Independent Constructs Research Articles

Examining what Mental Toughness, Ego Resiliency, Self-efficacy, and Grit measure: An exploratory structural equation modelling bifactor approach

AbstractDespite conceptual similarities among the established non-cognitive constructs of Mental Toughness, Ego Resiliency, Self-efficacy, and Grit, preceding research typically considered these as adversary rather than complementary and potentially additive. Subsequently, comparatively few studies have examined these together. This paper, via two independent studies, examined commonality within Mental Toughness, Ego Resiliency, Self-efficacy, and Grit. This identified key elements that contribute to a broad, non-cognitive, resource-based construct. Study 1 (N = 2137) assessed shared variance among the non-cognitive constructs relative to a general factor. Study 2 (N = 1148) evaluated the replicability of the results from Study 1 and examined measurement invariance. Respondents completed established self-report measures indexing the study variables. Exploratory structural equation modelling bifactor analyses consistently revealed that Mental Toughness, the Ego-Resiliency Optimal Regulation subscale, and Self-efficacy loaded highly on a general factor, which the authors labelled as Non-Cognitive Adaptive Resourcefulness (NCAR). Invariance analyses supported the stability of this model across study context. This paper advanced conceptual understanding of the core shared features of independent non-cognitive constructs. The authors discuss the potential of NCAR and advocate the need for further research.

A hybridized approach of PLS-SEM and fuzzy Z-AHP to evaluate the UTAUT2 model for an LMS

Learning Management Systems is a challenge of implementing information technology (IT) in the higher educational field. This paper introduces a framework for assessing an LMS by integrating partial last squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy analytic hierarchic process with Z-numbers (Fuzzy Z-AHP). The objective is to propose the combination of the two approaches via results of PLS-SEM for the construction of the decision matrix for Fuzzy Z-AHP. The PLS-SEM method was used firstly to evaluate the conceptual model Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) and extracting the significant connections between the independent constructs and the behavioral intention to use an LMS. Secondly is adapted the Fuzzy Z-AHP method to rank the independent significant constructs initializing from the PLS-SEM results. Using a questionnaire survey, the study sampled 530 users of LMS in 4 Albanian universities as respondents. To the best of our knowledge this paper is among the first that combines PLS-SEM with Fuzzy Z-AHP for the UTAUT2 model while using an LMS. This combination showed that the most important construct of UTAUT2 affecting behavioral intention to use an LMS was habit. This study assist the decision makers and policy makers to provide the means to obtain better managerial conclusions for the improvement and progress of an LMS.

Clinical parameters combined with radiomics features of PET/CT can predict recurrence in patients with high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma

BackgroundThis retrospective study aimed to develop and validate a combined model based [18F]FDG PET/CT radiomics and clinical parameters for predicting recurrence in high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma patients.MethodsEighty-four high-risk neuroblastoma patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into training and test sets according to the ratio of 3:2. [18F]FDG PET/CT images of the tumor were segmented by 3D Slicer software and the radiomics features were extracted. The effective features were selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to construct the radiomics score (Rad_score). And the radiomics model (R_model) was constructed based on Rad_score for prediction of recurrence. Then, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to screen out the independent clinical risk parameters and construct the clinical model (C_model). A combined model (RC_model) was developed based on the Rad_score and independent clinical risk parameters and presented as radiomics nomogram. The performance of the above three models was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsSeven radiomics features were selected for building the R_model. The AUCs of the C_model in training and test sets were 0.744 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.595–0.874) and 0.750 (95% CI, 0.577–0.904), respectively. The R_model yielded AUCs of 0.813 (95% CI, 0.685–0.916) and 0.869 (95% CI, 0.715–0.985) in the training and test sets, respectively. The RC_model demonstrated the largest AUCs of 0.889 (95% CI, 0.794–0.963) and 0.892 (95% CI, 0.758–0.992) in the training and test sets, respectively. DCA demonstrated that RC_model added more net benefits than either the C_model or the R_model for predicting recurrence in high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma.ConclusionsThe combined model performed well for predicting recurrence in high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma, which can facilitate disease follow-up and management in clinical practice.

