Alternative Programs Research Articles

Effect of the Timing of Fungicide Application on Yield and Quality Parameters of Wheat Infected with Fusarium Crown Rot Disease

Crown rot caused by Fusarium culmorum (FCR) is a common and important pathogen affecting the cereal industry through grain yield and quality losses. In this study, the effects of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz application and several other applications on disease severity and grain quality parameters including thousand-grain weight (TGW), grain yield (GY), protein (GP), Zeleny sedimentation (ZS), wet gluten (WG) and Grain index (GI), were assessed. The efficacy of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz, were determined in the T1 (ZGS25), T2 (ZGS34), and T3 (ZGS45) growth stages of winter wheat with seven alternative spray programs. These programs were based on (i) the application (SF) of seed fungicide to infected seeds (ii) control without fungicide (non-SF) and (iii) three different growth stages of wheat. The interaction between seed fungicide applied and fungicide application time was significant (P≤0.01) for DS, ZS, and WG. The effectiveness regarding the disease severity, TGW, and GY of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz in relation to FCR wheat showed significant (P≤0.01) changes depending on the application time. The disease severity resulted in lower T1-T2 (9.66%) and T1-T2-T3 (9.91%) stages than the other stages. The highest yields were obtained when the fungicide was applied twice at the T1-T2 stages. DS/TGW and DS/GY were negatively correlated and TGW/GY was positively correlated in SF.

Hub location with congestion and time-sensitive demand

This work studies the effect of hub congestion and time-sensitive demand on a hub-and-spoke location/allocation system. The Hub Location with Congestion and Time-sensitive Demand Problem is introduced, which combines these two main characteristics. On the one hand, hubs can be activated at several service levels, each of them characterized by a maximum capacity, expressed as the amount of flow that may circulate through the hub, which is associated with a hub transit time. On the other hand, alternative levels are available for served commodities, where each demand level is characterized by its amount of demand, unit revenue, and maximum service time. In this problem the efficiency of a hub-and-spoke system is given by the maximum net profit it may produce. To the best of our knowledge this is the first work where hub congestion and time-sensitive demand are jointly considered.Two alternative mixed-integer linear programming formulations are proposed. They include a new set of constraints, which are necessary to guarantee the consistency of the obtained solutions under the presence of the capacity-type constraints derived from hub service levels and served demand levels. The efficiency of the formulations is analyzed through a set of computational experiments. The results of the computational experiments allow to study the structure of the obtained solutions and to analyze how the different parameters affect them.

Non-medical interventions to enhance return to work for people with cancer.

Non-medical interventions to enhance return to work for people with cancer.

Contributions of transcriptional noise to leukaemia evolution: KAT2A as a case-study.

Transcriptional noise is proposed to participate in cell fate changes, but contributions to mammalian cell differentiation systems, including cancer, remain associative. Cancer evolution is driven by genetic variability, with modulatory or contributory participation of epigenetic variants. Accumulation of epigenetic variants enhances transcriptional noise, which can facilitate cancer cell fate transitions. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer with strong epigenetic dependencies, characterized by blocked differentiation. It constitutes an attractive model to probe links between transcriptional noise and malignant cell fate regulation. Gcn5/KAT2A is a classical epigenetic transcriptional noise regulator. Its loss increases transcriptional noise and modifies cell fates in stem and AML cells. By reviewing the analysis of KAT2A-depleted pre-leukaemia and leukaemia models, I discuss that the net result of transcriptional noise is diversification of cell fates secondary to alternative transcriptional programmes. Cellular diversification can enable or hinder AML progression, respectively, by differentiation of cell types responsive to mutations, or by maladaptation of leukaemia stem cells. KAT2A-dependent noise-responsive genes participate in ribosome biogenesis and KAT2A loss destabilizes translational activity. I discuss putative contributions of perturbed translation to AML biology, and propose KAT2A loss as a model for mechanistic integration of transcriptional and translational control of noise and fate decisions. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Causes and consequences of stochastic processes in development and disease'.

