Higher Values Research Articles

Sensitivity and Specificity of a Screening Test for the Detection of Deficiencies in Visuo-Perceptual Skills

This study determines the sensitivity and specificity of a screening test to detect perceptual abnormalities and whether there are differences between gender. Vision is a complex process involving visual perception. Any alterations can affect learning, so having a screening test in Spanish that is easy to use and reliable for timely diagnosis will reduce the percentage of visuo-perceptual interference during learning process. A total of 200 subjects participated, aged between 8 and 15 years old, with good visual acuity, and no strabismus, amblyopia, ocular pathology, or neurological damage. The Petrosyan questionnaire (screening test) was employed to identify symptoms associated with perceptual impairment, and a subsequent assessment was conducted to evaluate perceptual abilities. The mean age was 11.5 years (57% male; 44% female). The screening test indicated that 30% of the subjects were suspected of having perceptual alteration, while 24% were diagnosed with a real alteration in perceptual abilities. The sensitivity was 1 and the specificity was 0.92. The Spanish version of the Petrosyan questionnaire has high sensitivity and specificity values and is therefore considered very accurate for identifying the need for a perceptual assessment. There are statistically significant differences in perceptual abilities according to gender. The female group shows more symptomatology and a higher percentage of alteration in perceptual skills.

Synthesis and characterization of flexible CaCoAlFe2O4 based microwave substrate for triband polarization-insensitive metamaterial absorber

This study investigated CaxCo(0.90-x)Al.01Fe2O4 nanoparticle synthesized using the sol–gel synthesis method to achieve a flexible substrate with a high dielectric constant value. The XRD, FESEM, and dielectric characteristic is analyzed to explore the performance of the suggested Ox Wheels-shaped (OWS) metamaterial absorber unit cell. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis found significant peaks at 30° (318), 33° (176), 35° (794), 43° (232), 53° (116), 57° (256), 62° (304), and 74° (126) planes. The dielectric constant values of the prepared nanomaterial materials are 4.52 (X = 90 %), 4.73 (X = 60 %), and 5.07 (X = 30 %) due to the deviations in raw material compositions. The prepared, flexible substrate is used in the anticipated OWS metamaterial absorber unit cell, and analysis has been widely considered and continuously concerned due to their excellent ultra-thin thickness, lightweight, and high absorbance resonance features. The predicted structure reached S21 response at 3.47 GHz, 7.05 GHz, and 10.76 GHz with the magnitude of −24.11 dB, −17.07 dB, and −19.19 dB, respectively, using CST simulation software. The absorber prototype is measured for further investigation within the frequency range of 2.25–2.76, 5.84–6.15 GHz, and 9.63–9.76 GHz, where maximum magnitude is achieved at 2.50 GHz, 6.02 GHz, and 9.70 GHz, respectively. This specific resonance frequency reached the highest 99.61 %, 98.03 %, and 98.79 % absorption, which covers the S, C, and X band frequency spectrum. Various electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and multi-parameter responses are examined to achieve almost perfect absorption (PA). The enormous range of possible uses of metamaterial, such as absorber wave modification, infrared imaging, radiative cooling, energy harvesting, and chemical detection, makes it appreciated. The CaCoAlFe2O4 ferrite-based flexible metamaterial absorber structure has ultra-thin, flexible, and non-corrosive advantages.

Comparison of chemical compositions and aroma characteristics of walnut oil prepared by different roasting processes.

