Objective Means Research Articles

Partial Meanings that a Teacher Mobilizes for Learning Limits at the School Level

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the partial meanings of the function limit object in a variable that a teacher mobilizes when teaching the Calculus unit at the school level. Theoretical Framework: For the analysis of the partial meanings of the mathematical object, the epistemic configurations proposed by the OntoSemiotic Approach to Mathematical Cognition and Instruction (OSA) were used. Method: The study is qualitative in nature and its methodological design is an instrumental-descriptive case study.. To carry out the analysis of the meanings mobilized by the teacher, a semi-structured interview, teaching material, field notes from class observation and the notes of two students of the course were used. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that the teacher preferentially mobilizes the last two epistemic configurations of the mathematical object and to a limited extent some primary objects of other configurations. Research Implications: The research provides a reflection for the pedagogical practices of teachers regarding the epistemic richness of the mathematical object, mainly to Chilean teachers, who must teach said object promoting all its partial meanings according to the requirements of the Chilean school curriculum. Originality/Value: The research lies in the importance of the pedagogical practices that teachers should consider when teaching said object, in particular, the mathematical richness of the partial meanings of the object.

Quantification of myocardial oxygen extraction fraction on noncontrast MRI enabled by deep learning

Abstract Purpose To develop a new deep learning enabled cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) approach for noncontrast quantification of myocardial oxygen extraction fraction (mOEF) and myocardial blood volume (MBV) in vivo. Materials and Methods An asymmetric-spin-echo prepared CMR sequence was created in a 3 T MRI clinical system. A UNet-based fully connected neural network was developed based on a theoretical model of CMR signals to calculate mOEF and MBV. Twenty healthy volunteers (20–30 years old, 11 females) underwent CMR scans at three short-axial slices (16 myocardial segments) on two different days. The reproducibility was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV). Ten patients with chronic myocardial infarction were examined to evaluate the feasibility of this CMR method to detect abnormality of mOEF and MBV. Results Among the volunteers, the average global mOEF and MBV on both days was 0.58 ± 0.07 and 9.5% ± 1.5%, respectively, which agreed well with data measured by other imaging modalities. The CV of mOEF was 8.4%, 4.5%, and 2.6%, on a basis of segment, slice, and participant, respectively. No significant difference in mOEF was shown among three slices or among different myocardial segments. Female participants showed significantly higher segmental mOEF than male participants (p < 0.001). Regional mOEF decrease 40% in CMR confirmed myocardial infarction core, compared to normal myocardial regions. Conclusion The new deep learning enabled CMR approach allows noncontrast quantification of mOEF and MBV with good to excellent reproducibility. This technique could provide an objective contrast-free means to assess and serially measure hypoxia-relief effects of therapeutic interventional strategies to save viable myocardial tissues.

Objective and Subjective Sleep Characteristics of Japanese University Students: Analysis Using Questionnaires and Wearable Trackers

AbstractThe transition from high school to university is characterized by changes in students' social and learning environments, potentially impacting sleep and learning behaviors. To examine the sleep characteristics of university students, this study aimed to (a) measure sleep in a living environment using a wearable tracker; (b) use a self‐administered questionnaire to examine the relationship between objective and subjective sleep; and (c) examine how psychological aspects are related to objective and subjective sleep. Fifty undergraduate and graduate students participated, with 310 sleep records obtained. The objective means total sleep time showed a moderately positive correlation with sleep quantity in the 3‐Dimensional Sleep Scale. Furthermore, we found that mental health, trait anxiety, and quality of life do not correlate with objective total sleep time but are significantly moderately correlated with subjective sleep quantity. The combination of wearable trackers and subjective reports may provide a more precise understanding of university students' actual sleep patterns and how different aspects of sleep behavior are associated with health outcomes.

