First-level Analysis Research Articles

Correlation Between Swallowing and Cognitive Brain Networks in Older Adults via Functional MRI.

Clinical evidence supports that swallowing function is correlated with cognition, but the neurobiological mechanism associated with cognitive impairment and dysphagia remains unclear. To compare the brain activation patterns of the swallowing and the cognitive tasks and explore neural associations between swallowing and cognitive function via task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A total of 13 healthy older adults (aged > 60 years) were recruited. Participants underwent the clinical dementia rating (CDR) test and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). A block-designed task-related fMRI study was conducted where each participant completed both swallowing and cognitive tasks within a single session. During the swallowing task, participants swallowed 2 mL of thickened water, while the Stroop Colour Word Test (SCWT) served as the cognitive task. First-level analysis of swallowing time-series images utilised the general linear model (GLM) with Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM), applying a voxel threshold of p < 0.001 for significance. Common activations in brain regions during swallowing and cognitive tasks were extracted at the group level, with significance set at p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate (FDR), with a minimum cluster size of 20 voxels. Correlation analysis between behavioural measurements and imaging signals was also conducted. Some regions were commonly activated in both task networks; these regions were the bilateral occipital lobe, cerebellum, lingual gyrus, fusiform, middle frontal gyrus, precentral and postcentral gyrus, right supramarginal and inferior parietal lobe. Most importantly, the average beta value of cognitive and swallowing tasks in these areas are both significantly negative related to the MoCA score. Furthermore, opposite signal changes were seen in the bilateral prefrontal lobes during the swallowing task, while positive activation in the bilateral prefrontal lobes was observed during the SCWT. Postcentral gyrus activation was more extensive than precentral gyrus activation in the swallowing task. The common activation of swallowing and cognitive tasks had multiple foci. The activity of cognitive and swallowing task in these areas is significantly negative correlated with the MoCA score. These findings may help to illustrate the association between dysphagia and cognitive impairment due to the common brain regions involved in cognition and swallowing and may provide a reference for further rehabilitation of dysphagia. Clinical Trial: (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry): ChiCTR1900021795.

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Hearts in Patients with Fetal Tetralogy of Fallot.

To explore the cytological characteristics of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), we collected samples and investigated the differences in the cytological classification between normal fetal hearts and fetal hearts with congenital defects. We then performed single-cell sequencing analysis to search for possible differential genes of disease markers. Here, the right ventricles of a heart sample with TOF and a healthy human fetal heart sample were analyzed through single-cell sequencing. Data quality control filtering, comparison, quantification, and identification of recovered cells on the raw data were performed using Cell Ranger, thereby ultimately obtaining gene expression matrices for each cell. Subsequently, Seurat was used for cell filtration, standardization, cell subgroup classification, differential expression gene analysis of each subgroup, and marker gene screening. Bioinformatic analysis identified 9,979 and 15,224 cells from the healthy and diseased samples, respectively, with an average read depth of 25,000/cell. The cardiomyocyte cell populations, derived from the abnormal samples identified through the first-level graph-based analysis, were separated into six distinct cell clusters. Our study provides some information on TOF in a fetus, which can offer a new reference for the early detection and treatment of TOF by comparing defective heart cells with normal heart cells.

Development of Teachers’ Perception Scale Regarding Artificial Intelligence Use in Education: Validity and Reliability Study

This article aims to develop a teachers’ perception scale regarding the artificial intelligence use in education. The scale development study was carried out in two stages during the 2023–2024 academic year, covering 597 teachers who stated that they used different artificial intelligence applications. Literature was thoroughly reviewed and focus group interviews were held with teachers who used artificial intelligence applications in education while pooling scale items. Field expert faculty members were consulted in evaluating face and content validity of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on the data obtained from the first sample group (n = 424), and a three-factor structure was determined in the first stage. It was observed that the factors of the first draft scale, consisting of 18 items, revealed 57.8% of the total variance. The first confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the data collected from the second sample group (n = 173) in the second stage. It was confirmed that the structure consisting of 18 items and three factors (teaching perception, learning perception, and ethical perception) was compatible with the data. After the first-level confirmatory factor analysis for the Teachers’ Perception Scale Regarding Artificial Intelligence Use in Education, a second-level confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether the factors that made up the scale revealed the variable. The final scale, consisting of 15 items and three dimensions, was determined to be compatible with the data obtained. Reliability analysis presented that the Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient was calculated as .87 for the whole scale, .82 for learning perception, .79 for teaching perception, and .79 for ethical perception. The results show that the teachers’ perception scale regarding artificial intelligence use in education is valid and reliable, and a sound measurement tool to determine the perception regarding artificial intelligence use in education.

