Conditioned Preference Research Articles

Exploring factors of HPV self-sampling acceptance:a qualitative study with hard-to-reach women

Abstract Background Cervical cancer disproportionately affects socially disadvantaged women, who tend to be underscreened and are generally called “hard-to-reach”. HPV DNA testing based on self-sampling test is an alternative strategy to address women’s low screening uptake and reduce inequalities. Psychosocial factors like self-efficacy, ethicality, and testing conditions should be considered when assessing the acceptability of HPV self-sampling. However, research on the acceptability of HPV self-sampling is scarce among hard-to-reach women. Our study aims to explore self-efficacy beliefs, perceptions of how well HPV self-sampling fits participants’ values and their preferred testing conditions and understand how these factors influence the acceptability of HPV self-sampling test among hard-to-reach women. Methods This qualitative study used a semi-structured guide based on three constructs of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with n = 63 hard-to-reach women in Portugal (2 FGD), Ecuador (4 FGD), and Belgium (3 FGD). Data were analysed using deductive content analysis. Results While some women viewed HPV self-sampling as acceptable, others questioned its compatibility with their ethical views and moral principles, stressing that the test cannot replace the clinical examination. Participants held conflicting views, with some expressing confidence in their sampling abilities while others feared making errors when taking the sample. Cultural disparities in preferred testing conditions emerged: Ecuadorian women preferred solo testing, while those in Europe preferred assistance. Conclusions This study indicated ambivalent attitudes towards self-sampling. Further research on HPV self-sampling acceptability is needed to explore socio-cultural nuances. Our study emphasises the importance of culturally attuned interventions to address these populations’ needs and reduce inequalities. Key messages • Hard-to-reach women harbour conflicting views about self-sampling. • Screening policies may include opportunities for self- and clinician sampling.

Person-first and identity-first disability language: Informing client centred care

BackgroundAddressing individuals with a disability can entail the use of person-first (person with a disability) or identity-first language (disabled person). However, there has been debate about use of these terms, yet there is a lack of evidence to inform preference across people with a broad range of health conditions, demographics, or health related factors. MethodsA 42-item survey measuring demographic and health condition factors, implicit and explicit preference for person-first and identity-first language use was open for completion by individuals with a self-reported health condition between July 7, 2021 and November 30, 2021. Recruitment was undertaken via posts on relevant social media sites and through community support and advocacy organisations. ResultsData analysis included responses from 875 valid surveys. Mean age of participants was 39.7 (SD: 13.7) years. There were 89 (10.2%) male, 637 female (72.8%) and 149 (17.0%) non-binary/other participants. When referring to themselves, participants most often reported use of identity first language (n = 335, 42.2%), followed by person-first language (n = 272, 34.1%), then both interchangeably (118, 23.7%). When referring to others, participants most often used person first language (n = 312, 39.4%), followed by both interchangeably (269, 34.0%), then identity-first language (n = 211, 26.6%). Disability language preference varied across health conditions, with participants with neurodevelopmental conditions most likely to use identity-first language and participants with digestive conditions most often preferencing person-first language. Participants who were younger and of non-binary gender preferred use of identity-first language. Appropriate use of identity-first language was rated significantly higher for people with a disability/health condition and family/friends than for third-party representatives, including healthcare professionals, educators, media and the general public. ConclusionFindings highlight the need to understand health condition and disability language preference in a more nuanced way to promote respectful language use when addressing people in the context of their disability/health condition.

One-step synthesis of short columnar α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate from titanium white waste acid

The waste sulfuric acid solution emerged as a main emission substance from titanium dioxide production is called titanium white waste acid (TWWA). The disposal of TWWA has been a concern due to its potential impact on the environment. A green way including one-step preparation and purification stages of α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-HH) from TWWA and lime mud via a neutralization reaction in the hydrothermal pressure apparatus was developed. The preferred experimental conditions were obtained, i.e., lime mud/TWWA/sodium citrate ratio: 16/16/1, 140 ℃, 0.5 MPa, reaction time: 10 min. The recovery rate of α-HH in the whole process was 89.5%. The method presented high efficiency and selectivity in conversion to a short-columnar-shaped α-HH under addition of 3.40 × 10−2 mol/L sodium citrate as a crystal modifier. The structure and composition of the obtained α-HH products were confirmed by XRD, TGA, and SEM. Compared with titanium gypsum, the obtained short columnar α-HH with hexaprismatic morphology showed excellent mechanical properties. According to GB/T 9776 − 2008 “Calcined gypsum”, the compressive strength of 7 days of the cemented short-columnar α-HH was about 6.35 MPa, which it meets the strength requirements for building gypsum.

