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Eye tracking provides direct, temporally and spatially sensitive measures of eye gaze. It can capture visual attention patterns from infancy through adulthood. However, commonly used screen-based eye tracking (SET) paradigms are limited in their depiction of how individuals process information as they interact with the environment in real life. Mobile eye tracking (MET) records participant-perspective gaze in the context of active behavior. Recent technological developments in MET hardware enable researchers to capture egocentric vision as early as infancy and across the lifespan. However, challenges remain in MET data collection, processing, and analysis. The present paper aims to provide an introduction and practical guide to starting researchers in the field to facilitate the use of MET in psychological research with a wide range of age groups. First, we provide a general introduction to MET. Next, we briefly review MET studies in adults and children that provide new insights into attention and its roles in cognitive and socioemotional functioning. We then discuss technical issues relating to MET data collection and provide guidelines for data quality inspection, gaze annotations, data visualization, and statistical analyses. Lastly, we conclude by discussing the future directions of MET implementation. Open-source programs for MET data quality inspection, data visualization, and analysis are shared publicly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the agreement and cost of two recall methods for estimating childrens minimum dietary diversity (MDD). DESIGN: We assessed childs dietary intake on two consecutive days: an observation on day one, followed by two recall methods (list-based recall and multiple-pass recall) administered in random order by different enumerators at two different times on day two. We compared the estimated MDD prevalence using survey-weighted linear probability models following a two one-sided test equivalence testing approach. We also estimated the cost-effectiveness of the two methods. SETTING: Cambodia (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Battambang, and Pursat provinces) and Zambia (Chipata, Katete, Lundazi, Nyimba, and Petauke districts). PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 6-23 months: 636 in Cambodia and 608 in Zambia. RESULTS: MDD estimations from both recall methods were equivalent to the observation in Cambodia but not in Zambia. Both methods were equivalent to the observation in capturing most food groups. Both methods were highly sensitive although the multiple-pass method accurately classified a higher proportion of children meeting MDD than the list-based method in both countries. Both methods were highly specific in Cambodia but moderately so in Zambia. Cost-effectiveness was better for the list-based recall method in both countries. CONCLUSION: The two recall methods estimated MDD and most other infant and young child feeding indicators equivalently in Cambodia but not in Zambia, compared to the observation. The list-based method produced slightly more accurate estimates of MDD at the population level, took less time to administer and was less costly to implement.

Background: Process evaluations are increasingly integrated into randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of complex interventions to document their delivery and interactions with local systems and dynamics, helping understand observed health outcomes. Yet process evaluations often struggle to assess relevant contextual determinants, leaving much of the important role of "context" in shaping an intervention's mechanisms opaque in many studies. A lack of easily adapted data collection methods to help define and operationalise indicators of context likely contributes to this. Methods: We present a method to help structure measures of context in process evaluations and describe its use in two very different settings. The "Context Tracker" is an innovative tool for use within trials and quasi-experiments to more systematically capture and understand key dimensions of context. It was developed in Zimbabwe as part of a cluster randomised controlled trial and then adapted for a quasi-experimental evaluation in the UK. Both studies provided harm reduction and health services for marginalised and hard-to-reach populations. Results: We developed the Context Tracker to be both standardised (i.e. formatted and applied in the same way across study sites) and flexible enough to allow unique features to be explored in greater detail. Drawing on the Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions (CICI) and Risk Environments frameworks, we mapped 5 domains across micro, meso and macro levels in a simple table and used existing evidence and experience to predict factors likely to affect delivery of and participation in intervention components. We tracked these over time across study sites using routine programme statistics, observation and qualitative methods. The Context Tracker enables identification and comparison of facilitators and barriers to implementation, variations in engagement with interventions, and how mechanisms of action are (or are not) triggered in different settings. Conclusions: The Context Tracker is one example of how evidence-based contextual determinants can be used to guide data collection and analysis within process evaluations. It is relevant in low- and high-income settings and applicable to both qualitative and quantitative analyses. While perhaps most useful to process evaluations of complex interventions targeting marginalised communities, the broader approach would benefit a more general research audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species use chemical messengers to communicate a remarkable range of information. Mice appear to make particular use of chemical messengers, including effects on estrous cycling and initiation, pregnancy, aggression, stress and of course attraction. Behavioral studies have helped identify several candidate messengers, or pheromones, that mediate attraction in mice. One question is whether attractive chemical messengers induced a physical vaginal secretory response. The preparation hypothesis posits that increased vaginal secretion would lubricate and protect the vagina in response to the prospect of imminent coitus, but this has been difficult to assess experimentally, particularly in mice. We developed a rapid, sensitive, minimally invasive method of quantifying vaginal moisture in mice and used this model to test vaginal secretory responses to male bedding. We report that female mice experience an increase in vaginal moisture after exposure to male, but not female, bedding. This response is induced by either physical or airborne exposure to male urine, to preputial gland extract, and to the preputial gland-derived pheromone alpha/beta farnesenes. This vaginal response is diurnally regulated, seen only during their active phase. The response is sensitive to the estrous phase, with a clear response during estrus but not during metestrus. We conclude that mice may serve as a model for aspects of vaginal function and that this assay will be readily applicable to other small animals. The identification of a pheromone-mediated vaginal secretory response offers a window into the regulation of the vaginal environment and the neurobiology of sexual responses in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an exploratory account of an applied clinical method, the Comparative Clinical Method, used to address a specific question: how can we best think of the difference between intensive and non‐intensive analytic work? Normally, it is session frequency that is taken as a determining difference, as a marker of a different approach or method being employed. In our investigation, which consisted of the three authors presenting examples of their clinical work to each other, we did not find the intensive and non‐intensive work of each author to demonstrate clear and easily defined differences in method or technique. Instead, we found more evidence of each author adopting a coherent and consistent approach, based on an underlying and implicit working model, across their intensive and non‐intensive work. We conclude from this that the differences between intensive and non‐intensive work are best explored by encouraging more conceptually rigorous and clinically specific descriptions of the different kinds of analytic assumptions and methods employed in ordinary analytic clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of liquid agitation in pump-driven tanks within integrated tanks has significantly escalated due to the growing demands for tank integration in new- energy vehicles. In order to solve the problem of liquid sloshing in integrated tanks, this paper presents the design of a baffle structure aimed at reducing waves in integrated water tanks. The numerical simulation method of combining the level-set function with