Collection Points Research Articles

“A lot of moving parts”: Recovery home challenges linking and housing individuals with criminal legal system involvement

IntroductionThere are high rates of substance use disorder (SUD) among people released from carceral settings and, upon release, many of these people also face unstable housing situations, posing challenges to connecting with resources to facilitate SUD recovery. Recovery homes provide a temporary sober living environment for those seeking both SUD recovery and transition back to the community after carceral release. However, successful recovery home placement for this population can prove difficult, and there is a need for research to identify ways to overcome them. MethodsThe current qualitative study seeks to understand barriers to recovery home access for people leaving carceral settings and identify potential best practices for overcoming these barriers from the perspective of recovery home directors. The study conducted semi-structured interviews at two data collection points with eight recovery home directors from sites participating in a housing linkage and placement intervention pilot. The research team used qualitative software to identify and organize directors' experiences and practices in housing and supporting this population. ResultsRecovery home directors identified significant barriers to linkage from carceral settings, including difficulties communicating and coordinating placement with potential residents while still incarcerated. Interviews also revealed approaches recovery home directors take to improve recovery home placement, such as sharing information and resources with carceral settings prior to release and helping residents avoid reincarceration by managing relationships with court agents and parole. ConclusionRecovery resident directors have considerable insight into the most significant placement challenges faced by recovery homes upon carceral release as well as experience with potential solutions for overcoming them. Directors can be the key to direct seamless support and continuity of care for criminal legal system involved individuals through coordination with jails, prisons, and other community resources. Directors can also play a significant role in the successful completion of probation and parole by helping residents avoid further issues with the legal system. These directors view working cooperatively with residents as an effective approach to ensuring clients adhere to court orders and are successful in recovery and reentry.

Poultry slaughterhouse wastewater as a source of bacterial antimicrobial resistance.

Slaughterhouses produce huge volumes of effluents throughout the production chain that, when discharged untreated into bodies of water, can become a source of environmental contamination. This is particularly worrisome if these effluents are used for irrigation since they increase contamination levels and spread pathogens and resistance determinants to humans and animals. Therefore, in this study, we assessed antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from inlet water, equalization wastewater tanks, treatment plant wastewater, and treated wastewater in slaughterhouse facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four samples were collected at each of the collection points, between June 2021 and July 2022. Following bacterial isolation and identification, the samples were analyzed for antimicrobial resistance using the disk diffusion method to test aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, and fluoroquinolone antimicrobials. A total of 229 bacteria were isolated, with 74 isolates selected from the genera Citrobacter (12), Enterobacter (14), Klebsiella (35), Serratia (5), and Pseudomonas (8). Inlet water had the lowest number of isolates and was the only point with gentamicin-resistant isolates. Raw effluent from the equalization tank showed the highest number of isolated bacteria and resistance levels, followed by treated wastewater and the treatment plant. Across all samples, a high rate of cefoxitin-resistance was observed among the isolated bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae stood out as the species that demonstrated the greatest resistance to a variety of antimicrobials. These results highlight the importance of water quality monitoring in mitigating public health and environmental risks and high antimicrobial resistance levels.

The scenario of household pharmaceutical products: consumption, wastes, and disposal practices from a case study in Chile.

Concerns about the increasing consumption of medicines have been raised due to their contribution to waste pollution and environmental impacts. However, limited research addresses the profile and disposal practices of household medicines, particularly in Latin America. Therefore, this study analyzes the consumption, waste, and disposal of medicines within households in the commune of La Serena, Chile. Primary data were gathered through a semi-structured survey administered directly to a random sample of 430 households. The results indicate that women play a central role in managing medicines within households, with four therapeutic groups being most frequently used in medicines and generating waste: anti-inflammatory/analgesics, antihypertensives, lowering cholesterol, and antidiabetics. Ninety-six% of respondents were unaware of the collection points for this waste, and they disposed of it mainly in household garbage (78%) and sewage (13%). However, over 70% of them considered storing or disposing of medicines in household garbage or sewage to be "dangerous or very dangerous." Furthermore, 97% expressed support for collection campaigns. These results indicate the need for public policies to establish collection points for this waste and to inform consumers about the responsible use and proper disposal of medicines, particularly for women and patients with chronic illnesses.

