Ability Of Individuals Research Articles

Exploring the potent enhancement effects of plyometric training on vertical jumping and sprinting ability in sports individuals.

This meta-analysis examines the impact of different combinations of plyometric training (complexity, training volume, and rest intervals) on immediate vertical jump and sprint performance in athletes. A systematic search was conducted in four databases, and Cochrane guidelines were used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Review Manager 5.4 software was employed to analyze outcome measures. Nineteen randomized controlled trials involving 293 participants were included. Single plyometric training-induced post-activation potentiation (PAP) had a slight positive effect on vertical jump performance [SMD = -0.24, 95% CI (-0.38, -0.1), P = 0.0009]. Optimal results were observed with rest intervals of 0.3-4min (SMD = 0.30, P = 0.0008). Sprint performance showed slight improvement [SMD = 0.27, 95% CI (0.03, 0.52), P = 0.03]. Complex plyometric training had a moderate effect on vertical jump performance [SMD = 0.58, 95% CI (-0.86, -0.23), P = 0.002], with the best outcomes seen with rest intervals exceeding 8min (SMD = 0.77). Sprint performance also improved significantly [SMD = 0.8, 95% CI (0.01, 1.59), P = 0.05]. Single-session plyometric training did not significantly enhance vertical jump performance [SMD = -0.19, 95% CI (-0.41, -0.02), P = 0.07], but had a notable effect on sprint performance [SMD = 0.8, 95% CI (0.01, 1.59), P = 0.05], particularly with rest intervals exceeding 8min (SMD = 0.77). Multiple-session plyometric training improved vertical jump (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.01, 1.59), P = 0.00001 < 0.05], with optimal effects observed at rest intervals of 5-7min (SMD = 0.64). Sprint performance also improved [SMD = 0.46, 95% CI (0.01, 0.81), P = 0.01 < 0.05]. Plyometric training as an activation method has significant enhancing effects, depending on training complexity, volume, and rest intervals.

Evaluation of Psychometric Proprieties of Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) in Italian Language: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) in post-stroke individuals. The original MASA scale was translated and culturally adapted from English to Italian following the international guidelines. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the MASA-IT were assessed, and its concurrent validity was examined through Pearson correlation coefficients with the Italian versions of two established gold standard scales for dysphagia assessment: the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) and the De Pippo Test-Three Oz Water Swallow. The MASA-IT was administered to 78 participants. The items demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha ranging between 0.86 and 0.89. The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 for inter-rater reliability and 0.99 for intra-rater reliability, indicating high reproducibility. Regarding concurrent validity, the MASA-IT showed a strong direct correlation with the DOSS scale (r = 0.949, p = 0.01) and an inverse correlation with the De Pippo Test (r = -0.783, p = 0.01), confirming its good concurrent validity. The Italian version of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA-IT) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing swallowing ability in post-stroke patients. Its strong psychometric properties make it well suited for clinical use in Italy.

Large language models, politics, and the functionalization of language

AbstractThis paper critically examines the political implications of Large Language Models (LLMs), focusing on the individual and collective ability to engage in political practices. The advent of AI-based chatbots powered by LLMs has sparked debates on their democratic implications. These debates typically focus on how LLMS spread misinformation and thus hinder the evaluative skills of people essential for informed decision-making and deliberation. This paper suggests that beyond the spread of misinformation, the political significance of LLMs extends to the core of political subjectivity and action. It explores how LLMs contribute to political de-skilling by influencing the capacities of critical engagement and collective action. Put differently, we explore how LLMs shape political subjectivity. We draw from Arendt’s distinction between speech and language and Foucault’s work on counter-conduct to articulate in what sense LLMs give rise to political de-skilling, and hence pose a threat to political subjectivity. The paper concludes by considering how to reconcile the impact of LLMs on political agency without succumbing to technological determinism, and by pointing to how the practice of parrhesia enables one to form one’s political subjectivity in relation to LLMs.

HMM for discovering decision-making dynamics using reinforcement learning experiments.