the volume of fluid (CLSVOF) has been employed, significantly enhancing the accuracy of numerical calculations related to a two- phase flow field inside an integrated tank. A comparison was made by analyzing different factors, notably baffle length (L), baffle depth (H), and baffle angle (θ), to investigate their influences in suppressing liquid agitation within the integrated water tank. Numerical computations were conducted utilizing design points acquired by the Latin hypercube sampling technique. The Kriging approximation modelling method was employed to hold down computing time. The Pareto solution was obtained by means of the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II, while the optimal solution set was evaluated and ranked using the multi-criteria decision-making algorithm (MCDM). The results show that increasing the baffle depth within a certain range can effectively suppress the wave height in the tank. When the baffle depth is increased to a certain value, the effect on wave-height suppression in the water tank is limited. When the baffle length and angle of the baffle exceed a certain value, it will also have the effect of suppressing the wave height in the tank. After comparing various factors of the baffle, it was ultimately found that the wave suppression effect is maximal when the length of the baffle is 13 millimeters, the depth of the baffle is 49 millimeters, and the angle of the baffle is -20 degrees. The main contribution of this study is the proposed wave-suppressing baffle structure, which provides new insights for the future structural design of integrated water tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This collaborative-participatory research aimed to develop the research agenda of the college of teacher education (CTE) of a state university in Zambales, Philippines from 2017 to 2021. The research involved the core research group, faculty researchers, campus and university officials, and stakeholders such as students, alumni, and partner agencies (department of education (DeEd) faculty and administrators). The study was carried out in the first quarter of 2017 to develop the CTE research agenda framework, identify the key research areas, and present to the stakeholders. During the third quarter of 2018, the developed research agenda was revisited and reformulated as the university was converted into a more comprehensive university. A total of six themes were included in the final CTE research agenda framework with corresponding theme descriptions and research topics. The use of participatory-collaborative research effectively develops a college research agenda of the CTE. The processes involved in research agenda setting can serve as a basis for other teacher education institutions (TEIs) in coming up with their respective research agenda geared towards uplifting the quality of teacher education. The study could also serve as a guide for other colleges in formulating and revisiting their research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water walks are a research method to collect qualitative data conducted in motion with water or water‐related infrastructure. The water walk has a range of benefits and is gaining popularity, yet few resources exist for those interested in the method. There is a need to consolidate existing understanding and insights across disciplines and areas of study. This way, the water walk, its applications, and specificities are accessible to and can be critically appraised by diverse researchers and research participants. We respond by offering an entry point for those interested in using water walks in data collection and providing an inclusionary and concise examination of the research method. First, we conceptualize and position our interpretation and use of water walks and the proposed benefits. Second, we discuss the practical and ethical aspects of the method. Third, we examine four water walks from our research according to three planes of variation, including (i) who leads the walk, (ii) the mode of walking, and (iii) the approach to engaging with water during the walk. These planes of variation allow others to embrace water walks as part of a research craft that can be molded to diverse research questions and designs, always with reflection vigor and commitment to their participants at the core. We argue that researchers must take a critical approach to water walks and contextualize the method in relation to the wider socio‐political landscape within which our relationship with water, and how we (can) move around and engage with it, is shaped.This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Methods Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Value of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of tremendous violence and multiple crises, we are reminded that ours should not only be a discipline that examines crises, but also one that actively contributes to their resolution. What does IR as a discipline owe—or what must we give—to the pressing concerns of our times? What do we, in IR, owe to each other as a scholarly community or professional class? This essay argues for a reinterrogation of our discipline’s relationship with ‘crisis’ as subject matter, method and motivation. It also makes a case for paying greater attention to our obligations to society and to one another as public intellectuals in need of collective methods to think across political and disciplinary divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this text is to present the different approaches and mechanisms of a training engineering based on the current analysis of the work of the "clinic of activity". Called clinical didactic engineering of activity, this approach is based on the principles of the clinic of activity to design and implement professional training systems and thus solve a recurring question that all professional training engineers come up against, which is that of transposing work activity, without distorting it. Illustrated by two examples in health and services, this text proposes a first structuring of such engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the necessity of measuring the air content in oil in two-phase flows in the context of general industry, a review of the most popular methods of measuring the air content in oil was carried out. This review includes an assessment of their advantages and disadvantages and of whether they meet criteria such as the degree of filling, the size and number of bubbles, verification, the absence of additional pressure drops, simplicity, and repeatability. In the review, the following methods were examined: the classic trapping method, a modified trapping method, a trapping method using hydrostatic pressure loss, the pressure loss due to frictional flow resistance, the pressure loss with a rapid increase in diameter, the pressure drop in a Venturi tube, the pressure drop in an orifice, a method using the Coriolis effect, the electrical resistance method, the electrical conductivity method, the electromagnetic method, the electrical capacitance method, the thermal anemometry method, the liquid–solid contact electrification method, the photographic method, holography, light scattering, sound dispersion, the ultrasonic transit-time method, X-ray radiation, gamma radiation, neutron radiation, and fiber-optic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of digital technologies into social science has catalyzed the development of fields such as digital sociology, digital humanities, and digital social sciences more broadly. This technological shift has significant methodological implications for social science research, which are being increasingly discussed. This discussion raises critical questions about the potential and limitations of merging traditional social research methodologies with digital innovations. Digitized and digital methods have brought about promises of a new era in social science research. However, some scholars have highlighted the challenges and limitations associated with this methodological transition, including data-relevant considerations, skill and expertise issues, and ethical concerns. From the vantage point of advancements in science and technology studies (STS) – a discipline that has engaged with the methods and practices of knowledge production for some decades – I will explore five additional methodological challenges posed by the digitization of social science research that has been largely overlooked or neglected in the literature of digital methods. Our analysis concludes that while digital methods can serve as valuable complementary tools, they are not sufficient to fully engage with the core practices and phenomena of social science research. Thus, digital and traditional methods can coexist, albeit not in a symmetrical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rize Theology Journal / Rize Ilahiyat Dergisi is the property of Rize Theology 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.)

