Parallel Design Research Articles

Primary stability and osseointegration comparing a novel tapered design tissue-level implant with a parallel design tissue-level implant. An experimental invivo study.

The aim of the present study was to compare a novel tapered, double-threaded self-tapping tissue-Level design implant (TLC) to a well-established parallel walled tissue-level (TL) implant in terms of primary and secondary stability over time. Test TLC (n = 10/per timepoint) and control TL (n = 10/per timepoint) implants were placed in the mandible of minipigs and left for submerged healing for 3, 6, and 12 weeks. Maximum insertion torque and implant stability quotient (ISQ) were measured for each implant at placement. Osseointegration and cortical bone maintenance were histologically evaluated by measuring total bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and first bone-to-implant contact (fBIC). A significantly higher maximum insertion torque was measured for the test implant TLC compared to the control TL implant (57.83 ± 24.73 Ncm and 22.62 ± 23.16 Ncm, respectively; p < .001). The mean ISQ values were comparable between the two implant types (75.00 ± 6.70 for TL compared to 75.40 ± 3.20 for TLC, p = .988). BIC was comparable between both implant types at each of the evaluated time points. The fBIC was found to be significantly more coronal at 12 weeks for the TLC implant compared to the TL implant (0.31 ± 0.83 mm for TLC compared to -0.22 ± 0.85 for TL, p = .027). The novel tapered tissue level design implant showed improved primary stability and an overall improved crestal bone height maintenance compared to the parallel walled design at 12 weeks.

Teacher Preparedness and Strategies Used in Teaching of Climate Change Education in the Southern Region of Malawi

This study examined the preparedness of teachers and the strategies used in the teaching of Climate Change Education (CCE) in senior secondary schools in the Southern Region of Malawi. The mixed method convergent parallel design was employed as a scientific research methodology of examining this phenomenon. Data was collected from 422 participants consisting of 416 senior secondary school teachers in 52 schools, three inspectors of schools and three officers responsible for curriculum development. A statistical formula n = was used to arrive at the total sample in the study. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and lesson observations were used to collect field data. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS which helped to generate descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The results indicated that most teachers are not well prepared in the teaching of CCE content in senior secondary schools as 93.2% of teachers responded that they never attended any training for CCE. It was also revealed that most teachers did not use transformative teaching strategies such as projects, fieldtrips and case studies in the teaching of CCE content in senior secondary schools. It was therefore recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) should prepare teachers by training them on how they can teach CCE content. There is thus a need to have Continuing Professional Development Programs (CPDs) so that teachers can share knowledge and skills on the teaching of CCE content. Teachers’ colleges and Universities should offer CCE courses to student teachers.

Perception of Headteacher's Communication Style and Teachers’ Motivation to Participate in Government Secondary School Activities in Sheema District Uganda

The study investigated the perception of head teachers` communication style and teachers' motivation to participate in secondary school activities in government-aided secondary schools in Sheema District Western Uganda. The study employed a parallel mixed model design for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 head teachers from 10 government-aided secondary schools in Sheema District Western Uganda. 186 teachers out of 371 teachers from the 10 schools in Sheema District Western Uganda participated in the study. Simple Random sampling was used to arrive at teachers. There was a significant and positive relationship between the perception of head teachers' communication style and teachers' motivation to participate in school activities (𝑟=0.386, 𝑝&lt;0.01). This relationship was mediated by Perceived Supervisor Support which presented itself as being positively and significantly related to supervisor communication (𝑟=0.399, 𝑝&lt;0.01) as well as to the intrinsically motivating factors (𝑟=0.408, 𝑝&lt;0.01). The perception of the communication style of the head teacher influences the morals and morale of teachers by 15%. Hence there is a need for head teachers to organize and plan concerning why, what, when, where, and whom to communicate (hence the 5Ws communication rule). Therefore, from the study findings, non-monetary forms of motivation are important factors in motivating teachers. This is because 15% of teachers' motivation is contributed by head teachers' communication style; 16% by Perceived Supervisor Support and 20% by Perceived Organization Support. Thus, the study recommended that head teachers should always recognize the strong points by for example saying "thank you" and avoid evaluating and observing the weak points only.

