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This study aimed to evaluate the learning activity sheets (LAS) in English, which served as inputs for an action plan for the school year 2023-2024. Based on the result of the study, the English expert respondents obtained an overall weighted mean of 3.64 with the verbal interpretation of Strongly Agree, while the teacher-respondents got an overall weighted mean of 3.72, which is also verbally interpreted as Strongly Agree. There is no significant difference between the two groups of respondents' evaluations regarding the appropriateness, accuracy, usefulness, clarity, and comprehensibility on the developed learning activity sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explores the challenges in research implementation within public Senior High Schools in the Province of Iloilo, focusing on identifying key gaps and strategies to enhance research efficiency. A total of 227 Senior High School teachers from all public Senior High Schools across the province were involved as respondents, selected through a take-all sampling method. Using thematic analysis, the data gathered from respondents were analyzed to uncover recurring issues that hinder effective research implementation. The study identified six major gaps: (1) insufficient knowledge and research competence among teachers; (2) overwhelming teaching loads and multiple responsibilities; (3) lack of allocated funds and resources for research activities; (4) low prioritization of research; (5) absence or inactivity of research committees; and (6) incomplete or underdeveloped research policies. To address these gaps, the teacher-respondents proposed several strategic solutions, including: (1) providing targeted training programs, forums, and Learning Action Cells (LACs) to build research capacity; (2) establishing and activating research committees in collaboration with other institutions; (3) encouraging school heads to implement supportive mechanisms for research; (4) allocating adequate funding, facilities, and resources for research projects; (5) ensuring the full implementation of research policies; and (6) reducing the academic and administrative workload of teachers to allow more time for research. This study underscores the importance of institutional support, policy development, and resource allocation in fostering a robust research culture within public senior high schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe student access to university mental health services and barriers and gaps in support. Methods: This multiple cohort study used self-report data from 4,138 undergraduate students who completed the U-Flourish Well-Being Survey at the start and completion of first year from 2018 to 2023. The survey incorporated validated measures of mental health symptoms, barriers to care, and open-text questions about the mental health care experience and perceived gaps. Quantitative analyses summarized utilization patterns and barriers. An interpretive qualitative analysis identified common themes about support services and opportunities for improvement from the student perspective. Results: At university entry, 43% of students screened positive for anxiety and/or depression, 30% reported a lifetime mental disorder and 23% a lifetime history of self-harm. Over first year, 15% of students surveyed accessed university mental health services. Access was more likely in students identifying as older, gender diverse, female, having a prior mental disorder and those who screened positive for anxiety or depression. Common attitudinal and practical barriers reported included thinking problems would resolve (74%), being uncomfortable sharing (73%), and not knowing how to get help (50%). Common stigma barriers included concerns about what family or friends might think. Students expressed that both campus-based well-being and mental health care offered during flexible hours and accessible through online booking were important. Conclusions: Student-tailored mental health literacy may be a sustainable approach to address the attitudinal and practical barriers identified. If such barriers are reduced, an increased service demand would be expected and improved efficiencies needed. A clear Statement of Services, an online singular point of access with embedded triage to signpost students to indicated levels of care, and clearly worked-out care pathways including to community-based services would better align with a stepped care model, improve efficiency and access, and foster realistic expectations around university mental health support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 80% of genetic studies in the Parkinson's disease (PD) field have been conducted on individuals of European descent. There is a social and scientific imperative to understand the genetic basis of PD across global populations for therapeutic development and deployment. PD etiology is impacted by genetic and environmental factors that are variable by ancestry and region, emphasising the need for worldwide programs to gather large numbers of patients to identify novel candidate genes and risk loci involved in disease. Only a handful of documented genetic assessments have investigated families with PD in AfrAbia, which comprises the member nations of the Arab League and the African Union, with very limited cohort and case-control studies reported. This review article summarises prior research on PD genetics in AfrAbia, highlighting gaps and challenges. We discuss the etiological risk spectrum in the context of historical interactions, highlighting allele frequencies, penetrance, and the clinical manifestations of known genetic variants in the AfrAbian PD patient community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Improved architectures of artificial muscles for exoskeletal locomotion, undersea drone propulsion, walker vehicles, physical augments, and prosthetics. This paper presents a novel approach to enhancing the performance of artificial muscle fibers by incorporating air gaps within the bulk dielectric material. Building on previous models, the COMSOL simulation was developed to investigate the effects of varying the inner ligament width ('w3') and air gap width ('w2') on force production. Results indicated that an air gap width of 50 µm is optimal, balancing improved force output with manufacturability constraints. A longitudinal array sweep was conducted to determine force density saturation in long fiber arrays, comparing the gap model with a traditional non-gap model. The gap model demonstrated superior performance, achieving higher force densities and better energy efficiency. The inclusion of air gaps reduced overall weight, enhanced flexibility, and improved the force-to-weight ratio, making the design particularly suitable for applications in prosthetics, exoskeletons, and soft robotics. These findings suggest that the air gap design represents a significant advancement in artificial muscle technology, offering a practical and efficient solution for various biomedical and robotic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Glial cells are an integral component of the nervous system, performing crucial functions that extend beyond structural support, including modulation