Resource Center Research Articles

Impact of Teacher’s Effectiveness on the Acquisition of Skills in Early Childhood Education (ECE)

The study was conducted to explore teacher effectiveness in the development of skills in early childhood education (ECE). The aim of this research work was to know to what extent the teacher is effective in the development of skills in early childhood students. Thus, the performance of learners was evaluated based on the impact of ECE resource rooms on the skills development of learners from the teacher's perception. A total of 170 teachers were chosen from elementary and secondary schools as a sample of this study. The effectiveness of the teachers in early childhood education (ECE) was evaluated using a self-created questionnaire. Data entry and subsequent statistical analysis were conducted using the Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS 21). The results revealed that male and female teacher perceptions about utilizing ECE resource rooms were different among student skills and competency development. It was concluded that a healthy learning environment is considered to be supportive in augmenting the development of the brain, as well as social and physical. The resource rooms should be established to boost prospective teachers' imagination and enable them to create stories. Teachers should be encouraged to raise discussions among students to gain their attention and support the learning process.

Nomenclatural standards of iris cultivars bred at the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS

Nomenclatural standards of five iris cultivars, namely ‘Andrey Kniazev’, ‘Eduard Regel’, ‘Marishka’, ‘Temuri’, and ‘Vitosha’ bred at the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS have been prepared in accordance with the rules and recommendations outlined in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, and in the VIR methodological guidelines for the vegetatively propagated plants. Each nomenclatural standard is one herbarium sheet with all parts of a flowering plant accompanied by photos of flowers. Nomenclatural standards are registered in the VIR Herbarium database and deposited in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR) at the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources.

Lower extremity osseointegration — a review of the current experiences and expectations

Transcutaneous osseointegration for amputees (TOFA), an alternative approach to limb-loss rehabilitation, offers an enhanced quality of life and mobility, overcoming some challenges associated with amputation. This review presents evolution, surgical techniques, patient selection principles, and outcomes associated with TOFA. Notable points include the recognition that press-fit osseointegration techniques and implants achieve the quality of life and mobility improvements with a single surgical episode. Infection remains the most common adverse event, but uncommonly requires additional surgery, and rarely requires implant removal. Press-fit osseointegration has proven suitable for rehabilitating a broad range of patients with pelvic, transfemoral, or transtibial amputation performed to manage trauma, cancer, infection, chronic pain, and deformity. This technigue is safe for patients with vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, short residual bones, and osteoporotic residual bones. This article serves as a central resource for understanding the principles and techniques of osseointegration.

Community Integrated Care Team- Detention Order Outcomes And Indications

Abstract Background Detention orders are the inherent jurisdiction of the high court. Only mechanism to support treatment in those lacking capacity and refusing care. Considered a last resort. Integrated care for older persons teams (ICPOP) often engage with complex cases who require this intervention. I aim to review detention orders enacted on ICPOP patients within 1 year. Methods Retrospective review of notes on all patients who required a detention order for transfer of care from March 2023- March 2024. Assessing on review patient’s primary diagnosis, expressed wishes, interventions implemented by the ICPOP team to avoid detention and then reasons for detention order and finally patient outcome. Results 7 patients. 6 female. Every patient expressed a wish to remain in their home. All 7 patients had dementia. Implemented interventions included, Medical social work, home care packages, Memory resource and technology room referrals, meals on wheels plus family support groups, and legal supports, ward of court and decision-making representatives. Interventions where however unsuccessful and reasons for detention ranged from- Night-time wandering x3. Road safety concerns x 3. Family neglect and abuse x 3. Fire safety x1 and Accidental poisoning/malnutrition x1 and Alcohol excess x2. All bar one patient settled without need for medication or specialist unit when transferred to nursing home. Conclusion Outcomes were positive in all cases of detention order being implemented. All 7 patients received better care and avoided serious risk to health. The one patient who required significant intervention to maintain transfer was a behavioural fronto-temporal dementia who required a locked unit and psychotropics. In all cases family supported the decision and patient quality of life improved. Where autonomy and liberty remain paramount concerns for all individuals this review confirms that in some cases doctors must act in the best interests of their patients even if this act is against their wishes.