A Lightweight Framework for Perception Analysis Based on Multimodal Cognition-Aware Computing.

The VUCA environment challenged neuropsychological research conducted in conventional laboratories. Researchers expected to perform complex multimodal testing tasks in natural, open, and non-laboratory settings. However, for most neuropsychological scientists, the independent construction of a multimodal laboratory in a VUCA environment, such as a construction site, was a significant and comprehensive technological challenge. This study presents a generalized lightweight framework for perception analysis based on multimodal cognition-aware computing, which provided practical updated strategies and technological guidelines for neuromanagement and automation. A real-life test experiment on a construction site was provided to illustrate the feasibility and superiority of the method. The study aimed to fill a technology gap in the application of multimodal physiological and neuropsychological techniques in an open VUCA environment. Meanwhile, it enabled the researchers to improve their systematic technological capabilities and reduce the threshold and trial-and-error costs of experiments to conform to the new trend of VUCA.

Construction and Practice of “Internet +” Era Blended Teaching Mode in Database Principle and Application Course

The blended teaching in the “Internet +” era defines the new connotation of students’ learning. Students should not only acquire common standardized knowledge, but also pay attention to the independent construction of personalized knowledge and creative knowledge application. By analyzing the characteristics of students majoring in computer science and technology, this research constructs a blended teaching model based on the learning Platform. To this end, this study takes the needs analysis and conceptual structure design in database design as examples, and expounds the specific implementation process of teaching preparation, knowledge construction, knowledge transfer and teaching reflection. Finally, through quasi-experimental research to verify the teaching effect of the database principle and the application of the blended teaching model, the research results show that the blended teaching model can significantly improve students’ academic performance.

Positive Schemas: Replication, Associations With Negative Schemas, and the Dark Triad.

The purpose of the current study was to replicate the factor structure of the 14 positive schemas identified in the earlier study by Louis et al. (2018). Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Multi-group CFA, the 14 positive schemas were found to be robust across four new non-clinical English-speaking community samples - USA (n = 396), South Africa (n = 390), Nigeria (n = 364), and India (n = 306). Further, results from CFA, and chi square tests showed that positive and negative schemas were independent but related constructs, and that they do not reflect bipolarity. Using hierarchical regression and Pearson's correlations the negative schemas of Entitlement, Approval Seeking and Mistrust, and the positive schema of Empathic Consideration were found to be associated positively and negatively respectively with Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy of the Dark Triad scale in all four worldwide samples. Implications of this finding in Schema Therapy treatment were discussed.

How well can wearables in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease represent their exercise capacity?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Stiftung KinderHerz Background Wearables enjoy great popularity in children and adolescents. They suggest objectively measuring subjects’ physical activity (PA) or at least give a hint of how it is. But is there a correlation between step-count, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and peak oxygen uptake (peakV’O2)? Purpose This study investigates this question in children with various congenital heart diseases (CHD). Methods From September 2017 to September 2021 sixty-six patients (13 ± 3 years, 20 girls) measured their daily step-count and MVPA via Garmin fit jr. over one week and underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to quantify their peakV’O2. CHD severity was complex in 50%, moderate in 39%, and simple in 11%. The distribution consisted of 18% with a left heart defect, 50% with a right heart defect, 5% with a Fontan circulation, 9% with an isolated shunt, and 18% with transposition of the great arteries. The correlation was performed via first Spearman’s correlation and secondly partial correlation, adjusted for age, sex height, and weight. Results are presented in median [IQR25;IQR75]. Results Median steps on a weekly average were 7,576 [6,100;10,888] and MVPA 68 [52;95] minutes. PeakV’O2 was 33 [28;39] ml/min/kg, represented as 77 [68;91] % of predicted, which corresponds to slight impairment. Step-counts slightly correlates with peakV’O2 (r=0.277, p=0.024). However, correlation vanished after adjusting for anthropometrics (step-count: r=0.244, p=0.056). MVPA and peakV’O2 did not correlate at all. Conclusions Objectively measured PA and exercise capacity are poorly associated. Since both are independent constructs, it is necessary to assess both in a clinical setting - PA in the context of cardiovascular prevention and peakV’O2 as the strongest predictor for morbidity and mortality.

