Predominant Categories Research Articles

E-learning adoption: a comparative analysis of public sentiments during COVID-19

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated e-learning adoption, presenting both opportunities and challenges for educational development, particularly in the context of Information Technology for Development (ITD). This study profiles public sentiments on e-learning to identify key factors influencing IT-enabled education. A text analysis of Tweets from the United States and India posted from March 2020 to January 2022 was conducted using a computer-aided text analysis and natural language processing alongside a content analysis using a machine learning technique. Findings show positive sentiments towards e-learning from both countries, with trust, anticipation, and joy as predominant emotion categories. Themes of strongest importance are students, schools, and education as central to e-learning discussions. The study also uncovers challenges such as the need for internet infrastructure and teacher training in digital pedagogy. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of how information technologies can address educational challenges and promote development in diverse global contexts.

Exploiting histopathological imaging for early detection of lung and colon cancer via ensemble deep learning model

Cancer seems to have a vast number of deaths due to its heterogeneity, aggressiveness, and significant propensity for metastasis. The predominant categories of cancer that may affect males and females and occur worldwide are colon and lung cancer. A precise and on-time analysis of this cancer can increase the survival rate and improve the appropriate treatment characteristics. An efficient and effective method for the speedy and accurate recognition of tumours in the colon and lung areas is provided as an alternative to cancer recognition methods. Earlier diagnosis of the disease on the front drastically reduces the chance of death. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approaches can accelerate this cancer diagnosis, facilitating researcher workers to study a vast majority of patients in a limited period and at a low cost. This research presents Histopathological Imaging for the Early Detection of Lung and Colon Cancer via Ensemble DL (HIELCC-EDL) model. The HIELCC-EDL technique utilizes histopathological images to identify lung and colon cancer (LCC). To achieve this, the HIELCC-EDL technique uses the Wiener filtering (WF) method for noise elimination. In addition, the HIELCC-EDL model uses the channel attention Residual Network (CA-ResNet50) model for learning complex feature patterns. Moreover, the hyperparameter selection of the CA-ResNet50 model is performed using the tuna swarm optimization (TSO) technique. Finally, the detection of LCC is achieved by using the ensemble of three classifiers such as extreme learning machine (ELM), competitive neural networks (CNNs), and long short-term memory (LSTM). To illustrate the promising performance of the HIELCC-EDL model, a complete set of experimentations was performed on a benchmark dataset. The experimental validation of the HIELCC-EDL model portrayed a superior accuracy value of 99.60% over recent approaches.

Unveiling the Disease Patterns and Infection Categories in MDRO-Infected Patients: Insights from a Comprehensive Study at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang

Background: Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Understanding the disease patterns and infection categories associated with MDRO infections is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies. This study aims to unveil the prevalent diseases and infection categories among MDRO-infected patients at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang in Indonesia.Methods: A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of patients diagnosed with MDRO infections. Clinical characteristics were collected and analyzed. The diseases were classified into broader categories based on their organ system or common medical classification.Result: The study included 100 MDRO-infected patients and they presented with 81 various medical conditions/diseases. The most common diseases associated with MDRO infections were Covid-19, and Bronchopneumonia. Among the infection categories, gastrointestinal disorders, and Neoplastic Diseases were the predominant categories. The study revealed a high prevalence of MDRO infections in patients with these conditions while as the category of Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases accounted for the smallest proportion of cases with only one case.Conclusion : This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the disease patterns and infection categories in MDRO-infected patients at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang. The findings highlight the need for targeted surveillance, infection control measures, and antimicrobial stewardship programs to effectively manage MDRO infections. Understanding the most prevalent diseases and infection categories associated with MDROs can aid in early detection, appropriate treatment, and the development of preventive strategies.

Unraveling gender-specific lipids and flavor volatiles in giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) livers via lipidomics and GC-IMS