An experimental study of the thermal-hydraulics of a spent nuclear fuel pool under loss-of-cooling accident conditions. Part II: a first interpretation of the MIDI tests

This article provides a first interpretation of the MIDI tests that were conducted in the frame of the IRSN’s DENOPI project. A first-level phenomenological analysis is detailed here. It is shown that the actual phenomenology mostly complies with the one that was envisioned by the community right after the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident. Next, the diverse modes of water vaporization that may come into play during a spent nuclear fuel pool loss-of-cooling accident are quantified for each achieved test, by means of a proposed analytical model of the vapor diffusion process taking place on top of the liquid pool free surface. Then, a so-called vaporization regimes map is reconstructed on the basis of the test data. This map allows predicting the most likely dominant vaporization mode, given the pool level and total heat power. At last, the obtained data is reduced through the form of a set of dimensionless correlations, involving some of the classical numbers in heat and mass transfers. In doing so, the free surface evaporation, degassing of dissolved gaseous species and bubbles release processes are all modeled by means of a simple mathematical formulation.

Impact of data processing varieties on DCM estimates of effective connectivity from task-fMRI.

Effective connectivity (EC) refers to directional or causal influences between interacting neuronal populations or brain regions and can be estimated from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data via dynamic causal modeling (DCM). In contrast to functional connectivity, the impact of data processing varieties on DCM estimates of task-evoked EC has hardly ever been addressed. We therefore investigated how task-evoked EC is affected by choices made for data processing. In particular, we considered the impact of global signal regression (GSR), block/event-related design of the general linear model (GLM) used for the first-level task-evoked fMRI analysis, type of activation contrast, and significance thresholding approach. Using DCM, we estimated individual and group-averaged task-evoked EC within a brain network related to spatial conflict processing for all the parameters considered and compared the differences in task-evoked EC between any two data processing conditions via between-group parametric empirical Bayes (PEB) analysis and Bayesian data comparison (BDC). We observed strongly varying patterns of the group-averaged EC depending on the data processing choices. In particular, task-evoked EC and parameter certainty were strongly impacted by GLM design and type of activation contrast as revealed by PEB and BDC, respectively, whereas they were little affected by GSR and the type of significance thresholding. The event-related GLM design appears to be more sensitive to task-evoked modulations of EC, but provides model parameters with lower certainty than the block-based design, while the latter is more sensitive to the type of activation contrast than is the event-related design. Our results demonstrate that applying different reasonable data processing choices can substantially alter task-evoked EC as estimated by DCM. Such choices should be made with care and, whenever possible, varied across parallel analyses to evaluate their impact and identify potential convergence for robust outcomes.

Navigator-based motion compensation for liver BOLD measurement with five-echo SAGE EPI and breath-hold task.

