Development Of Tools Research Articles

Reflecting on Current State and Future Research of Empathy Assessment and Development within the Game- Based Learning Community

There are decades of growing interest in social-emotional learning (Muravevskaia, 2023; Hoffman, 2009). According to the founders of the SEL concept, Cherniss, Goleman, et al. (2006), SEL is “the process of acquiring a set of social and emotional skills—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making within the context of a safe, supportive environment.” One of the most popular SEL frameworks is CASEL (2003), which includes five aspects: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, decision-making skills, and relationship skills. The social awareness aspect includes competencies related to empathy: (taking others’ perspectives, demonstrating empathy, and showing concern for the feelings of others). Empathy is widely used and mentioned in SEL and other literature across the research fields of game-based learning, design research, social psychology, neuroscience, affective computing, artificial intelligence, educational technologies, and others. Design thinking methodology and user experience research claim empathy is the first step in user research and developing multiple tools and measures (Dorst, 2011; Wright, 2008). Virtual reality is suggested as an “empathy machine” and promoted as a good tool for empathy development (Ventura, 2020). Affective computing works on modeling and measuring empathy in artificial agents to create systems that would scaffold the learning experience using SEL components (Gebhard, 2021). Empathy games are emerging as a new separate sub-domain (Muravevskaia,2023). Such situation multiplies many different definitions, methodologies, and measures for empathy. Such an active and divided interest in empathy across different domains can cause potential research confusion and challenges for educational technology and game-based research communities. We invite the GBL Research community to gather together as an interdisciplinary community to be able to discuss what empathy means for our community, how we define it and which methods use, which role it plays in the GBL, and which emerging future research in this area we envision together.

Evaluating Pre-travel Health Consultations for Business and Occupational Travelers: A Systematic Review.

Business and occupational travelers' health is at risk due to the specific itineraries and activities, prolonged stays, work-related stressors, short preparation time, more chances of disease importation, underutilization of vaccination, and chemoprophylaxis. The objective of the review is to assess theeffectiveness of pre-travel health consultation and how it will help travelers prevent health risks. The question is to evaluate how can prolonged stays and underutilization of chemoprophylaxis and vaccination be better managed with pre-travel health consultation. The literature was searched on databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Semantic Scholar using Boolean operators with keywords and Medical Subheading (MeSH) terms such as "occupational travelers," "business travelers," "pre-travel health consultation," "effectiveness of consultation," "health risk assessment," "travel illness prevention," "risk management," and "risk assessment" to retrieve relevant published studies. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB) 2.0 tool and Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS) were utilized to measure the risk of bias. The Grading, Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to assign evidence strength. In total, a preliminary search yielded 334 articles. One high-quality study and seven studies of moderate quality were included. In conclusion, pre-travel health consultations are a vital tool to prevent travel-related health problems in business and occupational travelers. The current approach needs to be more specific and proactive to address health-specific risks experienced by travelers. However, early comprehensive consultations focusing on preventive measures, region-specific health risks, and timely immunizations are crucial to improving health outcomes. Moreover, enhanced guidance, awareness, and education of health professionals are also necessary to treat the complex medical needs of business and occupational travelers effectively.

Limes (the Roman Frontier): Developing a Video Game for History Learning

The use of gaming technologies in education holds great promise to provide engaging learning experiences. Whereas video games have been successfully used to foster learning in several school subjects, the current understanding of the potential of video games for history learning is still limited. This paper details the development of Limes, a 2D top-down educational game created in Unity and rendered in pixel art. The game targets 5th/6th grade secondary school students and is set in the third century AD in southern Germany, a period characterized by political and social instabilities. Limes digs into the complex relations between the Roman Empire and the Alemanni tribe, one of the most powerful Germanic tribes of this period. The player can experience this pixelated world through the eyes of an Alemanni child, who forms a friendship with a Roman centurion. The unfolding narrative places the young protagonist in the precarious balance of peace and conflict, and the player needs to navigate the diplomatic tensions of the era. The gameplay consists of five levels, including primary missions and optional secondary missions which unlock special features (e.g., puzzles, quizzes). Limes incorporates a variety of game mechanics, ranging from running and interacting with characters to stealth missions, throwing rocks, and horse racing. These dynamics are integrated into the historical narrative of the game, enriching the player's experience. The game development process combined insights and methods from multiple disciplines, including game-based learning, educational, social, and cultural psychology, education sciences and pedagogy, and history education. Moreover, the game capitalizes on Unity’s wide array of development tools, which provide extensive customization possibilities, and employs pixel art, facilitating an engaging environment while maintaining a cost-conscious development process. Initial tests and expert feedback highlight the promise of Limes as a game that leverages historical accuracy and innovative educational tools to foster a deeper understanding of Roman history. Next steps include empirical studies with students to test the game's effectiveness (e.g., in improving interest in and knowledge of Roman history).

