Implementing the Integrated Strategy for the Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Interventions: An Illustration.

BACKGROUND: Persons' cultural beliefs about a health problem can affect their perceived acceptability of evidence-based interventions, undermining evidence-based interventions' adherence, and uptake to manage the problem. Cultural adaptation has the potential to enhance the acceptability, uptake, and adherence to evidence-based interventions. PURPOSE: To illustrate the implementation of the first two phases of the integrated strategy for cultural adaptation by examining Chinese Canadians' perceptions of chronic insomnia and evidence-based behavioral therapies for insomnia. METHODS: Chinese Canadians ( n = 14) with chronic insomnia attended a group session during which they completed established instruments measuring beliefs about sleep and insomnia, and their perceptions of factors that contribute to chronic insomnia. Participants rated the acceptability of evidence-based behavioral therapies and discussed their cultural perspectives regarding chronic insomnia and its treatment. RESULTS: Participants actively engaged in the activities planned for the first two phases of the integrated strategy and identified the most significant factor contributing to chronic insomnia and the evidence-based intervention most acceptable for their cultural group. CONCLUSIONS: The protocol for implementing the two phases of the integrated strategy for cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions was feasible, acceptable, and useful in identifying culturally relevant evidence-based interventions.

Nondestructive In Situ Measurement Method for Kernel Moisture Content in Corn Ear.

Moisture content is an important factor in corn breeding and cultivation. A corn breed with low moisture at harvest is beneficial for mechanical operations, reduces drying and storage costs after harvesting and, thus, reduces energy consumption. Nondestructive measurement of kernel moisture in an intact corn ear allows us to select corn varieties with seeds that have high dehydration speeds in the mature period. We designed a sensor using a ring electrode pair for nondestructive measurement of the kernel moisture in a corn ear based on a high-frequency detection circuit. Through experiments using the effective scope of the electrodes' electric field, we confirmed that the moisture in the corn cob has little effect on corn kernel moisture measurement. Before the sensor was applied in practice, we investigated temperature and conductivity effects on the output impedance. Results showed that the temperature was linearly related to the output impedance (both real and imaginary parts) of the measurement electrodes and the detection circuit's output voltage. However, the conductivity has a non-monotonic dependence on the output impedance (both real and imaginary parts) of the measurement electrodes and the output voltage of the high-frequency detection circuit. Therefore, we reduced the effect of conductivity on the measurement results through measurement frequency selection. Corn moisture measurement results showed a quadric regression between corn ear moisture and the imaginary part of the output impedance, and there is also a quadric regression between corn kernel moisture and the high-frequency detection circuit output voltage at 100 MHz. In this study, two corn breeds were measured using our sensor and gave R² values for the quadric regression equation of 0.7853 and 0.8496.

Effects of Pre-Stretching on the Mechanical Behavior of Cold-Rolled 5%Mn Medium Manganese Steel.

Studies about the pre-stretching effect on the mechanical behavior of cold-rolled 5%Mn medium manganese steel have adopted optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Results showed that pre-stretching would change the ferrite morphology from massive and lath-like to strip-like. With the pre-stretching increasing from 0% to 14%, the dislocation density and yield strength both grew gradually, which corresponded to growth from 6.49 × 1014 m-2 to 7.98 × 1014 m-2 and growth from 765 MPa to 1109 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, the austenite volume fraction, elongation and product of strength and elongation were all reduced with the pre-stretch increase. The stabilized retained austenite with pre-stretch delayed the occurrence of the TRIP effect and improved the work hardening rate. As a result, the Lüders band disappeared at 2% pre-stretch and the PLC band vanished from the stress-strain curve at 14% pre-stretch.

Assessment of small strain modulus in soil using advanced computational models.

Small-strain shear modulus ([Formula: see text]) of soils is a crucial dynamic parameter that significantly impacts seismic site response analysis and foundation design. [Formula: see text] is susceptible to multiple factors, including soil uniformity coefficient ([Formula: see text]), void ratio (e), mean particle size ([Formula: see text]), and confining stress ([Formula: see text]). This study aims to establish a [Formula: see text] database and suggests three advanced computational models for [Formula: see text] prediction. Nine performance indicators, including four new indices, are employed to calculate and analyze the model's performance. The XGBoost model outperforms the other two models, with all three models achieving [Formula: see text] values exceeding 0.9, RMSE values below 30, MAE values below 25, VAF values surpassing 80%, and ARE values below 50%. Compared to the empirical formula-based traditional prediction models, the model proposed in this study exhibits better performance in IOS, IOA, a20-index, and PI metrics values. The model has higher prediction accuracy and better generalization ability.