Individual capacity growth over time in leadership courses: an intra-individual multilevel model approach

PurposeOur study was designed to investigate the longitudinal trajectories of student leader development capacities in a sample of students enrolled in multiple leadership-focused courses across several semesters. Our goal was to assess the degree to which course enrollment was associated with growth over the time that students engage as undergraduates in academic leadership programs, and if so, to assess the shape and speed of capacity change.Design/methodology/approachWe utilized a multilevel intra-individual modeling approach assessing students’ motivation to lead, leader self-efficacy, and leadership skills across multiple data collection points for students in a campus major or minor focused on leadership studies. We compared an unconditional model, a fixed effect model, a random intercept model, a random slope model, and a random slope and intercept model to determine the shape of score trajectories. Our approach was not to collect traditional pre-test and post-test data – choosing to collect data only at the beginning of each semester – to reduce time cues typically inherent within pre-test and post-test collections.FindingsOur results strongly suggested that individual students differ greatly in the degree to which they report the capacity to lead when initially enrolling in their first class. Surprisingly, the various models were unable to predict a pattern of longitudinal leader development through repeated course enrollment in our sample.Originality/valueOur investigation employed statistical methods that are not often utilized in leadership education quantitative research, and also included a data collection effort designed to avoid a linear pre-test/post-test score comparison.

Implementation of major trauma app: usability and data completeness

Background The current UK standard for major trauma patients is to record notes in a paper trauma booklet. Through an innovative collaboration between a major trauma centre and a digital transformation industry partner, a TraumaApp was developed. Electronic notes have been shown to have fewer errors, granular data collection and enable time stamped contemporaneous record keeping. Implementation of digital clinical records presents a challenge within the context of trauma multidisciplinary trauma resuscitation. Data can be easily accessible and shared for quality improvement, audit and research purposes. This study compared paper and electronic notes for completeness and for acceptability data following the implementation of the TraumaApp.MethodsTrauma team members who performed scribe function attended training for the newly launched TraumaApp. Two staff members acted as scribe, using either the paper trauma booklet or TraumaApp, and attended major trauma calls. A framework for comparison of paper and electronic notes was created and used for a retrospective review of major trauma patients’ notes. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-tailed t-test. Staff using the TraumaApp completed a System Usability Score questionnaire.ResultsThere was a total of 37 data points for collection per case. The mean numbers collected were paper notes 24.1 of 37 (65.1%) and electronic notes, 25.7 of 37 (69.5%). There was no statistical significance between the completeness of paper and electronic notes. The mean System Usability Score was 68.4.DiscussionRecording accurate patient information during a major trauma call can be challenging and the role of the scribe to accurately record events is critical for immediate and future care. There was no statistically significant difference in completeness of paper and electronic notes, however the mean System Usability Score was 68.4, which is greater than the internationally validated standard of acceptable usability.ConclusionIt is feasible to introduce digital data collection tools enabling accurate record keeping during trauma resuscitation and improve information sharing between clinicians.

Investigation and detection of multiple antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria in municipal wastewater of Dhaka city

