Effectiveness Of Practice Research Articles

Innovative communication of molecular evolution through sound: a biological sonification concert

BackgroundA major challenge of evolutionary biology is making underlying concepts accessible to wide audiences. One method for doing so is to utilise multi-media formats that have potential to engage and inform through entertainment. This pilot study outlines and discusses a sonification concert that integrated musical performance with a range of evolutionary concepts and ideas fundamental to an understanding of evolution, such as protein sequences. We aimed to showcase sound-art objects and live-coding performances created using sonification as a mechanism for presenting complex biological processes to both researcher and non-researchers. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of this art-adjacent practice for public engagement with evolutionary biology research, and also to gather feedback to guide future events. Toward this end, we held a live concert showcasing biologically-based algorithmic music exploring links between evolutionary biology research, sound art, and musical performance. The event had three main acts: a generative audio-visual piece giving an artistic representation of SARS coronavirus based on a parameter-mapping sonification of protein sequence of the replicase polyprotein; a pre-recorded string ensemble demonstrating the effects of codon selection on translation speed using parameter-mapping sonification; and a live-coded music piece interactively sonifying protein structures.ResultsOur event attracted 90 attendees. We evaluated success using direct observation and written feedback forms with a 58% response rate: 95% of respondents stated they had enjoyed the event and 63% indicated they were inspired by it.ConclusionsPresenting the sonic outputs of sonification research in a concert format showed good potential for the pursuit of public engagement with evolutionary biology research, demonstrating the ability to engage curiosity and inspire an audience while also conveying scientific content alongside the nuanced and complex world of modern evolutionary biology.

Effective enforcement of the EU framework on the posting of workers: Empirical evidence

This article addresses the issue of effective enforcement of EU labour law by looking at the case study of the enforcement of the EU framework on the posting of workers. While recent years have seen a revival of Social Europe in the form of the European Pillar of Social Rights, scholars have also expressed concern over the effectiveness in practice of transnational labour law, and EU labour law in particular. Rasnača (2022) argues that ineffective enforcement creates a ‘justice gap’ between formal rights on paper and access to these rights in practice. One example of an area of EU labour law plagued by enforcement issues is the posting of workers. It is a peculiar type of intra-EU labour mobility, where posted workers, despite often being EU citizens, cannot benefit from the protection afforded by the EU's fundamental principle of the free movement of workers. As the original Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers proved manifestly inadequate to safeguard the rights of posted workers, the EU enacted Directive 2014/67 to improve the framework's enforcement. This article offers an evaluation of the Enforcement Directive based on data collected from 29 qualitative interviews. The effectiveness of the Enforcement Directive will be assessed based on the theoretical framework of precarious work. It will be argued that while the Enforcement Directive has contributed to narrowing the justice gap, posted workers continue to be exposed to precarity.

Efficacy and safety of CO2 fractional laser versus Er:YAG fractional laser in the treatment of atrophic acne scar: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

To date, a consensus on the relative efficacy and safety of CO2 fractional laser versus erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) fractional laser treatments for atrophic acne scars has not been reached. This meta-analysis aims to systematically assess and compare their effectiveness and safety in clinical practice. For this meta-analysis, we conducted comprehensive searches in Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, covering publications from their inception up to August 2023. Our focus was on studies comparing fractional CO2 laser with Er:YAG fractional laser treatments for atrophic acne scars. We excluded duplicate publications, research lacking full-text access, incomplete data, or cases where data extraction was not feasible. Additionally, animal experiments, reviews, and systematic reviews were not considered. Data analysis was performed using STATA 15.1. Eight studies (seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and a retrospective study) were included in this meta-analysis. The sample size ranged from 28 to 106 with a total of 418 patients, including 210 in the CO2 fractional group and 208 in Er:YAG fractional group. The pooled results showed that the effective rate of CO2 fractional laser in treating atrophic acne scar was significantly higher than that of Er:YAG fractional laser (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.08-3.01) and the downtime of CO2 fractional laser in treating atrophic acne scar was significantly shorter than that of Er:YAG fractional laser (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) = -2.11, 95% CI: -3.11 to -1.10). In addition, VAS of CO2 fractional laser in treating atrophic acne scar was significantly higher than that of Er:YAG fractional laser (WMD = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.32-2.21) and the duration of erythema of CO2 fractional laser in treating atrophic acne scar was significantly longer than that of Er:YAG fractional laser (WMD = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.63-2.07). However, there was no significant difference in the duration of pain and incidence of PIHbetween CO2 fractional laser and of Er:YAG fractional laser. When it comes to treating atrophic acne scars, CO2 fractional laser demonstrates superior efficacy and leads to shorter downtime. However, it is important to note that CO2 fractional laser treatments tend to result in higher pain intensity and may carry a higher risk of post-treatment pigmentation compared to Er:YAG fractional laser procedures.