To uncover the relationships between lipid components and flavor volatiles, distinctness in lipid components and odor substances in giant salamander livers of different genders were comparatively characterized through UPLC-Q Exactive-MS lipidomics and gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS). A total of 2171 and 974 lipid metabolites were detected in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Triglycerides (TG) and phosphatidylcholines (PC) are the most abundant types of lipids. TG level in male livers was higher than that in female livers (P < 0.05), whereas PC level showed no marked variation (P > 0.05). Additionally, a total of 51 volatile components were detected through GC-IMS. Ketones (42.18 % ∼ 45.44 %) and alcohols (24.19 % ∼ 26.50 %) were the predominant categories, and their relative contents were higher in female livers. Finally, 30 differential lipid metabolites and 12 differential odor substances were screened and could be used as distinguishing labels in giant salamander livers of different genders. Correlation analysis indicated that PS(36:2e), TG(48:13), ZyE(37:6), and ZyE(33:6) correlated positively with 3-methyl butanal, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, and 2-methyl-1-propanol (P < 0.05), but adversely linked with 1-penten-3-one, and 1-octen-3-one (P < 0.01). By three-fold cross-validation, prediction accuracies of these differential lipids and volatile compounds for gender recognition based on random forest model were 100 % and 92 %, respectively. These findings might not only add knowledge on lipid and volatile profiles in giant salamander livers as affected by genders, but also provide clues for their gender recognition.

Combining ecosystem service value and landscape ecological risk to subdivide the riparian buffer zone of the Weihe River in Shaanxi

Riparian buffer zones are transitional and ecological intersections between land and water. These areas play a major role in advancing ecosystem protection and restoration. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal evolution of land use, ecosystem service value (ESV), and landscape ecological risk (LER) in riparian buffer zones between 1990 and 2020 using the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River as a case study using a GIS grid, the unit-area-equivalent-factor method, the landscape ecological risk index, and the natural breakpoint method. We also established four ecological zones using standardized Z-scores. The predominant land categories in the study area comprised cultivated, construction, and grassland, which together accounted for more than 80 % of the total area. The construction land demonstrated the most significant increase of 4,062.33 hm2 area, and cultivated land showed most significant decrease of 13,048.56 hm2 area, between 1990 and 2020. Next, study-site ESV increased from 28.30 × 108 CNY in 1990 to 28.94 × 108 CNY in 2020, reflecting 2.26 % growth. High-value areas were principally bodies of water and primarily situated along the Weihe River, extending from west to east along the main channel. The LER of the study area was dominated by the lowest ecological risk, low ecological risk, and medium ecological risk classes, which collectively accounted for more than 70 % of the total area. The main land types in the areas with high ecological risk were forest land and cultivated land. The study area’s LER demonstrated a decreasing trend from 1990 to 2020, and the area with the lowest ecological risk and low ecological risk zones increased by 9.97 %. The riparian buffer zone was divided into ecological restoration, reconstruction, conservation, and protection zones based on two factors, namely, ESV and LER. The most dominant of these was the ecological reconstruction zone, which showed a 13.75 % decrease in area share between 1990 and 2020. The ecological restoration zone occupied the smallest area with the largest increase of 56.63 % during this period. In conclusion, this study contributes to ecological zoning and management of the riparian buffer zone along the main channel of the Weihe River. Appropriate zoning is integral to protecting this valuable ecosystem and achieving sustainable development of surrounding human communities.

BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS, FOOD CHOICES AND SELF-CONSCIOUS OF POPULATION: THE ROLE IN COMBATING HEALTH DESTABILIZING FACTORS WITHIN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The paper is devoted to bibliometric analysis of the interrelationships of the concept of destabilizing factors in the field of public health and their impact on national development depending on the established level of health security in the country, which is determined by such factors as health behavior patterns, their adherence to full-fledged diet nutrition, self-awareness about maintaining one's health. The selection of sources was formed from the Scopus database. Scientific journals with the largest number of research-relevant publications were identified. It was found that behavioral patterns, such as food preferences, care for the environment, and adherence to a healthy lifestyle, are the predominant categories with which the authors of the analyzed studies identify the formation of the country's potential to counteract negative factors of public health.

Assessing Diet &amp; Trophic Position of Fish in Chenderoh Reservoir, Malaysia: SCA &amp; SIA Approach