Using boundary objects to enhance learning in history and develop students’ numeracy capabilities

ABSTRACT Informed citizenship in the 21st Century requires individuals to be numerate. In Australia, all teachers are expected to attend to numeracy inherent in the subjects they teach. Many teachers, however, find this approach challenging and may not see potential benefits for subject learning. Drawing on lesson vignettes and post-lesson interviews, a conceptual approach based on Wenger’s communities of practice was used to analyse the use of boundary objects by four secondary history teachers. Their use of boundary objects was categorised by their attention to the contextual and mathematical meanings of the artefact they used. Findings suggest that there is potential for teachers to concurrently enhance subject learning and develop students’ numeracy capabilities if they attend to both the contextual and mathematical meanings of the boundary objects they use. Research is needed into how numeracy is addressed in curriculum pedagogy courses. One aspect worthy of investigation is how boundary objects can be used effectively in subjects across the curriculum to enhance subject learning and promote numeracy development.

Demise of fossil fuels part I: Supply and demand

According to United Nations , the world needs to reduce the emission of CO2 and other global warming gases by 45 % by 2030 and to negligible amount by 2050. According to UN, this is necessary to keep the goal of keeping earth temperature not exceeding 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial level temperatures.To achieve this objective means reducing the fossil fuel consumption. Fossil fuels are largely responsible for emitting CO2; therefore, without significant reduction in fossil fuels consumption by 2050, the net zero emission by 2050 is not possible.One argument advanced in support of reducing fossil fuels consumption is limited supply. Using the principle of “Peak Oil Theory,” proponents state that fossil fuels is a limited resource and the world will simply run out of it. Based on the available data, we demonstrate that supply of fossil fuels is relatively abundant, and we will not run out of fossil fuels in near term. Using shale formations as an example, we demonstrate how the success of drilling horizontal wells with hydraulic fractures have significantly increased the oil and gas resource available for exploitation. To reduce fossil fuels demand, the available solutions include improving energy efficiency, reducing subsidies on fossil fuels, imposing carbon tax and life choice changes. We discuss some of those alternatives. Fossil fuel supply is relatively abundant and only possible solution to reduce the consumption is to reduce the demand. By comparing developed countries' consumption with developing countries’ consumption, we see a pathway where growth in GDP can be achieved without significant increase in fossil fuels consumption. Because of efficiency gains in energy usage, GDP in developed countries continues to grow without increase in fossil fuels consumption. Faster we reach the efficiency stage in developing countries, easier it would be reduce the fossil fuel consumption in the world.

Dura-based automated vault expansion remodelling (DAVE-R): automated planning of volume expansion in fronto-orbital advancement for trigonocephaly.

Patients with trigonocephaly who underwent FOAR with pre- and post-operative imaging from 2018 to 2020 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Post-operative scans, normative atlas and whole brain parcellation were registered to the pre-operative images to quantify the change in intracranial volume and morphology (utilising measurement of fronto-orbital advancement and bifrontozygomatic distance) compared to that predicted by the DAVE-R model. Ten patients were included. The DAVE-R model predicted bifrontozygomatic distances of 92.0 + / - 5.14 mm (mean + /SD), which closely matched the post-operative results of 92.7 + / - 6.02 mm (mean + / - SD); (t(d.f. 9) = -0.306, p = 0.77). The fronto-orbital advancement predicted by the DAVE-R method was 11.5 + / - 1.96 mm (mean + / - SD) which was significantly greater than 8.6 + / - 2.94 mm (mean ± SD); (t(d.f. 9) = 3.137, p = 0.01) achieved post-operatively. We demonstrate that the DAVE-R model provides an objective means of extracting realistic surgical goals in patients undergoing FOAR for trigonocephaly that closely correlates with post-operative outcomes. The normative dural model warrants further study and validation for other forms of craniosynostosis correction.

Unsupervised machine learning and cepstral analysis with 4D-STEM for characterizing complex microstructures of metallic alloys

Four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy, coupled with a wide array of data analytics, has unveiled new insights into complex materials. Here, we introduce a straightforward unsupervised machine learning approach that entails dimensionality reduction and clustering with minimal hyperparameter tuning to semi-automatically identify unique coexisting structures in metallic alloys. Applying cepstral transformation to the original diffraction dataset improves this process by effectively isolating phase information from potential signal ambiguity caused by sample tilt and thickness variations, commonly observed in electron diffraction patterns. In a case study of a NiTiHfAl shape memory alloy, conventional scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging struggles to accurately identify a low-contrast precipitate at lower magnifications, posing challenges for microscale analyses. We find that our method efficiently separates multiple coherent structures while using objective means of determining hyperparameters. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the clustering result facilitates more robust strain mapping to provide immediate and quantitative structural insights.

