Adaptive Programming Research Articles

Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities

IntroductionPediatric therapists in school-based practice can incorporate exercise promotion through adaptive cycling for children with disabilities who experience high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous activity.MethodsThe impacts of an adaptive cycling pilot program for children with disabilities were investigated through a community-based participatory study. During an eight-week intervention, students had a goal of riding adaptive cycles three times a week for twenty minutes. Using a pre-and post-test design, primary outcomes included individualized goal attainment scaling (GAS) linked to students' individualized education plans (IEP) and the 6-minute cycling test (6MCT) measuring cycling distance. Secondary outcomes included cycling duration over time, assistance levels for pedaling and steering, a “happiness scale”, and overall program satisfaction of parents and teachers. To prevent harm, pain behavior was examined using the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC).ResultsCycling had a positive impact on students with disabilities. No increased levels of pain behavior or adverse events were reported. Individual GAS T-score means significantly improved to 0.24 and program effectiveness achieved a T-score value of 50.53. The mean distance of 6MCT increased from 728.95 feet to 880.5 feet. Secondary measures also documented significant improvement. Parents and teachers reported high overall satisfaction.DiscussionAdaptive cycling can incorporate needed physical activity into the school day and also support the achievement of IEP goals, physical activity capacity, and emotional happiness. Scaling adaptive cycling programs for children with disabilities should be considered an excellent opportunity for educational growth, health, and well-being.

Cetacean Sanctuaries: Do They Guarantee Better Welfare?

The SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary (BWS) has been in operation for over five years and serves as a unique case study to evaluate the effectiveness of marine sanctuaries for cetaceans. While cetacean sanctuaries are often regarded as a middle-ground solution between captivity and release, evidence from the BWS highlights complexities in adapting cetaceans to these environments. Despite initial assumptions that natural conditions would inherently improve welfare, the belugas at the BWS spent the majority of the operational period (92.6%) in a conventional indoor pool, due to health and welfare concerns. Repeated delays, challenges in acclimatization, and distress-related conditions observed during periods in the bay suggest that natural environments alone may not guarantee improved welfare. Additionally, the lack of publicly accessible data on health and welfare outcomes hinders comprehensive evaluation of the sanctuary’s success and raises questions about transparency and evidence-based practices. This review underscores the need for refined sanctuary models, improved infrastructure, and structured adaptation programs tailored to species and individual cetaceans. It highlights the importance of robust planning, ongoing research, and transparency to meet the ambitious goals of marine sanctuaries in the best interests of the well-being of cetaceans under human care. These considerations also raise concerns about the decision to relocate captive cetaceans to marine sanctuaries, as the available evidence suggests that such environments may not inherently guarantee better welfare outcomes.

Impact of functional re-education and environmental adaptation in cancer patients with respiratory pathology: Study protocol.

In recent years, cancer survival rates have increased exponentially. However, this rise in survival comes with a significant drawback. As the number of treatment lines has grown, so too have the side effects, which can severely impact patients' functionality and quality of life. One of the most concerning effects is dyspnoea, a serious health issue that imposes substantial limitations on individuals. While traditional clinical approaches, primarily focused on pharmacological interventions, are commonly employed to manage dyspnoea, we argue that these methods may not always provide optimal symptomatic relief. Therefore, we propose a study protocol to implement an interdisciplinary intervention for these patients. This protocol aims to enhance standard clinical practice by introducing a program of functional re-education and environmental adaptation. We believe this intervention is essential for the follow-up care of patients with respiratory conditions after hospital discharge. A two-arm, randomized, parallel, controlled clinical trial will be conducted by the University of Salamanca, Spain, in collaboration with the Medical Oncology Service of the University Health Care Complex of Salamanca. The trial aims to recruit 80 oncology patients who exhibit symptoms of dyspnoea during hospital admission. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group, which will receive a health education program, and the experimental group, which will receive both the health education program and a functional re-education and environmental adaptation program. Assessments will be conducted at three time points: baseline (prior to hospital discharge), follow-up (15 days after discharge), and the end of the intervention (1 month after discharge). During these assessments, sociodemographic data will be collected, and the following scales will be administered: Barthel Index, Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC), EuroQol 5-D questionnaire (EQ-5D), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and the Zarit Reduced Caregiver Burden Scale. The findings of this research can be easily implemented in clinical settings by introducing a targeted intervention to improve the quality of life for this patient population. This study aims to advance traditional clinical approaches by facilitating the recovery or adaptation of cancer patients in their daily routines, in relation to the severity of their symptoms. Our primary goal is to enhance independence and functionality, ultimately improving their overall standard of living. ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT06035263. Registered on: September 19, 2023. https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000DM2U&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0004OJ7&ts=6&cx=f7qqxo.