Inhaled treprostinil in pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD: PERFECT study results.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) accompanying COPD (PH-COPD) is associated with worse outcomes than COPD alone. There are currently no approved therapies to treat PH-COPD. The PERFECT study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03496623) evaluated the safety and efficacy of inhaled treprostinil (iTRE) in this patient population. Patients with PH-COPD (mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥30 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance ≥4 WU) were enrolled in a multicentre, randomised (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week, crossover study. A contingent parallel design was also prespecified and implemented, based on a blinded interim analysis of missing data. Patients received treatment with iTRE up to 12 breaths (72 µg) 4 times daily or placebo. The primary efficacy end-point was change in peak 6-min walk distance (6MWD) at week 12. In total, 76 patients were randomised, 64 in the original crossover design and 12 in the contingent parallel design; 66 patients received iTRE and 58 received placebo. The study was terminated early at the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee based on the totality of evidence that iTRE increased the risk of serious adverse events and suggestive evidence of an increased risk of mortality. The change in 6MWD was numerically worse with iTRE exposure than with placebo exposure. The risk-benefit observations associated with iTRE in patients with PH-COPD did not support continuation of the PERFECT study. The results of this study do not support iTRE as a viable treatment option in patients with PH-COPD.

Perceptions of Undergraduate Students towards Utilization of Clinical Simulation in Teaching and Learning in Rural Universities in Uganda: A Mixed method study.

Simulation is a new pedagogical method in Africa that underscores the need to operationalize it and generate context-specific scholarship regarding clinical simulation in Africa. Despite the superior learning outcomes of using simulation in medical education, its use in developing countries is often limited, compounded by limited scholarship on simulation especially relevant to an African context. The research aimed to explore perceptions surrounding the use of simulation among undergraduate students. A mixed method convergent parallel design was used in which both the quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed currently to explore the perception of the undergraduate students towards the use of clinical simulation in teaching and learning. The quantitative approach assessed the perception of the students on a five-point Likert from strongly disagree to strongly agree scale while the qualitative approach employed a focused group discussion to explore the perception of the students in regards to clinical simulation. Quantitative data was analyzed using Stata Version 17. Qualitative results were analyzed through thematic analysis by Brauna and Clark. 298 participants were recruited into the study. The mean age of the participants was 27 years with a standard deviation of 5.81 years. The majority 152(51.01%) of the participants were males. Most 111(37.25%) of the participants were pursuing Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. The grand mean of the perception scores of the students towards the use of simulation in clinical teaching was 3.875269 ±0.5281626. The participants strongly agreed that it is incredibly helpful to have someone who works in the field debrief with them after completing a scenario and their overall perception towards this was high (Mean =4.65241±0.6617337). This exploratory study revealed that medical, nursing, and midwifery students from the rural Universities of Busitema and Lira demonstrated a positive perception of the use of clinical simulation in teaching and learning. The results conclude that simulations help students better understand concepts in clinical settings, provide them with valuable learning experiences, and help them stimulate critical thinking abilities. Further, the participants perceive simulation to be realistic, and knowledge gained could be transferred to the clinical areas.

Design, Modeling, and Experimental Validation of a Vision-Based Table Tennis Juggling Robot

This paper develops a new vision-based robot customized for table tennis juggling tasks. Specifically, the robot is equipped with two industrial cameras operating as a sensing system. An image-processing algorithm is proposed that allows the robot to balance a table tennis ball while controlling its bounce height. The robot adopts a parallel structure design, and the end effector employs three ball joints to increase the degree of freedom (DOF) of the parallel mechanism. In addition, we design a control scheme explicitly customized for this robotic system. Extensive real-time experiments are performed to show the effectiveness of the juggling robot at different jumping heights. Furthermore, the ability to consistently maintain a fixed preset bounce height is demonstrated. These experimental results confirm the efficacy of the developed robotic system.