of the immune system, tissue repair, and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of glial cells as key mediators of stress responses across different organs. This review focuses on the roles of glial cells in peripheral tissues in health and their involvement in diseases linked to psychological stress. Populations of glia associated with psychological stress (“GAPS”) emerge as a promising target cell population in our basic understanding of stress‐associated pathologies, highlighting their role as mediators of the deleterious effects of psychological stress on various health conditions. Ultimately, new insights into the impact of stress on glial cell populations in the periphery may support clinical efforts aimed at improving the psychological state of patients for improved health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literary adaptation into cinematic terms has become a ubiquitous phenomenon. In such a way, it brings about the intersection of the literary and the cine-text working towards assessing the intertextual resonances between the two. However, narratives can be subjected to several omissions and slippages which the artist intentionally devises. Formulating such gaps in between, the artist attempts to engage the attention of the readers/viewers and invites them to mend the fissures complying with the interpretive scope offered in the text. Venturing in a similar direction, the paper comparatively evaluates Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice-Candy-Man with Deepa Mehta's Earth. In doing so, it analyses the art of gap management as adopted and adapted from the literary precursor to the cinematic successor. To this end, it problematizes the creative approaches of the two artists involved. To put it differently, the perusal determines to what extent the writer and the director converge and diverge in the treatment of narratorial fissures by adopting the methodological tools of inclusion, omission and modification in the management of gaps in their respective renderings. Interestingly, such a perspective complicates the discourse around adaptation studies and offers a new insight into the process of adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we give an analytical demonstration of the possibility to realize a simple photonic multichannel tunable filter based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) resonances. On one hand, we present a simple photonic device consisting of multiple grafted resonators at the same site; the resonator lengths depend on each other following the Fibonacci sequence. We have proposed this simple device to obtain EIT type resonances that are situated between two transmission zeros because each resonator induces its own transmission zero. The quality factor of these EIT resonances depends on the difference between the resonator lengths. On the other hand, we investigate the propagation of electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional perfect star waveguides (SWGs) structure composed of the periodicity of segments and grafted in its extremity by a finite number of symmetric resonators. This perfect star waveguide structure presents passbands separated by large bandgaps, these gaps become wider when the number of resonators increases. The insertion of five defect resonators of lengths d02i = d02 (i = 1–5) located in the same site introduce transmission peaks (defect mode) in the transmission and phase spectrums and in the phase with a high-quality factor (very narrow defect modes) that reach Q = 1 348 700 and therefore our proposed case behaves as a very narrow filter which can select one frequency. To realize a multichannel filter with high performance, we introduce five defect resonators of different lengths d02i (i = 1–5) according to the Fibonacci sequence in the perfect SWGs. These defect systems can create a large number of defect modes which reach seven defect modes with an important transmission rate and very high-quality factor. With an appropriate choice of the geometrical parameters (the lengths d02i of the defect resonators), our proposed system can filter a very large number of frequencies (multichannel filter) which can reach ninety-nine frequencies with very high performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Testing for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an important consideration regarding treatment for malaria. G6PD deficiency may lead to haemolytic anaemia during malaria treatment and, therefore, determining G6PD deficiency in malaria treatment strategies is extremely important. Methods This report presents the results of a scoping review and evidence and gap map for consideration by the Guideline Development Group for G6PD near patient tests to support radical cure of Plasmodium vivax. This scoping review has investigated common diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency and important contextual and additional factors for decision-making. These factors include six of the considerations recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) handbook for guideline development as important to determining the direction and strength of a recommendation, and included ‘acceptability’, ‘feasibility,’ ‘equity,’ ‘valuation of outcomes,’ ‘gender’ and ‘human rights’. The aim of this scoping review is to inform the direction of future systematic reviews and evidence syntheses, which can then better inform the development of WHO recommendations regarding the use of G6PD deficiency testing as part of malaria treatment strategies. Results A comprehensive search was performed, including published, peer-reviewed literature for any article, of any study design and methodology that investigated G6PD diagnostic tests and the factors of ‘acceptability’, ‘feasibility,’ ‘equity,’ ‘valuation of outcomes,’ ‘gender’ and ‘human rights’. There were 1152 studies identified from the search, of which 14 were determined to be eligible for inclusion into this review. The studies contained data from over 21 unique countries that had considered G6PD diagnostic testing as part of a malaria treatment strategy. The relationship between contextual and additional factors, diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency and study methodology is presented in an overall evidence and gap, which showed that majority of the evidence was for the contextual factors for diagnostic tests, and the ‘Standard G6PD (SD Biosensor)’ test. Conclusions This scoping review has produced a dynamic evidence and gap map that is reactive to emerging evidence within the field of G6PD diagnostic testing. The evidence and gap map has provided a comprehensive depiction of all the available literature that address the contextual and additional factors important for decision-making, regarding specific G6PD diagnostic tests. The majority of data available investigating the contextual factors of interest relates to quantitative G6PD diagnostic tests. While a formal qualitative synthesis of this data as part of a systematic review is possible, the data may be too heterogenous for this to be appropriate. These results can now be used to inform future direction of WHO Guideline Development Groups for G6PD near patient tests to support radical cure of P. vivax malaria.