The present study assessed and compared the diet and trophic positions (TP) of two carnivorous fish H. macrolepidota and C. ocellaris from Chenderoh Reservoir, Malaysia. The focal goal of the study was to understand the effects of invasive non-indigenous species (NIS), C. ocellaris, on the native indigenous (IS) fish species, H. macrolepidota. Data were acquired from September 2014 to February 2015 within the study area. The assessment was grounded in stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA), which collectively clarified the feeding habits and trophic positions (TP) of these selected fish. In total, 184 fish samples (comprising 64 individuals of H. macrolepidota and 120 individuals of C. ocellaris) underwent stomach content analysis (SCA). Additionally, 24 individuals (12 of H. macrolepidota and 12 of C. ocellaris), sampled from December 2014 to February 2015, were selected for stable isotope analysis (SIA). The mean RGL values for H. macrolepidota and C ocellaris were 0.98 ± 0.18 and 1.10 ± 0.15 (Mean ± SD), respectively, aligning with known ranges for carnivorous fish. These values also clarified that both species occupy higher TP in the food web as tertiary or quaternary consumers. SCA findings also revealed that fish and crustaceans were the predominant food categories for H. macrolepidota, while C. ocellaris predominantly fed on fish. The mean stomach fullness index (MSF) and the gastrosomatic index (GSI) corroborated the differences in the foraging performance of the fishes, with C. ocellaris having a higher MSF (2.03) compared to H. macrolepidota (0.65). These implied that C. ocellaris had plentiful of food and encountered fewer diet-related challenges in the ecosystem. From SIA, δ13C values indicated that the primary carbon sources for both species are C3 plants, particularly aquatic vegetation. Further, δ15N values further ensured that both H. macrolepidota and C. ocellaris are carnivorous in nature and occupy higher TP in the ecosystem.

Electron Precipitation Driven by EMIC Waves: Two Types of Energy Dispersion

AbstractElectromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves can very rapidly and effectively scatter relativistic electrons into the atmosphere. EMIC‐driven precipitation bursts can be detected by low‐altitude spacecraft, and analysis of the fine structure of such bursts may reveal unique information about the near‐equatorial EMIC source region. In this study, we report, for the first time, observations of EMIC‐driven electron precipitation exhibiting energy, E, dispersion as a function of latitude (and hence L‐shell): two predominant categories exhibit dE/dL &gt; 0 and dE/dL &lt; 0. We interpret precipitation with dE/dL &lt; 0 as due to the typical inward radial gradient of cold plasma density and equatorial magnetic field (∼65% of the statistics). Precipitation with dE/dL &gt; 0 is interpreted as due to an outward radial gradient of the equatorial magnetic field, likely produced by energetic ions freshly injected into the ring current (∼35% of the statistics). The observed energy dispersion of EMIC‐driven electron precipitation was reproduced in simulations.

Retrospective Analysis of Inpatient Dermatologic Consultations in a Residency Training Program

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of inpatient dermatologic diseases, examined trends over 3 academic years in a tertiary care hospital in Thailand, and evaluated their relevance to the current dermatology residency curriculum. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed at the Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Consultation records from July 2018 to June 2021 were assessed. Data extracted included patient age, sex, referring departments, and diagnoses. Results: Of the 1964 consultations, 2002 diagnoses were identified. Consistent with previous findings, the predominant diagnostic categories were drug eruptions (28.02%; 561), eczema (16.18%; 324), and viral infections (9.29%; 186). Internal medicine made the most requests, followed by surgery and orthopedics. While the prevalence of consulted diseases remained constant over the 3 academic years, the total number of consultations increased. Most of the consulted conditions were already covered in the “must-know” section of the dermatology residency curriculum, with a few exceptions. The consultation cases satisfied the inpatient evaluation requirements of EntrustableProfessional Activity. Conclusion: The prevalence of inpatient dermatologic diseases was highest for drug eruptions, followed by eczema and viral infections. The consistent trend in the prevalence of these consulted diseases underscores the significance of inpatient dermatology. Incorporating these insights into revisions of the dermatology residency curriculum may enhance the training of dermatologists.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: BIO-FERTILIZER PRODUCTION FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT

This study addresses the pressing issue of municipal waste (MW) management by proposing an innovative approach to transform residential solid waste into a valuable resource using green technology. MW, sourced from diverse sectors, undergoes various disposal methods, including incineration, recycling, and landfilling. In Malaysia, the composition of MW aligns with global trends, with food waste and plastic being the predominant categories. This research focuses on producing fertilizer from residential solid waste through a green technology process, utilizing a sequential procedure involving high pressure, high temperature, and energized water to de-polymerize hemicellulose and lignin, followed by microbial enzymatic fermentation. The developed green technology introduces a novel apparatus designed for treating MW in a high-temperature, low-pressure rotating vessel using indirect heating with thermal fluid. The experimental protocol involves four batches of MW samples, evaluating the mass differential before and after the treatment process. Furthermore, a 7-week observation period assesses chili plant growth as an indicator of fertilizer effectiveness. Results indicate a significant 71% mass reduction of MW, amounting to 201.26 kg, emphasizing the efficacy of the developed process. The investigation extends to plant height, comparing MW-derived fertilizer with commercial fertilizer over a 5-week period. Remarkably, chili plants fertilized with MW-derived fertilizer exhibit a greater height of 8.6 cm, surpassing the 7.3 cm observed with commercial fertilizer. This study concludes that MW-derived fertilizer is highly recommended for enhancing plant growth and health in Malaysia, suggesting a sustainable production system. The research not only contributes to waste management but also aligns with broader goals of promoting environmentally conscious and sustainable agricultural practices, emphasizing the potential of green technology in addressing the challenges of municipal waste.