Coordinated allocation of distributed generation, soft open points and energy storage systems in unbalanced distribution networks considering flexibility deficiency risk

Optimizing the location and capacity of flexible resources is critical. The increase in the permeability of distributed generation (DG) causes the net load to drastically fluctuate, which sharply increases flexibility demand for the distribution network. The asymmetric access of distributed generators, asymmetric line parameters, and unbalanced loads aggravate the three-phase voltage unbalance of distribution systems. Energy storage systems (ESSs) and soft open points (SOPs) can flexibly adjust power flow direction, which can address the problem. This study analyzed the characteristics of flexibility resources based on the flexibility theory. Furthermore, the potential loss of flexibility demand is quantitatively assessed by conditional value-at-risk, and the coordination planning model of DG, SOP, and ESS for the unbalanced distribution network is constructed considering flexibility and economy. Because the resulting mathematical formulation belongs to a nonconvex quadratic programming problem, an adaptive linear relaxation programming method is proposed to improve computational efficiency. The adaptive linear relaxation technique is constructed based on the properties of quadratic functions and the mean value theorem, and the non-convex quadratic programming problem is converted to a series of parametric linear relaxation programming problems by the technique. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified on IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 123-bus systems.

Unlocking the key to HPV prevention: Exploring factors influencing HPV vaccination decisions among young people and their parents.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a recognised preventive measure against HPV-related cancers. Despite the availability of vaccines, challenges persist, including limited awareness and gender disparities in vaccination. Addressing the challenges necessitates a comprehensive approach involving knowledge advancements, understanding societal needs and cultural beliefs, and improving vaccine communication. This study aimed to determine young people's information needs, facilitators and barriers, influential messages, and thoughts on improving vaccine communication between youth & healthcare professionals (HCPs) and parents regarding HPV vaccination. Qualitative SWOT analysis. This report is part of Work Package 2.1 within the EU4Health project PROTECT-EUROPE. A multi-methodological approach involved data collection through open-ended questionnaires disseminated to European youth organisations. The data underwent content and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. The SWOT analysis of HPV vaccination communication efforts highlighted strengths, such as using educational institutions to disseminate information and vaccination. Primary obstacles to HPV vaccination include a lack of awareness among key demographics and logistical challenges for youth accessing vaccination services. Weaknesses included barriers created by the use of technical jargon. Opportunities were seen in HCPs engaging directly with students in educational settings and open dialogue, ensuring confidentiality to the target population. Threats encompassed cultural sensitivities to HPV. These insights underscore the importance of developing communication strategies that are effective and sensitive to cultural contexts and of creating accessible and adaptable vaccination programs. The findings suggest that targeted education and active engagement strategies can mitigate these issues. Moreover, prioritising open communication between HCPs and young individuals is critical for increasing vaccination uptake.

Psychological and educational support for the development of students’ life strategies: Analysis of best practices in the implementation of youth policy in modern conditions

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of psychological and educational support for building students’ life strategies within the system of moral education in universities of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to identify the specifics of psychological and educational support for the process of building life strategies by students based on the analysis of the best practices in the implementation of youth policy in modern conditions. Materials and Methods. The theoretical and methodological bases of the study ware the ideas and concepts of learner-centered approach. The authors used the methods of expert assessment and content analysis. An array of empirical data was obtained as a result of the analysis of applications submitted by higher educational institutions for the Review-competition of the best practices in the implementation of youth policy and the organization of educational activities at the university. The data array consisted of 1215 applications. Results. The authors conclude that there is a contradiction between the relevance of the task of building a life strategy for student age and a pronounced lack of activities in psychological and educational support of this process. The authors emphasized the internal orientation and isolation of moral educational activities at universities, which hinders the spread of practices of supporting the construction of students' life prospects outside the university. Among the existing formats of psychological and educational support, the centers of psychological counseling, adaptation and training programs, monitoring and diagnostic programs, clubs and communities of pre-psychological assistance and mutual assistance prevail. However, educational activities and youth policy at universities have a pronounced indirect or mediated influence on the construction of students’ life strategy. The most significant potential of this activity in relation to long-term planning is an increase in the level of awareness and social orientation of the individual, his or her ability to self-knowledge and consciously build a life prospect. Conclusions. The authors identify specific characteristics of psychological and educational support for the construction of life prospects by students at the university: a pronounced lack of attention to the task of building a long-term life prospect; the dominance of practices of supporting orientation and planning in the near future; institutionalization of support for building a life strategy in psychologically-oriented formats; significant indirect influence of the university on the process of building a life perspective; deficiencies of formats that affect significant components of building a life perspective (family and career planning); deficiencies of formats that form social immunity to negative environmental influences, thereby removing barriers to building a life perspective.