Objective: To discuss how methods to estimate heterogenous causal effects can be applied in Family Science and to supply empirical examples using the case of fatherhood and earnings. Background: Many questions important to family scientists do not focus on one‐size‐fits‐all average effects but rather on whether and how effects differ across groups. Recent methodological advances can assist this latter focus, offering new insights for theory and policy. Method: Using Danish administrative data on all men who entered fatherhood 2005–2016 and on men of comparable age who did not, we focus on two types of heterogeneity in effects. First, effect heterogeneity across observed and unobserved covariates; second, treatment effect heterogeneity across the distribution of outcome variables. Results: The fatherhood premium on annual labor income is, in fact, a fatherhood penalty on average and across most margins of heterogeneity. Substantial heterogeneity exists across observed and unobserved characteristics and across the distribution of labor market earnings, with results indicating larger penalties for lower earners and those least likely to become fathers. Conclusions: Effect heterogeneity in Family Science holds great potential to inform policy and theory. However, causal interpretations always require assumptions, and researchers must be vigilant that the assumptions they make are warranted for each specific application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high frequency of recurrent bronchial obstruction in children of early and preschool age is due to both the morpho-functional characteristics of the respiratory tract in children of this age group and the high frequency of acute respiratory infections. Diagnosis of bronchial asthma in children under five years of age presents objective difficulties. Not all children with recurrent virus-induced obstruction subsequently develop bronchial asthma. Nevertheless, the use of an analysis of family and personal allergic history, characteristics of the clinical manifestations of the disease and response to antiinflammatory therapy (if indicated) makes it possible to establish a diagnosis of bronchial asthma at any age and prescribe basic therapy in accordance with the severity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article substantiates the possibility of solving a difficult task to offer a reliable estimate of the residual resource of the power plant of a hybrid car, which is exposed during operation to the influence of a complex set of external factors. This task is solved by monitoring the time change of diagnostic parameters and controlling the load–speed mode of the hybrid power plant, as well as using physical and chemical processes that cause the degradation of the traction battery. Methodological principles for assessing the resource of a hybrid power plant of a car have been developed, which are based on the disclosure of cause-and-effect relationships between realized and nominal quality indicators, operating conditions, and indicators of technical condition. The choice of rational solutions for the operation of a hybrid car is given, and the external conditions are determined, under which the residual life of the hybrid power plant will change. The scientific result of the study is a theoretical generalization of the scientific provisions of forecasting the resource of the hybrid power plant of a car. This ensures the efficient use of hybrid vehicles and reduces maintenance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to test the performance of a silver wire modified version of the coded telemetric heart rate monitor Polar Vantage NV™ (PVNV) and to measure heart rate (HR) in a group of captive reindeer calves during different behaviour. The technical performance of PVNV HR monitors was tested in cold conditions (-30°C) using a pulse generator and the correlation between generated pulse and PVNV values was high (r = 0.9957). The accuracy was tested by comparing the HR obtained with the PVNV monitor with the standard ECG, and the correlation was significant (r = 0.9965). Both circadian HR and HR related to behavioural pattern were recorded. A circadian rhythm was observed in the HR in reindeer with a minimum during night and early morning hours and maximum at noon and during the afternoon, the average HR of the reindeer calves studied being 42.5 beats/min in February. The behaviour was recorded by focal individual observations and the data was synchronized with the output of the HR monitors. Running differed from all other behavioural categories in HR. Inter-individual differences were seen expressing individual responses to external and internal stimuli. The silver wire modified Polar Vantage NV™ provides a suitable and reliable tool for measuring heart rate in reindeer, also in natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review systematically analyzes 100 critical scholarly articles, utilizing testimonio as a primary research method and methodology, alongside literary criticism. This descriptive and pragmatic methodological examination explores scholars’ processes to collect testimonios, highlighting the various data collection procedures involved. Testimonio as collaborative intellectual production framed in critical race feminist methodology is a multimethodological research design that was analyzed and numerically tabulated. The reviewed literature was classified into two categories and nine subthemes. Fundamental Methods, the first category, encompasses several subthemes: (1) Co-creation, (2) Critical Ethnography, (3) Autoethnography and Autobiography, (4) Narrative and Journalism, (5) Art-based Approaches and Pláticas, and (6) Reflexivity and Reflexión. The second category, Peripheral Perceptions, introduces the following subthemes: (7) Synoptic Literature Review, (8) Literary Criticism, and (9) Guidelines. This project emerged in response to the lack of examinations specifically focused on the range of techniques for data collection procedures, and summarizes the most remarkable theoretical frameworks, epistemologies, and characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) are time-consuming and labor-intensive to perform. With the growing number of scientific publications, the SR development process becomes even more laborious. This is problematic because timely SR evidence is essential for decision-making in evidence-based healthcare and policymaking. Numerous methods and tools that accelerate SR development have recently emerged. To date, no scoping review has been conducted to provide a comprehensive summary of methods and ready-to-use tools to improve efficiency in SR production. Objective: To present an overview of primary studies that evaluated the use of ready-to-use applications of tools or review methods to improve efficiency in the review process. Methods: We conducted a scoping review. An information specialist performed a systematic literature search in four databases, supplemented with citation-based and grey literature searching. We included studies reporting the performance of methods and ready-to-use tools for improving efficiency when producing or updating a SR in the health field. We performed dual, independent title and abstract screening, full-text selection, and data extraction. The results were analyzed descriptively and presented narratively. Results: We included 103 studies: 51 studies reported on methods, 54 studies on tools, and 2 studies reported on both methods and tools to make SR production more efficient. A total of 72 studies evaluated the validity (n = 69) or usability (n = 3) of one method (n = 33) or tool (n = 39), and 31 studies performed comparative analyses of different methods (n = 15) or tools (n = 16). 