Exploring the Scope and Impact of Vocational Education and Skill Development Programs on Women’s Self-Help Groups

Women's self-help groups (WSHGs) have arisen as an important tool for women's empowerment and socioeconomic development in many nations, particularly in developing areas. Skill development and vocational education programs aimed at women in these categories have received attention as possible catalysts for increasing their economic independence, social status, and general well-being. The purpose of this article is to look at the influence of skill development and vocational education efforts on women's self-help groups, with a particular emphasis on economic empowerment, community development, and female agency. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, this study investigates the mechanisms by which skill development and vocational education programs contribute to women's empowerment in self-help groups, as well as the broader implications for gender equality and sustainable development.

Reflection as a professional development tool based on experience of Georgian teachers of English

Reflection as a professional development tool based on experience of Georgian teachers of English

Educational services sphere as a tool for improving the quality of human resources in the region

The educational services sphere of Stavropol Krai occupies a significant place in the Russian economic sector development, as its main task is to meet the needs of the region, which is currently receiving special attention from the state, in qualified personnel. It is the end result of the functioning of the sphere that is a reliable foundation for human resources formation in this constituent entity. The role of education and human resources in the development of the regional economy of Stavropol Krai has been considered. The influence of the educational system on qualified specialists training necessary for sustainable development of the regional economy has been analyzed. The main trends and challenges related to education development in the region have been studied, and practical recommendations for optimizing educational programs and improving the quality of training offered. Particular attention has been paid to the issues of training highly qualified personnel and creating favorable conditions for their retention in the region. The influence of the human factor on educational services development in the region by means of SWOT-analysis has been considered. The purpose of the study is to develop institutional tools for the human factor development in the educational services sphere. The objective of the study is the identification of forms and issues of human factor development in the sphere. The research methodology is represented by institutional analysis and statistical method, SWOTanalysis is also applied. The results obtained can be used for forming and implementing a strategy for improving the education system in order to increase the region’s competitiveness.

State Policy in the Tourism Field of Ukraine: Socio-Humanitarian Priorities of Development and Post-War Recovery

In the reviewed monograph “State policy in the tourism field of Ukraine: socio-humanitarian dimension”, the author Alla Havryliuk offers to use the marketing paradigm of promoting domestic tourism as a national ideology, as well as a tool of management and territory development. New directions of state policy implementation in conditions of decentralisation, focused on promoting key tourist identifiers of the locality are presented, such as types of tourism, image, brand, reputation, souvenir branding and intangible cultural heritage.

Development of a fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for the quantitative and qualitative detection of antibodies against African swine fever virus p72.

African swine fever (ASF), caused by ASF virus (ASFV), is a highly infectious and severe hemorrhagic disease of pigs that causes major economic losses. Currently, no commercial vaccine is available and prevention and control of ASF relies mainly on early diagnosis. Here, a novel automated double antigen sandwich chemiluminescent immunoassay (DAgS-aCLIA) was developed to detect antibodies against ASFV p72 (p72-Ab). For this purpose, recombinant p72 trimer was produced, coupled to magnetic particles as carriers and labeled with acridinium ester as a signal trace. Finally, p72-Ab can be sensitively and rapidly measured on an automated chemiluminescent instrument. For quantitative analysis, a calibration curve was established with a laudable linearity range of 0.21 to 212.0 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9910) and a lower detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL. For qualitative analysis, a cut-off value was set at 1.50 ng/mL with a diagnostic sensitivity of 100.00% and specificity of 98.33%. Furthermore, antibody response to an ASF gene-deleted vaccine candidate can be accurately quantified using this DAgS-aCLIA, as evidenced by early seroconversion as early as 7 days post-immunization and high antibody levels. Compared with available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, this DAgS-aCLIA demonstrated a wider linearity range of 4 to 16-fold, and excellent analytical sensitivity and agreement of over 95.60%. In conclusion, our proposed DAgS-aCLIA would be an effective tool to support ASF epidemiological surveillance.IMPORTANCEAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is highly contagious in wild boar and domestic pigs. There is currently no vaccine available for ASF, so serological testing is an important diagnostic tool. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays provide only qualitative results and are time and resource consuming. This study will develop an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) that can quantitatively and qualitatively detect antibodies to ASFV p72, greatly reducing detection time and labour-intensive operation, and improving detection sensitivity and linearity range. This novel CLIA would serve as a reliable and convenient tool for ASF pandemic surveillance and vaccine development.