Background Methods Results Conclusions Hemocompatibility remains the dominant challenge in rotary blood pumps, and more information on the relationship between individual pump design features, hemodynamics, and blood trauma in various operation conditions is necessary. The study evaluated the variation of gap sizes in extracorporeal blood pumps concerning their influence on blood compatibility, particularly during off‐design conditions.We developed a parametric generic blood pump framework for in‐silico and in‐vitro design feature analysis. Thirty‐six designs with varying axial and radial gap sizes between 0.5 mm and 3 mm were generated. CFD was applied to calculate and compare device hemodynamics and evaluate the performance and hemocompatibility during off‐design and target operation conditions. The following quantities were analyzed: pressure difference, hemolysis potential, residence times, hydraulic efficiency, and recirculation ratio.The in‐vitro prototype showed excellent agreement with in‐silico predictions regarding hydraulic performance (R2 = 0.996 with a RMSE = 2.07). Our results show a modest impact of gap size variations ±10% on key metrics. Domain‐resolved analyses revealed a significant contribution of the gap regions to the device's overall hemolytic performance, with an increasing contribution for off‐design flow rates. Overall elevated hemolysis levels were identified if at least one gap size was held minimal.We introduced and showed the feasibility of a parametric rotary blood pump framework to systematically investigate design feature impact. Results suggest, larger and uniformly sized gaps being overall beneficial regarding hemocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing industry and its complex and large information sets require Big Data (BD) technology and its open-source frameworks (Apache Hadoop) to (1) collect, (2) analyze, and (3) process the information. This information usually ranges in size from gigabytes to petabytes of data. However, processing this data involves web consoles and communication channels which are prone to intrusion from hackers. To resolve this issue, a novel machine learning (ML)-based security-centric approach has been proposed to evade cyber-attacks on the Hadoop ecosystem while considering the complexity of Big Data in Cloud (BDC). An Apache Hadoop-based management interface "Ambari" was implemented to address the variation and distinguish between attacks and activities. The analyzed experimental results show that the proposed scheme effectively (1) blocked the interface communication and retrieved the performance measured data from (2) the Ambari-based virtual machine (VM) and (3) BDC hypervisor. Moreover, the proposed architecture was able to provide a reduction in false alarms as well as cyber-attack detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) leads to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Since the first functional and morphologic changes of the arterial wall occur in childhood, treatment should start early in childhood to mitigate the elevated risk of ASCVD. Pediatricians play an important role in the detection and care of children with FH. In this study, we aim to explore potential gaps in FH care amongst Dutch pediatricians, in order to enhance their knowledge and awareness of detecting and treating children with FH. Methods: An anonymous online survey, deployed using Google Forms, including 26 closed and semi-closed questions on FH care in children was distributed by the Dutch Association of Pediatrics via a newsletter to which the majority of the practicing Dutch pediatricians subscribe. In addition, we requested that the pediatric departments of all Dutch hospitals in the Netherlands distribute this survey personally among their employed pediatricians. Respondents were instructed to answer the questions without any help or use of online resources. Results: Between September 1st, 2023 and November 1st, 2023, 158 (an estimated 11% response rate) Dutch pediatricians completed the survey. They reported a median (IQR) of 15.0 (6.0–22.0) years of experience as a pediatrician, and 34 (21.5%) were working in academic hospitals. The majority (76.6%) of pediatricians correctly identified a typical FH lipid profile but 68 (43.0%) underestimated the true prevalence of FH (1:300). Underestimation and unawareness of the increased risk of FH patients for ASCVD were reported by 37.3% and 25.9% of pediatricians, respectively. Although 70.9% of the pediatricians correctly defined FH, only 67 (42.4%) selected statins and ezetimibe to treat severe hypercholesterolemia. Conclusions:The results of this study suggest significant gaps in knowledge and awareness of FH in children among Dutch pediatricians. FH care in children needs improvement through educational and training initiatives to mitigate the life-long risk of ASCVD from early life. What is Known: • Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) leads to elevated LDL-cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). • The process of atherosclerosis starts in childhood • Pediatricians play an important role in the detection and treatment of children with FH. What is New: • Our results highlight significant gaps in care for children with FH amongst pediatricians and this may lead to suboptimal detection and treatment. • FH care in children needs improvement by educational initiatives to ultimately prevent ASCVD in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the perceived quality of tourist transportation services in Baños de Agua Santa, Ecuador, utilizing the SERVQUAL model to assess service quality. Through an examination of the gap between tourists' expectations and their actual experiences, the research aims to evaluate service quality. A survey of 203 tourists who utilized the "Chivas" tourist ground transportation service forms the basis of the analysis. The findings reveal significant negative gaps across all dimensions of service quality, indicating a shortfall in meeting tourists' expectations. Notably, the reliability dimension exhibits the most pronounced gap, highlighting the importance of fulfilling service commitments to cultivate trust. The study underscores the crucial role of service quality in the tourism sector and proposes targeted improvements, including enhancing facility modernity, providing staff training, and enhancing service responsiveness and reliability. Addressing these gaps has the potential to enrich the tourist experience, bolster the positive image of transportation services, and enhance the city's appeal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Testing for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an important consideration regarding treatment for malaria. G6PD deficiency may lead to haemolytic anaemia during malaria treatment and, therefore, determining G6PD deficiency in malaria treatment strategies is extremely important. Methods: This report presents the results of a scoping review and evidence and gap map for consideration by the Guideline Development Group for G6PD near patient tests to support radical cure of Plasmodium vivax. This scoping review has investigated common diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency and important contextual and additional factors for decision-making. These factors include six of the considerations recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) handbook for guideline development as