Search

BackgroundHIV or sexually transmitted infections remain a significant public health concern in the United States, with adolescents affected disproportionately. Adolescents engage in HIV/STI risk behaviors, including drug use and condomless sex, which increase the risk for HIV/STIs. At-risk adolescents, many of whom are racial minorities, experience HIV/STI disparities. Although at-risk adolescents are disproportionately affected by HIV/STI risk behaviors and infections and although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine HIV/STI testing for adolescents, relatively few adolescents report having ever been tested for HIV/STI. With expected increases in health clinic visits as a result of the Affordable Care Act combined with technological advances, health clinics and mobile health (mHealth), including apps, provide innovative contexts and tools to engage at-risk adolescents in HIV/STI prevention programs. Yet, there is a dearth of efficacious mHealth interventions in health clinics to prevent and reduce both condomless sex and drug use and increase HIV/STI testing for at-risk adolescents.ObjectiveTo address this gap in knowledge, we developed a theory-driven, culturally congruent mHealth intervention (hereon referred to as S4E [Storytelling 4 Empowerment]) that has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability in a clinical setting. The next step is to examine the preliminary efficacy of S4E on adolescent HIV/STI testing and risk behaviors. This goal will be accomplished by 2 aims: the first aim is to develop a cross-platform and universal version of S4E. The cross-platform and universal version of S4E will be compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems and multiple mobile devices, aimed at providing adolescents with ongoing access to the intervention once they leave the clinic, and the second aim is to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of S4E, relative to usual care control condition, in preventing or reducing drug use and condomless sex and increasing HIV/STI testing in a clinical sample of at-risk adolescents aged 14-21 years living in Southeast Michigan.MethodsIn this study, 100 adolescents recruited from a youth-centered community health clinic will be randomized via blocked randomization with random sequences of block sizes to one of the 2 conditions: S4E mHealth intervention or usual care. Theory-driven and culturally congruent, S4E is an mHealth adaptation of face-to-face storytelling for empowerment, which is registered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.ResultsThis paper describes the protocol of our study. The recruitment began on May 1, 2018. This study was registered on December 11, 2017, in ClinicalTrials.gov. All participants have been recruited. Data analysis will be complete by the end of March 2024, with study findings available by December 2024.ConclusionsThis study has the potential to improve public health by preventing HIV/STI and substance use disorders.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03368456; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03368456.International registered report identifier (irrid)DERR1-10.2196/47216.

ABSTRACT Background Aim Methods Results Conclusions Radiant skin is a common patient request and the result of multiple contributing factors. Currently, there is no standardized methodological approach that facilitates assessment of skin quality from a holistic perspective.To develop a holistic methodological process to assess skin quality using a scale that helps identify treatment priorities, facilitates conversation with the subject, and helps manage expectations, supports long‐term treatment plans, and tracks treatment progress over time.Ten global experts (dermatologists and esthetic physicians) identified the main measurable aspects that contribute to skin quality, and these were combined to form the Skin Quality Assessment Scale (SQS). The scale comprises four overarching skin quality domains containing nine measurable aspects: texture (pores, lines, scars); discoloration (redness, pigmentation, dullness); firmness (laxity); and hydro‐lipid balance (oiliness, dryness). Each aspect is graded on a 4‐point severity scale (0 = none to 3 = severe). The SQS was validated by a large group of practicing clinicians.Practicing clinicians (> 40, 78% dermatologists) were surveyed; prior to reviewing the scale, 67% did not use any scale but 81% believed a holistic SQS was needed. After reviewing the scale, 100% agreed the scale provides a holistic assessment of skin quality. In addition, 95% agreed the scale helps assess all key aspects of skin quality with subjects and 98% deemed it valuable for their clinic.The SQS represents a holistic assessment tool that engages with and manages subjects' expectations, identifies treatment priorities, creates a long‐term treatment plan, and visualizes the skin quality improvement over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaemia among pregnant women remains a public health concern globally. One major cause of this persistent problem is iron deficiency, which may be the result of limited iron intake in the diet. Using the extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (eTPB), this study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing psychosocial and environmental factors that could influence the consumption of iron‐rich foods (IRFs) among Senegalese pregnant women. A three‐step procedure was used. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 10 pregnant women each from a different region to identify salient beliefs related to each of the four constructs of the eTPB using a structured guide. Information from FGDs was used to develop a questionnaire, which was administered to the first group (n = 200) of pregnant women. Principal component analyses and exploratory factorial analyses were performed on the first set of data to identify latent factors for each construct namely the attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. A revised and shorter version of the questionnaire was administered to a second sample of pregnant women (n = 226) and confirmatory factorial analyses were conducted using this second set of data. Hancock and Muller's H reliability index was computed on the final model. The final questionnaire included 44 items. Most criteria for fit indices were met and H values were satisfactory. This study proposes a tool that could be used to explore determinants of the consumption of IRF among pregnant women. Further validation is still warranted in other contexts. Key messages: Limited iron intake from the diet is one of the major causes of iron deficiency anaemia among pregnant women, which may have deleterious impacts on the mother and her baby.Getting a better knowledge of factors that may restrict the consumption of iron‐rich foods (IRF) could help tailor contextually adapted nutrition programmes for women. Yet, to do so, a validated tool to adequately assess factors that influence the consumption of IRF is essential.This study offers a tool that could be used to investigate factors underlying the consumption of IRF among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is