Evaluation Process Research Articles

Glycerol esterification of free fatty acids catalyzed by zinc glycerolate for biodiesel production from acidified palm oil: Optimization, kinetic study, and process evaluation

AbstractBiodiesel is an important alternative renewable liquid fuel due to its eco‐friendly, non‐toxic, and lower emissions. In this work, glycerol esterification catalyzed by zinc glycerolate was employed as a pretreatment to prepare biodiesel from acidified palm oil. The effects of stirring rate, catalyst amount, glycerol to free fatty acids (FFAs) molar ratio, and reaction temperature on the conversion of FFAs and concentration of monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides were investigated and optimized. The results show that the conversion of FFAs could reach 99.16% under the optimized conditions. Moreover, the kinetics of glycerol esterification catalyzed by zinc glycerolate at 160–200°C was obtained. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation of the new biodiesel production process was also conducted. As a result, higher biodiesel content in the crude biodiesel phase was obtained after transesterification and separation using this new process. Overall, the study contributes to the utilization of waste oils to produce renewable energy and to minimize the waste management problem.

Implementation of Cognitive (Neuropsychological) Interventions for Older Adults in Clinical or Community Settings: A Scoping Review.

Despite compelling evidence that cognitive interventions for older adults improve cognition, mood, and everyday function, few are implemented in clinical or community practice. This scoping review aims to understand the implementation frameworks and methods used and their contribution to implementation success of cognitive interventions for older adults. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), and searched CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PSYCINFO databases, using terms related to cognitive interventions, implementation, and older adults. This resulted in 5002 studies, of which 29 were included following an iterative process. Most studies reported on implementation of cognitive stimulation for people with dementia. Only four studies used formal implementation frameworks, with three using RE-AIM, and one a process evaluation using complexity theory. The most frequently addressed implementation concepts were Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness, while Cost, Cost-Effectiveness, and Maintenance were rarely reported. Solutions to common barriers included the importance of good stakeholder relationships and engagement, a manualised intervention flexible enough to adapt to the context, and ensuring facilitators were well-trained, confident, and enthusiastic.

Supporting vulnerable families’ meal practices: process evaluation of a nationwide intervention implemented by a retailer and social organizations

BackgroundLower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer dietary habits and fewer family meals. Therefore, initiatives to empower families with a lower SES to adopt healthier meal practices are employed. The objective of this study was to evaluate a nationwide intervention “Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros”, developed by a Belgian retailer in collaboration with social organizations. It targets families with a lower SES and aims to promote more balanced and freshly cooked meals by providing recipe booklets of affordable meals at a guaranteed price of 1, 2, or 3 euros per portion. The process evaluation aimed to gain insight into the implementation process (Reach, Recruitment, Dose-delivered, Context), the satisfaction with the intervention (Dose-received), and the perceived impact of intervention participation.MethodsA mixed-methods study combining qualitative (i.e., focus groups and individual interviews) and quantitative research (i.e., surveys) was conducted. An interview with the retailer (n = 1), three focus group interviews with the involved social organizations (n = 15), and interviews with participants of “Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros” (n = 26) were carried out, as well as surveys among these social organizations and participants.ResultsSocial organizations were generally satisfied with the project and appreciated the collaboration with the retailer. The main barrier to implement the project was a lack of time to help participants subscribing. Participants appreciated the inspiration from the recipe booklets, and the recipes’ ease of preparation, their healthiness, and the variety. However, the recipes were sometimes deemed too exotic for participants’ children. Participants also appreciated the budget friendliness, although the price guarantee mechanism of 1, 2 or 3 euros per portion was not always clear. Positive effects were mentioned in areas such as perceived healthy cooking and eating, improved cooking skills and ideas, and reduced financial concerns.ConclusionsIn general, participants and social organizations were satisfied with the delivery and implementation of the intervention. Participants also noted some positive effects on their meal practices. Future research should provide insight into the intervention’s effectiveness and impact on the healthiness of participants’ dietary choices.Trial registrationThe study protocol was pre‑registered prior to data collection at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05595551–27/10/2022).