DISTRIBUTION OF SKILL REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GRADUATES IN INDONESIA

The objective of this study was to get further insights into the significance of both hard skills and soft skills in securing employment within Indonesia's Information Technology (IT) industry till 2023. To enhance their abilities and effectively vie with their counterparts, IT graduates must possess a clear understanding of the specific talents that organisations require. Universities and other policymakers should utilise this knowledge to develop a plan that aligns the abilities required in the practical world with the skills necessary for graduation. Scraping techniques were employed to retrieve data from three Indonesian job board websites. Data for this study was managed using text processing and statistical techniques. Furthermore, the material underwent cleaning prior to analysis. According to the survey, Web Development, Programmer, and Help Desk Support are the predominant categories of online IT occupations. Out of the twenty highest-ranking occupations, fourteen were exclusively focused on developing software, applications, or programming for mobile or web platforms. Additionally, there was a Network Engineer, a Data Engineer, a Data Analyst, and a System Analyst as jobs that are also widely offered. SQL emerged as the leading computer language. Employers highly value applicants that possess proficiency in SQL as well as another programming language such as Java, C++, or PHP. Collaborative teamwork is consistently the most highly desired ability among employers. Motivated by a strong aptitude for acquiring knowledge and employing analytical thinking. All three of these factors are interconnected with IT projects, which often encompass a diverse array of employment roles.

Characterization of Volatile Compounds in Donkey Meat by Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC-IMS) Combined with Chemometrics.

Volatile compounds (VOCs) are an important factor affecting meat quality. However, the characteristic VOCs in different parts of donkey meat remain unknown. Accordingly, this study represents a preliminary investigation of VOCs to differentiate between different cuts of donkey meat by using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with chemometrics analysis. The results showed that the 31 VOCs identified in donkey meat, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters were the predominant categories. A total of 10 VOCs with relative odor activity values ≥1 were found to be characteristic of donkey meat, including pentanone, hexanal, nonanal, octanal, and 3-methylbutanal. The VOC profiles in different parts of donkey meat were well differentiated using three- and two-dimensional fingerprint maps. Nine differential VOCs that represent potential markers to discriminate different parts of donkey meat were identified by chemometrics analysis. These include 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, and 2-heptanone. Thus, the VOC profiles in donkey meat and specific VOCs in different parts of donkey meat were revealed by HS-GC-IMS combined with chemometrics, whcih provided a basis and method of investigating the characteristic VOCs and quality control of donkey meat.

Active monitoring of antifungal adverse events in hospitalized patients based on Global Trigger Tool method.

The increasing prevalence of fungal infections necessitates broader use of antifungal medications. However, the prevalence of adverse drug events (ADEs) restricts their clinical application. This study aimed to develop a reliable ADEs trigger for antifungals to enable proactive ADEs monitoring, serving as a reference for ADEs prevention and control. This investigation comprises two phases. Initially, the trigger was established via a literature review, extraction of relevant items, and refinement through Delphi expert consultation. Subsequently, the validity of the trigger was assessed by analyzing hospital records of antifungal drug users from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. The correlation between each trigger signal and ADEs occurrence was examined, and the sensitivity and specificity of the trigger were evaluated through the spontaneous reporting system (SRS) and Global Trigger Tool (GTT). Additionally, risk factors contributing to adverse drug events (ADEs) resulting from antifungal use were analyzed. Results: Twenty-one preliminary triggers were refined into 21 final triggers after one expert round. In the retrospective analysis, the positive trigger rate was 65.83%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 28.75%. The incidence of ADEs in inpatients was 28.75%, equating to 44.58 ADEs per 100 admissions and 33.04 ADEs per 1,000 patient days. Predominant ADEs categories included metabolic disturbances, gastrointestinal damage, and skin rashes. ADEs severity was classified into 36 cases at grade 1, 160 at grade 2, and 18 at grade 3. The likelihood of ADEs increased with longer stays, more positive triggers, and greater comorbidity counts. This study underscores the effectiveness of the GTT in enhancing ADEs detection during antifungal medication use, thereby confirming its value as a monitoring tool.