common practice to replace lost or damaged teeth with implants to restore dental crown problems. A dental implant, usually composed of titanium, is surgically inserted into the mandible to function as a tooth root. To replicate the look and feel of a real tooth, a crown is affixed to the implant once it has been firmly incorporated into the bone. Many crown flaws, including those brought on by wear, trauma, or decay, can be fixed during the restoration procedure. Durability, stability, and the preservation of neighbouring teeth and bone structure are just a few benefits of dental implants. Since implants don't depend on nearby teeth for support like bridges do, there is a lower chance of further damage. Procedure-wise, the therapy is usually administered in phases. The implant merges with the bone (osseointegration) during the healing phase that follows implantation. A specially manufactured crown is positioned on top of the implant after it is secure. The success of restorations has increased because to technological advancements like digital imaging and 3D printing, which have increased the accuracy of crown design and implant placement. Implant restoration of crown deficiencies is a long-term option that boosts overall dental function, improves aesthetics, and supports oral health. In the article, a detailed study was conducted in the mentioned context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research endeavor, the predictive model of tool wear in rotary tool micro-ultrasonic machining (RTMUSM) process using artificial intelligence has been reported for the first time. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) approaches are adopted for modeling of total volumetric wear (TVW) in RTMUSM process. The models were developed after conducting the exhaustive experimentation. Six RTMUSM input process parameters (i.e. abrasive size, rotation speed, depth of channel, slurry concentration, feed rate, and power rating) were selected as input data with TVW of tool as output data. The developed model has been validated through experimental results. Further, statistical analysis by calculating variance account for (VAF), coefficient of correlation (R -value), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE) was carried out to estimate the potential of the models. The results obtained by statistical analysis proclaimed that the performance of ANFIS model (R -value = 0.9966, MAPE = 1.26%, RMSE = 1.11%, and VAF = 99.94) was superior as compared to ANN model and it can be used to measure the TVW of tool in RTMUSM. Furthermore, genetic algorithm based optimization was performed and required wear compensation of tool is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately one-third of adults over the age of 65 experience falls annually, with half resulting in injury. Peak bodies have recommended the use of fall-risk screening tools in the emergency department (ED) to identify patients requiring in-depth assessment and potential fall-prevention intervention. This study aimed to examine the scope of published studies on fall-risk screening tools used in the ED and evidence of associations between screening and future falls. Summary: PubMed, Embase and CINAHL were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles published since 2012 that examined one or more screening tools to identify patient-level fall risk. Eligible studies described fall-risk tools applied in the ED. Data extracted included sample information, variables measured, and statistical analysis. Sixteen studies published since 2012 were included after full-text review. Fourteen unique screening tools were found. Eight tools were fall-risk screening tools, one tool was a functional screening tool, one tool was a frailty-screening tool, two tools were rapid physical tests, one tool was a trauma triage tool, and one tool was a component of a health-related quality-of-life measure. Studies that evaluated prognostic performance (n = 11) generally reported sensitivity higher than specificity. Previous falls (n = 10) and high-risk medications (n = 6) were consistently associated with future falls. Augmentation with additional variables from the electronic medical record (EMR) improved screening tool prognostic performance in one study. Key Messages: Current evidence on the association between the use of fall-risk screening tools in the ED for future falls consistently identifies previous falls and high-risk medications as associated with future falls. Comparison between tools is difficult due to different evaluation methods and different covariates measured. Augmentation of fall-risk screening using the EMR in the ED requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Involving parents in mental health treatment services can empower parents to manage their child's illness. We conducted this study to develop a tool to assess parental care for children with mental illness. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in five phases that included in-depth interviews with parents in the outpatient department (OPD), focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents in an in-patient setting, and with a multidisciplinary team, item development, and the assessment of psychometric properties of the tool. Results: Parental care for children with mental illness (PCCMI) has 50 items derived from a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews of 31 parents and 2 FGDs with eight parents admitted at CPC and eight mental health professionals experienced in child and adolescent psychiatry. It is a 5-point Likert scale. The tool showed a high item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI range: 0.8--1.0) and a high Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI = 0.91). The test--retest method was used to calculate reliability. A total of 38 parents were included in the test--retest method. The mother and father's mean age and standard deviation (SD) scores were 39.7 ± 5.8 and 45.1 ± 4.9, respectively. Most parents' education level is above graduation (mothers: 86.8% and fathers: 86%). Around 63% of mothers were housewives and had normal pregnancies. The single measure two-way mixed absolute agreement intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value for 38 subjects was 0.96 with a 95% confidence interval (CI: 0.90--0.95), indicating high reliability. Conclusion: PCCMI has high I-CVI and S-CVI and good ICC test--retest reliability. This tool will help mental health professionals in the formal assessment of parental care for children with mental illness and provide the intervention to address issues related to the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth of colour, especially from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, are at higher risk for experiencing mental and physical health challenges due to poverty and racism; however, they are less likely to seek and engage in formal mental health services and medical care due to stigma, time constraints, financial burdens, and cultural mistrust for the medical field more broadly. This commentary will describe how participation in sport for youth of colour from low SES backgrounds has benefits that extend across the Eight Dimensions of Wellness Model, illustrating the power of sport as a tool for prevention and support. The authors conclude with a call to action to mobilize government officials, healthcare providers, educators and coaches to encourage sport participation as a tool to improve individual wellness for today's youth of colour and uplift communities. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child observation is a critical component of quality pedagogy in early childhood education and care (ECEC). The ORICL (Observe, Reflect, Improve Children’s Learning) tool was co-designed by ECEC researchers, policymakers, leaders, and practitioners to support this work. Educators rate the experiences of individual children, and responses of educators and peers on 118 items across five domains. In this study of the utility of ORICL, the tool was used by 21 educators across 12 ECEC services for a total of 66 children. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to determine how educators used the full range of the ORICL rating scale, and the psychometric properties of the tool were explored. Findings suggest that the ORICL items can be readily observed and rated by educators for children aged under 3 years, the rating scale is appropriate, and there is early evidence to support the domain structure of the tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stop the Bleed® is an emergency response course that offers a certificate of completion but no ending assessment. The purpose of this educational study was to develop and test the Response Readiness Tool (RRT) that measures learning of participants after taking Stop the Bleed®. The study used a pre‐/post‐test design to measure knowledge and attitudes, and a post‐test only for skills. Participants were recruited from existing Stop the Bleed® courses. Knowledge was measured with a 10‐item questionnaire, attitude was measured with five Likert‐style questions, and skills were measured by observing simulated tourniquet placement. Ninety‐five participants were recruited over two semesters. There was a significant difference in the knowledge and attitude scores indicating participants' improvement in learning and attitude toward responding. Internal consistency reliability of scores showed moderate reliability with Cronbach's Alpha of 0.73 and McDonald's Omega of 0.75. A positive correlation was found between expected proficiency and pre‐test indicating the tool had construct validity. RRT provides Stop the Bleed® instructors with an instrument to measure knowledge, skills, and attitude of participants after taking Stop the Bleed®. Statistics show moderate reliability and validity; however, larger samples are needed for full psychometric testing. This publication presents the revised tool after the completion of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to identify teaching and learning practices in practical classes of Computer Network Technology courses, which promote the use of the Physical Laboratory (PL) as an epistemic tool to improve learning in epistemic terms. Content analysis of Multimodal Narrations (MN) of three classes by two teachers were used. An MN aggregates and organizes the data collected in the PL environment. Based on the results, we infer that the student and the teacher, under certain conditions, use the physical laboratory as an epistemic tool since the physical interactions prove its use and reuse. In addition, this study allows, in the context of work in the physical laboratory of networks, to identify that the orchestrations of mediation patterns adopted by the teacher influence the students' epistemic practices and the use of the laboratory as a tool to produce new knowledge. The following contributions are presented: (1) The quality of the students' epistemic practices is increased if, in the teacher's dynamics of mediation, the control of the students' action is reduced; (2) The orchestration of the teacher's mediation patterns is essential to achieve beneficial results in student learning with the use of artifacts from the physical laboratory of Computer Networks; (3) For the physical laboratory to become an epistemic tool, it is necessary that the mediation standards allow students to develop epistemic practices to a high or very high degree and there is a certain mediation orchestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste management has a potential to increase circularity by reduction of virgin material extraction and use of secondary materials. A scenario analysis tool was developed to assess whether circular economy goals are attainable with the existing infrastructure and technologies by calculating sorting and recycling rates using waste amount and composition estimations. Three scenarios, Current Road (business as usual), Circular Road (improved sorting) and Frugal Road (waste reduction), were developed and implemented. Sorting rates targets for food waste are achieved in all scenarios. For plastic, sorting rate targets are achieved only for Circular and Frugal, while European Union recycling targets are not reached in any, showing the important role of recycling efficiency. Policy makers can use the scenario development approach of this study to evaluate if circular economy goals are attainable with the current system and assess the impact of key factors such as waste generation and sorting behavior. The scenario analysis tool can be utilized to simulate the effects of different measures in the waste amounts and composition, which is crucial for the planning of the future management system. Further, sorting and recycling rates provide quantitative information about the circularity gap and qualitative information on bottlenecks and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haemodialysis units are now managing an increasing number of patients with varying needs and levels of acuity. To maintain safety, haemodialysis patients must be placed in the most appropriate dialysis unit that has the required human and physical resources to care for them. The first step towards achieving these goals is to develop a tool specific to haemodialysis units to effectively measure patient acuity. Objective: To develop a haemodialysis acuity tool, utilising a focus group approach, in assessing patient's suitability for a specific dialysis location thus ensuring patient safety. Design: This is a cross‐sectional qualitative study via a focus group approach. Participants: Participants were nurse unit managers and team leaders of a District Renal Service. Approach: Participants were interviewed to explore their views on the elements and measures identified in the research aims. Themes for interviews were informed by current literature on acuity tools for haemodialysis patients' admission to the dialysis units. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and progressively analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Ten nurse unit managers/team leaders (100%) were interviewed and thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted utilising the deductive approach. Five themes were identified which will form the main categories in the development of the tool, namely: Age/frailty; co‐morbidity; physical; dialysis; and psychosocial. Conclusion: This study is instrumental in the development of the haemodialysis acuity tool which can be used in allocating dialysis location specific to patient's needs and available resources. The tool can also be used in analysing patient care processes and resource requirements based on the patients' and unit's profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the website BilingualViewer.com; it discusses the technologies used to build it and the engineering challenges that were encountered. BilingualViewer.Com is an open and free application that uses web technologies to create Bilingual versions of articles and books. The website can be saved onto the homepage of a smartphone and used like an App (for reading and converting newspaper articles on the fly), in addition to being opened on a computer's browser to process intensive tasks such as whole book translations. The website will henceforth be referred to as the app. Bilingual text refers here to a piece of writing where sentences in two different languages are presented sequentially, one sentence in the language to be learned followed by the user's primary language. Bilingual texts are particularly useful for students who rely heavily on dictionaries when reading books and newspaper articles.The app helps to create bilingual texts from almost any electronic content. A key feature from a copyright point of view is that the content is generated and stored locally on the device (unless added to an online library). Where a subscription is required to access newspaper content, the app generates a bilingual text article and stores it locally, so that the restricted content does not leave the device (i.e., it does not appear in any cloud server other than Google or Apple translation servers). There is a large features list including switching on and off languages, getting the device to read out loud, saving a list of items on the device along with the currently read position, sending content to an eBook, merging articles and more. A library of pre-translated books is provided in the app with the option of augmenting this with the user’s own on-line content. The app is available at https://www.bilingualviewer.com/ Documentation on the app can be found at hhtps://bv-fc.netlify.app/about/

Background: Involving parents in mental health treatment services can empower parents to manage their child’s illness. We conducted this study to develop a tool to assess parental care for children with mental illness. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in five phases that included in-depth interviews with parents in the outpatient department (OPD), focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents in an in-patient setting, and with a multidisciplinary team, item development, and the assessment of psychometric properties of the tool. Results: Parental care for children with mental illness (PCCMI) has 50 items derived from a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews of 31 parents and 2 FGDs with eight parents admitted at CPC and eight mental health professionals experienced in child and adolescent psychiatry. It is a 5-point Likert scale. The tool showed a high item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI range: 0.8–1.0) and a high Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI = 0.91). The test–retest method was used to calculate reliability. A total of 38 parents were included in the test–retest method. The mother and father’s mean age and standard deviation (SD) scores were 39.7 ± 5.8 and 45.1 ± 4.9, respectively. Most parents’ education level is above graduation (mothers: 86.8% and fathers: 86%). Around 63% of mothers were housewives and had normal pregnancies. The single measure two-way mixed absolute agreement intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value for 38 subjects was 0.96 with a 95% confidence interval (CI: 0.90–0.95), indicating high reliability. Conclusion: PCCMI has high I-CVI and S-CVI and good ICC test–retest reliability. This tool will help mental health professionals in the formal assessment of parental care for children with mental illness and provide the intervention to address issues related to the same.

Survey research is a very essential part of conducting the survey in which we compile, construct, and disseminate the questionnaire so that we get desired result. Here we also think about how to place the questions in the appropriate place and the selection of questions so that we get a maximum response on which lays the success of our survey. The study will give an insight to the readers to critically evaluate the questionnaire after it is constructed and follow the different steps involved in validation. Preparing the structure of the instrument is exciting, but at the same time, it is also a crucial step as this can also affect the internal and external validity and the data analysis. Sometimes we design the instrument, or translate it in different language or use the existing ones. The instrument for research may be available in public domain if not then we design the instrument and then apply statistical test like validity and reliability to check the same. In this article, we also propose the need for stepwise planning for validation and pretesting beforehand to reduce the potential challenges related to response rate, instrumentation process, and data analysis. For better data quality, we must ensure that it is appropriate, representative, accurate, and does not vary in different situations.

A tool to help Italian dairy farmers choosing the most suitable replacement strategy has been developed. The approach aimed to identify yearly female replacement needs based on herd performance level and combination of different semen type (conventional, sex-sorted, and beef semen), with the ultimate goal of enhancing farm profit. A case study based on a 350-cow Holstein herd was used and three levels of herd fertility (high, medium, and low) were simulated to define the yearly number of dairy female replacements needed and the number of females yielded under different semen utilisation scenario. The number of annual dairy replacements was obtained as the number of cows multiplied by the replacement rate and adjusted by the age at first calving. Number of animals yielded was used to evaluate the replacement cost per 100 L of milk. Then, four strategies of sexed semen utilisation were combined with five strategies of beef semen use. Animals that were not inseminated with sexed or beef semen were bred with conventional semen. Regardless of fertility level, the number of dairy female replacement heifers that the farm needs are 110. Increasing beef semen use allows farmer to yield less replacement heifers. Furthermore, as beef semen use increases and the number of replacement heifers decreases, replacement cost per 100 L of milk reduces. Therefore, our results highlighted that replacement costs increase with increasing number of yielded heifers. Hence, combining beef and sexed semen to reach heifer balance close to zero, decreased the replacement cost.

