Programmers Research Articles

Design and development of an interactive consultation application for mental health management and support

Mental health is a person's emotional and psychological state that affects how individuals feel and behave daily. Mental health issues are among the most discussed topics among adults, with increasing awareness of their impact on overall well-being. Against this background, the researcher decided to design and develop an interactive consultation application for mental health management and support. This research introduces a novel interactive mental health consultation application, uniquely combining real-time professional support with user-centric features like progress tracking, self-help activities, and educational mini-articles. The application's innovative design distinguishes it by offering a holistic platform integrating professional mental health consultations with evidence-based self-management tools. Unlike traditional therapy or standalone self-help apps, this solution bridges gaps in accessibility, affordability, and convenience, addressing challenges faced by individuals with limited access to in-person services due to time constraints, financial barriers, or geographic limitations. The findings underscore the app's transformative potential to democratize mental health care, making support accessible to diverse populations. By integrating professional expertise with user-friendly technology, this research sets a precedent for addressing growing mental health needs through scalable digital solutions. Future iterations could expand multilingual capabilities, further broadening its reach and impact.

Triple ultraviolet to visible perfect absorptions of lifted metamaterial for highly sensitive sensing and slow light

Achieving multiple perfect absorptions from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (IR) region is practically important for metamaterial-based efficient harvesting of photons and biosensor. Here, we theoretically demonstrate a triple narrow and broad perfect absorptions (PAs) from visible to UV range in a lifted metamaterial made of aluminum vertical split-ring resonators (Al VSRR) on silica nanostrip /Al mirror. The three simultaneously achieved narrowband and broadband PAs with bandwidth of 283.3 nm, 8.9 nm and 18.2 nm are excited from magnetic plasmon resonance, surface plasmons polariton and plasmon standing wave mode, respectively, which is further explained by the impedance matching theory. The triple-band absorption peaks are further tailored by changing the size of the structure. The group index of the lifted Al VSRR array can reach as large as 2.5×103 in the UV range. Moreover, due to the designed metamaterial being lifted with the reduced substrate effect, the figure of merit (FoM*) and sensitivity (S) in the UV range are as high as 1.1×106 and 306 nm per refractive index unit‌ (306 nm/RIU), respectively. The proposed lifted metamaterial could have a considerable effect on the development of various UV plasmonic applications, including slow light nanodevices and optical sensor.

Ni-modified BaTiO3 film prepared by sol-gel with high energy storage performance

The development of lead-free dielectric capacitors with high recoverable energy storage density and high energy storage efficiency is important for improving the overall performance of electronic and power systems. BaTiO3 (BTO) is one of the most common ferroelectric materials and has attracted much attention for energy storage applications in the past decades due to its excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties. However, high remnant polarization and low electrical breakdown strength of BTO limit its development in energy storage applications. Many efforts (e.g., elements doping, interface/heterostructure, etc.) have been made to improve the energy storage density of BTO thin films. In this paper, Ba1-xNixTiO3 thin films (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08; abbreviated as BNxT) were synthesized via sol-gel and spin-coated method. The effect of Ni doping on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and energy storage properties of BTO thin films has been studied. The results confirmed that with the increase of Ni doping, a second phase arises and the dielectric constant decreases. While appropriate Ni doping led to the improvement of the breakdown strength, further increase of Ni deteriorated the energy storage because of the high oxygen vacancy. Finally, optimized energy storage performance was obtained for BN0.04T thin film: dielectric constant of 401, dielectric loss of 0.002, recoverable energy density of 20.2 J/cm3 and energy storage efficiency of 83.6% at 965 kV/cm. Meanwhile, the remnant and maximum polarization of the films were 0.06 μC/cm2 and 50 μC/cm2, respectively. BN0.04T thin film has an excellent application prospect and is expected to appear as a component in the future composite energy storage film system.