Fostering the discussion of planetary health in occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

Occupational therapists and physiotherapists aim to promote health, prevent various diseases and help people in their rehabilitation processes. So far, there is a paucity of understanding of the big picture of how the new paradigm of planetary health (PH) is connected to the education and practice of these professionals. This research aimed to address this gap by investigating and deploying a bibliometric analysis to elucidate the pivotal role of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in addressing PH challenges. The ultimate goal is to construct a comprehensive framework crosschecking the bibliometric analysis and the collection of 10 case studies selected by experts to outline how best practices in occupational therapy and physiotherapy, related to the three pillars of sustainability and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can contribute to increasing PH. The bibliometric analysis revealed four major research strands: 1) enhancing patient care and quality of life; 2) integrating sustainability in health care and rehabilitation; 3) professional development and clinical competence; and 4) evidence-based practice and quality improvement. Moreover, further temporal analysis revealed how the topic evolved, from advancing evidence-based practice and clinical effectiveness, exploring the strengthening of health care and person-centred practices, to connecting the topic to aspects also predicted by the SDGs, such as integrating environmental and climate concerns in therapy and addressing psychological and self-care impacts on health. The case studies confirmed this trend, and a framework of PH in occupational therapy and physiotherapy through the lens of the SDGs was developed to support future research and practitioners in advancing this research field. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists are essential players in public health and can integrate sustainability at every level of practice, from using resources during therapy sessions to advocating for more sustainable lifestyles.

Investigating Carded Yarn Quality through Cross-Doubling in the Draw frame: A Comprehensive Analysis

A carding machine's performance has an impact on the quality of the carded sliver, which in turn affects the quality of the carded yarn produced. Several factors can influence a machine's efficiency, resulting in fluctuations in the slivers generated over time. To achieve consistent and reproducible quality levels, slivers from all carding machines must be blended homogeneously. This blending process is vital for achieving homogeneity in the final product and maintaining a high quality standard. This can be achieved by cross-doubling. In this technique, carded slivers are arranged into categories of good, medium and low quality based on the nep removal efficiency of the carding machine behind the breaker draw frame. This is a specific type of doubling process. The focus of this research was the effectiveness of the aforementioned practice. Three carding machines were selected out of seven based on the quality level of the produced carded sliver, which was measured by nep removal efficiency. Yarn samples of 29.5 tex were produced from the slivers of the individual carding machines and by cross-doubling them at the breaker draw frame. Samples were collected at each stage of processing and tested. The results showed that cross-doubling significantly reduced variation in the imperfection level and yarn strength, but had very little effect on the mass variation level of the strands. Furthermore, the categorization of the four samples for selection was carried out using the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. This study will provide a guideline for new spinners to enhance yarn quality through cross-doubling on a draw frame machine.