important to determining the direction and strength of a recommendation, and included 'acceptability', 'feasibility,' 'equity,' 'valuation of outcomes,' 'gender' and 'human rights'. The aim of this scoping review is to inform the direction of future systematic reviews and evidence syntheses, which can then better inform the development of WHO recommendations regarding the use of G6PD deficiency testing as part of malaria treatment strategies. Results: A comprehensive search was performed, including published, peer-reviewed literature for any article, of any study design and methodology that investigated G6PD diagnostic tests and the factors of 'acceptability', 'feasibility,' 'equity,' 'valuation of outcomes,' 'gender' and 'human rights'. There were 1152 studies identified from the search, of which 14 were determined to be eligible for inclusion into this review. The studies contained data from over 21 unique countries that had considered G6PD diagnostic testing as part of a malaria treatment strategy. The relationship between contextual and additional factors, diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency and study methodology is presented in an overall evidence and gap, which showed that majority of the evidence was for the contextual factors for diagnostic tests, and the 'Standard G6PD (SD Biosensor)' test. Conclusions: This scoping review has produced a dynamic evidence and gap map that is reactive to emerging evidence within the field of G6PD diagnostic testing. The evidence and gap map has provided a comprehensive depiction of all the available literature that address the contextual and additional factors important for decision-making, regarding specific G6PD diagnostic tests. The majority of data available investigating the contextual factors of interest relates to quantitative G6PD diagnostic tests. While a formal qualitative synthesis of this data as part of a systematic review is possible, the data may be too heterogenous for this to be appropriate. These results can now be used to inform future direction of WHO Guideline Development Groups for G6PD near patient tests to support radical cure of P. vivax malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interdisciplinary community of ocean and coastal observers and modelers in Europe is driven by national observing needs for prediction and management of intricate processes shaping Europe's Seas. Not all observing needs can be addressed by nations alone and various coordination activities exist to overcome fragmentation and create cross benefit within the European Ocean Observing Community (EOOC). This way critical insights into impacts of climate change on European Waters and cross border marine resources management can be achieved. Based on a large number of published material, this article is identifying and addressing the current state of activities of the EOOC and states gaps that potentially prevent efficacy. Key challenges include spatial and temporal coverage in observations, data integration, accessibility, uncertainties in projections, technological hurdles, and engagement and communication gaps. Detailed recommendations are provided for identified gaps, offering valuable insights for stakeholders, funders, and supporters of the EOOC. These recommendations, extending beyond academic interest, carry significant implications for climate change mitigation, marine resource management efficiency, ecosystem resilience, disaster preparedness, economic benefits, and the broader scientific advancements in European marine science, thereby benefiting society at large. As the world undergoes transformative changes impacting all facets of European life, substantial investment and support for the EOOC are crucial for precise information, accurate predictions, supporting sustained services that contribute to business growth and community resilience, and a sustainable ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For an odd prime p, let p be the finite field of p elements. The main purpose of this paper is to establish new results on gaps between the elements of multiplicative subgroups of finite fields. For any a , b , c ∈ p * , we also obtain new upper bounds of the following double character sum T a , b , c (χ , ℋ 1 , ℋ 2) = ∑ h 1 ∈ ℋ 1 ∑ h 2 ∈ ℋ 2 χ (a + b h 1 + c h 2) and a triple character sum S χ (a , b , ℋ 1 , ℋ 2 ,) = ∑ x ∈ ∑ h 1 ∈ ℋ 1 ∑ h 2 ∈ ℋ 2 χ (x + a h 1 + b h 2) with = { 1 , ... , N } and multiplicative subgroups ℋ 1 , ℋ 2 ⊆ p * of order H 1 and H 2 , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy volume is a crucial biological parameter for assessing tree growth, accurately estimating forest Above-Ground Biomass (AGB), and evaluating ecosystem stability. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) are advanced precision mapping technologies that capture highly accurate point clouds for forest digitization studies. Despite advances in calculating canopy volume, challenges remain in accurately extracting the canopy and removing gaps. This study proposes a canopy volume extraction method based on an improved PointNeXt model, fusing ALS and TLS point cloud data. In this work, improved PointNeXt is first utilized to extract the canopy, enhancing extraction accuracy and mitigating under-segmentation and over-segmentation issues. To effectively calculate canopy volume, the canopy is divided into multiple levels, each projected into the xOy plane. Then, an improved Mean Shift algorithm, combined with KdTree, is employed to remove gaps and obtain parts of the real canopy. Subsequently, a convex hull algorithm is utilized to calculate the area of each part, and the sum of the areas of all parts multiplied by their heights yields the canopy volume. The proposed method's performance is tested on a dataset comprising poplar, willow, and cherry trees. As a result, the improved PointNeXt model achieves a mean intersection over union (mIoU) of 98.19% on the test set, outperforming the original PointNeXt by 1%. Regarding canopy volume, the algorithm's Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is 0.18 m3, and a high correlation is observed between predicted canopy volumes, with an R-Square (R2) value of 0.92. Therefore, the proposed method effectively and efficiently acquires canopy volume, providing a stable and accurate technical reference for forest biomass statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial and temporal variations in the atmospheric CO2 concentrations evidently respond to anthropogenic CO2 emission activities. NO2, a pollutant gas emitted from fossil fuel combustion, comes from the same emission sources as CO2. Exploiting the simultaneous emissions characteristics of NO2 and CO2, we proposed an XCO2 prediction approach to reconstruct XCO2 data based on the data-driven machine learning algorithm using multiple predictors, including satellite observation of atmospheric NO2, to resolve the issue of data gaps in satellite observation of XCO2. The prediction model showed good predictive performance in revealing CO2 concentrations in space and time, with a total deviation of 0.17 ± 1.17 ppm in the cross-validation and 1.03 ± 1.15 ppm compared to ground-based XCO2 measurements. As a result, the introduction of NO2 obtained better improvements in the CO2 concentration responding to the anthropogenic emissions in space. The reconstructed XCO2 data not only filled the gaps but also enhanced the signals of anthropogenic CO2 emissions by using NO2 data, as NO2 strongly responds to anthropogenic CO2 emissions (R2 = 0.92). Moreover, the predicted XCO2 data preferred to correct the abnormally low XCO2 retrievals at satellite observing footprints, where the XCO2_uncertainity field in the OCO-2 and OCO-3 products indicated a larger uncertainty in the inversion algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Estimate breastfeeding gaps in Mexico to achieve the 2030 global nutrition goals and provide public policy recommendations. Materials and methods. Data from women 12-59 years old and their children <24 months was analyzed using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut, in Spanish) 2021 to 2023 to calculate breastfeeding indicators. The gaps to achieve the 2030 breastfeeding goals were estimated through comparison with national trends, considering the effectiveness of interventions in contexts similar to Mexico. Results. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in children <6 months is 34.2% and 43% for continued breastfeeding at two years. Breastfeeding prevalence is lower among women with lower parity and with paid employment, and higher among women with a low Well-being Conditions Index at the household level and those who received previous information about breastfeeding during pregnancy or in consultation. With the current trend, it is estimated 42.5% of EBF by 2030. The 2030 global nutrition goal of 70% EBF will only be achieved if health and community personnel are trained to provide breastfeeding counseling, if the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is strength ened, if there is compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and if paid maternity leave is extended in Mexico. Conclusions. It is necessary to implement policies and actions from different sectors that facilitate breastfeeding to achieve 2030 global nutrition goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subset S of non-negative integers N o is called a numerical semigroup if it is a submonoid of N o and has a finite complement in N o . An undirected graph G (S) associated with S is a graph having V (G (S)) = { v i : i ∈ N o ∖ S } and E (G (S)) = { v i v j ⇔ i + j ∈ S } . In this article, we propose a conjecture for the clique number of graphs associated with a symmetric family of numerical semigroups of arbitrary multiplicity and embedding dimension. Furthermore, we prove this conjecture for the case of arbitrary multiplicity and embedding dimension 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central objective of this research was to identify the major challenges of police education for the Comprehensive Transformation Process of the National Police. For its development, a qualitative methodology was used based on the development of three phases: theoretical, identifying the normative and political mandates that establish the line of police education; descriptive, through a recognition and analysis of the goals that the Police Education Directorate (formerly National Directorate of Schools) of the National Police must face and the actions that must be undertaken to achieve them, as well as the needs that arise from the training schools of the Institution ; and exploratory, which includes, based on the results of the previous phases, the identification and analysis of the challenges of police education. The results reached represent a contribution on the actions and pending tasks that the Institution must assume in the field of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study of lexical transformations in the process of translation is associated with the need to ensure communication between the author and recipients in terms of recreating the lexical, structural and stylistic richness of the original in the translated text. Since today far from all the methods and mechanisms for eliminating language inaccuracies have been studied, this direction occupies an important role in the translation science branch of knowledge. The purpose of the study is to examine the role and functions of differentiation of meanings in the process of literary translation from Russian into Turkish by analysing the lexico-semantic means used in the context of literary works. This paper uses the methods of contextual, lexico-semantic, comparative, linguoculturological and analytical-synthetic analysis are used in the paper. This study is aimed at studying lexical transformations in the translated text, mechanisms for transferring the semantic subtleties of the source with minimization of lexical losses and combining techniques to obtain a translated text that is as accessible to the readership as possible. The work is focused on contextual and lexico-semantic analysis, search, and comparison of lexical variants and structural patterns in the original and translation. Attention was drawn to the mechanisms of differentiation and generalization of meanings, as well as the semantic unfolding of events. When analysing lexico-semantic and syntactic constructions, as well as phraseological phrases, the topic of national linguistic features and cultural specifics, which play an important role in the translation of literary texts, was touched upon. In the future, this work can be used in the field of translation studies, cultural linguistics, automatic text processing, the creation of lexicographic thesauri, and the study of semantic patterns and equivalents. The study examined the nuances of word usage in translations from Russian to Turkish, underscoring the inevitability of lexical transformations. Strategies primarily involved expanding, narrowing, and clarifying the source text’s semantics. Russian-Turkish translations also frequently employed semantic deployment and structural element transformations to elucidate intricate meanings. Stable, often phraseological turns were highlighted, emphasizing their non-equivalent nature. Such techniques reconstruct the original’s cultural essence and authorial style. While there exist discrepancies between the Russian and Turkish contexts, lexical transformations often simplify complex structures for clarity in Turkish. Idiomatic expressions in Turkish involve detailing meanings or unfolding specific events descriptively. The study demonstrated the interplay between the original and its translation, revealing strategies and issues within linguistics and translation studies.

Small GTPases act as molecular switches and control numerous cellular processes by their binding and hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). The activity of small GTPases is coordinated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). Recent structural and functional studies have characterized a subset of GAPs whose catalytic units consist of longin domains. Longin domain containing GAPs regulate small GTPases that facilitate nutrient signalling, autophagy, vesicular trafficking and lysosome homeostasis. All known examples in this GAP family function as part of larger multiprotein complexes. The three characterized mammalian protein complexes in this class are FLCN:FNIP, GATOR1 and C9orf72:SMCR8. Each complex carries out a unique cellular function by regulating distinct small GTPases. In this article, we explore the roles of longin domain GAPs in nutrient sensing, membrane dynamic, vesicular trafficking and disease. Through a structural lens, we examine the mechanism of each longin domain GAP and highlight potential therapeutic applications.

