Advanced Program Research Articles

Leaders' Perspectives on Resources for Academic Success: Defining Clinical Effort, Academic Time, and Faculty Support.

For academic promotion, clinical faculty are expected to excel in clinical care, teaching, and scholarship. Ensuring adequate protected time and resources to engage in scholarly work in the face of competing clinical responsibilities is critical. The authors examined academic leaders' perspectives across affiliate hospitals of a large medical school regarding the definition of clinical full-time effort and academic time, best practices to enable academic success, and barriers to faculty advancement. Open-ended, semistructured, individual interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of clinical department and division heads. Interview data were examined to illuminate the range and commonalities in practices and to identify successful approaches. Interviews were conducted with 17 academic leaders across 6 affiliate hospitals. There was considerable variability in clinical full-time effort definition. "Academic time," more accurately characterized as "nonclinical time," was typically 1 day a week for nonshift specialties and mostly used for administrative work or completing clinical documentation. Certain departments were more explicit in designating and protecting time for academic pursuits; some had invested resources in intensive programs for academic advancement with built-in expectations for accountability. The impact of documentation burden was considerable in certain departments. Marked variability exists in time allocations for clinical and academic work, as well as in resources for academic success. This supports the potential value of establishing standards for defining and protecting academic time, motivating clinical faculty to engage in academic work, and building accountability expectations. Sharing best practices and setting standards may enhance academic advancement. Strategies to reduce documentation burden may enhance wellness.

Primer: MIND at Home Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Coordination Program

AbstractBackgroundPeople living with dementia (PLWD) represent some of the highest‐need and highest‐cost individuals living in the community. The complexity and range of needs (including medical, behavioral, and social needs) make dementia one of the most expensive chronic conditions in the U.S., and a strong candidate for improving care and reducing costs through care management support.MethodThe Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home dementia care program, developed and implemented in a variety of settings and contexts over the last 15 years, is an advanced care coordination program for community‐living persons with dementia and cognitive impairment and their informal caregiver. The program is delivered through an interdisciplinary, dementia capable collaborative team. Developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the MIND program consists of a comprehensive set of assessments, tools and staff trainings designed to increase individual longevity in the home/community; reduce unmet care needs and improve quality of care; improve person‐centered outcomes; reduce costly acute health care utilization; and reduce caregiver burden.ResultThe MIND at Home program model builds on three prior trials (two RCTs, one quasi‐experimental design) of the MIND at Home dementia care coordination model. These have included a philanthropically‐funded parallel group randomized controlled single blind trial (RCT) (MIND‐RCT‐1 n = 303; 2007‐2012), an NIA‐funded RCT (MIND‐RCT‐2; n = 302; 2014‐2020), and a CMS Health Care Innovation Award Round 2 demonstration project (MIND‐HCIA; n = 342; 2014‐2018). The program has been embedded into 3 types of real world practice settings to date: managed care health plans, primary care, home health care.ConclusionThe research findings to date for in development of the MIND model show that community‐living older persons with dementia and cognitive impairment experience substantial unmet, yet modifiable care needs among community‐living PWD and caregivers, and that MIND at Home can benefit persons living with dementia and their family caregivers. Benefits include delay in transition from home and nursing home placement; reductions in use of acute and institutional care and total Medicaid spending; and improvement in care quality, behavior, and high program satisfaction. Individuals with lower income may benefit more.

