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This study compared syntactic complexity between undergraduate students' research papers and published research papers. A 2 (Groups: experts, students) × 4 (Sections: introduction, methods, results, discussions) mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on each of the following variables: T-unit length, clause density, the frequencies of adverbial clauses, relative clauses, and nominal clauses. The analyses showed there were longer T-units and fewer adverbial clauses in the published papers than in the student papers. Section effects were robust. Qualitative analyses were further conducted to reveal how the student research paper is different from the published papers syntactically. Implications for education were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) may be required by researchers as an inferential statistical test when more than two means require comparison. This paper explains how to perform ANOVA in Microsoft Excel., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The apps for drawing are present in our children's life. Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of mobile technology on the freehand drawing educational activity. There are few works which are contextualised within short periods of time, with teachers who are not theirs and, in some cases, outside the children's classroom. In this paper, we are focussed on the use of technology on freehand drawing activity. Thus, we have compared the graphics produced by 4- and 5-year-old children with paper&crayon in comparison with those with tablet-finger. Children made the drawings during a planned free-drawing activity, in their ordinary classrooms, with their teachers and during five sessions. Assessment of drawings has evidenced tablet feasibility for making graphics. Nevertheless, with the passing of time, quality of graphics (tablet-finger vs paper&crayons), are nearly matched, demonstrating the low impact level technology has on this activity. In addition, if drawings are analysed specifically according to ages, results have shown that both groups have to develop adaptation strategies of visual perceptual skills and fine motor skills for the touch screen in order to obtain the same quality in the drawings made on both support types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach for paper drying using airborne ultrasound technology is presented. A unique experimental setup is developed, and a systematic study is conducted using 23 factorial design of experiments and Analysis of Variance. Three controlling factors are considered in the experiments including the initial moisture content, basis weight and refining condition. The outcome of the experiments is compared to a previous work on direct-contact ultrasonic drying of paper. The results confirm that similar to direct-contact, for airborne ultrasonic drying, the basis weight/thickness of the sample is the most important factor in ultrasonic drying and it is followed by the effect of initial moisture content. Using linear regression model, a correlation for predicting the total time of ultrasonic drying is provided. Quality of the dried samples is evaluated, and the permeability measurements confirmed the effect of pore characteristics on ultrasonic drying. The analysis for energy consumption reveals that airborne ultrasonic drying is more efficient at higher moisture contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic-study is conducted using an innovative technology for paper drying by applying ultrasound mechanism. The advantages include greater energy efficiency, lower drying time and temperature, improvement of the product quality, and it is considered a green technology. The effects of initial moisture content, thickness, and refining condition are studied for different types of pulps (hardwood and softwood) using 23 factorial design of experiments. Analysis of Variance show that in the range of the studied parameters, thickness has the maximum effect on ultrasonic drying time followed by the initial moisture content. In addition, using a linear regression model, a relationships for the total time of drying is provided. The results confirmed that ultrasonic drying is more efficient at higher moisture content and higher thickness of the sample. These results are related to the structural characteristic of the samples such as porosity, pore distribution, and surface roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight assembly of stator windings with no insulation paper damage is a manufacturing challenge. We evaluate different sets of parts according to the following parameters: magnet wire thickness, stator slot smoothness, length of the straight magnet wire after the slot end, and type and amount of insulation cap at the end of the slot. These parameters have discrete values with small differences between them. The damage criterion is the decrease of the insulation paper breakdown voltage after assembly/disassembly of parts, assembled in a small set of designed experiments. Parameter values, i.e., levels at individual experiments are set by an orthogonal experiment matrix. Repetition of each experiment provides statistical significance. Data analysis shows that the additive model alone is not sufficient due to the high correlation of the parameters' influences. We extend the model to include interparameter influences, which we model by adding a virtual parameter. The extended additive model generates parameter values that do not degrade the insulation paper breakdown voltage within the manufacturing process. These values are verified by repetitions of the control experiment.

Background: The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) validly and reliably measures symptoms and concerns of those receiving palliative care. Aim: To determine the equivalence of the paper version with an electronic version of the IPOS (eIPOS). Design: Multicentre randomised crossover trial (NCT03879668) with a within-subject comparison of the two modes (washout period 30 min). Setting/Participants: Convenience sample of specialist inpatient and palliative home care patients aged over 18 years with cancer and non-cancer conditions was recruited. Scores were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plots and via a mixed-effects analysis of variance. Results: Fifty patients were randomised to complete paper-electronic (n = 24) and electronic-paper (n = 26) IPOS with median age 69 years (range 24–95), 56% male, 16% non-cancer. The ICCs showed very high concordance for the total score (ICC 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00), lowest ICCs being observed for symptoms 'Appetite loss' and 'Drowsiness' (ICC 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.97). Nine of seventeen items had ICCs above 0.98, as did all subscales. No statistically significant mode, order, age, and interaction effects were observed for IPOS total score and subscales, except for 'Communication' (Fmode = 5.9, p = 0.019). Fifty-eight percent preferred the electronic version. In the group 75+ years, 53% preferred the paper version. Only three entries in the free-text main problems differed between the versions. Conclusion: The very high equivalence in scores and free text between the IPOS and the eIPOS demonstrates that eIPOS is feasible and reliable in an older palliative population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to employ a response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize experimental parameters in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µ-PADs). The independent parameters include concentrations and volumes of acetylcholinesterase, acetylthiocholine iodide, and 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Their effect on mean color intensity was tested and optimized. From the analysis of variance, high regression and fitting values were obtained between the experimental and RSM predicted mean color intensity. Under optimum conditions, satisfactory linearity (R2 > 0.9990) in the range of 0.25–16 mg/L was obtained for the studied pesticides. The limit of detection (LOD) varies from 0.13 to 0.27 mg/L; high precision (RSD of 3.8–8.0%), reproducibility (RSD of 7.2–11.0%), and recovery (78–97%) were achieved. The RSM approach has been demonstrated to be more efficient than the traditional approach. It resulted in a µ-PAD system with less amount of reagent usage and better LOD compared with a univariate approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate paper-based technology (APT) is used to provide postural support for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low-resourced settings. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of APT on the children's and families' lives. A convenience sample of children with CP and their families participated. Inclusion was based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V. APT seating or standing frames were provided for six months. A mixed methods impact of APT devices on the children and families included the Family Impact Assistive Technology Scale for Adaptive Seating (FIATS-AS); the Child Engagement in Daily Life (CEDL) questionnaire; and a qualitative assessment from diary/log and semi-structured interviews. Ten children (median 3 years, range 9 months to 7 years). Baseline to follow-up median (IQR) FIATS-AS were: 22.7 (9.3) and 30.3 (10.2), respectively (p=.002). Similarly mean (SD) CEDL scores for "frequency" changed from 30.5 (13.2) to 42.08 (5.96) (p=.021) and children's enjoyment scores from 2.23 (0.93) to 2.91 (0.79) (p=.019). CEDL questionnaire for self-care was not discriminatory; seven families scored zero at both baseline and 6 months. Qualitative interviews revealed three key findings; that APT improved functional ability, involvement/interaction in daily-life situations, and a reduced family burden of care. APT devices used in Kenyan children with non-ambulant CP had a meaningful positive effect on both the children's and their families' lives. Assistive devices are often unobtainable for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low-income countries. APT is a low cost and sustainable solution to make seating and standing devices for disabled children in Kenya. The regular use of a postural support device enhanced the children's motor skills, ability to function and participate in everyday activities, reduced the burden of care for the families and promoted the children's social interaction. The postural support devices were highly valued and utilised by the children and families in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The medical record is critical for documentation and communication between healthcare professionals. This study compared the completeness of orthopaedic documentation between the electronic medical record (EMR) and paper medical record (PMR). Methods: A review was undertaken of 400 medical records (200 EMR, 200 PMR) of patients with operatively managed traumatic lower limb injury. The operative report, discharge summary and first and second out-patient reviews were evaluated using criteria designed by a senior orthopaedic surgeon and senior physiotherapist. The criteria included information deemed critical to the post-operative care of the patient in the first 6 weeks post-surgery. Results: In all cases, an operative report was completed by a senior surgeon. Notable findings included inferior documentation of patient weight-bearing status on the operative report in the EMR than PMR group (P = 0.018). There was a significant improvement in the completion of discharge summaries in the EMR compared with PMR cohort (100% vs 82.5% respectively; P < 0.001). In the PMR group, 70.0% of discharge summaries were completed and adequately documented, compared with 91.5% of those in the EMR group (P < 0.001). At out-patient review, there was an improvement in documentation of weight-bearing instructions in the EMR compared with PMR group (81.1% vs 76.2% respectively; P = 0.032). Conclusion: The EMR is associated with an improvement in the standard of orthopaedic medical record documentation, but deficiencies remain in key components of the medical record. What is known about the topic?: Medical records are an essential tool in modern medical practice and have significant implications for patient care and management, communication and medicolegal issues. Despite the importance of comprehensive documentation, numerous examples of poor documentation continue to be demonstrated. Recently, significant changes to the medical record in Australia have been implemented with the conversion of some hospitals to an EMR and the implementation of the My Health Record. What does this paper add?: Standards of patient care should be monitored continuously and deficiencies identified in order to implement measures for improvement and to close the quality loop. This study has highlighted that although there has been improvement in medical record keeping with the implementation of an EMR, the standard of orthopaedic medical record keeping continues to be below what is expected, and several key areas of documentation require improvement. What are the implications for practitioners?: The implications of these findings for practitioners are to highlight current deficiencies in documentation and promote change in current practice to improve the quality of medical record documentation among medical staff. Although the EMR has improved documentation, there remain areas for further improvement, and hospital administrators will find these observations useful in implementing ongoing change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on soil microplastics is currently at an early stage, and there is no widely approved sampling protocol. Even so, any basic research should minimize errors to ensure that they are not amplified in future research. This paper examines some weaknesses of the original research paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China' recently published in this journal. The authors neglected to report the equipment used for soil sampling and did not use field blank samples. There is also a soil layer that was incorrectly named. The type and pore size of filter paper used for filtration during pre-analytical soil sample preparation is very important. In this paper the nature of the filter paper used, and its larger pore sizes are questionable by today's scientists. In addition, the authors in the original paper also overlooked reporting the statistical package used for statical analysis and ensuring if all data sets obey normality, homogeneity, and equality before running the one-way ANOVA test. This statistical step is widely considered mandatory, especially in the soil science community. So, this makes it difficult to trust the results documented. Furthermore, in the original paper, the needle and stereo microscope instruments used to sort microplastic-like materials prior to proper analysis are not reliable. [Display omitted] • A dissecting needle and stereo microscope shouldn't be used to sort out soil microplastics. • Gold-coated filter paper with smaller pore size is better than nitrocellulose filter paper. • The 0–10cm is the top soil layer and 10–20cm is the subsoil layer not a deep soil layer. • The statistical package used for analysis must be