Developing key performance indicators for strategic environmental assessment effectiveness: a systematic framework

ABSTRACT Key performance indicators (KPIs) are critical quantifiable metrics used to evaluate performance or effectiveness. In the context of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), they provide the framework by which the effectiveness of SEA practice can be examined and compared. A wide range of KPIs of SEA effectiveness have been developed, but to date they have not been systematically linked to the full range of dimensions of SEA effectiveness. The development of a concise framework of 10 SEA effectiveness KPIs for Ireland addresses this methodological gap. It has been developed through a bottom-up compilation of existing SEA effectiveness KPIs from the international literature, and then sieving these by: A) ensuring they tackle current practice weaknesses for SEA in Ireland; B) aligning them with strategic/tactical/operational success factors for effective SEA; C) prioritising them on the basis of feedback from SEA experts; and D) further refining them through project steering committee opinion. The proposed KPIs are unlikely to be pertinent for all jurisdictions, but the process used to develop them can be applied elsewhere.

Abstract PO3-04-10: Real-world progression-free survival and overall survival of palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in Japanese patients with HR+/HER2- ABC in the first- or second-line setting: A multicenter observational study

Abstract Introduction Palbociclib (PAL), a selective, oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), plus (+) endocrine therapy (ET) is standard therapy for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC) and was launched in December 2017 in Japan. Efficacy and safety of PAL + ET was shown by randomized clinical studies, PALOMA-2 and PALOMA-3. Further, recent large real-world studies, P-REALITY/P-REALITY X, confirmed effectiveness of PAL+ aromatase inhibitor (AI) for HR+/HER2- ABC in routine United States clinical practice. However, there is limited real-world evidence (RWE) for PAL in Japan. To strengthen the RWE of PAL+ET for HR+/HER2- ABC treatment under different clinical practice and healthcare system, we examine the real-world effectiveness of PAL + ET as 1st line (1L) and 2nd line (2L) treatment for HR+/HER2- ABC in Japan. Methods In this multicenter, observational study, patients with HR+/HER2- ABC, who initiated PAL + ET from 15 December 2017 to 31 December 2020 were enrolled. To reduce selection bias, all patients who started PAL during the above period were listed and their eligibility confirmed. Eligible patients had 1) diagnosis of HR+/HER2- ABC; 2) received PAL + ET as 1L or 2L treatment; 3) at least 6 months of follow up from start of PAL or died within that period. The 1L treatment was defined as the first systemic therapy received for ABC regardless of recurrence timing if receiving adjuvant treatment. The subsequent treatment after 1L treatment was defined as a 2L treatment. The primary endpoint was real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) defined as the time from PAL+ET start to physician-documented disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), and chemotherapy-free survival (CFS). Results were stratified by treatment line (ie. 1L or 2L). rwPFS, OS, and CFS were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method (NCT05399329). Results In this study, 677 patients were enrolled. Among them, 419 (62%) patients and 258 (38%) patients received PAL + ET as 1L and 2L, respectively. The median age was 59.0 (range 29-87) and 470 patients (69.8%) were postmenopausal. 49.0% patients had visceral involvement and 63.8% had a disease-free interval >24 months, defined as date of breast cancer surgery to the diagnosis date of recurrence, and 26.9% had de novo metastatic disease. The starting dose of PAL was 125 mg (89%), 100mg (9%), and 75mg (2%); dose reductions during the treatment period were required for 72% of patients. The most common ET combined with PAL was fulvestrant (FUL; 56.3% in 1L, 76.7% in 2L) followed by letrozole (LET; 37.9% in 1L, 16.3% in 2L). After a median follow-up of 36.2 months, the median rwPFS (95% CI) was 24.5 months (19.9-29.4) for 1L treatment and 14.5 months (10.2-18.3) for 2L treatment. Among the 604 patients initiating at 125 mg/day, the median rwPFS was 25.6 months (21.3-30.4) for 1L treatment and 14.3 months (9.7-18.3) for 2L treatment. Although median OS was not reached (NR) in 1L, median OS of 2L was 44.1 months (39.2 -NR). The 48-months OS rates for 1L and 2L treatment were 62.0% (55.4-67.9) and 48.4 % (40.4-55.9), respectively. The median CFS was 36.7 months (31.8-43.9) for 1L treatment and 23.8 months (20.5-27.3) for 2L treatment. Conclusions Our real-world data are consistent with findings form the PALOMA-2 and PALOMA-3 studies and those from RWE in routine United States clinical practice. FUL was the most commonly endocrine partner with PAL regardless of treatment lines. These observations add to the body of evidence supporting PAL effectiveness in clinical practice for Japanese ABC patients. Citation Format: Norikazu Masuda, Masaya Hattori, Tersuhiro Yoshinami, Takuho Okamura, Ken-ichi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakayama, Hiroko Masuda, Michiko Tsuneizumi, Daisuke Takabatake, Michiko Harao, Hiroshi Yoshino, Natsuko Mori, Hiroyuki Yasojima, Chiya Oshiro, Madoka Iwase, Miki Yamaguchi, Takafumi Sangai, Shinsuke Sasada, Takanori Ishida, Manabu Futamura, Nobuyoshi Kosaka, Yoshiyuki Shibasaki, Shigenori Nagai. Real-world progression-free survival and overall survival of palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in Japanese patients with HR+/HER2- ABC in the first- or second-line setting: A multicenter observational study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-04-10.