OP18 Laying The Foundation For Sustainable Health Technology Assessment Training Program In Ukraine

IntroductionSince 2017, health technology assessment (HTA) has been included in the Ukrainian Health Law fundamentals and its implementation has accelerated since it became mandatory in 2020. SAFEMed has been supporting the Ministry of Health in integrating HTA into the decision-making ecosystem and building capacity in HTA. In this 2022 to 2023 project, we aimed to create and conduct HTA training for doers, users, and trainers based on a developed model curriculum for an HTA master’s program, and to identify sets of criteria for successful training and training centers.MethodsFirst, we reviewed websites and documents of current academic HTA master’s and advanced programs worldwide. Second, we performed an assessment of the training needs of HTA doers, users, and trainers in Ukraine using an online survey that captured level of experience and knowledge gaps. Third, we reviewed the capacity and quality requirements of existing academic centers that provide HTA training.ResultsWe identified seven HTA master’s programs globally, which covered five HTA domains: (i) health problem and current use of the technology; (ii) description and technical characteristics; (iii) safety; (iv) clinical effectiveness; and (v) costs and economic evaluations. Other aspects of HTA, such as ethical, legal, social, and cultural aspects were also covered, but not in all programs. The needs assessment was completed by 40 doers (53%), users (43%), and potential trainers (5%) of HTA in Ukraine. Specific knowledge gaps included: comparative effectiveness, health economics, qualitative evidence synthesis, patient and public involvement, and ethical issues. The proposed program addresses these gaps and includes an introduction to HTA that is in line with the new HTA definition. We also generated a minimum set of quality assurance criteria to ensure successful training and to develop efficient training centers for delivering HTA programs.ConclusionsOur study provides a strong foundation for planning and conducting sustainable HTA training for current and future doers, users, and trainers in Ukraine, which can be an example for other countries wishing to increase HTA capacity.

Mathematics Connection Between CMM and CNC Parameter Setup

Abstract The purpose of this article is to establish a new approach for the use of CMM in production serial validation. Even the scope of CMM’s is to give results based on drawing requirements, the capability of this measurement system, can ensure with an advanced program development the parameter setup of CNC’s during setup or any changeover stages. The preparation and the scope of this development is to analyze the mathematic approach of coordinate systems which must be converted from a static coordinate system to a new system that is changed at every CNC clamping operation and rotation of any axis.

Real-Time Embedded Control of Electrical Drives: A New Approach for Bringing Hands-On Experience Into the Classroom

This article presents a novel educational platform for teaching advanced electric drive systems to students using embedded controllers. The developed platform is based on a portable motor test stand with a quadrotor motor interfaced with the Texas Instruments (TI) LaunchPad F28069 and TI BOOST-DRV8301 inverter. The platform is combined with Altair Embed educational software, allowing for direct access from personal laptop computers. We also present a three-phase methodology of teaching electric drives, which relies on simulation (SIM), co-SIM (COSIM), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. The proposed approach would allow students to learn the control theory and techniques of motor drives with hands-on experience and without the need for advanced programming skills.

New insights into component matching mechanism in the compression system of double bypass engine

Variable cycle engine (VCE) is one of the most promising technologies for the next-generation aircraft, the matching of different components in the compression system is a key difficulty VCE faced. To investigate the component matching mechanisms in the VCE compression system, an advanced throughflow program is employed to calculate the characteristic lines of each component, and a zero-dimensional method is developed to capture the component performance deviation during the coupling working process. By setting the compressor stall and choke conditions as the boundary, the operation range of the compression system is first clarified, and the aerodynamic performance in the operation zone is discussed, thus providing a theoretical basis for optimization of the engine operating control scheme. Results show that the efficiency of the core flow is optimum at the left-bottom corner of the operation region, while the total pressure ratio peaks at the right-top area, hence a balance is needed when deciding the matching point. Regulations of component control parameters will change the position of the operation zone, as well as the corresponding aerodynamic performance. Decreasing the core driven fan stage rotating speed can improve the total bypass ratio, yet the total pressure ratio of the core flow will be decreased. Closing the core driven fan stage inlet guide vane can increase the total bypass ratio without changing the core flow aerodynamic performance significantly. The bypass ratio of the compression system can also be increased by increasing the fan stall margin or decreasing its rotating speed, both ways will decrease the total pressure ratio of the core flow. Results of the study will benefit the variable cycle engine design process in operation point evaluation and thermodynamic cycle optimization.