Major depressive disorder (MDD), a leading cause of years of life lived with disability, presents challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to its complex and heterogeneous nature. Emerging evidence indicates that reward processing abnormalities may serve as a behavioral marker for MDD. To measure reward processing, patients perform computer-based behavioral tasks that involve making choices or responding to stimulants that are associated with different outcomes, such as gains or losses in the laboratory. Reinforcement learning (RL) models are fitted to extract parameters that measure various aspects of reward processing (e.g. reward sensitivity) to characterize how patients make decisions in behavioral tasks. Recent findings suggest the inadequacy of characterizing reward learning solely based on a single RL model; instead, there may be a switching of decision-making processes between multiple strategies. An important scientific question is how the dynamics of strategies in decision-making affect the reward learning ability of individuals with MDD. Motivated by the probabilistic reward task within the Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response in Clinical Care (EMBARC) study, we propose a novel RL-HMM (hidden Markov model) framework for analyzing reward-based decision-making. Our model accommodates decision-making strategy switching between two distinct approaches under an HMM: subjects making decisions based on the RL model or opting for random choices. We account for continuous RL state space and allow time-varying transition probabilities in the HMM. We introduce a computationally efficient Expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for parameter estimation and use a nonparametric bootstrap for inference. Extensive simulation studies validate the finite-sample performance of our method. We apply our approach to the EMBARC study to show that MDD patients are less engaged in RL compared to the healthy controls, and engagement is associated with brain activities in the negative affect circuitry during an emotional conflict task.

Training of spatial cognitive abilities reduces symptoms of visually induced motion sickness.

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of enhancing individual spatial cognitive abilities in alleviating the negative symptoms of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). Additionally, it seeks to develop innovative intervention methods to improve spatial cognition and identify new treatment approaches for VIMS. The study investigated the impact of innovative interventions on spatial cognitive abilities and their modulation of VIMS susceptibility. A total of 43 participants were recruited (23 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group). The experimental group underwent six sessions of spatial cognitive ability training, while the control group engaged in activities unrelated to spatial cognition. The analysis revealed that the spatial cognitive ability scores of the experimental group significantly improved after the intervention. Furthermore, the experimental group exhibited significant differences in nausea, oculomotor, disorientation, and total SSQ scores before and after the intervention, indicating that the intervention effectively mitigated VIMS symptoms. This study developed a virtual reality training method that effectively enhances individual spatial cognitive abilities and significantly alleviates VIMS symptoms, providing a novel and effective approach for VIMS intervention and treatment.

Dysregulation of lncRNA TFAP2A-AS1 is involved in the pathogenesis of pulpitis by the regulation of microRNA-32-5p.

This study was designed to evaluate TFAP2A-AS1 expression in the dental pulp of teeth with or without pulpitis and to determine the function of TFAP2A-AS1 in pulp cells. GSE92681 was analyzed to filter out differentially expressed lncRNAs. Pulp samples from teeth with pulpitis and healthy teeth (control) were examined using real-time (RT) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) were cultured in a specific medium for osteogenic induction, or treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate inflammation. The viability and apoptosis of human DPSCs (hDPSCs) were determined by XTT assay and apoptosis detection kit. Inflammation was induced by LPS and assessed by measuring the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines after TFAP2A-AS1 knockdown. Osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs was investigated by determining expression levels of osteogenic markers and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity after TFAP2A-AS1 overexpression. The downstream microRNA (miRNA) was predicted. Dual-luciferase reporter was used to confirm the binding between miR-32-5p and TFAP2A-AS1. The expression of TFAP2A-AS1 was evaluated in inflamed pulp using RT-qPCR. TFAP2A-AS1 had a discriminatory ability for healthy individuals and patients with pulpitis. The expression of TFAP2A-AS1 decreased upon the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs, and increased upon the LPS induction. TFAP2A-AS1 can reverse the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs, as evidenced by decreased levels of dentine sialophosphoprotein, dentin matrix protein-1, and ALP activity. TFAP2A-AS1 knockdown can promote cell proliferation of hDPSCs and relieve LPS-induced inflammation, as evidenced by decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. miR-32-5p was identified as a downstream miRNA of TFAP2A-AS1. This study demonstrated the expression and potential function of TFAP2A-AS1 in the human dental pulp. TFAP2A-AS1 can inhibit odontogenic differentiation but promote inflammation in pulp cells.