Spatial Aggregations of the Grey Field Slug Deroceras reticulatum Are Unstable Under Abnormally High Soil Moisture Conditions.

Deroceras reticulatum in arable fields display spatio-temporally stable slug patches that have been well documented under typical soil moisture conditions. The effect of abnormally high soil moisture on slug patch stability, however, is unknown. In this study, stepped gradient choice tests comparing soil moisture levels of 50-125% soil capacity showed slug preferences for levels in a range near to 125%. Activity became erratic, however, when given a choice of high moisture levels (125-370%), potentially because slugs searched for preferred conditions. Slug spatial aggregation was investigated in 21 commercial fields in 2023/24, a season of extreme rainfall, and then compared to years exhibiting typical rainfall (2015-2018). Slug patches occurred in 27.2% of assessment visits to fields during 2023/24 compared to 96.4% in typical years, suggesting weather conditions leading to abnormally high soil moisture are significantly associated with the breakdown of slug spatial aggregation behaviour. Random forest models identified the weather predictors (precipitation, relative humidity, temperature) with the highest impact on slug distribution and relative abundance, with the assessment date and region also related to relative abundance. However, a complex of environmental parameters affects soil moisture content, and no statistically significant effects of individual weather predictors emerged. The results are discussed in relation to slug behaviour in the context of their impact on targeted slug treatments.

Influence of Soil Moisture on Soil Temperature of Harumanis Mango Trees Under Controlled Environment

Soil moisture and temperature plays an essential role in plant growth and development. They are the main environmental variables controlling soil respiration and photosynthesis. For Harumanis mango grown in a controlled environment, these two variables are important in regulating the overall condition to imitate the required condition, particularly during vegetative growth. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of soil moisture on soil temperature in the Harumanis mango tree greenhouse. Two types of sensors: soil moisture and soil temperature sensor, were installed at 15 cm depth to monitor the in-situ readings at three specific locations in the selected greenhouse. Soil moisture and soil temperature were monitored for 20 days continuously at 10-minutes intervals. The results of linear regression indicated that an increase in soil moisture decreases the soil temperature, although there is a variation in data regarding the sampling locations. This information could help growers plan the irrigation efficiently (i.e. water amount) to initiate preferable dry conditions to induce flowering of these mango trees

A Discussion Related to the Impact of Incorporating Standardised Individualised Strength Training in the Physical Education Curriculum of Colleges and Universities on the Mental Health of College Students

This study explores the far-reaching impact of standardised personalised strength training on college students' mental health. With the continuous improvement of the comprehensive quality requirements for college students in modern society, mental health problems have gradually come to the forefront and become an important issue to be solved in the field of higher education. Traditional physical education programmes tend to be designed and implemented in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ teaching mode, ignoring the significant differences between students in terms of physical condition, athletic ability and interest preferences. This neglect not only limits the overall development of students' physical abilities, but may also adversely affect their mental health. In response to this challenge, standardised and individualised strength training has been developed. The core of this approach is ‘personalisation’, i.e., a training programme that is tailored to the specific needs of each student. The individualised training programme not only takes into account the student's physical condition and athletic ability, but also respects their preferences. In this way, students are able to train at an intensity and tempo that suits them, thus improving the training effect and reducing the risk of sports injuries.

Sleep quality and thermal comfort assessment in the hot and humid climate of Malaysia

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between thermal comfort and sleep quality among 417 Malaysian adults via an online survey conducted from November 2019 to April 2020. Participants provided demographic information, thermal comfort, and sleep quality data. The research explores how factors such as air conditioning and pre-sleep behaviours influence individuals’ perceptions of thermal comfort and sleep quality. Findings reveal that thermal sensations change during sleep, with respondents reporting a 50% decrease in warmer sensations upon waking compared to before sleep, and a nearly threefold increase in preference for warmer conditions. Sleep quality responses indicate high levels of calmness and satisfaction, with minimal awakenings at an average of 0.9. Air conditioning, available to 60% of respondents, showed limited improvement in perceived sleep quality, with more air-conditioned individuals reporting night awakenings (68%) compared to those without (53%). Pre-sleep behaviours, such as consuming drinks, were associated with lower thermal sensation upon waking, suggesting a potential cooling effect, while taking a shower before sleep correlated with increased overall comfort, potentially enhancing the sleep experience.