Developing a city-wide, community-engaged cancer disparities research agenda.

In response to high levels of cancer disparities in Philadelphia, PA, three NCI-designated clinical cancer centers formed Philadelphia Communities Conquering Cancer (PC3) to bring stakeholders together and establish infrastructure for future cancer reducing initiatives. The PC3 coalition aimed to develop a prioritized cancer disparities research agenda in order to align cancer center resources and research interests with the concerns of the community about cancer, and to ensure that initiatives were patient- and community-centered. Agenda development activities culminated in a city-wide cancer disparities conference. The conference, attended by 55 diverse stakeholders, was the venue for small group discussion sessions about cancer concerns related to prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and quality of life. Sessions were guided by a moderator guide and were audiorecorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the PC3 leadership team. Results were reviewed and consensus was achieved with the help of PC3's Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Stakeholders identified four thematic areas as top priorities for cancer disparities research and action in Philadelphia: communication between patients, providers, and caregivers; education that reaches patients and community members with tailored and targeted information; navigation that assists people in finding and accessing the right cancer screening or treatment option for them; and representation that diversifies the workforce in clinics, cancer centers, and research offices. A community-informed, prioritized research agenda provides a road map for the three cancer centers to collaborate on future initiatives that are important to patients and stakeholders, to ultimately reduce the burden of cancer for all Philadelphians.

Bioactive Compound Diversity in a Wide Panel of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Cultivars: A Resource for Nutritional Food Development.

This study provides an overview of the composition of the raw root flesh of a panel of 22 sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars, with a focus on bioactive compounds. The large diversity of the proximate and phytochemical compositions observed between cultivars and within and between different flesh colors pointed out the importance of composition analysis and not only color choice for the design of foods with nutritional benefits. The nutritional composition (starch, protein, total dietary fibers) and bioactive compound composition of 22 cultivars from Reunion Island, maintained in the Vatel Biological Resource Center, were investigated. Orange and purple cultivars stood out from white and yellow cultivars for their higher nutritional composition. Purple sweet potatoes were notable for their high contents of anthocyanins (55.7 to 143.4 mg/g dry weight (DW)) and phenolic compounds, in particular chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid, contributing to antioxidant activities, as well as their fiber content (14.1 ± 2.1% DW). Orange cultivars were rich in β-carotene (47.2 ± 0.7 mg/100 g DW) and to a lesser extent α-carotene (4.8 ± 1.2 mg/100 g DW). In contrast, certain white cultivars demonstrated suboptimal nutritional properties, rendering them less relevant even for applications where the lack of coloration in food is desired. Those characteristics enable the selection of sweet potato varieties to design food products ensuring optimal nutritional benefits and culinary versatility.

Effectiveness of the use of chickpea collection samples in breeding

Aim. To determine the breeding value the large number of collection chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties obtained from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (India, Patancheru, ICRISAT) and the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine (Kharkiv) was evaluated in 1995-2022 under the conditions of the steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Standard field and laboratory methods (phenological observations, hybridization, structural analysis, biochemical analysis of protein content in seeds according to the Kjeldahl method), statistical analysis. Results. Donors and sources of such economically valuable features as early maturity, increased productivity, protein content in seeds, large-seeded, resistance against pathogens on an artificially created infectious background were identified. The set of 12 varieties of chickpea were developed by artificial hybridization, which are recommended for cultivation in all zones of Ukraine. Conclusions.The characteristics of the created varieties are given, the most valuable collection genotypes for use in crossing programs are recommended.