Extreme weather events have led to widespread yield losses and significant global economic damage in recent decades. African agriculture is particularly vulnerable due to its harsh environments and limited adaptation capacity. This systematic review analyzes 96 articles from Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, focusing on biophysical studies related to maize in Africa and worldwide. We investigated the observed and projected extreme weather events in Africa, their impacts on maize production, and the approaches used to assess these effects. Our analysis reveals that drought, heatwaves, and floods are major threats to African maize production, impacting yields, suitable cultivation areas, and farmers' livelihoods. While studies have employed various methods, including field experiments, statistical models, and process-based modeling, African research is often limited by data gaps and technological constraints. We identify three main gaps: (i) lack of reliable long-term experimental and empirical data, (ii) limited access to advanced climate change adaptation technologies, and (iii) insufficient knowledge about specific extreme weather patterns and their interactions with management regimes. This review highlights the urgent need for targeted research in Africa to improve understanding of extreme weather impacts and formulate effective adaptation strategies. We advocate for focused research on data collection, technology transfer, and integration of local knowledge with new technologies to bolster maize resilience and food security in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article shows the reliability and sensitivity of a missile folding rudder calculated by MSC.ADAMS and MATLAB. For folding rudder, mass of the counterweight, maximum of the motive force, preloading force, and stiffness coefficients of the spring 1 and spring 2 are considered when calculating the reliability. Two methods, active learning kriging (ALK) and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), are introduced to calculate the reliability. The results obtained by ALK and MCS are compared to ensure the accuracy of the reliability. Three failure modes are considered respectively in reliability calculation, including the unfolding time exceeding the specified value, the max load of the lock structure 1 or lock structure 2 exceeding the specified value. Moment-independent sensitivity index is introduced to assess the importance rank of each factor. Both cases with and without gap are discussed to explore the influence of gaps between sleeve and shaft. Comparison of two cases show that gaps could reduce reliability of the folding rudder. The influence of gaps cannot be neglected during the reliability calculated, especially for mechanism with several motion joints like the rudder folding. The works aim to provide valuable guidance for design and optimization of unfolding rudder. In addition, it is a beneficial trial for introducing reliability theory in weapon equipment field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer has the highest incidence and cancer-related mortality worldwide. In Portugal, it ranks as the fourth most common cancer, with nearly 6000 new cases being diagnosed every year. Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death among males and the third cause of cancer-related death in females. Despite the globally accepted guidelines and recommendations for what would be the ideal path for a lung cancer patient, several challenges occur in real clinical management across the world. The recommendations emphasize the importance of adequate screening of high-risk individuals, a precise tumour biopsy, and an accurate final diagnosis to confirm the neoplastic nature of the nodule. A detailed histological classification of the lung tumour type and a comprehensive molecular characterization are of utmost importance for the selection of an efficacious and patient-directed therapeutic approach. However, in the context of the Portuguese clinical organization and the national healthcare system, there are still several gaps in the ideal pathway for a lung cancer patient, involving aspects ranging from the absence of a national lung cancer screening programme through difficulties in histological diagnosis and molecular characterization to challenges in therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we address the most relevant weaknesses, presenting several proposals for potential solutions to improve the management of lung cancer patients, helping to decisively improve their overall survival and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) are prevalent all across in India. TB‐DM comorbidity has emerged as a syndemic and needs more attention in India considering gaps in screening, clinical care, and research. This paper is intended to review published literature on TB and DM in India to understand the burden of the dual epidemic and its trajectory and to obtain perspectives on the gaps, constraints, and challenges in care and treatment of this dual epidemic. A literature search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the key words 'Tuberculosis' OR 'TB' AND 'Diabetes' OR 'Diabetes Mellitus' AND 'India', focusing on the research published between the year 2000 to 2022. The prevalence of DM is high in patients with TB. Quantitative data on the epidemiological situation of TB/DM in India such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, and management are lacking. During the last 2 years convergence of TB‐DM syndemic with the COVID‐19 pandemic has increased cases with uncontrolled DM but also made coordinated control of TB‐DM operationally difficult and of low effectiveness. Research regarding TB‐DM comorbidity is required in the context of epidemiology and management. Detection and bidirectional screening are aggressively warranted. Management of DM in those with TB‐DM comorbidity needs more efforts, including training and supervision of frontline workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the evolution of inequality in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic by using primary data from household and employment surveys collected in 2020. First, we discuss the trends in inequality in the region from 1992 to 2020. Next, we estimate regression models to examine how the changes in demographics and education levels might be correlated with changes in income distribution. Finally, we use a panel regression model with fixed effects for 16 countries in the region to identify how the socioeconomic context might help explain the changes in income inequality. The empirical findings suggest that inequality increased by a statistically significant 2% between 2019 and 2020. We obtained significantly heterogeneous results when disaggregating by gender, urban/rural location, and sector of economic activity. Remittances had a modest effect, while government transfers helped to prevent more significant disparities in half the countries studied. Our estimations show that the decline in employment levels – due to the economic contraction caused by COVID-19— is associated with increases in income inequality that might gradually diminish with the recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the diagnosis of the Agricultural Innovation System (SIA) in the department of Tolima, Colombia, as part of a project led by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Technological University of Pereira (TUP), which also evaluated the National Agricultural Innovation System (NAIS) in regions such as Chocó, Bolívar, and Meta. A methodology was used that involved a survey with 58 questions on a Likert scale with 300 participants, evaluated with congruence and relevance indexes, identifying key variables in the operation of the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS). A survey was applied to map actors in the National Innovation System for Higher Education in Agriculture, as well as the participating actors in the regional agricultural innovation systems of Tolima to identify gaps in extension, innovation, development, sustainability, information technology (TI), education, and training. Among the conclusions, it stands out that the associativity subsystem presents the lowest performance and is close to a