No Difference in Patient Reported Outcome Measures for Patients with High Grit Scores

Background:The importance of grit on maintaining overall wellness is well described, but less is known about how grit impacts surgical outcomes, specifically among pediatric patients. The pediatric-validated 5-item Grit Scale measures trait-level perseverance and passion for long-term goals.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to identify whether Grit scores were associated with baseline PROMIS Pain Interference and Pain Intensity scores. The investigators hypothesized that higher Grit would be associated with lower PROMIS Pain Interference and Pain Intensity scores.Methods:Pediatric and adolescent patients who underwent lower extremity sports or trauma surgery between 2018-2020 at a single orthopaedic hospital preoperatively completed the Grit scale along with PROMIS Pain Interference and Pain Intensity questionnaires. Patients were excluded if they underwent multiple surgeries (with the exception of implant removal). Patients were divided into five groups based on their Grit quintile (<20th, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, >80th). Statistical analysis was run on IBM SPSS version 22.Results:A total of 103 patients were included in analysis with a median preoperative Grit Score of 4.0. Spearman correlation between Grit cohort and PROMIS Pain Interference and Pain Intensity scores demonstrated no associations between higher Grit scores and higher PROMIS baseline Pain Interference and Pain Intensity scores (p = 0.612, 0.981, respectively).Conclusion:This study did not find associations between baseline Grit and PROMIS Pain Interference and Pain Intensity questionnaires. Therefore, Grit may be an independent construct that is not measured in the existing outcome scales and should be further investigated. Although not associated with baseline pain, its associations with postoperative pain improvement should be further studied.Figure 1.Baseline PROMIS Scores based on GRIT score quintile. Blue represented Pain Interference Score. Orange represents Pain Intensity Score

Implementing Reading to Learn (R2L) Pedagogy to Help Indonesian Junior High School Students Generate News Report Text

The Reading to Learn (R2L) pedagogy, which requires preparing for reading, detailed reading, joint construction, and independent construction steps, was invented in Australia to assist Australian indigenous secondary school students in reading texts and finding useful information inside the texts. This one group pre-test and post-test design was aimed at unfolding the effectiveness of R2L pedagogy in helping the students in constructing well-structured news report texts. A total of 51 ninth-grade students from a junior high school, Bandung, Indonesia participated in the research. The students received the R2L pedagogy in four meetings within a month, excluding the pre-test and post-test.

Is it possible to measure word-level comprehensibility and accentedness as independent constructs of pronunciation knowledge?

The current study aims to explore the validity of measuring comprehensibility versus accentedness of L2 words as a construct of word pronunciation knowledge. Two research questions were addressed by investigating (a) the interrelationships among four listener-based measures (comprehensibility, accentedness, intelligibility, processing time) and (b) the relative contribution of linguistic features of L2 speech (segmental, word stress, rhythm, fluency) to comprehensibility and accentedness ratings. Nineteen native speakers of English rated L1 Japanese speakers’ productions of 37 English words elicited through a picture naming task for comprehensibility and accentedness. Two expert raters were recruited to complete a timed dictation task from which measures of intelligibility (orthographic transcription of L2 words) and processing time (how fast raters can initiate word transcription) were derived. The analyses of rating responses and relationships among listener-based measures showed that the current results were consistent with previous L2 speech studies measuring comprehensibility and accentedness at the sentence or paragraph level (Derwing and Munro, 2009). Three linguistic measures (segmental, word stress, rhythm) were significantly related to comprehensibility and accentedness ratings. The length of words (number of syllables) significantly predicted comprehensibility but not accentedness, indicating that longer words were easier to understand than shorter words. These findings provide initial evidence supporting the partial independence of comprehensibility and accentedness when L2 speech is measured at the word level. This study provides methodological implications for L2 vocabulary research and suggests using a word-level comprehensibility measure as an additional tool to gauge the employability of L2 words in real-life spoken communication.