Coming Back to Campus: Factors Contributing Post-COVID-19 Adjustment of University Students

The transition to face-to-face education after COVID-19 has brought along new changes that need to be adapted for students. This study aims to reveal how the state anxiety levels of individuals predict life satisfaction through the adjustment to university life after post-COVID face-to-face education. Besides, the differences in anxiety, life satisfaction, and university adjustment in 2nd and 3rd-graders were tested. The study group consists of 263 university students. Data were collected through The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, The Adjustment to University Life Scale, and The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Independent groups t-test was used to test whether the scores differed at the grade level, and Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the hypothesized model. Research findings indicate that there is no difference between the levels of state anxiety, life satisfaction, and adjustment to university life of second and third-year students. In other words, there is no significant difference between students who started university face-to-face and online in terms of relevant variables after the pandemic. According to the structural equation modeling findings, state anxiety is a significant predictor of life satisfaction through adaptation to university life. The model-data fit was found to be good and the indirect effects were statistically significant. The findings were discussed in line with the relevant literature. Based on the findings of the present study, a focus on university adaptation programs and interventions can be recommended after possible crises in the future.

Дети мигрантов в российской школе: установки и практики учителей

In the absence of state adaptive programmes, the key role in the inclusion of migrant children in the educational environment is assigned to the school teacher. The attitudes and educational strategies of the teacher are important competences for working with foreign students at school. This problem is little covered in the Russian context and requires special scientific analysis. The paper presents data from a qualitative study designed to identify and characterise teachers’ attitudes and practices in their work with migrant children, as well as to determine whether there is a relationship between the variables. The empirical data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and categorized using deductive and inductive content analysis. The study participants were school teachers from the Republic of Tatarstan who had experience in working with foreign students. The findings revealed three types of educational practices, i.e. language support, academic support, and creating a friendly environment in the classroom. Analysing teachers’ attitudes toward migrant schoolchildren in the interview responses, the authors have found that teachers’ positive attitudes mostly lead to high expectations for the academic achievement of migrant students. The study also revealed the conceptual orientation of teachers’ attitudes that predominantly reflected a pluralistic approach to the ethnocultural diversity in the classroom. The paper concludes that positive attitudes, high academic expectations, and pluralistic ideas favourably influence teacher practices, which contributes to the academic success of migrant children in school. The research findings will be used in the joint professional development programme for teacher education institutions and universities, following the introduction of modules on the adaptation of foreign minors and children from the families with migration history.

Research on Marketing Prediction Model for Cross-Border E-Commerce Enterprises Based on Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

Understanding consumer behavior and predicting market trends are critical for enterprises looking to advance their innovation in the rapidly changing world of Cross-border E-commerce (CBEC). To advance the logistical facility occurrence for consumers and optimize inventory organization, e-commerce businesses are focused on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach to amplify the accuracy of sales prediction. This study proposes a marketing prediction model that employs Enhanced Tabu Search Optimized Dynamic Gradient Boosting Machines (ETSO-DGBM) to aid CBEC businesses in building enhanced assessments. The CBEC enterprises’ data were collected and used for predicting their marketing approach. To advance the capability of the model to predict, pre-processing procedures, including normalization, are used to certify data stability and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) assists in extracting features. The result illustrates that the ETSO-DGBM marketing prediction model develops forecasting accuracy significantly. When assessing with traditional techniques, the proposed ETSO-DGBM model performs better. The method assists organizations in predicting their marketing strategy to gather the diverse demands of different segments by providing perceptive information about customer behavior. It uses AI approach to extend adaptable marketing programs for CBEC companies, facilitating informed decision-making and promoting expansion and profitability in international markets. It underscores the significance of AI in marketing strategies to handle cross-border customer behavior.