Sequential Conditioning With FLAMSA Does Not Improve Outcomes of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Patients

As with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), effective treatment options for Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) are limited, and the optimal treatment approach remains undefined. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is potentially curative therapy for patients with CMML. Sequential conditioning with FLAMSA was initially developed for refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has since been applied in the treatment of MDS and CMML. Data on optimal allo-SCT conditioning in CMML Patients is scarce. This retrospective study from the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at the University Medical Center Hamburg, Germany, compared allo-SCT outcomes in CMML patients across three conditioning regimes: Thiotepa-Busulfan (TB), Sequential FLAMSA-Busulfan Fludarabine (FLAMSA-FB), and Treosulfan-Fludarabine (Treo-Flu). Sixty-nine consecutive patients with CMML who underwent allo-SCT between the years 2006-2022 were included in the study. Twenty-two received TB, 27 received FLAMSA-FB, and 20 received Treo-Flu conditioning. Transplant sources included matched related donors (MRD, 8 patients), mismatched related donors (MMRD, 8 all in the TB group), matched unrelated donors (MUD, 31), and mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD, 22) with significant group variations (p<0.001). Most patients received anti-T lymphocyte Globulin (ATLG) for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (TB 68%, FLAMSA-FB 93%, Treo-Flu 85%, p=0.08). CPSS-Molecular score was comparable between the groups. One TB patient experienced primary graft failure, but engraftment times were comparable across the groups. Although not statistically significant, the TB group showed a trend towards improved 3-year OS rates (80%) compared to FLAMSA-FB (37%) and Treo-Flu (55%) (p=0.05). The TB group also displayed significantly higher 3-year PFS rates (80%) compared to FLAMSA-FB (33%) and Treo-Flu (both 39%), (p=0.02). No significant differences were observed in 3-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) across the TB (20%), FLAMSA-FB (30%), and Treo-Flu (26%) groups (p=0.8). Interestingly, no TB patients relapsed at 3 years, contrasting with the FLAMSA-FB (41%) and Treo-Flu groups (30%, p=0.02). Lastly, cumulative incidences of acute and chronic GVHD were similar across groups. Our analysis suggests FLAMSA-FB does not improve transplant outcomes, however TB represents the preferred conditioning regimen for CMML patients undergoing allo-SCT. It demonstrates notable advantages in relapse prevention and leads to improved OS and PFS compared to FLAMSA-FB and Treo-Flu protocols.

The evolution of two‐stage production and order equilibrium in a random yield supply chain with demand information updating

AbstractThe mismatch between production, order, and demand seriously affects supply chain performance. However, most research focus on the mismatch between the retailer's order and customer's demand, which ignores the influence of the supplier's random yield on supply chain members' decision‐making. This paper investigates a two‐stage optimization problem within a two‐echelon supply chain, featuring a supplier with random yield and a retailer updating demand information in real‐time. Faced with a long production lead time, the retailer can either place advance orders at the production season's onset (first‐stage advance order) or opt for instant orders at the beginning of the sales season (second‐stage instant order). To ensure timely order fulfillment, the supplier initially employs a cost‐effective regular production mode with random yield during the production season. If yields are insufficient during sales, a pricier emergency production mode with guaranteed output becomes available. Utilizing a dynamic programming approach, we formulate the two‐stage optimization problem to derive optimal production and order decisions. Our analysis uncovers how realized random yield and stochastic market signals influence emergency production and instant order quantities in the second stage. We compare expected profits in scenarios with perfect and imperfect market signals, probing the members' preferences regarding order strategies. An intriguing finding emerges: as instant wholesale prices rising, the supplier's preferred order strategy diverges from the retailer. By strategic adjustments to the instant wholesale price, we demonstrate the potential for unanimous agreement on preferred order strategies among supply chain members — a quality enhancing the chain's flexibility and performance. Moreover, we extend the model to hybrid order strategies and identify conditions for unanimous preference among the three strategies. To bolster our theoretical findings, we provide numerical examples, lending practical support to our study.