Evaluating and expanding usability and user satisfaction of an online research portal

Whilst online learning has gained rapid momentum, the development of online technology and practices that support the delivery of online courses with a large research component has been slow. In 2017, the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, Australia, developed a potentially scalable and transferable online research portal. This is an all-in-one platform that is designed to facilitate and support online research and research supervision, for supervisors and students. The research portal has evolved to currently provide research and research supervision support to over 700 online psychology students at the university. This paper describes the development, implementation and impact of the research portal and presents data from a preliminary evaluation of its usability and user satisfaction. Both research students and supervisors from the fully online fourth-year Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced program at Monash University participated in a series of focus groups, individual usability testing sessions, and surveys, and reported favourably on the research portal’s research supervisor and supervisee user satisfaction and usability. Qualitative and quantitative feedback provided useful information supporting research portal improvement and expansion possibilities, allowing an increasingly valuable contribution to online research supervision, research and research teaching. Implications for practice or policy All research students will be able to complete their research-related professional training online. Research supervisors and students will be able to access a standardised best practice online research supervision and research tool across courses and topics. Course leaders will be able to expand online education with an online research supervision and research tool that supports all research programs. Universities will be able to provide a research learning pathway for all students.

Patterns of genetic diversity and structure of Eucalyptus grandis breeding population in Kenya: Implication for genetic improvement

Eucalyptus grandis is an important commercial plantation tree species providing raw materials for many industrial products. The species is widely cultivated in the tropics because of its wood quality and adaptability to wider climatic conditions, and is currently undergoing genetic improvement in Kenya for first growth and superior wood quality. Generally, tree breeding operations involve recurrent selection of genetically superior individuals, which potentially alters genetic diversity in the breeding populations. It is therefore essential to determine the genetic diversity of breeding populations to support improvement programmes. We evaluated the genetic diversity and structure of 250 individuals from five first generation breeding populations of E. grandis in Kenya using seventeen nuclear microsatellite markers. The microsatellite markers revealed an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.826, confirming their suitability for discriminating the genotypes and populations. High genetic diversity was found within all the breeding populations. The number of alleles per population (Na), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and Shannon’s information index (I) averaged at 6.9, 0.801, 0.821, and 1.662, respectively. The findings indicate that the breeding population has high levels of genetic variability offering possibilities to develop advanced generation breeding programmes for the species. Furthermore, lower fixation index (F) was detected in the seed trees (-0.101) than their offspring (0.121), suggesting selection against inbred individuals between seedling and adult stages. The genetic differentiation among the breeding populations was low and non-significant (Rst = 0.017; P = 0.117), indicating close genetic relationship among the germplasm used to establish the breeding populations. The studied breeding populations are viable for genetic improvement; however, new genetic infusions are recommended to expand the gene pool in the subsequent breeding generations.

The Future of Talent Management: Leveraging Automation and HR Analytics for Success—A Critical Review of Literature

In the constantly evolving and highly competitive modern world, talent management has become a crucial aspect of any organization's success. The conventional techniques of managing human resources are no longer sufficient to cater to the ever-increasing demands for efficiency and effectiveness in operations. With advancements in automation technology coupled with HR analytics tools, businesses have an opportunity to revolutionize their approach towards talent management practices. Therefore, it is essential for companies to embrace these changes if they want to remain relevant and achieve sustainable growth in this fast-paced digital era. This research analyses using data visualization tools how automation and HR analytics can be leveraged for successful talent management in the changing business landscape. Retaining skilled employees is crucial for organizational growth, but technological advancements have made talent management more complex than ever before. We suggest investing in learning platforms which can help organizations provide advanced training programs on emerging technologies like AI and big data analytics.