A Scoping Review and Narrative Synthesis Comparing the Constructs of Social Determinants of Health and Social Determinants of Mental Health: Matryoshka or Two Independent Constructs?

BackgroundMany health research policies invoke the construct of Social Determinants of Health, and more recently the construct of Social Determinants of Mental Health. While frequently referred to in the literature, it is unclear how these constructs relate to each other. Some commentators conceptualise the Determinants of Mental Health as a subgroup of the Determinants of general Health and others describe the Determinants of Mental Health as an autonomous construct. The current review investigates the relationship between both constructs.MethodsComprehensive literature searches were conducted for both constructs separately within seven electronic databases. A template analysis was conducted to compare the conceptualisations of the Social Determinants of Health and the Social Determinants of Mental Health.ResultsOf 4250 search results, 50 papers (25 for each construct) fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were incorporated into a narrative synthesis. Discussions of the Social Determinants of both general and Mental Health listed the same determinants. Both constructs were conceptualised on multiple levels and factors. Stress and health behaviour were also described as mediators for both constructs. The constructs differed, however, with respect to two components of their aetiologies and epistemologies. First, the causal mechanisms invoked for the Determinants of general Health followed predominantly direct pathways, in contrast to indirect pathways for the Social Determinants of Mental Health. Second, the Social Determinants of Mental Health were reported to influence mental health mediated through individuals’ perceptions and appraisal processes. Appraisal processes were considered of far less relevance in the construct of Social Determinants of Health.ConclusionThe constructs of Social Determinants of Health and Social Determinants of Mental Health align in many respects but differ on important aetiological and epistemological grounds. Similar social factors are considered important, but whereas physical health conditions are primarily conceptualised to be driven by objective realities, mental health is explained mainly in terms of perception of these realities. This differentiation between physical and mental health is in line with a modern understanding of mind-body-dualism, the naturalistic dualism after Chalmers. Differentiating the Social Determinants of Mental Health from the Social Determinants of Health might bear relevance for policy making and research.

Establishment and Verification of Prognostic Nomograms for Young Women With Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis.

PurposeThe prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer usually varies greatly among individuals. At present, the application of nomogram is very popular in metastatic tumors. The present study was conducted to identify independent survival predictors and construct nomograms among young women with breast cancer bone metastasis (BCBM).Patients and MethodsWe searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify young women diagnosed with BCBM between 2010 and 2016. We first analyzed the potential risk factors of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) by applying univariate Cox regression analysis. Then we conducted multivariate Cox analysis to identify independent survival predictors. Based on significant independent predictors, we developed and validated novel prognostic nomograms by using the R version 4.1.0 software.ResultsWe finally identified 715 eligible young women with BCBM for survival analysis, of which 358 patients were in the training set, and 357 patients in the validation set. Approximately four-fifths of patients are between 31 and 40 years old. The 5-year OS and CSS rates of this research population were 41.9 and 43.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed seven independent predictors of both OS and CSS, including race, tumor subtype, tumor size, surgical treatment, brain metastasis, liver metastasis, and lung metastasis. Based on these predictors, we developed and validated OS and CSS nomograms. The C-index of the OS nomogram reached 0.728 and 0.73 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The C-index of the CSS nomogram reached 0.743 and 0.695 in the training and validation sets, respectively. Meanwhile, high quality calibration plots were revealed in both OS and CSS nomograms.ConclusionThe current novel nomograms can provide an individualized survival evaluation of young women with BCBM and instruct clinicians to treat them appropriately.