Introducing a multipliable BOM-based automatic definition of information retrieval in plant engineering

AbstractThe complexity of process plants and the growing demand for digitalization require efficient and accurate information retrieval throughout the lifecycle phases of a process plant. This paper discusses the concept of instantiation and introduces a method for identifying and multiplying required information in plant engineering using scalable so-called Instantiation Blocks linked to the Bill of Material. Core functionality, an ontology graph and a user interface based on Python and React are developed to demonstrate the implementation of the framework and validate its effectiveness in practice.

Emulation of randomized trials of direct oral anticoagulants with claims data and implications for new Factor XI inhibitors.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) revolutionized the management of thromboembolic disorders. Clinical care may be further improved as Factor XIs undergo large-scale outcome trials. What role can non-randomized database studies play in expediting understanding of these drugs in clinical practice? The RCT-DUPLICATIVE Initiative emulated the design of eight DOAC randomized clinical trials (RCT) using non-randomized claims database studies. RCT study design parameters and measurements were closely emulated by the database studies and produced highly concordant results. The results of the single database study that did not meet all agreement metrics with the specific RCT it was emulating were aligned with a meta-analysis of six trials studying similar questions, suggesting the trial result was an outlier. Well-designed database studies using fit-for-purpose data came to the same conclusions as DOAC trials, illustrating how database studies could complement RCTs for Factor XI inhibitors-by accelerating insights in underrepresented populations, demonstrating effectiveness and safety in clinical practice, and testing broader indications.

Comparison of physiological markers, behavior monitoring, and clinical illness scoring as indicators of an inflammatory response in beef cattle.

Clinical illness (CI) scoring using visual observation is the most widely applied method of detecting respiratory disease in cattle but has limited effectiveness in practice. In contrast, body-mounted sensor technology effectively facilitates disease detection. To evaluate whether a combination of movement behavior and CI scoring is effective for disease detection, cattle were vaccinated to induce a temporary inflammatory immune response. Cattle were evaluated before and after vaccination to identify the CI variables that are most indicative of sick cattle. Respiratory rate (H2 = 43.08, P < 0.0001), nasal discharge (H2 = 8.35, P = 0.015), and ocular discharge (H2 = 16.38, P = 0.0003) increased after vaccination, and rumen fill decreased (H2 = 20.10, P < 0.0001). Locomotor activity was measured via leg-mounted sensors for the four days preceding and seven days following vaccination. A statistical model that included temperature, steps, lying time, respiratory rate, rumen fill, head position, and excess saliva was developed to distinguish between scores from before and after vaccination with a sensitivity of 0.898 and specificity of 0.915. Several clinical illness signs were difficult to measure in practice. Binoculars were required for scoring respiratory rate and eye-related metrics, and cattle had to be fitted with colored collars for individual identification. Scoring each animal took up to three minutes in a small research pen; therefore, technologies that can automate both behavior monitoring and identification of clinical illness signs are key to improving capacity for BRD detection and treatment.