Association between questionnaire-based and accelerometer-based physical activity and the incidence of chronic kidney disease using data from UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study

Prior studies on the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and physical activity (PA) mainly relied on subjective PA data and rarely considered the genetic risk. This study aims to thoroughly investigate this relationship by utilizing both accelerometer-measured and questionnaire-measured PA data. This prospective cohort study encompasses two cohorts from the UK Biobank. The questionnaire-based cohort involves 448,444 CKD-free participants who completed an International Physical Activity Questionnaire between 2006 and 2010 and had genetic data. PA was categorized into distinct activities: leisure, housework, job-related, and transportation. The accelerometer-based cohort involves 89,296 CKD-free participants who provided a full week of accelerometer-based physical activity data between 2013 and 2015 and had genetic data. PA was classified as light-intensity, moderate-intensity, vigorous-intensity, moderate to vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA, VPA, MVPA), and total PA. Incident CKD was ascertained from linked hospital inpatient and death records. Genetic risk was assessed using polygenic risk scores. Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines were used for the analysis. In the questionnaire-based cohort, 18,184 (4.05%) participants developed CKD during 13.6 years of follow-up. Engaging in strenuous sports, other exercises, walking for pleasure, stair climbing, and heavy DIY were associated with a reduced risk of CKD. In the accelerometer-based cohort, 2297 (2.57%) participants developed CKD during 7.9 years of follow-up. Higher levels [highest quartile vs lowest quartile] of MPA (HR 0.639, 95% CI 0.554-0.737), VPA (HR 0.639, 95% CI 0.549-0.745), MVPA (HR 0.630, 95% CI 0.545-0.729), and total PA (HR 0.649, 95% CI 0.563-0.750) were associated with a lower CKD risk. There were significant interactions between MPA and genetic risk on the risk of CKD incidence (P for interaction=0.025). A linear dose-response relationship was observed between MPA, total PA, and the risk of CKD incidence with no minimal or maximal threshold. These associations are robust in different subgroups and a series of sensitivity analyses. Engaging in multiple types of PA and higher levels of total PA, MPA, VPA, and MVPA may be associated with a lower risk of developing CKD, regardless of genetic risk. This finding holds substantial implications for clinical approaches to CKD prevention and provides evidence to inform future PA guideline development. Medical Science Advancement Program of Wuhan University, and the National Science Foundation of China.

Advanced Trainees in Student-Run Free Clinics: Potential Bridges to Critical Gaps in Knowledge

Background: Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) are increasingly becoming multidisciplinary care centers for underserved and uninsured patients across our communities. While SRFCs continue to advance research on various fronts to improve the quality of patient care provided, there remains scant literature on the involvement of resident and fellow physicians, or rather advanced trainees across disciplines in general, in the SRFC setting. As a result, there is a limited understanding of how best to include them and their skillsets within SRFCs and to design opportunities mutually beneficial for both SRFCs and advanced training programs.
 Purpose: To initiate a call-to-action for SRFCs to invest resources toward better characterizing the involvement of advanced trainees across SRFCs and the impacts they can potentially impart upon both the SRFC’s educational and patient care experiences.
 Summary: There remains limited information available pertaining to the involvement and impact of advanced trainees in SRFCs. As a result, these remain suboptimally-tapped areas of research and SRFCs are well-positioned to potentially bridge critical gaps in knowledge. Potential approaches to this include 1) querying advanced trainees currently involved in SRFCs on their motivations for being involved, 2) encouraging advanced trainees to discuss how other trainees may similarly become involved and to help with securing their participation, and 3) surveying training program leadership at institutions with SRFCs on how mutually beneficial partnerships between SRFCs and training programs might be established. In better characterizing their roles, SRFCs have an opportunity to fuel significant changes in health education and patient care.