score of two on the scale of gaps. An evaluation was carried out among the five subsystems, including extension, TI, environmental aspects, and public policy. The department of Tolima shows low performance in innovation and TI, while their extension performance is less weak. In Chaparral, there is a general lag, with innovation being the worst evaluated subsystem. Rovira obtains high scores in most subsystems, although innovation and TI have lower scores. At the national and regional levels, innovation is low, and communication among the NARS actors is insufficient, which highlights the need to promote good practices, strategies, and projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ranked Discrepancy Model was introduced in 2021 as an alternative for analyzing Borich-style competency-based needs assessment data which avoided the pitfalls associated with the original methods for analysis. In this article, we sought to expand upon that work by developing and testing a new framework to analyze and visualize repeated-measures needs assessment data using the Ranked Discrepancy Model (RDM). Data for the analyses were taken from statewide community needs assessments conducted in Utah and Florida with paid survey panelists recruited by an online survey vendor. We found it was possible to apply the RDM to repeated-measures data using Microsoft Excel. A comparison of results obtained from analyzing data using paired t-tests and the RDM model showed strong positive correlations. Additionally, the transition to a spreadsheet format enabled the expansion of data analysis possibilities to include sorting needs by demographic subgroups. We recommend researchers use Excel for the RDM so they can easily examine subgroup needs and apply data visualization techniques to improve the utility of needs assessments and the decisions made by the individuals who interpret the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of differentiation holds immense significance in education, touching upon aspects like access, inclusion, justice, and equality. However, it is also a complex and elusive notion, which acquires different meanings across historical and cultural contexts. This article explores the shifting reasoning about differentiation in the Swedish educational context. Inspired by Foucault's account of disciplinary power, it conceptualizes differentiation as a technique for marking and addressing gaps between individuals. Drawing on an analysis of governmental and scholarly reports from 1842 to the late 1960s, the article identifies three shifts in the reasoning on differentiation: 1) from differentiation by socioeconomic class as a given factor to the search for scientific rationales for differentiation based on measurement of intellectual ability, 2) from viewing differences in intelligence as biologically conditioned and stable to viewing them as amenable to training and correction through education, and 3) from a focus on inputs to a focus on outputs. Overall, the article argues that even if the term 'differentiation' itself has been discursively replaced by others, the ideas underlying it—the search for gaps—continue to shape education in Sweden and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the future workforce demands of the construction industry is defined as one of the main paths for sustainable engineering education. Quantity surveyors play a crucial role in driving the digital transformation of the construction industry. There is a pressing need to cultivate a significant number of engineering graduates who meet market demands to bolster the workforce of quantity surveyors for accomplishing this core mission. In this context, this study examined the main gaps existing between engineering graduates and quantity surveyors in terms of personal competencies needed to successfully value projects. Through the participation of 262 individuals (165 quantity surveyors and 97 engineering graduates), using a literature review, personal interviews, and a questionnaire survey, it was possible to assess five competencies (sustainable competency, budget competency, site management competency, engineering ethics, and settlement competency), and determine significant differences between both groups. All personal competencies' mean scores are higher for quantity surveyors than for engineering graduates. Four competencies are found to differ significantly between quantity surveyors and engineering graduates: sustainable competency, budget competency, site management competency, and settlement competency. As the conclusion derived from this study, it is recommended to introduce market-oriented mechanisms and establish a dynamic engineering talent model driven by market demand through collaborative development involving school–enterprise partnerships and the integration of expertise and creativity, aiming to foster the development of social practice competency. Particular emphasis should be placed on strengthening budget competency, site management competency, and settlement competency. The findings guide the education, training, and practice of quantity surveying to deal with emerging challenges in the dynamic market demand in China and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving the quality of care relies on understanding patients' perceptions and expectations based on their experiences. The study aimed to determine the gaps between patients’ perceived value and expected value, and to identify critical areas for outpatient service improvement. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in China from November 2020 to February 2021. A sample of 572 outpatients, randomly selected from a comprehensive tertiary public hospital, was surveyed using a validated patient perceived value questionnaire. Importance-performance analysis was used to evaluate the differences between patients' perceived and expected value. Results: The scores of patients’ expected value for outpatient services were significantly higher than their perceived value in all 29 items and 8 dimensions. The items with the highest and lowest gaps were “short waiting time” (−1.52) and “hospital reputation and popularity” (−0.24) respectively, and the dimensions of price and efficiency (functional value) were located in the quadrant of high expectation and low perception. Conclusion: Our findings are useful for hospital administrators and policymakers to identify strategic focus areas and allocate resources rationally and effectively. We suggest healthcare providers should take measures to narrow the gaps, especially in terms of service efficiency and price.

The interdisciplinary community of ocean and coastal observers and modelers in Europe is driven by national observing needs for prediction and management of intricate processes shaping Europe’s Seas. Not all observing needs can be addressed by nations alone and various coordination activities exist to overcome fragmentation and create cross benefit within the European Ocean Observing Community (EOOC). This way critical insights into impacts of climate change on European Waters and cross border marine resources management can be achieved. Based on a large number of published material, this article is identifying and addressing the current state of activities of the EOOC and states gaps that potentially prevent efficacy. Key challenges include spatial and temporal coverage in observations, data integration, accessibility, uncertainties in projections, technological hurdles, and engagement and communication gaps. Detailed recommendations are provided for identified gaps, offering valuable insights for stakeholders, funders, and supporters of the EOOC. These recommendations, extending beyond academic interest, carry significant implications for climate change mitigation, marine resource management efficiency, ecosystem resilience, disaster preparedness, economic benefits, and the broader scientific advancements in European marine science, thereby benefiting society at large. As the world undergoes transformative changes impacting all facets of European life, substantial investment and support for the EOOC are crucial for precise information, accurate predictions, supporting sustained services that contribute to business growth and community resilience, and a sustainable ocean.

