Five-point Scale Research Articles

A Research on Needs Analysis from Students for Developing an Intercultural Communication Course

Background and aims: This research aims to investigate the intercultural communicative competence (ICC) of English major undergraduate students at Heilongjiang International University. It delves into students' attitudes, knowledge, skills of interpreting and relating, skills of discovery and interaction, and critical cultural awareness to improve the students’ ICC. The research reveals that while students possess some level of ICC, there are areas where they lack confidence and knowledge. Materials and methods: The study draws on questionnaires to gather data from 181 participants and utilizes a five-point scale for interpretation. Results: Results indicate that students are unsure about their knowledge of cultural aspects, specifically the history, etiquette, and lifestyle of English-speaking countries. Similarly, they exhibit uncertainty in their skills of interpretation and relating, especially regarding sensitivity to intercultural differences and their language capabilities. However, they show confidence in their skills of discovery, interaction, and critical cultural awareness. For attitude, students display a willingness to engage in intercultural experiences, although they lack confidence in suspending their perspectives in conversations. Cultural awareness is apparent, but some students recognize the influence of their cultural identity on communication. The study also explores students' experiences and difficulties in learning English, such as language barriers, cultural gaps, and limited exposure to foreign cultures. Conclusions: The study concludes that while students have ICC potential, targeted interventions are necessary to improve their overall competence. Recommendations include enhancing language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and exposure to authentic language use and cultural references. Finally, students express their desire to improve listening skills, vocabulary, oral communication, grammar understanding, and intercultural competence, which should guide curriculum design and educational strategies.

Evaluation of quality and readability of internet information on voice disorders

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the readability and quality of Internet information related to vocal health, voice disorders and voice therapy. Study designThis is a cross-sectional study. MethodsEighty-two websites were included. Websites were then analyzed; their origin (clinic/hospital, non-profit, government), quality (Health On the Net [HON] certification and DISCERN scores) and readability (Ateşman readability formula and Bezirci-Yılmaz new readability formula) were assessed. Statistical analysis was used to examine differences between website origin and quality and readability scores and correlations between readability instruments. ResultsOf the 82 websites, 93% were of private clinic/hospital, 6% were of non-profit organisation and 1% were of government. None of the 82 websites were HON certification, and the mean score of the item determining the general quality measure in DISCERN was 1.83 in a five-point scale. The mean of Ateşman readability formula value was calculated as 50.46 (±8.16). This value is defined as ‘moderately hard’ according to the readability scale. The average of Bezirci-Yılmaz new readability formula value is 13.85 (±3.48). This value is defined as 13th and 14th grade. ConclusionsThe quality of Internet-based health information about the voice is generally inadequate, and the sites examined in this study may be limited due to high readability levels. This may be a problem in people with poor literacy skills. For this reason, it is very important for speech and language therapists and other health professionals to evaluate and monitor the quality and readability of Internet-based information.

Confidence and Utilization are Poorly Associated with Point-of-Care Ultrasound Competency among Internal Medicine Trainees.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is the utilization of bedside ultrasound by clinicians. Its portable and rapid diagnostic capabilities make it an excellent tool for deployment and mobile military settings. However, formal and uniform POCUS training is lacking. Furthermore, the evaluation of these curricula often relies on confidence assessment. Our objective was to assess the relationships between confidence, frequency of utilization, and image interpretation knowledge among our Internal Medicine residents before and after the implementation of a formal curriculum. In November 2020, we implemented a longitudinal, flipped-classroom, academic half-day curriculum, conducting a prospective before-after cohort evaluation of its implementation. The POCUS curriculum was implemented as a longitudinal, asynchronous, flipped-classroom activity with workshop sessions during one academic half-day per month. We measured confidence via a Likert scale and utilization frequency via a five-point scale. Six multiple-choice questions (MCQ) with ultrasound videos assessed image interpretation competency. The image interpretation score was reported as percent correct. We related confidence and utilization to the image interpretation score. Ninety-nine residents were eligible for participation. Fifty-four (55%) completed a pre-curriculum assessment and 45 (45%) completed a post-curriculum assessment. Average image interpretation scores were 41% pre-curriculum and 51% post-curriculum (P =0.02). Pre-curriculum residents were on average unconfident (mean=2.56), and post-curriculum residents were on average confident (mean=3.62). Pre-curriculum residents used POCUS occasionally (mean=2.02, count 13 (24%) never utilizing). Post-curriculum residents used POCUS occasionally (mean=2.42, count 4 (9%) never utilizing). Pre- and post-curriculum confidence were not significantly associated with image interpretation scores (pre-curriculum: r=-0.10, P =0.50; post-curriculum: r=0.24, P =0.11). Pre- and post-curriculum utilization were not significantly associated with image interpretation scores (pre-curriculum: r=0.15, P =0.28; post-curriculum: r=0.02, P =0.90). The number of curriculum sessions attended was significantly associated with higher image interpretation scores (r=0.30, P =0.003). Our study suggests that POCUS confidence and informal utilization do not correlate with image interpretation knowledge on MCQs among Internal Medicine residents. These findings support assessing direct measures of knowledge, rather than confidence, as an endpoint in evaluating POCUS curricula among Internal Medicine residents.