Enhancing Agro-ecosystem Services through Integrated Watershed Management in Etmadpur Watershed of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

The changing climate affects agriculture sector severely especially in developing countries like India. To overcome such impacts, the Government of India has undertaken several adaptation programs, and integrated watershed management program (IWMP) is one of them. Currently, there is limited understanding about the impact of implementing soil and water conservation measures on ecosystem services at micro-watershed level. Therefore, present study was undertaken to enlighten the watershed-level ecosystem services with their economic valuation through a case study of Etmadpur micro-watershed of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. The impact evaluation of the watershed intervention was carried out by calculating incremental changes or differences in ecosystem services before and after the watershed development. The results indicated that gully plugging and bench terracing increased the cropped area during winter season by 13% with 80% reduction in fallow lands. Moreover, the watershed interventions led to 10% to 43% increase in crop productivity due to improved irrigation facilities, adoption of recommended package of agricultural practices and augmented soil fertility. In addition, watershed development increased provision of ecosystem services, which improved livelihood security by enhancing employment opportunity, estimated to be Rs. 2,163 ha-1. The results further revealed generation of both marketed and non-marketed ecosystem services, worth Rs. 44,665 ha-1, with a total value of Rs. 226.36 lakhs at the watershed level. Crop production is found to be the foremost ecosystem service, accounting for 72% of the total value of watershed ecosystem services, followed by livestock (14%), carbon sequestration (7%), causal employment (5%), and stored water (2%). Watershed development improved soil health by promoting the use of farm yard manure and increasing green cover, which in turn ensured carbon stock in the soil. The value of carbon sequestered in the soil was found to be of more than Rs. 3,292 ha-1, with a total monetary value of Rs. 16.89 lakhs at the watershed level. Findings of this study suggested that policy makers and practitioners need to consider the issues related to ecosystem services at the micro-watershed level in view of climate variability along with increasing human pressure.

Stress, distress and anxiety in surgical specialists

The purpose of the study is the assessment of the level of anxiety among surgeons providing medical care in specialized COVID-19 hospitals, multidisciplinary hospitals, and polyclinics during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, as well as early diagnosis, prediction, and prevention of the development of anxiety associated with the level of occupational burnout in this category of medical specialists. Material and research methods. The study was carried out on the basis of the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after honored scientist of the Russian Federation professor V. V. Kosarev, FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and the Department of Occupational Pathology, Regional Center for Occupational Pathology of the Samara City Hospital No. 5. The study was carried out within the framework of a complex theme «Systematic approach to early diagnosis, prevention, and prediction of the impact of low-intensity production factors on workers’ health» (state registration number AAAA-A18‑118122190069‑6, registration date — December 21, 2018) of the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after honored scientist of the Russian Federation professor V. V. Kosarev, FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on November 23, 2021. Patient consent. Each participant of the study gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study and publish personal medical information in an anonymized form. The study included the following groups of subjects: group 1 consisted of surgeons working in a COVID hospital (in the «red zone») (n=61); group 2 included doctors of surgical specialties working in a multidisciplinary hospital (n=58); group 3 consisted of surgical specialists working in a polyclinic (n=55); group 9 consisted of nurses working in the polyclinic (n=29); group 4 was the control group (n=190) comprising workers of engineering, technical, and economic specialties not related to medical organizations (healthy). The method for assessing the anxiety in medical workers during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 was the original test method «Application of the Integrative Anxiety Test», created in 2005 at the St. Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute named after V. M. Bekhterev by PhD Candidate in Psychology A. P. Bizyuk, PhD in Medicine, professor L. I. Vasserman, and PhD Candidate in Medicine B. V. Iovlev. The technique is reliable and adapted for the Russian-speaking population, which was the basis for its use in the study of anxiety in healthcare workers during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. The obtained data were processed using the Statistica package from StatSof t (USA). Results. The professional activities of surgical specialists providing medical care in the «red zone», multidisciplinary hospitals, and clinics are associated with the exposure of physicians to a number of risk factors in the working environment and the labor process, interrelated with the provision of regular or occasional care to COVID-19 patients, which, under conditions of exposure to increased levels of occupational stress, leads to an increase in the level of anxiety in these categories of medical workers. The increase in the level of anxiety among medical workers of medical institutions of various profiles during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 is due to the fact that medical workers faced many additional difficulties during this period: sleep deprivation, stress, strain, and fatigue. Fatigue can affect behavior, communication, learning, and decision-making, which generally leads to an increase in the level of anxiety of doctors and nursing staff. Limitations of the study. The study has regional (Samara Region) and professional (in terms of detailing working conditions in the studied comparison groups) limitations. Conclusion. Thus, the obtained data indicate that when identifying risk factors for an increase in the level of anxiety in medical workers providing care in situations of high epidemic risk, there is the need to use specialized rehabilitation measures with relaxation techniques, art therapy, as well as professional adaptation programs, physiotherapeutic techniques, such as electrosleep and reflexology, and, if possible, resort treatment in health care centers, local sanatoriums, etc. with visits to psychotherapy offices, as well as psychopharmacological medications.