BackgroundWater pollution in densely populated urban areas, mainly from municipal wastewater, poses a significant threat. Pathogenic bacteria, such as Vibrio spp. and fecal coliform, endanger public health and the environment. Additionally, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater complicate treatment and heighten public health concerns.MethodsThe study sampled municipal wastewater from ten Dhaka neighborhoods, selecting treatment plants, sewage outlets, and various collection points using meticulous techniques for representative samples. Bacteriological and biochemical analyses were conducted using standardized methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed with the disk diffusion method against 13 widely used antibiotics.ResultsAll sampled areas exhibited positive results for Vibrio spp., fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. Varying bacterial concentrations were observed, with the highest concentration of TVC, total vibrio spp., and total fecal coliform, total E. coli count, and total Salmonella spp. were found in Uttara (1.9 × 104 CFU/ml), Bangshal (1.8 × 102 CFU/ml), and Lalbag (2.1 × 103 CFU/ml), Mirpur (3.70 × 102 CFU/ml), and Lalbag (6 × 102 CFU/ml) respectively. AST results revealed significant resistance among all bacterial species to various antibiotics. Specifically, Vibrio spp. showed 100% resistance to cefuroxime, fecal coliform exhibited 90% resistance to cephradine, E. coli demonstrated 60% resistance to cephradine, and Salmonella spp. displayed 90% resistance to ampicillin.ConclusionThe study highlights the existence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Dhaka's wastewater. Addressing antibiotic resistance is essential to manage the risks of multiple antibiotic-resistant infections and maintain antibiotic effectiveness. These implications are critical for various stakeholders, including public health officials, policymakers, environmentalists, and urban planners.

Collective consciousness and consumer behavior

AbstractWe build on the construct of collective consciousness, which reflects a view that a person can see the self as the subject that is attending, experiencing, or acting as a unitary collective agent, that is, from the perspective of “we” as opposed to “I.” Shteynberg (Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2024) proposes that collective consciousness can foster mutual trust and cooperation, thus having positive implications for both individuals and society. In this commentary, we discuss what the construct of collective consciousness might have to offer consumer researchers by considering when collective consciousness could be relevant in consumer contexts, its key psychological consequences, and how this theory could potentially build upon and interact with existing frameworks in consumer psychology. In addition, we consider some potential negative consequences of collective consciousness and point to potentially fruitful directions for future consumer research.

High and low pathogenicity avian influenza virus discrimination and prediction based on volatile organic compounds signature by SIFT-MS: a proof-of-concept study

High and low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIV, LPAIV) are the primary causes of poultry diseases worldwide. HPAIV and LPAIV constitute a major threat to the global poultry industry. Therefore, early detection and well-adapted surveillance strategies are of the utmost importance to control the spread of these viruses. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released from living organisms have been investigated over the last decades as a diagnostic strategy. Mass spectrometry instruments can analyze VOCs emitted upon viral infection. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) enables direct analysis of cell headspace in less than 20 min. As a proof-of-concept study, we investigated the ability of a SIFT-MS coupled sparse Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis analytical workflow to discriminate IAV-infected cells. Supernatants of HPAIV, LPAIV, and control cells were collected from 1 to 72 h post-infection and analyzed using our analytical workflow. At each collection point, VOCs' signatures were first identified based on four independent experiments and then used to discriminate the infectious status of external samples. Our results indicate that the identified VOCs signatures successfully discriminate, as early as 1-h post-infection, infected cells from the control cells and differentiated the HPAIV from the LPAIV infection. These results suggest a virus-dependent VOCs signature. Overall, the external samples' status was identified with 96.67% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 97.78% general accuracy.

Ichthyoplankton dynamics in the Brazilian Pantanal: Contribution of an important tributary and maintenance of connectivity

AbstractIn order to investigate the reproductive dynamics of the ichthyofauna in the Brazilian Pantanal, this study examines the spatial and temporal distribution of ichthyoplankton, taxonomic composition, and its correlation with environmental factors within one of the most important sub‐basins, the Taquari River. Egg and larvae collections were conducted at 11 sampling points between October and March of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Significant differences were observed between collection points, months, and years, with higher ichthyoplankton densities in the Coxim and Taquari rivers, particularly between November and January. Twenty‐eight genera and/or species of fish were identified, including 10 long‐distance migratory species. Egg density showed a negative correlation with water temperature and rainfall. For larvae, water transparency and rainfall were both significant, negatively influencing larval abundance. However, different species tend to occur in environments with distinct abiotic qualities. Yolk‐sac, preflexion, and flexion larval development stages were distributed throughout the sub‐basin, especially near the Pantanal. Considering the data and analyses presented in this study, the importance of connectivity between these environments, specifically between the plateau and Pantanal, is evident, highlighting the significance of the entire sub‐basin for fish reproductive processes. Therefore, research focusing on the ecological processes influencing the distribution of ichthyoplankton offers valuable insights for ecosystem conservation and aids in effective environmental management.

