Palm oil products are one of the most important sources of economic and export products in Malaysia. Furthermore, now, the evolution of industry 4.0 has begun to take place globally. The development ...of sensors has played a role in this evolution. In this paper, various microwave sensors used in oil palm monitoring are reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of each microwave sensor are discussed in detail. However, conventional and optical monitoring methods are also briefly described.
Although hepatectomy is a curative treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the associated 10-year long-term actual survival are rarely reported. This study aims to develop and validate ...a predictive nomogram for 10-year actual survivors with HCC.
From 2004 to 2009, 753 patients with curative hepatectomy for HCC (development set, n = 325; validation set, n = 428) were included. In development set, comparison of clinic-pathological data was made between patients surviving ≥10 years and those surviving <10 years. Good independent prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis were involved in a nomogram development, which was validated internally and externally using validation set.
On multivariate analysis, five independent good prognostic factors for 10-year survival were identified, including young age (OR = 0.943), good ASA status (≤2) (OR = 2.794), higher albumin level (OR = 1.116), solitary tumor (OR = 2.531) and absence of microvascular invasion (OR = 3.367). A novel nomogram was constructed with C-index of 0.801 (95% CI 0.762–0.864). A cut-off point of 167.5 had a sensitivity of 0.794 and specificity of 0.730. Internal validation using bootstrap sampling and external validation using validation set revealed C-index of 0.792 (95% CI, 0.741–0.853) and 0.761 (95% CI, 0.718–0.817).
A novel nomogram for 10-year HCC survivor using age, ASA status, preoperative albumin, tumor number and presence of microvascular tumor invasion was developed and validated with high accuracy.
•A novel nomogram predicting 10-year actual overall survival of patients with HCC following hepatectomy was developed.•Five prognostic factors, i.e. age, ASA status, albumin, tumor number and microvascular tumor invasion in the nomogram.•The first nomogram in the world predicting long-term survival in patients with HCC, with discriminative power.•One of the largest cohort of patients with HCC documenting an actual 10-year overall survival rate of 29.2% in Hong Kong cohort and 26.1% in China cohort.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The theory-practice debate has been a perennial issue in initial teacher education (ITE). By reporting a mixed-methods study in an ITE programme characterized by a university-based 'theory-first' ...approach in Hong Kong, this study offers useful empirical evidence to analyse the theory-practice issue. 346 student teachers of a BEd Programme participated in the quantitative survey, 15 of whom were interviewed. The quantitative findings showed significant positive correlations between three types of perceived professional competence and two aspects of student teachers' engagement with the theory-practice link. The qualitative findings offered an in-depth understanding of the ways in which student teachers connected theoretical knowledge learned in ITE coursework and practical experience in ITE fieldwork in developing their professional competence: (1) theoretical knowledge as a guide for professional decisions and a tool for reflection on practice; (2) practicalizing theoretical knowledge: adapting theoretical knowledge to practice situations. In the process of engagement, theoretical knowledge was transformed and adapted to practice situations when student teachers coped with the challenges of the teaching contexts in their ITE fieldwork. While affirming the value of student teachers' engagement with the theory-practice link, the findings of the study shed light on ITE practices for preparing student teachers for such engagement.
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BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Investigations of the combined effects of neoadjuvant Onyx embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have not accounted for initial ...angioarchitectural features prior to neuroendovascular intervention. The aim of this retrospective, multicenter matched cohort study is to compare the outcomes of SRS with versus without upfront Onyx embolization for AVMs using de novo characteristics of the preembolized nidus.
The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation AVM databases from 1987 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized based on AVM treatment approach into Onyx embolization (OE) and SRS (OE+SRS) or SRS alone (SRS-only) cohorts and then propensity score matched in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was AVM obliteration. Secondary outcomes were post-SRS hemorrhage, all-cause mortality, radiological and symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RICs), and cyst formation. Comparisons were analyzed using crude rates and cumulative probabilities adjusted for competing risk of death.
The matched OE+SRS and SRS-only cohorts each comprised 53 patients. Crude rates (37.7% vs 47.2% for the OE+SRS vs SRS-only cohorts, respectively; OR 0.679, p = 0.327) and cumulative probabilities at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years (33.7%, 44.1%, 57.5%, and 65.7% for the OE+SRS cohort vs 34.8%, 45.5%, 59.0%, and 67.1% for the SRS-only cohort, respectively; subhazard ratio 0.961, p = 0.896) of AVM obliteration were similar between the matched cohorts. The secondary outcomes of the matched cohorts were also similar. Asymptomatic and symptomatic embolization-related complication rates in the matched OE+SRS cohort were 18.9% and 9.4%, respectively.
Pre-SRS AVM embolization with Onyx does not appear to negatively influence outcomes after SRS. These analyses, based on de novo nidal characteristics, thereby refute previous studies that found detrimental effects of Onyx embolization on SRS-induced AVM obliteration. However, given the risks incurred by nidal embolization using Onyx, this neoadjuvant intervention should be used judiciously in multimodal treatment strategies involving SRS for appropriately selected large-volume or angioarchitecturally high-risk AVMs.
The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the English version of pediatric voice handicap index (pVHI) into Mandarin Chinese.