Pasture farming for climate change adaptation in a semi-arid dryland in Kenya: status, challenges and opportunities

Climate variability and change pose a major challenge to rain-fed agriculture in Africa. Extreme weather events are projected to continue affecting African drylands. Thus, it is essential to assess how rural farming communities in marginal environments are adapting to environmental changes. Specifically, there is need to assess local adaptations that can help enhance the resilience of socio-economic and environmental systems. This study identifies the current status, main challenges and opportunities of pasture farming for climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers in a semi-arid dryland in Kenya. It combines household and key informant interviews and participatory methods. Agropastoral farmers in the studied area are establishing native perennial pastures, where species selection is largely influenced by its forage value. Although agropastoral farmers have adopted pasture farming, they still face multiple challenges including climatic factors, lack of sufficient knowledge and information, limited access to markets, high cost and low availability of native grass seed, destruction of grazing herbivores and seed predation. Adopting strategies like low cost irrigation systems and agricultural technologies, cooperatives development and policy formulation to facilitate easy access of inputs and relevant markets has great potential to increase local resilience to environmental change and contribute to achieving wider development goals. Thus, policy makers should prioritize formulating climate adaptation policies and programmes that will promote diversification of livelihoods and support local climate adaptation strategies among farming communities in African drylands.

A closer look at the role of deubiquitinating enzymes in the Hypoxia Inducible Factor pathway.

Hypoxia Inducible transcription Factors (HIFs) are central to the metazoan oxygen-sensing response. Under low oxygen conditions (hypoxia), HIFs are stabilised and govern an adaptive transcriptional programme to cope with prolonged oxygen starvation. However, when oxygen is present, HIFs are continuously degraded by the proteasome in a process involving prolyl hydroxylation and subsequent ubiquitination by the Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase. The essential nature of VHL in the HIF response is well established but the role of other enzymes involved in ubiquitination is less clear. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) counteract ubiquitination and provide an important regulatory aspect to many signalling pathways involving ubiquitination. In this review, we look at the complex network of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in controlling HIF signalling in normal and low oxygen tensions. We discuss the relative importance of DUBs in opposing VHL, and explore roles of DUBs more broadly in hypoxia, in both VHL and HIF independent contexts. We also consider the catalytic and non-catalytic roles of DUBs, and elaborate on the potential benefits and challenges of inhibiting these enzymes for therapeutic use.

Clinical Profile and Complications in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction-A Systematic Review

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Our study shows that AWMI predominates as the initial symptom of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), leading to a significant delay in first medical contact. Complications such as cardiogenic shock and arrhythmia are frequently observed. This study was conducted with the aim of understanding the clinical profile of ACS in people attending our institute. A total of 20 articles were identified during the year 2003 to 2023 in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Search. The mean age of the subjects was 55.75 ± 12.5 years, and the majority were male (75%). The differential diagnosis of ST-segment elevation includes four main processes: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), premature repolarization, pericarditis, and QRS complex abnormalities (left bundle branch block, left ventricular hypertrophy). ST-segment elevation secondary to, or pre-excitation). Other processes that may be associated with ST segment elevation include hyperkalemia, pulmonary embolism, and Brugada syndrome. The biggest barrier to consistent STEMI care in developing countries is the lack of community care systems, which needs improvement. All patients received routine anti-ischemic therapy, followed by initial PCI or revascularization with thrombolytic therapy, and routine post-MI treatment. Complications and outcomes were evaluated by electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and other examinations, if necessary. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction has a good outcome in young patients. Smoking and dyslipidemia are the main risk factors for STEMI in young people. The majority of young patients with dyslipidemia were unaware of their previous disease. Our results recommend the implementation of community adaptation and screening programs for dyslipidemia in young people, and the strengthening of smoking prevention programs.