Microwave Electro-technological Installation for Processing Vegetable-origin Organic Materials and Agricultural Crops

The research aims to conduct experimental studies of the drying schedule for processing vegetable-origin organic materials using a microwave electro-technological installation. The design and development of a microwave electro-technological installation for processing vegetable-origin organic materials and agricultural crops are based on the solution of an agreed boundary value problem of electrodynamics and heat and mass transfer. The experiments on the microwave processing of vegetable-origin organic materials using a microwave electro-technological installation allowed us to identify the preferred process conditions, which involve the work of 7 magnetrons and a rotation mechanism of vegetable-origin organic materials along their axis. The processing time is less than 15 hours; the final humidity does not exceed 7%. The temperature change is uniform. The temperature at a depth of 1/4 of the thickness of the samples differs from the temperature on the surface of the samples by 0.5–1.0°C. The differences in the calculated and experimental data on the humidity of organic materials of plant origin do not exceed 3.8%, and on temperature, it is 4.3%. The creation of a microwave installation for the simultaneous microwave processing of vegetable organic materials and agricultural crops will significantly increase the energy and economic efficiency of the installation by reducing the processing time and increasing the quality of dried material quality. Moreover, unlike the existing ones, the proposed electro-technological installation contributes to the sale of more than two products with improved qualities, thus increasing the profits at the same energy costs.

Combined Effects of Local and Regional Drivers on Oyster Spat Density and Growth in Eastern Australia

Up to 85% of shellfish reefs have been lost worldwide, resulting in declining ecosystem services, and increasing restoration demand. However, more information regarding the conditions which maximise oyster settlement and growth is required to optimise restoration. We deployed oyster settlement tiles at 21 intertidal sites throughout Moreton Bay, Australia; a region where > 96% of rock oyster reefs are lost and demand for restoration is high. We quantified effects of variables describing the spatial (from GIS), local habitat (using quadrats and water quality measures), and oyster predator (using underwater videography) characteristics of sites on oyster density and size on tiles. Oyster density was highest at sites with intermediate predator abundance and temperature, highest nearby invertebrate cover, and low and high values of turbidity and nearby rock and algae cover. Conversely, oyster size was highest at sites with intermediate predator density, higher fish species richness and turbidity, and lowest temperatures. Together, this showed that optimal restoration requires sites with 22 to 23 °C average water temperatures, between 10 and 15 oyster predators, and either low (< 2 NTU) or high (> 6 NTU) turbidity levels. Notably, we observed multiple peaks for several variables, suggesting the potential presence of multiple cryptic oyster species on settlement tiles. We found that oysters shared preferred environmental conditions with polychaetes, coralline algae, and tunicates, and were more prevalent and abundant at sites with lower turf algae, barnacle, and mussel cover. Identifying environmental variables influencing oyster population distribution, settlement, and growth can guide the selection and approach of oyster restoration sites.

Precipitation variations associated with tropical cyclone intensity and intensity change in the Northwest Pacific using 21-Yr GPM IMERG product

ABSTRACT Precipitation variations associated with tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and intensity changes in the Northwest Pacific are examined using the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement product spanning from June 2000 to December 2020. The initial analysis focuses on the precipitation properties of TCs in a Neutral stage (TC-N). Results indicate a linear increase in both the precipitation area and the maximum rain rate with rising TC intensity, accompanied by a reduced radius of the maximum rain rate. Increased precipitation probability and intense rainfall occur in the down-shear quadrants relative to vertical wind shear. Compared to TC-N, TCs undergoing intensification display larger precipitation areas, a more symmetric spatial distribution, and an increased mean rain rate in the inner core area. The increase in precipitation area and the mean rain rate in the inner core area correlate with the intensification rate. TCs undergoing weakening exhibit a more asymmetric spatial distribution of precipitation. The increase in the asymmetry index is positively correlated with the weakening rate. Findings suggest that the precipitation area and the mean rain rate in the inner core area could serve as potential predictors for forecasting TC intensification rates. Additionally, an asymmetric spatial distribution of precipitation emerges as a preferred condition for predicting TC weakening.