documented accordingly. • If the dataset is a normal distribution prior to ANOVA testing, it must be confirmed and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To develop an automated algorithm to detect, quantify, and differentiate between tremor using pen-on-paper spirals. METHODS: Patients with essential tremor (n = 25), dystonic tremor (n = 25), Parkinson’s disease (n = 25), and healthy volunteers (HV, n = 25) drew free-hand spirals. The algorithm derived the mean deviation (MD) and tremor variability from scanned images. MD and tremor variability were compared with 1) the Bain and Findley scale, 2) the Fahn–Tolosa–Marin tremor rating scale (FTM–TRS), and 3) the peak power and total power of the accelerometer spectra. Inter and intra loop widths were computed to differentiate between the tremor. RESULTS: MD was higher in the tremor group (48.9±26.3) than in HV (26.4±5.3; p < 0.001). The cut-off value of 30.3 had 80.9% sensitivity and 76.0% specificity for the detection of the tremor [area under the curve: 0.83; 95% confidence index (CI): 0.75, 0.91, p < 0.001]. MD correlated with the Bain and Findley ratings (rho = 0.491, p = 0 < 0.001), FTM–TRS part B (rho = 0.260, p = 0.032) and accelerometric measures of postural tremor (total power, rho = 0.366, p < 0.001; peak power, rho = 0.402, p < 0.001). Minimum Detectable Change was 19.9%. Inter loop width distinguished Parkinson’s disease spirals from dystonic tremor (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 54.6, 211.1), essential tremor (p = 0.003, 95% CI: 28.5, 184.9), or HV (p = 0.036, 95% CI: -160.4, -3.9). CONCLUSION: The automated analysis of pen-on-paper spirals generated robust variables to quantify the tremor and putative variables to distinguish them from each other. SIGNIFICANCE: This technique maybe useful for epidemiological surveys and follow-up studies on tremor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of uncoated paper on skin moisture, pressure injury risk and pressure injury incidence in neurological intensive care unit patients. Methods: A randomized controlled design was used. The experimental group (n = 68) received usual care (repositioning every 2 h and use of an air mattress) and application of uncoated paper on the sacral area for 5 days, whereas the control group (n = 67) received only usual care. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine changes in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injury between the groups. A chi‐squared test was used to determine the change in the incidence of pressure injuries for sacral area. Data were collected from 20 October 2017 to 6 March 2018. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the skin moisture and risk of pressure injuries between the experimental and control groups. However, a significant difference was not observed in the incidence of pressure injuries between the groups. Conclusion: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The neurological intensive care unit patients with motor deficits, loss or deterioration of sensory function and decreased consciousness have high risk of pressure injuries.Although various guidelines consider excessive skin moisture as an important cause of pressure injuries, few targeted interventions exist to manage excessive skin moisture. What this paper adds? The uncoated paper application was effective in reducing skin moisture in neurologic intensive care unit patients.In addition, application of uncoated paper application has an effect on risk of pressure injury in neurologic intensive care unit patients. The implications of this paper: The use of uncoated paper may be a valid nursing intervention for the prevention of pressure injuries in neurological intensive care unit patients.Nurses should recognize that pressure injuries are potentially preventable adverse events and use various preventive interventions including skin moisture management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urine is the best specimen for the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus, but collection and processing of liquid urine are impractical for screening. Urine dried on filter paper was processed by the same convenient, low-cost method used by newborn screening to test blood spots and showed high sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The print industry has observed an exponential growth over the last decade. A shift from plastics to paper has been observed in the packaging industry due to its sustainability. The gravure process dominates the packaging industry because of long runs and high print precision. This work focuses on the effect of gravure process parameters on print mottle for 50 GSM (gram/square meters) and 65 GSM (gram/square meters) C1S (coated-one-side) paper. Solid mottle refers to unevenness in print density and occurs due to variations in substrate, ink, and process parameters degrading the print quality, thereby resulting in printed wastage and loss to an organization. The intricate mechanism of ink transfer in the gravure process needs to be studied in depth so as to deliver higher yield and lower print waste. The Stochastic Frequency Distribution Analysis (SFDA) algorithm was used to measure the print mottle. The design of experiments (DOE) was run for gravure process parameters such as line screen, viscosity, press speed, electrostatic assist (ESA) voltage, and air gap (distance between impression roller and charge bar) at varying levels. The experimental data were analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA), main plot, and interaction plot. The analysis revealed significance of all process parameters for minimization of solid mottle. The optimized settings showed reduction in solid mottle by 64.68% and 67.78% for 50 GSM and 65 GSM, respectively. A stepwise regression model was developed to predict the print mottle that showed correlation coefficient of 0.912 and 0.938 for 50 GSM and 65 GSM C1S papers. This work could serve as a framework to maintain operating levels of gravure process for minimization of solid mottle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Users' experiences in mental health assessment are multifaceted, including their emotional experiences. Yet, studies of mobile apps for psychiatric assessment have centered on diagnostic accuracy and perceived usability, with little consideration of the impact of user emotional experiences. In this study, we focused on users' perceived usability and emotions and compared the user experience of a paper-and-pencil and an app-based collection of mental health screening questionnaires: EarlyDetect. The System Usability Scale (SUS) and modality-directed emotion questionnaires were administered using paper-and-pencil or iPad. Modality was assigned pseudo-randomly on patients' first visit at a referral-based mental health clinic. We found that patients assigned to the iPad app reported a significantly higher SUS score than patients assigned to paper-and-pencil, qualified by a modality-by-gender interaction where modality effects were significant for men but not for women. Moreover, enjoyment was positively linked to perceived usability, whereas boredom, frustration, and anxiety were negatively linked to usability. Our findings illustrate the added value of studying user experience applied to psychiatric assessments, where both emotions and gender-specific user experience should be taken into consideration. We further discuss the implications for psychiatric assessments via app versus traditional data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects that reading on screens (using digital devices with different screen sizes) and on paper