Behaviour of post-tensioned benches made of high-content recycled aggregate concrete reinforced with racquet string fibres

This study investigates the serviceability and structural behaviour of a new type of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) bench with waste badminton racquet fibres. Twenty-one cantilever benches were tested in two Series with different fibre volume fractions (Vf = 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5%). The RAC had 100% of natural aggregates replaced with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). The benches in Series II were post-tensioned in flexure using an innovative Post-Tensioned Metal Strapping (PTMS) technique using 1, 2 or 3 straps. Tests were carried out to evaluate 1) static loading behaviour, 2) long-term behaviour after 365 days of sustained loading, and 3) human-induced vibrations. The static test results show that benches with 100% RAC and PTMS had higher capacity (by about 25%) that counterpart benches without PTMS. Hence, the maximum flexural strength of the cantilever bench was improved by 5.7% for the cantilever bench with PTMS strengthening, which further enhanced the flexural behaviour compared to the bench with only 1.5% of fibres. The human-induced vibration test results confirmed that the maximum vibration of the benches met the code limits for floor buildings. Finite element analyses of the RAC benches with PTMS were carried out in Abaqus®, and the experimental deflections agreed well (errors <5%) with the FEM results. A simplified fatigue life analysis confirmed that the RAC benches with PTMS can have a potential service life of up to 20 years. The use of glow-in-the-dark (GID) features into the benches in Series II enhanced their night-time visibility and visual appeal by up to 8 h. This research contributes towards the development of new applications for RAC with waste badminton racquet fibres, which can offer more sustainable solutions for the construction of urban furniture.

Training interventions that enhance entrepreneurship self-efficacy among unemployed youth: A South Africa perspective

Youth unemployment is an ongoing issue that affects individuals domestically and globally, and such a problem has been an issue for a number of years. As a survival approach for economic improvement in most countries, entrepreneurship has been the driving force. There is some evidence that entrepreneurship programs can increase employability. In addition, it can increase motivation for starting a business, particularly among youth who typically have lower levels of self-confidence. To identify how entrepreneurial training interventions can enhance entrepreneurship elf-efficacy among unemployed youth, as systematic review of past study was conducted. Human capital theory was used to explain how human development idea, which encourages economic production through the foundation for skill development and training programs. The theory assists in exploring the intervention programs that enhance self-efficacy in entrepreneurship. The review revealed that there is a direct relationship between training interventions and youth unemployment. It is concluded that training interventions assist the youth to be more informed and skilled, exposing them to venture creation. Therefore, training interventions are the soundest approach to addressing youth unemployment and other socioeconomic issues.

The Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary: Developing Talent Since 1987

The William & Mary Center for Gifted Education (CFGE) serves high-ability students and those with gifts and talents directly and indirectly through curriculum development, precollegiate learner programs, professional development for teachers and administrators, research, and doctoral programs. With an added focus on psychological needs, in 2015, the CFGE Executive Director created the Institute for Research on the Suicide of Gifted Students. The structure of the CFGE includes an executive director, directors in each area (curriculum, research, professional development, and precollegiate learner programs), support staff, and an advisory board. A recent move to a cost-center model enhances the sustainability of the program.

A Survey on Continual Semantic Segmentation: Theory, Challenge, Method and Application.

Continual learning, also known as incremental learning or life-long learning, stands at the forefront of deep learning and AI systems. It breaks through the obstacle of one-way training on close sets and enables continuous adaptive learning on open-set conditions. In the recent decade, continual learning has been explored and applied in multiple fields especially in computer vision covering classification, detection and segmentation tasks. Continual semantic segmentation (CSS), of which the dense prediction peculiarity makes it a challenging, intricate and burgeoning task. In this paper, we present a review of CSS, committing to building a comprehensive survey on problem formulations, primary challenges, universal datasets, neoteric theories and multifarious applications. Concretely, we begin by elucidating the problem definitions and primary challenges. Based on an in-depth investigation of relevant approaches, we sort out and categorize current CSS models into two main branches including data-replay and data-free sets. In each branch, the corresponding approaches are similarity-based clustered and thoroughly analyzed, following qualitative comparison and quantitative reproductions on relevant datasets. Besides, we also introduce four CSS specialities with diverse application scenarios and development tendencies. Furthermore, we develop a benchmark for CSS encompassing representative references, evaluation results and reproductions. We hope this survey can serve as a reference-worthy and stimulating contribution to the advancement of the life-long learning field, while also providing valuable perspectives for related fields.

