Application of the RME Approach to Improve Students' Mathematical Concepts Understanding

Learning mathematics less favored by students is a severe problem. This study aimed to improve mathematics learning outcomes in terms of mathematical concepts understanding using the RME approach. The research design used is quasi-experimental, with a pretest-posttest control group design. The data analysis technique used is the t-test. The population in this study is the third-grade students of SD Muhammadiyah Nitikan (Munita) Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with a sample of 10 students whose learning process is carried out online. The data was collected through a test of mathematical concepts understanding. The data were analyzed descriptively to determine the improvement of the average of mathematical concepts understanding. Based on the results of data analysis, the average initial score was 38.70, and the final test was 75.30. This result increases students' ability to understand mathematical concepts using the RME approach.

Conservatism Gets Funded? A Field Experiment on the Role of Negative Information in Novel Project Evaluation

The evaluation and selection of novel projects lies at the heart of scientific and technological innovation, and yet there are persistent concerns about bias, such as conservatism. This paper investigates the role that the format of evaluation, specifically information sharing among expert evaluators, plays in generating conservative decisions. We executed two field experiments in two separate grant-funding opportunities at a leading research university, mobilizing 369 evaluators from seven universities to evaluate 97 projects, resulting in 761 proposal-evaluation pairs and more than $250,000 in awards. We exogenously varied the relative valence (positive and negative) of others’ scores and measured how exposures to higher and lower scores affect the focal evaluator’s propensity to change their initial score. We found causal evidence of a negativity bias, where evaluators lower their scores by more points after seeing scores more critical than their own rather than raise them after seeing more favorable scores. Qualitative coding of the evaluators’ justifications for score changes reveals that exposures to lower scores were associated with greater attention to uncovering weaknesses, whereas exposures to neutral or higher scores were associated with increased emphasis on nonevaluation criteria, such as confidence in one’s judgment. The greater power of negative information suggests that information sharing among expert evaluators can lead to more conservative allocation decisions that favor protecting against failure rather than maximizing success. This paper was accepted by Alfonso Gambardella, business strategy.

Depressed mood trajectories in the first year postpartum among Taiwanese mothers: Associations with perceived support, financial stress, and marital satisfaction

This study examined the typology of depressed mood trajectories and the associated factors over the first year postpartum among Taiwanese mothers. Data of 4332 mothers from a nationwide longitudinal study on child development and care were analyzed. Three classes of depressed mood trajectories were identified, two with lower initial scores and a decreasing trajectory and one with a higher initial score and an increasing trajectory. Subjective financial stress, perceived support, and marital satisfaction were significant in predicting mothers’ membership of the depressed mood trajectory classes. The results highlighted the individual susceptibility to the postpartum depressed mood among Taiwanese mothers.

Abstract P129: Telemedicine And Relationship Of Depression Score Improvement To Hypertension Improvement Via Video Visits

Telemedicine and Relationship of Depression Score Improvement to Hypertension Improvement via Video Visits Introduction: Our group has elsewhere demonstrated effectiveness of telemedicine video visits nationwide for effective hypertension control. Here we explore associated depression scores, grouping patients into cohorts with improvement in systolic BP and patients with no improvement, over 12 months. Hypothesis: PHQ-9 depression scores may reveal barriers to achieving BP control via video visits. Methods: Quantitative analysis was performed of home video visits coded with Essential Hypertension diagnosis March 2020 through February 2021, the first 12 months of the pandemic. 569 patients with 1785 hypertension visits were in our national telemedicine practice database in the period. Serial PHQ-9 scores were available on 78 patients with multiple hypertension visits. Average percent change in PHQ-9 score was calculated as average change in score / average initial score. Results: Patients with reduction in BP had an average of 3.2 visits. The average number of BP measurements in the multiple visits group was 6.37. Average age of patients was 44. There were 56 patients with PHQ-9 scores with improvement in systolic BPs in the study period. Mean initial PHQ-9 score for this group was 11.79 (SEM = +/- 0.92, SD = +/- 6.87), and mean PHQ-9 score at a subsequent measurement was 7.18 (SEM = +/- 0.72, SD = +/- 5.42) . The average change in score was 4.61 (SEM = +/- 0.92, SD = +/- 6.91). These patients improved their PHQ-9 scores by an average of 39.10% (4.61 of 11.79, SEM = +/- 7.84%, SD = +/- 58.64%). There were 22 patients with PHQ-9 scores with no improvement in systolic BPs in the study period. Mean initial PHQ-9 score for this group was 13.09 (SEM = +/- 1.54, SD = +/- 7.22), and mean PHQ-9 score at a subsequent measurement was 9.5 (SEM = +/- 7.74). The average change in score was 3.59 (SEM = +/- 1.50, SD = +/- 7.01). These patients improved their PHQ-9 scores by an average of 27.40% (3.59 of 13.09, SEM = +/- 11.42%, , SD = +/- 53.58%). Conclusions: These results are hypothesis-generating about possible relationships between depression diagnosis, improvement in management of depression, and hypertension control. Further study of more PHQ-9 data with a larger study sample would be of interest.