Characterization of the Migration of Soil Particles in Lateritic Soils under the Effect of Rainfall

Rainfall is the main cause of erosion damage in loose slope deposits. During rainfall infiltration, fine particles in the soil mass will move with water infiltration, thus changing the localized particle distribution of the soil mass, which, in turn, causes changes in the pore water pressure and volumetric water content within the slope and ultimately affects slope stability. In order to develop advanced soil and water conservation programs to prevent slope damage, it is crucial to understand and accurately reproduce the particle migration and aggregation characteristics of soils under different rainfall conditions. Therefore, this paper systematically investigates the soil particle migration characteristics of the soil body under rainfall conditions by simulating the internal erosion of the lateritic soil slope body under rainfall conditions via slope internal erosion simulation experiments and experimentally analyzing the migration and aggregation of fine particles in the slope body, as well as the changed rules regarding pore water pressure and volumetric water content at different locations of the slope body with rainfall. The results of this study show that (1) with the infiltration of rainfall, the fine particles in the slope body mainly infiltrate in the vertical direction in an early stage of rainfall; in a later stage, there is vertical downward and down-slope seepage. Therefore, fine particles always gather at the toe of the slope, which leads to relatively high water content and pore water pressure at the toe of the slope, and thus, the slope is always damaged from the toe of the slope. (2) Inside the slope, the fine particles always gather at the smallest pore diameter. With the enhancement of hydrodynamic force, they will be lost again, which leads to a sudden decrease in the local volumetric water content of the slope, and the pore space increases. Then, it is filled with seepage water, which makes the pore water pressure fluctuate or increase. (3) Based on the particle distribution parameter, the present study produced a distribution map of the fine particle content of the slope body under different rainfall intensities and established a model of the dynamic change of fine particles, which improves the understanding of the effect of the change in the fine particle composition of the slope body on the water content and the pore water pressure and may be helpful for the assessment of the initiation of the mudslides.

Exploring reproductive biology in Eucalyptus globulus clones under distinct climatic conditions

AbstractDespite the great economic benefits, one of the major threats of introducing species into exotic ranges is their ability to regenerate and spread to novel environments. For example, Eucalyptus globulus plantations have been established in many parts of the world, using seedlings or clonal material, the latter often from advanced generation tree improvement programs. However, major concerns exist about this species’ ability to invade non-native areas. Therefore, it is necessary to study whether breeding programs affect this species’ reproductive biology to assess the risk of invasiveness of these improved trees. In this sense, this work compared the E. globulus phenological behaviour and reproductive structures production of three clonal and one seedling-based stand across two distinct climatic zones (mesic and xeric) in Portugal. Through binocular observation, four different stands (seedlings descending from open-pollinated crosses and three clonal-stands) were monitored every three weeks for different reproductive phenological stages, namely the presence of flowers and capsules. Clonal stands presented a shorter flowering season, less abundant reproductive structures, and higher phenological variability across sites than seedling-based stands. Phenological patterns and fructification abundance also varied between the three clonal stands. These results suggest that clones with decreased reproductive ability can be chosen during the breeding process, lowering the dispersal risk while enhancing productivity. Thus, understanding the phenological behaviour of E. globulus is critical to more sustainable agroforestry by reducing the spread risks.

Feasibility of Using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to Collect Daily Experiences of Parent-Child Dyads: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Intensive longitudinal data collection, including ecological momentary assessment (EMA), has the potential to reduce recall biases, collect more ecologically valid data, and increase our understanding of dynamic associations between variables. EMA is typically administered using an application that is downloaded on participants' devices, which presents cost and privacy concerns that may limit its use. Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), a web-based survey application freely available to nonprofit organizations, may allow researchers to overcome these barriers; however, at present, little guidance is available to researchers regarding the setup of EMA in REDCap, especially for those who are new to using REDCap or lack advanced programming expertise. We provide an example of a simplified EMA setup in REDCap. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. We provide information on survey completion and user behavior in a sample of parents and children recruited across Canada. We recruited 66 parents and their children (aged 9-13 years old) from an existing longitudinal cohort study to participate in a study on risk and protective factors for children's mental health. Parents received survey prompts (morning and evening) by email or SMS text message for 14 days, twice daily. Each survey prompt contained 2 sections, one for parents and one for children to complete. The completion rates were good (mean 82%, SD 8%) and significantly higher on weekdays than weekends and in dyads with girls than dyads with boys. Children were available to respond to their own survey questions most of the time (in 1134/1498, 75.7% of surveys submitted). The number of assessments submitted was significantly higher, and response times were significantly faster among participants who selected SMS text message survey notifications compared to email survey notifications. The average response time was 47.0 minutes after the initial survey notification, and the use of reminder messages increased survey completion. Our results support the feasibility of using REDCap for EMA studies with parents and children. REDCap also has features that can accommodate EMA studies by recruiting participants across multiple time zones and providing different survey delivery methods. Offering the option of SMS text message survey notifications and reminders may be an important way to increase completion rates and the timeliness of responses. REDCap is a potentially useful tool for researchers wishing to implement EMA in settings in which cost or privacy are current barriers. Researchers should weigh these benefits with the potential limitations of REDCap and this design, including staff time to set up, monitor, and clean the data outputs of the project.

