Search Results (1,344)

Parental involvement is essential in interventions aimed at enhancing communication outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has shown that parents can effectively implement evidence-based strategies following professional coaching. However, there is a notable gap in research on the procedures of parent coaching provided to families of children with ASD in Taiwan. This study aims to evaluate a protocol for distance-delivered parent coaching focused on the implementation of evidence-based strategies for parents of children with ASD. This study employed a multiple-probe design across participants to assess both parent implementation of intervention strategies and the communication outcomes of the children involved. The results demonstrated that the online parent coaching program effectively increased parents’ use of evidence-based intervention strategies, which corresponded to measurable improvements in the target communication behaviors of children with ASD. Also, this study highlighted potential challenges, such as the influence of children’s challenging behaviors on the intensity and effectiveness of parent coaching. These findings contribute to the clinical significance of distance caregiver coaching as a possible approach to supporting families of children with ASD, particularly in underserved areas. The necessity of tailoring service intensity and incorporating culturally responsive practices for the diverse needs of families of children with ASD and effective intervention implementation is discussed in this study. Full article

Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change and increasing agricultural water demands, highlights the necessity for efficient irrigation management. This study focused on estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in watermelons under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions by integrating high-resolution satellite imagery and agro-meteorological data. Field experiments were conducted in Rutigliano, southern Italy, over a 2.80 ha area. ETa was measured with the eddy covariance (EC) technique and predicted using machine learning models. Multispectral reflectance data from Planet SuperDove satellites and local meteorological records were used as predictors. Partial least squares, the generalized linear model and three machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, Elastic Net, and Support Vector Machine) were evaluated. Random Forest yielded the highest predictive accuracy with an average R² of 0.74, RMSE of 0.577 mm, and MBE of 0.03 mm. Model interpretability was performed through permutation importance and SHAP, identifying the near-infrared and red spectral bands, average daily temperature, and relative humidity as key predictors. This integrated approach could provide a scalable, precise method for watermelon ETa estimation, supporting data-driven irrigation management and improving water use efficiency in Mediterranean horticultural systems. Full article

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 (BA) and Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) on the performance, morbidity and mortality rates, body measurements, immunity, rumen parameters, antioxidant parameters, microbiome level, and profitability of calves during the pre-weaning period. In the study, 51 calves were divided into three groups as one control and two treatment groups considering their age (1 day old), gender (nine females and eight males in each group), and birth weight (37.7 ± 0.4 kg). The calves in the control group (CON) were fed milk without supplements whereas the first treatment group (BA) was fed milk containing 10 mL/day/head of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 and the second treatment group (MCE) was fed milk containing 2 g/day/head of MCE. As a result, supplementing BA and MCE to calf milk had no significant effect on body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), morbidity and mortality rates, rumen pH, IgG, IgA, and IgM values, and gastrointestinal microbiota (p > 0.05). On the other hand, it was determined that body weight gain (BWG), body length, body depth, rump width, withers height change, rump height change, rump width change, and serum GSH level increased significantly in the BA group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). According to the partial budget analysis, despite the additional cost of supplementing BA to the calf milk, no calf deaths and lower disease were observed in this group, unlike the other groups, resulting in a lowest calf rearing cost and highest profit. In calves receiving MCE, withers height, rump height, body length, rump width, body depth, chest circumference change, withers height change, rump height change, and rump width change values increased significantly compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results obtained not only reveal the positive effects of BA and MCE on calves during the pre-weaning period, but also encourage the necessity of investigating their effects on the long-term performance of animals and farm economies. Full article

