High Level Of Acceptance Research Articles

Optimizing Attendance Management in Educational Institutions Through Mobile Technologies: A Machine Learning and Cloud Computing Approach

The primary goal of the study is to optimize and streamline the attendance recording and monitoring process for learning sessions by leveraging advanced technologies such as machine learning and cloud computing. The methodology employed is based on the extreme programming (XP) project management approach. Throughout its phases, the entire implementation process of the application, from conception to launch, is described in detail. Firebase is used as the database manager to ensure the efficiency and security of student information and attendance records. Additionally, the Firebase machine learning kit is used to verify attendance registration through QR codes. The application was tested with fifth-year high school students from an educational institution. The user interface has been designed to be attractive, intuitive, and easy to use for both teachers and students. The study results demonstrate that the use of this application significantly reduces the time spent on attendance recording compared to traditional methods. There has been a high level of satisfaction and acceptance of the “ASYS” application among teachers and students. In conclusion, this study has successfully implemented a mobile application that revolutionizes attendance recording and monitoring in educational institutions. It harnesses the power of machine learning and cloud computing to enhance efficiency and the user experience.

Acceptability of a virtual prostate cancer survivorship care model in rural Australia: A multi-methods, single-centre feasibility pilot.

A multi-methods, single-centre pilot comprising a quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design and an exploratory qualitative study. A rural Australian hospital and health service. Men newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer who were scheduled to undergo, or had undergone, radical or robotic prostatectomy surgery within the previous 3 months. The intervention comprised a 12-week virtual care program delivered via teleconference by a specialist nurse, using a pre-existing connected care platform. The program was tailored to the post-operative recovery journey targeting post-operative care, psychoeducation, problem-solving and goal setting. Primary outcome: program acceptability. quality of life; prostate cancer-related distress; insomnia severity; fatigue severity; measured at baseline (T1); immediately post-intervention (T2); and 12 weeks post-intervention (T3). Seventeen participants completed the program. The program intervention showed very high levels (≥4/5) of acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility. At T1, 47% (n = 8) of men reported clinically significant psychological distress, which had significantly decreased by T3 (p = 0.020). There was a significant improvement in urinary irritative/obstructive symptoms (p = 0.030) and a corresponding decrease in urinary function burden (p = 0.005) from T1 to T3. This pilot has shown that a tailored nurse-led virtual care program, incorporating post-surgical follow-up and integrated low-intensity psychosocial care, is both acceptable to rural participants and feasible in terms of implementation and impact on patient outcomes.

Exploring perceptions towards biodiversity conservation in urban parks: Insights on acceptability and design attributes.

Green infrastructure has emerged as an opportunity to balance sociocultural and ecological benefits, alongside the potential for biodiversity conservation in cities. However, key design challenges that remain unsolved including 1) how to effectively balance biodiversity conservation and sociocultural benefits, and 2) how user's perception and knowledge may affect the acceptance of conservation interventions in parks. In this study, we used a mixed methods approach in which focus groups were used to explore users' perceptions of landscape attributes, their benefits, biodiversity, climate change, and conservation interventions in parks. This was followed by face-to-face interviews with the broader general public to quantitatively assess perceptions and acceptability for conservation interventions in parks. While plant density and functional diversity were identified as key landscape attributes, trade-offs may occur with other attributes such as multi-functionality and the order of the vegetation. Most conservation interventions had high acceptance levels, where the decrease of grass in parks was the most controversial attribute. All interventions were correlated with the importance of landscape attributes and climate change concerns, but poorly associated with knowledge of native biodiversity. The results support 1) increasing the functional diversity of plants in parks as a way to balance environmental and sociocultural benefits and promote the acceptability of conservation interventions, however such an increase should be linked to designs that respect notions of order and other park uses, and 2) environmental education based on climate change may be the key to improving acceptability of these initiatives.