Frequency-domain patterns in foot-force line-of-action: an emergent property of standing balance control.

A recent line of work suggests that the net behavior of the foot-ground interaction force provides insight into quiet-standing-balance dynamics and control. Through human subject experiments, Boehm et al. found that the relative variations of the center of pressure and force orientation emerge as a distinct pattern in the frequency domain, termed the "intersection-point height." Subsequent empirical and simulation-based studies showed that different control strategies are reflected in the distribution of intersection-point height across frequency. To facilitate understanding of the strengths and limitations of the intersection-point height in describing the dynamics and control of standing, the present work establishes a spectral-based method that also enables derivation of a closed-form estimate of the intersection-point height from any linear model of quiet stance. This new method explained observations from prior work, including how the measure captures aspects of control and physiological noise. The analysis presented herein highlights the utility of the frequency-dependent foot-force dynamics in probing the balance controller and provides a tool for model development and validation to further our understanding of the neuromotor control of natural upright posture in humans.

Visualization of membrane localization and the functional state of CB2R pools using matched agonist and inverse agonist probe pairs.

The diversity of physiological roles of the endocannabinoid system has turned it into an attractive yet elusive therapeutic target. However, chemical probes with various functionalities could pave the way for a better understanding of the endocannabinoid system at the cellular level. Notably, inverse agonists of CB2R - a key receptor of the endocannabinoid system - lagged behind despite the evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of its antagonism. Herein, we report a matched fluorescent probe pair based on a common chemotype to address and visualize both the active and inactive states of CB2R, selectively. Alongside extensive cross-validation by flow cytometry, time-lapse confocal microscopy, and super-resolution microscopy, we successfully visualize the intracellular localization of CB2R pools in live cells. The synthetic simplicity, together with the high CB2R-selectivity and specificity of our probes, turns them into valuable tools in chemical biology and drug development that can benefit the clinical translatability of CB2R-based drugs.

Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development: the Creation of a Digital Platform Dedicated to Resource Sharing: Moroccan Case Study

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the role of digital social entrepreneurship in achieving sustainable development goals, with a deep focus on the creation of a digital platform for resource sharing. Theoretical Framework: The study is based on the concepts of social entrepreneurship and sustainable development, emphasizing their role in addressing social and environmental challenges such as climate change and inequality, while leveraging digitalization to maximize impact. Method: A quantitative study was conducted with 134 participants to examine the impact of digital social entrepreneurship on sustainable development. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed through a non-probability snowball sampling method. Results and Discussion: The results demonstrate how the creation of a resource-sharing platform can exemplify digital social entrepreneurship. By connecting individuals and organizations for the sharing of materials, skills, and knowledge, the platform fosters the sharing economy, reduces waste, and promotes community cooperation. These outcomes contribute to the achievement of various sustainable development goals. Research Implications: The findings provide insights into the practical application of digital platforms in promoting sustainability and social entrepreneurship. They suggest that technology can be effectively harnessed to address global challenge. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by illustrating how digital social entrepreneurship can serve as a powerful tool for sustainable development. Its originality lies in the innovative approach of combining technology with social problem-solving to drive socio-economic and environmental progress.