Hollow cylindrical components of longer length are a crucial necessity in industries catering to products like gun barrels, cylinder liners of ship and locomotive engines, pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, etc. A highly finished inner surface improves resistance to corrosion, wear, and friction. Conventional magnetorheological (MR) finishing techniques typically use axis-based CNC setups, which are limited in their ability to finish longer components (>30 cm) due to the Z-axis tool restriction. In this work, a novel MR finishing method has been designed and developed that is based on the pneumatic cylinder and has extremely high reach for the length of the hollow cylindrical workpiece thereby successfully mitigating the limitation of conventional CNC-based MR finishing techniques. Using mild steel as the material, the new technique achieved a significant reduction in surface roughness, with a minimum average roughness of 0.059 µm after 150 minutes of finishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Preventing pathogens from entering the broiler premises is the main biosecurity measure at farm level. In conventional broiler production, chickens are kept indoors during the entire production period. Pathogens can enter the broiler-producing unit from sources such as water, equipment, personnel, insects, and rodents. The possible routes must be controlled, and corrective measures applied when necessary. The objective of this study was to (1) develop a hygiene protocol and test the scheme on 30 farms, and (2) compare the results to their Campylobacter-colonised status. A Hygiene Performance Rating protocol at farm level (HPR-F) was developed to systematically review the production to identify risk areas to biosecurity. The HPR-F consists of 13 categories with related questions. For each question, a score was given from 1 to 3, where 1 meant “acceptable”, 2 was “potential for improvements”, and 3 was “not acceptable”. Scores for each question were multiplied with weight factors for hygienic impact and economic consequences describing whether the necessary improvement depends on a significant investment or is a cheap quick-fix and calculated into a percentage where 100% is perfect hygiene. The 30 farms in the study were selected from one county in Norway. The Campylobacter-results for each of the 30 farms in 2019–2021 were given according to rules in the Norwegian Action Plan against Campylobacter faecal sampling on-farm 3–6 days prior to slaughter. Results The overall results from the HPR-F showed that the general hygiene level was high in all farms. The mean total hygiene score was 82% and varied from 70 to 92%. The category Handling dead chicken had the highest hygiene score (93%), and Ventilation had the lowest score (55%). The HPR-F results were compared to the Campylobacter-status for the 30 farms: Campylobacter-negative flocks had slightly higher total scores than Campylobacter-positive flocks (P = 0.19). Among others, the category Outdoor area (vegetation close to the premises’ walls) was identified as the most stable factor in relation to be colonised with Campylobacter. Conclusions The HPR-F tested in this research trial provides a tool for veterinarians, advisors, and poultry farmers to improve biosecurity at farm level and enhance the preventive animal health initiatives.

Background: The death of growth and development screening tools in developing countries has grave implications for child health outcomes. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a novel screening tool in a rural Nigerian community. Method: Speech and language, Motor, Appearance and Temperament (SMAT) parameters of under- fives were queried using a novel tool, the SMAT Score. The effectiveness of the tool was assessed in three phases. In the first two phases the tool was administered to 210 under- fives (Subjects) independently. Those screened as having anomalies are classified as NOT SMAT while those screened otherwise as SMAT. In the third phase all NOT SMAT subjects and a number of randomly selected SMAT subjects were clinically evaluated. Outcomes of SMAT Score administration and clinical evaluation were subjeced to psychometric assessments. Results: There were 210 subjects with age range of 0.5 to 4.9 years (mea 2.3 ± 1.3 years) studied. Outof these 34 (16.2%) were screened as NOT SMAT. All the 90 (51.1%) randomly selected SMAT subjects as against 1 (2.9%) of the NOT SMAT subjects were clinically evaluated as normal. Inter rater and test – retest agreement rate in SMAT Score administrators was 100%. SMAT Score sensitivity and negative predictive value was 100% respectively in all age groups. The specificity was 98.9% overall and 96.3% among infants. Higher SMAT Score positive predictive value (97.1%) was observed with the entire study population as against 87.5% among infants. Conclusion: SMAT Score effectively identified subjects with growth and developmental disorders. Its use has potential for improving health systems and consequently child health outcomes in developing countries.

Background: Preventing pathogens from entering the broiler premises is the main biosecurity measure at farm level. In conventional broiler production, chickens are kept indoors during the entire production period. Pathogens can enter the broiler-producing unit from sources such as water, equipment, personnel, insects, and rodents. The possible routes must be controlled, and corrective measures applied when necessary. The objective of this study was to (1) develop a hygiene protocol and test the scheme on 30 farms, and (2) compare the results to their Campylobacter-colonised status. A Hygiene Performance Rating protocol at farm level (HPR-F) was developed to systematically review the production to identify risk areas to biosecurity. The HPR-F consists of 13 categories with related questions. For each question, a score was given from 1 to 3, where 1 meant "acceptable", 2 was "potential for improvements", and 3 was "not acceptable". Scores for each question were multiplied with weight factors for hygienic impact and economic consequences describing whether the necessary improvement depends on a significant investment or is a cheap quick-fix and calculated into a percentage where 100% is perfect hygiene. The 30 farms in the study were selected from one county in Norway. The Campylobacter-results for each of the 30 farms in 2019–2021 were given according to rules in the Norwegian Action Plan against Campylobacter faecal sampling on-farm 3–6 days prior to slaughter. Results: The overall results from the HPR-F showed that the general hygiene level was high in all farms. The mean total hygiene score was 82% and varied from 70 to 92%. The category Handling dead chicken had the highest hygiene score (93%), and Ventilation had the lowest score (55%). The HPR-F results were compared to the Campylobacter-status for the 30 farms: Campylobacter-negative flocks had slightly higher total scores than Campylobacter-positive flocks (P = 0.19). Among others, the category Outdoor area (vegetation close to the premises' walls) was identified as the most stable factor in relation to be colonised with Campylobacter. Conclusions: The HPR-F tested in this research trial provides a tool for veterinarians, advisors, and poultry farmers to improve biosecurity at farm level and enhance the preventive animal health initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainties on the intensive care unit (ICU) regarding the eligibility of a patient to be a potential deceased organ donor may prevent their referral and enrolment in the pathway for organ donation. Healthcare staff may exclude potential donors for medical reasons, which are no longer applicable. Hence, Swisstransplant implemented a digital donor evaluation tool (DET) in 2021, which allows the local hospital's organ donation coordinator to send a direct request tomedical advisors (MA) of the organ procurement organization before excluding potential donors. All 156 requests entered in 2022 were analyzed. 