Interventions to promote the health and well-being of children under 5s experiencing homelessness in high-income countries: a scoping review

ObjectivesHomelessness among families with children under 5 residing in temporary accommodation is a growing global concern, especially in high-income countries (HICs). Despite significant impacts on health and development, these ‘invisible’...

Framings of colourism among Kenyan Twitter users

Colourism is a form of discrimination where dark-skinned people of colour are perceived and treated less favourably than lighter-skinned people of the same ethnic group or racial classification. Much of the scholarly literature on colourism is focused on the experiences of African-Americans in the United States, but there is also substantial literature examining colourism’s impacts for Americans of Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian ancestry, and for people of colour in the Caribbean, Latin America, the UK, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and parts of Africa. To date, there has not been significant scholarly focus on the phenomenon as it manifests in Kenya. This study sought to address that research gap by: (1) exploring the extent to which colourism is an issue of concern among Kenyan users of the social media platform Twitter; and (2) identifying the main colourism themes present in posts in the Kenyan Twitter ecosystem. The research entailed mining Kenyan Twitter data for nine and a half months in 2022, which resulted in the documentation of 7,726 unique posts on elements of colourism, as posted from 5,094 unique Twitter user accounts. Using inductive frame analysis, three predominant thematic categories were identified across the posts: (1) colourism perceptions; (2) colourism experiences; and (3) colourism influence. The frame analysis also uncovered sub-themes in each of these three broad categories. It was found that most of the Kenyan Twitter users who tweeted on matters of colourism during the period studied both acknowledged the existence of colourism’s manifestations and at the same time rejected the manifestations, advocating for a future free from such discrimination.

Working conditions of the kinesiologists working in the Atacama region in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The social-health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of attending to the working conditions of health personnel in order to provide for risks at work. Kinesiologists had a frontline role during the pandemic which led to the modification of their activities and at the same time increased hiring of these professionals in health care services. Objective: To understand the working conditions of kinesiologists working in the Atacama region, in northern Chile, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The qualitative study is based on the naturalistic paradigm, the tendency used is the grounded theory with a systematic design of Strauss and Corbin J. With two levels of open and axial analysis. Twenty semi-structured interviews were carried out with kinesiologists, ten women and ten men. Results: The analysis allowed establishing eight predominant categories: poor working conditions, poor employment conditions, attitudes and feelings, professionalism, facilitators of working conditions, relevance of the professional role, good employment conditions and lack of knowledge of concepts of employment and working conditions. Conclusion: The working conditions of kinesiologists are deficient, the informal contractual situation stands out and without access to social security, constituting an element of precarious employment and exposure to psychosocial risks as predominant elements of working conditions that are important to address to ensure the safety and quality of care services through the professionals who provide care

Health Literacy Concepts, Themes, and Research Trends Globally and in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Bibliometric Review.

(1) Background: Health literacy (HL) debates have increased significantly in the last two decades. HL concepts/themes and models have achieved substantial development in the US and Europe. Although there have been some efforts to develop HL in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), these seem to be few and scattered. This paper reviews and discusses developments of HL concepts and themes globally and in LAC over the last two decades. (2) Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prevalent health literacy concepts/themes deployed globally and in LAC as reported in academic journals from 2005 to 2022. We looked into which fields of knowledge have been informing HL research over the last decades. (3) Methods: We conducted a structured search on the Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, PubMed, and SciELO databases to extract the textual data for bibliometric analysis. We analyzed the textual data with VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to better understand health literacy themes and strands currently being researched in the LAC region. We conducted the searches in two periods: the first in May 2023 and the second in October 2023. (4) Results: The bibliometric study highlighted five WoS categories informing most HL global studies: (i) public environmental occupational health; (ii) environmental sciences; (iii) health policy services; (iv) health care science services; and (v) communication. The two predominant categories in LAC are public environmental occupation health and health policy services. Journals hosting HL publications come from these WoS categories. Themes in HL publications can be organized into four thematic clusters: (i) analytical (research designs, analytic techniques, and criteria for examining HL data); (ii) psychometric (measurement properties of data collection tools); (iii) pragmatic (practical issues related to implementing HL programs); and (iv) well-being (effectiveness of HL programs on mental health and illness treatment). (5) Conclusions: There is expanding interest in health literacy among scholars. The number of publications has increased substantially, particularly over the last five years. These are dominated by the Global North. The metrics show that LAC and Africa are trailing in publications. There is an emerging focus on adult literacy, functional/low health literacy, and their effect on improving capabilities, comprehension, and communication regarding health-related topics.