Princess Mandalika of Lombok: A Gender Equality Hero Defying Power Structures in Folklore

This study aims to reveal a new understanding of Mandalika folklore through Derrida's deconstruction. The goal is to demonstrate that Derrida's approach uncovers objective meanings and offers a theoretical alternative to traditional interpretations. By contextualizing new meanings through deconstruction, the study provides varied insights without relying solely on the author's intended meaning. The research employs Derrida's deconstruction through textual and in-depth analysis, exploring the concept of difference to identify binary contexts in the narrative structure. It includes case studies, comparisons of folkloric versions, interdisciplinary approaches for a comprehensive view, and critical analysis. The process begins with a synopsis representing the entire Mandalika folklore text. Findings indicate that Mandalika folklore’s meanings extend beyond conventional understandings, emerging from dynamic interactions between textual and non-textual elements. These new meanings challenge previous interpretations shaped by authorial authority. The study highlights how Mandalika folklore reflects the patriarchal Sasak society, revealing tragic choices born from social disharmony. It emphasizes the need for the Sasak community to use the Mandalika narrative for reflection and reevaluation of gender relations. The folklore advocates for gender equality, depicting Mandalika as both a hero and a victim of patriarchal norms. This new understanding calls for a reassessment of gender roles and societal expectations.

Unveiling the Neurocognitive Impact of Food Aroma Molecules on Pleasantness Perception: Insights From EEG and Key Brain LFT Activation

ABSTRACTFood aroma molecules have the potential to influence people's emotions through the olfactory pathway and are anticipated to emerge as a new method for regulating emotional states, owing to their simplicity and high acceptance. Current research on food aroma predominantly centres on the physicochemical properties and formation mechanisms of aroma components, neglecting the effects of aroma molecules in emotional regulation. Moreover, the evaluation of pleasantness, a pivotal dimension of emotions, lacks objective assessment methods. In this study, sensory assessments of pleasantness for 12 aroma compounds were gathered from 45 subjects, and their correlation with the brain's activity responses in the left frontal‐temporal lobe (LFT) and right frontal‐temporal lobe (RFT) using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals was analysed. The results revealed a close relationship between brain activity in the LFT and the perception of aroma pleasantness. Furthermore, a substantial correlation was observed between the α, β and γ frequency bands in the LFT and the subjective pleasantness scores. These findings demonstrate that the LFT plays a critical role in evaluating the pleasantness of aroma molecules, and that changes in the power of the α, β and γ bands serve as important evaluation indicators. Consequently, this method offers a new objective means for assessing pleasantness to find higher pleasantness aroma molecules and the emotional regulation of food aroma.

Digital assessment of nonverbal behaviors forecasts first onset of depression.

Adolescence is marked by a sharp increase in the incidence of depression, especially in females. Identification of risk for depressive disorders (DD) in this key developmental stage can help prevention efforts, mitigating the clinical and public burden of DD. While frequently used in diagnosis, nonverbal behaviors are relatively understudied as risk markers for DD. Digital technology, such as facial recognition, may provide objective, fast, efficient, and cost-effective means of measuring nonverbal behavior. Here, we analyzed video-recorded clinical interviews of 359 never-depressed adolescents females via commercially available facial emotion recognition software. We found that average head and facial movements forecast future first onset of depression (AUC = 0.70) beyond the effects of other established self-report and physiological markers of DD risk. Overall, these findings suggest that digital assessment of nonverbal behaviors may provide a promising risk marker for DD, which could aid in early identification and intervention efforts.