Abstract 12869: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Teams and Loved Ones Communicating (CICU TaLC) Intervention is Acceptable and Improves Interprofessional Clinician Communication and Teamwork in Pediatric Pre-Family Meeting Huddles

Introduction: Interprofessional teams often develop a care plan in pre-family meeting huddles before engaging with the family in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)—a process that can affect the course of the family meeting and alter team dynamics but often lacks optimal communication and teamwork. Hypothesis: An interprofessional team intervention for pre-meeting huddles in the CICU is acceptable and positively impacts teamwork. Methods: We enrolled and trained CICU clinicians in interprofessional communication skills with a focus on role clarity, then conducted a quasi-experimental pre-posttest study with clinicians participating in actual pre-family meeting huddles. Clinician acceptability was measured via survey and impact on team communication and teamwork in pre-meeting huddles was assessed using PACT novice, a TeamSTEPPS validated tool, on audio recorded and transcribed huddles. The tool evaluates the domains Team Structure , Leadership , Situation Monitoring , Mutual Support , and Communication on a five-point scale (1 = poor; 3 = average; 5 = excellent). Wilcoxon rank sum test assessed intervention impact on communication and teamwork at the meeting level comparing pre and post-intervention data. Results: 24 Clinicians enrolled in the intervention (92% retention) with 100% completion of training. All trained clinicians recommend CICU TALC to others and 96% believe it improved their participation in family meetings. In 58 huddles (28 pre and 30 post), team performance in all 5 domains were significantly (p< 0.001) higher in post-intervention huddles than in pre-intervention. Median (IQR) comparisons: Team structure [pre 2.00 (1.75, 2.00) vs. post 5.00 (5.00, 5.00)], Leadership [pre 3.00 (2.00, 3.00) vs. post 5.00 (5.00, 5.00)], Situation Monitoring [pre 3.00 (2.75, 3.00) vs. post 5.00 (4.00, 5.00)], Mutual Support [pre 3.00 (2.00, 3.25) vs. post 5.00 (5.00, 5.00)], and Communication [pre 3.00 (2.00, 4.00) vs. post 5.00 (5.00, 5.00)]. Conclusion: It is acceptable to implement an interprofessional team intervention to improve team communication and teamwork in interprofessional pre-family meeting huddles. Future research should assess broader impact of the intervention on clinicians, patients, and families.

Effect of Pre-Contracting Procurement Practices on Supply Chain Performance of Road Authorities in Kakamega County, Kenya