Lifelong urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is recommended for gout to prevent flares and urate deposition. However, concerns about its adherence, long-term side effects, and the necessity of continuous treatment after achieving remission raise critical questions. Two randomised controlled trials (RCTs), GO TEST Finale and STING, aim to evaluate the safety and feasibility of ULT discontinuation in gout patients in remission. The GO TEST Finale is a superiority trial involving 310 patients in the Netherlands, comparing a treat-to-target (T2T) ULT continuation strategy with ULT discontinuation. Patients in the discontinuation arm resume ULT only after flare recurrence or tophi development. The primary outcomes focus on remission criteria failure over 24 months, while the secondary outcomes explore predictors of successful discontinuation and cost-effectiveness. The STING study, a non-inferiority trial in France, includes 450 patients without ultrasound (US) evidence of urate deposits. Patients in the discontinuation group resume ULT if a US detects urate deposition during follow-up, minimising flare risk. The primary outcomes measure the proportion of patients experiencing flares at two years, with the secondary outcomes examining the long-term health impacts and cost-effectiveness. These trials provide an opportunity for translational research into the immunological and epigenetic effects of rising serum urate levels. The results could inform personalised strategies for a drug-free period and address the critical question of whether lifelong ULT is necessary for gout management. The complementary findings from both trials are expected to contribute significantly to resolving this ongoing clinical debate. Full article

Multiple myeloma is an incurable hematologic malignancy arising from plasma cells. The uncontrolled growth of monoclonal plasma cells leads to an abnormal overproduction of immunoglobulins. The recommended course of treatment for MM is according to disease progression and responses to therapeutic intervention, highlighting the necessity for multiple treatment options that alleviate different parts of MM. This comprehensive review provides insights into the current treatments and how to take preventative and prognostic measures. In advanced MM, osteoporosis is a common symptom that originates from a lack of regulation in osteoclast activity and bone resorption. Bisphosphonates such as zoledronic acid and pamidronate along with monoclonal antibodies such as denosumab hinder osteoclast function and aid in reducing the risk of fractures in patients with advanced MM. For targeted therapy approaches, proteasome inhibitors impede protein degradation pathways that cause an accumulation of misfolded proteins promoting cancer cell proliferation in patients with MM. CAR-T is another targeted therapy that can utilize T cells to target and isolate MM cells. Overall, this review highlights the frontrunners of treatments for those diagnosed with MM. Full article

Given the need to strengthen responses to the growing challenges posed by climate change, the purpose of this paper is to explore innovative approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives for tackling these issues, focusing on the role of the institutional framework, emerging technologies, and the necessity to also encourage the involvement of small-scale actors (such as citizens). The main approaches of this paper involve, first, the technological developments spurred by the necessity to effectively address climate change problems, emphasizing macro-level dimensions in terms of the political economy of green transition and the technological components of climate solutions. Parallel to that, it provides results and presents key elements of the legal context that promoted the sustainable transition, such as the establishment of a science-based policymaking process, the development of scientific data and tools, and efforts to encourage the participation of all relevant actors in sustainable economic development. Against this background, this paper puts forward the idea that a combined approach is required to address climate change issues, integrating top-down, e.g., macro-policy approaches with bottom-up strategies (with the latter allowing for a more dynamic participation of citizens and individuals), in order to complement current institutional, legal, policy, and technological measures. The result of the analysis is that this paper provides evidence for the introduction of guidelines strengthening macro-economic approaches in addition to the concept of a “science citizen” as a major component of new problem-focused solutions. The principal results and findings offer interpretations and insights while encouraging further discussion on transitioning to a sustainable science society. In this context, the analysis results elucidate that there is evidence for an increased policy emphasis on technology development (economy-based approaches) rather than on technology diffusion and assessment, and/or the integration of key small-scale actors, such as citizens. Thus, this paper provides evidence for the need to incorporate “science citizens” as a key parameter into the technology and innovation chain (e.g., data provision) and the public policy domain. Overall, this paper outlines a holistic analysis of the international economic, technological, institutional, legal, and policy environment regarding innovation, sustainability, and the climate crisis. Full article