Walnut oil is an edible oil with high nutritional value, and the roasting process influences its quality and flavor. This study aimed to investigate the effects of roasting on the fatty acid composition, bioactive compounds (tocopherols, polyphenols, and phytosterols), and antioxidant capacity of walnut oil. Additionally, the aroma compounds and sensory characteristics were evaluated to comprehensively assess the variations in walnut oil after roasting. Roasting resulted in no notable impact on the fatty acid composition of walnut oil but increased the content of tocopherols and polyphenols in walnut oil, increasing its antioxidant capacity. Heavy roasting (160°C/20min) reduced the phytosterol content in walnut oil by 2.3%. In total, 146 volatile compounds were detected in both cold-pressed and roasted walnut oil using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 32 key aroma compounds were identified. Aromatic aldehydes, aliphatic aldehydes, and heterocyclic compounds significantly contributed to fragrant walnut oil. Furthermore, the principal component analysis based on quality characteristics and sensory evaluation indicated that moderate roasting (130°C/20min, 130°C/30min, and 160°C/10min) provided walnut oil with a sweet, nutty, and roasted aroma, as well as high levels of linoleic acid, phytosterols, and γ-tocopherol. Although heavy roasting (160°C/15min and 160°C/20min) enhanced the antioxidant capacities of walnut oils due to high levels of polyphenols, the oils exhibited an unpleasant burnt aroma. This study showed that roasting promoted the quality and flavor of walnut oil, and moderate conditions endowed walnut oil with a characteristic-rich flavor while maintaining excellent quality.

Structure and Bioactivity of Intracellular and Extracellular Polysaccharides of Trametes lactinea Mycelium

Trametes lactinea polysaccharides have a high medicinal value; however, we still know little about the structure and bioactivity of intracellular and extracellular polysaccharides in the mycelial liquid fermentation of T. lactinea. This study analyzed the structures of intracellular (IP-1, IP-2, and IP-3) and extracellular (EP-1 and EP-2) polysaccharide components isolated from T. lactinea liquid fermentation, as well as investigated their antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. The results showed that IP-3 was the only component with a triple-helix structure, while the other four components did not possess this structure. IP3 has a higher molecular weight, flavonoid, and total phenolic content compared to other components. Both intracellular and extracellular polysaccharide components exhibited strong scavenging abilities against ABTS and DPPH radicals. The components showed limited antibacterial effects against four types of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Erwinia carotovora, and Escherichia coli), and were found to be non-toxic to RAW264.7 cells, even promoting cell proliferation. Furthermore, within a specific concentration range, all components enhanced the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells, increased the secretion of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6, and demonstrated concentration-dependent effects, with IP-3 displaying the most potent immunomodulatory activity. This study shows a high potential for the development and utilization of polysaccharides derived from the liquid fermentation of T. lactinea mycelium.

Determination of Teacher Qualifications from the Perspective of Stakeholders: Rubric Development Study

The aim of this study is to develop a rubric to determine the qualifications of teachers, one of the most important elements of education. There are many measurement tools in the literature. One of the alternative and authentic assessment tools is rubrics, also known as rubrics. Rubrics have been defined in many studies in the literature. In the study, the rubric development stages suggested by Goodrich Andrade were taken into account. The rubric was created after the reliability studies of the rubric form were completed. In the research, an analytical rubric with 37 items was developed to be used in determining ‘the qualified teacher.’ The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of the developed measurement tool was found to be .96. Based on the results obtained from the research, it can be stated that the developed rubric is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in the qualitative evaluation of teachers teaching all levels. The findings showed that the rubric had high agreement and reliability values among different stakeholder groups. Therefore, it can be said that this study provides a basis for Türkiye in determining teacher qualifications for science education, especially in the field of education. The developed rubric serves as a valid and reliable measurement tool, contributing to the objective assessment of teacher performance across all levels of the education process.