Time length of adaptation phase for subjective thermal environment evaluation based on thermal stability time

The adaptation phase is the primary process of subjective thermal comfort evaluations. The time length of the adaptation phase in existing studies disperses largely, which either risks low evaluation reliability or high time and economic costs. This study proposes to determine the time length of the adaptation phase for reliable subjective thermal environment evaluation and to avoid unnecessarily large time and economic costs. First, the variation and distribution of the initial thermal status of the adaptation phase are inferred from a steady bioheat model with ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers) Thermal Comfort Database II. Second, with the initial thermal status, the variation and distribution of the thermal stability time are inferred from the dynamic bioheat model. Third, the time length of the adaptation phase is quantified from the distribution of the thermal stability time according to the targeted reliability level. Results show that under the summer scenario, the time length of the adaptation phase increases from 16.9 – 31.2 min to 25.2 – 38.9 min when the reliability level increases from 90.0 % to 97.5 %. The time length of the adaptation phase of the winter scenario increases by 5.3 – 9.7 min relative to that of the summer scenario. A strategy of shifting the adaptation phase from thermal neutrality to slight warmth is proposed to effectively shorten the time length of the adaptation phase by 5.6 % – 19.4 % and 7.8 % – 23.9 % in the summer and winter scenarios respectively. These results are tabulated for practical convenience.

CSF flow measurement in the mesencephalic aqueduct using 2D cine phase-contrast MRI in dogs with communicating internal hydrocephalus, ventriculomegaly, and physiologic ventricular spaces

BackgroundBrachycephalic dogs are overrepresented with ventricular enlargement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics are not completely understood. MRI techniques have been used for the visualization of CSF dynamics including phase-contrast imaging.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine a causality between CSF flow and ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus and to compare CSF flow dynamics among dogs with ventriculomegaly, internal hydrocephalus, and physiologic ventricles.AnimalsA total of 51 client-owned dogs were included in the study.MethodsMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based FLASH sequences and phase-contrast images of the brain were obtained, and the ROI was placed at the level of the mesencephalic aqueduct. ECG monitoring was performed parallel to MRI acquisition. Evaluation of flow diagrams and processing of phase-contrast images were performed using commercially available software (Argus VA80A, Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany). Dogs were divided into three groups: Group 1 consisted of brachycephalic dogs with ventriculomegaly (group 1A) or internal hydrocephalus (group 1B), group 2 consisted of brachycephalic dogs with normal ventricles, and group 3 consisted of meso- to dolichocephalic dogs with normal ventricles.ResultsGroup 1 had a higher median Vrost (4.32 cm/s; CI: 2.94–6.33 cm/s) and Vcaud (−6.1 cm/s, CI: 3.99–9.33 cm/s) than group 2 (Vrost: 1.99 cm/s; CI 1.43–2.78 cm/s; Vcaud: 2.91 cm/s, CI: 2.01–4.21 cm/s; p = 0.008; p = 0.03) and group 3 (Vrost:1.85 cm/s, CI: 1.31–2.60 cm/s; Vcaud − 2.46 cm/s, CI 1.68–3.58 cm/s; p = 0.01; p = 0.02). The median Volcaud of group 1 (−0.23 mL/min, CI: 0.13–0.42 mL/min) was higher than that of group 2 (−0.09 mL/min, CI: 0.05 mL/min and 0.15 mL/min) (p = 0.03). Groups 1A and 1B did not differ in Vcaud, Vrost, Volcaud, and Volrost. Group 1A and 1B showed a higher median Vrost (4.01 cm/s, CI: 2.30–7.05 cm/s; 5.94 cm/s, CI: 2.16–7.88 cm/s) than group 2 (1.85 cm/s, CI: 1.24–2.80 cm/s.) (p = 0.03; p = 0.004).Conclusion and clinical importanceIncreased CSF flow velocities in rostral and caudal directions are present in dogs with ventriculomegaly and internal hydrocephalus compared to normal controls.