The Construction of “Mental Models”: Its Essence and Use in Various Fields of Psychology

Introduction. Mental models are a scientific psychological construct, which means that people create models of the external world in their minds and operate them to plan their activities. Today, mental models have found application in various fields: explaining the principles of human thinking and solving logical problems, creating models about time, sets, causes and effects, as well as in the field of learning, social relations, teamwork. However, in Russian, the subject of the study of mental models is practically not presented.Purpose. To examine works devoted to the study of mental models in various fields of psychology.Mental models in the field of thinking process research. A leading expert in the field of human thinking mechanisms P. N. Johnson-Laird put forward and substantiated idea, that in the process of reasoning, people actively create mental models that accompany logical operations and can influence them. Mental models are iconic, reflecting the meaning of objects of the external world, are deployed in a sequence corresponding to external events, and reflect external operations schematically.Mental models in learning. Mental models can be useful tools for constructing the educational process. Understanding and competent use of the natural mechanisms of the psyche of students can improve the process of modeling their knowledge of the world around them.Mental models in socio-psychological processes. The interaction of an individual with other people generates the process of forming their reflections in the internal space, creating models of behavior and possible reactions of others. In team interaction, an important factor in the effectiveness and viability of the team is the presence of common (team) mental models.Discussion. The use of the concept of mental models in various fields and a large number of conceptual and empirical works on this topic may indicate the universality of the phenomenon of models. Mental models as an explanatory principle are built into existing theories and enrich them.

The Tradition of Kundangan in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan: A Study of Living Hadith in Dasin Tuban Village through the Lens of Karl Mannheim's Sociology of Knowledge.

The tradition of Kundangan or Kenduri is one of the Indonesian Muslim practices that some groups consider Bid'ah (innovation) because it is not directly based on the Hadith of the Prophet. Research on Kenduri is generally divided into two categories: studies that assess the legality of Kenduri based on Islamic values and studies that examine the values embedded within the practice. However, research on the community's reception and the essence of Kundangan in the context of Living Hadith remains limited. This study focuses on the examination of Living Hadith related to Kundangan during the last ten days of Ramadan as practiced by the community of Dasin Village, Tambakboyo Subdistrict, Tuban Regency, using Karl Mannheim's sociology of knowledge approach. This research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach to understand this phenomenon holistically. The findings indicate that the objective meaning of the Kundangan tradition during the last ten days of Ramadan is a heritage from ancestors that involves rituals, such as reading the Qur'an, praying, and giving food parcels to guests. The expressive meanings of the Kundangan tradition vary, including views of it as ancestral heritage, the belief that ancestral spirits are present in the home and should be sent the rewards of charity, anticipation of the Night of Qadr, and efforts to maintain social relationships. The documentary meaning of the Kundangan tradition reflects an acculturation between Javanese cultural beliefs and the values of Hadith. These findings show that the Kundangan tradition is a method used by Kiai (Islamic scholars) to implement Hadith values, blending them with the local culture.

Analysis of Children's Conceptions of Concepts at the End of Pre-Primary Education

The study presents the results of the authors' original research. The subject of the research were authentic utterances of 5-6-year-old children at the exit from compulsory pre-primary education. They represented individual conceptions of the following concepts: interview, question, poem, fairytale, book, magazine, library, letter, reading, writing, writer. The concepts were selected from the state curriculum (2016). The aim of the study was to present selected findings from research on children's conceptions of language and literary concepts. In the study, we provided answers to the research question. Which claims from psycholinguistic theories about narrower and broader conceptions of concepts are most valid in children's authentic utterances? The research strategy was quantitative. Children's authentic utterances were obtained through individual interviews. Each child answered four basic questions: what is it? What is it for? What would it be if it wasn't? How do you know that? The children's statements were content-analyzed and interpreted. The children in the research sample were dominated by narrower conceptions of linguistic and literary concepts (61%). The narrower conceptions of the concepts contained a pre-scientific concept of knowing their meaning. The content of their utterances predominantly distorted the objective meanings of the concepts. Children were less likely to interpret social interactions and least likely to use explanations of another, familiar concept. When they did explain concepts in broader terms (34%), they mainly relied on sensory experiences. Some children did not know or did not answer the questions (5%). The conducted research is a part of the VEGA 1/0505/24 project - Children's preconceptions about the phenomena of reading literacy.