Statistically sound identification of compounds by low-resolution GC-MS: Identification of tear agents in tear gas sprays

Gas-chromatography hyphenated with low-resolution mass spectrometry is a very flexible tool for the cost-effective identification and quantification of volatile compounds in complex matrices. In some analytical fields, criteria for the agreement between retention time and mass spectra of the analyte in calibrators and samples are defined based on the general understanding of the performance of these parameters. However, since this harmonization is not based on experimental performance observed for specific GC-MS conditions and analyte it leads to false identifications. This research proposes a novel and robust tool for defining statistically sound criteria for the identification of compounds by GC-MS and LC-MS using experimental data. The Monte Carlo Method (MCM) simulation of the correlated abundance of characteristic ions of analyte mass spectrum allows simulating the abundance ratio difference of the analyte in a calibrator and sample used for statistically sound identifications. The Cholesky decomposition of the covariance matrix of ion abundances for MCM simulations allows the reliable use of many ion abundance ratios in identifications. The developed methodology was implemented in a user-friendly Excel spreadsheet and applied to the identification of tear gas agents in tear gas sprays. Criteria defined by SANTE for identifying pesticide residues in foodstuffs were compared with the developed tool. The cross-validation of computational and SANTE tools allowed concluding that the statistical control of retention time and mass spectra performs according to the defined confidence level. On the other hand, the SANTE criteria can produce up to 92% false identifications for being too strict considering signal dispersion.

Effect of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on Workers’ Service Delivery in Nigerian Television Authority Awka Nigeria

This paper study examines the Effect of ICT on workers’ service delivery in public organizations in Nigeria. The following issues were discussed to x-ray the impact of ICT on workers efficiency and effectiveness in the organization – the concept of workers performance, effects of ICT on new work practice in public sector, information communication technology and organizational productivity, challenges of adoption of ICT in organizational productivity, addressing the challenges of ICT in public sector and prospects of ICT in public services delivery. It is the position of the paper that ICTs present enormous opportunities to enhance the delivery of public service in the public sector as argued by the ICTs optimists. Today, ICTs usage in the public sector remains a key factor in enhancing public service delivery in the country. Development of ICTs have dramatically changed the way information is collected, stored, processed, disseminated and used, thus making it the most powerful tool for modernization and development. It was concluded that adoption and application of ICT on public service delivery in public service in Nigeria has tremendously influenced the modernization and modern work practice. The study recommended that public sector organizations should embrace the application of ICT in service delivery to be at par with the current global practice.

Gender-focused Training for Non-university Teachers in Spain, through Social Media

The growth of social media has been suggested as a potential tool for teacher training and development. This study aims to identify patterns of SM use in the ongoing education of non-university teachers in Spain from a gender perspective. The research was based on a survey conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 involving 462 male and female non-university teachers. The data presented in this work reveals differences between teachers based on gender and associated patterns. It also highlights variables contributing to a better understanding of SM use and responsible use among female and male teachers. This study emphasizes teachers' role in implementing strategies to increase SM use among the studied population in Spain. This role requires promoting the dissemination and access to scientific knowledge from educational centres, training institutions, and university academic institutions. Actions should focus on providing relevant scientific content in appropriate and attractive formats to increase the use of SM as a continuous training resource.

Designing and Formulation of Nanocarriers for "Alzheimer's and Parkinson's" Early Detection and Therapy.

The potential of nanotechnology in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is explored in this comprehensive literature review. The findings of these studies suggest that nanotechnology has the capacity to improve existing therapeutic approaches, create novel and safe compounds, and develop more precise imaging techniques and diagnostic methods for neurodegenerative diseases. With the emergence of the nanomedicine era, a new and innovative approach of diagnosing and treating these conditions has been introduced. Notably, the researchers' development of a nanocarrier drug delivery tool demonstrates immense potential compared to conventional therapy, as it maximizes therapeutic efficacy and minimizes undesirable as side effects.

Rapid Response to Professional Development: How Online Teacher Professional Learning Networks Supported Teachers in Pandemic Times

During COVID-19, when teachers rapidly shifted to remote teaching and learning, it became evident that there was an educational crisis—teachers were unprepared for teaching using digital pedagogies. A group of teachers and teacher educators in Trinidad and Tobago, ITTPN Global, responded to the call for emergency professional development in ICT tools with a free workshop series via Zoom. The workshop series served to address teachers’ upskilling in key areas of ICT as digital pedagogy became the pandemic pedagogy. Pandemic pedagogy refers to teaching and learning during COVID-19. Teachers built confidence and competence in using ICT tools and designing online lessons. The professional learning model highlighted in this paper utilized authentic and active learning and teacher agency. This reflective essay examines the transformative possibilities of networks in a crisis with implications for professional teacher learning post pandemic.

Immunohistochemical Expression of the SERPINA3 Protein in Uterine Fibroids.