Local Development Based on Non-Timber Forest Products: Evidence from a Mapping of Initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon since Rio 1992

Over recent decades, the sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has offered the promise of reconciling the dilemma between forest conservation and economic development, generating income for local populations. Accordingly, since the 1990s, manifold initiatives, often supported by international donors, have been investing in developing such NTFP value chains. Specifically in the Brazilian context, initiatives have proliferated as a response to the challenges of the largest remaining tropical forest ecosystem—the Amazon region and its inhabitants. Have they worked? What do we know about their impact? To provide for the first time an adequate basis for a more systematic analysis of the impact of NTFP initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon, this article presents a mapping of current and past initiatives supporting NTFP extractivism. The mapping drew on databases of funding organizations and interviews with key informants. The analysis revealed a large number of initiatives (nearly 200) strongly clustered in some areas, like around Belém, along major roads such as the BR 364, and along the Juruá rivers, concentrated on a few products with relatively high commercial value, mostly implemented by civil society organizations and targeting traditional peoples and communities. As interventions for NTFP development, the initiatives offered capacity building, financial support, and facilitate market access. With regard to the latter, the initiatives varied considerably. The vast majority promoted products, while a much smaller number engaged in company partnerships or government procurement. Despite the large number of initiatives, there is insufficient knowledge to gauge the impacts of different strategies of local resources and their users. A clear understanding of the effects of NTFP-based development initiatives and how impacts are generated is essential to seize the potential of the bioeconomy for achieving sustainable development for the Brazilian Amazon.

Syndecan-1 Levels in Females with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: The relationship between serum glycoprotein syndecan-1 and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate whether serum syndecan-1 concentrations are associated with moderate/severe disease activity. Methods: Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Seventy-five adult women with RA were classified into (a) moderate/severe RA based on the disease activity score, using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR ≥ 3.2, n = 50), and (b) RA in remission (DAS28-ESR < 2.6, n = 25). Twenty-five healthy women were taken as the reference group. Syndecan-1 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). High values of serum syndecan-1 levels (≥24 ng/mL) were used to identify the utility values of this biomarker. Results: The patients with RA had higher levels of syndecan-1 than the controls (p < 0.001). RA patients with active disease had higher syndecan-1 levels than RA patients in remission (57.6 vs. 23.5 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.002). High syndecan-1 concentrations demonstrated the following utility values for identifying disease activity: sensitivity, 84% (95%CI: 71–93); specificity, 52% (95%CI: 31–72); positive predictive value, 78% (95%CI: 70–84); and negative predictive value, 62% (95%CI: 44–77). Conclusions: High syndecan-1 levels have good sensitivity and positive predictive value for identifying disease activity; however, their specificity is limited. Future prospective studies are needed to assess whether syndecan-1 levels can predict treatment failure in RA.

A measure of the importance of moment for ball-strike counts in a baseball plate appearance

ABSTRACT This study constructs a discrete-time Markov Chain (DTMC) model for a baseball plate appearance (PA) employing Major League Baseball’s pitch-by-pitch dataset. Based on the DTMC model, we propose a novel measure for a baseball PA, termed the Importance of Moment (IOM). The IOM quantifies the criticality of each ball-strike count situation, by assessing the probabilistic difference between the pitcher’s and hitter’s favourable outcomes (out vs reaching base). If the favours significantly vary right after a particular ball-strike count, then the count is deemed critical and is assigned a high IOM value. We empirically verify that IOM explains pitchers’ behaviour of fastball speed. We then further investigate whether the behaviour of ace pitchers differs significantly from the majority. Several interesting properties are found from the analysis. Firstly, the path independence assumption generally holds, with the exception of the ball-strike count of 2B1S. Second, pitchers tend to throw the faster fastball at counts with higher IOM values. Lastly, ace pitchers are capable of pitching even faster fastball in two-strike situations in which IOM is high. The DTMC effectively models the probabilistic structure of a baseball PA, and the proposed IOM measure serves as a useful tool for explaining player behaviour.