The Role of the Institute of Exemption from Criminal Liability in Ensuring Ecocriminological Security

The paper is devoted to the study of ensuring ecocriminological security in the field of using the potential of the institute of exemption from criminal liability of persons who have committed environmental crimes. The author’s conclusions are based on statistical data concerning the grounds for criminal cases dismissals for the period from 2018 to 2022 and judicial practice concerning application of different types of exemption from criminal liability to persons who have committed environmental crimes. The paper examines the features of the application of certain types of exemption from liability. The author examines a shift in emphasis in law enforcement to the use of a judicial fine as opposed to the current trend towards the restrictive use of a fine in the form of punishment against the persons in question due to their personality characteristics that prevent the restriction of their property sphere. The author highlights the existence of ambiguous approaches of courts to establishing the grounds for the application of exemptions from criminal liability of persons who have committed environmental crimes. The tendency to absorb active repentance by a judicial fine has been revealed. It is concluded that there are no grounds for stating reconciliation with the victim in relation to environmental crimes. The author focuses on the established model for redistributing the frequency of use of certain types of exemption while maintaining the average annual number of discharged persons. The established practice of applying the institution of exemption from criminal liability of persons who have committed environmental crimes lacks uniformity in the interpretation of the grounds for its application. The problem of practical use of the humanistic approach of securing a safe environment from criminal influence requires in-depth theoretical understanding and development of a strategy for the development of this approach. Expansion and improvement of the practice of using non-repressive methods of influence is acknowledged as a promising direction for ensuring ecocriminological safety, if the effectiveness of law enforcement practice in this area is increased.

ChatGPT's Performance in Cardiac Arrest and Bradycardia Simulations Using the American Heart Association's Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Guidelines: Exploratory Study.

ChatGPT is the most advanced large language model to date, with prior iterations having passed medical licensing examinations, providing clinical decision support, and improved diagnostics. Although limited, past studies of ChatGPT's performance found that artificial intelligence could pass the American Heart Association's advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) examinations with modifications. ChatGPT's accuracy has not been studied in more complex clinical scenarios. As heart disease and cardiac arrest remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, finding technologies that help increase adherence to ACLS algorithms, which improves survival outcomes, is critical. This study aims to examine the accuracy of ChatGPT in following ACLS guidelines for bradycardia and cardiac arrest. We evaluated the accuracy of ChatGPT's responses to 2 simulations based on the 2020 American Heart Association ACLS guidelines with 3 primary outcomes of interest: the mean individual step accuracy, the accuracy score per simulation attempt, and the accuracy score for each algorithm. For each simulation step, ChatGPT was scored for correctness (1 point) or incorrectness (0 points). Each simulation was conducted 20 times. ChatGPT's median accuracy for each step was 85% (IQR 40%-100%) for cardiac arrest and 30% (IQR 13%-81%) for bradycardia. ChatGPT's median accuracy over 20 simulation attempts for cardiac arrest was 69% (IQR 67%-74%) and for bradycardia was 42% (IQR 33%-50%). We found that ChatGPT's outputs varied despite consistent input, the same actions were persistently missed, repetitive overemphasis hindered guidance, and erroneous medication information was presented. This study highlights the need for consistent and reliable guidance to prevent potential medical errors and optimize the application of ChatGPT to enhance its reliability and effectiveness in clinical practice.

Exploring Narratives of Teachers Working with Culturally Diverse Students: Any Insights about Inclusion?

The aim of the present study is to capture the teachers’ reflections and lived experiences on the inclusion of culturally diverse students in Greek school settings. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, teachers share their personal accounts and stories about their efforts, initiatives, and moves towards more inclusive schooling, as well as the barriers they face in the school environment. Five (n = 5) primary school teachers were recruited purposefully because of their work experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in mainstream, integration or reception classes. Narrative-discursive analysis unravels the effectiveness of inclusive practice in Greece for culturally diverse students according to specific aspects of inclusive pedagogy such as progressive education, transformative learning, innovative practices, and strategies, as well as school–family partnership. Teachers’ experiences revealed their complex work to handle the increasing diversity in schools and to respond to all students’ needs in a context of slow but steady measures towards inclusion.

