers and reduce stress levels and burnout. Further study of this intervention is needed to promote adherence and ensure a long-term improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Currently, numerous studies have focused on testing or modeling to evaluate the safe service life of thermal protective clothing after thermal aging, reducing the risk to occupational personnel. However, testing will render the garment unsuitable for subsequent use and a series of input parameters for modeling are not readily available. In this study, a novel image recognition strategy was proposed to discriminate the mechanical strength of thermal protective fabric after thermal aging based on transfer learning. Methods. Data augmentation was used to overcome the shortcoming of insufficient training samples. Four pre-trained models were used to explore their performance in three sample classification modes. Results. The experimental results show that the VGG-19 model achieves the best performance in the three-classification mode (accuracy = 91%). The model was more accurate in identifying fabric samples in the early and late stages of strength decline. For fabric samples in the middle stage of strength decline, the three-classification mode was better than the four-classification and six-classification modes. Conclusions. The findings provide novel insights into the image-based mechanical strength evaluation of thermal protective fabrics after aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the effects of separate and concurrent exposure to occupational noise and hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) on auditory and cognitive attention. Methods. The experimental study was conducted with 40 construction workers who were exposed to noise (A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level of 90 dB) and to HTV (10 m/s2 at 31.5 Hz), and concurrent exposure to both for 30 min under simulated work with vibrating equipment used in construction. Cognitive performance aspects were then evaluated from each individual in two pre-exposure and post-exposure settings for each session. Results. The effect sizes of concurrent exposure (HTV + noise) and separate exposure to noise on auditory attention were very close (effect size = 0.648 and 0.626). The largest changes in the difference of response time in both types of attention (selective and divided attention) were related to the concurrent exposure scenario and then exposure to HTV, respectively. The highest effects for the correct response of selective and divided attention are related to concurrent exposure (HTV + noise) and then noise exposure, respectively. Conclusion. The HTV effect during concurrent exposure is hidden in auditory attention, and noise has the main effects. The divided attention was more affected than the selective attention in the different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a sexual development education programme designed for the mothers of primary school pupils in Türkiye. The programme’s impact on participants’ perceptions of sex education was evaluated using a 2 × 2 experimental design. Thirty participants, all mothers of primary school students, were assigned to either the experimental or control group. Data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, an Opinion Questionnaire on Sex Education, and the Sex Education Programme Knowledge Test (SEPKT). The experimental group participated in an 8-week Sexual Development Education Programme. Pre-test analysis revealed no significant differences between the experimental and control groups; however, post-test analysis indicated a significant improvement in SEPKT scores for the experimental group compared to the control group. Post-test results also showed that participating mothers held more positive views about sexual development education compared to their pre-programme perspectives. This research contributes to understanding the impact of targeted interventions in sex and sexuality education. The findings underscore the importance of providing comprehensive sex education programmes with targeted interventions for parents in Türkiye, which can positively influence their ability to communicate and provide appropriate education to their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBiomarker enrichment clinical trial designs are versatile tools to assess the treatment effect and increase the efficiency of clinical trials. In this paper, we propose a two-stage enrichment clinical trial design with survival outcomes, and consider the situation where the biomarker assay and classification are possibly subject to errors. Specifically, the first stage is a randomized design, stratified by the biomarker appeared status. Depending on the result of the interim analysis and a pre-specified futility criterion, the second stage can be either enriched with only the biomarker appeared positive patients, or remain as the stratified design with both biomarker appeared positive and biomarker appeared negative patients. Compared to continuous and binary outcomes, test statistics to account for biomarker misclassification are much more complicated and require special care. We develop log-rank statistics for the interim and final analyses, with an adjustment for the sensitivity and specificity of the biomarker assay. Control of Type I error rate is achieved by considering correlations between adjusted log-rank statistics from the same and/or different stages. R code is developed to calculate critical values, global/marginal power, and sample size. Our method is illustrated with examples of a recently successful development of immunotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDesign of Experiments (DoE) is a relevant class to undergraduate students in the sciences, because it teaches them how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments. In the literature on DoE, there are several contributions to its pedagogy, such as easy-to-use class experiments, virtual experiments, and software to construct experimental designs. However, there are virtually no systematic evaluations of the actual DoE pedagogy. To address this issue, we build the first database of DoE courses offered to undergraduate students in the United States. The database has records on courses offered from 2019 to 2022 at the best universities in the US News Best National Universities ranking of 2022. Specifically, it has data on 18 general and content-specific features of 206 courses. To study the DoE pedagogy, we analyze the database using descriptive statistics and text mining. Based on our analysis, we provide instructors with recommendations and teaching material to enhance their DoE courses. The database and material are included in the supplement of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]