The study focused on the effect of pre-contracting procurement practices on the supply chain performance of road authorities in Kakamega County, Kenya. Implementing and adopting the procurement Contracting practices in public institutions have continuously faced challenges due to their complexity and lack of resources, which directly impact supply chain performance. Institutions are operating in a competitive business environment with many players, and massive changes are taking place daily to improve their performance. The key to optimal performance is understanding the contributions of pre-contracting procurement practices. The study covered three road authorities with regional offices in Kakamega County: Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Road Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). The study adopted system theory. The study employed the causal research method to explain the causes and effects of the variables. The target population was 48 respondents, comprised of supply chain officers, road officers, and account officers on the road authorities. A census method was employed in the study. Structured questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. Pilot testing was conducted in Vihiga County. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data was presented using tables and figures. A Likert scale was used to determine how strongly variables agreed or disagreed with statements on a five-point scale. Regression analysis shows that pre-contracting procurement practice had no significant effect on supply chain performance in the road authorities of Kakamega County, Kenya (t = 0.605, P > 0.05). This means that road authorities in Kakamega County that effectively implement pre-contracting procurement practices are more likely to have high-performance supply chains. The findings of this objective indicated that pre-contracting had P 0.05 and contributed to 0.8% of the changes in supply chain performance. Therefore, according to the study, the institutions need to re-examine their procurement practices so as to capitalize on areas that improve supply chain performance.

Remineralizing gel with calcium lactate for the prevention of caries in children

The article presents the results of a single-center open clinical trial of the use of the remineralizing gel «PRESIDENT Minerals gel 0+». The effectiveness of the drug in children in the period of mixed dentition with a compensated form of caries was studied.Materials and methods. The study involved 19 children, mean age 8,3 years. The duration of the study is 1 month.Clinical indices and laboratory parameters were determined: DMF+df, OHI-S, PMA, the degree of enamel electrometry, calcium, glucose, total protein and antioxidant activity of saliva (AOA). Organoleptic properties were determined on a 5-point scale.Results. After one month of using the remineralizing gel, a decrease in the hygiene index by 23,27%, a decrease in the electrometric evaluation of enamel by 15,58% were revealed. In saliva, a decrease in the level of protein by 33,13% and an increase in the content of calcium by 53,33% were revealed. The organoleptic properties of the gel were evaluated on a five-point scale at 4,31±0,22 points.Conclusion. «PRESIDENT 0+ Minerals gel» with calcium lactate and hydroxyapatite has a remineralizing effect, good organoleptic properties and can be recommended for caries prevention in children.

Logical Mathematical Intelligence and its Impact on the Academic Achievement for Pre-Service Math Teachers

This study discussed the level of logical mathematical intelligence of pre-service female mathematics teachers. The problem arises in adopting traditional curricula for teaching mathematics, which leads to low student achievement. The study objectives to measure the students' level of logical mathematical intelligence, and find out the level of students’ achievement, and measuring the level of intelligence impact on the academic achievement. The study adopted the descriptive-analytical approach. The study population consisted of (45) pre-service female math teachers. A comprehensive sample was chosen. A questionnaire was used according to the (Likert) five-point scale, taking advantage of the MIDAS scale of multiple intelligences, which consisted of (17) statements, then the researchers developed the questionnaire up to (25) statements. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed. The findings revealed that: The general average of the logical-mathematical intelligence level for the fourth-year students was in a high degree, when the arithmetic mean of the whole questionnaire was (3.71), standard deviation was (0.74). The marks of students’ semester average were: Agree with a rate of 36.4%, strongly agree with a rate of 29.5%. The cumulative average was; 72.7% for a good level, and 25% for a very good level. Finally, there is a significant effect between the logical-mathematical intelligence of the female students, and the overall academic achievement in mathematics. 
 
 Received: 21 September 2023 / Accepted: 17 October 2023 / Published: 5 November 2023

Dentists' considerations concerning treating patients from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community: A national survey.