have on reading time and comprehension. The study group was comprised of126 secondary students from a private school. To ensure balance, the participants were assigned into test groups, formed according to the size of the reading device, based on class levels, gender, and average school grade. In the data collection process, a narrative text was transferred to both print and electronic media. Access to the text was provided on paper and three digital devices. There were no time limitations. After reading, participants were given comprehension tests that consisted of twenty multiple-choice questions. Female participants' on-screen comprehension scores were found to be relatively higher compared to their paper comprehension scores. They also acquired better scores as the screen size increased. Conversely, male participants had higher comprehension scores on tablets and smart phones. Participants who read the text on smart phones and tablets completed the tasks in less time compared to other groups. However, the effects of reading modality on comprehension and reading time were not found to be statistically significant in either the male or female groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluent from paper industry was oxygenated till saturation using Lark Hygiene Fermenter at 25°C under real time environment. Time, speed, and feed concentration were selected as dominant input factors to determine the dissolved oxygen (DO) under response surface methodology (RSM) based Box–Behnken design to provide 17 experimental runs. The experimental results were optimized using RSM and artificial neural networks (ANN). From RSM analysis, a second-order quadratic representation for single objective optimization was successfully fitted which produced R² = 99.07 and R² adj = 97.87. Analysis of variance results shows that time and feed concentration were the most significant parameters than the speed, influencing the DO. Another single objective optimization tool ANN produced R² = 96.27 and R² adj = 94.06. Validation analysis provided the predicted values by RSM and ANN were close to the validation values, whereas RSM showed a better prediction than the ANN with the lowest deviation. Hence, the optimal condition predicted by RSM was taken to conduct the confirmatory experiment. The confirmatory experimental condition of time at 6 min, speed of 142 rpm with 90% concentration produced the minimal DO of 5.38 ppm. The error percentage of the predicted with confirmatory experimental and theoretical equations results were 1.11% and 0.035%, respectively, which validates the predicted model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, researchers publish an immense number of scientific papers. While some receive many citations, others receive none. Here we investigate whether any of this variance can be explained by the choice of words in a paper's abstract. We find that doubling the word frequency of an average abstract increases citations by 0.70%. We also find that journals which publish papers whose abstracts are shorter and contain more frequently used words receive slightly more citations per paper. Specifically, adding a 5 letter word to an abstract decreases the number of citations by 0.02%. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the style in which a paper's abstract is written bears some relation to its scientific impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether paper tape prevents foot blisters in multistage ultramarathon runners. Design: Multisite prospective randomized trial. Setting: The 2014 250-km (155-mile) 6-stage RacingThePlanet ultramarathons in Jordan, Gobi, Madagascar, and Atacama Deserts. Participants: One hundred twenty-eight participants were enrolled: 19 (15%) from the Jordan, 35 (27%) from Gobi, 21 (16%) from Madagascar, and 53 (41%) from the Atacama Desert. The mean age was 39.3 years (22-63) and body mass index was 24.2 kg/m² (17.4-35.1), with 31 (22.5%) females. Interventions: Paper tape was applied to a randomly selected foot before the race, either to participants' blister-prone areas or randomly selected location if there was no blister history, with untaped areas of the same foot used as the control. Main Outcome Measures: Development of a blister anywhere on the study foot. Results: One hundred six (83%) participants developed 117 blisters, with treatment success in 98 (77%) runners. Paper tape reduced blisters by 40% (P< 0.01, 95% confidence interval, 28-52) with a number needed to treat of 1.31. Most of the study participants had 1 blister (78%), with most common locations on the toes (n = 58, 50%) and heel (n = 27, 23%), with 94 (80%) blisters occurring by the end of stage 2. Treatment success was associated with earlier stages [odds ratio (OR), 74.9, P < 0.01] and time spent running (OR, 0.66, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Paper tape was found to prevent both the incidence and frequency of foot blisters in runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unimodal biometric systems are susceptible to a variety of problems such as noisy data, intra-class variations, limited degrees of freedom, non-universality, spoof attacks and unacceptable error rates. Some of these limitations can be addressed by deploy multimodal biometric systems that integrates the evidence presented by multiple sources of information The proposed system provides effective fusion scheme that combines information presented by the multiple domain experts based on the Rank level fusion integration method, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system which is not possible by the unimodal biometric system. The proposed multimodal biometric system has a number of unique qualities, including principal component analysis and fisher's linear discriminate methods for individual matchers authentication. The novel rank level fusion method is used in order to consolidate the results obtained from different biometric matchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precooling and sulfur dioxide fumigation were proved as effective methods for the preservation of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) fruits. However, inadequate precooling and sulfur dioxide fumigation resulted in unexpected losses and short shelf life. A L9(34) orthogonal test was conducted to screen out ideal dosage of sodium metabisulfite (factor A), precooling method (factor B), and precooling duration (factor C) to improve the storability of longan fruit stored for 48 hr at room temperature (RT) (25℃). The overall qualities of all of the treated longan fruits after a 48‐hr storage (OQST) and during the 5‐day shelf at 25℃ (OQSF) were better than those of the control fruits. The treated fruits showed brighter fresh color (higher L*, b*, C*, and h° values but lower a* value), higher flavonoid, and chlorophyll contents. Moreover, the SO2 residue was concentrated in pericarp but little in aril for any of the 12 treatments. The multivariate variance analysis showed that factor A was dominant to determine both of the OQST and OQSF, while factor B affected the OQST, and factor C affected the OQSF. In total, "0.22% sodium metabisulfite + 4 hr precooling + uncovered precooling" was considered to be an ideal treatment. These results would contribute to improving longan postharvest preservation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomerase is extensively expressed in various cancer cells and recognized as a target for cancer drug discovery. In the present study, a simple and amplification-free fluorescence assay based on polyamidoamine starburst dendrimer (PAMAM dendrimer)-activated paper device is proposed for sensitive detection