Optimization of Vacuum Freeze-Drying Process and Quality Evaluation of Stropharia rugosoannulata

Stropharia rugosoannulata is a valuable medicinal and food fungus with high nutritive value. Freeze-drying addresses the storage and transportation challenges of fresh Stropharia rugosoannulata, expanding its market while preserving its flavor and quality more effectively than other drying methods. This study optimizes the vacuum freeze-drying process for Stropharia rugosoannulata using an orthogonal experiment method. The process parameters were optimized to determine their effects on the quality of the vacuum freeze-dried product, including pre-freezing temperature, pre-freezing time, and freeze-drying time. The optimal conditions were identified as a pre-freezing time of 60 h, a pre-freezing temperature of −80 °C, and a freeze-drying time of 72 h. The optimal product exhibited a bright color close to its natural state, with minimal browning and its natural white color maintained post-drying. During the drying process, the internal structure of the raw materials remained intact. After drying, the finished product retained its natural form, making it suitable for sale on the market. The soluble protein content of the vacuum freeze-dried Stropharia rugosoannulata reached 68 mg/g. Optimizing the freeze-drying process can better preserve the tissue structure and bioactive substances of Stropharia rugosoannulata, providing a reference for high-quality food processing and showing potential for sustainable development.

Reliability in design science research

AbstractReliability, which is concerned with whether something performs as it should, is well‐accepted as an important part of any scientific research, with recognised methods for assessing it in the natural sciences. Reliability is a prerequisite for validity, which assesses knowledge production. Design science research is unique in that it produces an artefact and makes contributions to a design knowledge base and is tasked with the duality of design and science. Therefore, reliability should be reconsidered to address the assumptions underlying this type of information systems research.This paper proposes a Design Science Reliability Framework. The framework identifies the part of design science research that should be evaluated (artefact, methods, measures and design knowledge). It also considers when reliability should be assessed as a project progresses by differentiating synchronic versus diachronic evaluation. The framework is used to derive a set of techniques for establishing reliability that can be applied during the evaluation process to both a project's knowledge production and its artefacts. Application of the framework should assist design science researchers when considering how to assess their results.

Evaluation of the textile dye removal process using the residual substrate from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production

O lançamento de efluentes têxteis sem tratamento, ou submetidos a um tratamento ineficaz, ocasiona graves problemas nos ecossistemas aquáticos. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade e o processo de remoção do corante têxtil Drimaren Red CL-7B, empregando o substrato residual da produção do cogumelo Pleurotus ostreatus. Para tanto, primeiramente elaborado um planejamento experimental 3², considerando as variáveis pH e concentração de substrato, buscando-se avaliar a remoção de corante proveniente de efluente têxtil sintético, durante seis horas de tempo de contato. As concentrações do substrato aplicado ao efluente foram 50, 100 e 150 g L-1 e os valores de pH empregados foram 5, 7 e 9. Após a determinação da melhor condição experimental dentre as avaliadas, também foram estudados os possíveis mecanismos de remoção ocorridos e a atividade enzimática do micélio presente no substrato. Verificou-se que a melhor condição operacional foi obtida com pH 5 e concentração de 150 g L-1. Sob essas condições, a eficiência de remoção de corante alcançada foi próxima de 70%. Observou-se que o principal mecanismo de remoção foi a adsorção e um tempo de contato de 30 minutos já permite obter resultados satisfatórios. Além disso, os resultados da atividade da lacase demonstraram que sua eficiência é elevada em condições de pH ácido, e que esta fica inativa em condições de pH alcalino. Concluiu-se que o substrato residual apresenta elevado potencial para o tratamento de efluentes têxteis em decorrência da ação simultânea das enzimas lignolíticas e da adsorção na remoção de corantes, bem como, pela possibilidade de valorização de um resíduo agroindustrial.