Parenting Attitudes and Self-esteem: The Mediating Role of Reflective Function

&lt;p&gt;反思功能為近年來提出的一個關於個體之心智能力的概念，本研究欲探討教養態度與個體自尊之關聯，以及反思功能在其中所扮演的中介效果。研究方法採取問卷調查法，以臺灣成年初顯期個體為研究對象，總共蒐集495份有效樣本，以教養態度量表、反思功能問卷、Rosenberg自尊量表為研究工具。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;研究結果如下：（1）關懷的教養態度與自主支持的教養態度，對自尊與反思功能皆具有顯著的正向預測效果；而過度保護的教養態度與心理控制的教養態度，對自尊與反思功能皆具有顯著的負向預測效果。（2）反思功能對自尊具有顯著的正向預測效果。（3）反思功能在關懷的教養態度與自尊之間，具有中介預測效果，越高的關懷教養態度透過高反思功能的中介會具有更高程度的自尊。（4）反思功能在過度保護的教養態度與自尊之間，具有中介預測效果，越高的過度保護教養態度透過低反思功能的中介會具有較低程度的自尊。（5）反思功能在自主支持的教養態度與自尊之間，具有中介預測效果，越高的自主支持教養態度透過高反思功能的中介會具有更高程度的自尊。（6）反思功能在心理控制的教養態度與自尊之間，具有中介預測效果，越高的心理控制教養態度透過低反思功能的中介會具有較低程度的自尊。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;研究貢獻為提升臨床實務工作者或教育工作者關於個體反思功能的重視，並提供不同的觀點以檢視原生家庭的教養經由透過何種心理運作機制而影響到子女的未來發展。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Reflective function, a recently introduced concept in the field of individual mental abilities, is defined as the ability to understand the mental states behind one’s own or others’ behaviors, recognizing that these behaviors are expressions of one&amp;rsquo;s mental states, such as feelings, thoughts, fantasies, beliefs, and desires. Reflective functions allow individuals to understand their mental state and form the basis of self-construction. In academic research, reflective function is often considered an important mediating variable and is used to measure the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions on case outcomes. As an individual’s reflective function is influenced by attachment, early traumatic experiences, parental reflective function, and parental parenting behaviors, primary caregivers play a crucial role in influencing a child’s reflective function. The parenting attitudes of a primary caregiver are apparent patterns of parent-child interaction. An individual’s reflective function impacts self-identity, mental health, and several other aspects. Self-esteem is an individual overall evaluation of self-worth, which can maintain their psychological well-being and may also be influenced by their reflective function. Based on the above, primary caregivers can affect an individual’s reflective function, mental ability development, and individual perception and evaluation of self-esteem. Several studies have confirmed the effect of parenting on self-esteem. However, whether the impact of parenting attitudes on individuals can extend to emerging adulthood, which is the period between 18 and 29 years of age, remains unclear. In addition, no studies have explored the mediating effect of reflective function on parenting attitudes and self-esteem in emerging adulthood. By clarifying the impact of parenting attitudes on individual reflective function and self-esteem, it will be possible to provide counseling or psychotherapy interventions, allowing them to use appropriate therapeutic techniques, such as mentalization-based therapy (MBT). Therefore, this will enable the opportunity to concomitantly improve individual self-esteem and alleviate the negative impact of vulnerable family factors on individuals. Based on the above research motives, the research objectives of this study are as follows:(1) To examine the relationship between parenting attitudes and reflective function in emerging adulthood. (2) To examine the relationship between reflective function and self-esteem in emerging adulthood. (3) To examine the relationship between parenting attitudes and self-esteem in emerging adulthood. (4) To examine the mediating effect of reflective function on parenting attitudes and self-esteem in emerging adulthood. This study employed a questionnaire survey method among emerging adults in Taiwan. A total of 495 valid samples were collected using the Parenting Attitudes Scale, Reflective Function Questionnaire, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale as research tools. The research results are as follows:(1) Caring and autonomy-supportive parenting attitudes have significant positive predictive effects on selfesteem and reflective functions. Overprotective and psychologically controlling parenting attitudes have significant negative predictive effects on self-esteem and reflective function. (2) Reflective function has a significant positive predictive effect on self-esteem. (3) Reflective function has a mediating predictive effect between caring parenting attitudes and self-esteem. The higher the level of caring parenting attitudes, the higher the level of self-esteem that can be achieved through the mediation of a highly reflective function. (4) Reflective function has a mediating predictive effect on overprotective parenting attitudes and self-esteem. The higher the level of overprotective parenting attitudes, the lower the level of self-esteem that can be achieved through the mediation of a low reflective function. (5) Reflective function has a mediating predictive effect on autonomy-supportive parenting attitudes and selfesteem. The higher the level of autonomy-supportive parenting attitudes, the higher the level of selfesteem that can be achieved through the mediation of a high reflective function. (6) Reflective function has a mediating predictive effect between psychologically controlling parenting attitudes and self-esteem. The higher the level of psychologically controlling parenting attitude, the lower the level of self-esteem that can be achieved through the mediation of low reflective functioning. This study contributes to enhancing the attention of clinical practitioners or educators to individual reflective functions. Moreover, it provides different perspectives to examine the effect of parenting of the family of origin on the future development of children and the psychological mechanisms involved.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Sound Localization in Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant Users with Single-Sided Deafness.