of telomerase activity through hybridization of Cy5 modified single strand DNA probes with telomerase extension products. The paper substrate is fabricated by hand drawing according to a template, which is low cost, instrument free and easy operation. PAMAM is rich in amino groups on its surface and employed to immobilize the telomerase substrate (TS) primer. Highly sensitive detection of telomerase activity in HeLa cell lysate of 10 cells is achieved since the PAMAM dendrimer-activated paper surface can provide high density of binding sites for immobilization of TS primer. The experimental results also demonstrate that the assay can be employed to evaluate telomerase activity levels of various cell lines and screen telomerase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four experiments were conducted to test whether recent developments in display technology would suffice to eliminate the well-known disadvantages in reading from screen as compared with paper. Proofreading speed and performance were equal for a TFT-LCD and a paper display, but there were more symptoms of eyestrain in the screen condition accompanied by a strong preference for paper (Experiment 1). These results were replicated using a longer reading duration (Experiment 2). Additional experiments were conducted to test hypotheses about the reasons for the higher amount of eyestrain associated with reading from screen. Reduced screen luminance did not change the pattern of results (Experiment 3), but positioning both displays in equal inclination angles eliminated the differences in eyestrain symptoms and increased proofreading speed in the screen condition (Experiment 4). A paper-like positioning of TFT-LCDs seems to enable unimpaired reading without evidence of increased physical strain. Practitioner Summary: Given the developments in screen technology, a re-assessment of the differences in proofreading speed and performance, well-being, and preference between computer screen and paper was conducted. State-of-the-art TFT-LCDs enable unimpaired reading, but a book-like positioning of screens seems necessary to minimise eyestrain symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A class of games for finding a leader among a group of candidates is studied in detail. This class covers games based on coin tossing and rock-paper-scissors as special cases and its complexity exhibits similar stochastic behaviors: either of logarithmic mean and bounded variance or of exponential mean and exponential variance. Many applications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Covariate adjustment" in the randomized trial context refers to an estimator of the average treatment effect that adjusts for chance imbalances between study arms in baseline variables (called "covariates"). The baseline variables could include, for example, age, sex, disease severity, and biomarkers. According to two surveys of clinical trial reports, there is confusion about the statistical properties of covariate adjustment. We focus on the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) estimator, which involves fitting a linear model for the outcome given the treatment arm and baseline variables, and trials that use simple randomization with equal probability of assignment to treatment and control. We prove the following new (to the best of our knowledge) robustness property of ANCOVA to arbitrary model misspecification: Not only is the ANCOVA point estimate consistent (as proved by Yang and Tsiatis, 2001) but so is its standard error. This implies that confidence intervals and hypothesis tests conducted as if the linear model were correct are still asymptotically valid even when the linear model is arbitrarily misspecified, for example, when the baseline variables are nonlinearly related to the outcome or there is treatment effect heterogeneity. We also give a simple, robust formula for the variance reduction (equivalently, sample size reduction) from using ANCOVA. By reanalyzing completed randomized trials for mild cognitive impairment, schizophrenia, and depression, we demonstrate how ANCOVA can achieve variance reductions of 4 to 32%., (© 2019, The International Biometric Society.)

In a complex financial market, people pay more attention to the portfolio selection model in some fuzzy environment. Some properties and definitions of semivariance and entropy are given and proved in this paper. Then, the fuzzy tri-objective mean-semivariance-entropy portfolio model is proposed based on credibility theory when the return rates are fuzzy numbers. We present a novel layer-by-layer tolerance evaluation method to solve the proposed model in this paper. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the model and method proposed in this paper. There are two improvements in our proposed method: one is that the evaluation function idea is considered in the process of laying objective functions; the other is that the preference degree and subjective wills are presented by tolerant amounts of objective function values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two quantitative, environment-friendly and easily monitored assays for Ni (II) and Co (III) ions analysis in different lipstick samples collected from 500-Iraqi dinars stores located in Baghdad were introduced. The study was based on the reaction of nickel (II) ions with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) reagent and the reaction of cobalt (III) ions with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol (NN) reagent to produce colored products. The color change was measured by spectrophotometric method at 565 nm and 430 nm for Ni and Co, respectively, with linear calibration graphs in the concentration range 0.25-100 mg L-1 (Ni) and 0.5-100 mg L -1 (Co) and LOD and LOQ of 0.11 mg L-1 and 0.36 mg L-1 (Ni), and 0.15 mg L-1 and 0.49 mg L-1 (Co). The UV/VIS data was compared to the results obtained by a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) platform offering in-situ and cost-effect assay with a similar calibration graph with LOD and LOQ of 0.21 mg L-1 and 0.70 mg L-1 (Ni), and 0.22 mg L-1 and 0.75 mg L-1 (Co). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant difference between the UV/VIS, µPAD, and standard atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) assay Ftab= 3.46 is much higher than FStat = 0.13 (Ni) and Ftab= 3.46 is much higher than FStat = 0.02 (Co). Also, a good correlation between results via the three methods was found. Thus, the µPAD platform offers a solid base for providing valuable information outside centralized laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extensive application of radioactive materials to medical and military purposes justifies the necessity of training military nurse students regarding the management of radiation injury. The current study aimed at comparing the effect of two methods (lecture and webbased) of training on the management of radiation-injured patients among military nurse students from 2013 to 2014. Materials and Methods: The current semi-experimental study was conducted on 60 military nursing students in two military nursing schools in Tehran, Iran selected purposively. Subjects of the study were divided into two groups of 30 as lecture and web-based teaching. The effect of education was measured on three levels of knowledge, comprehension, and application; before, immediately after, and four weeks after completion of teaching. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 21, using Repeated Measures (RM)-ANOVA and t-test. Results: Mean and standard deviation of scores in all learning levels (knowledge, comprehension, and application) in both groups had a significant difference between before and after the intervention (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the total mean scores of the two groups before intervention. In the post-test, immediately after training, mean scores of the web-based group had a greater increase, but no significant difference was observed (P=0.12). In the retention stage (four weeks after training), it was observed that the lecture-based method was more effective (P=0.01). Conclusion: According to the obtained results, learning increased in both methods . Therefore, it is recommended to use the combined teaching method to educate nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of work life depends on a combination of variables in the work environment that has an important impact on organizational commitment, work participation, and job performance. Therefore, measuring two variables of quality of work life and organizational commitment is important for all employees of organizations, including emergency nurses, who are important members of the health service community. This study aimed to determine the relationship between quality of work life and organizational commitment among Iranian emergency nurses. Materials and Methods: A descriptive and correlational study was conducted in 2016. The study population included all emergency nurses working in one of the hospitals of Kerman Province, Iran. The data collection tool was the personal and occupational questionnaire, Walton quality of work life questionnaire, and Allen and Meier organizational commitment questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by using descriptive tests, the Pearson correlation and ANOVA statistics tests in SPSS V. 23. Results: The results showed that the quality of work life has a positive and significant relationship (r=0.49, P=0.017) with organizational commitment. More specifically, quality of work life is related to emotional commitment (r=0.44, P=0.001), normative commitment (r=0.40, P=0.003) and continuous commitment (r=0.33, P=0.015). Conclusion: Since the higher quality of work life brings more commitment for employees, managers can improve the essential components of working life quality of nurses by adopting appropriate solutions, and providing the necessary conditions for improving the quality of service provision and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare student performance on two proctored quizzes and one practice test taken in paper-based or computer-based testing mode using an equal number of algorithmic, conceptual, and definition questions to examine the effect of testing mode when students take multiple tests in class. Data were collected from 221 students enrolled in a general chemistry course at a Midwestern university. After learning the material in lecture, students completed two quizzes: Quiz 1 and Quiz 2. One quiz was delivered on paper and another quiz was taken on computer. Each quiz tested student understanding of different chemistry concepts and the quizzes were proctored on different days. Several days after Quiz 2, students took a practice test that tested the knowledge of Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 with different yet similar questions, and again, the testing mode of the practice test was either paper-and-pencil or computer. After each quiz and the practice test, students received feedback on their performance. Differences in performance between the quizzes and the practice test were measured with normalized gains and the differences between the normalized gains for each condition were analyzed using an Analysis of Variance. The results showed no significant testing mode effects among the four conditions overall, or for algorithmic, conceptual, or definition type of questions. Altogether, the results of the present study do not provide evidence to suggest that instructors need to be concerned about testing mode (paper versus computer) when designing and administering chemistry tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to optimize the key parameters (mesh count, paper type and ink type) in screen printing, which are affecting the printed ink volume. The objective of the optimization was to maximize the color reliability by decreasing the color difference (ΔE value) of the prints while minimizing the ink consumption. Screen printing is still dominating the printing industry to make cost-effective production when high volumes are needed. Design/methodology/approach: The experiment was designed using the Taguchi method, and the samples were prepared with screen-printing by using the standard squeegee angle and pressure. The effect of mesh count, ink type and paper type on ink consumption was evaluated with using analysis of variances and main effects plots of S/N ratio and standard deviation. Findings: The factors ink type, paper type and mesh count were found significant for ink consumption due to their Probability (P) values which were lower than 0.05. It was determined that the mesh count was the most critical variable with the analysis of variance. The analysis showed that the selection of an optimum mesh count was the key to controlling the amount of the deposited ink. Although mesh counts were inversely proportional with the ink consumptions, they did not affect the color differences as expected. Originality/value: The optimization of process parameters, that are most effective on the print quality, is necessary to minimize the ink usage and lower the costs and environmental impact without exceeding the desired ΔE value limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the relationship between syntactic complexity and rhetorical functions and the relationship between syntactic complexity and level of move/step realization in learner-generated research paper introductions. We created a corpus of 79 introductions written by undergraduate L2 students at intermediate to high-intermediate levels. We annotated the introductions for moves and steps, measured their syntactic complexity at the global, clausal, and phrasal levels, and rated their level of move/step realization across four levels (no, low, intermediate, and high). We conducted one-way MANOVA, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses. We found sentences realizing Reviewing items of previous research function to be significantly longer than other steps in Move 1 and to contain significantly more clausal and phrasal complexity features. Sentences performing Claiming c entrality function also demonstrated significantly more phrasal complexity features as measured by complex nominals per clause. We also found a higher level of phrasal complexity in introductions with a higher level of move/step realization, which can be attributed to introductions including Step1 and Step3 , rather than containing all steps. Our findings imply that there is value in developing explicit instructions on how to use complex structures in performing rhetorical steps in research paper introductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether questionnaires measuring psychosocial constructs related to low back pain (LBP) that were originally designed for adults are suitable for adolescents, and if paper and web-versions have similar measurement properties. OBJECTIVES: To examine selected psychometric properties for the paper- and web-based Back-Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ-phys) among adults and adolescents in two diverse countries and to determine whether differences existed between countries and pain groups. METHODS: A sample of 156 adults (Hong Kong, n = 75; Australia, n = 81) and 96 adolescents (Hong Kong, n = 