Enhanced removal of tetracycline in light-dark tandem by FeCu-doped carbon composites derived from waste cotton fabrics

It is of great significance to develop an energy-efficient and external oxidant-free strategy for antibiotics removal. In this study, the novel light-dark tandem strategy was established to enhance tetracycline (TC) removal by bifunctional FeCu-doped carbon composites (FeCu@BC) derived from waste cotton fabrics. Interestingly, over 95 % TC was removed by FeCu@BC under light alone and dark alone in 10 min, with the same preferred conditions of pH 7.50 and 0.04 g/L catalyst dosage. Surprisingly, the enhanced mineralization efficiency of TC was achieved by the light-dark tandem without adjusting the parameters as 86.65 %, which was 1.13, 1.46 and 2.12 times higher than those of the dark-light tandem, light alone and dark alone, respectively. The mechanisms were elucidated as that 83.28 % direct degradation and 4.37 % indirect degradation under light while 47.63 % direct degradation and 24.16 % indirect degradation under darkness contributed for TC removal. The synergetic effects of persistent free radicals (PFRs) and FeCu interactions enabled FeCu@BC to work efficiently under both light and darkness, and light enhanced electron transfer between PFRs and FeCu interactions. Furthermore, energetic electrons stored in these active sites under light could be extracted to enhance electron transfer under subsequent darkness and the strongly catalytically active species initiated under light remained in action after cessation of light. Finally, high molecular TC was easily decomposed by energetic photo-catalysis and low molecular intermediates were mineralized under subsequent enhanced dark-catalysis to increase the mineralization efficiency. In general, this study provided an eco-friendly organics removal strategy and mechanisms insights based on the natural day-night cycle.

T1-weighted Motion Mitigation in Abdominal MRI: Technical Principles, Clinical Applications, Current Limitations, and Future Prospects.

T1-weighted (T1W) pulse sequences are an indispensable component of clinical protocols in abdominal MRI but usually require multiple breath holds (BHs) during the examination, which not all patients can sustain. Patient motion can affect the quality of T1W imaging so that key diagnostic information, such as intrinsic signal intensity and contrast enhancement image patterns, cannot be determined. Patient motion also has a negative impact on examination efficiency, as multiple acquisition attempts prolong the duration of the examination and often remain noncontributory. Techniques for mitigation of motion-related artifacts at T1W imaging include multiple arterial acquisitions within one BH; free breathing with respiratory gating or respiratory triggering; and radial imaging acquisition techniques, such as golden-angle radial k-space acquisition (stack-of-stars). While each of these techniques has inherent strengths and limitations, the selection of a specific motion-mitigation technique is based on several factors, including the clinical task under investigation, downstream technical ramifications, patient condition, and user preference. The authors review the technical principles of free-breathing motion mitigation techniques in abdominal MRI with T1W sequences, offer an overview of the established clinical applications, and outline the existing limitations of these techniques. In addition, practical guidance for abdominal MRI protocol strategies commonly encountered in clinical scenarios involving patients with limited BH abilities is rendered. Future prospects of free-breathing T1W imaging in abdominal MRI are also discussed. ©RSNA, 2024 See the invited commentary by Fraum and An in this issue.

Effects of blood extraction and ecophysiological experiments on stress in adult males of Liolaemus attenboroughi.

Stress during laboratory experiments can affect the outcomes of ecophysiological studies. The serum corticosterone concentration (CORT), the leukocyte profile, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L), and the presence of blood endoparasites were analyzed as a proxy of stress and immunological state in adult males of the lizard Liolaemus attenboroughi, endemic to Patagonia, Argentina. The results of the ecophysiological variables (preferred temperature, running speed, locomotor endurance, and body condition index, BCI) were analyzed in relation to stress indicators obtained from blood samples taken at three different times: at capture, and on the third and seventh days in the laboratory. Males at capture showed a high percentage of lymphocytes and heterophils and a low of basophils, monocytes, and eosinophils. Haemogregorina-type endoparasites have been recorded in the genus Liolaemus for the first time. The proportion of infected males remained stable during captivity; however, these males showed higher CORT levels, increased percentages of basophils, and decreased percentages of lymphocytes. There was a significant increment in CORT and H/L, and a decrease in BCI during laboratory experiments, compared with baseline values at capture. The performance was not related to the CORT or the repeated blood sampling. The BCI decreased, possibly due to energy reserve mobilization caused by acute stress. This study shows that blood extraction and ecophysiological experiments over 7 days have a minor effect on the stress indicators used.