Evaluate sound localization accuracy of subjects with single-sided deafness (SSD) with active transcutaneous bone conduction implants (atBCIs). Prospective case-control study. Tertiary referral center. Ten SSD patients (with ATBCIS) and 10 controls. Localization was assessed in a semianechoic chamber using a 24-speaker array. Stimuli included broadband noise (BBN) and narrowband noise (NBN). Perceived stimulus angle was recorded and compared with presented location. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. The primary outcome measures were as follows: 1) mean angular error (MAE) error (°) and regression slope and 2) subjective benefit assessment (Speech Spatial Qualities questionnaire). Subjects with SSD demonstrated worse localization by MAE and regression slope compared with controls for both broadband noise (p < 0.0001) and narrowband noise at 500 Hz and 1000 kHz (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.1090) in slope between all groups at 4000 Hz. There was no significant difference in slope or MAE aided compared with unaided. Localization ability varied widely within the SSD cohort, with some individuals showing some ability in the unaided condition, best at 4000 Hz. Although SSQ confirmed particular difficulty in the spatial hearing domain, all domains improved with device use. Localization ability for individuals with SSD falls into a somewhat bimodal distribution. Some have fair localization, particularly at high frequencies, that is preserved but not improved with the atBCI. Others have minimal to no localization ability at any frequency, with no apparent device benefit.

Investigation of the effects of some demographic characteristics of female athletes on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction

In many subjects and fields, emotional intelligence refers to the ability of individuals to understand, express and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. Especially sport is known to have a significant effect on emotional intelligence. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of some demographic characteristics of female athletes on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. The participants were all women and analyses were performed by taking into account age groups, sports branches and education departments. Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction scales were evaluated by factor analysis and the suitability of the data was confirmed by Bartlett's test. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Anova, Kruskal Wallis and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were used to analyse the data. All analyses were performed with SPSS v22.0. 34% of the participants were 18-21 years old, 45% were 22-25 years old and 21% were over 26 years old. 31% were interested in team sports and 69% were interested in individual sports. The fields of education are 37% coaching, 32% physical education and sports teaching, 31% sports management. According to the factor analysis results, Bartlett's test p&lt;0.001 and KMO coefficient 0.896 were found. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged between 0.583 and 0.924. While some factors differed according to age, no difference was found according to sport branch. While evaluation of own emotions and social skills differed according to departments, other factors did not differ. Participants over 26 years of age had low scores in the use of emotions and life satisfaction factors. These findings provide important clues for developing strategies for improving emotional intelligence and increasing life satisfaction.