Empowering physician leaders: UPMC’s breakthrough leadership development programme

In the ever-changing landscape of healthcare management, the role of physician leaders has become increasingly important. Physicians with strong leadership and management skills are well positioned to bring medical expertise to the business side of healthcare, benefiting their organisations immensely. Effective physician leaders also foster a healthier team environment, making a positive impact on their care team and patients. Traditional medical education, while strong in clinical training, typically falls short in adequately preparing physicians for leadership roles. This prompted the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to launch an internal initiative to support physician leadership development. This case study looks at the journey from concept to successful implementation of UPMC’s inaugural leadership development programme for physicians. It also addresses the challenges of deploying the programme during a global pandemic and the lessons learned from the experience. Through internal surveys, UPMC recognised that physicians wanted professional growth and development opportunities. In 2017, UPMC formed an internal board of physician leaders to identify the specific learning needs of that population. In 2018, UPMC hired individuals dedicated to the creation of a leadership programme for physicians, now branded Physician Leadership Essentials (PLE). Before the programme’s launch, physicians were left to seek development outside the organisation. Following a pilot in 2019, the programme was deployed on a larger scale, starting in January 2020. As of 29 February 2024, 482 participants from various speciality and practice locations participated in 26 rolling cohorts of PLE. Twenty cohorts have completed the programme, resulting in 314 alumni. Today, there are six ongoing cohorts with 139 active participants. The programme exhibits 99.5 per cent favourability and a 92 per cent retention rate. Participants have completed 247 leadership challenge projects. This programme has fostered a culture of growth and development for physicians across UPMC and enhanced cross-functional and cross-departmental collaboration. It has also unlocked some of the untapped leadership talent of physician leaders, increasing not only their effectiveness but also their sense of professional fulfilment and engagement.

Analisis Stimulus-Organism-Response dalam Komunikasi Persuasif Pendamping Program Pengembangan Karakter

The involvement of orphaned beneficiaries in the character development program emphasizes the importance of a personal and persuasive approach to motivate active participation. This research uses the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory to understand how persuasive message delivery influences the audience, focusing on the stimulus as a key element. With the right communication strategies, it is hoped that these beneficiaries will not only attend out of obligation but also because they understand the long-term benefits they will gain. A qualitative method with a case study approach is used to describe the importance of this program in developing the self-concept of the orphans. The research results show that the core finding, when linked to the S-O-R theory, is that the persuasive communication techniques used by the facilitators (stimulus) successfully motivated the orphans (organism) to participate more actively in the character development program, as seen in the increase in attendance and positive attitude changes (response). Communication barriers were also successfully overcome, enhancing the effectiveness of the techniques used. The techniques of association, integration, and itching device were effective in motivating the children, despite obstacles from both the facilitators and beneficiaries. Overall, the response to persuasive communication in 2024 showed improvement.

Career development programs and employee retention: Insights from the Ministry of Works in Tanzania

This study examined the relationship between career development initiatives and employee retention at the Ministry of Works in Tanzania. The study was guided by equity theory, which was founded on the assumption that employees tend to remain with their organisation when they are perceived to be treated equally. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was used to assess the variable’s reliability. A cross-sectional design was employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data from survey questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. The study found that employee retention at the Ministry of Work is high. In addition, the study findings revealed significant positive effects of career development programs on retention, including education opportunities (coef. = 1.884, p = 0.016), fair career development opportunities (coef. = 1.2122, p = 0.001), and involvement in innovation and creativity (coef. = 1.5216, p = 0.000). Similarly, qualitative findings indicated that career development programs, including educational opportunities, career autonomy, and recognition practices such as awards and promotions, significantly enhance employee retention. The study contributes to existing knowledge by demonstrating that well-structured career development programs significantly enhance employee retention. It is recommended that organizations invest in training, career autonomy, and innovation opportunities to further improve retention rates and reduce turnover.