Evaluation of clarification process of Indonesia’s sweet sorghum juice by ultrafiltration membrane and the physicochemical and sensorial properties of the sugar product

The juice derived from Sorghum bicolor L. exhibits a notable sugar content, rendering it a promising candidate for use as a sweetening agent. The presence of impurities in sorghum juice encompasses several substances such as non-sugar molecules, non-fermentable reducing agents, starch, and minerals like salt, magnesium, and calcium. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes on the physicochemical properties of sorghum juice and sugar granules, as well as to identify customer preferences for these products. The study consisted of three primary phases. The first phase involved investigating the impact of 0–3 cycles of UF treatment on the physicochemical properties of the sorghum juice. The second stage involved comparing the characteristics of sugar granules obtained through UF and non-ultrafiltration (non-UF) methods. The third one focused on examining the preference of sorghum sugar granules in their natural state and as a sweetener for steeped black tea. A 5% significance level was employed in this work to conduct multivariate methodology of variance and the Friedman nonparametric test. The findings of the study indicate that the use of UF treatment has a simultaneous impact on the turbidity and color of sorghum juice. Non-UF sorghum sugar granules exhibit a superior aroma in comparison to UF granules while maintaining identical color, taste, and texture. Consumers exhibited a preference for steeped black tea sweetened with palm sugar, followed by rock sugar, granulated sugar, UF sorghum sugar granules, and non-UF.

Examining refusal and acceptance sequences employing a data-driven binary rating approach

This paper presents the development and preliminary validation of a data-driven analytic binary rating rubric for assessing roleplay-elicited pragmatic performance of learners. The roleplay task consists of two items—one lunch invitation to elicit a refusal and one gift offer to elicit an acceptance in Chinese, both of which involve initiating proposals to return an earlier favor. Responses to return-to-favor invitations or offers in Chinese are challenging for L2 learners as they involve complicated discursive features. To create a practical, reliable tool for evaluating L2 performance, the researchers conducted a discourse analysis of L1 Chinese performance data (N = 22) to identify key discursive features in two domains— Intention (i.e., refusing the return-for-favor intention) and Decision (i.e., refusing/accepting the offer/invitation). A roleplay can receive up to 4 points in both domains, including one point each for orientation/directness, position, modification, and justification, for 8 total possible points. Scores assigned to both L1 and L2 performance according to the rubric reflected high inter-rater reliability. The effect of proficiency was significant on learner scores and interacted with rating domains and scenarios. Lower-level learners scored lower with addressing the interlocutor's return-for-favor intention than with the invitation or offer itself; they also scored lower with refusing than accepting an offer. By focusing on key discursive features rather than exhaustive interactional details, the rubric streamlines the evaluation process while maintaining accuracy and reliability. Future studies may extend the use of the rubric to other speech act sequences and languages and apply it to automated grading systems.

A Food Intake Estimation System Using an Artificial Intelligence-Based Model for Estimating Leftover Hospital Liquid Food in Clinical Environments: Development and Validation Study.