Evaluation of cognitive deficits and limit of stability in chronic low back pain patients with and without fear-avoidance beliefs

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the cognitive performance and limit of stability parameters between chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients with and without fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) and healthy control subjects. MethodsThirty-four CLBP patients with and without FABs and 17 healthy controls were recruited into the study. Three cognitive components, including working memory, attention, and problem-solving, were assessed using Wechsler's Digit Span subtest, the Tower of London test, and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVACPT), respectively.The study assessed the limit of stability using MARS software. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc comparisons revealed between-group differences. Additionally, Hedge's g effect size was calculated. ResultsThere was no significant difference between CLBP patients with and without FABs in Wechsler's Digit span and the Tower of London test. However, CLBP patients with FABs had lower scores and slower reaction times in the IVACPT(p < 0.05).The statistical analysis of movement velocity during the limit of stability (LOS) tasks revealed no significant difference between chronic low back pain patients with and without fear-avoidance beliefs in all directions. However, CLBP patients with FABs exhibited significantly slower reaction times in the forward (p = 0.001), backward (p = 0.001), and right (p = 0.001) directions. ConclusionThe study indicates that chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients with FABs experience more pronounced cognitive impairments and balance disturbances compared to CLBP patients without FABs. These results underscore the significance of considering psychological factors when assessing the functional abilities of individuals with chronic low back pain.

“Addressing barriers to digital health readiness among a Latino population”

ObjectiveThere are many potential barriers to an individual's readiness and ability to use telehealth, including technology access, trust and knowledge. This qualitative study was a partnership between Jefferson and Esperanza Health Center (EHC), focused on addressing barriers to digital readiness among the Latino population served by EHC. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with Latino patients to assess their experiences with technology and willingness to learn more about technology for healthcare. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a content analysis approach. ResultsWe completed 28 interviews. Most interviews (n = 23, 82 %) were conducted in Spanish. Barriers to using health technology included forgetting passwords, platforms not being available in multiple languages, and lacking digital skills. ConclusionParticipants identified a need and interest in receiving support to develop technological skills needed to access health information and engage in digital health services. Future work is needed to develop patient-centered interventions to support the digital health readiness needs of underserved populations. InnovationHealthcare systems and community health organizations can partner to build the capacity of community members to identify barriers in digital health use. These partnerships have the potential to empower communities to create culturally sensitive interventions that aim to increase digital health literacy.

The Impact of Health Laws and Policies on Marginalized Communities

International law has consistently upheld the importance of human health as a fundamental necessity. Public international law gives rise to the topic of international health law. Many human rights articles, accords, regional instruments, etc., declare this right to the best possible standard of health. The focus of international health law is on an individual's ability to function satisfactorily. It also suggests that in addition to ensuring access to healthcare services, attention should be paid to creating healthy environments, which includes safe drinking water, sanitary conditions, health-related details, education, safe and healthy work environments, and healthy living spaces. Due to its emphasis on the global protection of individual human health, the right to health is a fundamental human rights criterion in the field of international health law. This book emphasises the significance of health legislation and policies and the necessity of attempting to achieve health fairness.

Virtual Reality and Gamification in Hospitality Education at Front Desk

Virtual reality (VR) is recognized as an intelligent and digital technology that has impacted numerous sectors and environments. VR in the classroom acts like a digital tool for the students and the teachers to achieve educational goals as it enhances understanding, critical thinking, visualization levels, and problem-solving skills. In addition, gamification as a motivational factor is integrated with VR. This study investigates the usage of VR and gamification in hospitality educational environment mainly at the front desk. This is to be beneficial to an individual's knowledge and abilities, which should be prioritized in the future, and that earlier experience should be given credit for future employability and education quality.

Parasitism by Cuscuta gronovii mediated soil legacy effects and the competitive ability of invasive and native plant species by changing soil abiotic and biotic properties

Parasitic plants can mediate soil conditioning by invasive and native host plant species, but how this may affect the competitive ability of these plants when they later grow in the conditioned soil has never been tested. This study tested whether soil conditioned by three invasive and three native plant species, either parasitized by a holoparasitic plant Cuscuta gronovii or non-parasitized, would differentially affect the competitive ability of those species. In the first phase, field soil was conditioned using individuals of the six host plant species, either parasitized or non-parasitized. The second phase tested the competitive ability of individuals of those invasive and native plants by growing them alone or in competition with Trifolium repens in either live or sterilized conditioned soil. In the soil conditioning phase, parasitism significantly increased soil NH4+-N concentration by 17 %, decreased soil organic carbon by 18 %, and marginally decreased microbial biomass carbon concentration by 21 %. In the soil feedback phase, native plant species generally had higher competitive ability in soil that was conditioned by parasitized plants than in soil that was conditioned by non-parasitized plants. In contrast, soil conditioned by parasitized plants had only a marginal effect on the competitve ability of invasive plants, compared to growth in soil conditioned by non-parasitized plants. Native plants had greater competitive ability in soil with lower soil organic carbon, while invasive plants had greater competitive ability in soil with higher microbial biomass carbon and lower NH4+-N. These findings demonstrate that parasitism by C. gronovii mediated different soil legacy effects of invasive and native plant species through changes in soil organic carbon, soil NH4+-N, and microbial biomass carbon levels. Broadly, these results suggest that parasitic plants may limit invasions by alien plant species and promote the co-existence of the invaders with native plant species through soil-mediated legacy effects.