The development of the fluorescent lamp and the air-conditioning system resulted in buildings being lit inexpensively without having to rely on daylighting to save energy, as was the case during the incandescent lamp era. Consequently, architects were able to design buildings with deep floor plates for maximum occupancy, placing workstations far away from windows since daylighting was no longer a necessity. Floor-to-ceiling heights became lower to minimize the inhabitable volumes that needed to be cooled or heated. With the rising costs of land in some major American cities such as New York City and Chicago at the beginning of the twentieth century, developers sought to optimize their investments by erecting tall structures, giving rise to densely inhabited city centers with massive street canyons that limit sunlight access in the streets. Today, there is growing awareness in terms of the impact of the built environment on people’s health especially in terms of the health benefits of natural light. The fact that buildings, through their shapes and envelope, filter a large amount of daylight, which may impact building occupants’ health and well-being, should cause architects and building developers to take this issue seriously. The amount and quality of light we receive daily impacts many of our bodily functions and consequently several aspects of our health and well-being. The human circadian rhythm is entrained by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in our eyes that are responsible for non-visual responses due to the presence of a short-wavelength sensitive pigment called melanopsin. The entrainment of the circadian rhythm depends on several factors such as the intensity, wavelength, timing, and duration of light exposure. Recently, this field of research has gained popularity, and several researchers have tried to create metrics to quantify photopic light, which is the standard way of measuring visual light, into a measure of circadian effective lighting. This paper discusses the relationship between different parameters of daylighting and their non-visual effects on the human body. It also summarizes the existing metrics of daylighting, especially those focusing on its effects on the human circadian rhythm and its shortcomings. Finally, it discusses areas of future research that can address these shortcomings and potentially pave the way for a universally acceptable standardized metric. Full article

Human activities significantly influence the changes in wildlife habitats and biodiversity, highlighting the necessity to enhance public knowledge, perceptions, and practices (KPP) to mitigate their consequences. Previous research suggests that many people in Bangladesh do not consider wildlife and biodiversity conservation a crucial issue. However, enhancing their KPP could be essential in developing effective and sustainable conservation efforts in Bangladesh. So, the current study aimed to evaluate the public’s KPP of wildlife conservation and biodiversity management in Bangladesh. A total of 3060 individuals’ data were collected from various sociodemographic backgrounds using a structured questionnaire followed by statistical analyses including Pearson’s chi-square, Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression analysis, which were performed to assess the correlations and trends among variables using STATA and SPSS. The results revealed a significant heterogeneity in KPP across different sociodemographic groups. Importantly, the younger respondents (ages 21–30) indicated a high level of KPP, and respondents without formal education and belonging to older ages demonstrated markedly low levels of KPP. In the country’s divisional levels, respondents from Khulna and Rangpur revealed the highest and lowest KPP levels, respectively. Our study also revealed that students represented the major occupational demographic and displayed moderate levels of KPP. Notably, respondents highlighted the decline or absence of several wild animal species, including black bears, deer, vultures, wild cats, hanuman monkeys, and rhesus monkeys, from their local areas over the past decades. Public opinion on wildlife protection revealed 78.6% and 73.4% disapproving of hunting rejection and wildlife trading, respectively. Nonetheless, a lack of knowledge remained, as 16.89% of respondents were unaware of measures to alleviate human-wildlife conflict. The correlation analysis indicated a favorable association among KPP components, especially between knowledge and perception (correlation coefficient = 0.438), underscoring the essential influence of awareness on conservation actions. This study offers critical insights for developing interventions to enhance KPP among local communities and stakeholders, hence promoting sustainable wildlife conservation and biodiversity management in Bangladesh. Taken together, the findings provide baseline data for safeguarding biodiversity and fostering long-term wildlife sustainability in Bangladesh. Full article