117 patients (75.0%) were primarily accepted by the MA as potential donors. Of those 60 patients (51.3%) became actual organ donors. Main reasons for using the DET were questions regarding malignancies (n = 33, 21.2%), infectious diseases (n = 35, 22.4%) and age/co-morbidities (n = 34, 21.8%). The average age of the actual "DET donor" compared to the regularly enrolled, actual "Non-DET donor" was 65.3 ± 15.8 vs. 56.8 ± 17.5 years, respectively (p = 0.008). On average 1.9 ± 1.1 organs compared to 3.2 ± 1.3 organs were retrieved from DET vs. Non-DET donors. In summary, this new digital donor evaluation tool supports reporting and facilitates eligibility decisions in uncertain, complex donor cases, potentially increasing the number of organ donations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the response capabilities, in a public healthcare system otolaryngology job competition examination, of ChatGPT 3.5 and an internet-connected GPT-4 engine (Microsoft Copilot) with the real scores of otolaryngology specialists as the control group. In September 2023, 135 questions divided into theoretical and practical parts were input into ChatGPT 3.5 and an internet-connected GPT-4. The accuracy of AI responses was compared with the official results from otolaryngologists who took the exam, and statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 14.2. Copilot (GPT-4) outperformed ChatGPT 3.5. Copilot achieved a score of 88.5 points, while ChatGPT scored 60 points. Both AIs had discrepancies in their incorrect answers. Despite ChatGPT's proficiency, Copilot displayed superior performance, ranking as the second-best score among the 108 otolaryngologists who took the exam, while ChatGPT was placed 83rd. A chat powered by GPT-4 with internet access (Copilot) demonstrates superior performance in responding to multiple-choice medical questions compared to ChatGPT 3.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental data regarding the modeling of shaving and rolling of cylindrical gears are considered. In the experiments, a cylindrical workpiece divided into sections is turned by means of a special hybrid cutting and deforming tool (a chisel). Analysis of the data permits modeling of tooth cutting for a relatively large batch of gears in laboratory conditions. The basic parameters of the tool's mechanical action on the workpiece in cutting—the microhardness, the chip removed, and the shrinkage—are determined. Their relationship with tool wear is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers combined methods of restoration and hardening of massive metalworking and tillage tools, which involve both induction hardening or surfacing and plasma surface treatment. The methods increase not only the hardness and wear resistance of the tool material, but also its toughness and crack resistance, which is not achieved by traditional methods of surface hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and machine learning (ML) has pioneered a transformation across several fields. Equipping electrical engineering students to remain abreast of the dynamic technological landscape is vital. This underscores the necessity for an educational tool that can be integrated into electrical engineering curricula to offer a practical way of learning the concepts and the integration of IoT, big data, and ML. Thus, this paper offers the IoT-Edu-ML-Stream open-source platform, a graphical user interface (GUI)-based emulation software tool to help electrical engineering students design and emulate IoT-based use cases with big data analytics. The tool supports the emulation or the actual connectivity of a large number of IoT devices. The emulated devices can generate realistic correlated IoT data and stream it via the message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol to a big data platform. The tool allows students to design ML models with different algorithms for their chosen use cases and train them for decision-making based on the streamed data. Moreover, the paper proposes learning outcomes to be targeted when integrating the tool into an electrical engineering curriculum. The tool is evaluated using a comprehensive survey. The survey results show that the students gained significant knowledge about IoT concepts after using the tool, even though many of them already had prior knowledge of IoT. The results also indicate that the tool noticeably improved the students' practical skills in designing real-world use cases and helped them understand fundamental machine learning analytics with an intuitive user interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inconel 657, also known as 50Cr-50Ni, is a high-temp, corrosion-resistant Ni-Cr alloy with excellent fuel-ash corrosion resistance against sulfur and vanadium. To make components from Inconel 657, it undergoes casting and machining for dimensional accuracy and surface finish. This study explores the effect of cutting speed on tool wear in turning Inconel 657, focusing on carbide and CBN tools. Higher cutting speeds led to increased flank wear for both tools. Carbide tool wear rose by 16% and 25% at 60 and 120 m/min compared to 30 m/min. CBN tool wear increased by 15%, 29%, and 66% at 120, 250, and 400 m/min compared to 60 m/min. CBN inserts showed 39% less wear than the carbide tool at 60 m/min and 35% less at 120 m/min. Therefore, the carbide tool suits low-speed turning, while the CBN tool is ideal for high-speed machining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofinishing of blind-hole cavities is important to produce high quality products without any surface irregularities. The commonly used methods such as grinding or honing are not efficient because of the uncontrolled forces and direct contact of the solid abrasive tool with the workpiece. Magnetorheological (MR) polishing process using smart fluid has proved its effectiveness in achieving the nano-finished surface. The existing tool design uses two different operations for nano-scale finishing of a blind-hole cavity, resulting into a higher production cost. In this present work, a novel tool that can vary its dimensions during finishing operation was developed for enhancing the surface finishing of blind-hole cavities. Distribution of magnetic fields within the entire tool and blind-hole cavity surface was found appropriate and also revealed that the tool surface has maximum magnetic field for stiffening the MR polishing fluid over its surface. After 90 minutes of finishing, it was concluded that the roughness (Ra) change on the blind-hole cavity were reduced by 75.12% (on inner vertical) and 74.21% (on inner bottom). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, based on the principles of bionics, we fabricated a bionic non-smooth concave pit structure on the shoulders of friction stir welding tools and detected the thermal cycling curve, downforce, and torque of the tool in the welding process. We tested the wear loss weight and analyzed the surface morphology of the shoulder surfaces after welding for 200 m. This study found that as the distance between the concave pits decreased and the number of concave pits increased, the maximum downforce, torque, and temperature in the welding process showed a decreasing trend. As the speed increased, no matter how the tool structure changed, the downforce and torque decreased, while the peak thermal cycle temperature increased. The experimental welding results show that the wear loss weight of the non-smooth structure tool significantly reduced. The lowest wear loss weight of the tool with a concave pit interval of 1.125 mm was only 0.1529 g, which is 27% lower than that of the conventional tool. Our observations of the surface morphology of the tool shoulder after welding showed that the amount of aluminum swarf on the tool shoulder of the welding tool gradually declined with the increasing density of the uneven pits. The lowest number of aluminum chips adhered to a welding tool with a pit distance of 1.125 mm. Therefore, friction stir welding tools with biomimetic structures have better wear resistance and adhesion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What other locations are like my neighborhood? How? Why? The heart of many spatial analyses is in finding similarities or dissimilarities between locations. Discovering patterns and interpreting similarity is a complicated process that is based on both the spatial characteristics and the semantics or meaning that we assign to place. Human conceptualization of similarity in locations is multi-faceted and cannot be captured with a simple assessment of single numeric attributes like population density or median income; however, these quantifiable attributes are the basis for an initial pass of sense-making. MixMap facilitates the incorporation of similarity measures and spatial analytics to provide an information reduction (or semantic generalization) that brings the user closer to actionable insights. Through a preliminary evaluation of MixMap, we found that the tool supports the geospatial inquiry of determining similarity between regions, where participants can manipulate individual weights of the various attributes describing these locations. Based on feedback and observations from the study, we discuss potential implications and considerations for exploring the role of context and additional place-specific parameters for computing similarity, as well as understanding the nuances of semantics for place similarity in geospatial analysis tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textual formats to structure data, such as JSON, XML, and YAML, are widely used for structuring data in various domains, from configuration files to research data. However, manually editing data in these formats can be complex and time-consuming. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) can significantly reduce manual efforts and assist the user in editing the files, but developing a file-format-specific GUI requires substantial development and maintenance efforts. To address this challenge, we introduce MetaConfigurator: an open-source web application that generates its GUI depending on a given schema. Our approach differs from other schema-to-UI approaches in three key ways: 1) It offers a unified view that combines the benefits of both GUIs and text editors, 2) it enables schema editing within the same tool, and 3) it supports advanced schema features, including conditions and constraints. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of MetaConfigurator, backed by insights from a small-scale qualitative user study. The results indicate the effectiveness of our approach in retrieving information from data and schemas and in editing them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Healthcare providers' (HCPs) readiness to respond to intimate partner violence (IPV) is crucial for early detection and management of patients experiencing IPV. This systematic review aims to identify currently available tools for assessing HCPs' readiness to respond to IPV, evaluate their measurement properties, and summarize the quality of evidence to facilitate the selection of appropriate instrument. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception to October 2022, supplemented by hand searching and gray literature searches. Two authors independently screened studies based on predefined criteria and completed data extraction. The Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was used for methodological quality assessment. Results: Of 34 studies included in this review, nine measurement tools were identified for the evaluation of measurement properties and overall quality ratings. Internal consistency (31 studies), content validity (29 studies), and structural validity (21 studies) were the most reported psychometric properties. The Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS) tool is the most widely used instrument for assessing HCPs' readiness to respond to IPV, with moderate to high evidence for sound psychometric quality. Conclusions: The identified tools vary in psychometric properties depending on the assessment's context, target population, and study setting. The PREMIS is the most cross-culturally adapted instrument across various countries and is promising for assessing HCPs' readiness to respond to IPV. However, further psychometric evaluation prior to utilization in different healthcare populations and settings is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The machining nickel – iron base alloy is still a challenging process for the past few decades due to their indigenous properties. The nickel – iron alloys are hard and high strength material possess higher mechanical properties. The selection of cutting tool and the process parameters is another tough task to fix in the machining studies. In this paper, tungsten carbide cutting tool is used to machine the alloy by varying the cutting velocity (50,100 and 150 m/min), feedrate (0.075,0.1,0.125 mm/rev) and depth of cut (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mm). From the analysis the tool wear and machining time are calculated. It has been noticed that the slow speed machining can produce less wear and high-speed machining may consume less time for the process. In addition, from the statistical analysis the feedrate has major contribution with flank wear and cutting velocity has major contribution for time. Considering the tool wear as major problem a single objective function is derived to optimise the process condition using Adam – Gene Algorithm. Based on the optimization suggestions and recommendations are made for the proposed design of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Objectives Methods Results and Conclusions This research aimed at investigating the effectiveness of online digital audio software Logic Pro X and offline audio studios in creating an original folk‐style track. The goal was to define the more effective method for the