Medical staff often conduct assessments, such as food intake and nutrient sufficiency ratios, to accurately evaluate patients' food consumption. However, visual estimations to measure food intake are difficult to perform with numerous patients. Hence, the clinical environment requires a simple and accurate method to measure dietary intake. This study aims to develop a food intake estimation system through an artificial intelligence (AI) model to estimate leftover food. The accuracy of the AI's estimation was compared with that of visual estimation for liquid foods served to hospitalized patients. The estimations were evaluated by a dietitian who looked at the food photo (image visual estimation) and visual measurement evaluation was carried out by a nurse who looked directly at the food (direct visual estimation) based on actual measurements. In total, 300 dishes of liquid food (100 dishes of thin rice gruel, 100 of vegetable soup, 31 of fermented milk, and 18, 12, 13, and 26 of peach, grape, orange, and mixed juices, respectively) were used. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) were used as metrics to determine the accuracy of the evaluation process. Corresponding t tests and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to verify the accuracy of the measurements by each estimation method with the weighing method. The RMSE obtained by the AI estimation approach was 8.12 for energy. This tended to be smaller and larger than that obtained by the image visual estimation approach (8.49) and direct visual estimation approach (4.34), respectively. In addition, the R2 value for the AI estimation tended to be larger and smaller than the image and direct visual estimations, respectively. There was no difference between the AI estimation (mean 71.7, SD 23.9 kcal, P=.82) and actual values with the weighing method. However, the mean nutrient intake from the image visual estimation (mean 75.5, SD 23.2 kcal, P<.001) and direct visual estimation (mean 73.1, SD 26.4 kcal, P=.007) were significantly different from the actual values. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were high for energy (ρ=0.89-0.97), protein (ρ=0.94-0.97), fat (ρ=0.91-0.94), and carbohydrate (ρ=0.89-0.97). The measurement from the food intake estimation system by an AI-based model to estimate leftover liquid food intake in patients showed a high correlation with the actual values with the weighing method. Furthermore, it also showed a higher accuracy than the image visual estimation. The errors of the AI estimation method were within the acceptable range of the weighing method, which indicated that the AI-based food intake estimation system could be applied in clinical environments. However, its lower accuracy than that of direct visual estimation was still an issue.

Multiyear high-temporal-resolution measurements of submicron aerosols at 13 French urban sites: data processing and chemical composition

Abstract. This paper presents a first comprehensive analysis of long-term measurements of atmospheric aerosol components from aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM) and multiwavelength Aethalometer (AE33) instruments collected between 2015 and 2021 at 13 (sub)urban sites as part of the French CARA (Chemical Characterization of Particles) program. The datasets contain the mass concentrations of major chemical species within submicron aerosols (PM1), namely organic aerosols (OAs), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), sulfate (SO42-), non-sea-salt chloride (Cl−), and equivalent black carbon (eBC). Rigorous quality control, technical validation, and environmental evaluation processes were applied, adhering to both guidance from the French Reference Laboratory for Air Quality Monitoring (LCSQA) and the Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS) standard operating procedures. Key findings include geographical differences in the aerosol chemical composition, seasonal variations, and diel patterns, which are influenced by meteorological conditions, anthropogenic activities, and proximity to emission sources. Overall, OA dominates PM1 at each site (43 %–60 % of total mass), showing distinct seasonality with higher concentrations (i) in winter, due to enhanced residential heating emissions, and (ii) in summer, due to increased photochemistry favoring secondary aerosol formation. NO3 is the second most important contributor to PM1 (15 %–30 %), peaking in late winter and early spring, especially in northern France, and playing a significant role during pollution episodes. SO4 (8 %–14 %) and eBC (5 %–11 %) complement the major fine-aerosol species, with their relative contributions strongly influenced by the origin of air masses and the stability of meteorological conditions, respectively. A comparison with the 3D chemical transport model (CTM) CHIMERE shows high correlations between simulations and measurements, albeit with an OA concentration underestimation of 46 %–76 %. Regional discrepancies in NO3 concentration levels emphasize the importance of these datasets with respect to validating air quality models and tailoring air pollution mitigation strategies. The datasets can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13318298 (Chebaicheb et al., 2024).