여성의 몸에 대한 여성주의적 이해와 그 교육적 의미

This study aims to demonstrate that the female body is not an object to be overcome or negated but a constructive agent of social change based on philosophical and feminist discussions about the female body and to present the results of this discussion as an educational-theoretical basis for the formation of female subjectivity. To this end, this study systematically applied the methods of conceptual analysis and argument to philosophical and feminist discussions. This study is organized as follows. Section 2 reviews the meaning-giving function of experience of perception and the medial function of the body based on Merleau-Ponty’s theory of perception. Experience of perception, which individually reveals the meaning of self and object, is presented as the authority for the unity of mind and body and the integration of subject and object. Section 3 discusses from the perspective of social constructionism that femininity is not innately attributed to the female body but is constructed socioculturally. The distinctive way of experience and perception provided by the female body is presented as the starting point for the formation of individual identity and subjectivity. Section 4 attempts an educational criticism of the modern form of the oppression of women based on philosophical and feminist discussions about the female body. Expression based on the body and development of sensibility and sentiment are presented as educational measures to form female subjectivity from the perspective of self-formation (Bildung).

Evaluation of Oxygen Saturation Levels Using a Custom-modified Finger Pulse Oximeter for Assessment of Pulp Vitality in Various Clinical Situations in Pediatric Dental Practice: An In Vivo Study.

A major drawback of traditional pulp testing procedures is that they depend on neural responses rather than vascular circulation. Hence, this study aimed to develop a custom-modified dental sensor using a finger pulse oximeter (PO) that is applicable to any type of tooth so as to test its ability and accuracy in evaluating the oxygen saturation (SaO2) values of teeth at different developmental stages as a measure of pulp vitality. A customized finger PO was employed to determine the systemic and pulp SaO2 levels in 300 children. A total of 600 teeth (primary and permanent) were divided into group I (100 primary molars), group II (200 permanent molars), group III (200 permanent incisors), and 100 endodontically treated (primary and permanent) teeth were included in group IV. The mean SaO2 values thus obtained in various groups were compared. Intragroup comparison of mean SaO2% of the patient's finger (systemic), test teeth, and control teeth showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.001). Intergroup comparisons also revealed significant differences in most of the groups. The modified PO probe can be applied to any type of tooth. It was found to be accurate and sensitive enough to detect changes in SaO2 levels in various clinical situations irrespective of developmental stage. It proved to be a direct method of evaluation of pulp vitality by objective means. Patil A, Garg N, Pathivada L, et al. Evaluation of Oxygen Saturation Levels Using a Custom-modified Finger Pulse Oximeter for Assessment of Pulp Vitality in Various Clinical Situations in Pediatric Dental Practice: An In Vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(S-1):S30-S36.

Special Report on the Consensus QIBA Profile for Objective Analytical Validation of Non-calcified and High-risk Plaque and Other Biomarkers using Computed Tomography Angiography

Evidence is building in support of the clinical utility of atherosclerotic plaque imaging by computed tomography angiography (CTA). There is increasing organized activity to embrace non-calcified plaque (NCP) as a formally defined biomarker for clinical trials, and high-risk plaque (HRP) for clinical care, as the most relevant measures for the field to advance and worthy of community efforts to validate. Yet the ability to assess the quantitative performance of any given specific solution to make these measurements or classifications is not available. Vendors use differing definitions, assessment metrics, and validation data sets to describe their offerings without clinician users having the capability to make objective assessments of accuracy and precision and how this affects diagnostic confidence. The QIBA Profile for Atherosclerosis Biomarkers by Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) was created by the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) to improve objectivity and decrease the variability of noninvasive plaque phenotyping. The Profile provides claims on the accuracy and precision of plaque measures individually and when combined. Individual plaque morphology measurements are evaluated in terms of bias (accuracy), slope (consistency of the bias across the measurement range, needed for measurements of change), and variability. The multiparametric plaque stability phenotype is evaluated in terms of agreement with expert pathologists. The Profile is intended for a broad audience, including those engaged in discovery science, clinical trials, and patient care. This report provides a rationale and overview of the Profile claims and how to comply with the Profile in research and clinical practice. Summary StatementThis article summarizes objective means to validate the analytical performance of non-calcified plaque (NCP), other emerging plaque morphology measurements, and multiparametric histology-defined high-risk plaque (HRP), as outlined in the QIBA Profile for Atherosclerosis Biomarkers by CTA.