Safety and efficacy of early versus delayed acetylsalicylic acid after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage in China (E-start): a prospective, multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised trial

Patients with non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage have a substantial risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, including ischaemic stroke, after surgery. The optimal timing of antiplatelet therapy after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage in patients at high risk of postoperative ischaemic events has not been characterised. We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of early versus late initiation of antiplatelet therapy after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. This prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised trial was done at eight stroke centres in China. Eligible patients were aged 18-70 years, undergoing surgery for the evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage, and had a high risk of postoperative ischaemic events. Using the minimisation method in an online randomisation system, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid once per day in either the early-start group (starting on the third day after surgery until the 90th day after surgery) or the late-start group (starting on the 30th day after surgery until the 90th day after surgery). Medication was taken orally or delivered via a feeding tube. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of new major ischaemic cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular events within 90 days and the primary safety outcome was any intracranial bleeding within 90 days, both measured in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04820972, and is complete. From May 1, 2021, to May 1, 2023, 7323 patients were screened, of whom 269 (4%) were enrolled and randomly assigned: 134 to the early-start group and 135 to the late-start group. 195 (72%) patients were male, 74 (28%) were female, and the median age was 60·2 years (IQR 52·0-66·5). Haematomas were supratentorial and deep in most (170 [63%] of 269) patients. Ischaemic major cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular events occurred within 90 days after surgery in 27 (20%) of 134 patients in the early-start group and 42 (31%) of 135 patients in the late-start group (odds ratio 0·56 [95% CI 0·32-0·98]; p=0·041). Intracranial bleeding occurred in one (1%) of 134 patients in the early-start group and four (3%) of 135 patients in the late-start group. Non-bleeding serious adverse events occurred in 57 (42%) of 134 patients in the early-start group and 57 (42%) of 135 patients in the late-start group. Starting acetylsalicylic acid on the third day after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage in Chinese patients at high risk of postoperative ischaemic events resulted in fewer postoperative ischaemic major cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular events than starting acetylsalicylic acid therapy at 30 days, with no increased risk of intracranial bleeding. Whether early initiation of acetylsalicylic acid therapy is safe and improves clinical outcomes for broader populations of patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage requires further research. The National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Facilitating generational renewal in rural areas by responding to young farmers’ voices: Echoes from the Greek territory

The proper functioning and future of rural areas and communities are strictly tied to young people’s willingness to be engaged in the farming profession, as farming is an important recourse for vocational rehabilitation of the rural population. The agricultural sector acts as a financial injection to the rural economy and society. In this context, one of the most well devised agricultural policies is young farmers’ schemes, aiming at generational renewal in EU rural areas. Since young farmers are the people who directly receive the induced effects of these policies, policy makers have to listen carefully to what “message” young farmers can convey. Nevertheless, after almost four decades of implementing young farmers’ schemes, there is still limited information regarding their attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards the form of the related policy schemes. Using this as a starting point, the present study attempts to identify young farmers’ attitudes and beliefs towards the current young farmers’ scheme of the Rural Development Program (RDP) with overarching scope to identify the needs of young farmers better and thus inform policy makers about the appropriate policy that should be put forward. Results indicate that the current young farmers’ scheme acts as a helpful instrument for a considerable percentage of young farmers. Nevertheless, further streamlining is required to provide incentives, especially to new entrants, to be engaged in the farming profession. Effective policy interventions that will be in line with the actual needs of young farmers could contribute to the direction of the enhancement of the vitality and resilience of the rural systems, and also act towards the prevention of the abandonment process, providing vibrance in rural areas and benefits for the whole economy and society, as well as the ecosystems.