A comparative analysis of needs and role of patient navigation among early-phase cancer clinical trial participants and non-participants at a single cancer center.

e23127 Background: Early phase clinical trials (EPCTs) assess the safety and toxicity of novel anticancer agents and represent opportunities for patients (pts) to try novel therapies when standard therapies have become ineffective. However, EPCT participants represent a vulnerable population with high financial toxicity and symptoms related to their cancer and previous treatments. EPCTs often require frequent visits and additional procedures which may be burdensome. Pt navigators perform needs assessments and provide guidance to pts as they move through the health care system. Navigation, which has a high level of acceptance among pts with cancer, can improve time from diagnosis to treatment, decrease pt anxiety, and improve participation of minoritized individuals in clinical trials. We hypothesized that EPCT participants would have higher navigation needs than those of non-EPCT participants with cancer. Methods: Utilizing a needs assessment conducted in person or by telephone, pts with cancer treated at Mount Sinai are assessed for 26 individual and systemic social drivers of health (SDoH) barriers by pt navigators at their trial screening visit. EPCT participants were defined as pts participating in a study in the Early Phase Trials Unit. Descriptive characteristics were assessed for all participants regarding demographic characteristics and SDoH barriers. Welch's T-test was used to compare differences in navigation encounters, SDoH barriers and navigator interventions between the EPCT and non-EPCT pt groups. Results: From February to December 2023, 31 EPCT pts and 3126 non-EPCT pts completed the assessment. Median age was 55.9 and 56.1 years, respectively. Racial and ethnic self-identification included 13% vs. 23% Black pts and 19% vs. 20% Hispanic pts. EPCT pts had a mean 4.87 navigation encounters per pt compared to 1.94 in non-EPCT pts (p < 0.001). Pts in the EPCT group were found to have an average of 24.97 SDoH barriers identified, in contrast to 2.68 in the non-EPCT group (p < 0.001). The most common barriers identified in EPCT pts were institutional, knowledge, and psychosocial; in non-EPCT pts, institutional, treatment adherence, and transportation barriers were most common. Furthermore, based on the identified barriers, EPCT pts required an average of 17.23 interventions, compared to 1.80 among those not in the EPCT group (p < 0.001). Interventions most frequently involved coordination with the primary team and education for pts in both groups. Conclusions: EPCT pts had more navigation encounters, SDoH barriers identified, and resultant interventions than non-EPCT pts. Participants in EPCTs are a vulnerable pt population for whom navigation is particularly warranted. [Table: see text]

The Impact of Sustainable Technology Adoption on Coffee Farming in Tana Toraja, Indonesia: A Call for Comprehensive Support

Abstract This study investigates the potential incorporation of sustainable technology to enhance the production and income of coffee farmers in Tana Toraja Regency, Indonesia. Employing a survey methodology, the research was conducted from January to December 2019 in the Lembang Pemanukan area of the Gandang Batu Silanan District within Tana Toraja Regency. The respondents, totaling 30 farmers, were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The results of the investigation reveal that the implementation of sustainable technology leads to a significant increase in both coffee production levels and the income of the farmers. Nevertheless, factors such as land constraints and production expenses impact the rate of technology adoption. Despite the high level of farmer acceptance, complete optimization is impeded by these challenges. In the study, it is emphasized how important it is to give farmers new motivation and offer them all the assistance they need to adopt sustainable technology. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of enhancing access to resources and markets to further augment productivity and income. The research also highlights the significance of crafting sustainable agricultural models tailored to local circumstances and resource availability. In conclusion, this research illustrates the favorable influence of technology adoption in coffee farming in Tana Toraja and advocates for comprehensive assistance to maximize its potential.