Research shows that adults who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing (HoH) had poorer oral health than adults who did not belong to this community. The objectives were to assess dentists' education, knowledge, attitudes, and professional behavior related to treating patients from the Deaf or HoH community and the relationships between these constructs. A total of 207 members of the American Dental Association and the Michigan Dental Association responded to a mailed or web-based survey concerning their education, knowledge, attitudes, and professional behavior related to treating patients from the Deaf or HoH community. On average, the respondents disagreed that they were well educated in classroom-based, clinical, or community-based dental school settings (five-point answer scale with 1=disagree strongly; mean=2.29/2.27/2.35) or by their professional organization (mean=2.00) about treating Deaf or HoH patients. However, the more recently the respondents had graduated from dental school, the better they described their education about this topic (r=0.29; p<0.001). Additionally, 45.9% agreed/strongly agreed that they would like to attend a continuing education course about this topic; 68.9% agreed/agreed strongly that negative consequences for patients' general health can occur; and 61.1% that patients cannot be well educated about oral hygiene if Deaf or HoH patients do not have appropriate interpretive support in dental offices. The better dentists were educated about this topic, the more knowledge they had (r=0.50; p<0.001). On average, the respondents agreed more strongly that they were comfortable treating adult patients who communicated orally than patients using American Sign Language (4.02vs. 3.25; p<0.001). These findings show that efforts are needed to improve dental school and continuing education curricula about dental treatment for Deaf and HoH patients. The more recently the respondents had graduated, the more positively they described their education. Increased dental school and continuing education efforts are still urgently needed.

Psychometric Evaluation of the PNH Symptom Questionnaire (PNH-SQ) Among Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria from Three Phase 2 Clinical Trials with Pozelimab Monotherapy or in Combination with Cemdisiran

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired, life-threatening disease caused by chronic dysregulation of the complement system. PNH has a high symptom burden with significant impacts on the life of a patient. The PNH Symptom Questionnaire (PNH-SQ) is a PNH-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire designed to assess daily symptom severity in patients with PNH. The objective of this current study was to evaluate PNH-SQ psychometric properties among patients with PNH from three phase 2 clinical trials with pozelimab monotherapy or in combination with cemdisiran. Methods: PRO data from three phase 2 PNH clinical trials, study 1852 (NCT03946748; pozelimab monotherapy; n=24), study 2092 (NCT04811716; combination therapy; n=24), and study 20105 (NCT04888507; combination therapy; n=6), were used for analysis. The PNH-SQ is a patient-reported daily diary that assesses 10 core symptoms of PNH using a five-point severity scale (none; very mild; mild; moderate; severe; very severe) for fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, headaches, abdominal pain, pain in back or legs, and chest discomfort, and a five-point difficulty scale (none, not at all, a little bit, somewhat, quite, very) for difficulty sleeping, difficulty thinking clearly, and difficulty swallowing. Prespecified psychometric analyses were performed after study database lock using blinded data. Analyses included quality of completion (ie ePRO prevented item-level missingness) and item responses over time. Reliability and validity of daily assessments with classical test theory (internal consistency and test-retest reliability, construct validity by observing correlations between pairs of PNH-SQ items and of the PNH-SQ daily score with other PRO scores from the EORTC QLQ-C30, FACIT-Fatigue and EQ-5D) and Rasch measurement theory (RMT) analyses were conducted. Test-retest reliability (within stable patients 4 weeks apart) and construct validity of various exploratory methods for aggregating daily scores over time were assessed. Results: Completion rates of PNH-SQ items were higher in studies 20105 and 2092 (at Day 1: 54.2% in 1852 vs 83.3% in 20105 and 91.7% in 2092). Fatigue was consistently the most experienced symptom at baseline of the three studies, while difficulty swallowing was not experienced by any patient. A high proportion of ‘none’ responses were observed across all assessments. Cronbach's alpha calculated using all daily assessments was 0.75, indicating modest reliability. The correlation between each pair of items at Day 1 ranged between 0.11 and 0.93, with the lowest correlations being observed between pain items and sleep/cognitive items, and between abdominal pain and fatigue/dyspnea. At Day 1, PNH-SQ daily score trended higher according to the Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGIS)-symptoms categories and showed moderate correlations in expected direction with fatigue and pain, as assessed by FACIT-Fatigue and EORTC QLQ-C30, and lower correlations with dyspnea and overall health status (EQ-5D visual analog scale). RMT analyses of the daily PNH-SQ data highlighted that for response options “Very mild” for severity/“Not at all” for difficulty did not provide any useful information. RMT also uncovered a meaningful hierarchy of symptoms ranging from fatigue to difficulty swallowing. A fixed 7-day average led to the best test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.76). Conclusions: Our analyses documented the PNH-SQ as an instrument to capture symptoms of PNH. The most frequent symptoms reported in our sample using the PNH-SQ, fatigue, dyspnea, and headaches, were aligned with observational study data. The sample of observations from the three trials was strongly skewed towards absence of symptoms, probably reflecting the low symptomatic severity of patients included in the study. Despite this restriction, early supportive data for the scoring of the PNH-SQ from a sample of patients with PNH were obtained, generating useful insights into the function of the response scales, opportunities for the creation of daily assessments of symptom severity, and for the creation of a measure reflecting severity over a longer period, for which a fixed 7-day average appeared as a potential good scoring approach. Generating further evidence, especially in a sample of more symptomatic patients, is recommended to substantiate these results.