Accounting Information System and Financial Reporting Quality of Quoted Service Companies in Nigeria

AIS is seen as a significant organizational mechanism but it can only be of benefit to organizational operations, including the Quality of Financial Reporting (QFR) produced if the right factors are well integrated and operated harmoniously. Therefore, the study examined AIS and QFR of listed service companies in Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design. Primary data was employed through a questionnaire which was administered on 256 respondents. Variables used included Information Quality (IQ), Service Quality (SERVQ), faithful representation, relevance, understandability and timeliness. The study adopted the use of structural equation modeling for data analysis. The findings revealed that IQ has a significant effect on QFR while SERVQ has no significant and negative effect on QFR. It is therefore recommended that organizations should ensure that they maintain good information quality which should start from the point of data collection from different sources to the point of final preparation of the financial reports.

A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process -GIS approach to flood susceptibility mapping in NEOM, Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing massive and rapid urbanization as part of Vision 2030. This includes development projects along Saudi Arabia’s coastline across the Red Sea. Coastal areas, especially the ones along Saudi’s western regions are susceptible to natural disasters such as flooding. NEOM, a futuristic city currently being developed in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, exemplifies a potential flooding hazard due to its geographic location and proposed urbanization plans. This research aims to enhance flood hazard assessment in NEOM by applying the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) in combination with Geographic Information System (GIS). Acknowledging traditional limitations related to data availability and parameter selection consensus, the study carefully selects parameters such as drainage density, elevation, slope, rainfall, land use/land cover (LULC), soil type, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and topographic wetness index (TWI). The 30 m DEM was used to derive Drainage Density, Slope, and TWI while LULC data helped assess land cover changes. Rainfall data and soil type information are integrated to evaluate their impact on flood susceptibility. NDVI is employed to analyze vegetation cover. Utilizing ArcGIS Pro’s weighted overlay model, the criteria were combined to generate the final flood susceptibility map. The research outcomes manifest in a flood susceptibility map categorizing areas into seven distinct susceptibility classes, ranging from ‘very low’ to ‘very high.’ A quantitative breakdown in a summary table provides insights into the proportional distribution of flood risk. Results indicate a significant portion of NEOM falls within varying degrees of moderate susceptibility range with relatively limited distribution of flood susceptibility on the extremes, equating to areas with ‘low to moderate’ susceptibility is 4,322.8 km2, areas with ‘moderate’ susceptibility is 5,109.69 km2, areas with ‘moderate to high’ is 4,081.39 km2. The flood susceptibility map developed in this study can shed insights on potential optimum areas for flood mitigation measures (i.e., optimum locations for establishing stormwater collection points).

Mechanical characterization and cytocompatibility of linoleic acid modified bone cement for percutaneous cement discoplasty