Low Carbon Development Strategy in the Rambat Menduyung Mangrove Forest Area of West Bangka

Indonesia is committed to reducing carbon emissions through low-carbon development. Mangrove ecosystems have a high carbon storage value that can support this development. There is a problem of high mangrove degradation caused by economic activities. One of the sectors causing mangrove degradation is the mining sector in the province of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung. Low-carbon development strategies in mangrove areas are needed to support the increase of sustainable economic activities such as capture fisheries, aquaculture, and mangrove conservation. The objective of this research is to calculate the potential value of sustainable economic activities and develop a low-carbon development strategy in the Rambat Menduyung Mangrove Area. The methods used in this research are economic benefit analysis, benefit transfer analysis of carbon emission factors, and strategy analysis using interpretative structural modeling with Exsimpro software. The results of research suggest that potential economic activities that support low carbon development in mangrove areas, namely mangrove conservation, capture of marine biota, and blood clam production, produce economic benefits of IDR105,723,552,069/year. Prioritizing low-carbon development strategies by improving protection and law enforcement policies and increasing institutional capacity and community participation supported by adequate infrastructure from stakeholders, namely DKP West Bangka, KPHP Rambat Menduyung, and Belo Laut Village Government.

Low Carbon Development Strategy in the Rambat Menduyung Mangrove Forest Area of West Bangka

Indonesia is committed to reducing carbon emissions through low-carbon development. Mangrove ecosystems have a high carbon storage value that can support this development. There is a problem of high mangrove degradation caused by economic activities. One of the sectors causing mangrove degradation is the mining sector in the province of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung. Low-carbon development strategies in mangrove areas are needed to support the increase of sustainable economic activities such as capture fisheries, aquaculture, and mangrove conservation. The objective of this research is to calculate the potential value of sustainable economic activities and develop a low-carbon development strategy in the Rambat Menduyung Mangrove Area. The methods used in this research are economic benefit analysis, benefit transfer analysis of carbon emission factors, and strategy analysis using interpretative structural modeling with Exsimpro software. The results of research suggest that potential economic activities that support low carbon development in mangrove areas, namely mangrove conservation, capture of marine biota, and blood clam production, produce economic benefits of IDR105,723,552,069/year. Prioritizing low-carbon development strategies by improving protection and law enforcement policies and increasing institutional capacity and community participation supported by adequate infrastructure from stakeholders, namely DKP West Bangka, KPHP Rambat Menduyung, and Belo Laut Village Government.

Silica-based aerogels encapsulate organic/inorganic composite phase change materials for building thermal management

Phase change energy storage materials are widely used in thermal management because they reduce energy consumption and effectively address issues such as energy supply and demand mismatches. However, challenges such as leakage in solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs), flammability in organic solid-liquid PCMs, and supercooling and phase separation in inorganic solid-liquid PCMs still need to be resolved for their practical applications. In this study, we used methyl palmitate, dodecahydrate disodium hydrogen phosphate, and decahydrate sodium carbonate as the main PCMs, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as an emulsifier and thickener, and silica aerogel as the encapsulating material to successfully prepare a novel shape-stabilized organic/inorganic composite PCM (CPCM). The prepared CPCM exhibits excellent shape stability and flame retardancy without supercooling or phase separation issues. In addition, the prepared CPCM has a high latent heat value (174.1 J/g) and a suitable phase transition temperature (22.9 °C), and its thermal performance remains basically unchanged after 100 heating/cooling cycles. Furthermore, this CPCM also demonstrates exceptional performance in building thermal management. This study provides a new solution to the problems of flammability, supercooling, phase separation and easy leakage of CPCM currently used in the field of building thermal management.

Measurement properties of activity monitoring for a rehabilitation (AMoR) platform in post-stroke individuals in a simulated home environment