Metoclopramide Nasal Spray in Women with Symptomatic Diabetic Gastroparesis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study

Background & AimsMetoclopramide nasal spray (MNS) was developed as an alternative to oral metoclopramide. Prior phase 2 studies demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms in women, but not men with diabetic gastroparesis. The aim of this phase 3 study was to further determine the safety and efficacy of MNS compared to placebo in reducing symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis in women. MethodsThis US multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study enrolled women aged 18 to 75 years with diabetic gastroparesis and delayed gastric emptying. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive placebo or MNS 10 mg. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in mean daily Gastroparesis Symptom Assessment (GSA) total score from baseline to week 4. The GSA daily diary is a validated patient-reported outcome instrument that averages scores of nausea, early satiety, prolonged fullness, bloating, and upper abdominal pain on a five-point ordinal scale. ResultsTwo-hundred-five subjects were randomized to receive placebo (n = 103) or MNS (n = 102). Overall, the MNS group did not experience a significant reduction in symptoms compared to the placebo group from baseline to week 4 (P = 0.881). However, subjects with moderate to severe symptoms at baseline had a significant treatment effect from weeks 1 to 3 (P < 0.05) and experienced a significant reduction in nausea and upper abdominal pain for all four weeks versus placebo (P < 0.05). Treatment-emergent adverse events were primarily mild to moderate with headache and abdominal pain reported most frequently. ConclusionsAlthough the primary endpoint was not met using all enrolled patients, treatment with MNS provided significant relief for women with moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis symptoms. MNS was well tolerated and demonstrated a similar safety profile to placebo. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02025725.

Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography Versus Contrast and Non-contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography for Detecting Blunt Abdominal Injury

Objective: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic ability of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and CECT combined with non-contrast computed tomography (NCT) for intraabdominal organ injury in patients with blunt abdominal injury.Material and Methods: Overall, 195 adult patients having had blunt abdominal trauma underwent CT at this institution; from 2016 and 2021. All CT images were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists. The efficacy of detection of organ injuries and the degree of intra-abdominal injury were recorded. The radiologists scored their diagnostic confidence for each CT image dataset on a five-point scale: inter-observer agreement was also calculated.Results: All included patients underwent CT for blunt abdominal trauma. The most common cause of injury was motorcycle accident (59.5%), with patients being predominantly male: the mean patient age was 44 years. Hemoperitoneum was the most common CT finding, with a significantly higher detection rate on CECT combined with NCT than on CECT alone. There was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic efficacy of the detected organ injury nor other types of organ injuries between CECT alone and CECT combined with NCT. Nevertheless, the accuracy of CECT in detecting hemoperitoneum may diminish in patients with severe fatty liver disease; especially in the perihepatic region.Conclusion: CECT alone is a potential tool for detecting abdominal injuries in patients with blunt trauma. NCT provides no additional benefits in detecting organ injury; except in cases of severe fatty liver disease. NCT is recommended as an optional protocol; particularly for patients with obesity.

Is parenthood associated with self-rated health among women in Brazil?