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Survivorship Care for Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma (INSIGHT Study): Protocol for a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study With a Quasi-Experimental Design.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) occurs at young ages, with the highest incidence between 20 and 40 years. While cure rates have improved to 80%-90% over the past decades, survivors of HL are at substantial risk of late treatment-related complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer, severe infections, and hypothyroidism. To reduce morbidity and mortality from late treatment effects, the Dutch Better care after lymphoma, Evaluation of long-term Treatment Effects and screening Recommendations (BETER) consortium developed a survivorship care program for 5-year survivors of HL that includes risk-based screening for and treatment of (risk factors for) late adverse events. Even though several cancer survivorship care programs have been established worldwide, there is a lack of knowledge about their effectiveness in clinical practice. The Improving Nationwide Survivorship care Infrastructure and Guidelines after Hodgkin lymphoma Treatment (INSIGHT) study evaluates whether Dutch BETER survivorship care for survivors of HL decreases survivors' burden of disease from late adverse events after HL treatment and associated health care costs and improves their quality of life. The INSIGHT study is a multicenter retrospective cohort study with a quasi-experimental design and prospective follow-up, embedded in the national BETER survivorship care infrastructure. The first BETER clinics started in 2013-2016 and several other centers started or will start BETER clinics in 2019-2024. This allows us to compare survivors who did and those who did not receive BETER survivorship care in the last decade. Survivors in the intervention group are matched to controls (n=450 per group) based on sex, age at diagnosis (±5 years), age in 2013 (±5 years), and treatment characteristics. The primary outcome is the burden of disease in disability-adjusted life years from cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, severe infections, and hypothyroidism. In a cost-effectiveness analysis, we will assess the cost of BETER survivorship care per averted or gained disability-adjusted life year and quality-adjusted life year. Secondary outcomes are BETER clinic attendance, adherence to screening guidelines, and knowledge and distress about late effects among survivors of HL. Study data are collected from a survivor survey, a general practitioner survey, medical records, and through linkages with national disease registries. The study was funded in November 2020 and approved by the institutional review board of the Netherlands Cancer Institute in July 2021. We expect to finalize recruitment by October 2024, data collection by early 2025, and data analysis by May 2025. INSIGHT is the first evaluation of a comprehensive survivorship program using real-world data; it will result in new information on the (cost-)effectiveness of survivorship care in survivors of HL in clinical practice. The results of this study will be used to improve the BETER program where necessary and contribute to more effective evidence-based long-term survivorship care for lymphoma survivors. PRR1-10.2196/55601.

The impact of volunteer service on moral education performance and mental health of college students.

Moral education in colleges and universities is an important part of the talent training system, including moral education curriculum, moral education practice, mental health education. Volunteer service is a public welfare act in which volunteers volunteer their time, knowledge, property, technology, with the ultimate goal of helping others and serving the society without personal compensation. As an innovative form of moral education practice in colleges and universities, college students' voluntary service is of great significance in promoting the reform and innovation of moral education, enhancing the affinity, appeal and influence of moral education, and building a positive psychology for college students. As an effective carrier of moral education practice in colleges and universities, voluntary service is helpful to enhance the effectiveness of moral education practice and construct the positive psychology of college students. This project is based on the actual situation of college students participating in volunteer services, and collected the volunteer services of 4545 college students in Zhejiang Province. Through model construction and data modeling, the correlation between college students' participation in volunteer service and their moral education performance and mental health was analyzed, and the basic path and guarantee measures to promote the role of volunteer service in moral education and positive psychological construction were deeply explored. From the correlation analysis of students' voluntary service participation, moral education performance and voluntary service motivation, students' attributes are determined according to their voluntary service participation, so as to predict their moral education performance and mental health level. College students' voluntary service is partially positively related to their moral education performance and mental health. In order to improve students' moral education performance and mental health, we can optimize the participation frequency, participation duration, participation ways and type structure of voluntary service, constantly increase the participation frequency of voluntary service, increase the duration of voluntary service, broaden the participation ways of voluntary activities, and enrich the types of voluntary service activities.