A Comparison and Safety Evaluation of Micellar versus Standard Vitamin D3 Oral Supplementation in a Randomized, Double-Blind Human Pilot Study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate and compare bioavailability and safety of two Vitamin D3 formulations (softgels) in healthy adults, at single daily doses of 1000 and 2500 IU, over a 60-day period. A total of 69 participants were initially screened for eligibility in a double-blind randomized study with a four-arm parallel design; 35 participants were randomized to treatment groups: (1) standard Vitamin D3 1000 IU (STD1000), (2) micellar Vitamin D3 1000 IU (LMD1000), (3) standard Vitamin D3 2500 IU (STD2500), and (4) micellar Vitamin D3 2500 IU (LMD2500). Serum Vitamin D concentrations were determined through calcifediol [25(OH)D] at baseline (=before treatment), at day 5, 10, and 15 (=during treatment), at day 30 (=end of treatment), and at day 45 and 60 (=during follow-up/post treatment). Safety markers and minerals were evaluated at baseline and at day 30 and day 60. The pharmacokinetic parameters with respect to iAUC were found to be significantly different between LMD1000 vs. STD1000: iAUC(5-60): 992 ± 260 vs. 177 ± 140 nmol day/L; p < 0.05, suggesting up to 6 times higher Vitamin D3 absorption of LMD when measured incrementally. During follow-up, participants in the LMD1000 treatment group showed approx. 7 times higher Vitamin D3 concentrations than the STD1000 group (iAUC(30-60): 680 ± 190 vs. 104 ± 91 nmol day/L; p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between the pharmacokinetics of the higher dosing groups STD2500 and LMD2500. No significant changes in serum 1,25(OH)2D concentrations or other biochemical safety markers were detected at day 60; no excess risks of hypercalcemia (i.e., total serum calcium > 2.63 mmol/L) or other adverse events were identified. LMD, a micellar delivery vehicle for microencapsulating Vitamin D3 (LipoMicel®), proved to be safe and only showed superior bioavailability when compared to standard Vitamin D at the lower dose of 1000 IU. This study has clinical trial registration: NCT05209425.

Enhancing Police Operations: The Impact of CCTV in Monitoring, Incident Response, and Crime Investigation in Nairobi City County, Kenya

This study assessed the impact of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) on police operations in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on its role in public space monitoring, incident response, and crime investigation. Employing a convergent parallel design informed by the Task-Technology Fit Theory, it collected data from 403 purposefully and cluster-sampled police officers through questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis utilised descriptive statistics, while thematic analysis helped to uncover qualitative insights. CCTV was found to be valuable for incident awareness, traffic management, and crime detection and significantly aided in incident response and investigations. However, limited camera coverage and technical issues reduced effectiveness. The study concluded that Nairobi's CCTV system is a valuable tool, but improvements like expanding coverage and providing storage solutions for investigators are recommended.

Preoperative Super-Selective Embolization versus "On-Clamp" Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for T1 Renal Tumors- A Prospective Randomized Study.

To analyze and compare the intraoperative and post-operative outcomes of "on-clamp" laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with "preoperative super-selective angioembolization" before LPN. This randomized clinical study was conducted at Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, India, between November 2021 and November 2023. Adult patients of either gender diagnosed with T1 renal tumors were included in the study. All patients underwent diethylenetriamine pentaacetate scan preoperatively and at 1-month follow-up. The patients were randomized using a parallel group design with an allocation ratio of 1:1 to receive either preoperative angioembolization followed by LPN or conventional "on-clamp" LPN. Demographic and baseline parameters were recorded along with pre- and post-operative data. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (P = 0.11), gender distribution (P = 0.32), body mass index (P = 0.43), preoperative hemoglobin (P = 0.34), and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; P = 0.64). One patient in the embolization group required radical nephrectomy because of accidental backflow of glue into the renal artery during embolization whereas four patients required clamping due to inadequate embolization. Preoperative super-selective embolization yielded significantly less blood loss, compared to "on-clamp" LPN (145 [50.76 mL] vs. 261 [66.12 mL], P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between post-operative eGFR (at 1 month) between the two groups (P = 0.71). Preoperative embolization offers improved outcomes in the dissection plane, total operative time, and blood loss, compared to conventional "on-clamp" LPN but has no significant effect on change in eGFR.

Total and H-specific growth/differentiation factor 15 levels are unaffected by liraglutide or naltrexone/bupropion administration.