Minimally invasive spine treatments have been sought after for elderly patients with comorbidities suffering from advanced degenerative disc disease. Percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) is one such technique where cement is injected into a degenerated disc with a vacuum phenomenon to relieve patients from pain. Adjacent vertebral fractures (AVFs) are however an inherent risk, particularly for osteoporotic patients, due to the high stiffness of the used cements. While low-modulus cements have been developed for vertebroplasty through the addition of linoleic acid, there are no such variations with a high-viscosity base cement, which is likely needed for the discoplasty application.Therefore, a low-modulus polymethyl methacrylate was developed by the addition of 12%vol. linoleic acid to a high-viscosity bone cement (hv-LA-PMMA). Initial experimental validation of the cement was performed by mechanical testing under compression over a period of 24 weeks, after storage in 37 °C phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. Furthermore, cement extracts were used to evaluate residual monomer release and the cytotoxicity of hv-LA-PMMA using fibroblastic cells.Relative to the base commercial cement, a significant reduction of Young’s modulus and compressive strength of 36% and 42% was observed, respectively. Compression-tension fatigue tests at 5 MPa gave an average fatigue limit of 31,078 cycles. This was higher than another low-modulus cement and comparable to the fatigue properties of the disc annulus tissue. Monomer release tests showed that hv-LA-PMMA had a significantly higher release between 24 h and 7 days compared to the original bone cement, similarly to other low-modulus cements. Also, the control cement showed cytocompatibility at all time points of extract collection for 20-fold dilution, while hv-LA-PMMA only showed the same for extract collections at day 7. However, the 20-fold dilution was needed for both the control and the hv-LA-PMMA extracts to demonstrate more than 70% fibroblast viability at day 7.In conclusion, the mechanical testing showed promise in the use of linoleic acid in combination with a high-viscosity PMMA cement to achieve properties adequate to the application. Further testing and in vivo studies are however required to fully evaluate the mechanical performance and biocompatibility of hv-LA-PMMA for possible future clinical application.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF EXPIRED AND UNUSED PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE ANKARA REGION

Objective: Due to the increase in the market share of pharmaceuticals and the unconscious use of medicines, unused or expired medicines are being discarded in a way that harms the environment. This study aims to examine which medicines are brought to collection points as household waste in order to reduce waste medicines from the source. Material and Method: The medicines collected in 12 spontaneously selected pharmacies operating in low and high income levels in the Ankara region were recorded at different periods during one year and the results were statistically evaluated. 4852 waste medicines were sorted and classified according to pharmaceutical dosage form and indication Result and Discussion: Unopened 521 medicines were discarded. In addition, it was seen which drug groups create waste in socio-economic terms. In addition to the damage to the environment, it has created a foresight to prevent drug waste that creates a deficit in the budget.

Assessment of Water Quality of the Sao Goncalo River in the Urban Section of Sao Domingos do Norte-Es

The Water Quality Index (WQI) gathers information on physical-chemical and bacteriological parameters. This article analyzed, monthly for one year, water samples collected at the source and downstream of the São Gonçalo River in the municipality of São Domingos do Norte, at Espírito Santo. The average accumulated precipitation of the month that preceded the collection was grouped into dry and rainy periods. Precipitation data allowed classification into dry and rainy periods (p-value 0.0084). The WQI values were calculated and statistically evaluated regarding the collection point and precipitation (p-value 0.0125). In dry periods, the WQI presented lower values than in rainy periods. It was observed that at the source of the river, the WQI value was higher than downstream from the urban center due to anthropological action. Finally, the research allowed the identification of the temporal and spatial variation of the water body resulting from contamination by sewage contribution.

Design and Construction of an Automated Boat that Removes Debris from the Ocean

Water bodies have a huge aquatic ecosystem within them. Any high concentration of suspended solids can cause numerous issues for aquatic life by blocking light from reaching submerged vegetation, hence there is a need for a solution to remove this debris from the water bodies. This project design and construction of an automated boat to remove debris from the ocean is focused on developing a robust and efficient prototype solution for autonomously collecting and managing marine Debris, thereby contributing to environment conservation. The two-channel remote control with receiver will enable the boat to navigate predefined routes, identify and collect debris using specialized mechanism and return to a designated collective point. The Two-Channel remote control system allows for precise maneuverability and control over the boat’s function. Through a combination of engineering principles, propellers, conveyer belt, tread mill arrangement and shafts. this project aims to address the critical issues of ocean pollution while showcasing the potential for remote controlled boat in maritime environmental management. The anticipated outcomes include a functional prototype, comprehensive operational documentation and preliminary performance assessments, setting the stage for potential scalability and deployment in real-world Ocean clean up initiative