SERPINA3 (α-1-antichymotrypsin, AACT, ACT) is produced by the liver and released into plasma in an anti-inflammatory response and plays a role as a modulator of extracellular matrix (ECM) by inhibiting serine proteases. Numerous studies proved an increased level of SERPINA3 in many types of cancer, which could be linked to SERPINA3's anti-apoptotic function. In the context of progressive ECM fibrosis during the development of uterine fibroids, which are one of the most common hypertrophic changes within the uterus, it is interesting to describe the level of SERPINA3 protein in this type of lesion and the surrounding tissues. We used immunohistochemical staining of the SERPINA3 protein and compared the intensity of the signal between the myoma tissue and the surrounding normal tissue. We showed a surprising reduction in the amount of the SERPINA3 protein within uterine fibroids compared to surrounding tissues. This observation sheds new light on the role of this protein in the formation of proliferative changes and suggests that understanding the mechanism of its action may become the basis for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: an overview of systematic reviews and Meta-analyses.

To evaluate and summarise the evidence from published Meta-analyses/systematic reviews (MAs/SRs) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) and to provide a scientific basis for the clinical treatment of RRTIs with TCM. Studies were retrieved from Chinese and English databases including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and EMbase from their establishment date to March 2023. Involved studies were screened, extracted, and evaluated for quality by two researchers independently. The a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR) 2 scale was used for methodological quality evaluation, as well as the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement for report quality evaluation, the risk of bias in systematic reviews (ROBIS) tool for risk of bias, and the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) quality assessment tool for evidence quality. Twenty MAs/SRs studies were included, including analyses of 274 original studies involving 38 335 patients with RRTIs. The AMSTAR 2 scale evaluation results showed that 19 studies were of very low quality and one of moderate quality. The ROBIS evaluation results showed that 11 MAs/SRs were at high risk and nine at low risk of bias. The PRISMA 2020 report quality showed the included studies had scores between 23.5 and 35.5, among them one with high quality, 17 with moderate quality and two with low quality. The GRADE system results showed that among 126 outcome indicators, only 17 had moderate quality of evidence, 27 had low quality, 82 had very low quality, and none had high quality. The MAs/SRs methodological quality of using TCM for treatment RRTIs is generally poor, the quality of reports as well as of evidence is generally low, and the risk of bias is high; therefore we should treat these results with caution.

Sociodemographic Characteristics Of Rural And Urban School-Going Children With Behavioral And Emotional Disorders

Background: The prevalence of behavioral and emotional disorders among school-going children is a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the socio-demographic characteristics influencing these disorders in rural and urban settings in the Meherpur District of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted from January 2007 to December 2009, involving 435 school-going children aged 5 to 18 years from both rural (n=214) and urban (n=221) areas of Meherpur District. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected using the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) tool, validated in Bangla, to diagnose emotional and behavioral disorders based on ICD-10 criteria. Results: The study found significant disparities in socio-demographic factors between rural and urban groups. Rural children were more likely to have illiterate parents, with 37.85% of fathers and 61.21% of mothers being illiterate. Family income was significantly lower in rural areas, with 94.86% of rural families earning less than 10,000 Tk per month. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was slightly higher in rural areas (15.89%) compared to urban areas (14.03%). Major depressive disorder was the most common emotional disorder, while hyperkinetic disorder was the most prevalent behavioral disorder, with no significant differences between rural and urban groups. Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of socio-demographic factors in the prevalence of behavioral and emotional disorders among children in Bangladesh. The findings suggest a need for targeted interventions in rural areas to address educational and mental health disparities, contributing to more equitable health outcomes.

PharmiTech: Addressing Polypharmacy Challenges through AI-Driven Solutions

Due to the rising prevalence of polypharmacy, pharmacists face more challenges in ensuring patient safety and optimizing medication management. This paper introduces PharmiTech, a Clinical Decision Support System that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle the growing need for efficient tools to assist pharmacists. The primary focus of the tool is to identify possible herb-drug interactions and instances of prescription drug abuse, combining an expert knowledge base with a supervised classification model and providing user-friendly alerts to pharmacists. To demonstrate the capabilities of the developed tool, this paper presents its functionalities through a case study involving simulated scenarios using de-identified information to maintain the confidentiality of real patients’ personal data. Tested in Portuguese pharmacies, PharmiTech enhances pharmaceutical care, safeguards patient data, and aids pharmacists in informed decision-making, making it a valuable resource for healthcare professionals.