The purpose of this work is to apply multi-echo spin- and gradient-echo (SAGE) echo-planar imaging (EPI) combined with a navigator-based (NAV) prospective motion compensation method for a quantitative liver blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) measurement with a breath-hold (BH) task. A five-echo SAGE sequence was developed to quantitatively measure T2 and T2* to depict function with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution and sensitivity to BOLD changes induced by the BH task. To account for respiratory motion, a navigator was employed in the form of a single gradient-echo projection readout, located at the diaphragm along the inferior-superior direction. Prior to each transverse imaging slice of the spin-echo EPI-based readouts, navigator acquisition and fat suppression were incorporated. Motion data was obtained from the navigator and transmitted back to the sequence, allowing real-time adjustments to slice positioning. Six healthy volunteers and three patients with liver carcinoma were included in this study. Quantitative T2 and T2* were calculated at each time point of the BH task. Parameters of t value from first-level analysis using a general linear model and hepatovascular reactivity (HVR) of Echo1, T2 and T2* were calculated. The motion caused by respiratory activity was successfully compensated using the navigator signal. The average changes of T2 and T2* during breath-hold were about 1% and 0.7%, respectively. With the help of NAV prospective motion compensation whole liver t values could be obtained without motion artifacts. The quantified liver T2 (34.7 ± 0.7 ms) and T2* (29 ± 1.2 ms) values agreed with values from literature. In healthy volunteers, the distribution of statistical t value and HVR was homogeneous throughout the whole liver. In patients with liver carcinoma, the distribution of t value and HVR was inhomogeneous due to metastases or therapy. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a NAV prospective motion compensation technique in conjunction with five-echo SAGE EPI for the quantitative measurement of liver BOLD with a BH task.

Digital literacy scale: Validity and reliability study with the rasch model

AbstractThe study aimed to develop a Likert-type measurement tool (Digital Literacy Scale, DLS) to determine the digital literacy levels of secondary school students. The validity and reliability of the developed measurement tool were verified using the Rasch model. The Rasch Model can estimate missing data and allow for small study groups (Rasch, Rasch, Probabilistic models for some intelligence and attainment tests, Danish Institute for Educational Research, 1960). Additionally, this model can verify the expected pattern of the measurement tool by calibrating it across participants and items. The content validity of DLS was ensured by expert opinion, and the construct validity was ensured by using the Rach model. In the content validity study, a 25-item pool was created for the draft DLS, and 5 items were removed from the draft DLS at this stage. Construct validity studies were carried out with the remaining 20 items using the classical test theory and item response theory (Rasch model). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and first-level Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used within the scope of classical test theory. Then some Rasch assumptions such as dimensionlessness, local independence, monotonicity, and bias were tested for DLS. In the validity and reliability analysis of DLS, no items were eliminated, and the quantitative theoretical results were statistically confirmed. The analysis results showed that the minimum statistical values required for a good measurement tool were met. Accordingly, 20 valid and reliable compatible items that can be used to determine the digital literacy status of secondary school students were produced.

What We Know So Far about Transfer Pricing: a Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive static information in the area of transfer pricing in order to assess the current situation and attempt to establish future research priorities. The data source used is the WoS database, where 788 different articles with 21,917 corresponding references were collected for the analysis. A bibliometric approach was applied using the VoSviewer software. In comparison to Kumar et al. (2021), who presented the results of the citation analysis of the articles found in the SCOPUS database, the authors performed a first-level analysis of the articles found in the WoS database, but also a second-level analysis, which was presented as a co-citation analysis. The primary similarity arises from the use of an identical methodology at the first level of analysing different sources, while the results of the co-citation analysis allow the formation of clusters for references, sources and authors, thus closing the obvious gap in the analysis of Kumar et al. (2021). The obtained results show two logical directions of continuation and development of the studied topic. The first direction allows future researchers to have a basic understanding of the breadth and depth of currently published works and studies on transfer pricing, while the development of the treated topic should be seen in the context of filling the gaps between transfer pricing and bibliometric analysis.