ABSTRACT Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of activity monitoring for a rehabilitation (AMoR) platform for step counting, time spent in sedentary behavior, and postural changes during activities of daily living (ADLs) in a simulated home environment. Methods Twenty-one individuals in the post-stroke chronic phase used the AMoR platform during an ADL protocol and were monitored by a video camera. Spearman’s correlation coefficient, mean absolute percent error (MAPE), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland–Altman plot analyses were used to estimate the validity and reliability between the AMoR platform and the video for step counting, time spent sitting/lying, and postural changes from sit-to-stand (SI-ST) and sit-to-stand (ST-SI). Results Validity of the platform was observed with very high correlation values for step counting (rs = 0.998) and time spent sitting/lying (rs = 0.992) and high correlation for postural change of SI-ST (rs = 0.850) and ST-SI (rs = 0.851) when compared to the video. An error percentage above 5% was observed only for the SI-ST postural change (7.13%). The ICC values show excellent agreement for step counting (ICC3, k = 0.999) and time spent sitting/lying (ICC3, k = 0.992), and good agreement for SI-ST (ICC3, k = 0.859) and ST-SI (ICC3, k = 0.936) postural change. Values of the differences for step counting, sitting/lying time, and postural change were within the limits of agreement according to the analysis of the Bland–Altman graph. Conclusion The AMoR platform presented validity and reliability for step counting, time spent sitting/lying, and identification of SI-ST and ST-SI postural changes during tests in a simulated environment in post-stroke individuals.

Genetic resources of the genus Prunus L. and their role in stone fruit breeding

Stone fruits such as apricot, cherry plum, cherry, peach, plum, and sweet cherry are highly popular in the Russian Federation. They are cultivated in the industrial gardens of large agricultural producers, as well as the plantings on farms and household plots. The fruits of these species can be consumed fresh for a considerable period of time. The application of some processing methods (cooling, freezing, and storage in a special atmosphere) significantly extends this period. Stone fruits are also suitable for producing a wide variety of processed products. The biochemical composition of fruits determines their high energy value and dietary properties. The representatives of the genus Prunus L. exhibit great genetic diversity. Due to their high polymorphy, they cover a large area. In regions with favorable weather and climatic growth conditions, stone fruits constitute the main industrial varieties. High requirements for industrial varieties determine the relevance of breeding improvement of available varieties. Representatives of the genus Prunus are characterized by a long juvenile period, different ploidy of species, high incompatibility, as well as heterozygosity for a large number of traits with a comparatively small number of identified genes. This fact significantly complicates genetic studies. The assortment of stone fruit crops in central Russia was renewed in several main directions. Most varieties were created through intervarietal crosses within a species. The current breeding work is aimed at creating new stone fruit species, as well as at improving the existing assortment. Along with the crossing of geographically distant varieties within a species, distant hybridization is one of the promising directions. In this way, new cultivated species were created, e.g., Russian plum (P. rossica Erem.), which is widely used in plantings. Such varieties are characterized by an attractive appearance, large size, pleasant aroma, and great flavor of fruits, as well as resistance to frost and rotting.

Association of TyG index with aortic valve calcification in valvular heart disease patients.

In recent years, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, as a popular metabolic index, has been proposed as an alternative index of insulin resistance, and it has been proved to be associated with many cardiovascular diseases, but the relationship between it and aortic valve calcification is still unknown. A total of 450 aortic valve disease patients were enrolled in this study, including 361 patients with aortic valve calcification (AVC) (calcification group) and 89 patients without (control group). According to the severity of AVC, patients with AVC included severe calcification, moderate calcification and low calcification. The TyG index was calculated based on fasting triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels. The TyG index in the calcification group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05), and with the increase of the degree of calcification, the TyG index showed an increasing trend. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed TyG index has a high predictive value for the presence of AVC (OR (95% CI): 1.743 (1.036-2.933)) and severe AVC (OR (95% CI): 1.608 (1.143-2.262)). In assessing the predictive value of the TyG index distribution width for AVC, with the first quartile as a reference, the last quartile of the TyG index had significant predictive value for the presence of AVC and severe AVC. TyG index was significantly associated with the presence and severity of AVC, suggesting that TyG index may be a valid predictor of AVC.

