Search

Nowadays, the role of factors such as the virtual world, social networks, and online games and their impacts on learners` lives under no circumstances cannot be overlooked and are starting to show their usefulness in second/foreign language learning and testing through creative methods of teaching, learning, and testing (Qiao et al., 2022). Today's learners who have been grown up via Internet facilities almost never experienced a globe without the internet, Children between the ages of five and eight are most likely to learn how to use computers (Dede, 2005; Oblinger & Oblinger, 2005). The use of digital gaming in conjunction with instructional material may aid language learners in comprehending linguistic information. Clandestine assessment games have been found to be excellent learning aids in which learning activities are inserted covertly, enable deep understanding, and results can be measured based on the intended skill without the students being aware of it. In the English classrooms of the Safir language institution, this qualitative case study investigated an instructor`s perspectives to determine to what extent teaching and learning are affected by such assessment games. This study uncovered trends in how and why Iranian EFL learners' linguistic knowledge growth might be guided and supported by covert assessment games.

Abstract Introduction Community-driven research in primary healthcare (PHC) may reduce the chronic disease burden in Indigenous peoples. This systematic review assessed the cultural safety of reports of research on PHC use by Indigenous peoples from four countries with similar colonial histories. Methods Medline, CINAHL and Embase were all systematically searched from 1st January 2002 to 4th April 2023. Papers were included if they were original studies, published in English and included data (quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods) on primary healthcare use for chronic disease (chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes mellitus) by Indigenous Peoples from Western colonial countries. Study screening and data extraction were undertaken independently by two authors, at least one of whom was Indigenous. The baseline characteristics of the papers were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Aspects of cultural safety of the research papers were assessed using two quality appraisal tools: the CONSIDER tool and the CREATE tool (subset analysis). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool. Results We identified 35 papers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Most papers were quantitative (n = 21) and included data on 42,438 people. Cultural safety across the included papers varied significantly with gaps in adequate reporting of research partnerships, provision of clear collective consent from participants and Indigenous research governance throughout the research process, particularly in dissemination. The majority of the papers (94%, 33/35) stated that research aims emerged from communities or empirical evidence. We also found that 71.4% (25/35) of papers reported of using strengths-based approaches by considering the impacts of colonization on reduced primary healthcare access. Conclusion Research on Indigenous PHC use should adopt more culturally safe ways of providing care and producing research outputs which are relevant to community needs by privileging Indigenous voices throughout the research process including dissemination. Indigenous stakeholders should participate more formally and explicitly throughout the process to guide research practices, inclusive of Indigenous values and community needs.

Abstract Until recently, the main pharmaceuticals used to control cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) were statin-related drugs, known for their historical side effects. Therefore, there is growing interest in exploring alternatives, such as nutritional and dietary components, that could play a central role in CVD prevention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how natural phytosterols found in various diets combat CVDs. We begin with a description of the overall approach, then we explore in detail the different direct and indirect mechanisms that contribute to reducing cardiovascular incidents. Phytosterols, including stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, ergosterol, and fucosterol, emerge as promising molecules within nutritional systems for protection against CVDs due to their beneficial effects at different levels through direct or indirect cellular, subcellular, and molecular mechanisms. Specifically, the mentioned phytosterols exhibit the ability to diminish the generation of various radicals, including hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide. They also promote the activation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, while inhibiting lipid peroxidation through the activation of Nrf2 and Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathways. Additionally, they demonstrate a significant inhibitory capacity in the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus playing a crucial role in regulating the inflammatory/immune response by inhibiting the expression of proteins involved in cellular signaling pathways such as JAK3/STAT3 and NF-κB. Moreover, phytosterols play a key role in reducing cholesterol absorption and improving the lipid profile. These compounds can be used as dietary supplements or included in specific diets to aid control cholesterol levels, particularly in individuals suffering from hypercholesterolemia. Graphical Abstract