I-LAMP: Global, Industrywide Learning Aging Management Program for Neutron-Absorber Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

Neutron-absorber materials are used in spent fuel pool (SFP) storage racks to increase storage capacity while maintaining criticality safety margins. Previously, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) proposed a global, industrywide learning aging management program (i-LAMP) as an alternative monitoring program as part of an aging management program. This proposal, along with other EPRI work, was accepted as a concept to close the issued generic letter by the regulator. Since then, EPRI has been working with EPRI-member utilities around the world on data collection. Furthermore, recently, a utility removed two neutron-absorber panels from an operating SFP to meet a regulatory commitment made prior to the i-LAMP proposal. Because of their age and unique history, these panels provided a unique opportunity not only to analyze the conditions of the panels, but also to potentially bound i-LAMP. This paper presents i-LAMP development to date with a focus on BORAL analysis results for these two unique panels, pilot pools as case studies to demonstrate the i-LAMP implementation, and a proposal for a path forward.

Black boys unchained: Removing the constraints of racial disparities in discipline at school.

The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry has contributed significantly to scholarly discourse on race and racism especially in its coverage of issues related to the development and well-being of Black boys (BB) and men. Although disparate rates of exclusionary discipline for BB have been widely recognized as a problem, efforts to reduce them have failed. Because exclusion has negative consequences and is ineffective in changing behavior, it should be used rarely or not at all. This article advocates strict limits or outright bans on exclusion up to Grade 6. For BB, the time between pre-K and middle school is a developmentally critical period in which, for a variety of reasons, misconduct is high compared to other groups of children. Instituting bans will require a fundamental change in how school discipline is conceived. Schools will need to reimagine BB and strengthen their social competencies and emotional resilience. This will require a shift in emphasis from punishment to empathy for BB who misbehave. Implementing policies to prohibit exclusion will be difficult in light of opposition from school staff who are reluctant to surrender this tool and disagreements over the role of schools and the responsibility of families for boy's misbehavior. Recommendations for alternative programs and expansion of mental health services have been made in guidance from the federal government and adopted into law by several states. To reduce disparities, schools must establish a culture of caring and support, enact well-reasoned and collaborative regimes of control, and provide BB with interpretive frameworks that convey a sense of purpose and meaning. Together these approaches can free BB from the constraints of harsh and unfair discipline and help them to become the best versions of themselves. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Nursing students’ satisfaction and clinical competence by type of pediatric nursing practicum during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate student nurses’ satisfaction by type of clinical practicum and to determine predictors of clinical competence in pediatric nursing.Methods: A total of 189 Junior and Senior student nurses across seven colleges in the Busan Metropolitan City were enrolled in the study. The participants completed a structured questionnaire containing items about their learning satisfaction with different types of pediatric nursing practicums and their clinical competence. Data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis.Results: Regarding satisfaction with each type of clinical practicum, the mean satisfaction score (out of 10) was 8.18±2.26 for on-site clinical rotations and 7.35±2.20 for alternative practicums. Among the different types of alternative practicum approaches, those with a satisfaction score of 7 or higher included fundamental nursing skills, watching videos, simulation etc., while those with a satisfaction score of less than 6 were virtual simulation and problem-based learning. The predictors of clinical competence in pediatric nursing were learning satisfaction with practice, school year, and alternative practicum, accounting for 35.0% of the variance in clinical competency.Conclusion: It would be helpful to combine on-site clinical rotations with alternative practicum approaches and to develop various alternative practice programs using simulation practice, virtual reality, immersive interactive systems, and standardized patients to enhance students’ clinical competency.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Quality of Auditing from the Point of View of Jordanian Certified Public Accountants

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on audit quality from the perspective of Jordanian Certified Public Accountants. It also aims to identify any differences in the views of Jordanian Certified Public Accountants regarding this impact based on respondents' demographic characteristics such as gender, academic qualification, scientific specialization, job title, years of experience in audit, and professional certifications. A quantitative approach was used in this study, where 150 questionnaires were distributed to 150 Jordanian certified public accountants, and 144 questionnaires were retrieved (27 of them were incomplete), resulting in 117 questionnaires being used for statistical analysis. The results of the study indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on audit quality through the dimensions of audit fees, going concern assessment, audit procedures, auditor's experience, audit period, and audit firm size. The results also showed that there were differences in the views of Jordanian Certified Public Accountants regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on audit quality based on academic qualification, job title, and years of experience in auditing, while no differences were attributed to gender, scientific specialization, and professional certifications of the respondents. Based on the study's findings, the researcher provides several recommendations, including: Audit firms should prioritize the development of skills and experiences of their employees through alternative training programs and remote work arrangements. Audit firms should also review their audit processes and procedures to adapt to the new business environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulatory bodies should consider reviewing their oversight standards to address the exceptional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic especially with regard to auditing and quality auditing.

