Relating a concordance-based cloze test to the model of communicative language ability: a verbal protocol study

The literature of empirical studies on the concordance-based cloze test (ConCloze) is far and few between. This is despite the fact that it has a potential for item writing without the aid of native speakers and for making use of corpus-based technology in task design. This article explores the test-taking processes and strategies of a ConCloze item variant. The aim is to investigate the substantive aspect of the construct validity for the item type and increase the generalizability of the findings in the universe of admissible observations. The sample consists of 14 non-native English users who are in higher education and engage with 3 test tasks each, totaling 42 verbal reports. The sampling method is purposive sampling, in which their first language profiles are maximized in terms of heterogeneity for increased power of generalization. It is found that Reading concordance lines and recognizing clue words inside is a major process, and Assessing item components and testing a meaningful compatibility of a word in context a secondary one. A model of communicative language ability is used to provide a context for task use in this study, where strategic competence is represented in ConCloze substantive validity.

Family Socialization and Experiences of Early Childhood Programs in the Rohingya Camps: Study Protocol

Objective of Protocol: The primary objective of this protocol is to record the process of conceptualizing a semi-structured interview protocol, training enumerators on the protocol, collecting data, translating findings into English, and analyzing data in English and Bengali, in a study of family socialization among a stateless and conflict-affected population, Rohingya refugees, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Research Questions of Study: (1) What are the socialization goals that mothers have for their children, and how do they perceive these goals in relation to their future or current roles as caregivers? (2) What are parents’ experiences with their children’s participation in Humanitarian Play Labs (education/child care provisions in the camps), and what are their perceptions of how their child’s participation in the programs has influenced their child/family? (3) What were the experiences of parents with their children as they migrated from Myanmar to Bangladesh? Design of Study: The design of the study involved a qualitative grounded theory approach based on an analysis of the participants’ responses to a semi-structured interview protocol. Study population: Participants included a purposive sample of 28 mother/father dyads in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Olfactory Characterization and Training in Older Adults: Protocol Study

The aim of this article is to present the research protocol for a prospective cohort study that will assess the olfactory function and the effect of an intervention based on olfactory training in healthy very old adults (≥75 years old). A convenience sample of 180 older people (50% female) will be recruited in three different environments: hospitalized control group (CH) with stable acute illness (n = 60); ambulatory control group (CA) of community-based living (n = 60); and an experimental odor training group (EOT) from nursing homes (n = 60). The odor training (OT) intervention will last 12 weeks. All the volunteers will be assessed at baseline; CA and EOT groups will also be assessed after 12 weeks. The primary end point will be change in olfactory capacity from baseline to 12 weeks period of intervention or control. The intervention effects will be assessed with the overall score achieved in Sniffin Sticks Test (SST) – Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification (TDI) extended version. Secondary end points will be changes in cognitive tasks, quality of life, mood, immune status, and functional capacity. All these measurements will be complemented with an immune fitness characterization and a deep proteome profiling of the olfactory epithelium (OE) cultured ex vivo. The current study will provide additional evidence to support the implementation of olfactory precision medicine and the development of immunomodulatory nasal therapies based on non-invasive procedures. The proposed intervention will also intend to increase the knowledge about the olfactory function in very elderly people, improve function and quality of life, and promote the recovery of the health.

Imaging characteristics of pathologically proven adrenal adenomas with myelolipomatous degeneration: correlation with clinical and pathologic features

Objectives: Adrenal adenoma with myelolipomatous degeneration (AMD) is a rarely reported and often overlooked entity. The aim of this study is to improve understanding of these lesions by characterizing the imaging findings with pathologic and clinical correlation. Methods: In the largest series to date, we report 11 nodules in 11 patients confirmed with a pathologic diagnosis of AMD. The available cross-sectional imaging and histopathologic features were reviewed by two radiologists and two pathologists, respectively. Clinical and laboratory data for each patient were obtained from the electronic medical records, when available. Results: All 11 patients had a CT prior to resection or biopsy of the adrenal nodule, with five having received an adrenal mass protocol study. An MRI was available in three patients. The median size of the nodules on imaging was 4.5 cm (range 2.8–8.7) and all but one had macroscopic fat. The largest focus of macroscopic fat had a median size of 0.7 cm (range 0.2–1.6) and on average was 14.4% the size of the tumor, using greatest dimensions. Four (36.4%) patients had a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome prior to nodule resection. Conclusions: Not all adrenal nodules with macroscopic fat on imaging are pure myelolipomas. An AMD should be considered, especially if the foci of fat are small and other features an adenoma are present. Some may also be associated with Cushing syndrome. Advances in knowledge: Myelolipomatous degeneration within an adrenal adenoma has only rarely been previously reported with very few reports emphasizing the imaging features. There may be an association with cortisol hypersecretion and improved recognition of this entity could lead to changes in clinical management.