Previous studies conducted in Europe and North America addressing the relationship between self-rated health and parenthood offer inconsistent results, with effects ranging from nonsignificant to significant and in opposite directions. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between parenthood and self-rated health (SRH) among women in Brazil (a country with strong inequalities) considering the time interval from the last delivery in the analyses, as proposed in previous studies set in Sweden. The study used data from cross-sectional National Health Surveys in Brazil conducted from 2013 to 2014 and 2019 to 2020 with selected groups of 20,046 and 25,100 women for whom complete data were available on the variables of interest. The primary outcome was self-rated health measured on a five-point scale. Partial proportional odds models were employed. Compared to women that were not a parent, primiparous women whose delivery was within less than one year had a lower likelihood of worse SRH (OR (95% CI): 0.58-0.84 in 2013, and 0.64-0.94 in 2019), whereas multiparous women whose last delivery was more than one year earlier had greater likelihood of worse SRH (OR (95% CI): 1.08-1.27 in 2013, and 1.21-1.39 in 2019). An association was found between parenthood and SRH among Brazilian women. Considering the epidemiological relevance of SRH, different aspects of parenthood concerning parity and time since the last delivery should be considered in further analyses.

Sensory Acceptance and Characterisation of Turmeric- and Black-Pepper-Enriched Ice Cream

This study investigated the sensory characteristics and overall acceptability of turmeric- and black-pepper-enriched ice creams. For this purpose, a control sample (C) and a series of flavoured ice creams were prepared as follows: samples with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% of turmeric powder (T0, T1, and T2), and samples with a mixture of turmeric (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%), and 0.02% of black pepper (T0p, T1p, and T2p). Participants (n = 103) were asked to rate the acceptability of the ice creams using a nine-point hedonic scale, the liking of attributes by a five-point scale, the evaluation of attributes intensity by a just-about-right (JAR) scale, and attribute characterisation through a CATA test. They were also asked about their purchase and consumption intention of prepared ice cream samples. The addition of turmeric powder significantly (p &lt; 0.05) affected the sensory properties of the ice cream, whereas no correlation was found between the addition of black pepper and consumers’ ratings of the evaluated samples. According to the results, besides the control sample, the ice cream with 0.5% of turmeric powder and 0.02% black pepper (T0p) had the most desired attributes and the highest score for overall liking (6.94). In conclusion, these valuable spices could be used in the production of ice cream with potential functional properties.

Чат-бот как способ поддержки жертв школьной травли

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;This article is devoted to an overview of the sources on therapeutic chatbots, as well as a description of the problem of creating an anti-bullying chatbot. Most chatbots work on the basis of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and are aimed at preventing depressive vessels in adults. There are no anti-bullying chatbots yet. There are at least two reasons: the exceptional situation of bullying and the legal aspects of working with teenagers. The specificity of the bullying situation is working with the patient in real life and health conditions. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most appropriate method of dealing with victims of school transportation. The legal aspect includes the signing of a data revision resolution and the status of a minor in the conclusion of legal negotiations. The article proposes the idea of an author's chatbot, also based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychological first aid. The author's dialogue agent includes three blocks: work on emotional manifestations, psychoeducation and acute stress relief. In total, the algorithm includes five emotional channels - four dysfunctional and single-functional. The severity of emotional disturbances is measured on a five-point scale and a mood log, by detecting which you can track the effectiveness of the chatbot. A chatbot cannot implement all the functions of therapy, but it can help reduce the level of emotional stress.&lt;/p&gt;

Improved Diagnosis of Adjacent Organ Invasion of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma by Adding Arterial and Delayed Phases.

To clarify the role of dynamic computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA) involving adjacent organs. We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with eCCA in Iwate Medical University Hospital (Morioka, Japan) during January 2011-December 2021 who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced CT before biliary intervention, surgery, or chemotherapy. For surgical cases, two radiologists independently reviewed CT images in the portal, dual (adding arterial phase), and triple (adding delayed phase) phases. The mean attenuations of the abdominal aorta, portal vein (PV), hepatic parenchyma, pancreatic parenchyma, and eCCA were measured. The biliary segment-wise longitudinal tumour extent, arterial and PV invasion, organ invasion (liver, pancreas, and duodenum), and regional lymph node metastasis were assessed on a five-point scale. Imageperformances were compared using the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). We included 120 patients (mean age, 71.7 ± 8.9; 84 males). The PV and liver differed most from the bile duct tumour in the portal phase. The abdominal aorta and pancreas differed most from eCCA in the arterial phase. For 80 patients evaluated on the five-point scale, adding phases increased the AUC for pancreatic, duodenal, and arterial invasion for each observer (observer 1, 0.79-0.93, p<0.01, 0.71-0.86, p = 0.04, 0.74-0.99, p = 0.02; observer 2, 0.88-0.96, p = 0.01, 0.73-0.94, p<0.01, 0.80-0.99 p = 0.04; respectively). The AUC for biliary segment-wise longitudinal tumor extent, hepatic, and PV invasion remained unchanged with additional phases. Portal-phase information is sufficient to evaluate the segmental extent of bile duct and liver/PV invasion. Arterial- and delayed-phase information can help evaluate pancreatic, duodenal, and arterial invasion.