Student Resources and Retention Among Transgender and Nonbinary College Students

ABSTRACTTransgender and nonbinary (TNB) college students are more likely to drop out of college than their cisgender peers. While robust previous literature has focused on individually experienced stressors, this paper looks at the structural supports offered by the institution. One hundred and fifty‐four TNB college students were asked about the resources available on their campuses, their sense of safety on campus, and whether they intended to drop out of college. Campus resources and supports were associated with a greater sense of safety, and in turn, less of a desire to drop out of college. Some resources such as a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity, LGBTQ+ student organizations, all‐gender bathrooms, an LGBTQ+ resource center, and a policy allowing nonlegal name changes on official documents were more frequently reported by participants as available, while other resources such as gender inclusive housing and appropriate health services were perceived as less available. However, there was wide variability in the availability of resources. The present study suggests that TNB inclusion policies and practices should be of high priority for higher education institutions.

The Who, What, and How of Interagency Criminal Justice–Behavioral Health Teams: Developing and Sustaining Collaborations

Interagency teams are considered an evidence-based change practice, but there is a paucity of research examining them in criminal justice (CJ) and behavioral health (BH) reform contexts. This study draws on qualitative interviews ( n = 52) and survey data ( n = 791) from BH and CJ leaders across the United States to examine who is on them, what they do, and effective strategies for building and sustaining them. Findings indicated that CJ–BH interagency teams often incorporate agencies from a range of CJ, BH, social service, and health agencies. Teamwork focused on connecting clients to resources or contributing to CJ–BH coalitions and resource centers. Although the team-building strategies learning about/from other agencies and system integration were significantly associated with developing more collaborations, consensus-building activities were not. These findings suggest that interagency teams need not necessarily reach consensus on goals and vision prior to working together, as this can be built through collaboration.

A Retrospective Study of the Profiles of Outpatients Attending the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Center, Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Adolescents compose a significantly large age group, and attention to their health needs is lacking due to insufficient data and policy implementation globally and in India. India, having 268 million adolescents, faces the world's largest adolescent population, which highlights the importance of addressing their health requirements. The aim of this study was to describe the morbidity profiles of adolescent patients attending the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Centre at a tertiary-level healthcare institution in South India. A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted at the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Center from 2022 to 2023. Data on adolescent health were collected from this center's OPD using a structured questionnaire, which included information on demographics, immunization status, chief complaints, and dietary intake. Diagnosis coding was done using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), with estimated energy and protein intake. The study analyzed 4,000 adolescent patients, with a nearly equal gender distribution across physical OPD and telemedicine services. Adolescent females between 15 and 16 years had more visits for consultation. Most patients were within the normal BMI range, and telemedicine was popular among females with normal BMI. Obesity was more common in males, while overweight was prevalent in females. Energy and protein intake varied across BMI categories, with obese individuals having the highest intake. The morbidity profiles revealed significant gender differences in healthcare utilization and disease patterns. Gender differences in adolescent morbidity and the underutilization of telemedicine highlight the need for tailored healthcare interventions and further research based on socioeconomic factors.

The mutant mouse resource and research center (MMRRC) consortium: the US-based public mouse repository system

AbstractNow in its 25th year, the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) consortium continues to serve the United States and international biomedical scientific community as a public repository and distribution archive of laboratory mouse models of human disease for research. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the MMRRC consists of 4 regionally distributed and dedicated vivaria, offices, and specialized laboratory facilities and an Informatics Coordination and Service Center (ICSC). The overarching purpose of the MMRRC is to facilitate groundbreaking biomedical research by offering an extensive repertoire of mutant mice that are essential for advancing the understanding of human physiology and disease. The function of the MMRRC is to identify, acquire, evaluate, characterize, cryopreserve, and distribute mutant mouse strains to qualified biomedical investigators around the nation and the globe. Mouse strains accepted from the research community are held to the highest scientific standards to optimize reproducibility and enhance scientific rigor and transparency. All submitted strains are thoroughly reviewed, documented, and validated using extensive scientific quality control measures. In addition, the MMRRC conducts resource-related research on cryopreservation, mouse genetics, environmental conditions, and other topics that enhance operations of the MMRRC. Today, the MMRRC maintains an archive of mice, cryopreserved embryos and sperm, embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, and murine hybridomas for nearly 65,000 alleles. Since its inception, the MMRRC has fulfilled more than 20,000 orders from 13,651 scientists at 8441 institutions worldwide. The MMRRC also provides numerous services to assist researchers, including scientific consultation, technical assistance, genetic assays, microbiome analysis, analytical phenotyping, pathology, cryorecovery, husbandry, breeding and colony management, infectious disease surveillance, and disease modeling. The ICSC coordinates MMRRC operations, interacts with researchers, and manages the website (mmrrc.org) and online catalogue. Researchers benefit from an expansive list of well-defined mouse models of disease that meet the highest scientific standards while submitting investigators benefit by having their mouse strains cryopreserved, protected, and distributed in compliance with NIH policies.