Motion generation for a tracked robot going over an unfixed obstacle on a slope using reinforcement learning

Tracked robots are useful in disaster recovery missions owing to their high traversability. However, even tracked robots find traversing terrains with obstacles such as rocks difficult. Particularly, unfixed obstacles pose problems. Therefore, this study aims to generate motion for tracked robots to go over unfixed obstacles on slopes by utilizing a reinforcement learning (RL) approach. In RL, rewards are important to make robots learn optimal policies for various tasks. Hence, a new definition of going over an unfixed obstacle is proposed. Based on the proposed definition, a sparse reward is designed to motivate the robot to go over the obstacle while avoiding the large sliding-down phenomenon responsible for the failure of going over and the large directional deviation of the robot. In our experiment, a robot is trained in a dynamic simulator and it attempts to go over a spherical unfixed obstacle under various environmental conditions: radius of the obstacle, slope degree, and initial position of the obstacle. We verify that the success rate converges to a high value and the robot successfully generates motions to go over the spherical unfixed obstacle.

Exergetic, economic and exergy-based sustainability analysis of a power generation system with CO2 capture and methanol production

This study proposes a new biomass-based Combined Heat and Power (CHP)/renewable methanol production through captured carbon dioxide. A liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) stores and releases hydrogen. Literature review shows that LOHC has been integrated into such a system for the first time. The exergetic, exergoeconomic, and economic performance are researched. On average, results show that the exergetic efficiency of the system is 6.6 %. Depletion ratio (DR) is the depletion rate of the exergy source given to the system, which is desired to have low values. The sustainability index (SI) is the DR's reverse, representing the required exergy source per exergy destruction (exergy depletion). High values of this index indicate less exergy source consumed in the system. Exergetic ecological index (EECI) compares the useful products or depleted exergy per consumed exergy source destruction. The negative value of EECI means that the depletion of the exergy source is more significant than the product exergy and vice versa. The exergy-based sustainability indices, including DR, SI, and EECI, are found as 0.934, 1.071, and −0.868, respectively. Exergoeconomic analysis reveals that the exergy destruction rate at the system's capital cost (REX) value is 0.087×102. Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), gasifier, and Heat Exchanger 1 (HE1) are obtained as 5.153×10−2 (kW/€), 1.707×10−2 (kW/€), 3.094×10−2 (kW/€) respectively. The payback period and the REX are 14.56 years and 0.087×10−2 (kW/€), respectively; it seems long for an engineering application, but these technologies are relatively new, and their costs might decrease soon. Exergy destruction or lost power per capita, which means depleted investment, costs much less than 1. Although the thermodynamic values of the system seem low because irreversibilities occurred in chemical reactions, CO2 saved and produced methanol and cannot be ignored in terms of its environmental and economic benefits, considering CO2 taxes and the methanol economy.

Selective adsorption of high ionization potential value organic pollutants in wastewater

It is imperative to devise effective removal strategies for high ionization potential (IP) organic pollutants in wastewater as their reduced electron-donating capacity challenges the efficiency of advanced oxidation systems in degradation. Against this backdrop, leveraging the metal-based carbon material structure meticulously, we employed metal-pyridine-N (M-N-C, M=Fe, Co, and Ni) as the electron transfer bridge. This distinctive design facilitated the ordered transfer of electrons from the adsorbent surface to the surface of high IP value pollutants, acting as a "supplement" to compensate for their deficient electron-donating capability, thereby culminating in the selective adsorption of these pollutants. Furthermore, this adsorbent also demonstrated effective removal of trace emerging contaminants (2 mg/L), displayed robust resistance to various salts, exhibited reusability, and maintained stability. These findings carry substantial implications for future carbon-based material design, offering a pathway toward exceptional adsorption performance in treating water pollution.