20 studies conducted prospective evaluations in real-time workflows. Most studies evaluated methods or tools that aimed at screening titles and abstracts (n = 42) and literature searching (n = 24), while for other steps of the SR process, only a few studies were found. Regarding the outcomes included, most studies reported on validity outcomes (n = 84), while outcomes such as impact on results (n = 23), time-saving (n = 24), usability (n = 13), and cost-saving (n = 3) were less often evaluated. Conclusion: For title and abstract screening and literature searching, various evaluated methods and tools are available that aim at improving the efficiency of SR production. However, only few studies have addressed the influence of these methods and tools in real-world workflows. Few studies exist that evaluate methods or tools supporting the remaining tasks. Additionally, while validity outcomes are frequently reported, there is a lack of evaluation regarding other outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of this research is due to: the importance of the debate between people of religions, by highlighting the role of scholars in it, “including Al-Baji,” and it aims to answer the following questions: Who is Abu Al-Walid Al-Baji? What is the subject of his message? And the reason for it? What is the etiquette of events included in Al-Baji’s message? What lesson did Al-Baji learn? In his response to the rehab of France?, it includes demands, the most important of which are: The biography of Abu al-Walid al-Baji,: Al-Baji’s message to the rehab of France and its subject, the divinity of Jesus and the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, al-Baji’s approach to criticizing the divinity of Jesus and his restriction of the Trinity among the Christians. The research concluded with results, the most important of which are: - There is a nationMuhammad - may God bless him and grant him peace - is goodness that does not cease with the lengthening of time and the passing of days. The clear one is the best nation of nine people, and it is the last of the United Nations, and these proposals were dependent on what it does in enjoining good and forbidding evil . Christianity is a religion that God revealed to Jesus - peace be upon him - and it is a monotheistic religion like the rest of the religions that the messengers brought from God, Blessed and Most High . -The message of the jurist Al-Baji is the epitome of Islamic goodness, stemming from the duty of defending the neighborhood of the Islamic religion . Al-Baji’s message was distinguished as evidence of the accuracy and superiority of scholars in defining the science of religions. -Recognition that using scientific lessons and employing them in responses gives them durability and strength of argument- and proof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmembrane nitrate reductase (Nar) is the first enzyme in the dissimilatory alternate anaerobic nitrate respiratory chain in denitrifying bacteria. To date, there has been no real-time method to determine its specific activity embedded in its native membrane; here, we describe such a new method, which is useful with the inside-out membranes of Paracoccus denitrificans and other denitrifying bacteria. This new method takes advantage of the native coupling of the endogenous NADH dehydrogenase or Complex I with the reduction of nitrate by Nar through the quinone pool of the inner membranes of P. denitrificans. This is achieved under previously reached anaerobic conditions. Inner controls confirming the specific Nar activity determined by this new method were made by the total inhibition of the Nar enzyme by sodium azide and cyanide, well-known Nar inhibitors. The estimation of the Michaelis–Menten affinity of Nar for NO3− using this so-called Nar-JJ assay gave a Km of 70.4 μM, similar to previously determined values. This new Nar-JJ assay is a suitable, low-cost, and reproducible method to determine in real-time the endogenous Nar activity not only in P. denitrificans, but in other denitrifying bacteria such as Brucella canis, and potentially in other entero-pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine fishes face many challenges including habitat degradation and climate change, which alter the productivity of the riverscapes in which fish live, reproduce, and feed. Understanding the watershed portfolio of foraging and growth opportunities that sustain productive and resilient fish populations is important for prioritizing conservation and restoration. However, the spatiotemporal distribution and availability of fish food are poorly understood relative to other factors such as abiotic habitat quantity and quality (e.g., water temperature). In this paper, we build on the concept of “foodscapes,” and describe three components of food for fish, including abundance, accessibility, and quality. We then discuss methodological advances to help address three key questions: (1) Why is food availability hard to estimate? (2) What are the consequences of uncertainty in food availability estimates? and (3) What approaches are available or emerging for quantifying food available to fish? To address the first question, we characterize data acquisition and analytical challenges; for the second, we demonstrate the importance of evaluating and communicating potential consequences of uncertainty; and for the third, we posit opportunities for future work. Collectively, we highlight the need for greater appreciation of the role food plays in stream fish conservation, especially given its critical influence on responses to warming temperatures.This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Water and Life > Methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unіque specіfіcіty of enzymes makes bіocatalytіc processes more technologіcally advanced compared to chemіcal ones. Hydrolytіc enzymes are the most wіdely used. Currently, enzyme preparatіons (EP) based on hydrolytіc enzymes are іncreasіngly used іn pharmaceutіcal productіon, medіcіne, food and chemіcal іndustrіes. The practіcal use of proteolytіc enzymes іs varіed, the most sіgnіfіcant іs theіr use іn surgery for the treatment of wound surfaces of varіous etіologіes, whіch іs due to the localіty of actіon: the rapіd rejectіon of non-vіable tіssue, wіthout affectіng healthy areas. The goal of the work іs to develop stabіlіzed forms of hydrolytіc enzymes that can be used for technіcal and pharmaceutіcal purposes, as well as to evaluate theіr effectіveness based on the analysіs of theіr kіnetіc and thermodynamіc parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the leading causes of disability and death among adults worldwide. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of AIS, driven by a deeper understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms and innovations in therapeutic methods. These advancements range from multimodal imaging to the applications of biomarkers, from intravenous thrombolysis to mechanical thrombectomy, from immunomodulation to neuroprotective strategies, and from stem cell therapy to nanomedicine. The field has evolved from drug treatments alone to comprehensive therapeutic models that combine medication with mechanical thrombectomy. The management of AIS is increasingly moving towards individualized, precise, effective, and holistic approaches. Through applying diverse and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the early diagnosis level and treatment efficacy of AIS can be enhanced, and ultimately the patients’ outcomes can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To design user-centered services, it is essential to build empathy toward users. It is hence strategic to trigger empathy for users among professionals concerned with shaping service user experiences. There is, however, a lack of quantitative tools to measure empathy in design. Through two studies, we report on the development and validation of the Empathy in Design Scale (EMPA-D). The tool aims to measure service employees' empathy toward users. Grounded in theories from psychology and design, we first generated and tested a pool of items through expert inspection and cognitive interviews. In Study 1, we administered 16 items to 406 full-time service employees from various industries, including employees in customer-facing positions. In Study 2, we iterated on additional items and administered a revised scale to 305 service employees. The selected model consists of 11 items and has a three-factor structure (Emotional interest/Perspective-taking , Personal experience and Self-awareness) , which showed an adequate model fit and good internal consistency. Evidence of convergent validity was provided by moderate correlations of the EMPA-D scale with empathy measures in psychology (SITES, Empathy Quotient, Interpersonal Reactivity Index), whereas discriminant validity was demonstrated by low correlations with the narcissism measure Narcissistic Personal Inventory. We outline how this self-reported empathy measure can support organizations in enhancing their services and discuss potential limitations of quantitatively measuring empathy in service teams. Research Highlights We present the development and validation of the Empathy in Design Scale (EMPA-D), a self-report measure of employees' empathy toward users of a service. We report on two validation studies and document the psychometric properties of the scale. The selected model consists of 11 items and a three-factor structure (Emotional interest/Perspective-taking, Personal experience and Self-awareness). The resulting EMPA-D scale contributes to filling the gap in metrics to assess empathy in the service design context. In industry, measuring employees' empathy support the selection of appropriate empathic interventions to foster the service user-centeredness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important functions of law is the resolution of disputes. However, legal means of dispute resolution, such as judicial settlement and arbitration, are often not chosen by the parties involved in international disputes. This can be explained by several reasons. In legal doctrine, it is a common view that parties avoid legal means due to the binding nature of the decisions rendered, yet this is far from the only reason why parties refuse these methods. In particular, one of the main reasons they avoid legal means is the uncertainty regarding whether the decision based on law will be equitable. There are many grounds for this, as legal norms contained in international legal documents, adopted several decades ago, may not correspond to modern realities. Therefore, the application of such norms can quite reasonably raise concerns among the parties about the potential for an inequitable decision based on them. In such cases, the method of ex aequo et bono may prove to be a practical tool for excluding the possibility of an inequitable decision based on legal norms. Contrary to popular misconception, the use of the ex aequo et bono method does not imply a complete rejection of legal norms. When applying this method, basic legal norms are often used to provide a legal foundation for decisions and to enhance their overall objectivity. However, in the application of the method ex aequo et bono, those legal norms that may lead to an inequitable decision are not applied. In this case, an equitable decision is often determined based on an analysis of the goals and principles of legal documents regulating the relevant issues, including an analysis of the document containing the legal norm whose application could have led to an inequitable decision. Thus, the ex aequo et bono method is a rather flexible peaceful means, combining valuable features of both equity and law. There is a deficit of information regarding the ex aequo et bono method in international legal documents. In particular, the lack of a clear definition, conditions, and rules for applying the ex aequo et bono method presents a significant obstacle to its extensive use in international practice. Therefore, appropriate lawmaking work should be undertaken in this area to fill legal gaps. The goal of the scientific article is to study the legal aspects of the ex aequo et bono method and identify the main problems negatively affecting the practice of its application. The results of the research showed the high practical value of the ex aequo et bono method in dispute resolution, especially in modern conditions when the use of flexible means is becoming increasingly relevant. The article aimed to condense, specify and expand legal knowledge about the ex aequo et bono method and may present significant scientific value for lawyers interested in judicial and arbitration practices; legal scholars; practicing judges and arbitrators; parties with unresolved disputes; as well as philosophers researching the relationship between equity and law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Universal Excellence (JUE) / Revija za Univerzalno Odličnost (RUO) is the property of Fakulteta za Organizacijske Studije v Novem mestu 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.)