61; Australia, n = 35) participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Main effects for country and administration mode were observed in adult BBQ scores, where Australian adults reported significantly higher BBQ scores than Hong Kong adults (mean difference (MD); 95% CI: 2.85; 0.96-4.74) and significantly higher scores were recorded on the web mode compared to the paper mode (MD 0.74; 0.10-1.38). Similarly, Hong Kong adults and adolescents reported higher FABQ-phys scores than Australian adults and adolescents (MD; 95% CI: 3.40; 1.37-5.43 and 4.88; 0.53-9.23, respectively). Internal consistency values were mostly acceptable (α⩾0.7). CONCLUSION: Differences exist between cultures for LBP-related beliefs. The BBQ and FABQ-phys have acceptable measurement properties in both administration modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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While previous studies found that origami, when used for cognitive training and education, can improve spatial ability, the underlying mechanisms of this change, presumably associated with the origami folding process, remain unclear. In the present study, we focused on origami imagery in which participants imagined the process of folding paper to create a work of art; and we examined the cognitive factors involved in the imagery process and their association with mental transformations and the extent to which visual imagery was vivid. We identified four specific relevant cognitive factors in origami imagery: (a) controllability of origami transformations, (b) visual imagery of shapes, (c) hand sensations, and (d) visual imagery of colors. We associated the first two of these with non-rigid transformations: the controllability of origami transformations and the visual imagery of shapes. Moreover, vividness of visual imagery was related to all four cognitive factors. We propose this cognitive model of origami as one that considers the key relationships between origami imagery, mental transformations, and vividness of visual imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare (1) fluid, food and nutrient intake obtained with a paper versus an online version of a 7-day food record and (2) user's acceptability of both versions of the food record. Methods: A cross-over study was carried out in 2010 in France. A total of 246 participants aged 18-60 years reported their food and fluid intake using both versions of the 7-day food record, separated by a 7- to 14-day washout period. To help participants in estimating consumed portions, both versions of the food record were supported by a photographic booklet of standard portions and containers. At the end of the study protocol, participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess the acceptability of the two questionnaires. Results: The reported water intake of fluids was significantly higher with the online version compared with the paper version (respectively 1348 ± 36 and 1219 ± 34 mL/day, p < 0.0001). No difference was found between methods in terms of energy intake and the consumption of most food categories, macro- and micronutrients. Furthermore, 77 % of the participants preferred the online method to the paper version. Conclusions: Fluid intake, but not food intake, reported with the online 7-day food record was higher in comparison with the paper version. In addition, the online version was preferred by users. In population surveys, the online record is therefore a relevant alternative, and even a preferred alternative in the case of fluid intake, to the paper record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many current standardized testing and teaching practices approach media for composition with the assumption that media do not influence the writing process in significant ways. This study seeks to determine whether emergent media used for student writing influence essay composition (in terms of quantifiable text indicators) and compares a set of eighth-grade student essays composed via Chromebooks ( n = 139) to those written by hand ( n = 319). Essays were collected from students across three (3) schools, and descriptive results corroborate previous findings that Chromebook essays were generally longer than handwritten essays. ANOVA hypothesis testing on Flesch-Kincaid reading ease and grade level scores yielded new knowledge with regard to writing complexity as they indicated that Chromebook essays exhibited a significantly higher grade-level of writing and greater reading difficulty. This suggests greater complexity in word usage and sentence composition among Chromebook essays when compared to handwritten essays and also suggests that the medium itself may have an effect upon the complexity of student writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidently, paper-based microfluidic devices, including fuel cells, have been proven to power low-power integrated miniaturized devices. However, the harvested energy depends on various design parameters, positioning and other ancillary factors. Herein, design of experiment is used to make a boisterous study of the data used in paper-based microfluidic fuel cell and to make various optimizations and studies of the raw data used in the microbial fuel cell paper. The paper-based microfluidic fuel cell was analysed for two different positioning, horizontal and vertical, and the maximum power outputs were noted. A statistical technique based on full factorial design was used to study the performance of paper-based microfluidic fuel cell. In the microbial fuel cell, a rigorous study was conducted pertaining to the electrode separation, channel variation and absorbent pad stability. In both these cases, the analysis of mean, analysis of variance, signal-to-noise ratio and desirability study were performed. For the paper-based microfluidic fuel cell, the best desirability values for the horizontal and vertical arrangements were measured to be 0.8842 and 0.92768, respectively. For the microbial fuel cell, in the case of 2 mm electrode separation, the present analysis of variance model came out to be significant. Inclusively, this work provides a pathway to realize optimum paper-based microfluidic fuel cell, and such study can be extrapolated to develop other microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate metacognitive self-regulated learning (SRL) differences in computer- and paper-based reading assignments across elementary students. Students in two after-school programs in a southeastern U.S. public school district were recruited. The final sample consisted of 48 students in Grades 2-5 who participated in two counterbalanced conditions involving a computer- and a paper-based reading assignment. The study employed a 2 x 4 (condition-by-grade) mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and followup tests to examine metacognitive SRL differences between conditions and grades. The results indicate that elementary students used various metacognitive SRL skills across both conditions. The mixed-model ANOVA results show a significant interaction in control processes in paper-based reading for students in fifth grade, a significant main effect of condition in evaluation practices in computer-based reading for all grades, and a significant main effect of condition in conditional knowledge in the paper reading assignment for all grades. The results suggest that students can benefit from focused instruction to apply metacognitive SRL skills between the two reading formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• International mathematical contest papers are an emerging type of research paper. • Metadiscourse analysis showed variances