A new magnetic state selection method in high-performance optically detected compact cesium beam clocks.

We perform a new scheme of magnetic state selection in optically detected compact cesium beam clocks. Unlike the conventional method, we select atoms in the ground state |F = 4, mF ≠ -4⟩ by pointing the atomic collimator to the convex pole of the magnet realizing the two-wire magnetic field and detect atoms in |F = 3⟩ after interacting with the microwave field using a distributed feedback laser. The fluorescence background is greatly reduced as the inherent residual atoms |F = 4, mF = -4⟩ are avoided in this reversed scheme. The velocity distribution is narrowed, and the most probable velocity is decreased, since atomic trajectories are close to the weak-field region. We also investigate the relationship between the position of the atomic collimator and the distributions of the atomic beam, which is consistent with the Monte Carlo-based simulation model. By applying the reversed scheme and setting the deviated position of the collimator to 1.3 mm, the signal contrast is improved from 0.7 to 3, and the short-term frequency stability reaches 3.0 × 10-12 τ-1/2, nearly three times better than that of the high-performance version of Microsemi 5071A.

Robust electrical impedance tomography for biological application: A mini review.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been used by researchers across several areas because of its low-cost and no-radiation properties. Researchers use complex conductivity in bioimpedance experiments to evaluate changes in various indicators within the image target. The diverse volumes and edges of biological tissues and the large impedance range impose dedicated demands on hardware design. The EIT hardware with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fast scanning and suitable for the impedance range of the image target is a fundamental foundation that EIT research needs to be equipped with. Understanding the characteristics of this technique and state-of-the-art design will accelerate the development of the robust system and provide a guidance for the superior performance of next-generation EIT. This review explores the hardware strategies for EIT proposed in the literature.

Ultrafine Grain Ferrite Transformed from Fine Austenite Grains Produced by Dynamic Reversal Transformation.

The medium carbon steel warm deformation was carried out in a Gleeble-3500 simulator, and the microstructure was observed on a scan electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope (OM). The results show that the dynamic reversal transformation (DRT) of austenite occurred during the multipass deformation at a temperature of 675 °C. The austenite grain size is about 3.4 µm at the stain of 2.67. The thermodynamics was discussed based on the stress activation model. The critical stress of DRT is in the range of 265.94-294.28 MPa, which is related to the Schmit factor, without considering the distortion energy. Meanwhile, the submicron ferrite was obtained after the air cooling stage. The texture of the ultrafine ferrite possessed the characteristics of good, deep drawing properties.

Plant electrical signals: A multidisciplinary challenge.

Plant electrical signals, an early event in the plant-stimulus interaction, rapidly transmit information generated by the stimulus to other organs, and even the whole plant, to promote the corresponding response and trigger a regulatory cascade. In recent years, many promising state-of-the-art technologies applicable to study plant electrophysiology have emerged. Research focused on expression of genes associated with electrical signals has also proliferated. We propose that it is appropriate for plant electrical signals to be considered in the form of a "plant electrophysiological phenotype". This review synthesizes research on plant electrical signals from a novel, interdisciplinary perspective, which is needed to improve the efficient aggregation and use of plant electrical signal data and to expedite interpretation of plant electrical signals.

Illumination/Darkness-Induced Changes in Leaf Surface Potential Linked With Kinetics of Ion Fluxes.

A highly reproducible plant electrical signal-light-induced bioelectrogenesis (LIB) was obtained by means of periodic illumination/darkness stimulation of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves. By stimulating the same position of the same leaf with different concentrations of NaCl, we observed that the amplitude and waveform of the LIB was correlated with the intensity of stimulation. This method allowed us to link dynamic ion fluxes induced by periodic illumination/darkness to salt stress. The self-referencing ion electrode technique was used to explore the ionic mechanisms of the LIB. Fluxes of H+, Ca2+, K+, and Cl- showed periodic changes under periodic illumination/darkness before and after 50 mM NaCl stimulation. Gray relational analysis was used to analyze correlations between each of these ions and LIB. The results showed that different ions are involved in surface potential changes at different stages under periodic illumination/darkness. The gray relational grade reflected the contribution of each ion to the change in surface potential at a certain time period. The ion fluxes data obtained under periodic illumination/darkness stimulation will contribute to the future development of a dynamic model for interpretation of electrophysiological events in plant cells.