Monthly Occurrence of Endoparasites of Chaetognaths in a Coastal System of the Mexican Central Pacific

The prevalence of endoparasites associated with chaetognath abundance in the coastal waters of the Mexican Central Pacific was studied fortnightly from November 2010 to December 2011. A total of 35 (0.21%) out of 16,407 chaetognaths were found to be parasitized. Five out of twelve chaetognath species (Flaccisagitta enflata, F. hexaptera, Parasagitta euneritica, Serratosagitta pacifica, Zonosagitta bedoti) were found to be parasitized by nine endoparasitic taxa: Protists (two morphotypes), digenean metacercariae [Didymozoidae, Hemiuridae, Parahemiurus sp., Lepocreadiidae, Prosorhynchus sp. (Bucephalidae)], and cestodes (metacestodes) [Tetraphyllidea (two morphotypes)]. Parasagitta. euneritica and Z. bedoti were the most abundant chaetognath species, and Protist sp. 2 and Tetraphyllidea sp. 1 were the most abundant parasites. The highest prevalence for most of the endoparasite species occurred in June, and the values varied according to three hydroclimatic periods: stratified (S), semi-mixed (SM), and mixed (M). Eight non-infected chaetognath species, two parasitized chaetognaths (F. enflata and S. pacifica), and two parasites (Protist sp. 1 and Tetraphyllidea sp. 2) were associated with warm temperatures (S and SM periods); in contrast, P. euneritica, Z. bedoti, parasitized F. hexaptera, and the parasite Tetraphyllidea sp. 1 showed a strong local preference for cooler temperatures, high productivity, and high biomass conditions (M periods). We discovered the occurrence of the digenean Prosorhynchus sp. (Bucephalidae) parasitizing the chaetognath P. euneritica, and this is the first report of Prosorhynchus parasitizing chaetognaths worldwide. We also confirmed the presence of Lepocrediidae (metacercariae larval stage) infecting F. hexaptera, a parasite that had only been recorded infecting other chaetognaths of the Atlantic Ocean. The parasite diversity affecting the chaetognath populations of the Central Mexican Pacific coast likely differs between the offshore, outer slope areas, and the surveyed coastal system.

The Identification of Kabatiella zeae as a Causal Agent of Northern Anthracnose of Sorghum in China and Estimation of Host Resistance.

Sorghum northern anthracnose is a leaf disease affecting sorghum, which results in plant death and substantial yield loss. This study aimed to effectively understand the disease, clarify its biological characteristics, and evaluate the resistance of germplasm resources. A field sample was collected to isolate and purify the pathogen. The pathogen, identified as Kabatiella zeae Narita et Hiratsuka using both morphological and molecular techniques, was further confirmed as the causative agent of northern anthracnose of sorghum following Robert Koch's principles. The results revealed the optimal culture temperature to be 25 °C, preferred dark culture conditions, and the best growth on potato glucose agar medium with sucrose and L-leucine as the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. A total of 138 sorghum germplasm resources were inoculated and evaluated using the isolated pathogen, with 20 lines (14.49%) exhibiting high resistance, 18 lines (13.04%) showing disease resistance, 27 lines (19.57%) demonstrating medium resistance, 37 lines (26.81%) being susceptible, and 36 lines (26.09%) classified as highly susceptible. The indoor fungicide screening was conducted through pathogen medium application, and enilconazole, pyraclostrobin, methylthiophanate, and flusilazole were screened for the best fungicide inhibition with a 100% inhibition rate compared with the control. This study provides reference for field pharmaceutical control in sorghum production.

Outcomes of Aural Rehabilitation Provided in Person or by Telehealth Among Deaf/Hard of Hearing Young Children with Cochlear Implants or Hearing Aids.