Diversity and Ecological Distribution of Plecoptera of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The order Plecoptera constitutes a relatively small group of aquatic insects, encompassing 17 extant families and comprising over 4400 valid species. In Brazil, the number of valid extant species is 207, located in two families: Perlidae (149) and Gripopterygidae (58). Despite extensive research on the southeastern region of Brazil, there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive studies consolidating geographical records and species richness of Plecoptera in the state of Minas Gerais. This study seeks to increase and refine our understanding of Plecoptera within Minas Gerais, focusing on its diversity and distribution. The initial phase involved a thorough review of articles documenting Plecoptera species in the state. Subsequently, biological material from the Museum of Entomology at the Federal University of Viçosa collection was meticulously identified, and its geographical records were incorporated. Utilizing this dataset, we compiled an updated list of Plecoptera species documented in Minas Gerais. Geographical coordinates of collection points were then mapped and graphically represented to elucidate the geographic and altitudinal distribution of these species. A total of 42 Plecoptera species were identified within the state of Minas Gerais, adding many occurrence records and documenting the first record of Gripopteryx pinima for the state. Despite these advancements, knowledge gaps persist, particularly in the mesoregions of Triângulo/Alto Paranaíba, Oeste de Minas, Vale do Mucuri, and Campo das Vertentes. This endeavor serves as an initial foundation to stimulate further collections and investments in undersampled areas, fostering future monitoring and conservation initiatives for aquatic environments.

P-513 Non-invasive PGT (niPGT) of vitrified blastocysts cultured for 24 hours after thawing

Abstract Study question Is niPGT on culture medium exposed for 24 hours to vitrified-thawed blastocysts useful? Summary answer niPGT using a culture medium from vitrified blastocysts cultured for 24hours after thawing showed a high concordance rate with the PGTa results. What is known already Conventional PGTa, which is widely practiced around the world, requires specialized techniques and involves embryonic trophectoderm (TE) biopsy. Recently, niPGT using cell free DNA released from embryos into culture medium has been reported as an alternative to conventional PGT, and has been found to correlate well with TE-biopsy analysis results (Carmen. Rubio, 2020). Although there have been numerous reports of niPGT accuracy based on the timing of culture medium collection, there have been few comparisons of its accuracy based on different time points of medium collection from the same embryo. Study design, size, duration From March to April 2023, 128 vitrified pronuclear stage embryos from 33 patients with consent for research use, were thawed and cultured, and from Day 4, they were individually cultured for over 40 hours. 60 embryos that reached blastocyst by Day 6 were vitrified, and the spent culture medium (SCM1) was collected. The vitrified blastocysts were later thawed and cultured individually for 24 hours, and then the embryos and spent culture medium (SCM2) were collected. Participants/materials, setting, methods Embryos were cultured in a 30 μl droplet until Day 4 and a 10 μl droplet for individual culture. Culture medium was collected and embryos were subjected to chromosomal analysis by NGS. We compared the results of niPGT taken from the same embryos on days 4- 6 (SCM1) and after thawing of vitrified blastocysts (SCM2), with PGTa analysis of the embryos. Main results and the role of chance Among all media samples analyzed, results were obtained for 80.0% (48/60) SCM1 and 96.7% (58/60) SCM2 samples. The ploidy concordance rate was 81.3% (39/48) for SCM1 and 98.3% (57/58) for SCM2. The overall concordance rate, defined as the combined rate of the total concordance for all chromosomes and the partial concordance for some chromosomes was 72.9% (35/48) for SCM1 and 94.8% (55/58) for SCM2 respectively. Significant differences were identified in the informative sample rate, the ploidy concordance rate, and the overall concordance rate(p < 0.05) between SCM1 and SCM2. Fisher’s exact test was used for statistical analysis. Limitations, reasons for caution In this study, embryo culture was continued to day 6, regardless of morphology of the embryo at day 5, which differs from the usual clinical culture process. Additionally, the timing of sample collection differed between the day 4-6 culture medium sample and that for a blastocyst. Wider implications of the findings The results demonstrated that accuracy of ploidy status was higher in the SCM2 compared to the SCM1 sample, suggesting that analysis of thawed vitrified blastocyst medium maybe a more precise predictor and therefore a non-invasive alternative to conventional PGTa. Trial registration number not applicable