Examining the relationship between working memory consolidation and long-term consolidation.

An emerging area of research is focused on the relationship between working memory and long-term memory and the likely overlap between these processes. Of particular interest is how some information first maintained in working memory is retained for longer periods and eventually preserved in long-term memory. The process of stabilizing transient memory representations for lasting retention is referred to as consolidation in both the working memory and long-term memory literature, although these have historically been viewed as independent constructs. The present review aims to investigate the relationship between working memory consolidation and long-term memory consolidation, which both have rich, but distinct, histories. This review provides an overview of the proposed models and neural mechanisms of both types of consolidation, as well as clinical findings related to consolidation and potential approaches for the manipulation of consolidation. Finally, two hypotheses are proposed to explain the relationship between working memory consolidation and long-term memory consolidation.

Logics of Statements in Context-Category Independent Basics

Based on a formalization of open formulas as statements in context, the paper presents a freshly new and abstract view of logics and specification formalisms. Generalizing concepts like sets of generators in Group Theory, underlying graph of a sketch in Category Theory, sets of individual names in Description Logic and underlying graph-based structure of a software model in Software Engineering, we coin an abstract concept of context. We show how to define, in a category independent way, arbitrary first-order statements in arbitrary contexts. Examples of those statements are defining relations in Group Theory, commutative, limit and colimit diagrams in Category Theory, assertional axioms in Description Logic and constraints in Software Engineering. To validate the appropriateness of the newly proposed abstract framework, we prove that our category independent definitions and constructions give us a very broad spectrum of Institutions of Statements at hand. For any Institution of Statements, a specification (presentation) is given by a context together with a set of first-order statements in that context. Since many of our motivating examples are variants of sketches, we will simply use the term sketch for those specifications. We investigate exhaustively different kinds of arrows between sketches and their interrelations. To pave the way for a future development of category independent deduction calculi for sketches, we define arbitrary first-order sketch conditions and corresponding sketch constraints as a generalization of graph conditions and graph constraints, respectively. Sketch constraints are the crucial conceptual tool to describe and reason about the structure of sketches. We close the paper with some vital observations, insights and ideas related to future deduction calculi for sketches. Moreover, we outline that our universal method to define sketch constraints enables us to establish and to work with conceptual hierarchies of sketches.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can quantitatively identify malignant transformation of sinonasal inverted papilloma.

To investigate the diagnostic performance of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating sinonasal inverted papilloma (SIP) from SIP with coexisting malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma (MT-SIP). This retrospective study included 122 patients with 88 SIP and 34 MT-SIP. Quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI were compared between SIP and MT-SIP. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent indicators and construct regression model for distinguishing MT-SIP and SIP. Diagnostic performance of independent indicators and regression model were evaluated using receiver operating coefficient (ROC) analysis and compared using DeLong test. There were significant differences in maximum slope of increase, contrast-enhancement ratio, bolus arrival time, volume of extravascular extracellular space (Ve), and rate constant (Kep) between SIP and MT-SIP (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in initial area under the gadolinium curve (p = 0.174) and volume transfer constant (p = 0.105) between two groups. Multivariate analysis results showed that Ve and Kep were identified as the independent indicators for differentiating MT-SIP from SIP (p < 0.001). Areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for predicting MT-SIP were 0.779 for Ve and 0.766 for Kep. The AUC of the combination of Ve and Kep was 0.831, yielding 83% specificity and 76.5% sensitivity. DCE-MRI can quantitatively differentiate between MT-SIP and SIP. The combination of Ve and Kep yielded an optimal performance for discriminating SIP from its malignant mimics. DCE-MRI with quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters can provide valuable evidences for quantitatively identifying MT-SIP.

Usability Testing and Technology Acceptance of an mHealth App at the Point of Care During Simulated Pediatric In- and Out-of-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitations: Study Nested Within 2 Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trials.