Studies found that smartphone addiction is relevant to the personality of smartphone users, especially the extroverts and introverts. However, the findings of the associations between extroverts/introverts and smartphone addiction are not consistent, and it is suggested that the inconsistency results can be relevant to the types of smartphone use. Accordingly, this study adopts the use and gratification theory as a framework to examine the relationships among extroverts/introverts, smartphone addiction, and the types of smartphone use, and the mediating effect of the types of smartphone use in the relationships between extroverts/introverts and smartphone addiction. Three hundred eighteen undergraduates were recruited to fill in a questionnaire using the purposive sampling method. Results show that both introverts and extroverts are associated with smartphone addiction. However, introverts are more likely to use smartphones for process usage but extroverts for social usage. In addition, process usage but not social usage is positively associated with smartphone addiction. Moreover, only process usage is the statistical mediator for the effects of introverts on smartphone addiction. The findings indicate that intervention programs can be developed to provide more alternative activities to reduce the dependence on smartphones among introverts to gratify their process needs.

Objectives The Antecedents of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Children and Young Adults (“ARDAC”) study is the largest data linkage study on the kidney health of First Nations Peoples internationally. Using this data linkage this study aimed to describe the kidney health of ARDAC study participants (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) aged under 25 years old. Methods Administrative data from hospital and community healthcare utilisation, pharmaceutical claims, and biomedical measurements were used to create a hybrid case definition for CKD. Using this definition, descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to describe sociodemographic characteristics of ARDAC participants with CKD. A ‘strengths-based’ regression analysis was also undertaken to challenge past ways of reporting kidney health outcomes and improve equity among young Aboriginal peoples. Results From the 3758 participants enrolled at baseline, approximately 1.5% of young people developed CKD between 2002 to 2019 (follow-up: 2-4 years). The current median age of the cohort is 26.7 years. The majority of those with CKD were identified through biomedical and pharmaceutical data combined, followed by community healthcare claims, and hospitalizations. Findings from the regression analysis will provide insight into the socioeconomic factors that lead to CKD in young people and will be the focus of this presentation. Conclusions/Implications Our findings report for the first time the socioeconomic drivers of kidney health equity for young Aboriginal peoples. Understanding these drivers provides opportunities to work in partnership with communities to develop culturally safe health promotion.

The widespread adoption of plastics has led to substantial production and waste generation, raising environmental concerns. Chemical recycling offers a promising solution to enhance recycling rates, with microwave heating emerging as an attractive technology for polymer breakdown. This paper investigates the dielectric properties of various polymers and their temperature dependencies, providing insight into the effectiveness of microwave heating. Results indicate that while polymers may show low dielectric loss at room temperature, those with polar segments exhibit increasing loss at high temperatures, indicating that additional susceptors may not always necessary for effective microwave heating. Three key transitions are identified with respect to their significant impact on the dielectric properties of polymers at elevated temperatures: the glass transition temperature, the decomposition temperature, and the point where the dispersion/displacement peak exceeds the measurement frequency. Additionally, this paper introduces a new approach for utilising microwave heating for the selective, multistage recycling of mixed plastics.