To investigate growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) levels in response to antiobesity medications, namely, liraglutide (Lira) and naltrexone/bupropion (N/B), in individuals with overweight or obesity. This was a prospective, non-randomized clinical trial with a two-arm, parallel design. A total of 42 individuals with overweight or obesity without type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. The participants received either Lira 3 mg or N/B 32/360 mg, along with diet and exercise, according to comorbidities, cost and method of administration. Participants underwent clinical and laboratory measurements at baseline, as well as at the 3- and 6-month time points. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis via bioelectrical impendence analysis were performed. Total blood samples for GDF-15 and H-specific GDF-15 were collected in the fasting state and every 30 min for 3 h after the consumption of a standardized mixed meal. Overall, participants' weight was reduced by 9.29 ± 5.34 kg at Month 3 and 11.52 ± 7.52 kg at Month 6. Total and H-specific GDF-15 levels did not show significant changes during the mixed meal compared to values before the meal when all participants were examined at baseline, and at 3 and 6 month follow-ups. No statistical significance was found when participants were examined by subgroup (Lira vs. N/B). No significant differences between treatment groups in postprandial area under the curve (AUC) or incremental AUC values were found at baseline or in the follow-up months with regard to total and H-specific GDF-15 levels. Neither total nor H-specific GDF-15 levels are affected by Lira or N/B treatment in patients with overweight or obesity.

Two-phase flow visualization in direct ammonia fuel cells

In this work, the two-phase flow occurring in a direct ammonia fuel cell is visualized to understand the interactions between the complex physico-chemical processes involving in fuel cells. Experimental observations indicate that the appearance, growth, coalescence, detachment and sweeping processes of nitrogen bubbles occur periodically. Besides, the effect of operating conditions on the behavior of two-phase flow as well as cell performance is explored. Experimental results demonstrate that numerous nitrogen gas slugs are generated in the anode flow channel when the fuel flow rate is lower than 1.0 mL min−1, which seriously blocks the transport of NH3 and OH− to the anode catalyst layer. At an operating temperature of 95 °C, the flow channels are almost completely occupied by gases (a mixture of ammonia, nitrogen, and water), even under open-circuit conditions (a mixture of ammonia and water). In addition, the effects of using parallel and serpentine flow fields on the behaviour and flow patterns of two-phase flows are explored. Experimental results reveal that the parallel flow field is prone to clogging local flow channels by slugs. Moreover, the removal frequency of bubbles in the parallel design is significantly slower than that in the serpentine one.

Massively parallel CRISPR-assisted homologous recombination enables saturation editing of full-length endogenous genes in yeast.

Performing saturation editing of chromosomal genes will enable the study of genetic variants in situ and facilitate protein and cell engineering. However, current in vivo editing of endogenous genes either lacks flexibility or is limited to discrete codons and short gene fragments, preventing a comprehensive exploration of genotype-phenotype relationships. To enable facile saturation editing of full-length genes, we used a protospacer adjacent motif-relaxed Cas9 variant and homology-directed repair to achieve above 60% user-defined codon replacement efficiencies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. Coupled with massively parallel DNA design and synthesis, we developed a saturation gene editing method termed CRISPR-Cas9- and homology-directed repair-assisted saturation editing (CHASE) and achieved highly saturated codon swapping of long genomic regions. By applying CHASE to massively edit a well-studied global transcription factor gene, we found known and unreported genetic variants affecting an industrially relevant microbial trait. The user-defined codon editing capability and wide targeting windows of CHASE substantially expand the scope of saturation gene editing.

Can narrow-diameter implants enhance patient-reported outcomes for mandibular implant-retained overdentures?