Pre-service TESOL teachers’ professional-awareness building through reflecting on reflections of critical incidents

AbstractScholars have questioned the effectiveness of reflective practice for gaining professional awareness or attaining professional development. In addition, the prevalence of inadequate comprehensive framework for pre-service teachers’ reflective practice and insufficient support of teacher educators have been noted in the literature. Against these backdrops, the present study attempted to demonstrate how reflecting on reflections, a form of reflective practice, of Critical Incidents (CIs) contributes to building pre-service TESOL teachers’ professional awareness. The study involved ten pre-service teachers (PSTs) in reflecting on reflections of CIs during the teaching practicum. Following the interpretive phenomenological approach, the study unfolded the CIs associated with pedagogical factors, including passive participation of the students, students’ late arrival in the classroom, disobedience to teachers’ instructions, the chaotic environment in the classroom, students’ rude behavior, and disruption caused by technical glitches, and CIs associated with intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, comprising students’ emotional exhaustion and unprofessional behaviors by senior teachers. Subsequently, it illustrated how PSTs cultivated their professional awareness through reflecting on reflections of CIs. The study presented a reflective practice framework applicable to pre-service and in-service teacher education programs. It also provided practical suggestions for pre-service and novice teachers to address and overcome the CIs. Teacher educators and trainers can harness the findings to prepare PSTs to conduct interactive and productive English language classes.

Integration of persistence in the 5P-medicine approach for age-related chronic diseases.

5P medicine is defined as Personalized, Predictive, Preventive, Participatory, and Population-based. 5P medicine may be improved by including a factor that could provide information about the therapeutic value of a particular drug treatment and measure its effectiveness in clinical practice. We propose that this factor may be treatment persistence, and that its addition to 5P medicine would allow to define a new improved 6P medicine. Persistence is the length of time between initiation and the last dose, which immediately precedes discontinuation, that is, a definitive suspension of the treatment. By including this sixth P, the persistence, we would be able to present the value of a treatment for each individual patient with its own characteristics, state of the disease, with more than one age-related diseases and patient journey. Persistence is a concept of the value of a treatment that includes the three main stakeholders of the pharmacotherapeutic process: Patient, Physician, and Pharmacist. Persistence is becoming a useful measure to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of therapies in real-world setting in chronic diseases. Drug treatments with longer persistence are more likely to provide better disease control and to be amenable to dose adjustment in order to optimize treatment cost in age-related chronic diseases. Long-term persistence could be a measure of a drug´s real-world performance and has been shown to aid in clinical decision-making.

Effects of Baduanjin practice on emotional, attention and cognitive function in acupuncturists: protocol for a clinical randomized controlled neuroimaging trial.

In Chinese medicine, the mental focus and emotional stability of acupuncturists are key to optimal clinical outcomes. Many renowned acupuncturists utilize Traditional Chinese Qigong practices to enhance their concentration and emotional regulation abilities. Nevertheless, the existing literature lacks comprehensive evidence addressing this matter. This study will enroll 99 acupuncturists and randomly allocate them to one of three groups: Baduanjin, aerobic exercise, or a waiting-list control. The Baduanjin group will undertake 24 weeks of training, with three one-hour sessions weekly. The aerobic group will engage in brisk walking for the same duration and frequency. The control group will not receive any specific training. Assessments of emotion regulation, attention, cognitive functions, finger sensation, and athletic ability will be conducted at baseline (-1 week), mid-intervention (12 weeks), and post-intervention (24 weeks). Additionally, 20 participants from each group will undergo fMRI scans before and after the intervention to explore brain functional and structural changes relating to emotion, attention, cognition, motor skills, and sensory perception. This study aims to contribute valuable insights into the effectiveness of Qigong practice, specifically Baduanjin, in enhancing emotional regulation, attention, and cognitive functions in acupuncturists and to investigate the neuroimaging mechanisms behind these effects. Approved by the Sichuan Regional Ethics Review Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 2023KL - 118) and adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki. Results will be shared through policy briefs, workshops, peer-reviewed journals, and conferences.Clinical trial registrationwww.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2300076447.