Simulated Dopamine Modulation of a Neurorobotic Model of the Basal Ganglia.

The vertebrate basal ganglia play an important role in action selection-the resolution of conflicts between alternative motor programs. The effective operation of basal ganglia circuitry is also known to rely on appropriate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. We investigated reducing or increasing the tonic level of simulated dopamine in a prior model of the basal ganglia integrated into a robot control architecture engaged in a foraging task inspired by animal behaviour. The main findings were that progressive reductions in the levels of simulated dopamine caused slowed behaviour and, at low levels, an inability to initiate movement. These states were partially relieved by increased salience levels (stronger sensory/motivational input). Conversely, increased simulated dopamine caused distortion of the robot's motor acts through partially expressed motor activity relating to losing actions. This could also lead to an increased frequency of behaviour switching. Levels of simulated dopamine that were either significantly lower or higher than baseline could cause a loss of behavioural integration, sometimes leaving the robot in a 'behavioral trap'. That some analogous traits are observed in animals and humans affected by dopamine dysregulation suggests that robotic models could prove useful in understanding the role of dopamine neurotransmission in basal ganglia function and dysfunction.

The failure of micro-hydro technology: A case study of the Banyubiru project in Central Java, Indonesia

This article explores the potential convergence between the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework and failure studies in the context of the alternative energy program in the Global South. It focuses on a single case study, namely the failure of micro-hydro technology in Banyubiru (the Banyubiru project). Using qualitative research methods, this article examines the construction of the Banyubiru project and its failure to integrate with the power grid of the Indonesia State Electricity Company (PLN), despite substantial investments, installations, and considerable interest in renewable energy from diverse stakeholder groups at local, national, and international levels. In a hybrid (online and in-person) format, semi-structured interviews were employed to obtain data. The data collection procedure also includes site visits, observations, and document analysis. The finding indicates that technology development follows a more complicated path than a straight one from interpretative flexibility to closure. It illustrates a progression from closure to interpretive flexibility, wherein social groupings initially establish formal agreements but afterwards encounter conflicting interpretations. In conclusion, the article illustrates the potential for failure studies to provide insights into the limitations of SCOT in the analysis of energy technology failures.

Prevalence of Low-Acuity Pediatric Emergency Medical Services Transports to a Pediatric Emergency Department in an Urban Area.

Many patients transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) do not have emergent resource needs. Estimates for the proportion of pediatric EMS calls for low-acuity complaints, and thus potential candidates for alternative dispositions, vary widely and are often based on physician judgment. A more accurate reference standard should include patient assessments, interventions, and dispositions. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of low-acuity pediatric EMS calls in an urban area. This is a prospective observational study of children transported by EMS to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Patient acuity was defined using a novel composite measure that included physiologic assessments, resources used, and disposition. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess for factors associated with low-acuity status. A total of 996 patients were enrolled, of whom 32.9% (95% confidence interval, 30.0-36.0) were low acuity. Most of the sample was Black, non-Hispanic with a mean age of 7 years. When compared with adolescents, children younger than 1 year were more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.1 [1.9-5.1]). Patients in a motor vehicle crash were also more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4 [1.2-4.6]). All other variables, including race, insurance status, chief complaint, and dispatch time, were not associated with low-acuity status. One third of pediatric patients transported to the pediatric emergency department by EMS in this urban area are for low-acuity complaints. Further research is needed to determine low-acuity rates in other jurisdictions and whether EMS providers can accurately identify low-acuity patients to develop alternative EMS disposition programs for children.

Sustainability Assessment Of Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction From Energy Use In Cement Production Via Life Cycle Assessment And Ahp

The cement industry in supporting sustainable development is faced with the challenge of reducing energy consumption, natural resources and emissions generated from its production activities. PT X is one of the cement industries in Indonesia that has a production design capacity of 2.6 million tons/year. PT X's cement production activities use several fossil fuel energy sources and alternative fuels that can produce carbon dioxide emissions that are wasted into the environment. This study aims to identify process units that produce significant impacts to determine alternative environmental improvement scenarios. The method used is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool for calculating potential environmental impacts, and AHP as an alternative selection of environmental improvement program scenarios. The scope of the LCA study carried out with the scope of "Cradle to Gate" includes the stages of the raw material extraction process, the production process to the distribution of cement. The resulting potential environmental impact is a total Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0.20543 tons CO2 eq/ton. The largest potential impact comes from the kiln unit of 0.20221 tons CO2 eq/ton or an impact contribution of 98.43%. Based on the environmental impacts generated, there are 4 alternative programs that can be used to reduce the environmental impacts generated. The selection of alternative program scenarios is based on 3 criteria based on 3 types of respondents. Alternatif program yang memiliki nilai prioritas tertinggi yaitu alternatif program 1 dengan sebesar 35,5%, 38,1%, dan 23,4%.