Grasslands represent a key element of agroecosystems for sustainable food systems. A better understanding of the grazing behaviour of domestic herbivores is essential to support innovations for grassland management and define grazing practices that support rather than enter into conflict with biodiversity. A key component of the grazing process is the grass-severing bite by which the herbivore collects forage from a pasture. How often, where, and when such bites are performed are relevant indicators of the grazing behaviour of cattle and could be used as indicators to guide farmers in pasture management. In this work, we developed a methodology to create a Machine Learning (ML) model for identifying grass-severing bite events from the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) signals of a sensor placed on the neck of cows. The two-phase process consisted of classifying every period of behaviour of cattle into two mutually exclusive behaviours: “ingestion” and “other” (phase 1), and then counting the number of bites taken during each period classified as “ingestion” (phase 2). Seven dry red-pied Holstein cattle and two Blonde d'Aquitaine x Belgian White and Blue cross-breds were observed. A total of 39 h and 25 min of video were recorded and tagged for the different behaviours to train several ML algorithms. During phase 1, four different window segmentations and two different splits of the data were used to train and test four ML classification algorithms: Bagged Tree, Medium k-NN, Fine tree and linear SVM. The results show that Bagged Tree algorithms with 30 s windows and 90 % overlap gave the best results during the first phase, with an accuracy of 97.83 % for split 1 and 98.07 % for split 2. During phase 2, the same four window segmentations as for phase 1 were used, to test regression algorithms to quantify the number of bites taken during each time-window. Two machine learning algorithms were tested: Bagged Tree and Medium NN, on 5 sessions of 30 min. The sessions ranged between 0 % and 94 % of ingestion time. Phase 2 results showed that Bagged Tree regression algorithms with 10 s windows and 90 % overlap performed the best, with an average RMSE of 1.83 for the tested value and an error percentage of -1.93 % and 0 % for the session with 94 % or 0 % of ingestion time, and between +15.06 % and +26.97 % of error for sessions where the animal alternates frequently between both behaviours. The data and code used in this study are openly available on a public depository

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in children is a rare clinical condition, with idiopathic AAAs even more atypical. We report a case of a 19-month-old girl with incidental findings of an infrarenal AAA and right common iliac artery aneurysm during workup for heart failure. Extensive genetic testing was unremarkable for connective tissue disorders. An aortic bi-iliac artery bypass with a Dacron graft from the infrarenal aorta to the right external iliac artery and left common iliac artery was performed. The patient achieved complete recovery and only required one oral hypertensive medication at 30 days of follow-up. Wide patency of the graft was observed on the 3-month follow-up computed tomography angiogram.

Abstract Background Investigations on plant-pathogen interactions require quantitative, accurate, and rapid phenotyping of crop diseases. However, visual assessment of disease symptoms is preferred over available numerical tools due to transferability challenges. These assessments are laborious, time-consuming, require expertise, and are rater dependent. More recently, deep learning has produced interesting results for evaluating plant diseases. Nevertheless, it has yet to be used to quantify the severity of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by Zymoseptoria tritici—a frequently occurring and damaging disease on wheat crops. Results We developed an image analysis script in Python, called SeptoSympto. This script uses deep learning models based on the U-Net and YOLO architectures to quantify necrosis and pycnidia on detached, flattened and scanned leaves of wheat seedlings. Datasets of different sizes (containing 50, 100, 200, and 300 leaves) were annotated to train Convolutional Neural Networks models. Five different datasets were tested to develop a robust tool for the accurate analysis of STB symptoms and facilitate its transferability. The results show that (i) the amount of annotated data does not influence the performances of models, (ii) the outputs of SeptoSympto are highly correlated with those of the experts, with a similar magnitude to the correlations between experts, and (iii) the accuracy of SeptoSympto allows precise and rapid quantification of necrosis and pycnidia on both durum and bread wheat leaves inoculated with different strains of the pathogen, scanned with different scanners and grown under different conditions. Conclusions SeptoSympto takes the same amount of time as a visual assessment to evaluate STB symptoms. However, unlike visual assessments, it allows for data to be stored and evaluated by experts and non-experts in a more accurate and unbiased manner. The methods used in SeptoSympto make it a transferable, highly accurate, computationally inexpensive, easy-to-use, and adaptable tool. This study demonstrates the potential of using deep learning to assess complex plant disease symptoms such as STB.

The excessive use of social media is prevalent among undergraduates. Dark triad personality is one of the significant predictors of social media addiction, but inconsistent findings were reported. This study adopted the personality-coping-outcome theory as a framework to examine whether coping strategies mediate the effects of dark triad personality on social media addiction. The purposive sampling method was used to recruit 219 undergraduates for a survey. The results showed that only narcissism is associated with social media addiction, and only avoidance coping strategy mediated the effects of pathology on social media addiction. It is suggested a complete theory is required to explain the relationships between dark triad personality and social media addiction, and a coping scale to be developed to cover the coping strategies that fit dark triad personality.