Bridging Theory and Practice: An Innovative Approach to Android Programming Education through Nutritional Application Development and Problem-Based Learning

This study introduces an innovative Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology to enhance the teaching of Android programming, focusing on addressing nutritional challenges. Conducted within the Computer Science degree at the University of Deusto, this research engages third-year students in developing applications aimed at improving access to nutritional knowledge. The novelty of this approach lies in its integration of advanced programming concepts with practical application development, fostering a deeper understanding and engagement among students. The applications enable users to access detailed nutritional information from open-access food databases, catering to individuals with specific dietary constraints. Preliminary results indicate a significant improvement in student engagement and learning outcomes compared to traditional teaching methods, underscoring the potential of this methodology in fostering future researchers and advancing educational practices in computer science. This research contributes to the field by demonstrating the efficacy of combining PBL with application development in enhancing learning experiences and outcomes in programming education. Our findings not only contribute valuable insights into the unique challenges and motivators associated with Android programming but also pave the way for tailored educational strategies that can optimize the learning experience in this domain.

Abstract 16296: Exploring Data Collection on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Pronouns in Heart Failure Patients: A Call for Improved Documentation and Barrier Identification

Introduction: Up to 25% of bisexual, transexual, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) patients avoid medical care for the fear of mistreatment and being stigmatized for their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In patients with heart failure (HF) the number of individuals who identify as LGBTQ is unknown. The latest upgrade in the electronic medical records (EMR), however, allows to capture patients’ demographics including and gender, sex, sexual orientation, and pronouns, and would allow to fill this knowledge gap. Hypothesis: In this analysis we aimed to identify the percentage of individuals who identify as LGBTQ among patients recently discharged for acute HF decompensation. Methods: In an advanced HF and heart transplant program, patients age >18 discharged with heart failure as their primary diagnosis August 2022 and February 2023 were identified. The EMR were queried for patients’ demographics including sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and preferred pronouns. Results: We identified 449 patients. Of those, 234 patients identified their sex as female (52.1%) of whom 194 identified their gender identity as females; 215 patients identified themselves as male (47.9%) of whom 172 identified as males. Gender identity of the remaining 83 patients were not listed in the EMR. Only 13.2% of patients had their sexual orientation listed with 0.7% identifying as gay or lesbian, 0.2% unsure, and 12.7% as straight. The majority of patients 87.8% didn’t have their pronouns listed, 5.8% as she/her/hers, 6.0% as he/him/his, and 0.2% unknown (Figure). Conclusions: In this sample of HF patients, data related to sexual orientation and pronouns were rarely collected. Future work should focus on identifying the barriers that might have caused the limited data collection in this population.