Tensions experienced by case managers working in home care for older adults in Quebec: first level analysis of an institutional ethnography

BackgroundCase managers play a vital role in integrating the necessary services to optimise health-related goals and outcomes. Studies suggest that in home care, case managers encounter tensions in their day-to-day work, that is, disjuncture between what they should do, in theory, and what they actually do, in practice. However, direct exploration of these tensions is lacking. As such, this study aimed to describe the tensions encountered by case managers in public home care for older adults in Quebec and their influence on day-to-day work.MethodsAn institutional ethnography was conducted through observations of work, interviews and a survey with case managers working in home care in Quebec. Data were analysed using institutional ethnography first-level analysis procedures. This included mapping the work sequences as well as identifying the tensions experienced by case managers through the words they used.ResultsThree main tensions were identified. First, case managers perceive that, despite working to return hospitalised older adults at home safely, their work also aims to help free up hospital beds. Thus, they often find themselves needing to respond quickly to hospital-related inquiries or expedite requests for home care services. Second, they are supposed to delegate the care to “partners” (e.g., private organisations). However, they feel that they are in effect managing the quality of the services provided by the “partners.” Consequently, they go to great lengths to ensure that good care will be provided. Finally, they must choose between meeting organisational requirements (e.g., reporting statistics about the work, documenting information in the older adults’ file, doing mandatory assessments) and spending time providing direct care. This often leads to prioritising direct care provision over administrative tasks, resulting in minimal reporting of essential information.ConclusionThe results are discussed using the three lenses of professional practice context analyses (i.e., accountability, ethics, and professional-as-worker) to formulate recommendations for practice and research. They suggest that, despite their important role, case managers have limited power in home care (e.g., with partners, with the hospital).

Evaluating the effectiveness of the pre‑hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) program for the management of trauma patients in the pre-hospital emergency based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model

BackgroundPre-hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) training courses have been developed and widely adopted to enhance the proficiency of pre-hospital personnel in handling trauma patients. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the educational program for managing trauma patients in the pre-hospital emergency setting, utilizing Kirkpatrick’s educational evaluation model.MethodsThis is an observational approach, consisting of four sub-studies. The PHTLS course was conducted over a 2-day period, encompassing both theoretical and practical components. For this study, we selected pre-hospital personnel from three emergency aid stations using a convenient sampling method. These personnel underwent their first-ever PHTLS course training, and we subsequently analyzed the effectiveness of the training program using Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation: satisfaction, learning, behavior, and results.ResultsThe study conducted on Kirkpatrick’s first-level analysis revealed that participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the quality of all aspects of the course. Moving on to the second and third levels, namely learning and behavior, significant improvements were observed in the average scores of various skills that were examined both immediately after the course and 2 months later (P < 0.05). However, when it comes to the fourth level and the impact of the course on indicators such as mortality rate and permanent disability, no significant changes were observed even after an average of 3 months since the course was introduced.ConclusionThe implementation of PHTLS has been linked to the enhancement of participants’ skills in treating trauma patients, leading to the application of acquired knowledge in real-life scenarios and a positive change in participants’ behavior. The evaluation of PHTLS courses in Iran, as in other countries, highlights the need for specialized training in pre-hospital trauma care. To ensure the continued effectiveness of the PHTLS course, it is advisable for managers and policymakers to encourage regular participation of PHTLS employees in the program.

Clinical researchers’ insights on key data for eligibility screening in clinical studies

Abstract Introduction: Clinical research is critical for healthcare advancement, but participant recruitment remains challenging. Clinical research professionals (CRPs; e.g., clinical research coordinator, research assistant) perform eligibility prescreening, ensuring adherence to study criteria while upholding scientific and ethical standards. This study investigates the key information CRP prioritizes during eligibility prescreening, providing insights to optimize data standardization, and recruitment approaches. Methods: We conducted a freelisting survey targeting 150 CRPs from diverse domains (i.e., neurological disorders, rare diseases, and other diseases) where they listed essential information they look for from medical records, participant/caregiver inquiries, and discussions with principal investigators to determine a potential participant’s research eligibility. We calculated the salience scores of listed items using Anthropac, followed by a two-level analytic procedure to classify and thematically categorize the data. Results: The majority of participants were female (81%), identified as White (44%) and as non-Hispanic (64.5%). The first-level analysis universally emphasized age, medication list, and medical history across all domains. The second-level analysis illuminated domain-specific approaches in information retrieval: for instance, history of present illness was notably significant in neurological disorders during participant and principal investigator inquiries, while research participation was distinctly salient in potential participant inquiries within the rare disease domain. Conclusion: This study unveils the intricacies of eligibility prescreening, with both universal and domain-specific methods observed. Variations in data use across domains suggest the need for tailored prescreening in clinical research. Incorporating these insights into CRP training and refining prescreening tools, combined with an ethical, participant-focused approach, can advance eligibility prescreening practices.