Technical literature provides experimental campaign results for four-pile caps with significant value in structural engineering. However, failure modes and measurement of these specimens are particularly challenging due to their volumetric nature. These experimental records are frequently utilized to evaluate analytical models focusing on less conservative than normative models to predict rupture force. Moreover, recent studies emphasize the necessity of developing simplified predictive models. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of regression models for estimating the rupture force associated with strut failure. The evaluation was based on a commonly used database and employed analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level to identify critical variables. The regression models were developed with variable interactions incorporated into the equations in three forms: (i) without interaction, (ii) with linear interaction, and (iii) with quadratic interaction. An analysis of the developed regression models identified a model with satisfactory accuracy. This model achieved an average predicted force ratio of 1.00 (COV = 14%) for the database and 1.03 (COV = 16.68%) for extrapolated numeric models in finite elements with the concrete damaged and plasticity (CDP) constitutive model, initially calibrated with experimental tests. A methodology was proposed to assist in the initial design of four-pile caps. Full article

Lithium-ion batteries represent a significant component of the field of energy storage, with a diverse range of applications in consumer electronics, portable devices, and numerous other fields. In view of the growing concerns about the safety of batteries, it is of the utmost importance to develop a sensor that is capable of accurately monitoring the internal temperature of lithium-ion batteries. External sensors are subject to the necessity for additional space and ancillary equipment. Moreover, external sensors cannot accurately measure internal battery temperature due to packaging material interference, causing a temperature discrepancy between the interior and surface. Consequently, this study presents an integrated temperature sensor within the battery, based on PT1000 resistance temperature detector (RTD). The sensor is integrated with the anode via a flexible printed circuit (FPC), simplifying the assembly process. The PT1000 RTD microsensor’s temperature is linearly related to resistance (R = 3.71T + 1003.86). It measures about 15 °C temperature difference inside/outside the battery. On short-circuit, the battery’s internal temperature rises to 27 °C in 10 s and 32 °C in 20 s, measured by the sensor. A battery with the PT1000 sensor retains 89.8% capacity under 2 C, similar to the normal battery. Furthermore, a PT1000 temperature array sensor was designed and employed to enable precise monitoring and localization of internal temperature variations. Full article

This study aims to elucidate the historical justification for protection and restoration efforts in China while also examining the theoretical underpinnings of ecological conservation and restoration. Utilizing a literature review method, logical reasoning method, and inductive summarizing method, the historical and theoretical frameworks of territorial spatial ecological conservation and restoration are elucidated, leading to the following conclusions: (1) The ecological protection and restoration of national land space represents an advanced form of land remediation; however, they differ in terms of objects, principles, goals, and measures. (2) Territorial space ecological protection and restoration is historically unavoidable due to the current phase of societal development, driven by the natural environment and the necessity to establish an ecological civilization. (3) To implement territorial spatial ecological protection and restoration effectively and rationally, it is essential to comprehend its systematicity, territoriality, dynamics, and scientificity. By clarifying its historical and theoretical rationale, we can achieve a deeper understanding of its current relevance. This can effectively inform practical efforts in territorial spatial ecological protection and restoration. Full article

Tuberculosis research plays a crucial role in understanding and responding to the necessities of people with this disease, yet the integrity of this research is compromised by frequent retractions. Identifying and analyzing the main reasons for retraction of tuberculosis articles is essential for improving research practices and ensuring reliable scientific output. In this study, we conducted an advanced systematic literature review of retracted original articles on Tuberculosis, utilizing databases such as Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, LILACS, and the Retraction Watch Database webpage. We found that falsification and plagiarism were the most frequent reasons for retraction, although 16% of the retracted articles did not declare the drivers behind the retraction. Almost half of the retracted studies received external funding, affecting not only those specific studies but future funding opportunities for this research field. Stronger measures of research integrity are needed to prevent misconduct in this vulnerable population. Full article