Trajectories of Dietary Patterns and Their Associations with Overweight/Obesity among Chinese Adults: China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991–2018

It is essential to understand the impact of different dietary pattern trajectories on health over time. Therefore, we aimed to explore the long-term trajectories of dietary patterns among Chinese adults and examine the prospective association between different trajectory groups and the risk of overweight/obesity. The sample was 9299 adults aged 18 years or older from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) between 1991 and 2018. We used factor analysis to identify dietary patterns and group-based trajectory modeling to identify dietary pattern trajectories. Three trajectories of a southern pattern and a modern pattern and four trajectories of a meat pattern were identified. Participants who followed the highest initial score and a slight decrease trajectory (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.54) of the meat dietary pattern were positively associated with risk of overweight/obesity when compared with the lowest initial score trajectory. The southern dietary pattern and the modern dietary pattern trajectories of participants in Group 2 (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.81; OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.91) and Group 3 (OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.91; OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.90) were associated with lower risk of overweight/obesity when compared with Group 1. We observed that dietary pattern trajectories have different associations with overweight/obesity among Chinese adults.

Association of Proportional Recovery After Stroke With Health-Related Quality of Life

Background and Purpose: No data exists on whether proportional recovery (PR) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains. We evaluated whether PR was associated with domain-specific HRQOL scores at 3 months after ischemic stroke. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with ischemic stroke between January 2017 and June 2018. Impaired strength was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (range, 0–66 points) and Motricity Index (range, 0–100 points) during index hospitalization and 3 months. Both measures are well-validated and reliable in patients with stroke to assesses motor functioning. PR (defined as 70% of difference between initial score and maximum possible recovery) was calculated from the initial measurements. HRQOL was measured using Neuro-QOL domains: upper extremity, depression, and cognition domains. PR was evaluated with HRQOL domains using binomial logistic regression. Results: Final analysis included 84 patients (mean age 67.8±16.4 years; 44% male; 51.2% White). For both Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity and Motricity Index, the PR threshold was met for 48.8% of patients. Failure to meet Motricity Index PR was only associated with increased odds of HRQOL depression impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 11.8 [95% CI, 1.23–112.7]). Failure to meet Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity PR threshold was not associated with HRQOL impairment after adjustment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that reaching the PR threshold provides poor discrimination of HRQOL. Despite not meeting expected PR thresholds, patients can still maintain un-impaired HRQOL, suggesting other factors play a role in preserved HRQOL.