Abstract 18185: A Multicenter Prospective Trial of Therapeutic Angiogenesis Using Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear for Patients With Critical Limb-Threatening Ischemia Caused by Thromboangiitis Obliterans

Background: Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) can develop critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Despite conventional treatments, such as smoking cessation or revascularization, young patients require limb amputation. Therapeutic angiogenesis using bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) implantation has demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety in patients with CLTI, particularly those with TAO. To expand BM-MNC implantation in clinical practice, further evidence is required in CLTI patients with TAO. We aimed to determine the efficacy of BM-MNC implantation in a prospective trial. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, interventional trial was performed under an advanced medical care program. We enrolled 22 patients with CLTI and skin perfusion pressure (SPP) <30 mmHg; they underwent BM-MNC implantation within 28 days (Figure.1). The follow-up period was 180 days, and the primary endpoint was an improvement in the SPP value in the affected target limb 180 days after the implantation. One patient dropped out from the follow-up. Results: The mean age was 47.6 years (male: 90.5%, Fontaine classification IV: 57.1%). The SPP value significantly improved on day 180 (p<0.001) (Figure. 2). The secondary endpoints, i.e., numerical rating scale scores and transcutaneous oxygen pressure values significantly improved within day 180. The 3-year major amputation-free and overall survival probability in the safety analysis set were 95.5% and 89.5%, respectively (Figure. 3). No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusions: We believe that the BM-MNC implantation will likely become a feasible and safe therapy for CLTI patients caused by TAO.

Framework Models for Theme Park Design: Incorporating Transportability Models and Visitor Preferences

Analyzing human movement is crucial for evaluating designs in transportation and urban planning. Our expertise lies in the realm of designing and assessing wireless networks and services tailored for cutting-edge theme park experiences. The effectiveness of specific wireless networks, such as mobile ad hoc networks, is significantly impacted by human mobility. In response to this challenge, we've developed an advanced program known as ParkSim, dedicated to replicating the intricate motion patterns of guests within a theme park environment. ParkSim utilizes an activity-based mobility model, influenced by the diverse activities guests engage in throughout the park. The calibration of this tool is based on GPS data collected from an amusement theme park, ensuring its accuracy and reliability. It has undergone rigorous verification against various performance metrics relevant to wireless ad hoc networks. Our primary goal is to enhance ParkSim further, enabling it to evaluate innovative strategies for equitably distributing visitors across different sections of the theme park. This expansion will provide valuable insights into optimizing wireless network performance and enhancing the overall theme park experience for guests.

Designing a Master of Accounting Study Program Profile Website Using the Wordpress Content Management System

This article discusses designing a study program profile website using the WordPress Content Management System (CMS). Higher education has a need to present relevant and up-to-date information to prospective students, students, lecturers and the general public. A study program profile website can be an effective tool to meet these needs. The design method used in this research involves the needs analysis stage, interface design, selecting an appropriate WordPress theme, developing special features relevant to the study program, and testing functionality. Using the WordPress CMS as a content management platform makes it easy to manage and update content independently without requiring advanced programming skills. The result of this research is a study program profile website that is responsive, attractive, and easy to navigate. The features implemented include information about study programs, curriculum, lecturers, facilities and the latest news. Apart from that, it is equipped with a search feature to make it easier for users to find the specific information they want. Implementing the WordPress CMS as a content management platform provides time and cost efficiency benefits in managing a website. In addition, the flexibility and ease of adding or changing content ensures that the information presented is always up to date and relevant. In conclusion, designing a study program profile website using CMS WordPress is an effective solution for presenting up-to-date and relevant information to stakeholders in the academic environment. This research makes a contribution to the field of information technology, especially in the use of CMS platforms for efficient content management in the context of higher education.

Quo Vadis Racial Disparities? Trend Analysis of the Participation and Top Achievement in Advanced Placement Computer Science Exams

This study explores the direction and magnitude of racial disparities on three advanced placement (AP) computer science (CS) exams, namely AP CS Principles, AP CS A, and AP CS AB, based on the test scores of more than one million students who have taken AP CS exams between 1997 and 2020. Using Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope procedures we found that the number of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students in AP CS exams have increased steadily and significantly over years, yet they are still far from reaching parity. Further, our findings suggest that the racial disparities among top achievers are very wide. The results provide educators and researchers support for identifying and quantifying the racial disparities in advanced academic programs and may inform the development of policies, practices, and programs to reduce racial disparities in pre-college CS education and further.