Alternative Certification Programs in K-12 Schools: The Experiences of Diverse Teachers

Through individual interviews and focus groups, this qualitative phenomenological study explored 11 conditionally licensed teachers’ experiences in earning their full teaching license in a Mid-Atlantic state in the United States. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis method. The findings of this study showed that the conditionally licensed teachers were career changers from diverse ethnic identities, and they mainly struggled with classroom management. The study also found that they had little support and information regarding the certification process, and their work-life-study balance was challenging. This study suggests that schools, school districts, and the university develop strong partnerships to provide appropriate support to these teachers to make them licensed and effective classroom teachers in order to meet the needs of the national teacher shortage.

Effect of reducing electrical stimulation rate on hearing performance of Nucleus® cochlear implant recipients

Objective To evaluate whether a 500 pulses per second per channel (pps/ch) rate would provide non-inferior hearing performance compared to the 900 pps/ch rate in the Advanced Combination Encoder (ACE™) sound coding strategy. Design A repeated measures single-subject design was employed, wherein each subject served as their own control. All except one subject used 900 pps/ch at enrolment. After three weeks of using the alternative rate program, both programs were loaded into the sound processor for two more weeks of take-home use. Subjective performance, preference, words in quiet, sentences in babble, music quality, and fundamental frequency (F0) discrimination were assessed using a balanced design. Study sample Data from 18 subjects were analysed, with complete datasets available for 17 subjects. Results Non-inferior performance on all clinical measures was shown for the lower rate program. Subjects’ preference ratings were comparable for the programs, with 53% reporting no difference overall. When a preference was expressed, the 900 pps/ch condition was preferred more often. Conclusion Reducing the stimulation rate from 900 pps/ch to 500 pps/ch did not compromise the hearing outcomes evaluated in this study. A lower pulse rate in future cochlear implants could reduce power consumption, allowing for smaller batteries and processors.

A Bridge to Graduation: Post-Secondary Effects of an Alternative Pathway for Students Who Fail High School Exit Exams

Abstract High school exit exams are meant to standardize the quality of public high schools and to ensure that students graduate with a set of basic skills and knowledge. Evidence suggests that a common perverse effect of exit exams is an increase in dropout for students who have difficulty passing tests, with a larger effect on minority students. To mitigate this, some states offer alternative, non-tested pathways to graduation for students who have failed their exit exams. This study investigates the post-secondary effects of an alternative high school graduation program. Compared with similar students who fail to complete high school, those students who take the alternative pathway have better post-secondary outcomes in both education and employment. Compared with similar students who retake exit exams to graduate, those who eventually graduate through an alternative project-based pathway have lower college enrollment, but similar employment outcomes.

Broadening Participation of Teachers in Computing: Examining Postsecondary Educational Experiences and Prospective Educators’ CS Teaching Interests

Teacher shortages in K–12 computer science (CS) education negatively impact students’ access to CS courses, exposure to CS concepts, and interest in CS-related careers. To address CS teacher shortages, this study seeks to understand factors related to expressing a preference to teach CS among prospective teachers. The study team analyzed data from 27,700 prospective teacher applications accepted into the 2016–2020 Teach For America (TFA) corps (cohorts). The TFA corps is an alternative teacher development program that recruits and prepares participants to obtain their teaching certification while they work for at least two years in underserved communities on a temporary teaching license. Study results show that earning at least one postsecondary CS credit and majoring in CS are positively associated with these prospective teachers’ preference to teach CS. Findings indicate that among these accepted TFA applicants, a larger proportion of male applicants and racially minoritized applicants earned a postsecondary CS credit, majored in CS, and preferred to teach CS compared with female applicants and racially non-minoritized applicants. This study lays the foundation for future explorations of whether early exposure to CS could increase prospective teachers’ interest in teaching CS and reduce CS teacher shortages in K-12 settings. Findings from this study can also serve as a precursor to developing policies that result in a CS teacher workforce that is more representative of students enrolled in K-12 public schools.