How mindfulness, decentering, nonattachment and rumination interact with the temporal associations between emotions and thoughts: An experience sampling study.

The way emotions and thoughts affect each other in daily life deeply impacts an individual's well-being. This experience sampling study (N = 132, 24 random-schedule signals in 6 days) aimed to (a) test the bidirectionality of within-person concurrent (simultaneous) and prospective (from time t-1 to time t) associations between real-life emotions and thoughts; (b) explore the moderator roles of dispositions involving the ability to take an aware and detached perspective on inner experience (i.e., mindfulness, decentering, nonattachment and low rumination) in the abovementioned associations. Multilevel within-person and multilevel lagged models assessed concurrent and prospective links, respectively. Emotions and thoughts showed concurrent associations, and prospective associations only between same-valence emotions and thoughts. Low rumination and decentering strengthened the-respectively-simultaneous and prospective relationship between positive thoughts and positive emotions; decentering, nonattachment and low rumination suppressed the positive association between lagged negative emotions and present negative thoughts. Decentering also nullified the negative concurrent link between positive thoughts and negative emotions. Mindfulness and nonattachment strengthened the concurrent negative link between negative thoughts and positive emotions. Dispositions involving a detached perspective on inner experience improve individual abilities to deal with negative emotions and promote upward spirals between positive emotions and thoughts.

Passive sensing data predicts stress in university students: a supervised machine learning method for digital phenotyping.

University students are particularly susceptible to developing high levels of stress, which occur when environmental demands outweigh an individual's ability to cope. The growing advent of mental health smartphone apps has led to a surge in use by university students seeking ways to help them cope with stress. Use of these apps has afforded researchers the unique ability to collect extensive amounts of passive sensing data including GPS and step detection. Despite this, little is known about the relationship between passive sensing data and stress. Further, there are no established methodologies or tools to predict stress from passive sensing data in this group. In this study, we establish a clear machine learning-based methodological pipeline for processing passive sensing data and extracting features that may be relevant in the context of mental health. We then use this methodology to determine the relationship between passive sensing data and stress in university students. In doing so, we offer the first proof-of-principle data for the utility of our methodological pipeline and highlight that passive sensing data can indeed digitally phenotype stress in university students. Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), identifier ACTRN12621001223820.

Allometric shifts in foraging site selection and area increase energy intake for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout but are constrained by functional limits to prey capture

AbstractObjectiveFor foraging animals, energy acquisition is often influenced by an interaction of prey abundance and the amount of space needed to capture sufficient food. Suitable habitat includes those locations where prey capture rates are sufficient to meet energetic requirements for growth and reproduction. Hence, quantifying how space use changes with energy requirements and how prey densities affect prey capture rates in foraging animals provides insight into the mechanisms that create suitable habitat. Here, we were interested in assessing how body size influences foraging site selection, space use, and energy intake by Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus virginalis bouvieri. Furthermore, we sought to quantify how foraging rates changed with increasing levels of food.MethodsWe recorded Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout foraging behavior in natural streams and measured space use and foraging rates using three‐dimensional videography.ResultWe found that physical habitat features, such as current velocity, water depth, and foraging distance, were positively correlated with fish body size, but when foraging area was compared to a model of space use, we found that Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout used less space to capture prey than the model predicted. Fish foraging rates and estimated energy intake also increased with increasing prey availability; however, trout captured prey according to a type II functional response, indicating an upper limit to prey capture from handling time constraints.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout display allometric changes in foraging habitat use: larger fish can occupy deeper and faster areas that increase prey encounter rates, but as prey encounter rates increase, the foraging rates become limited by an individual's ability to identify, pursue, and handle prey items.