Modification of Domestic Animal Lameness Scales for Use in Asiatic Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus)

Lameness in animals is a welfare concern as it can be an indicator of pain. A standardized bear lameness scale would significantly improve the ability of facilities that house bears to monitor, manage, and treat lameness in their animals. The Animals Asia bear rescue center in Vietnam holds over 180 rescued bears with varying health and mobility conditions as a result of the illegal bear bile trade, and a reliable lameness assessment system was needed. Bear locomotion includes a lumbering gait, which differs from domestic animal locomotion, necessitating the modification of domestic animal lameness scales, and a five-point lameness scale was developed. Professionals from various veterinary-related backgrounds scored bear lameness videos to assess interobserver reliability and the intraclass correlation coefficient indicated good to excellent reliability. A 15-min training video with examples of lameness and grades was provided before assessment. The lameness scale developed herein addresses the lack of a published lameness scale for bears, and, due to the similar locomotion of the genus, can be used on any bear species. This scale is a consistent and reliable tool for evaluating and documenting lameness in addition to monitoring response to treatment. It will benefit bear welfare by indirectly characterizing the level of pain a bear is experiencing due to lameness as well as serving to document trends in pain status.

Quality of Life and Wellbeing Parameters of Academic Dental and Nursing Personnel vs. Quality of Services.

Quality of life (QOL) is based on one's perception of one's position in life with respect to one's goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. It is also influenced by one's culture and value system, workflow, and workplace situation; in turn, QOL influences the quality of service one is able to provide. In this study, we aim to report on dental and nursing academics' QOL and wellbeing at the end of the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health professionals (nurses and dentists), but it is important to investigate their quality of life three years later; furthermore, knowledge about academic staff is very limited. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) tool, recording the physical, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions of QOL, was used. The WHOQOL-BREF was modified using a spiritual coaching/mentoring approach in a two-step design and validation procedure. The modified SHQOL-BREF (Spiritual Healthcare version) designed for this study was uploaded and filled in online during April-June 2023. The staff (N = 120, 75% female) of the Departments of Dentistry (44.2%) and Nursing (55.8%) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens participated anonymously. QOL in terms of physical health was reported at a higher level (M = 72.2 points) compared to social relationships (M = 69 points), psychological health (M = 65 points), and environment (M = 59 points) (scores reported on a 0-100 scale). Overall, QOL was rated at 66 points, while satisfaction with one's health was at 72 points. Job satisfaction (M1 = 3.2) and spirituality (M2 = 3.0) were reported at a medium level on a five-point scale, while personal beliefs and values were reported at a high level (M3 = 4.0). The four areas of QOL are associated with job satisfaction, personal beliefs, and spirituality. Participant age presented a significant moderate-strong effect on physical health (F (3.97) = 2.89, p < 0.05, η2p = 0.08) and on the environment (F (3.97) = 2.80, p < 0.05, η2p = 0.08), and marital status had a significant effect on social relationships (F (1.97) = 9.66, p < 0.05, η2p = 0.09). Married participants reported consistently higher levels of QOL compared to single participants, for all age groups. The department had a significant moderate effect on social relationships (F (1.97) = 5.10, p < 0.05, η2p = 0.05), and education had a significant moderate-strong effect on psychological health (F (2.97) = 3.74, p < 0.05, η2p = 0.07). PhD-level participants in both departments presented higher levels of psychological health compared to those with lower educational levels. Also, participants from the Department of Dentistry reported higher levels of social relationship QOL in all educational groups compared to the Department of Nursing. Overall, according to our findings, PhD participants generally had better psychological health. Those under 40 years of age had higher levels of physical health and environmental quality of life, while married participants and those from the Department of Dentistry had higher levels of social interactions than those from the Department of Nursing. Strategic planning on sustainability and QOL initiatives should be introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic for dental and nursing academic personnel to promote resilience and QOL scores. Enhancing the QOL of academic staff is essential for developing health promotion activities at universities and can help boost performance among staff and students.