N1 and LNC Reveal the Differential Electrophysiological Signatures of Functional and Hedonic Images Processing

In the process of creative sentence or phrase utilization, novel and appropriate evaluations cause the different brain responses observed in event-related potentials: the N400 reflects the novelty evaluation, whereas a late negative component marks appropriate processing. Do we have similar brain reactions in image perception when we rapidly browse pictures of objects with different novelty, functional/appropriate, and hedonic value? To explore this question, participants were presented with four novel object images with high or low functional and hedonic properties, as well as the ordinary product images, with the instruction to attentively observe and understand each image. We found a clear dissociation between processing of novelty and functional value: novelty objects produced negative deflections in the N2-N400 time window relative to the ordinary object images, whereas images with high functional value elicited a larger N2 and late negative waves (LNC) resembling the late component found for the appropriate phrases. Object images with high hedonic value, however, were associated with earlier aesthetic preference reflected in smaller N1 amplitudes, but failed to elicit a LNC effect. We therefore conclude that the processing of novelty, functional, and hedonic value are dissociation, and the perception of hedonic value is earlier (N1) than the novelty processing (N400) and the verification of functional value (LNC).

Application of color doppler ultrasound and US shear wave elastography with connective tissue growth factor in the risk assessment of papillary thyroid carcinoma

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the role of shear wave elastography (SWE) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the assessment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) prognosis.MethodsCTGF expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. Clinical and pathological data were collected. Parameters of conventional ultrasound combined with SWE were also collected. The relationship among CTGF expression, ultrasound indicators, the elastic modulus and the clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that patients with high risk of PTC were characterized with male, Uygur ethnicity, increased expression of CTGF, convex lesions, calcified, incomplete capsule, intranodular blood flow, rear echo attenuation, cervical lymph node metastasis, lesions larger than 1 cm, psammoma bodies, advanced clinical stage, increased TSH and high value in the shear modulus (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the risk factors of high expression of CTGF according to contribution size order were irregular shape, aspect ratio ≥ 1, and increased TSH. The logistic regression model equation was Logit (P) = 1.153 + 1.055 × 1 + 0.926 × 2 + 1.190 × 3 and the Area Under Curve value of the logistic regression was calculated to be 0.850, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.817 to 0.883.ConclusionSWE and CTGF are of great value in the risk assessment of PTC. The degree of fibrosis of PTC is closely related to the prognosis. The hardness of PTC lesions and the expression level of CTGF are correlated with the main indexes of conventional ultrasound differentiating benign or malignant nodules. Irregular shape, aspect ratio ≥ 1, and increased TSH are independent factors of CTGF.

The development of mathematics expectancy-value profiles during the secondary–tertiary transition into STEM fields

BackgroundTo master the secondary–tertiary transition into fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), academic self-beliefs play a pivotal role, especially those related to learning mathematics. The framework of expectancy-value theory has been used widely in primary and secondary education and partly in tertiary education to assess the self-beliefs of students in terms of expectancy of success and perceived value of mathematics. Based on this framework, we measured how the intrinsic value, the attainment value, the utility value, and the cost of learning mathematics as well as the expectancy of success when learning mathematics developed during the secondary–tertiary transition of students into STEM fields. Data were collected in a quantitative repeated-measures questionnaire study with two measurement points (measurement point 1: n = 710, measurement point 2: n = 487, listwise: n = 409). We conducted a latent profile analysis to identify the prevalent patterns of mathematics self-beliefs, called profiles, at each of the two measurement points. We studied the relation of these profiles to prior education, achievement at school, and achievement at university. By performing a latent transition analysis, we determined the probabilities of transitioning from the initial profiles to the posterior profiles.ResultsOur analysis revealed four distinct prevalent profiles at each measurement point, ranging from highly favorable (i.e., high expectancy, high value, low cost) to highly unfavorable with respect to learning mathematics. The profiles with favorable manifestations remained stable over time, while those with undesirable manifestations deteriorated further. We observed a sharp increase in cost across all profiles. Prior achievement correlated strongly with profile membership.ConclusionsThe expenditure of time and energy increased sharply during the secondary–tertiary transition, independently of the students’ initial motivational patterns. The perceived utility of mathematics for potential future careers was shown to be a significant source of motivation. The role of mathematics in future careers should thus be made visible in university teaching. Keeping the detrimental development of initially undesirable motivational profiles in mind, university teachers should create ample opportunities for students to gain a sense of accomplishment.