Evaluation of the quality of systematic reviews critiqued by clinical assistants in-training

Conduct an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) reviewed by clinical assistants (CAs) in-training. SRs relating to clinical procedures and theoretical concepts, critiqued by CAs were included. Review authors independently screened the results of the requested SRs and evaluated these using the AMSTAR-1 checklist and AMSTAR-2 tool. Differences regarding study outcomes were resolved by consultation. Articles (N=37) submitted to the researcher included 35 reviews published in accredited journals. Of the reviews, only 18 were SRs as stated in their titles and these were of mixed designs and quality; and 17 were either non-structured and biased literature or critical reviews. SR topics reviewed in-training varied; and included temporo-mandibular disorders, implants and implant-supported prosthesis. AMSTAR-1 scores were favourable; scores were low for most SRs using AMSTAR-2, including those with randomized controlled trials only, with the exception of one review that had no randomized controlled trials but fulfilled the critical domain criteria. Students’ misconceptions regarding what constitutes good SRs which are translatable into clinical practice are emphasized, impacting their learning. CAs lack of appraisal skills related to SRs which may influence clinical practices are highlighted.

Determinants of antenatal care dropout among mothers who gave birth in the last six months in BAHIR Dar ZURIA WOREDA community; mixed designs

Background Antenatal care is the care provides for a pregnant mother to improve the health of the mother and her baby. But in the World including Ethiopia still, mothers do not receive the required number of antenatal care visits. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to identify determinants of Antenatal care visit dropout in Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda North West Ethiopia. Methods The study was community-based unmatched case-control study that employed both quantitative and qualitative data. For the quantitative part, 134 cases and 266 controls (total 400) women who gave births in the last six months prior to the study in Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda were enrolled. Data were collected through face to face interviews from March 1 to 30, 2018 using a structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used. 95% confidence interval and P-value was used to measure the level of significance. For the qualitative part, six FGDs were conducted and open code software was used for the analysis of the data. The finding was narrated by triangulating with the quantitative findings. Result Being far distance (AOR 7.26; 95% CI 4.23, 23.01), not having a companion (AOR 3.49; 95% CI; 2.39, 8.44), lack of knowledge (AOR 2.57; 95% CI; 1.25, 5.28), poor wealth index (AOR; 3.36, 95% CI 1.71, 6.62) and not developing a danger sign (AOR 2.18; 95% CI 2.28, 7.64) were predictors of ANC dropout. In addition to this, in the qualitative finding, the socio-culture of the community, attitudes, experience, and perception of the existing services and service provisions were also determinants of ANC drop out. Conclusion Socio-cultural, economic, accessibility, and individual factors were determinants of ANC visit drop out. In addition, the behavior of the professional, the mother understands of the existing services, and their perception about ANC influenced ANC dropout.

bmlTUX: Design and Control of Experiments in Virtual Reality and Beyond

Advances in virtual reality technology have made it a valuable new tool for vision and perception researchers. Coding virtual reality experiments from scratch can be difficult and time-consuming, so researchers rely on software such as Unity game engine to create and edit virtual scenes. However, Unity lacks built-in tools for controlling experiments. Existing third-party add-ins requires complicated scripts to define experiments. This can be difficult and requires advanced coding knowledge, especially for multifactorial experimental designs. In this article, we describe a new free and open-source tool called the BiomotionLab Toolkit for Unity Experiments (bmlTUX) that provides a simple interface for controlling experiments in Unity. In contrast to existing tools, bmlTUX provides a graphical interface to automatically handle combinatorics, counterbalancing, randomization, mixed designs, and blocking of trial order. The toolbox works out-of-the-box since simple experiments can be created with almost no coding. Furthermore, multiple design configurations can be swapped with a drag-and-drop interface allowing researchers to test new configurations iteratively while maintaining the ability to easily revert to previous configurations. Despite its simplicity, bmlTUX remains highly flexible and customizable, catering to coding novices and experts alike.