This study presents the first comprehensive data on a vermetid formation along the Apulian coast of the Adriatic Sea, representing one of the northernmost records in the Mediterranean. Surveys along the Brindisi coastline employed visual inspection to map the bioconstruction’s distribution and extension. Detailed data on the bioconstruction inner and the outer edge length, thickness, width, slope and topographic complexity were collected at three selected sites. Moreover, photographic replicates were used to assess shell aperture density and diameters of Dendropoma sp. Associated fauna was studied using two quantitative sampling squares in each transect. The results showed that the vermetid bioconstruction consisted of a thin, encrusted monolayer (thickness < 1.5 cm) that extended for 3.273 linear kilometers, covering 17.23% of the investigated area; it had an average width of 0.5 m, with a mean density of Dendropoma sp. at 2.52 ind/cm². The associated fauna was composed of 47 taxa dominated by crustaceans, mollusks and annelids. Species richness was correlated with the bioconstruction’s thickness and complexity. These findings underline the ecological importance of vermetid bioconstructions as biodiversity hotspots. The lack of massive mortality events along the Apulian coast, in contrast to other Mediterranean vermetid bioconstructions, underscores the necessity for targeted conservation measures. Full article

In medium- and high-power-density applications, silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are often connected in parallel increasing the current capability. However, the current sharing of paralleled SiC MOSFETs is affected by the mismatched technical parameters of devices and the deviated power circuit parasitic inductances, even if power devices are controlled by a single gate driver. This leads to unevenly distributed power losses causing different stress between SiC MOSFETs. As a result, unbalanced current sharing increases the probability of severe power switch(es) and system failures. For over a decade, the current imbalance issue between parallel-connected SiC MOSFETs has concerned the scientific community, and many methods and techniques have been proposed. However, most of these solutions are impossible to realize without the necessity of screening power devices to measure their technical parameters. Consequently, system costs significantly increase due to the expensive equipment for screening SiC MOSFETs. Also, transient current imbalance is the main concern of most papers, without addressing static imbalance. In this paper, an innovative approach is proposed, capable of suppressing both static and transient current imbalance between paralleled SiC MOSFETs, under both symmetrical and asymmetrical layouts, through an improved active gate driver and without the requirement for any power device screening process. Additionally, the proposed solution employs a self-sustaining algorithmic approach utilizing current sensors and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The functionality of the proposed solution is verified through experimental tests, achieving current imbalance suppression between two paralleled SiC MOSFETs, actively and autonomously. Full article

Background: The current study examined whether there is an association between the dominant leg (DL) and the side of angle trunk rotation (ATR) and evaluated postural asymmetries and anthropometric characteristics between adolescent male soccer players and non-athletes across different age groups (11–14 years). Methods: This study included 502 male participants: 291 soccer players (age: 13 ± 2 years; height: 158 ± 17 cm; weight: 50.6 ± 12 kg) and 211 non-athletes (age: 13 ± 2 years; height: 158.3 ± 11 cm; weight: 50.5 ± 21 kg). The participants were categorized into four age groups: 11, 12, 13, and 14 years. Using a scoliometer, the primary (A) and secondary (B) ATR measurements were recorded and categorized into subgroups of 0–2, 3–5, and ≥6 degrees. A Chi-square test and a Mann–Whitney U-test were employed to analyze the raw data. Results: In soccer players, a significant association was found between the DL and primary ATR (p < 0.001). Conversely, non-athletes exhibited a significant association between the DL and secondary ATR only (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the anthropometric characteristics and ATR for the 11-year-old boys (p > 0.05). For the 12-year-old boys, there was a significant difference in the ATR-A region (p < 0.01). For the 13-year-olds, significant differences were found in height, ATR-A region, ATR-B side, ATR-B region, and ATR-B degrees (p < 0.05). The 14-year-old soccer players demonstrated significant differences in ATR metrics compared with non-athletes in the same age group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The results indicate that older adolescent soccer players exhibited a higher ATR tendency compared to non-athletes. This suggests that daily soccer training and DL usage contribute to increase postural asymmetries and physical development variations in adolescence. These findings underscore the necessity for monitoring body posture health in athletes during the early period of adolescence in an attempt to mitigate the potential negative long-term impacts on their life. Full article