21 Patterns of Neural Activation Associated with Judgments of Learning and Retrospective Confidence Judgments in Individuals with TBI

Objective:Metacognition is defined as the ability to observe, monitor, and make judgments about one’s own cognitive status. Judgments of learning (JOLs) and retrospective confidence judgments (RCJs) are two elements of metacognition related to memory, or metamemory. JOLs refer to one’s assumptions of their memory performance prior to completing a memory task, while RCJs describe one’s subjective assessment of their memory performance after they have completed the task. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to negatively impact general metacognitive functioning. However, the nuanced effects of TBI on constituent metacognitive subprocesses like JOLs and RCJs remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize patterns of brain activity that occur when individuals with TBI render JOLs and RCJs during a meta-memory task. Differences between JOL- and RCJ-related patterns of activation were also explored.Participants and Methods:20 participants with moderate-to-severe TBI completed a metacognition task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were first exposed to target slides with a set of polygons placed in specific locations, then asked to identify the target slides within a set of distractors. Before identifying the target slides, participants rated how well they believed they would remember the polygons’ shape and location (JOL). After answering, they rated how confident they were that the answer they provided was correct (RCJ). First-level time series analyses of fMRI data were conducted for each participant using FSL FEAT. Higher-level random effects modeling was then performed to assess average activation across all participants. Finally, contrasts were applied to examine and compare JOL- and RCJ-specific patterns of activation.Results:JOLs were associated with activation of the left frontal gyri, bilateral anterior cingulate, left insula, and right putamen (p &lt; 0.01). RCJs were associated with activation of the bilateral frontal gyri, bilateral posterior and anterior cingulate, left insula, right putamen, and left thalamus (p &lt; 0.01). Compared to RCJs, JOLs demonstrated greater left insula activation (p &lt; 0.01). Compared to JOLs, RCJs demonstrated greater activation of the left superior frontal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral anterior cingulate (p &lt; 0.01).Conclusions:The areas of activation found in this study were consistent with structures previously identified in the broader metacognition literature. Overall, RCJs produced activity in a greater number of regions that was more bilaterally distributed compared to JOLs. Moreover, several regions that were active during both metacognitive subprocesses tended to be even more active during RCJs. A hypothesis for this observation suggests that, unlike JOLs, the additional involvement of reflecting on one’s immediate memory of completing the task during RCJs may require greater recruitment of resources compared to JOLs. Importantly, these findings suggest that, while different metacognitive subprocesses may recruit similar brain circuitry, some subprocesses may require more potent and widespread activation of this circuitry than others. As such, subprocesses with greater activational needs and complexity, such as RCJs, may be more susceptible to damage caused by TBI. Future research should aim to compare patterns of activation associated with certain metacognitive subprocesses between survivors of TBI and healthy controls.

Transcultural Adaptation and Validation of the Turkish Version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) Questionnaire

Purpose: To analyze the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM-Tr).&#x0D; Material and Methods: This was cross-cultural adaptation and validation study. The study sample consisted of a total of 552 women who volunteered to participate in the study between December 2020 and November 2021. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form and the BCAM-Tr. The validity of the BCAM-Tr was tested with language validity, content validity, construct validity (first-level Confirmatory Factor Analysis and comparison of known groups) analyses. Reliability was evaluated by conducting test-retest analysis and internal consistency &#x0D; Results: The BCAM-Tr showed good test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient=0.89) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.89). Cohen’s kappa coefficients indicated moderate to excellent agreement (0.55-0.96). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a two‐factor structure. Health professionals had higher correct response rates than women in the general population (p=0.0001), indicating good construct validity.&#x0D; Conclusion : The BCAM-Tr was shown to be valid and reliable for assessing breast cancer awareness in Turkish women.