Optimum carbon tax rate for emission targets of electricity generation system by life cycle techno-economic-environmental optimization model

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector is of special interest for decarbonization of energy systems. Optimum carbon tax as a powerful policy tool is here studied by integrated techno-economic-environmental life cycle analysis in a unit commitment problem. The present model is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem to reach the optimum carbon tax rates for different emission targets. The total life cycle CO2 emissions are estimated to be 20333.90 tons/hr in a real case study of Iran's electricity sector for the peak demand hour. The carbon tax rate for a 2% and a 3% emissions reduction is equal to 15.87 and 24.65 $/ton, respectively. In the business-as-usual scenario, higher carbon taxes will be required each year to meet the same emission target. However, developing the electricity sector with cleaner technologies and strategic plans may decrease the carbon tax rate. The extent of this reduction depends on the type of development program implemented in the green revolution scenario. Therefore, policy makers play a direct role in ensuring the sustainable development of the electricity sector. The present model provides a robust framework to analyze the real carbon tax rates for the whole life cycle of electricity generation dispatch.

Leadership Traits and Investment Behavior: Examining the Influence of Leadership Characteristics on Behavioral Biases in Financial Decision-Making

This study investigates the relationship between leadership traits and behavioral biases in investment decisionmaking. Through a quantitative survey of 172 investors, the research examines how leadership characteristics influence susceptibility to overconfidence bias, anchoring bias, herding behavior, and loss aversion in investment contexts. The findings reveal a moderate negative correlation (-0.256) between leadership traits and behavioral biases, suggesting that stronger leadership qualities may help mitigate investment biases. However, regression analysis indicates this relationship is complex, with leadership traits explaining only a small portion of bias variance. The study finds that strategic decision-making capacity has the strongest negative correlation (-0.32) with overconfidence bias, while proactive management skills show consistent negative correlations across all behavioral biases. These findings contribute to both leadership and behavioral finance literature by establishing a novel connection between leadership traits and investment behavior, while highlighting the multifaceted nature of this relationship. The research has practical implications for investment advisors and leadership development programs, suggesting the need for integrated approaches that consider both leadership qualities and behavioral aspects in improving investment decision-making.

Strengthening the competitive advantage of MSME actors through the human resources competency development program (skill, knowledge and attitude)

This research focuses on strengthening the competitive advantage of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through human resource competency development programs, which include three main aspects: skills, knowledge, and attitudes. The purpose of this study is to identify the positive impact of human resource development programs on the competitiveness of MSME actors in an increasingly dynamic market. In the context of globalization and digital transformation, adaptability and innovation are crucial elements that support the growth of MSMEs. This study uses a quantitative method with a survey of 100 MSME actors from various economic sectors, and qualitative through in-depth interviews with business actors and HR development program organizers. The results of the study show that practical skills training, increasing business knowledge, and forming a positive attitude significantly improve the competitiveness of MSMEs. MSMEs that participate in human resource development programs tend to be more innovative in terms of products and services, have more efficient management, and are better able to face market challenges compared to those who do not. In particular, the aspect of proactive attitude and openness to change strongly supports the adaptation of digital technology in business management. Thus, this study recommends the implementation of a holistic human resource development program as one of the strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs in the domestic and global markets.

The impact of high school students’ health literacy on health promotion behaviors: Focusing on the mediating effect of health empowerment

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing health promotion behaviors among high school students and the mediating effect of health empowerment on the relationship between health literacy and health promotion behaviors.Methods: This descriptive research study targeted 136 high school students attending five high schools in Daejeon to confirm the mediating effects of health empowerment on the relationship between health literacy and health promotion behaviors.Results: This study confirmed health literacy and health empowerment as factors influencing high school students’ health promotion behaviors. Testing the mediating effect of health empowerment on the relationship between health literacy and health promotion behaviors showed that health empowerment was a complete mediator and that it was effective.Conclusion: Further research is needed to validate the development and effectiveness of capacity-building programs that can enhance high school students’ health literacy and health-promoting behaviors, as well as to identify various influencing factors affecting the health-promoting behaviors of high school students.