Background: Cochlear implants and hearing aids may facilitate the development of listening and spoken language (LSL) in deaf/hard of hearing young children, but they require aural rehabilitation therapy-often unavailable outside urban areas-for optimal outcomes. This trial assessed the relative effectiveness of LSL therapy delivered either in person or by interactive video. The hypothesis was that telehealth service delivery would be noninferior to in-person therapy. Methods: Most parents refused randomization of their children to telehealth or in-person conditions; therefore, randomization was impossible. In consultation with the funder (NIDCD), the study design was modified. Parents were allowed to select their preferred study condition, and the study team was blinded to group membership. Forty-two families were in the in-person group and 35 in telehealth (40 and 30, respectively, after attrition). Primary endpoints were total score, auditory comprehension, and expressive communication on the Preschool Language Scale, 5th edition. There were several secondary speech, hearing, and language outcome measures. Assessments occurred at baseline and at follow-up after 6 months of LSL therapy. Results: Propensity scores were used to create two matched groups. At baseline, groups did not differ on PLS-5 scores. Change from baseline to F/U on age-equivalents for all three scores was nearly identical for both groups, although the telehealth group was younger, on average, than the in-person group. Discussion: Telehealth was noninferior to in-person services for all primary endpoints. For secondary outcomes, neither group demonstrated a significant advantage. Magnitudes of estimated group differences were small, suggesting nonsignificant differences not predominantly because of sample size. The telehealth group showed greater improvement on 15/24 of secondary language outcome measures. The findings provide evidence that telehealth is equivalent to in-person care for providing LSL therapy to young children with cochlear implants and hearing aids.

Intelligent condition prediction model for bridge infrastructure based on evaluating machine learning algorithms

PurposePrediction models are essential tools for transportation agencies to forecast the condition of bridge decks based on available data, and artificial intelligence is paramount for this purpose. This study aims at proposing a bridge deck condition prediction model by assessing various classification and regression algorithms.Design/methodology/approachThe 2019 National Bridge Inventory database is considered for model development. Eight different feature selection techniques, along with their mean and frequency, are used to identify the critical features influencing deck condition ratings. Thereafter, four regression and four classification algorithms are applied to predict condition ratings based on the selected features, and their performances are evaluated and compared with respect to the mean absolute error (MAE).FindingsClassification algorithms outperform regression algorithms in predicting deck condition ratings. Due to its minimal MAE (0.369), the random forest classifier with eleven features is recommended as the preferred condition prediction model. The identified dominant features are superstructure condition, age, structural evaluation, substructure condition, inventory rating, maximum span length, deck area, average daily traffic, operating rating, deck width, and the number of spans.Practical implicationsThe proposed bridge deck condition prediction model offers a valuable tool for transportation agencies to plan maintenance and resource allocation efficiently, ultimately improving bridge safety and serviceability.Originality/valueThis study provides a detailed framework for applying machine learning in bridge condition prediction that applies to any bridge inventory database. Moreover, it uses a comprehensive dataset encompassing an entire region, broadening the model’s applicability and representation.

Fungal cryopreservation across 61 genera: Practical application and method evaluation

ABSTRACT Fungi occupy important environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic roles. However, biological research of this diverse kingdom has lagged behind that of other phylogenetic groups. This is partially the result of the notorious difficulty in culturing a diverse array of filamentous fungal species due to their (i) often unpredictable growth, (ii) unknown preferences for culturing conditions, and (iii) long incubation times compared with other microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts. Given the complexity associated with concurrently culturing diverse fungal species, developing practical methods for preserving as many species as possible for future research is vital. The widely accepted best practice for preserving fungal tissue is the use of cryogenic biobanking at −165 C, allowing for the preservation and documentation of stable genetic lineages, thus enabling long-term diversity-centered research. Despite the extensive literature on fungal cryopreservation, substantial barriers remain for implementation of cryogenic biobanks in smaller mycological laboratories. In this work, we present practical considerations for the establishment of a fungal culture biobank, as well as provide evidence for the viability of 61 fungal genera in cryogenic storage. By providing a pragmatic methodology for cryogenically preserving and managing many filamentous fungi, we show that creating a biobank can be economical for independently owned and operated mycology laboratories, which can serve as a long-term resource for biodiversity, conservation, and strain maintenance.