Rate of patient’s Recruitment and Recruitment Derivatives from the Perspectives of Internal factors - Protocol Study Nosology, Experience of Investigators and Potential Patient’s Pool of Sites

The recruitment as a process found by many authors to be undergoing of many factors. There is a factors which are decreasing the recruitment and last data is reporting up to 80% trials failed due to law or even absence of recruitment on level of sites. But the factors are differently changing the recruitment. The final number of recruitment is static figure very well known, there is also known speed of recruitment which is calculating in the start of the study and these parameters along with others is quantitative evaluation of recruitment. We investigated the rate of recruitment in the light of some factors using parameters reflecting the recruitment progress of recruitment. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of data of four clinical trials II-III phases in oncology and hematology, conducted since 2007 to 2017 years. Study objectives: to investigate the study recruitment rate using different parameters and its changes along with acting of internal factors; to develop new parameters which could be sensitive for evaluation of factor’s action. Statistical analysis: data had been collected from feasibility questionnaires, open statistical sources. Results: It was determined rate of recruitment and its derivatives where was acting an internal factor. Discussion: Recruitment been undergone the internal factors. The way of action is multidirectional and could boost the recruitment and in opposite to decrease one and knowing it is important in success of recruitment and clinical trial itself eventually

COVID-19 outcomes of 10,881 patients: retrospective study of neurological symptoms and associated manifestations (Philippine CORONA Study)

Our study aimed to determine the effects of new-onset neurological symptoms (NNS) on clinically relevant outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. We conducted a nationwide, comparative, retrospective, cohort study among adult, hospitalized COVID-19 patients involving 37 hospital sites from various regions in the Philippines. We included a total of 10,881 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection (2008 had NNS while 8873 did not have NNS). The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for mortality among the mild and severe cases were significantly higher by 1.660 (95% CI 1.132–2.435) and by 1.352 (95% CI 1.042–1.752), respectively, in the NNS group compared to those in the non-NNS group. The aHRs for respiratory failure in the NNS group were significantly increased by 1.914 (95% CI 1.346–2.722), by 1.614 (95% CI 1.260–2.068), and by 1.234 (95% CI 1.089–1.398) among the mild, severe, and critical cases, respectively. The aHRs for ICU admission in the NNS group were still significantly higher by 1.973 (95% CI 1.457–2.673) and by 1.831 (95% CI 1.506–2.226) among the mild and severe cases, respectively. Patients who had NNS were not significantly associated with a longer duration of ventilator dependence (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.954, 95% CI 0.772–1.179), longer ICU stay (aOR 0.983, 95% CI 0.772–1.252) and longer hospital admission (aOR 1.045, 95% CI 0.947–1.153). The presence of NNS significantly increases the risk of mortality, respiratory failure and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients. Registration and associated protocol publication: ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT04386083); Espiritu AI, Sy MCC, Anlacan VMM, Jamora RDG. The Philippine COVID-19 Outcomes: a Retrospective study Of Neurological manifestations and Associated symptoms (The Philippine CORONA study): a protocol study. BMJ Open. 2020;10:e040944.

Exploring the Effects of Individual Differences in Function Structure Modeling Behaviors

This paper presents an exploratory study conducted to understand the role of individual differences between designers in the function modeling process and with respect to final models. An input-process-output framework of function modeling is proposed to systematically approach this theory building and discovery research study. Four measures of individual differences are identified of interest. These include the systemizing quotient, goal orientation, risk propensity, and concept design thinking style. Each metric is composed of multiple items that can be assessed through survey instruments. A previously developed protocol study is used to capture function modeling behaviors and a final function structure model. Data collected from the survey instruments and protocol study is processed to generate input, process, and output measures. A regression-based analysis is used to identify correlations in three groups: input-process, input-output, and process-output. Potential correlations of interest are identified within each group. Implications of these correlations are discussed from a function structure modeling perspective and hypotheses for future research are identified based on the patterns observed in this study. Three testable hypotheses are proposed for future investigation: (1) Goal orientation has no effect on activity distribution in the function modeling process, (2) Thinking style has no effect on the function modeling process, and (3) Risk propensity has no effect on element distribution in the function modeling process. Finally, an anticipated experiment is outlined to investigate one of the potential relationships discovered in this study.

Characterization of Indonesia Decellularized Liver Cubes Scaffold using Scanning Electron Microscopy

Liver biological scaffold was developed in order to resemble native liver tissue environment. It can be achieved by decellularizing native liver tissue that will remove cells and preserve extracellular matrix (ECM). Furthermore, ECM fibers are arranged in a special pattern, which affect liver cell polarity and topography that are important for cells’ implantation, proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate liver cube scaffold topography that was decellularized with fixed multiple sites syringe injection (Indonesia patent number: S00201907930).Rat liver cubes (n=3) underwent decellularization with Ethylene Glycol Tetraacetic Acid (EGTA) immersion and increased Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) concentrations using previous multiple sites syringe injection protocol study. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) concentrations were measured to confirm less DNA materials remaining in scaffolds. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of scaffolds were conducted for topographic characterization compared to undecellularized liver control. Molecular analysis of DNA concentration showed complete removal of DNA material. SEM analysis gave appearance of intact liver cube scaffold microarchitecture. Liver cubes decellularization using multiple sites syringe injection showed good topographic liver scaffold characterization.