perspective and quality of musical compositions that students create during learning.This research enrolled 207 students from Hubei Polytechnic University, who were randomised to the control and experimental groups.Within one month, each participant created a folk song using software or an offline university studio, where sound editing and processing programmes were not employed. The author's questionnaire Scale of perspective and expert evaluation were used as metric methods.The data obtained showed that both methods do not differ both in terms of perspective and in terms of the overall quality of the created tracks (p ≥ 0.05). As quality criteria, the experts considered such scales as pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, tone quality and expression, articulation, dynamics, interpretation, phrasing, creativity, arrangement, and overall performance. This research showed that online digital audio software can be an effective tool in music education, just like offline studios, in terms of skill development and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is dedicated to the main issues related to the results of an experimental study aimed at modeling the process of shaving–rolling of cylindrical gears rolling while turning with a special combined cutting–deforming tool—the cutter of a cylindrical workpiece divided into working sections. Significant attention is paid to the analysis of the experimental results, which makes it possible to simulate in laboratory conditions the process of machining a large batch of gears. Basic precision parameters for processing workpiece sections have been determined, and the limits of the beginning of the tool's technological wear have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: There is a paucity of validated risk stratification tools to assess which patients can safely and predictably undergo outpatient total hip (THA) or knee arthroplasty (TKA) in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Methods: Our novel patient selection tool was prospectively applied to 190 consecutive primary THA and TKA performed by a single surgeon at a single ASC. We identified the proportion of patients discharged home the same day, those requiring a one-night stay, or those with failed discharge within 23 hours. A retrospective chart review was performed to determine if any demographic parameters were risk factors for an overnight stay. Results: Overall, 190 (100%) patients selected for outpatient THA and TKA were discharged home within 23 hours. One hundred and four patients (55%) were discharged the same day of surgery, whereas 86 (45%) required overnight stay and were discharged on postoperative day 1. Female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-8.2, P < .001), THA (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.5, P = .022), and heavier body mass index (OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.0-1.2, P = .022) were identified as independent risk factors for staying overnight in the ASC. Conclusions: In this pilot study, we found that 100% of outpatient THA and TKA-eligible patients were able to be discharged home by postoperative day 1. Additionally, we found that this selection tool is safe and effective at predicting short-stay discharge in an ASC.

No model exists to train the handling skills required for successful performance of rigid rhinoscopy in veterinary patients. The complex anatomy of the nasal cavity, the limited space between turbinates, and the propensity of the mucosa to bleed with slight trauma make thorough examination of a nasal cavity difficult. The goal of this study was development and initial testing of a low fidelity canine rigid rhinoscopy training model for veterinary novices. A model comprising three tubes of various lumen diameters that were connected to a conduction system was created. Each tube contained three colored stars and a number that were to be described by trainees. The model both counted contacts and audibly beeped if pressure was applied by the rhinoscope to the sides of the tube. Board-certified veterinary internists (experts) and veterinary students (novices) performed two timed simulation exercises during a single session. Participants completed a questionnaire before and after the simulations to assess model utility. There were no statistically significant differences in contacts or time to completion between novices and experts. Novices provided feedback that the model improved their ability to control the rhinoscope, helped them learn to perform rigid rhinoscopy, was enjoyable, and was appropriately challenging. Expert feedback included that the model was a potentially useful pedagogic tool for training rigid rhinoscopy, including hand control and indirect hand-eye coordination, and was appropriately challenging. We conclude that this rhinoscopy model has potential to be an effective teaching tool for novice rhinoscopists. With minor modifications, the model could provide additional challenges.

In diesem Beitrag wird die Webanwendung ClusterLabor (verfügbar unter ddi.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de) vorgestellt. ClusterLabor ermöglicht eine interaktive Visualisierung und Analyse von Clusteralgorithmen in zweidimensionalen Datensätzen. Damit können verschiedene Algorithmen hinsichtlich ihrer Ergebnisse in Abhängigkeit von der gewünschten Anzahl an Clustern verglichen werden. Anwender können aus verschiedenen Beispieldatensätzen wählen, eigene Datensätze hochladen oder Datensätze direkt durch manuelle Eingabe generieren. Zum Clustern stehen verschiedene Methoden zur Verfügung: der k-Means-Algorithmus mit Varianten wie Lloyd oder MacQueen, der k-Medoids-Algorithmus sowie hierarchische Clusteranalyse mit unterschiedlichen Distanzmaßen und Fusionierungsalgorithmen. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dabei auf dem Unsupervised Learning, einem Bereich der Künstlichen Intelligenz (KI), bei dem Algorithmen Muster und Strukturen in unbeschrifteten Daten selbstständig erkennen. Zur Bestimmung der "optimalen" Clusterzahl k sind zudem Visualisierungen des Elbow Plots (Ellenbogendiagramms), des Average Silhouette Plots (ASW-Kurve) sowie des Dendrogramms integriert.

Background: Participation in physical activity among adolescents with autism is often conditional. However, there is a lack of methods for identifying these specific conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and investigate the feasibility of a Q-sort tool to map individual-specific conditions for participation in physical activity among adolescents with autism and to identify different viewpoints regarding conditions for such participation. Method: An exploratory mixed-methods design was employed to investigate the feasibility of using Q methodology and the Q-sort procedure to identify what individual-specific conditions are important for participation in physical activity for adolescents with autism. Results: The adolescents ranked the statements with varying levels of ease. Two viewpoints were identified: Autonomous participation without surprises and Enjoyment of activity in a safe social context. Conclusion: Q-sort is a feasible method for mapping conditions for participation, which can guide the development of tailored physical activity interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]