The Relationship of the Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids Initial Score on the Prognosis of Pre-school Children With Asthma: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: The test for respiratory and asthma control in kids (TRACK) is currently the only standard follow-up tool for children under 5 years of age with asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the TRACK initial score (Ti) and their prognosis after 6 months of follow-up in pre-schoolers with asthma.Design: A prospective cohort study.Methods: The study included pre-schoolers diagnosed with asthma at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center between January 2019 and June 2020, and follow-up for 6 months. TRACK scores, frequency of wheezing and respiratory infections, number of Emergency Department (ED) visits and treatment regimen were collected. According to the TRACK initial score, the children were divided into “Ti < 60 group” and “Ti ≥ 60 group,” and the two groups were compared in terms of TRACK score related indicators, clinical manifestations and treatment.Results: There are 102 pre-schoolers included in the analysis [78 boys (76.5%) and 24 girls (23.5%); mean (SD) age, 28.05 (11.63) months]. After 6 months of follow-up, the TRACK score was improved in both groups, and the “Ti ≥ 60 group” had a higher score, lower rate of uncontrolled asthma and fewer reassessments were required. There was no difference in the number of wheezing attacks between the two groups in terms of clinical presentation, but the “Ti < 60 group” had more respiratory infections and ED visits. Regarding the use of ICSs, in the “Ti < 60 groups,” the dose of ICSs was higher and reduced slowly, and the dose difference between the two groups began to appear after 5 months of follow-up.Conclusion: TRACK is essential for pre-schoolers with asthma at the time they are diagnosed. In addition, if the TRACK initial score is < 60, the probability of poor prognosis is higher.

Olfactory training assists in olfactory recovery after sinonasal surgery

Objectives: In patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common complaint. The focus of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of olfactory training (OT) in patients with CRS after sinonasal surgery. Design : Prospective controlled trial. Participants: We enrolled 111 Korean CRS patients who underwent sinonasal surgery. Main Outcome Measures: At baseline and three months after starting OT, both participants were assessed by an olfactory function test and endoscopy. The Korean version of the Sniffin’ stick II (KVSS-II) was used to perform the olfactory function test. A visual analog scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination were used to assess nasal and psychological functions. Over the course of three months, five odorants were used in OT (rose, lemon, cinnamon, orange, and peach). Results: Over a 12-week duration, OT increased olfactory activity in nearly 62 percent of subjects than in non-OT subjects. The OT group had significantly higher olfactory outcomes for the total KVSS-II and identification scores than the non-OT group between the initial and follow-up assessments. The initial score influenced the degree of olfactory improvement after OT. Conclusions: OT patients exhibited significantly higher total KVSS-II scores compared with non-OT patients after sinonasal surgery; in particular, the odor identification score was different between the two groups. The results of this study show that a 12-week period of repeated short-term exposure to various odors could be useful in enhancing olfactory activity in patients who underwent sinonasal surgery for the improvement of sensory-neural olfactory impairment.

Inflated Estimates of Proportional Recovery From Stroke

The proportional recovery rule states that most survivors recover a fixed proportion (≈70%) of lost function after stroke. A strong (negative) correlation between the initial score and subsequent change (outcome minus initial; ie, recovery) is interpreted as empirical support for the proportional recovery rule. However, this rule has recently been critiqued, with a central observation being that the correlation of initial scores with change over time is confounded in the situations in which it is typically assessed. This critique has prompted reassessments of patients’ behavioral trajectory following stroke in 2 prominent papers. The first of these, by van der Vliet et al presented an impressive modeling of upper limb deficits following stroke, which avoided the confounded correlation of initial scores with change. The second by Kundert et al reassessed the value of the proportional recovery rule, as classically formulated as the correlation between initial scores and change. They argued that while effective prediction of recovery trajectories of individual patients is not supported by the available evidence, group-level inferences about the existence of proportional recovery are reliable. In this article, we respond to the van der Vliet and Kundert papers by distilling the essence of the argument for why the classic assessment of proportional recovery is confounded. In this respect, we reemphasize the role of mathematical coupling and compression to ceiling in the confounded nature of the correlation of initial scores with change. We further argue that this confound will be present for both individual-level and group-level inference. We then focus on the difficulties that can arise from ceiling effects, even when initial scores are not being correlated with change/recovery. We conclude by emphasizing the need for new techniques to analyze recovery after stroke that are not confounded in the ways highlighted here.