Initial Psychometric Evaluation of a Service Dog Attraction Assessment Grid for Youth With ASD and Related Disorders

ABSTRACT Animal-assisted interventions, such as the use of service dogs, represent an increasingly popular therapeutic avenue for youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Before engaging anyone in this type of intervention, it could be justified to assess their level of attraction to animals. However, this aspect is rarely documented, and no existing instrument suits the specific challenges of ASD clients and the reality of the clinical setting. This paper describes the use and preliminary validation of an observation-based assessment tool developed by the Mira Foundation to evaluate the level of attraction toward dogs. The 9-item scale has been used by the team throughout the evaluation process of 1,010 potential candidates for a service dog. It is designed to describe and quantify observed behaviors during a standardized encounter with a non-familiar dog. The participants were aged between 2 and 26 years old (mean age = 8.13, SD = 4.3 years) and 87% had an ASD diagnosis. A total of 323 participants were assessed by a second rater, which allowed for interrater reliability analyses on each item of the scale. The factorial structure of the scale was determined by applying an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on one-half of the sample, followed by a cross-validation study consisting of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other half. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Based on weighted kappa statistics, interrater reliability showed strong agreement for individual items (Kw between 0.66 and 0.85). A two-factor solution was produced with EFA and confirmed through CFA. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 when items from the first factor (attitude) were combined and 0.92 for the second factor (interaction) indicated good internal consistency for the identified subscales. These findings support the reliability of this assessment tool and its potential use in clinical and research domains.

Understanding beneficiary evaluative capacity within nonprofit organisations through an immanent perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to seek a more refined understanding of the ways beneficiaries are evaluating nonprofit organisations (NPO), from the beneficiaries’ perspectives. Understanding evaluation from beneficiaries’ perspectives is not only important theoretically, but also for enabling evaluation processes to authentically contribute toward enhanced downward accountability.Design/methodology/approachTheorisation of immanent evaluation (Deleuze, 1998), the ontological view that there is no form imposed from outside or above but instead an articulation from within, was drawn upon to direct attention toward understanding beneficiaries’ inherent productive evaluative capacity and agency. This theorisation enabled a different way of observing and understanding beneficiary evaluation within a qualitative case study conducted in an Australian NPO. Data was sourced from interviews, observations and document analysis.FindingsFindings suggest beneficiaries largely viewed the NPO’s evaluation processes to be unsatisfactory toward meeting their needs in relation to meaningful engagement. However, beneficiaries’ evaluative capacity was noted to include their own evaluation criteria and evaluative expressions indicating the production of an evaluative account. Here beneficiaries’ evaluative expressions are representations of events of evaluation, initiated by them. Findings enable a more refined understanding of beneficiaries’ engagement in evaluation, moving beyond traditional considerations of participative evaluation, and illustrating beneficiaries’ agency and active role in the production of evaluation.Originality/valueThis research furthers understandings of downward accountability and participative evaluation by detailing how beneficiaries’ evaluative capacity is part of an NPO’s evaluative environment, and as such, conceives of an immanent theory of beneficiary evaluation. Findings highlight how evaluation, as a mechanism of downward accountability, functions from beneficiaries’ perspectives and the type of organisational environment capable of enabling and better supporting beneficiary engagement.

Implementation of a Mobile Health Approach to a Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net Uptake Intervention for Malaria Prevention Among Pregnant Women in Tanzania: Process Evaluation of the Hati Salama (HASA) Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