bmlTUX: Design and control of experiments in virtual reality and beyond

Advances in virtual reality (VR) technology have made it a valuable new tool for vision and perception researchers. Coding VR experiments from scratch can be difficult and time-consuming so researchers rely on software such as Unity game engine to create and edit virtual scenes. However, Unity lacks built-in tools for controlling experiments. Existing third-party add-ins require complicated scripts to define experiments. This can be difficult and requires advanced coding knowledge, especially for multifactorial experimental designs. In this paper, we describe a new free and open-source tool called the BiomotionLab Toolkit for Unity Experiments (bmlTUX) that provides a simple interface for controlling experiments in Unity. In contrast to existing tools, bmlTUX provides a graphical interface to automatically handle combinatorics, counterbalancing, randomization, mixed designs, and blocking of trial order. The toolbox works “out-of-the-box” since simple experiments can be created with almost no coding. Furthermore, multiple design configurations can be swapped with a drag-and-drop interface allowing researchers to test new configurations iteratively while maintaining the ability to easily revert to previous configurations. Despite its simplicity, bmlTUX remains highly flexible and customizable, catering to coding novices and experts alike.

Predictive to Monitor Modified Lightweight Concrete Density Influenced by Variation of Aggregate Size and Void Ratios

This paper predicts the rate of lightweight concrete density influenced by variation of heterogeneous aggregate deposition and void ratios. The study try to monitor the behaviour of this material under slight modification in concrete formations, variation of mixed designs output were observed to determined most concrete densities in structures, the basis for light weight concrete is to ensure imposed loads are reduced, this include other structural elements such column size, footings and other load bearing elements, such significant condition expressed the imperative of light weight concrete density in concrete structures, the study developed this element of concrete parameter to monitor the growth rate of the element under the slight modification from addictive material, such mixed design are applied to achieve all the required target parameters, such strength and other required characteristics in concrete structure are based on the these parameters, the study provided plate form for mechanical and durability performance that is required, the standard for efficient strength-to- weight ratio in structural element are achieved, this condition explained the advantage it has in the reduction of less reinforced steel including reduction of volume concrete. The study were developed to monitor light weight concrete density based on these factors, this were observed to determine the application of lightweight concrete density. This condition implies that the rate of lightweight concrete density modified will always attained such required status, the lightweight concrete simulation parameter are within the specification that can be achieved in such required rate. The study has express the significant of light weight concrete density based on the required level in other relevant area advantage of structural elements.

E-Participation

The study of e-participation is a young and growing discipline in which controversies are vibrant. One of these is the lack of a widely accepted definition of “e-participation.” Online political activities that involve little effort from the participant, such as liking or sharing political content on social media, are particularly divisive. Some scholars are reluctant to label expressive forms of online behavior as political participation. Others argue in favor of an adaptation of previous definitions to accommodate recent technological changes. Levels of engagement in different types of e-participation are increasing steadily over time. While differences between democracies are often stark, the upward trend has been consistent, especially since the emergence and expansion of social media. Whether this means that previously unengaged individuals are now taking part is one of the central questions of the literature on e-participation. To date, research has shown positive but modest results in support for a mobilizing effect. Particularly promising are findings suggesting that online tools are attracting younger participants to the political arena. Online forms of political engagement are often placed in a more general process leading to online and offline political participation. “Lean-forward” models that provide a contextualized understanding of the drivers and effects of e-participation are particularly insightful. In order to provide robustness to some of the questions that remain unresolved, scholars exploring e-participation should consider expanding their methodological repertoires. The trend is toward mixed designs that combine surveys and other forms of data (big data collected from social media or qualitative data).

The Typological Paragon: A Methodological Proposal of Mixed Designs

This article presents a reflection and a methodological proposal on the use of the typological paragon in mixed sequential designs. The paragon is defined as the average or individual profile of a particular cluster that is obtained through multivariate techniques (correspondences analysis and cluster analysis). Here we propose four applications of the typological paragon: first, as a descriptive element, which aims to account for the content; second, as an element of sampling; third, as a link or connecting element between databases with the aim of facilitating matching; and finally, as an element that allows the convergence of results. Two studies provide the empirical basis of this innovative procedure and show the practical implementation of the four uses of paragon. The first deals with the analysis of the social stratification of households in Argentina (Fachelli, 2009). The second focuses on the study and identification of employment trajectories and their mutual influence with social capital in Spain and Catalonia (Alcaide, 2013). The four uses of the paragon that derive from both investigations allow us to reflect on the potentialities and limitations of the proposed model, the typological paragon.