Психологическое сопровождение социокультурной адаптации иностранных студентов в системе высшего образования: итоги проектно-аналитической сессии

The paper analyzes the experience of psychological support for the socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students at universities of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the work is due to the significant socio-cultural, psychological, and academic difficulties that foreign students face when studying at Russian universities and, in this regard, the need to replicate the successful experience of organizing measures to adapt this target group of students in the higher education system. The results of a monitoring survey of psychological services specialists conducted at the sites of 13 universities participating in the pilot testing of the psychological service model in the higher education system in terms of psychological support for foreign students are presented. The results of the design and analytical session organized by the Federal Resource Center for Psychological Services in the Higher Education System of the Russian Academy of Education are presented in order to further replicate successful practices of psychological support for foreign students at the university. A comprehensive program of measures for psychological support of foreign students at the university is proposed. Conclusions are drawn about the expediency of integrating individual measures to accompany and support foreign students into the overall structure of the psychological service of the university.

Sumber Daya Pendukung Pelaksanaan Kurikulum Untuk Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus di Sekolah Inklusi

Children with special needs need more attention in education, because they also have potential within themselves. Parents, teachers and the government are resources that are expected to support the implementation of the curriculum for children with special needs. This research seeks to explore the role of parents, schools and government in implementing the curriculum for children with special needs, as well as any weaknesses in its implementation. Data was obtained from resource room observations, interviews with school principals and special support teachers and documentation. The results of the research show that parents, schools and the government have supported the implementation of the curriculum for children with special needs well, although there are several weaknesses in its implementation. From these results it can be concluded that parents and schools play an active role in implementing the curriculum for children with special needs, while the government is still not optimal for several reasons. Therefore, government policies must be properly enforced in their implementation.

Reading Practices with Multilingual Children in Norwegian Kindergartens

One in five children in Norwegian kindergartens are multilingual, and reading practices that encourage the use of multilinguals’ entire linguistic repertoire can serve as important opportunities for language sharing, which is also encouraged by the Norwegian education authorities. In this study, we initially aimed to explore kindergarten reading practices involving languages other than Norwegian. When it became clear that such practices are rare, we expanded our investigation to include early childhood teachers’ experiences of reading with multilingual children more broadly. Our data sources consist of both self-reported data from a nationwide survey on reading practices in Norwegian kindergartens and six semi-structured focus group interviews with kindergarten staff. As reading in Norwegian kindergartens appears to occur in a space between kindergarten children’s right to meaningful experiences in different languages and their need to learn Norwegian, we shed light on what early childhood teachers highlight as central resources for reading with multilinguals. The key resources that emerge in the analyses encompass different forms of expression, hence multimodality is used as the overarching theoretical perspective in the study. Additionally, we discuss how good opportunities for promoting diverse reading practices become evident when kindergarten staff demonstrate curiosity, creativity, and a problem-solving approach to reading with multilinguals.