A cross-sectional study was performed from May 2016 to April 2017. ...A total of 367 parents participated in this study, and 338 parents completed the translated questionnaire without missing data, including 213 parents of children with voice disorders (patients group), and 125 parents of children without voice disorders (control group). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, contents validity, construct validity, clinical validity, and cutoff point were calculated.
The most common voice disorder in the patients group was vocal fold nodules (77.9%), followed by chronic laryngitis (18.8%), and vocal fold polyps (3.3%). The prevalence for voice disorders was higher in boys (67.1%) than girls (32.9%). The most common vocal misuse and abuse habit was shouting loudly (n = 186, 87.3%), followed by speaking for a long time (n = 158, 74.2%), and crying loudly (n = 99, 46.5%). The internal consistency for the Mandarin Chinese version of pVHI was excellent in patients group (Cronbach α = 0.95). The inter-class correlation coefficient indicated strong test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.99). The principal-component analysis demonstrated three-factor eigenvalues greater than 1, and the cumulative proportion was 66.23%. The mean total scores and mean subscales scores were significantly higher in the patients group than the control group (p < 0.05). The physical domain had the highest mean score among the three subscales (functional, physical and emotional) in the patients group. The optimal cutoff point of the Mandarin Chinese version of pVHI was 9.5 points with a sensitivity of 80.3% and a specificity of 84.8%.
The Mandarin Chinese version of pVHI was a reliable and valid tool to assess the parents' perception about their children's voice disorders. It is recommended that it can be used as a screening tool for discriminating between children with and without dysphonia.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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In view of a persistently high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage in our obstetric population, we examined the association between HBsAg carriage with maternal ABO and ...rhesus (Rh) blood group phenotypes determined at routine antenatal screening. In a retrospective study, the antenatal screening results of women booked for confinement between 1998 and 2011 in our hospital were examined for the relationship between HBsAg carriage with the ABO and rhesus blood groups, taking into account also the effects of advanced maternal age (≥35 years) and parity status (nulliparous or multiparous), and year of birth before or following the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine (1984). HBsAg carriage was found in 9.9%, 9.6%, 9.1% and 10.2% (P = 0.037) for group‐A (n = 20 581 or 26.1%), ‐B (n = 20 744 or 26.4%), ‐AB (n = 5138 or 6.5%) and ‐O (n = 32 242 or 41.0%) among the 78 705 women in the study cohort. Rhesus negativity was found in 0.6%, and HBsAg carriage was 12.3% and 9.8%, respectively, for the Rh‐negative and Rh‐positive women (P = 0.071). Carriage rate between group‐O and non‐O was influenced by nulliparity, age ≥35 years and Rh‐positive status. Regression analysis indicated that group‐B (P = 0.044, aOR = 1.062, 95% CI 1.002–1.127) and group‐AB (P = 0.016, aOR = 1.134, 95% CI 1.024–1.256) were associated with HBsAg carriage. Blood groups‐B and ‐AB are associated with increased hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in our population, and further studies are warranted to elucidate the implications of this on the sequelae of HBV infection.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The purposes of this study were to adapt and validate the English version of the pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire into Mandarin Chinese, and to determine the cutoff point for ...screening children with and without voice disorders.
A total of 377 parents were enrolled from May 2016 to June 2017, including 195 parents of children with voice disorder (patient group) and 182 parents of children without voice disorder (control group). The internal consistency, test-retest, contents and clinical validity, and sensitivity and specificity were analyzed. The clinical cutoff point was determined.
The questionnaire showed strong internal consistency in the patient group (α = 0.89 for the total score, α = 0.88 for the social-emotional domain, and α = 0.81 for the physical functioning domain) and good test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.93), as well as moderate to strong contents validity (r = 0.72–0.95). The total score and subscales scores in the patient group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). The mean score of the physical functioning domain was lower than that of the social-emotional domain in the patient group. The clinical cutoff point was 96.25 (sensitivity = 78.0%, specificity = 100.0%).
The Mandarin Chinese version of pediatric Voice-related Quality of Life questionnaire was a valid and reliable questionnaire, which can be used as a screening test for the pediatric population with and without voice disorders.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This article reports a mixed methods study on the contribution of various aspects of pre-service student teachers' learning in initial teacher education (ITE) to their professional competence in a ...Five-year Bachelor of Education Programme in Hong Kong. Special attention is given to how student teachers' non-formal learning in higher education contributes to their professional competence, an under-researched area in teacher education. A total of 282 student teachers participated in the quantitative survey, 18 of whom were interviewed. Although Undergraduate Learning Experience: Formal Learning and Non-formal Learning was not the most highly rated factor, multiple regression indicated that it was the only ITE professional learning factor that significantly predicted all dimensions of professional competence. This supports the hypothesis that non-formal learning as a part of learning in higher education makes a significant contribution to student teachers' professional competence. The qualitative findings showed that non-formal learning provided opportunities for service learning, co-curricular activities, and student exchange programmes with different objects of engagement. Student teachers constructed pedagogical content knowledge, general pedagogical knowledge, and knowledge of context through hands-on experiences, professional dialogue with practitioners, and observations of others' practice. Such knowledge contributed to their competence in classroom teaching and to work in schools. Implications for ITE are discussed.
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BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
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