Why partner? Harnessing value from collaborative sustainable business models to restore coral reefs at scale.

Tropical coral reefs provide a wide range of ecosystem services that benefit millions worldwide. However, the current scale of coral reef restoration is a long way from matching the extent needed to protect coral reefs globally, and this implementation gap presents a complex challenge to overcome. Cross-sectoral collaborative sustainable business models (CSBMs) present an interesting opportunity to scale up coral restoration, though this area is yet to be explored in the literature. In this paper, we use the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program in the Great Barrier Reef as a case study to examine potential collaborators, their roles, and what benefits motivate them to partner for scaling coral restoration. We identified a diverse range of potential collaborators from 10 sectors offering different combinations of physical, human and organisational capitals. Participants described nine roles they could play in such a partnership, and many of these roles relate to ecosystem growth scaling strategies. Benefits that motivate collaboration fall into seven categories: environmental benefit, business opportunity and value, employment opportunity, knowledge and technology, innovation, hope, and reputation. Our findings contribute to designing CSBMs for coral restoration by enriching our understanding of collaborators, value creation and their potential roles in alternative pathways to scale up coral restoration beyond reducing unit cost and increasing funding.

Transformation of District/City Response Patterns for Child Protection during Post Covid-19, Case Study of Central Java Province, Indonesia

Covid-19 for three years has become an inseparable part of the lives of urban and rural communities. The impact occurs, such as the impact of Covid-19 on children. Children are a vulnerable part of society during a pandemic, about the conditions for their health, education, and protection. The role of the city in carrying out its duties as a public servant is important, where all stakeholders have an important role. Central Java, one of the provinces affected by Covid-19 has responded well with its adaptive programs. This research was conducted with a quantitative approach with a quantitative descriptive method, starting with an analysis of the role of stakeholders and programs related to Covid-19 prevention for children. The results of the analysis are continued by looking at the spatial pattern between cities and districts. Research data is taken from primary surveys through FGD and document review. The results of the study identify that not all city/district areas have a response to child protection during the Covid-19 pandemic, urban areas are more responsive to this condition. Increasing the role of protection for children during a pandemic is an important part of the process of returning to the new normal.

On the necessity of adaptive physical education classes forms improvement in university with students with disabilities

Importance. Currently, the organization of the higher education system must ensure the full immersion of students with disabilities in the general educational process. This circumstance requires the development of adaptive physical education programs aimed not only at eliminating deviations in the physical development of students with disabilities that arose as a result of the underlying disease, but also ensuring their adaptation and socialization in the student community. In this regard, the search for and implementation of non-traditional means of motor activity and forms of organizing adaptive physical education classes at the university are urgent tasks.Materials and Methods. Based on the review and theoretical analysis of scientific publications, questionnaires have been developed; and sample surveys of students and teachers of the Theory and Methods of the Physical Culture Department at Derzhavin Tambov State University have been conducted.Results and Discussion. The questionnaires has been conducted to identify the opinion of students with disabilities and practicing teachers on this matter. The questionnaires contained ten questions, the wording of which differed for students and teachers in order to identify their attitudes to each item of the questionnaire. The study involved 11 teachers of Theory and Methods of Physical Education Department of Derzhavin Tambov State University and 34 students with disabilities.Conclusion. To sum up, the implementation of non-traditional means of motor activity and nonstandard forms of organizing educational classes in adaptive physical education will provide an opportunity for all students to study simultaneously, regardless of the limitation degree and their health condition, which will not only minimize the disruption of their physical condition that arose as a result of the underlying disease, but also eliminate social barriers.

Utilizing movement-related potentials to monitor cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with central nervous system disorders: A review.