Experience of regret is unaffected by concurrent working memory load

Background When facing the consequences of decisions, people often experience evaluative emotions such as regret. The experience of regret is the result of the comparison between the actual outcome of one’s actions and a better counterfactual outcome that could have occurred had one acted differently in the past. Despite increasing interest in counterfactual thinking and regret, little is known about the type of cognitive processes involved with regret –whether it is underpinned by reflective or intuitive processes. The extant literature provides contradictory evidence: theoretical assertions and developmental work point towards reflective processes, requiring access to capacity-limited cognitive resources whereas, some experimental and neuroscientific evidence point towards intuitive processes. Methods In the current study, adults (N = 20) completed a commonly used gambling task known to elicit regret under high or low working memory load. Results Ratings of regret were not affected by concurrent working memory load (Bayes Factors provided strong evidence for the null hypothesis). Conclusions We conclude that the experience of regret in a commonly used gambling task is unaffected by concurrent working memory load. This suggests that, in adults, regret is not always reliant on reflective cognitive processes and does not require access to central cognitive resources.

EP186 - Blood transfusion documentation in surgical patients - are we doing it correctly? An audit on the blood transfusion documentation in surgical patients at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom

Abstract Aim Transfusion of blood products is commonly indicated in surgical patients, especially in patients with gastro-intestinal bleeding, gastro-intestinal cancers, and trauma patients. However, the documentation regarding blood transfusion in these patients often does not meet the guidelines. The aim of this clinical audit was to improve the blood transfusion (BT) related documentation in patients of general surgery (GS) at a district general hospital (DGH) in the United Kingdom, in accordance with the national guidelines (Administration of blood components: a British Society for Haematology Guideline) and the local trust guidelines. Method For the 1st-cycle of the audit, we did retrospective study of all adult patients admitted under GS in our DGH from 1st July 2023 to 15th August 2023 (6weeks) who received BT, and their electronic records were assessed with regards to documentation regarding the following criteria: decision to transfuse, patient's consent and understanding, post-transfusion effect and discharge notes. Following this, we had a discussion with the junior doctors in the department, who do these documentation, to make them aware of the BT guidelines, and to improve adherence. The 2nd-cycle included retrospective data collection from 1st September 2023 to 15th October 2023 (6 weeks). Results BT-documentation during the 2nd-cycle showed significant improvement to adherence above 80% in most of the criteria where it needed improvement in the 1st-cycle. Conclusion This clinical audit successfully improved the BT-documentation adherence to the guidelines, showing that through simple educational methods, the documentation practices could be improved significantly. Our plans for subsequent improvement includes posters in the departmental resource room to increase the awareness, and to re-audit in December 2023.

Detailed Analysis of Responses from Older Adults through Natural Speech: Comparison of Questions by AI Agents and Humans.

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have begun to use conversational data in spontaneous speech to estimate cognitive function in older people. The providers of spontaneous speech with older people used to be physicians and licensed psychologists, but it is now possible to have conversations with fully automatic AI agents. However, it has not yet been clarified what differences exist in conversational communication with older people when the examiner is either a human or an AI agent. In this study, elderly people living in the community and attending a silver human resource center and a day service center were the subjects. Dialogues were conducted using generic interview items for estimating cognitive function through daily conversation, which were developed through research on estimation methods for cognitive function. From the data obtained from the dialogues, we compared the effects of human-AI interaction on the number of utterances, speaking time, and silence time. This study was conducted at a facility in Japan and included 32 subjects (12 males and 20 females). The results showed significant differences between human and AI dialogue in the number of utterances and silent time. This study suggests the effectiveness of AI in communication with older people and explores the possibility of using AI in social welfare.

Experience of Nurses in Carrying Out the Main Duties and Functions of Nurses at UPT Puskesmas Panamas, Kapuas Regency, in 2023 / 2024