Development of the Effective Musical Notation Reading Strategies Scale in Learning Violin and Factors That Affect the Level of Using Such Strategies

This correlational study consisted of 396 undergraduate violin students studying at three different types of faculties in 18 universities in the 2016-2017 academic year in Turkiye. Data collection was made by using the Effective Musical Notation Reading Strategies Scale (EMNRSS) developed by the researcher and a personal information form. The data were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for construct validity, and in order to determine the internal consistency of the scale within the framework of the reliability tests, the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were calculated. The three-factor structure that emerged in the exploratory factor analysis was confirmed according to the fit index values obtained as a result of the confirmatory factor analysis (X2/SD = 2.38; NFI = 0.93; CFI = 0.96; GFI = 0.84; RMSEA = 0.059). The alpha value for the first factor of the scale (post-play) was calculated as 0.89 whereas such value was 0.87 for the second factor (during-play) and 0.83 for the third factor (pre-play). The alpha value calculated for the total scale score was 0.92. As a result of the analyses, a 34-item five-point Likert-type scale with three factors was developed. The EMNRSS may be utilized in future research to explore the factors that affect students’ level of using such strategies. The applicability of the EMNRSS to levels other than undergraduate level may also be explored.

Evaluation of image resolution and quantification parameters on fdg-pet/ct images in patients with metastatic breast cancer using Q. clear and osem reconstruction techniques

We compared the 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT scans performed for response monitoring in patients with metastatic breast cancer in a prospective setting using the ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm and the bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction algorithm (Q.Clear) and the image quality and quantification parameters. 35 patients with metastatic breast cancer who were treated and followed up with 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT were included. A total of 150 scans were evaluated on a five-point scale for the image quality parameters of noise, sharpness, contrast, diagnostic confidence, artefact, and blotchy look while being blinded to the Q.Clear and OSEM reconstruction algorithms. In scans with detectable disease, the lesion with the highest volume of interest was chosen, taking into account both reconstruction techniques' interest levels. For the same heated lesion, SULpeak (g/mL) and SUVmax (g/mL) were contrasted. The OSEM reconstruction had significantly less blotchy appearance than the Q.Clear reconstruction, while there was no significant difference between the two methods in terms of noise, diagnostic confidence, or artefact. Q.Clear had significantly better sharpness (p &amp;#60; 0.002) and contrast (p &amp;#60; 0.002) than the OSEM reconstruction. Quantitative examination of 75/150 scans revealed that Q.Clear reconstruction considerably outperformed OSEM reconstruction in terms of SULpeak (6.33 ± 1.8 vs. 5.85 ± 1.5, p &amp;#60; 0.002) and SUVmax (7.27 ± 5.8 vs. 3.90 ± 2.8, p 0.002). In conclusion, OSEM reconstruction was less blotchy, but Q.Clear reconstruction showed superior sharpness, better contrast, higher SUVmax, and higher SULpeak.

ChatGPT as a COBUILD lexicographer

Creating high-quality dictionary entries has been a meticulous and time-consuming process, but current developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help to speed up this process. This study explores the use of ChatGPT to create COBUILD-style English monolingual entries and evaluates its ability to generate accurate and high-quality sense definitions and example sentences on a sample of fifteen verbs of communication. AI-generated entries are produced using ChatGPT Plus, and human experts evaluate them alongside COBUILD entries in a blinded randomized process. The quality of sense definitions, example sentences, and overall entries are assessed using a five-point scale. The results indicate that AI-generated definitions are comparable to those created by human lexicographers, while AI-generated examples and overall entries receive lower ratings. The study also explores the possibility of fine-tuning AI models based on expert feedback to enhance their performance.