A systematic review and meta-analysis. To evaluate and compare stability and functionality between narrow and standard implant-retained mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients from multiple perspectives. Assessments included clinical parameters [survival rate (SR) and marginal bone loss (MBL)], along with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including patient satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The study protocol followed PRISMA criteria for reporting reviews and meta-analyses. Using appropriate keywords, electronic search was conducted in each of the following databases: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus, up to July 22, 2022. There were no restrictions based on language, publication type, or publication date. Additionally, ongoing studies were explored in ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP, while cross-references in each selected study were manually examined. The eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing narrow implants (diameter ≤ 3.5 mm) to standard implants (diameter > 3.5-4.5 mm) retaining mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients. Excluded were studies with unclear implant diameter information, fewer than 5 patients per group, observational studies, reviews, and laboratory studies. Two authors independently conducted study selection, data collection, and analysis, resolving any discrepancies through discussion with a third author. Methodological quality was assessed using RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. Implant SR and MBL measurements at final follow-up were recorded, while patient satisfaction and OHRQoL were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS-100) and oral health impact profile (OHIP) questionnaire, respectively. After duplicate removal, 782 publications and 83 registered clinical trials were identified, of which 26 were eligible for full-text assessment. Ultimately, the quantitative evaluation included 12 publications from 8 independent studies: 4 parallel design RCTs and 4 CCTs. Risk of bias assessment revealed variations among the studies, with only one study being rated as having low risk. The follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 3 years. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in SR and MBL between narrow and standard implant groups (p = 0.29 and p = 0.93, respectively), with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 100% and I2 = 78%, respectively). Regarding PROMs, the narrow implant group showed significantly higher levels of patient satisfaction (mean difference (MD): 8.18; 95% CI: 5.83 to 10.53; p < 0.00001; I2 = 36%) and exhibited a significant improvement in OHRQoL (MD: -4.36; 95% CI: -6.83 to -1.89; p < 0.001; I2 = 55%) compared to the standard implant group. For implant-retained mandibular overdentures, the use of narrow implants is associated with comparable SR and MBL, along with higher patient satisfaction and better OHRQoL improvement as compared to standard implants, offering a viable alternative option for patients with diminished alveolar bone width.

Investigating consumers' experiences with community supported agriculture: Convergent parallel design methods.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) represents a collaborative model where local farms and community members form partnerships to facilitate the direct delivery of fresh produce from farms to consumers. This study primarily investigates the experiences of current CSA members, focusing on the key factors influencing their retention intentions. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methods approach, this study gathers and analyzes both quantitative data (such as factors affecting members' retention intentions) and qualitative data (derived from interviews reflecting members' perceptions of their CSA experiences). The integration of these datasets provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors that shape CSA membership dynamics. The research findings underscore that Convenience, Product Quality, and Positive Interactions are pivotal factors that contribute to members' Intentions to continue their CSA memberships. These insights are crucial for enhancing the services provided to CSA members and hold significant implications for the broader scope of CSA membership research. This study not only fills a critical gap in understanding the Chinese CSA context but also contributes to the global discourse on sustainable agriculture practices and community engagement.

The Implementation of the Modulalar Learning Modality Among the Public Secondary Schools in Sto. Domingo, Albay

Modular Learning Modality (MLM) sustained continuity of Philippine education on COVID 19 pandemic that endangered lives; banned travel in January 2020. The President, in March 2020, declared Philippines in calamity state; schools’ closure; learners’ mandatory promotion; vaccines’ interventions. DepEd Sulong Edukalidad, re-opened classes in SY 2020-2021; empowered schools of enrollment and learning modalities. SMEA/EMIS reported: PM inhibited teachers assessing students objectively; effected quality instructions’ decline; students’ academic performance; interventions recommended. This research secured database for analysis throughout 2 SYs MDL implementation. Mix-method treated 645 respondents; used stratified, actual enumeration, purposive sampling; with fittest model: exploratory sequential - convergent parallel designs; thru questionnaire-assessment survey instruments; interview; focus group discussions in gathering data. Aimed to assess its operation level among schools’ understudy; analyze such variables and prepare intervention measures; grounded theory generated new concepts; recommended valuable interferences. Findings confirmed principals, teachers and parents’ assessment level is 3- Satisfactory; students: 4-Very Satisfactory; General Average (GAtwm): Satisfactory. Grounded Theory Data revealed MLM has both its worth and feebleness. Researcher laid valuable intervention measures out of interviews and RRL to avoid rebuffs on unexpected lockdown ahead. DepEd has the power to persuade its development intrusions for the beneficiaries favorably.