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is responsible for nearly 250,000 deaths annually and poses a significant health threat in developing areas. The unclear pathogenesis of RHD makes the development of cost-effective treatments challenging, particularly as current surgical options are expensive and technologically demanding, exacerbating the economic and quality-of-life burdens for patients. Given the risks associated with direct human experimentation due to the uncertain pathogenesis, using a rat model infected with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) has become a crucial experimental strategy for RHD research. The development of an RHD rat model, refined over 23 years, now stands as a pivotal approach in studies aiming to understand the disease’s pathogenesis. This review summarizes the evolution, characteristics, advantages, and limitations of the RHD rat model, offering insights into potential areas for improvement. It aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the model, supporting the advancement of research methodologies and the discovery of innovative treatments for RHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deploys servicisation as a case study to discuss economists' methods and the confirmation bias issue. Data show the average pattern of structural transformation in developing countries has since the early 1990s been servicisation, and the faster the growth, the greater the servicisation. Data also show that servicisation has been an extremely under-researched topic compared with industrialisation. This is an example of confirmation bias—weak links between theory and facts—that erodes the plausibility of policy advice. The paper analyses methods and their policing, and points to issues to address to reduce risks of confirmation bias by strengthening 'the power of facts'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Many species use chemical messengers to communicate a remarkable range of information. Mice appear to make particular use of chemical messengers, including effects on estrous cycling and initiation, pregnancy, aggression, stress and of course attraction. Behavioral studies have helped identify several candidate messengers, or pheromones, that mediate attraction in mice. One question is whether attractive chemical messengers induced a physical vaginal secretory response. The preparation hypothesis posits that increased vaginal secretion would lubricate and protect the vagina in response to the prospect of imminent coitus, but this has been difficult to assess experimentally, particularly in mice. We developed a rapid, sensitive, minimally invasive method of quantifying vaginal moisture in mice and used this model to test vaginal secretory responses to male bedding. We report that female mice experience an increase in vaginal moisture after exposure to male, but not female, bedding. This response is induced by either physical or airborne exposure to male urine, to preputial gland extract, and to the preputial gland-derived pheromone alpha/beta farnesenes. This vaginal response is diurnally regulated, seen only during their active phase. The response is sensitive to the estrous phase, with a clear response during estrus but not during metestrus. We conclude that mice may serve as a model for aspects of vaginal function and that this assay will be readily applicable to other small animals. The identification of a pheromone-mediated vaginal secretory response offers a window into the regulation of the vaginal environment and the neurobiology of sexual responses in mice.

This article explores models of information use for activity, highlighting the role of information in typical activities. It proposes that altering activity is the primary mechanism through which information is used. Three types of models are presented as essential for researching these alterations: Models of information delivery: These models address questions about the message delivered, the information added to the state of a specific activity, and the nature of the information itself; Models of changes in activity: These models focus on understanding what changes occur as a result of information received, how these changes manifest, and the reasons behind them; Models of changed activity fulfillment: These models address questions about how changes in activity are realized and how the results of the altered activity align with evolving demands. Examples of such models are provided, including diagrammatic, algebraic, and measure-theoretic models. These models are expected to pave the way for future research, potentially leading to the development of a contemporary theory of information application for activity, with implications for various fields, including business informatics, applied informatics, cybernetics, and organizational theory.

Abstract Although DNA extraction is a crucial step before polymerase chain reaction (PCR), attempts to perform PCR without DNA isolation have been ongoing since the 1990s. While partial success has been achieved with direct conventional PCR, the DNA isolation step has remained indispensable for real-time PCR. Here, we developed a method that does not require complete DNA isolation by lysing EDTA-treated whole blood samples through the application of osmotic pressure and heat, followed by centrifugation to get a clear lysate. Blood samples were mixed with distilled water, incubated at 95 °C for 20 min before centrifugation at 14,000 rpm for 5 min. The resulting lysates were used as templates for real-time PCR. Real-time PCRs were performed under identical conditions with lysates and DNA samples using 9 different primer sets. Target genes were successfully amplified using 1:10 and 1:5 diluted blood lysates both at 60 °C and 61 °C. The PCR efficiency for ACTB and PIK3CA differed by 20% and 14%, respectively, between the DNA samples and blood lysates. We successfully amplified all selected genes using “GG-RT PCR”, greater temperature, greater speed method, without the need for additional enzymes or buffers. GG-RT PCR presents a cost effective option for applications such as SNP analysis and deletion detection if appropriate primer designs are made.

This study compares the neo-institutional studies published by researchers in North American institutions in leading management and organization journals based in North America with those published by researchers in European institutions in leading management and organization journals based in Europe. The comparison is based on methodological preferences employed in studies that reveal differences in researchers' approaches to organizational analysis in the two geographic regions and tendencies to reference prominent European thinkers, referred to as "European-ness." The findings confirm significant differences in methodological approaches and referencing of prominent thinkers in the neo-institutional studies conducted by academics in both geographic regions. The findings indicate that dominant research traditions in those geographies shape theories adopted in different geographies.