This research explores the experiences of nurses in carrying out their main duties and functions at the Panamas Community Health Center. Qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach are used to gain an in-depth understanding of this phenomenon. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 12 nurses selected by purposive sampling. Data analysis using the Colaizzi method produced five main themes: (1) Nurses' activities in health services, (2) Tasks carried out by community health center nurses, (3) The importance of good health program management, (4) Management of duties and authority in health services, and (5) Shortage of health and non-health personnel and multifunctionality in health services. Research results show that nurses often have to take over the roles of doctors, administrative staff, and pharmacists due to limited human resources even though these tasks should not be their responsibility. This causes nurses to lose focus in carrying out their main duties, nurses feel that their main role as care providers is disturbed. Nurses also run various health programs and serve as physician assistants, although these roles often exceed their duties. The importance of good health program management was emphasized, as many participants experienced difficulties in achieving targets, reporting and patient monitoring. Management of tasks and authority includes handover of tasks, delegation of daily tasks, and delegation of authority, however socialization to staff has not been comprehensive. Lack of human resources causes nurses to carry out multiple roles which hinders their professional development. This research recommends strengthening competency and further training for nurses, increasing legal awareness regarding the delegation of authority, integrating health management education in the nursing curriculum, as well as increasing the number and qualifications of human resources in community health centers.

Diversity Scholarships for Plastic Surgery Subinternships: A National Review of US Residency Programs.

Residency programs have developed monetary initiatives for students underrepresented in medicine (URiM). Our team sought to provide a centralized resource for URiM students seeking plastic surgery subinternships with funded opportunities. A cross sectional analysis of URiM scholarships offered by US integrated plastic surgery programs (n = 91) between July and September 2023. The study used residency program web domains. Investigators collected information on the monetary value of scholarship, eligibility criteria, and required application documents. Inferential analyses were conducted to investigate whether programs' geographic region or Doximity ranking played a role in likelihood of scholarship existence. The study found that approximately 52.7% (n = 48) of programs have in place monetary support for underrepresented visiting medical students (eg, stipend or reimbursement). The average monetary support was $1670. A univariate test demonstrated that programs with lower rankings in both reputation and research were less likely to have a scholarship available than higher ranking programs (P = 0.002; P = 0.02, respectively). Programs located in the Midwest regions were 3.5 times more likely to have a diversity scholarship available (P = 0.034). In our multivariate analysis, reputation ranking and geographic region remained significant. A Pearson chi square test showed the greatest proportions of scholarships among geographically similar programs to be in the Midwest (70%), however, not statistically significant. This study provides a centralized resource for URiM students interested in completing away rotations. Further investigation into development of these scholarship opportunities would be of much benefit and could guide other programs in the funding their own diversity scholarships.

Improving Fairness of Automated Chest Radiograph Diagnosis by Contrastive Learning.

Purpose To develop an artificial intelligence model that uses supervised contrastive learning (SCL) to minimize bias in chest radiograph diagnosis. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, the proposed method was evaluated on two datasets: the Medical Imaging and Data Resource Center (MIDRC) dataset with 77 887 chest radiographs in 27 796 patients collected as of April 20, 2023, for COVID-19 diagnosis and the National Institutes of Health ChestX-ray14 dataset with 112 120 chest radiographs in 30 805 patients collected between 1992 and 2015. In the ChestX-ray14 dataset, thoracic abnormalities included atelectasis, cardiomegaly, effusion, infiltration, mass, nodule, pneumonia, pneumothorax, consolidation, edema, emphysema, fibrosis, pleural thickening, and hernia. The proposed method used SCL with carefully selected positive and negative samples to generate fair image embeddings, which were fine-tuned for subsequent tasks to reduce bias in chest radiograph diagnosis. The method was evaluated using the marginal area under the receiver operating characteristic curve difference (∆mAUC). Results The proposed model showed a significant decrease in bias across all subgroups compared with the baseline models, as evidenced by a paired t test (P < .001). The ∆mAUCs obtained by the proposed method were 0.01 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.01), 0.21 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.21), and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.10) for sex, race, and age subgroups, respectively, on the MIDRC dataset and 0.01 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.01) and 0.05 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.05) for sex and age subgroups, respectively, on the ChestX-ray14 dataset. Conclusion Employing SCL can mitigate bias in chest radiograph diagnosis, addressing concerns of fairness and reliability in deep learning-based diagnostic methods. Keywords: Thorax, Diagnosis, Supervised Learning, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Computer-aided Diagnosis (CAD) Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024 See also the commentary by Johnson in this issue.