Analysis of the effect of range of motion exercises on the quality of life of post-stroke patients at royal prima hospital Medan in 2024

Stroke is a severe medical condition that occurs due to the interruption of blood supply to the brain, either through blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture of blood vessels (hemorrhagic stroke). With more than 15 million cases each year worldwide, stroke is a leading cause of disability and death, with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. In Indonesia, the prevalence of stroke is very high, especially among adult patients, which contributes to the high mortality and disability rates. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Range of Motion Exercises on the physical condition and quality of life of post-stroke patients at the Rehabilitation Polyclinic of Royal Prima Hospital Medan. Using a correlational descriptive research design with the One Group Pretest-Posttest approach, this study involved 30 respondents who underwent a range of motion exercises. The results of the analysis showed that before the intervention, the majority of patients were in the poor quality of life category. However, after undergoing a rehabilitation program, there was a significant improvement in the patient's quality of life, where 50% of the respondents reported an excellent quality of life. This study indicates that range of motion exercises are effective in improving the quality of life of stroke patients, which has the potential to make an essential contribution to the development of stroke rehabilitation programs in Indonesia.

New Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) species host of Blastopsylla occidentalis (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) and its parasitism by Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Indonesia

Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), native to Australia, causes damage to an increasing number of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) species and their hybrids in a growing number of countries. This is partly because predatory insects and spiders have low potential to reduce B. occidentalis populations. The purpose of this study was to report a new host of B. occidentalis and the parasitism of this insect by Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky, & Coninck (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Indonesia. Blastopsylla occidentalis nymphs parasitized were collected from five Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. trees on October 3rd, 2023, in Senoni, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and reared in a laboratory until their adults or P. blastopsyllae emerged. The adults recovered from this parasitoid were identified by morphological analysis of their bodies. Eucalyptus pellita is a new host for B. occidentalis. This is the first time in Asia (Indonesia) that P. blastopsyllae has been reported. This new insect-host association alerts the world to the need to develop management strategies for B. occidentalis on E. pellita plantations. The recovery of P. blastopsyllae also opens up new perspectives for the development of biological control programs in Indonesia.

Development and Evaluation of a Comprehensive Web-Based Canteen Food Ordering System

Abstract: This research paper presents the development of a web application aimed at introducing and optimizing the canteen ordering process within institutional and work environments. Focused on reducing wait times and enhancing user experience, the application facilitates menu browsing, order placement, and cashless payments via e-wallet or UPI. By leveraging technology to promote efficiency, the app seeks to address common challenges faced by students, faculty and employees during peak hours. The paper discusses design strategies, technical implementation, and potential implications for canteen operations, emphasizing the importance of user-centric solutions in enhancing overall satisfaction and productivity.

Design of Windows-Based Learning Applications on Educational Philosophy Material

This journal discusses the design and development of Windows-based learning applications focused on educational philosophy material. Philosophy of education has an important role in shaping the goals and methods of education, but is often considered difficult by students. This research focuses on the development of a Windows-based learning application aimed at the topic of Philosophy of Education. Information technology is essential for teaching in the modern era to improve student interaction and their understanding of the subject matter. Students can learn the basic concepts of philosophy of education with this interactive application. Planning, modeling, construction, verification, and maintenance are the stages of the waterfall model used as the development method. This application uses Visual Basic.Net and Microsoft Visual Studio development tools. The results show that this application not only fulfills educational needs but also improves the quality of learning because it has features that support a more dynamic learning process. Therefore, it is expected that this learning application will help improve the quality of education in Indonesia by offering students a more efficient and engaging learning method.