Abstract Background Systematic reviews (SRs) are time-consuming and labor-intensive to perform. With the growing number of scientific publications, the SR development process becomes even more laborious. This is problematic because timely SR evidence is essential for decision-making in evidence-based healthcare and policymaking. Numerous methods and tools that accelerate SR development have recently emerged. To date, no scoping review has been conducted to provide a comprehensive summary of methods and ready-to-use tools to improve efficiency in SR production. Objective To present an overview of primary studies that evaluated the use of ready-to-use applications of tools or review methods to improve efficiency in the review process. Methods We conducted a scoping review. An information specialist performed a systematic literature search in four databases, supplemented with citation-based and grey literature searching. We included studies reporting the performance of methods and ready-to-use tools for improving efficiency when producing or updating a SR in the health field. We performed dual, independent title and abstract screening, full-text selection, and data extraction. The results were analyzed descriptively and presented narratively. Results We included 103 studies: 51 studies reported on methods, 54 studies on tools, and 2 studies reported on both methods and tools to make SR production more efficient. A total of 72 studies evaluated the validity (n = 69) or usability (n = 3) of one method (n = 33) or tool (n = 39), and 31 studies performed comparative analyses of different methods (n = 15) or tools (n = 16). 20 studies conducted prospective evaluations in real-time workflows. Most studies evaluated methods or tools that aimed at screening titles and abstracts (n = 42) and literature searching (n = 24), while for other steps of the SR process, only a few studies were found. Regarding the outcomes included, most studies reported on validity outcomes (n = 84), while outcomes such as impact on results (n = 23), time-saving (n = 24), usability (n = 13), and cost-saving (n = 3) were less often evaluated. Conclusion For title and abstract screening and literature searching, various evaluated methods and tools are available that aim at improving the efficiency of SR production. However, only few studies have addressed the influence of these methods and tools in real-world workflows. Few studies exist that evaluate methods or tools supporting the remaining tasks. Additionally, while validity outcomes are frequently reported, there is a lack of evaluation regarding other outcomes.

The study examined Undergraduates’ awareness of the use of technological tools for information collection and analysis. Specifically, the study is focused on: (i) examining how often final-year undergraduates have heard about the different methods used to collect information about a respondent or participants (ii) investigating how commonly final-year undergraduates believe technological tools are used to collect information (iii) examining how frequently final-year undergraduates have heard about technological tools used to analyze information collected. The sample of the study comprised 100 undergraduates selected using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. The results revealed that the respondents are aware of the common methods (questionnaire, experiment, and interview) used to collect information, except for focused group discussion, which is occasionally used as a method to collect information. Also, it was revealed that the use of computer-assisted tools, social media, and audio-visual tools are common technological tools used to collect information, with low awareness of the use of Google Forms and email. The use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel for information analysis is common amongst undergraduates, which showed high awareness whereas, the use of ACTIVITY INSIGHT, STATA, and NVIVO is not frequent, which showed low awareness. Awareness and practical teachings be organized for undergraduates on the different methods as well as technological tools that can be to collect and analyze information respectively.

Previous studies have evaluated method performance for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in clean water, but little is known about the efficacy of procedures used to extract microplastics from complex matrices. Here we provided 15 laboratories with samples representing four matrices (i.e., drinking water, fish tissue, sediment, and surface water) each spiked with a known number of microplastic particles spanning a variety of polymers, morphologies, colors, and sizes. Percent recovery (i.e., accuracy) in complex matrices was particle size dependent, with ∼60-70% recovery for particles >212 μm, but as little as 2% recovery for particles

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Abstract Background Occipital nerve blocks are essential in diagnosing and treating headache disorders such as migraine, cervicogenic headache, occipital neuralgia, and cluster headache. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential compression points of the greater occipital nerve (GON), third occipital nerve (TON), and lesser occipital nerve (LON) which are targeted to block in occipital nerve blocks and to develop a method to detect these points easily. Methods To identify potential compression points of the GON, TON, and LON, we dissected 43, 41, and 26 cadavers, respectively. A rigid, transparent tool divided into 1 × 1 cm sections was placed on the external occipital protuberance to measure the determined points. The cadaveric head was viewed from above, vertically, and the coordinates corresponding to each point were noted separately. Results Six, four, and one potential entrapment points were detected for the GON, TON, and LON, respectively. The distances of the point where the GON arose from the lower border of the obliquus capitis inferior muscle and the emerging point of the TON from the C2-C3 vertebrae to the posterior midline were statistically significant in terms of the sides (p = 0.040). Similarly, there was a statistical significance between genders for the distance of the point where the LON arose from the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to the posterior midline (p = 0.002). Conclusions We believe that with the method developed, the GON, TON, and LON compression points can be easily localized and blocked in diagnosing and treating patients experiencing headaches such as migraines, cervicogenic headaches, occipital neuralgia, and cluster headache.