Hydrothermal analysis of parallel and symmetric microchannels with phase change slurry and porous fin designs

The dynamic information of microchannel systems with parallel and symmetric configurations is insufficient, which limits our ability to compare and optimize these systems in all directions. In this study, thermal and hydraulic characteristics in parallel and symmetric microchannel heat sinks (MCHSs) with porous fins cooled by phase change slurry are investigated. A 3-D steady state conjugate model is adopted to compare the effects of fin configuration, coolant type and structural parameters on hydrothermal properties of wavy MCHS. The variations of dimensionless parameters involving Nu, f, η (temperature control effectiveness) and PEF (performance evaluation factor) are considered to demonstrate the effectiveness of combined design on overall performance enhancement of wavy MCHS. Results indicate that lower temperature increment and higher pressure loss appear in wavy configuration with porous fins than in straight mode, and lowest thermal resistance arises in parallel porous fin design. At the narrow position of symmetric channel, the fluid changes from the low-speed drop-shaped micelle to high-speed bullet-shaped one with increasing A, which leads to higher Nu with larger pressure drop penalty. Due to the extended flow route and improved fluid mixing, η increases with decreasing wavelength in all cases, and η of porous microchannels with both phase change slurry and parallel fins is much larger than that of symmetric one and the one with only base fluid. Compared with wavy fin configurations with small and large ε, lower temperature and its more uniform distribution happen in the mode with medium porosity. In comparison with basic configuration, the parallel configuration with slurry as cooling medium has the maximum PEF value when the pore size is 0.14 mm, up to 1.64. Larger f increase occurs in wavy channel with increasing N, and the space shortening between adjacent channel cavities in symmetric mode makes the adjoining Dean vortices easier to contact and repel, thus making it appear larger rise of f than parallel mode. Compared with other channel parameters, it is not effective to improve the overall performance of wavy MCHS with porous fins by adjusting α. Overall, the throat effect of symmetric MCHS significantly occurs in channel configuration with larger A, bigger λ, lower ε, smaller dp, more N, and lesser α, leading to higher f rise than the parallel mode.

Scuphr: A probabilistic framework for cell lineage tree reconstruction.

Cell lineage tree reconstruction methods are developed for various tasks, such as investigating the development, differentiation, and cancer progression. Single-cell sequencing technologies enable more thorough analysis with higher resolution. We present Scuphr, a distance-based cell lineage tree reconstruction method using bulk and single-cell DNA sequencing data from healthy tissues. Common challenges of single-cell DNA sequencing, such as allelic dropouts and amplification errors, are included in Scuphr. Scuphr computes the distance between cell pairs and reconstructs the lineage tree using the neighbor-joining algorithm. With its embarrassingly parallel design, Scuphr can do faster analysis than the state-of-the-art methods while obtaining better accuracy. The method's robustness is investigated using various synthetic datasets and a biological dataset of 18 cells.

Barriers to Implementing Civic Education as a Compulsory Subject in Kabwe District Secondary Schools, Zambia

Civic education stands as a cornerstone in shaping active citizenship and fostering democratic values within the educational systems. However, the Zambia national education policy provides that the subject should be taught to all learners at the senior secondary school level. Nonetheless, this study investigated the barriers to implementing civic education as a compulsory subject at the senior secondary school level in Zambia, with a focus on Kabwe District secondary schools. Employing a mixed-methods approach under the convergent parallel design, quantitative and qualitative data was simultaneously collected from 319 participants comprising head teachers, heads of department social sciences, teachers of civic education, section heads, grade 12 learners and key informants from the Ministry of Education. An online questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data presented on charts, while qualitative data was gathered through interviews, focus group discussions and document review was presented thematically. Findings reveal high value attributed to civic education by offering the subject to all learners, ensuring adequate-skilled teachers, encouraging active civic engagement opportunities and adequate allocation of material and resources. Barriers identified included the optional status of civic education in the 2013 curriculum framework, lack of clear guidelines, insufficient planning, and inadequate support from authorities. The study contributes valuable insights for policy makers, educators and researchers, informing decision-making processes, curriculum development, and policy adjustments. The study recommends policy reforms by the government to maintain the status of civic education as a compulsory subject in the curriculum framework by lobbying for clear guidelines and emphasising its value.