Internet-Based Interventions for Preventing Premature Birth Among Pregnant Women: Systematic Review.

Premature birth rates have slightly increased globally, making its prevention critical for both short-term and long-term health outcomes. Various interventions have been developed in response to the multifaceted risk factors for premature birth, including internet-based programs. These programs offer accessibility and enhanced engagement; however, their overall efficacy in preventing premature births requires thorough evaluation. This systematic review aims to identify the study designs and assess the effectiveness of internet-based interventions in preventing premature birth among pregnant women. A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify randomized trials and quasi-experimental studies evaluating internet-based interventions for premature birth prevention in pregnant women. The search was inclusive, with no restrictions based on language or geographical location, allowing for a comprehensive global perspective. The time frame for the inclusion of studies extended until February 2023. The risk of bias (RoB) in each study was independently assessed by 3 authors forming pairs, using the revised Cochrane RoB tool (RoB 2) for randomized trials, as per the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Owing to heterogeneity in populations, measurements, and interventions, a meta-analysis was not conducted. This review included 26 articles, comprising 12 intention-to-treat and 14 per-protocol studies. The overall RoB was high in most intention-to-treat studies and of some concern in most per-protocol studies. The target populations varied, including nonspecific pregnant women, those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or those at risk of GDM, individuals with anxiety or depression, and those experiencing preterm labor. Psychosocial, physiological, and wellness health outcomes were evaluated. Internet-based interventions effectively reduced stress/distress in nonspecific pregnant women but not in those experiencing preterm labor. Their effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depression varied, with inconsistent results among different groups. In women with GDM or those at risk of GDM, interventions successfully controlled fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose levels but did not consistently manage glycated hemoglobin levels. These interventions did not reduce the incidence of premature births across the various populations studied. The effectiveness of these internet-based interventions in addressing substance or alcohol abuse and insomnia also varied. Internet-based interventions show promise in improving psychosocial health and managing blood sugar to prevent premature birth, highlighting variability in effectiveness across different risk factors. Further research, including clinical trials, is vital for developing, evaluating, and disseminating effective, safe internet-based interventions. Establishing standardized measurement tools and rigorous evaluation processes is crucial for enhancing these interventions' effectiveness and reliability in clinical practice, significantly contributing to preventing premature births and improving maternal health outcomes. PROSPERO CRD42021278847; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021278847.

Children’s heart and prematurity: a current view of the problem

Improved survival of children born with low, extremely low and very low body weight in modern conditions due to increased nursing capabilities, optimization of treatment and increased efficiency of resuscitation measures has led to the need for greater understanding of the importance of assessing the cardiovascular system’s state beyond the neonatal period. With approximately 10% of infants worldwide being born preterm, there is an increasing need for further research into optimal regimens, lifestyle and clinical interventions that can benefit and modify cardiovascular morphology and function in this growing population. Modern theoretical postulates on the physiology and pathophysiology of the child’s heart include ideas about the key process of cardiac biomechanics — diastole, during which the earliest disturbances, that precede the formation of systolic dysfunction, occur. Assessment of the pumping properties of the left ventricle in systole and diastole is a fundamental methodological technique for an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular system’s emerging diseases, their early diagnosis and assessment of the complex therapy’s effectiveness. However, despite the widespread use of standard echocardiography to assess systolic and diastolic function, its traditional parameters have limitations in terms of diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness in practice. Expanding knowledge about new pathogenetic mechanisms of the cardiac dysfunction formation in conditions of prematurity at the current stage of cardiology development using the “trace spot” technology (two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography) will be very useful for scientists studying the mechanics formation of the child’s heart after premature birth, and for doctors of various specialties in early diagnosis of heart diseases.