Utilizing Enterprise Economic Benefit Evaluation Methods in Edge Intelligent Neural Network Applications

The core of enterprise economic benefit evaluation lies in the development of a quantitative identification model. The Back Propagation (BP) neural network possesses robust parallel computing, adaptive learning, and error correction capabilities, which can effectively reveal the economic benefits of enterprises and their relationship with influencing factors. This study establishes an economic benefit evaluation model for express delivery enterprises based on the BP neural network. The model takes the annual profit rate of enterprises as the quantitative index of economic benefits and selects 13 factors, both external and internal, influencing the annual profit rate of express delivery enterprises as inputs for the BP neural network model. The economic benefit evaluation model based on BP neural network meets the requirement of objective mean square error in the 300th training cycle. The research results demonstrate that the BP model significantly saves computing time and enables rapid, comprehensive, and objective evaluation of the economic benefits of industrial enterprises.

Sensitivity and specificity of the action observation network to kinematics, target object, and gesture meaning.

Hierarchical models have been proposed to explain how the brain encodes actions, whereby different areas represent different features, such as gesture kinematics, target object, action goal, and meaning. The visual processing of action-related information is distributed over a well-known network of brain regions spanning separate anatomical areas, attuned to specific stimulus properties, and referred to as action observation network (AON). To determine the brain organization of these features, we measured representational geometries during the observation of a large set of transitive and intransitive gestures in two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. We provided evidence for a partial dissociation between kinematics, object characteristics, and action meaning in the occipito-parietal, ventro-temporal, and lateral occipito-temporal cortex, respectively. Importantly, most of the AON showed low specificity to all the explored features, and representational spaces sharing similar information content were spread across the cortex without being anatomically adjacent. Overall, our results support the notion that the AON relies on overlapping and distributed coding and may act as a unique representational space instead of mapping features in a modular and segregated manner.

IIVRS: an Intelligent Image and Video Rating System to Provide Scenario-Based Content for Different Users

Abstract Voice Intelligent Assistants provide users with new ways of human-computer interaction. With built-in screens, Voice Intelligent Assistants can display images and videos upon users’ requests. Even though images and videos present information in a lively manner, they might also contain overwhelming harmful contents. Due to the lack of effective evaluation mechanisms, it is difficult to prevent the propagation of harmful contents while ensuring the dissemination of compliant visual contents. This research defined a standardized set of classification criteria to identify and classify harmful visual contents. Then, Intelligent Image and Video Rating System, a prototype rating system that implemented the classification criteria was designed and developed. This research further evaluated and verified the reliability and efficiency of the prototype. The prototype system demonstrated additional advantages in swiftly classifying new hazardous contents, and in differentiating the multiple meanings of the same object in different contexts.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-Based Semi-Quantitative Methods for Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Scoring to Measurement.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the small joints of the hands and feet, characterized by pain, inflammation, and joint damage. In this context, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful to identify and monitor joint/tendon inflammation and the evolution of joint damage, playing a key role in treatment response evaluation, in addition to clinical measurements. Various methods to quantify joint inflammation and damage with MRI in RA have been developed, such as RA-MRI Score (RAMRIS), Early RA-MRI Score (ERAMRS), and Simplified RA-MRI Score (SAMIS). RAMRIS, introduced in 2002, offers an objective means to assess inflammation and damage via MRI in RA trials, encompassing findings such as synovitis, bone erosion, and edema/osteitis. Recently, an updated RAMRIS version was developed, which also includes the evaluation of joint space narrowing and tenosynovitis. The RAMRIS-5, which is a condensed RAMSIS version focusing on five hand joints only, has been proven to be a valuable resource for the semi-quantitative evaluation of RA joint damage, both in early and established disease. This narrative literature review will provide an overview of the MRI scoring systems that have been developed for the assessment of joint inflammation and structural damage in RA patients.