La Batteria per le Funzioni Esecutive nell'Addiction - BFE-A: un nuovo tool digitalizzato per lo screening neurocognitivo

According to recent neurocognitive models of addictions, a vicious combination of altered executive functions (EF) and dysfunctional reward system represents a main determinant of clinical picture. Executive dysfunctions also have a great impact on worsening addiction disorders as well as on treatment outcomes. Thus, detecting executive dysfunctions with sensitive tools is crucial in order to tailor therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions to patients. We here report the testing of the Battery for Executive Functions in Addiction (BFE-A), a novel battery for EF screening.151 patients with Substance-Use Disorder and 56 health participants completed the seven digitized BFE-A subtests tapping on: learning and memory, working memory, cognitive flexibility, focused attention, attention regulation, and inhibitory control. First-level statistical analyses highlighted lower performance of the clinical sample with respect to healthy participants across all the battery subtests, though verbal memory and focused attention proved to be te most impaired functions. Regression analyses, then, revealed that longer abstinence led to greater memory performance and that a longer history of substance abuse specifically led to less efficient information-processing speed. Findings provide support to the evaluation of the BFE-A as a brief but informative screening battery, potentially complementing the diagnostic process in clinical settings.

PaT-ID: A tool for the selection of the optimal pump as turbine for a water distribution network

In a historical context where renewable energy is increasingly being adopted, the installation of Pumps as Turbines (PaTs) in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) is gaining relevance in the scientific community. The selection of a PaT to be installed in a WDN is complex, requiring a trade-off between technical and economic aspects. This paper presents a methodology for guiding the selection of a PaT based on the characteristics of the WDN, predicting its characteristic curves, and estimating the daily power generation. The proposed algorithm has been automated in a computer tool called PaT-ID. The innovative aspects of this tool concern its general applicability to any WDN and machine catalogue. It automatically selects the most useful machine considering the input water demand trend and the hydraulic head available for the PaT. In addition, the tool decides on series or parallel layouts if necessary. Finally, in the absence of hydraulic input data, PaT-ID provides a first-level analysis to define the potential of the site for energy production, simulating the flow rate data. The code has been validated with two case studies analysed in previous works.

Analysis of Demand and Supply for Mobile Payments in the UAE during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted many if not all aspects of our lives, including the way we handle money. This paper takes mobile payments as an example to show how COVID-19 affected the United Arab Emirates. Many researchers rushed into writing their first impressions in response to the pandemic to produce early study results. This paper uses these early electronic articles and blogs as valuable data sources for a first-level analysis. It attempts to assess the impact of COVID-19 on mobile payment services in the post-pandemic world from the demand and supply perspective in the UAE. The previous literature has been reviewed to understand the scope of the services present in the UAE before the onset of the pandemic. Further, an online questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions was used to gather data from 125 vendors capable of receiving mobile payments. Regression analysis with two time periods has been included to develop a better perception of mobile payment services before and after the spread of the coronavirus. It was found that COVID-19 has created a suitable environment for mobile payments, with significant positive relationship in both periods. The reasons for using mobile payments during the pandemic were to apply social distancing and to avoid physical touch, a requirement in the COVID-19 period, resulting in a move towards creating a positive attitude towards a cashless society.

Music Therapists’ Experiences of Therapeutic Relationships with Clients with Marginalized Gender Identities and Sexual Orientations

Abstract This phenomenological inquiry investigated the ways in which music therapists perceive and discuss their music therapy relationships (MTRs) with people with marginalized gender identities and sexual orientations. Five participants completed semi-structured interviews that were transcribed and analyzed with reflexive emphasis on member checking and data triangulation. First-level analysis utilized values coding and second-level analysis refined values themes to distill individual participant essences (Saldaña, 2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. SAGE). Subsequent horizontalization across participants was then used to discern collective participant essences (Saldaña, 2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. SAGE). Critical feminist, queer, disability, anti-oppressive, and humanist theory lenses shaped the foundation and perception of the project with particular attention to intersectionality, intersubjectivity, and power dynamics in relationships. Findings included commentary on MT/client identities and balance in relationships; contextual influences on MT processes; necessity of cultural humility (CH) and cultural sustainability (CS) and respect for identity complexity; and the role of implicit/explicit communication in MTRs. Crucially, participants and the researcher endorse a non-clinical view of people with marginalized gender identities and sexual orientations, and the researcher urges introspection regarding identity, supervision, and the space that MTs and clients occupy within the MTR construct. Discussion, recommendations for future research and applications to MT theory, research, and practice are provided.