Studies show that social networking sites (SNS) are convenient for older adults to bond with friends and family without traveling and provide new opportunities for communication that can help older adults to avoid loneliness and social isolation. However, the numbers of SNS usage among older adults are fewer in less developed nations, which can be because only a small number of older adults know how to use SNS, and difficulties such as fears and insecurities while trying to use SNS. To increase the number of older adults using SNS in Malaysia, this study explored the experiences that could affect the intention to learn SNS in older adults in using SNS. Phenomenology approaches using semi-structured one-to-one interviews were used to explore the factors that could affect the intention to learn SNS among older Malaysian adults. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the intention to learn SNS of twelve older adults aged 60 to 73, residing in different regions of Malaysia. Thematic analysis was used to identify the themes and interpret the data after the data saturation was reached. The themes that emerged from the data were the 'perceived usefulness,' 'unrealistic dependency,' and 'ignorant.' The results of this study can be used to come up with policies and strategies to encourage the learning of SNS among older adults. Program developers and trainers can also use the results of this study to develop modules that are more suited for older adults.

Objective Patients with type 2 diabetes require patient-centred care as guided by the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Many diabetes patients in Singapore are managed by the Primary Care Networks (PCNs) which organised healthcare professionals (HCPs) comprising general practitioners, nurses and care coordinators into teams to provide diabetes care. Little is known about how the PCNs deliver care to people with type 2 diabetes. This study evaluated the consistency of diabetes care delivery in the PCNs with the CCM.Design This was a mixed-method study. The Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC version 3.5) survey was self-administered by the HCPs in the quantitative study (ACIC scores range 0–11, the latter indicating care delivery most consistent with CCM). Descriptive statistics were obtained, and linear mixed-effects regression model was used to test for association between independent variables and ACIC total scores. The qualitative study comprised semi-structured focus group discussions and used thematic analysis.Setting The study was conducted on virtual platforms involving the PCNs.Participants 179 HCPs for quantitative study and 65 HCPs for qualitative study.Results Integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative results found that there was support for diabetes care consistent with the CCM in the PCNs. The mean ACIC total score was 5.62 (SD 1.93). The mean element scores ranged from 6.69 (SD 2.18) (Health System Organisation) to 4.91 (SD 2.37) (Community Linkages). The qualitative themes described how the PCNs provided much needed diabetes services, their characteristics such as continuity of care, patient-centred care; collaborating with community partners, financial aspects of care, enablers for and challenges in performing care, and areas for enhancement.Conclusion This mixed-methods study informs that diabetes care delivery in the Singapore PCNs is consistent with the CCM. Future research should consider using independent observers in the quantitative study and collecting objective data such as patient outcomes.

Nanocellulose (CNF) has emerged as a promising alternative to synthetic petroleum-based polymers, but the conventional preparation process involves multiple tedious steps, heavily dependent on chemical input, and proves cost-inefficient. This study presented an, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction using deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on choline chloride and oxalic acid for more facile production of CNF from raw durian husk fibers. FESEM analysis confirmed the successful extraction of web-like nanofibril structure with width size ranging from 18 to 26 nm. Chemical composition analysis and FTIR revealed the selective removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the raw fiber. As compared to post-ultrasound treatment, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction consistently outperforms, yielding a higher CNF yield with finer fiber width and significantly reduced lignin content. Integrating this eco-friendly in situ ultrasonication-assisted one-pot extraction method with a 7.5 min interval yielded the highest CNF yield of 58.22 % with minimal lignin content. The superior delignification ability achieved through the proposed in situ ultrasound-assisted protocol surpasses the individual efficacy of DES and ultrasonication processes, neither of which yielded CNF in our experimental setup. This single-step fabrication process significantly reduces chemical usage and streamlines the production steps yielding web-structured CNF that is ideal for sustainable application in membrane and separator.