Climate change drives huge differences between the actual and projected yield and growing season precipitation. Therefore, this work identifies yield and precipitation gaps for maize and millet at the national and subnational scales as well as policy considerations for agricultural policy experts that can mitigate these gaps. Yield data for the national and subnational scale analyses were obtained for the period 1961–2021 from the FAOSTAT and the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI)/IRAD of Cameroon, respectively. Growing season precipitation data for the national and subnational scales were collected from the World Bank climate change portal and the Climate Research Unit (CRU). Various machine learning algorithms were used to bias-adjust the data and to compute the potential yield and growing season precipitation from which the yield and precipitation gaps were computed. The results show a positive correlation between yield and precipitation gaps, with millet depicting the strongest correlation. The average yield gap for maize is 0.55 t/ha, higher than the average yield gap for millet that is 0.28 t/ha. Not all years with yield gaps are correlated with precipitation gaps. The average precipitation gap for maize is 108 mm/year, and it is higher than the 101 mm/year recorded for millet. HIGHLIGHTS There is a positive correlation between yield and precipitation gaps.; Millet depicts the strongest correlation.; Not all years of yield gaps are correlated with precipitation gaps.; Spatially, yield and precipitation gaps increase northwards.;

Background: Research on pedagogical models in physical education has exponentially increased over the last two decades [Casey, A., and D. Kirk. 2020. Models-Based Practice in Physical Education. London: Routledge]. Moreover, several literature reviews on the effectiveness of the different pedagogical models have been conducted. Due to the large amount of research conducted on pedagogical models, there seems to be a need to organize and evaluate the existing evidence to assimilate the main ideas, produce higher-level synthesis of evidence and provide a more solid identification of strengths, weaknesses and gaps of this methodological approach. Purpose: To critically examine what is currently known on pedagogical models to provide a broader and contemporary picture on their implementation conducting an umbrella review. This paper aimed to answer the following research questions: (RQ1) Which pedagogical models have been systematically reviewed? (RQ2) Which strengths have been observed? (RQ3) Which weaknesses have been perceived? (RQ4) Finally, which research gaps have been identified? Method: The protocol was registered at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) with the number 202130025 and the DOI number 10.37766/ inplasy2021.3.0025. Review studies met the following inclusion criteria: (1) Peer-reviewed journal articles (Journal Citation Reports) published and written in English before 31 December 2020, (2) included participants from elementary, middle and/or high school, (3) conducted in the physical education context, and (4) interventions studies implementing one, several or combined pedagogical models. Exclusion criteria were (1) Not review studies, and (2) Not about pedagogical models’ implementation. Findings and conclusion: Seventeen review articles were identified, involving 22,109 students (elementary, middle, high school), 1050 teachers and 171 preservice teachers. Two hundred and nine studies involved Sport Education, 84 Games-Centred Approach, 74 Cooperative Learning, 48 Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility, and 23 hybridizations among pedagogical models. A comprehensive literature synthesis is presented on the different pedagogical models and their learning outcomes. Findings showed strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of pedagogical models’ implementation to improve students’ learning in the different domains (cognitive, social, physical, affective). Nevertheless, some weaknesses were also uncovered by the umbrella review: length of the implementation, time for skilful play, struggle to implement pedagogical models, poor performance of studentcoaches and model fidelity. Teachers and researchers must be aware of these weaknesses uncovered to conduct intervention programs that can really work and produce the claimed outcomes. Finally, reviews also identified several gaps in our understanding of pedagogical models: individuals with special educational needs, girls, low-skilled children, the dynamics of the peer-teaching tasks, body expression and individual sports, and what happens after the initial unit of implementation. They are all discussed to provide guidelines and future lines of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid population growth, climate change, limited natural resources, and the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to increased global hunger, necessitating intensive efforts to ensure food security and nutrition (FSN). Previous FSN approaches covered some dimensions, but not all, resulting in significant gaps in food security indicators. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions have received less attention in food security studies, thus far necessitating considerable effort to develop an appropriate analytical framework. This study reviewed articles and international reports of FSN indicators, drivers and policies, methods, and models and extracted the challenges and gaps from the global and UAE contexts. The UAE and the world have gaps in FSN drivers, indicators, and methods, necessitating potential solutions to meet future challenges such as rapid population growth, pandemics, and limited natural resources. As a result, we created a newly developed analytical framework that addresses the shortcomings of previous approaches such as sustainable food systems developed by FAO and the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) and covers all aspects of food security. Gaps in knowledge in FSN drivers and policies, indicators, big data, methods, and models were considered in the developed framework, which has specific advantages. The novel developed framework addresses all food security dimensions (access, availability, stability, and utilization), ensuring poverty reduction, food security, and nutrition security while outperforming previous approaches (i.e., FAO and GFSI). The developed framework could be used successfully not only in the UAE and MENA, but also, globally, helping to solve food insecurity and malnutrition for future generations. The scientific community and policymakers should disseminate such solutions to address global food insecurity and ensure nutrition for future generations in the face of rapid population growth, limited natural resources, climate change, and spreading pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]