A confirmatory factor analysis of university students’ high-context and low-context communication

This study aimed to examine the framework of Edward Hall’s high-context and low-context distinction in communication, which is one of the most widely used methods for comparing different cultures in terms of communication styles of individuals who are currently students. Choosing the survey as the data collection method, a questionnaire was prepared and applied to university students. Two hundred and eighteen people participated in the survey and 162 surveys were accepted. In the study, the relationships between communication types and demographic characteristics were also examined. It was found that these characteristics did not create significant differences in the types of communication. First-level confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to the data obtained through structural equation modelling (SEM). According to the results obtained by confirmatory factor analysis, communication in a high context (Y) factor has eight observed variables. There are seven observed variables of communication in a low context (D) factor.&#x0D; Keywords: Communication, high-context communication, low-context communication, structural equation modelling (SEM);

Neuroscience and architecture: What does the brain tell to an emotional experience of architecture via a functional MR study?

Environment psychologically affects individuals. According to the base of cognitive psychology, there is a direct relationship between human behavior, environment, and emotional process. Assuming that pleasantness and unpleasantness are associated with peripheral nervous system activation, the current study aims to explore if the pleasant or unpleasant architectural places can stimulate the brain regions engaged in emotions or not. As the main contribution, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measuring blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) changes to effectively detect the brain's region that mainly responds to the emotional-perceptual processes. Based on the results of examining the emotional assessment model of “Pleasure-Arousal” applied to 140 students, 30 most-rated images representing 15 pleasant and 15 unpleasant places were shown to 32 participants in a 1.5-T MRI scanner. After applying standard preprocessing steps (re-alignment, slice-timing, co-registration, segmentation, normalization, and smoothing) to functional MR images, first-level analysis was applied to each subject. The results were evaluated using statistical corrections at different levels for female and male participants with the second-level analysis. In conclusion, it has been shown that there is a significant linkage between environmental experience and brain activation so that the architectural qualities can change blood flow in specific brain regions.

Spotting areas critical to storm waves and surge impacts on coasts with data scarcity: a case study in Santa Catarina, Brazil

The impacts of severe storms on the coastal zone, combined with rapid population growth in this area, have made coastal risk management an urgent need. However, integrated risk assessment can be a challenging task for many locations worldwide, as it normally requires the use of a large amount of data. The Coastal Risk Assessment Framework phase one (CRAF1) is a recently proposed analytical scheme based on empirical models and spatial analysis that combines different indicators to identify storm-induced hotspots. With a high degree of flexibility, the methodology was originally designed to be of broad use. Still, there is little information about the tool applicability in data scarcity conditions. In this study, we show that this approach can be applied, with some simplifications, on data-poor areas, allowing the identification of hotspots considering one or multiple hazards. Here, the coastal risk was assessed for erosion and coastal flooding events with return periods of 10 and 50 years on the Santa Catarina Central Coast. The study area is characterized by the occurrence of storm-induced impacts that historically cause disruption and damage to local communities. Although the components of risk have been assessed using various methods along this sector, to date, no integrated risk analysis has been presented in probabilistic terms. Predicted scenarios for the Santa Catarina Central Coast suggest that extreme episodes may cause several impacts, exposing urban settlements as well local road systems, especially in the municipalities of Tijucas and Florianópolis. The results show that the CRAF1 is an appropriate approach for a first-level risk analysis, even when implemented with poor data resolution, as it effectively points to some of the most vulnerable stretches detected in the study area.