Factors Influencing Preferences of Adults With Type 2 Diabetes for Diabetes Self-Management Education Interventions.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between patients' factors and their expressed preferences for types and features of diabetes self-management education (DSME) interventions. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used. Participants (N=100) completed a self-report questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with preferences. RESULTS: Participants were middle-aged (mean age 58.9 years) men (55%) and women (45%) who had had type 2 diabetes for 6.1 years. They indicated a preference for DSME that includes a combination of educational, behavioural and psychological interventions and were delivered in individual, face-to-face sessions (4 sessions, 60 min each, given monthly) that allowed discussion with diabetes educators to develop and carry out a care plan. Personal (age, educational level and employment) and clinical (duration of diabetes and glycated hemoglobin levels, previous exposure to diabetes education) factors were significantly related to preferences. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize the effectiveness of DSME interventions, health-care providers are encouraged to assess patients' preferences to inform the design of DSME interventions and tailor their implementation to fit the preferences of patients with a range of sociodemographic and clinical profiles.

Effect of Reverse-phase Transformation Annealing Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium Manganese Steel.

In order to develop a third-generation automobile steel with powerful strength and elongation, we propose a method through high temperature quenching and two-phase region reverse-phase transformation annealing to develop such steel with 0.13% C and 5.4% Mn. To investigate the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of manganese steel, SEM, XRD and TEM are employed in our experiments. Experimental results indicate that the microstructure after quenching is mainly lath martensite microstructure with average of lath width at 0.5 µm. The components of the steel after along with reverse-phase transformation annealing are ultra-fine grain ferrite, lath martensite and different forms of austenite microstructure. When the temperature at 625 °C, the components of the steel mainly includes lath martensite microstructure and ultra-fine grain ferrite and the fraction of austenite volume is only 5.09%. When the annealing temperature of reverse-phase transformation increase into 650 °C and 675 °C, the austenite appears in the boundary of the ferritic grain boundary and the boundary of lath martensite as the forms of bulk and lath. The phenomenon appears in the bulk of austenite, and the size of is 0.22 µm, 0.3 µm. The fraction of austenite volume is 22.34% at 675 °C and decreases into 9.32% at 700 °C. The components of austenite mainly includes ultra-fine grained ferrite and lath martensite. Furthermore, the density of decreases significantly, and the width of martensite increases into 0.32 µm. In such experimental settings, quenching at 930 °C with 20 min and at 675 °C with 30 min reverse-phase transformation annealing, the austenite volume fraction raises up to 22.34%.

Perception of Human Interaction Based on Motion Trajectories: From Aerial Videos to Decontextualized Animations.

People are adept at perceiving interactions from movements of simple shapes, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Previous studies have often used object movements defined by experimenters. The present study used aerial videos recorded by drones in a real-life environment to generate decontextualized motion stimuli. Motion trajectories of displayed elements were the only visual input. We measured human judgments of interactiveness between two moving elements and the dynamic change in such judgments over time. A hierarchical model was developed to account for human performance in this task. The model represents interactivity using latent variables and learns the distribution of critical movement features that signal potential interactivity. The model provides a good fit to human judgments and can also be generalized to the original Heider-Simmel animations (1944). The model can also synthesize decontextualized animations with a controlled degree of interactiveness, providing a viable tool for studying animacy and social perception.

Improving foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration: a pilot study.

The pilot study aimed to explore the effects of an educational intervention on patients' foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and behaviors in adult patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration. The intervention consisted of three sessions and was given over a 3-week period. A total of 70 eligible consenting participants were recruited for this pilot study. Fifty-six participants completed the study. The outcomes were assessed at pretest, following the first two sessions, and 3-month follow-up. The findings indicated that the foot self-care educational intervention was effective in improving foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviors in adult patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration. The findings support the effects of the intervention. Future research should evaluate its efficacy using a randomized clinical trial design, and a large sample of patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulcerations.

Feasibility, acceptability and effects of a foot self-care educational intervention on minor foot problems in adult patients with diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the pilot study were to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the foot self-care educational intervention, and to explore its preliminary effects on reducing the occurrence of minor foot problems in adult patients with diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration. METHODS: A one-group-repeated-measures design was used. The intervention given over 3 weeks consisted of a 1 hour 1-on-1 provider-patient interaction to discuss foot self-care strategies, 1 hour hands-on practice of strategies and 2 10-minute telephone contact booster sessions. Of the 70 eligible consenting participants, 56 completed the study. The outcomes were assessed at pretest and at 3-month follow-up. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to examine changes in outcomes over time. RESULTS: The findings provided initial evidence suggesting the foot self-care educational intervention is feasible and acceptable to adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was effective in reducing the occurrence of minor foot skin and toenails problems (all p<0.05) at 3-month follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the effects of the intervention. Future research should evaluate its efficacy using a randomized clinical trial design, and a large sample of patients with diabetes at low risk for foot ulcerations.