Understanding psychology students' perspective on video psychotherapy and their intention to offer it after graduation: a mixed-methods study.

Video psychotherapy (VPT) demonstrated strong clinical efficacy in the past, with patients and psychotherapists expressing satisfaction with its outcomes. Despite this, VPT only gained full recognition from the German healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. As society increasingly relies on new media, it seems likely that VPT will become even more relevant. Previous studies surveyed practicing psychotherapists and patients about advantages and disadvantages of VPT. In contrast, our approach targets a younger generation, specifically psychology students intending to become licensed practitioners after graduation. Our mixed-methods study was conducted in an online survey format and had two main objectives. Firstly, we investigated which person-related variables are associated with psychology students' behavioral intention to offer VPT after graduation, using a multiple regression analysis. Secondly, we explored psychology students' perception of advantages and disadvantages of VPT and identified their desired learning opportunities regarding VPT in their study program, using qualitative content analysis. A sample of 255 psychology students participated. The multiple regression model explains 73% of inter-individual variance in the intention to offer VPT, with attitudes toward VPT showing the strongest relationship with intention to offer VPT. Expected usefulness, satisfaction with video conferencing, and subjective norm also showed significant relations. The students provided 2,314 statements about advantages, disadvantages, and desired learning opportunities, which we coded by means of three category systems. In terms of advantages, the most frequently mentioned categories were low inhibition threshold, flexibility in terms of location, and no need to travel. For disadvantages, the predominant categories included lack of closeness between patient and psychotherapist, lack of nonverbal cues, and problems with technology or internet connection. Regarding desired learning opportunities, training for technical skills, practical application through role-playing and self-experience, and general information about VPT were the most mentioned categories. In addition, we identified numerous other aspects related to these topics, reflecting a differentiated and balanced assessment of VPT. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for training the next generation of psychotherapists and outline a specific five-step plan for integrating VPT into study programs.

Ecological protection on the West Coast of Taiwan Strait under economic zone construction: A case study of land use in Yueqing

Abstract The economic and ecological implications of infrastructural development in the west coast of Taiwan Strait are critically important for both financial stakeholders and policymakers. This study explores the intricate balance between economic development and ecological sustainability in Yueqing, located on the Western Taiwan Strait. Leveraging remote sensing data for fiscal years 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, the analysis reveals stable land use patterns. The data shows that between 2005 and 2020, the predominant land use categories in Yueqing were forestry and agricultural assets, making up 53.30%, 52.81%, 52.85%, and 52.42% of the total study area, respectively. Both asset classes demonstrated an upward trend, contrasting with the diminishing trends observed in grasslands, aquatic zones, and areas allocated for construction. To address the challenges posed by population pressure and limited land resources, the Yueqing government has implemented policies like the “Implementation Measures for Yueqing’s Farmland Protection and Compensation” in 2016 and the “Land Greening Action Plan” in 2020. These policies have effectively managed land transitions and contributed to sustainable development.

Expressive Language Profiles in a Clinical Screening Sample of Mandarin-Speaking Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This cross-sectional study aimed to depict expressive language profiles and clarify lexical-grammatical interrelationships in Mandarin-speaking preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the administration of the simplified Chinese Psychoeducational Profile-Third Edition screening. We collected naturalistic language samples from 81 (74 boys, seven girls) 2- to 7-year-old (Mage = 55.6 months, SD = 15.17) Mandarin-speaking children with ASD in clinician-child interactions. The child participants were divided into five age subgroups with 12-month intervals according to their chronological age. Computer-assisted part-of-speech tagging, constituency analysis, and dependency analysis addressed the developmental trajectories of early lexical and grammatical growth in each age subgroup. Significant within-ASD differences were observed in content words, function words, and lexical categories. Nouns and verbs were the predominant lexical categories, while noun types overwhelmed verb types in children over 3 years old. The grammatical development of 5- to 6-year-old Mandarin-speaking children with ASD was better than that of 3- to 4-year-old children. The trends of syntactic structures, grammatical relations, and grammatical complexity in each age group were similar. Mandarin-speaking preschoolers with ASD produce more lexicons with increasing age. They preserve the noun bias as a universal mechanism in early lexical learning. Moreover, their developmental trajectories of grammatical growth were comparable in each age subgroup. In addition, their lexicons and grammar were synchronically developed during early language acquisition.