BackgroundMobile apps are increasingly being used in various domains of medicine. Few are evidence-based, and their benefits can only be achieved if end users intend to adopt and use them. To date, only a small fraction of mobile apps have published data on their field usability and end user acceptance results, especially in emergency medicine.ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the usability and acceptance of an evidence-based mobile app while safely preparing emergency drugs at the point of care during pediatric in- and out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitations by frontline caregivers.MethodsIn 2 multicenter randomized controlled parent trials conducted at 6 pediatric emergency departments from March 1 to December 31, 2017, and 14 emergency medical services from September 3, 2019, to January 21, 2020, the usability and technology acceptance of the PedAMINES (Pediatric Accurate Medication in Emergency Situations) app were evaluated among skilled pediatric emergency nurses and advanced paramedics when preparing continuous infusions of vasoactive drugs and direct intravenous emergency drugs at pediatric dosages during standardized, simulation-based, pediatric in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest scenarios, respectively. Usability was measured using the 10-item System Usability Scale. A 26-item technology acceptance self-administered survey (5-point Likert-type scales), adapted from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model, was used to measure app acceptance and intention to use.ResultsAll 100% (128/128) of nurses (crossover trial) and 49.3% (74/150) of paramedics (parallel trial) were assigned to the mobile app. Mean total scores on the System Usability Scale were excellent and reached 89.5 (SD 8.8; 95% CI 88.0-91.1) for nurses and 89.7 (SD 8.7; 95% CI 87.7-91.7) for paramedics. Acceptance of the technology was very good and rated on average >4.5/5 for 5 of the 8 independent constructs evaluated. Only the image construct scored between 3.2 and 3.5 by both participant populations.ConclusionsThe results provide evidence that dedicated mobile apps can be easy to use and highly accepted at the point of care during in- and out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitations by frontline emergency caregivers. These findings can contribute to the implementation and valorization of studies aimed at evaluating the usability and acceptance of mobile apps in the field by caregivers, even in critical situations.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03021122; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03021122. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03921346; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03921346International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1186/s13063-019-3726-4

현대중국어 ‘NP+是+XP’구문의 의미 기능(1)

This paper tried to analyzing the Semantic Function of ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction based on a Cognitive and Pragmatic Perspective. The results are as follows.<BR> First, I confirmed that the research on ‘是’ Construction has been regarded as an independent Construction since the 21st Century, and research has been actively conducted. However, it was confirmed that the research results on the Semantic Function of the ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction have not been completely consistent so far, so it has not been established as a Single Theory, and most of them are concentrated on the Focus Marking Function.<BR> Second, I confirmed that the ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction is an Epistemic Modality that indicates the Confidence or Identification of the speaker‘s Proposition. First of all, the Meaning of the ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction which indicates Confidence has a Limitation in the Situation. In addition, there was a strong Determinacy of certain Events in the past. Next, the case of the ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction indicating Identification expressed the Meaning of Identifying Speaker’s Judgment on the case through Specific Background Information.<BR> Third, the ‘NP+是+XP’ Construction express an Explanation Function in which the Speaker explained the Proposition. I confirmed that the Construction was divided into Functions of ‘explaining Reasons or Causes’ and ‘explaining Propositions’. In the former, a Sequential relationship of ‘Consequential Event+Cause, Reason’ was established on a Logical basis. On the other hand, the latter analyzed by Dividing the case where the Contrast between Positive and Negative coexists and the case where the additional Situation related to the Action after ‘是’ was placed as the Focus Area.