Matched control analysis suggests that R-CHOP followed by (R)-ICE may improve outcome in non-GCB DLBCL compared with R-CHOP

AbstractRituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) is considered the standard-of-care for patients with advanced-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), despite findings that patients with nongerminal center B-cell like (non-GCB) have significantly worse outcome with this regimen. We evaluated the prognostic significance of baseline risk factors, including cell of origin (COO) classified by the Hans algorithm, within an alternative chemoimmunotherapy program. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), 151 patients with DLBCL received sequential R-CHOP induction and (R)-ICE (rituximab, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) consolidation. Outcome analysis based on COO was validated with a propensity score–matched cohort treated with R-CHOP from the Mayo Clinic component of the Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER). Among the patients with GCB (n = 69) and non-GCB (n = 69) at MSK, event-free survival (EFS) of non-GCB was superior to that of GCB (hazard ratio [HR], 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.98). Overall survival (OS) demonstrated an association in the same direction but was not statistically significant (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.33-1.42). Propensity score–matched patients from MSK (n = 108) demonstrated a small attenuation in the HRs for EFS (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.27-1.18) and OS (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.33-1.79) and were no longer statistically significant. In contrast, the matched MER cohort (n = 108) demonstrated an EFS association (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.70-1.95) and OS association (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.64-2.00) in the opposite direction, but were also not statistically significant. R-CHOP induction and (R)-ICE consolidation may overcome the negative prognostic impact of the non-GCB phenotype, per the Hans algorithm, and can be preferentially selected for this population. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT00039195 and #NCT00712582.

간호대학생의 긍정심리기반 보완대체프로그램 경험에 대한 내용분석

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of senior nursing students with positive psy-chology-based complementary and alternative programs.
 Methods The study participants consisted of 14 senior nursing students from a university located in C City who had participated in a positive psychology-based complementary and alternative program. These students volun-tarily agreed to participate in the research, demonstrating an understanding of the objectives of the positive psy-chology-based complementary and alternative program. Data was collected through focus group interviews, and the gathered information was analyzed using content analysis methods.
 Results The analysis results indicate that senior nursing students' experiences with positive psychology-based complementary and alternative programs encompass five main themes: ‘self-understanding,’ ‘positive trans-formation,’ ‘achievement experiences,’ ‘program reevaluation,’ and ‘transformed life.’
 Conclusions The positive psychology-based complementary and alternative program has been shown to be ef-fective in enhancing the physical and mental health of senior nursing students. Based on this, it suggests the need for the development and implementation of programs that will influence future physical and mental health promo-tion, as well as the development and application of education on complementary and alternative therapies.

Physical Education Alternative Certification Programs: Learning Opportunities for Teacher Candidates

Purpose: This study investigated differences in (a) completion of teaching methods courses and (b) participation in professional development opportunities between alternatively and traditionally certified physical educators. Method: The sample included 1,850 physical educators (mean age: 42.7 years, male: 61.7%, female: 38.3%) from the 2017 to 2018 National Teacher and Principal Survey. Prevalence estimates of physical educators who (a) completed undergraduate or graduate teaching methods courses during their education and training and (b) participated in professional development were calculated. Results: The results of binary logistic regressions reveal that alternatively certified physical educators were less likely to complete various teaching methods courses before entering the teaching profession. In addition, there were no differences in participation in professional development except in instructional strategies for students with disabilities. Conclusion: Considering unprepared teachers tend to leave the profession early, alternative certification programs need to provide substantial levels of learning opportunities, including teaching methods courses.

Untold Stories of Teachers and Graduates of Alternative Learning Systems

The study aimed to determine the experiential accounts of Alternative Learning System teachers and graduates and the relationship between their experiences in the 1st District of Ilocos Sur. It utilized the transcendental phenomenological research applying the focus group discussion and a reviewed semi structured open-ended question. Participants' responses were recorded and transcribed verbatim, listed, categorized, coded, and thematized using the Moustakas framework. Teachers and graduates of Alternative Learning System share a unique relationship characterized by equal efforts to achieve a common goal and built on mutual respect, trust, and understanding. In conclusion, the relationship between teachers and graduates is crucial to the program's success. The equal efforts of both parties have resulted in the empowerment of individuals who have not been able to complete their basic education through traditional means. It is important to recognize the role of teachers in the lives of graduates and provide them with the necessary support and resources to continue their work. In this way, Alternative Learning System programs can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those seeking to improve their lives through education.