in use in winning papers across cultures. • Clear writing was more important than native-like writing in math contest papers. • Using IR and text analysis in an EAP course may increase contest competitiveness. Practitioners of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) are responsible for preparing students to fulfill the expectations of an ever-growing number of written genres. One emerging application of the research paper genre is found in a related pair of highly competitive international contests, the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM). Through a lens of intercultural rhetoric (IR) and English as a lingua franca (ELF), this paper examines a metadiscourse analysis of 38 summary and 38 conclusion sections of MCM/ICM Outstanding Winner papers, half of which were written by Chinese teams and the other half by American teams. The study found that while both Chinese and American writing depended heavily on the use of metadiscourse in the two sections, there are distinct differences in the frequency and linguistic realization of metadiscourse across cultures. The paper concludes with proposed pedagogical applications of findings in designing an EAP course to prepare international student teams to be more competitive in their MCM/ICM writing. In line with recent research in IR and ELF, the current research demonstrates that the MCM/ICM contests do not require students to hold strictly to "native-speaker" levels of writing as long as the contest papers are mathematically and logically sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gift-wrapping paper made fragrant by screen-printing with UV-curable varnish mixed with encapsulated lavender essential oil. • Encapsulate lavender essential oil with Gelatin and gum-arabic complex coacervate. • Optimize encapsulation for strengths, releases and morphologies of microcapsules. • Optimize fragrant varnish for strengths, releases, and encapsulation capacity. • Make paper fragrant without modifying or interfering with the actual printing. The applicability of making a gift-wrapping paper fragrant by screen-printing with a varnish that contained microencapsulated fragrance were assessed. Experiments were conducted on a commercially available, general use, Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) essential oil. The encapsulation was made by a complex coacervating technique, with gelatin and gum-arabic as the wall materials. Factors in the encapsulating process were studied with the attempts to control the strength, the release and the morphologies of microcapsule. The statistical tools including the analysis of variance, the main effect plot, and the rolled throughput yield were used in identifying the controlling factors and the best performing conditions for encapsulation. Fragrant varnishes made by mixing the microcapsule into a commercially available UV-curable varnish were evaluated and optimized for the essential oil loading capacity, the release by rubbing with fingers, the protection against untimely release, and the load withstanding in handling, storage and transportation. All the practices specifically required to produce a fragrant gift-wrapping paper were done without the need to modify or to interfere with the actual screen-printing process. The overall results signified its potential in applications like special ordered or customized, small volume gift-wrapping papers, and the likes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To practice evidence-based medicine, clinicians must be competent in information literacy (IL). Few studies acknowledge the critical role that reading strategies play in IL instruction and assessment of health professional students. The purpose of this study was to understand the information-seeking and evaluation behaviors of doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) students in regard to scientific papers. Methods: The authors studied DVM student behaviors across eight programs in North America using a web-based survey of closed- and open-ended questions about finding and evaluating scientific papers, including a task to read a linked scientific paper and answer questions about it. Results: A total of 226 individuals responded to the survey. The sections of a scientific paper that were most commonly read were the abstract, introduction, and conclusions. Students who reported reading a higher proportion of scientific papers were more likely to feel confident in their abilities to interpret them. A third of respondents answered open-ended questions after the paper reading task. Respondents felt the least amount of confidence with one of the final steps of evidence-based medicine, that of interpreting the significance of the paper to apply it in veterinary medicine. Conclusions: DVM students may lack the skills needed to evaluate scientific literature and need more practice and feedback in evaluating and interpreting scientific papers. Librarians who support DVM students can (1) help DVM students to efficiently evaluate scientific literature, (2) seek training opportunities in alternative modes of teaching and learning IL skills, and (3) partner with veterinary faculty and clinicians to provide students with practice and feedback in information evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. ex Steud. is a forest species native to Brazil, naturally propagated by seeds, whose quality assessment may be underestimated by the use of inappropriate methods for conducting the germination test. Given the potential use of this plant and the importance of conserving native species, the present work aimed to study parameters for conducting the germination test in louro-pardo seeds, during three consecutive years of evaluations. For this purpose, temperatures (20, 25 and 30 °C) and substrates (blotter paper, filter paper, sand and vermiculite) were tested in seeds collected in different crop seasons. The tests were carried out under a completely randomized experimental design, with four replications, in a factorial scheme for the germination test (temperatures x substrates), with the data obtained being subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey's test (p = 0.05). Germination percentage and speed index were determined, and seed health analysis was performed. It is concluded that the germination test for louro-pardo seeds should be carried out between vermiculite, at 30 °C, without light supply, with the first count carried out at 26 days and the last count at 48 days after setting up the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines an initial analysis of 20 years of data held on an electronic bridge management database for approximately 3500 arch bridges across Northern Ireland (NI) by the Department for Infrastructure. Arch bridges represent the largest group of bridge types, making up nearly 56% of the total bridge stock in NI. This initial analysis aims to identify trends that might help inform maintenance decisions in the future. Consideration of the Bridge Condition Indicator (BCI) average value for the overall arch bridge stock indicates the potential for regional variations in the overall condition and the potential for human bias in inspections. The paper presents the most prevalent structural elements and associated defects recorded in the inspections of arch bridges. This indicated a link to scour and undermining for the worst-conditioned arch bridges. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analysis identified function, number of spans, and deck width as significant factors during the various deterioration stages in a bridge's lifecycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]