Malaria infection is associated with many adverse outcomes for pregnant women and neonates, yet pregnant women in East and Southern Africa remain frequently exposed to malaria. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) can help prevent malarial infections and the associated adverse events. The Hati Salama (HASA) study was a cluster-randomized controlled trial implemented in 100 antenatal health facilities in urban and rural settings of Tanzania that provided pregnant women in both intervention and control groups with e-vouchers to redeem for LLINs for malaria prevention. The intervention group received behavior change communication mobile messages across a 14-day period while the e-voucher was active, and no significant difference between the rates of e-voucher redemption was found across the two groups. This study was a process evaluation of the HASA randomized controlled trial to determine barriers and facilitators to e-voucher reception and LLIN acquisition for pregnant women enrolled in the trial, as well as challenges and lessons learned by nurses who worked at the antenatal health facilities supporting the trial. Following the e-voucher's expiration at 14 days, voluntary phone follow-up surveys were conducted for nurses who supported the trial, as well as participants in both intervention and control groups of the trial who did not redeem their e-vouchers. Survey questions asked nurses about workflow, training sessions, network connectivity, proxy phone use, and more. Surveys asked participants about reasons for not redeeming e-vouchers. Both surveys provided lists of preset answers to questions, as well as the option to provide open-ended responses. Nurses and trial participants were contacted between January and June 2016 on up to three occasions. While nurses who supported the HASA trial seemed to recognize the value of the program in their communities, some barriers identified by nurses included network connectivity, workload increase, inadequate training and on-the-ground support, and difficulty following the workflow. Several barriers identified by trial participants included personal obligations preventing them from redeeming the e-voucher on time, network connectivity issues, losing the e-voucher number, no stock of LLINs at retailers when attended, inadequate explanation of where or how to redeem the e-voucher, or not receiving an SMS text message with the e-voucher number promptly or at all. Large-scale e-voucher platforms for health-related commodity interventions, such as LLIN distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, are feasible, but challenges, including network connectivity, must be addressed. Nurses identified issues to be considered in a future scale-up, such that the number of nurses trained should be increased and the e-voucher issuance workflow should be simplified. To address some of the key barriers impacting e-voucher redemption for trial participants, the network of retailers could be expanded and the e-voucher expiration period should be extended. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02561624; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02561624.

Dynamic Changes Toward Reflective Practice: Documented Shifts in Speech-Language Pathologists' Evaluation Practices.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in professional learning communities (PLCs) during a year-long virtual professional development (PD) opportunity using an implementation science (IS) framework in an urban public school district for dynamic assessment (DA) training. The DA presented in the PD was modified based on ongoing discussions with key stakeholders in the district, so that it could be reasonably implemented in clinical practice while preserving the integrity of the DA's purpose. SLPs in an urban district were trained virtually using DA over the course of the school year. PD topics focused on decreasing bias and incorporating evidence-based practice into SLP approaches to speech-language evaluations. The SLPs underwent three training sessions and three separate PLC sessions. The SLPs were assigned a series of case studies to complement PLC sessions. An IS framework informed each step of the PD and PLCs to ensure applicability and integration of the content. Of the 366 SLPs working in the district, 209 consented and filled out two questionnaires and three exit slips to gather information on their experiences with the DAs and PLC models. SLPs reported new insights into their practice, including changes in assessment practices, awareness of bias in assessment practices, and increased confidence in working with families during the evaluation process. Two additional themes emerged: increased collaboration and enhanced group problem-solving skills when working with peers in PLC groups, and expanded proficiencies and heightened skills when applying DA practices to evaluations. The two challenges faced by SLPs included time constraints and confidence in the mastery of DA. This study offers an approach to shifting evaluation practices in large districts to incorporate more evidence-based approaches.

Using normalisation process theory (NPT) to explore implementation of the maternal perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) policy in Uganda: a reflection

BackgroundThe implementation of the maternal perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) policy is among the envisaged strategies to reduce the high global burden of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. However, implementation of this policy across various contexts is inconsistent. Theoretically informed approaches to process evaluation can support assessment the implementation of policy interventions such as MPDSR, particularly in understanding what the actors involved actually do. In this article, we reflect on how the normalisation process theory (NPT) was used to explore implementation of the MPDSR policy in Uganda. NPT is a sociological theory concerned with the social organisation of the work (implementation) of making practices routine elements of everyday life (embedding) and of sustaining embedded practices in their social contexts (integration).MethodsThis qualitative multiple case study conducted across eight districts in Uganda and among 10 health facilities (cases) representing four out of the seven levels of the Uganda health care system. NPT was utilised in several ways including informing the study design, structuring the data collection tools (semi-structured interview guides), providing an organising framework for analysis, interpreting and reporting of study findings as well as making recommendations. Study participants were purposely selected to reflect the range of actors involved in the policy implementation process. This included direct care providers located at each of the cases, the Ministry of Health and from agencies and professional associations. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and were inductively and deductively analysed using NPT constructs and subconstructs.Results and conclusionNPT served useful for process evaluation, particularly in identifying factors that contribute to variations in policy implementation. Considering the NPT focus on the agency of people involved in implementation, additional efforts are required to understand how recipients of the policy intervention influence how the intervention becomes embedded within the various contexts.

PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND CURRENT PRACTICES IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY: A literature review

The psychological evaluation for bariatric surgery is mandatory, and its conduction by the psychologist must adhere to professional principles and guidelines, as well as specific legislation. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the process of psychological evaluation for bariatric surgery and, additionally, to identify the psychological factors assessed and the instruments used in the process. This is a bibliographic research with data collection conducted between September and October 2023, in electronic databases such as Lilacs, Scielo, PubMed, and Pepsic, including full-text, open-access scientific articles published from 2018 to 2023. A total of 119 articles were found, of which 14 were selected for analysis. As a result, four categories were identified regarding psychological evaluation in bariatric surgery: 1) Importance of evaluation: involves expectations, support network, stress, and mental health; 2) Relevant psychosocial factors: such as social support and lifestyle; 3) Resources used: tools like BDI–II, BAI, ECAP, BAROS, EFS, IDATE, and LIS-A to assess emotional and cognitive aspects; 4) Challenges: highlight the complexity and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. Difficulties faced by psychologists in conducting these evaluations were also identified, requiring well-structured strategies and practices. Based on these findings, it is crucial that the responsible bodies—such as the Federal Council of Psychology—coordinate efforts, as the implementation of specific documents benefits psychologists and candidates for bariatric surgery by providing clear guidelines and standardizing procedures, making the professional practice more precise, safe, and accessible.

Version [formula omitted] — [CACP: Classification Algorithms Comparison Pipeline]

We present the first major release of the Classification Algorithms Comparison Pipeline (CACP). The proposed software enables one to compare newly developed classification algorithms in Python with other classifiers to evaluate classification performance and ensure both outcomes’ reproducibility and statistical reliability. CACP simplifies and accelerates the entire classifier evaluation process considerably and helps prepare the professional documentation of the experiments conducted. The upgrade introduces enhancements to existing tools and adds new features: (1) - support for River machine learning library datasets in incremental learning, (2) - capability to include user-defined datasets, (3) - use of River classifiers for incremental learning, (4) - use of River metrics for incremental learning, (5) - flexibility to create user-defined metrics, (6) - record-by-record testing for incremental learning, (7) - enhanced summary of incremental testing results with dynamic visualization of the learning process, (8) - Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Optimalisasi Pelaksanaan Pemantauan dan Evaluasi Kinerja Penyelenggara Pelayanan Publik (PEKPPP) di Puskesmas Gunung Anyar

Optimizing the implementation of monitoring and evaluation of public service provider performance (PEKPPP) at Puskesmas Gunung Anyar is a crucial effort to enhance public health service quality. This study employs a qualitative approach with a case study method to delve into the subject. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. Findings indicate the necessity of efficient management information system integration and enhanced human resource capacity. Additionally, active community participation in the evaluation process is crucial to improve responsiveness and accountability of Puskesmas. The research results show that the implementation of monitoring and evaluation at the Gunung Anyar Community Health Center still faces various challenges, including limited human resources, lack of training, and minimal use of information technology. To overcome this obstacle, it is recommended to increase human resource capacity through regular training, develop an integrated management information system, and increase community participation in the evaluation process. Implementation of this strategy is expected to increase the effectiveness of performance monitoring and evaluation, which in turn will improve the quality of health services at the Gunung Anyar Community Health Center. This study provides important insights for policy makers in formulating better policies for managing health services at the Puskesmas level.