152 Reducing the bioavailability of a mix of mycotoxins in broiler chickens with a clay- and algae-based decontaminant

Abstract Poultry feed is often contaminated with several mycotoxins that can impair animal health and performance, even at levels below the official guidance. The incorporation of mycotoxin decontaminants in the feed can limit these adverse effects. It is necessary to test the efficacy of these supplementations in vivo, but this requires specific experimental setups. The objective of this study was to test, in a validated toxicokinetic model, the ability of an algae-clay-based decontaminant to reduce the exposure of broilers to mycotoxin polycontamination (aflatoxin B1 – AFB1, ochratoxin A – OTA and deoxynivalenol, DON). The study included 16 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) of approximately 1.6 kg body weight (BW). After an acclimatization period of 1 wk, the broiler chickens were fasted for 12 h and then administered a single oral bolus with either the mycotoxins (n = 8) or the mycotoxins in combination with the decontaminant (n = 8; 2.0 mg AFB1/kg BW, 0.5 mg DON/kg BW, 0.25 mg OTA/kg BW, 2.5 g decontaminant/kg feed), administered in a parallel study design. Blood samples of the 16 broiler chickens were taken at different time points between 0 h (before administration) and 24 h (post administration; p.a.). The analysis of deoxynivalenol-3-sulphate (DON-3S, DON main metabolite), OTA and AFB1 in plasma was performed using UHPLC-MS/MS. The following parameters were calculated: area under the curve from time zero to the last point above the LOQ (AUC0→t), maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) and time at maximal plasma concentration (Tmax). Results showed that, using the oral bolus model, the mycotoxin decontaminant significantly altered the AUC0- &amp;gt;12h of DON-3S in broiler chicken (P = 0.012). The relative oral bioavailability [(average AUC0- &amp;gt;t mycotoxin + decontaminant/ average AUC0- &amp;gt;t mycotoxin) * 100] of DON-3S when administered with the decontaminant was 60.1%. For OTA, the decontaminant decreased the absorption of OTA as indicated by a significantly decreased AUC0- &amp;gt;24h (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Consequently, the relative oral bioavailability of OTA when administered with the decontaminant was lowered as well, namely 55.7%. For AFB1, the decontaminant affected the absorption of AFB1 with a significantly decreased AUC0- &amp;gt;8h (P &amp;lt; 0.001), Cmax (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and a significantly delayed Tmax (P = 0.025). Consequently, the relative oral bioavailability of AFB1 when administered with the decontaminant was 35.9%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the tested algae-clay based mycotoxin decontaminant reduces the oral absorption of multiple mycotoxins orally administered to broiler chickens in a single oral bolus model. These results are consistent with results obtained with DON in different experimental models (in vitro dynamics and in vivo performance) and confirm the efficacy of the decontaminant tested to control this mycotoxin in poultry production.

Microfluidic sweat patch based on capillary force and evaporation pump for real-time continuous sweat analysis.

In addition to the common blood and urine, fresh sweat contains a diverse range of physiological indicators that can effectively reflect changes in the body's state. Wearable sweat sensors are crucial for understanding human physiological health; however, real-time in situ measurement of multiple biomarkers in sweat remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a wearable microfluidic patch featuring an integrated microfluidic channel and evaporation pump for accelerated and continuous sweat collection, eliminating the need for additional sweat storage cavities that typically impede real-time detection. Capillary forces are harnessed to facilitate the rapid flow of sweat through the detection area, while an evaporation pump based on porous laser-induced graphene enhances sweat evaporation. The synergistic integration of these two components enables an uninterrupted flow of fresh sweat within the patch, ensuring real-time monitoring. The influence of channel size parameters on sweat flow velocity is analyzed, and the optimal width-to-height ratio for achieving the desired flow velocity is determined. By implementing a multi-channel parallel design with chamfering, liquid flow resistance is effectively reduced. Furthermore, the patch integrates sensor modules for sodium ion, chloride ion, glucose, and pH value measurements, ensuring excellent sealing and stability of the assembled system. This work presents a simplified approach to developing wearable sweat sensors that hold the potential for health monitoring and disease diagnosis.