In recent years, deep venous stenting has increasingly become a treatment strategy for post-thrombotic syndrome. Stent thrombosis can occur, resulting in symptom recurrence despite medical therapy, and there are few options available for durable stent patency restoration. We present a case of a 50-year-old male with prior iliocaval reconstruction that experienced recurrent left lower extremity swelling secondary to occlusion of left external iliac and common iliac vein stents during follow-up. Mechanical thrombectomy with the RevCore System and angioplasty was performed. One month later, the patient demonstrated widely patent bilateral iliac vein stents and complete symptomatic resolution. The RevCore System is a feasible alternative for treatment of chronic in-stent thrombosis.

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains an important chronic condition worldwide requiring integrated patient-centred care as advocated by the Chronic Care Model (CCM). The Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Singapore organise general practitioners (GPs) with nurses and care coordinators to deliver team-based care for patients with chronic conditions. This study examined the quality of care in the PCNs as defined by the CCM from the patients’ perspective. Methods This study followed a cross-sectional convergent mixed-method design with T2D patients across three PCN types (GP-led, Group, and Cluster). The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC, range 1-5) was completed by a convenience sample of 343 patients. Multivariate linear regression was performed to estimate the associations between patient and service characteristics and PACIC summary score. Twenty-four participants were purposively recruited for interviews on the experienced care until thematic saturation was reached. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently and independently. Integration occurred during study design and data analysis using the CCM as guidance. Quantitative and qualitative results were compared side-by-side in a joint comparison table to develop key concepts supported by themes, subthemes, and patients’ quotes. Results The PACIC mean summary score of 3.21 for 343 patients evidenced that some have received CCM consistent care in the PCNs. Being younger and spending more time with the GP were associated with higher PACIC summary scores. PACIC summary scores did not differ across PCN types. The 24 patients interviewed in the qualitative study reported receiving team-based care, nurse services, good continuity of care, as well as patient-centred care, convenient access, and affordable care. Key concepts showed that integrated care consistent with the CCM was sometimes received by patients in the PCNs. Patient activation, delivery system design/decision support, goal setting/tailoring, and problem-solving/contextual counselling were sometimes received by patients, while follow-up/coordination was generally not received. Conclusions Patients with T2D from the Singapore Primary Care Networks received integrated care consistent with the Chronic Care Model, particularly in patient activation, delivery system design/decision support, goal setting/tailoring, and problem-solving/contextual counselling. Follow-up/coordination needed improvement to ensure higher quality of diabetes care.

In Asian societies, the quality of life among senior citizens depends on the support they receive from their younger generation. Accordingly, this study adopted the 'value-attitude-behavior hierarchy' in examining the impacts of Chinese traditional cultural values on the attitudes and behaviors of Malaysian Chinese adolescents towards senior citizens. 482 Malaysian Chinese adolescents were recruited for participation in a purposive sampling and surveys. Participants were asked to fill three scales: Chinese values survey, Kogan’s attitudes towards older people, and interaction with older people. The results implied that traditional cultural values significantly impact the attitudes of these Chinese adolescents toward senior citizens. Besides, the attitudes toward older people are associated with interaction with older people. In addition, the findings also showed that attitudes toward senior citizens are statistical mediators of the cultural values impact on adolescents' interaction with senior citizens. The results supported applying the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy to better understand the influence of cultural values on the attitudes and behaviors toward senior citizens. Besides, the results also indicate that perseverance in particular cultural values will help the younger generation to improve the intergenerational relationships, especially among the younger generation whose values have been changing to individualistic ideas.