Abstract Microplastics accumulate in the environment but methods to extract particles from sediment for quantification and identification often lack accuracy and reproducibility. Existing methods vary greatly and many do not achieve adequate microplastic separation. During method development for extraction procedures, spike-recovery experiments (positive controls) are essential to ensure accurate and reproducible results from each sample matrix. Furthermore, the large variability in grain size and organic matter can affect the extraction of microplastics from the matrix. Scientists have used density separation to separate microplastics from matrices for decades, but apparatuses are often made of plastic, need to be custom made, and require multiple sample transfers from one apparatus to another. This study presents an affordable, easily accessible, and simple to use Density Separation Device (DSD) to remove plastics from deep-sea sediments. Eight polymers were spiked into replicates of environmental sediment, including six fragments: high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), nylon (PA6), and crumb rubber (CR) and two fibers: cellulose acetate (CA) and polyester (PEST). Two size classes of polymers were used: 100 μm to 300 μm and > 300 μm. Using a sodium polytungstate solution at a density of 1.9 g/mL and reflectance FTIR microscopy for particle identification, mean recoveries of all fragments exceeded 78% (CR: 92.7% ± 30.8%, PP: 78.4% ± 34.0%, HDPE: 93.8% ± 13.5%, PS: 86.9% ± 25.7%, PA6: 98.4% ± 63.2%, PVC: 100.0% ± 12.4%). Fiber recovery was much lower (PEST: 28.1% ± 28.1% and CA: 25.9% ± 17.3%) because they aggregated, passed through sieves vertically, or were obscured under other particles. The fragment recovery success, accessibility (available online, all parts under $200) and ease of use of this DSD should facilitate widespread use, thus helping to standardize sample preparation methods for microplastic metrology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine a current approach to en bloc para-aortic lymphadenectomy and to compare the results of this new approach performed by way of laparotomy and endoscopically. Methods: This study was conducted on 191 patients with endometrial cancer (EC) who had undergone para-aortic lymph node (PaLN) dissection with the current method (en. bloc paraaortic lymphadenectomy; protect inferior mesenteric artery and superior hypogastric plexus) between January 2015 and September 2019. A description of the paraaortic lymphadenectomy technique was made in this study. Harvested lymph node counts, operational information, pathological features, postoperative complications, recurrence were presented. Results: A total of 191 EC patients were analyzed in two separate groups with regard to surgical approach. Open and minimally invasive surgery was composed of 141 and 50 patients, respectively. There was no difference between the groups in respect of age, body mass index, menopausal status, anesthesia time, chylous ascites, the presence of recurrence. We found in open surgery group that pre-operative CA125 level, amount of intraoperative bleeding, erythrocyte suspension transfusion, number of PaLNs, metastatic PaLN counts, and early postoperative complications were significantly higher than the other group. Conclusion: The current method has some advantages such as protecting normal body structures, resulting in the same lymph node counts with published articles by other authors previously, and having lower recurrence rates. Two approaches of the current technique are feasible, easy to perform and effective.

Few studies have examined how to strengthen the muscles around the pelvis after trauma and none mention the trunk. This narrative review focuses on rehabilitation after pelvic trauma and discusses it from the perspective of muscle strengthening. The literature was searched to identify methods for strengthening muscles around the pelvis (i.e., the trunk to the lower extremities). We also examined the reference lists of the papers captured by our literature search to identify additional potentially relevant research. Our review proposes methods for strengthening each muscle around the pelvis. At present, it is not possible to establish a clear strengthening method for the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles. We recommend exercise within the bodyweight range starting immediately after pelvic fracture surgery. Muscle strengthening exercises should be started after about 12 weeks when the sutured muscles have fused.

The problem at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 Langkat is that there are still many students who consider learning Arabic to be a boring and monotonous lesson, resulting in students lacking mastery of the material, especially in vocabulary mastery. Researchers try to solve this problem by using the Index Card Match learning model. This study aims to determine the application of Index Card Match learning in students' mastery of Arabic vocabulary. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach, this study method includes classroom observation, documentation and interviews with teachers and students. The Index Card Match method in class XI MAN 2 Langkat allows students to play an active role in group learning by competing with each other in finding the right card pair. The results of the study show that the application of the Index Card Match method can have a positive impact on students' active learning of Arabic vocabulary and also increase from before. Students are more active in asking the teacher about their own ideas and other people's ideas and answering questions, more enthusiastic about paying attention to the teacher when explaining the lesson, listening to the description, enthusiastic and responsive in looking for pairs of question cards and answers.

The mechanism of criminal activity consists of various elements that require a thorough study in the process of understanding the event of a criminal offence, i.e. during the pre-trial investigation. It consists of a large number of elements that are determined by the type of criminal offence and the specifics of the criminal activity of a particular person or group of persons. An obligatory element that requires a thorough study during theoretical research and in the course of cognitive activity of an investigator, detective or coroner is the method of committing a criminal offence. The method is an independent and compulsory element of the forensic characterisation of any type of criminal offence, and the need to cognise it is due to the need to present the information model of the illegal activity (actions) of a raider or a group of raiders, on the basis of which other elements of certain forensic techniques will be built. Given that the method embodies the objective side of a criminal offence, the complexity of its establishment and proof in the cognitive activity of an investigator, detective, coroner, therefore, in the context of cognition of raiding, it is subject to a thorough study. Based on the textual analysis of criminal law provisions, generalisation of theoretical developments, statistical data and law enforcement practice, the article establishes that criminal offences related to raiding are numerous, and the methods of their commission are mostly two-component and include actions related to preparation and direct commission. The mandatory features of each of the criminal offences under study are: 1) the use of pseudo-legal mechanisms, which may include the use of forged documents, seals, stamps, conclusion of fictitious transactions, etc.; 2) the focus, which is not on the simple acquisition of objects or certain assets of a business entity, but on the rights to an enterprise, institution, organisation with its production facilities, etc. The peculiarities of preparation for a raider seizure, peculiarities of preventive activities of this type of illegal activity are determined, and the role of the Office for Combating Raiding in this area is defined. Prospects for further research within the framework of the studied issues are outlined.