Responsive Complementary Feeding Practices in Rural Muhanga District of Rwanda: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACTBackgroundResponsive feeding among infants and young children (IYC) determines their food acceptance and adequate dietary intake, which enhances growth and developmental opportunities. However, little is known about responsive feeding practices among IYC in Rwanda. This study explored the status and barriers of responsive feeding practices among mothers from rural areas of Muhanga District in Rwanda.MethodThis descriptive longitudinal and exploratory mixed methods study was conducted among 29 mothers from 2 rural health centers in Muhanga District. Mothers were interviewed, and their interactions with children during lunch meals at 6, 9, and 12 months were observed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti software.ResultsThe study shows that the number of mothers who reported to verbally encourage their children to eat during feeding increased with the child's age. Less than half of mothers, at all three time points of data collection (at 6, 9, and 12 months), reported and were observed allowing their children to self‐feed, smiling and talking to them during feeding. The perceived major barriers to mother–child interaction during feeding were lack of time due to the burden of other responsibilities, and poverty. In addition, fear of messing up and food waste were barriers to child self‐feeding opportunities.ConclusionFindings indicate that responsive feeding was less practiced among study mothers due to lack of time, poverty, and fear of food waste during child self‐feeding. Nutrition interventions in this community should consider raising awareness of responsive feeding practices through education and encouraging mothers to devote sufficient time to interact with their children during feeding episodes.

Generating synthetic identifiers to support development and evaluation of data linkage methods.

Careful development and evaluation of data linkage methods is limited by researcher access to personal identifiers. One solution is to generate synthetic identifiers, which do not pose equivalent privacy concerns, but can form a 'gold-standard' linkage algorithm training dataset. Such data could help inform choices about appropriate linkage strategies in different settings. We aimed to develop and demonstrate a framework for generating synthetic identifier datasets to support development and evaluation of data linkage methods. We evaluated whether replicating associations between attributes and identifiers improved the utility of the synthetic data for assessing linkage error. We determined the steps required to generate synthetic identifiers that replicate the properties of real-world data collection. We then generated synthetic versions of a large UK cohort study (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; ALSPAC), according to the quality and completeness of identifiers recorded over several waves of the cohort. We evaluated the utility of the synthetic identifier data in terms of assessing linkage quality (false matches and missed matches). Comparing data from two collection points in ALSPAC, we found within-person disagreement in identifiers (differences in recording due to both natural change and non-valid entries) in 18% of surnames and 12% of forenames. Rates of disagreement varied by maternal age and ethnic group. Synthetic data provided accurate estimates of linkage quality metrics compared with the original data (within 0.13-0.55% for missed matches and 0.00-0.04% for false matches). Incorporating associations between identifier errors and maternal age/ethnicity improved synthetic data utility. We show that replicating dependencies between attribute values (e.g. ethnicity), values of identifiers (e.g. name), identifier disagreements (e.g. missing values, errors or changes over time), and their patterns and distribution structure enables generation of realistic synthetic data that can be used for robust evaluation of linkage methods.

Research on the progress of particle-bubble transport

Abstract Due to the pressing need for efficient and environmentally friendly utilization of low-quality mineral resources in the field of mineral processing, there has been a growing focus on investigating the flotation method. Foam flotation is widely employed as a means to separate different valuable minerals. The underlying mechanism involves numerous buoyant bubbles within the fluid that come into contact with and transport target mineral particles towards the upper apex of the fluid, resulting in the formation of a foam layer. This foam layer serves as a collection point for valuable target minerals, thereby facilitating their separation and recovery. This paper reviews the research progress of flotation to the present, and the source, purpose, and significance of flotation research are discussed first. Secondly, the great changes brought by the simulation method to the optimization of flotation performance are demonstrated. Finally, the sub-process mechanism of flotation is discussed. Through the above investigation on the progress of particle-bubble transport, the importance of bubbles and particles to the improvement or reduction of flotation performance is clarified, and the follow-up research and engineering practice are guided.