States, Changes of State, and ‘Feigned States’ in Paraguayan Guarani Je-/Ñe- Predicates

Paraguayan Guarani features a pervasive pattern of aspectual polysemy whereby an underived monovalent predicate conveys both state and change of state senses, such as -o’ysã ‘be cold/get cold.’ The language also allows the derivation of monovalent predicates from causative verbs by the je-/ñe- prefix, yielding two distinct classes. The first one, called Class I, comprises predicates derived from causatives without an underived intransitive counterpart, such as -je-pe’a, from -pe’a ‘open (tr.).’ The second class, called Class II, are predicates derived from causatives with an underived intransitive counterpart, such as -je-jeko and -ñe-moro’ysã, from -jeko ‘break (tr.)’ and -moro’ysã ‘make cold,’ which are associated with the underived intransitives -jeka ‘break (intr.)’ and -o’ysã ‘be cold/get cold,’ respectively. It is shown that the aspectual polysemy pattern extends to je-/ñe-derived predicates, but that its distribution is restricted to Class I predicates. An apparent exception to this are some Class II predicates with a ‘feigned state’ interpretation, such as -ñembotavy ‘pretend to be dumb.’ The evidence reveals, however, that these are not true states, but instead activities. Furthermore, it is argued that the je-/ñe- predicates with this interpretation are not the product of a derivation process but are rather best analyzed as an independent construction.

EdgeCrafting: mining embedded, latent, nonlinear patterns to construct gene relationship networks.

The mechanisms that coordinate cellular gene expression are highly complex and intricately interconnected. Thus, it is necessary to move beyond a fully reductionist approach to understanding genetic information flow and begin focusing on the networked connections between genes that organize cellular function. Continued advancements in computational hardware, coupled with the development of gene correlation network algorithms, provide the capacity to study networked interactions between genes rather than their isolated functions. For example, gene coexpression networks are used to construct gene relationship networks using linear metrics such as Spearman or Pearson correlation. Recently, there have been tools designed to deepen these analyses by differentiating between intrinsic vs extrinsic noise within gene expression values, identifying different modules based on tissue phenotype, and capturing potential nonlinear relationships. In this report, we introduce an algorithm with a novel application of image-based segmentation modalities utilizing blob detection techniques applied for detecting bigenic edges in a gene expression matrix. We applied this algorithm called EdgeCrafting to a bulk RNA-sequencing gene expression matrix comprised of a healthy kidney and cancerous kidney data. We then compared EdgeCrafting against 4 other RNA expression analysis techniques: Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis, Knowledge Independent Network Construction, NetExtractor, and Differential gene expression analysis.

Comparison of crosswalk methods for translating ICD-9 to ICD-10 diagnosis codes for child maltreatment

BackgroundA validated source of International Classification of Disease (1CD) 10th revision diagnostic codes to identify child maltreatment has not been developed. Such a reference would be essential for the practical purposes of administrative data-based research and public health surveillance. ObjectiveTo evaluate the validity of diagnosis code classifications for child maltreatment following conversion from ICD 9th edition, clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) to 10th revision. Participants and settingChildren receiving inpatient or emergency medical care in the United States with ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for child maltreatment, identified using two large multicenter hospital-based datasets. MethodsWe evaluated the performance of general equivalence mappings (GEMs) and network-based mappings for previously-validated ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for child maltreatment in the 2013–2014 PHIS and 2012 KID and resulting ICD-10-CM codes in the 2018–2019 PHIS and 2016 KID datasets. ResultsOf 56 previously-validated ICD-9-CM diagnoses, GEMs identified 15 with a similar proportion of diagnosed children in the KID ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 eras and 14 diagnoses in PHIS. Network-based mapping identified 18 diagnoses with similar proportions in the KID datasets, and 13 diagnoses in PHIS. For six diagnoses, the proportion of children identified in the ICD-10 era using network-based mapping was more than ten times the proportion identified in the ICD-9-CM era. ConclusionNeither crosswalk method provided consistently reliable conversions, due to both crosswalk methodology and changes introduced by the ICD 10th revision. These findings highlight the need for independent construction and validation of ICD-10-based definitions of child maltreatment as a precursor to administrative data-based research and public health surveillance.