Abstract. The Sabbath is a topic that continues to receive attention in Christianity. However, it also becomes a continuing source of debate its practical application. The Sabbath often turns to mere escapism, which is, having time for oneself. Therefore, through an exegetical-expositional method—a thorough analysis of the structure of the Epistle to Hebrews 4—this research presents the biblical basis for entering the Sabbath. The structural analysis in this study showed that the entire letter to Hebrews 4 is an inseparable series. Hebrews 4:1-11 shows that the Sabbath is God's promise that is still progressively valid. Verse 12-13 emphasizes the role of God's word as the basis for entering the resting place, and verse 14-16 suggests the significance of the High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is the intermediary for entering the resting place. With these three biblical foundations, the Sabbath is no longer an escapism but a momentum to entering God’s own rest. Abstrak. Sabat merupakan topik yang terus mendapat perhatian di dalam Kekristenan. Namun, Sabat juga terus menjadi sumber perdebatan pada penerapan praktisnya. Seringkali Sabat juga hanya menjadi sekadar eskapisme, yakni waktu bagi diri sendiri. Karena itu, melalui metode eksegetikal-eksposisional – analisis menyeluruh pada struktur Surat Ibrani 4 – penelitian ini hendak menyajikan landasan biblis untuk memasuki Sabat. Analisis struktur dalam penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa keseluruhan surat Ibrani 4 merupakan rangkaian yang tak terpisahkan. Ibrani 4:1-11 menunjukkan bahwa Sabat sebagai hari perhentian merupakan janji Allah yang masih berlaku secara progresif. Sementara Ibrani 4:12-13 menekankan peran firman Allah sebagai landasan untuk memasuki tempat perhentian, dan Ibrani 4:14-16 mengemukakan mengenai peran Imam Besar yaitu Yesus Kristus yang menjadi pengantara untuk memasuki tempat perhentian. Dengan ketiga landasan biblis ini, maka Sabat tidak lagi sekadar menjadi eskapisme, tetapi menjadi momentum untuk memasuki perhentian Allah sendiri.

Background: While frontotemporal involvement is increasingly recognized in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the degeneration of limbic networks remains poorly characterized, despite growing evidence of amnestic deficits, impaired emotional processing and deficits in social cognition. Methods: A prospective neuroimaging study was conducted with 204 individuals with ALS and 111 healthy controls. Patients were stratified for hexanucleotide expansion status in C9orf72. A deep-learning-based segmentation approach was implemented to segment the nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, fornix, mammillary body, basal forebrain and septal nuclei. The cortical, subcortical and white matter components of the Papez circuit were also systematically evaluated. Results: Hexanucleotide repeat expansion carriers exhibited bilateral amygdala, hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens atrophy, and C9orf72 negative patients showed bilateral basal forebrain volume reductions compared to controls. Both patient groups showed left rostral anterior cingulate atrophy, left entorhinal cortex thinning and cingulum and fornix alterations, irrespective of the genotype. Fornix, cingulum, posterior cingulate, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hypothalamus degeneration was more marked in C9orf72-positive ALS patients. Conclusions: Our results highlighted that mesial temporal and parasagittal subcortical degeneration is not unique to C9orf72 carriers. Our radiological findings were consistent with neuropsychological observations and highlighted the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological testing in ALS, irrespective of the underlying genotype.

The high attrition rate among Malaysian tertiary students have drawn the attention of educators and policy makers, and poor academic adjustment is regarded as one of the factors. Therefore, it is important to find out factors that are relevant to their poor academic adjustment so that intervention programs can be designed to improve their adjustment. Social media addiction and the grit personality have found to be significant factors that affect academic performance. However, it is not clear how the three variables interact with each other. Accordingly, this study adopts the essentialist and contextual perspectives to examine the relationships among these three variables, especially whether grit is a mediator or moderate for the relationship. 210 undergraduates were recruited by using the purposive sampling method and were asked to fill in a questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyze the data. The results showed that social media addiction is negatively associated with grit personality and academic adjustment, and grit is positively associated with academic adjustment. In addition, grit is a statistical mediator rather than a statistical moderator for the effect of social media addiction on academic lifestyle. The findings support the contextual perspective on personality that grit personality is a state that can be changed by certain social context. The findings reveal the importance of providing a positive social context for tertiary students who are undergoing a transition period, so that their grit personality can be developed and thus enhance their academic adjustment.