In current neuroscience, there is a pressing need to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for motor and cognitive disorders. In addition, there is a gap in the literature on assessing this type of rehabilitation. This review proposes using Movement-Related Potentials (MRPs) as a relevant marker for such evaluations. The method employed involves administering a psychomotor task known as the Skilled Performance Task (SPT). Originally described in 1980 by Papakostopoulos, the SPT requires specific abilities, such as bimanual coordination, adaptive programming, and precise timing. Subjects must start and stop a sweep on an oscilloscope screen with accurate timing, receiving immediate feedback that aids in performance improvement. This self-paced, goal-directed, and interactive task ensures continuous engagement and learning. Suitable for all ages, the SPT provides real-time feedback and demands constant attention and reprogramming of movements, making it an effective tool for assessing and promoting cognitive rehabilitation through neuroplasticity. The originality of this task lies in the ability to obtain, with a single motor act, a series of potentials that represent different stages of the processing of a goal-directed and self-initiated action. The MRPs associated with this task are the Bereitschaftspotential (BP), the Motor Cortex Potential (MCP), the N100, the P200, the Skilled Performance Positivity (SPP) and the Post-Action Negativity (PAN). The present study reinterprets previous research conducted on children and adults with various central nervous system pathologies, from a cognitive rehabilitation perspective, to provide new insights into neurorehabilitation techniques utilizing MRPs.

Adaptive Information Decay: A Potentially Effective Approach to Enhancing the Impact of Augmented Reality on Training for Manual Assembly Tasks

The limitations of current AR assembly training systems’ guided information have prompted exploration into enhancing efficiency and user experience. By integrating information decay strategies with individual learning status, this paper focuses on customizing decay to improve AR training. Against the backdrop of AR manual assembly training, we designed a user-centered adaptive gradual decay training program (“Adapt Grad Dec”) and developed a corresponding AR system using Unity 3D. To evaluate the effectiveness of “Adapt Grad Dec” in AR manual assembly training, a user study was conducted that compared it against both pre-programmed decay conditions and a non-decay condition, drawing on insights from previous research. The pre-programmed decay conditions included three variations: (1) only gradual decay of training information (“Only Grad Dec”), (2) fast decay of training information with manual adjustment options (“Fst Dec and Manl Adj”), and (3) gradual decay with manual adjustment options (“Grad Dec and Manl Adj”). In contrast, the un-decay condition involved no reduction of training information throughout the process (“UnDec”). Results demonstrated that participants performed better in various aspects under the “Adapt Grad Dec” condition compared to “Only Grad Dec.” Based on findings, we propose that combining individual learning conditions with gradual decay strategies is a potentially effective approach to enhancing AR training outcomes. Additionally, the study also discusses limitations and future research directions.

Phenotypic upregulation of hexocylceramides and ether-linked phosphocholines as markers of human extreme longevity.

Centenarians and their relatives possess a notable survival advantage, with higher longevity and reduced susceptibility to major age-related diseases. To date, characteristic omics profiles of centenarians have been described, demonstrating that these individuals with exceptional longevity regulate their metabolism to adapt and incorporate more resilient biomolecules into their cells. Among these adaptations, the lipidomic profile stands out. However, it has not yet been determined whether this lipidomic profile is specific to centenarians or is the consequence of extreme longevity genetics and is also present in centenarians' offspring. This distinction is crucial for defining potential therapeutic targets that could help delay the aging process and associated pathologies. We applied mass-spectrometry-based techniques to quantify 569 lipid species in plasma samples from 39 centenarians, 63 centenarians' offspring, and 69 noncentenarians' offspring without familial connections. Based on this profile, we calculated different indexes to characterize the functional and structural properties of plasma lipidome. Our findings demonstrate that extreme longevity genetics (centenarians and centenarians' offspring) determines a specific lipidomic signature characterized by (i) an enrichment of hexosylceramides, (ii) a decrease of specific species of ceramides and sulfatides, (iii) a global increase of ether-PC and ether-LPC, and (iv) changes in the fluidity and diversity of specific lipid classes. We point out the conversion of ceramides to hexosylceramides and the maintenance of the levels of the ether-linked PC as a phenotypic trait to guarantee extreme longevity. We propose that this molecular signature is the result of an intrinsic adaptive program that preserves protective mechanisms and cellular identity.