Integration of Technology in Arabic Language Teaching in Writing and Speaking Skills

The study uses a mixed approach involving case studies, surveys, and field experiments to gather data and aims to explore the impact of technology integration in Arabic language teaching, in particular on student writing and speaking skills. Through case study, survey and field experiment, it was found that technologies such as language learning applications and AI-based software, make a significant positive contribution to improving student written and spoken skills. Applications like Duolingo and Grammarly have proven effective in improving student writing quality by providing instant feedback and training tailored to individual abilities. Similarly, voice recognition software and speech training apps like Google Speech-to-Text and Rosetta Stone improve student fluency and confidence in speaking. However, challenges such as gaps in access to technology in remote areas and adaptation to new technologies become major obstacles. The results of this study suggest that technology should be used as a supporting tool that complements conventional methods in Arabic language teaching, stressing the need for educational policies that support the integration of technology and the provision of adequate training for students and teacher.

Identification and Validation of STC1 Act as a Biomarker for High-Altitude Diseases and Its Pan-Cancer Analysis.

High-altitude diseases, including acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), are closely related to an individual's ability to adapt to hypoxic environments. However, specific research in this field is relatively limited, and further biomarker research and clinical trials are needed to clarify the exact role and potential therapeutic applications of key genes in high-altitude diseases. This study focuses on the role of the STC1 gene in high-altitude diseases and explores its expression patterns in different types of cancer. By using gene expression data analysis and functional experiments, we identified STC1 as a key gene affecting the development of altitude sickness. In addition, we also conducted expression and mutation analysis on STC1 in various cancer samples and found significant differences in the expression of this gene in 13 types of malignant tumors, which is associated with the hypoxic state in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, STC1 is significantly associated with patient prognosis and influences tumor immunity by mediating six types of immune cells (CD8+T cells, CD4+T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes, and B cells) in the tumor microenvironment. The expression and diagnostic value of STC1 were confirmed through GEO datasets and qPCR testing, indicating consistency with the results of bioinformatics analysis. These results indicate that STC1 is not only an important factor in the adaptive response to high-altitude diseases but may also play a role in the adaptation of cancer to low-oxygen environments. Our research provides a new perspective and potential targets for the discovery of biomarkers for high-altitude diseases and cancer treatment.

Identifying Predictors of Positive and Negative Affect at Mid-Deployment Among Military Medical Personnel.

Positive and negative affect influence an individual's ability to utilize available physical, psychological, and social resources to maximize responses to life events. Little research has examined the factors that influence the development of positive affect or reduction of negative affective responses among deployed military personnel. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between deployment-related stressors and symptoms of behavioral health concerns with affectivity among deployed U.S. service members. Participants were 1148 U.S. Air Force medical personnel deployed to Balad, Iraq, between 2004 and 2011. All participants completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, general military and combat exposure, stress, and affectivity. The Institutional Review Board at Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force Personnel Survey Program, and the U.S. Army's Joint Combat Casualty Research Team reviewed and approved the study. Most respondents (89%, 1,018/1,139) reported a positive military experience, but many respondents reported exposure to a potentially traumatic event during deployment. For example, seeing dead or seriously injured Americans (47%, 523/1,123) was the most common exposure reported by participants. A large portion of personnel (21%, 232/1,089) reported clinical levels of PTSD symptoms (score of 33 or higher on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military version). Risk factors, including PTSD symptoms, combat exposure, and stress, explained 39% of the variance in negative affect, R2 = 0.39, F(1046) = 224.96, P < .001. Conversely, these risk and resilience factors, including PTSD symptoms, combat exposure, stress, and general military experiences, explained 28% of the variance in positive affect, R2 = 0.28, F(1050) = 103.79, P < .001. No significant gender differences were found between models predicting positive and negative affect. Negative mood states may be partly an epiphenomenon of PTSD, which has been shown to be safely and effectively treated in the deployed environment. Social support during deployments is uniquely associated with a positive mood. These findings extend beyond the military and into any high-stress occupation wherein leaders could interpret these findings as a need to build or reinforce efforts to provide opportunities to sustain healthy relationships in personnel. These critical indigenous resources support mission readiness and enable the maintenance of positive psychological health.