Optimization analysis for bolted steel I-beam: Considering various sizes of beam web with a focus on sustainability design

Abstract Steel structural construction has consistently held a pivotal role in modern construction practices. Presently, a substantial portion of research efforts has been directed towards the examination of bolted connections, while the optimization of steel beam usage has not garnered equivalent attention. This research initiative is focused on determining the ideal dimensions for the beam web through the utilization of finite element analysis (FEA). This analysis specifically investigates bolted steel I-beams featuring varying beam web sizes under concentrated loads. To achieve this, a three-dimensional (3D) simulation model of a bolted beam-to-column structure has been meticulously constructed and executed within the ABAQUS software to derive optimization insights. The beam web sizes considered span a range from 200 mm, representing a smaller size, to 400 mm, signifying a medium size, and up to 600 mm, which represents a larger beam web size. Following the simulation, the results pertaining to beam displacement and bending stress have been tabulated and compared against manually calculated values to validate the accuracy of the simulation. Remarkably, the percentage disparity between the FEA and manual calculations remained below 5 %, signifying a high level of acceptability. From the post hoc test, the efficiency rate of the 400 mm beam web size stood at 76.67 %, rendering it the most favourable choice in terms of cost-effectiveness and sustainability among the three considered sizes.

Accepting youth terminology in China

ABSTRACT Youth terminology, largely invented and spawned by social networks spanning the ages of adolescence to young adulthood, embodies a connotative reality that, at times, extends well beyond the conventional use of the language. This study investigates the acceptance degree of youth terms across different age groups in China. It adopts language ideology as the theoretical framework and combines it with Bronislaw Malinowski’s language value. The researcher gets responses (N = 226) among people aged from 10 to 70 with a high level of acceptance towards youth terminology in Chinese society generally. It reveals that the underlying language ideology, alongside the specific meanings or concepts emblematic of such ideology, significantly influences acceptance levels. Notably, individuals between 40 and 70 years preferred terms imbued with positive connotations that resonate with their life experiences. Youth are more concentrated on whether terms can help them express themselves effectively and effortlessly, as they coined youth terms.

Formulation of Vegetable Noodles

This research study aimed to test the sensory acceptability of the Formulation of Vegetable Noodles. It made use of four treatments including the control treatment. Specifically, it identified the microbial load of selected vegetable noodles and determined the level of sensory acceptability as to texture, appearance, color, aroma. It also determined difference between the treatments of the vegetable noodles, the proximate/ nutrient content of the best formulation, and the shelf life of the vegetable noodles. It also calculated the return of investment of the product. The experimental method of research was used in this study. Purposive sampling was employed in the selection of 5 Panciteria restaurants in Bangued, Abra, 15 culinary students, and 10 TLE professionals. Data gathered were analyzed using mean, one-way analysis of variance and the Scheffe test. The microbial analysis, proximate analysis and shelf-life analysis were conducted in a laboratory. The findings revealed that the absence of pathogens in the microbial load analysis of Vegetable noodles signifies a commendable standard of food safety and quality assurance. The Vegetable noodles meet consumer’s expectations, making them a favorable choice in the market. The inclusion of 100 g of vegetable powder in the preparation of Vegetable noodles has resulted in a remarkably high level of acceptability and improves sensory appeal among consumers.

A new hybrid control strategy for improving ride comfort on lateral suspension system of railway vehicle

The ride comfort is a key research area for the quality improvement of railway vehicles. Several control methods have been developed to improve the ride comfort, in which the semi-active control approach inherits the advantages of passive and active control approaches. However, the semi-active control may perform ineffectively in vibration attenuation when the carbody load changes. To address this issue, we proposed a novel hybrid control method that combines the skyhook (SH) and displacement velocity (DV) control methods to reduce vibrations of the carbody in the lateral direction under carbody load changes. First, a hybrid control model built in Matlab software was applied to a quarter railway vehicle model for a preliminary assessment of the ride comfort. Second, to provide a more comprehensive evaluation, the proposed model was applied to a whole railway vehicle model using co-simulation (Matlab-Simpack). In the quarter model, under the sinusoidal excitation, the hybrid control showed a lower acceleration by 48.5% and 42.8% when the carbody load reduced to a half and a quarter, respectively, compared to the passive control. This finding was confirmed with the whole model. Moreover, in the whole model, under the track irregular excitation, the hybrid control showed a lower acceleration by 26.6% and 17.4% when the carbody load reduced to a half and a quarter, respectively. Further, the proposed method showed an acceptable safety level, measured by the derailment coefficient (0.0743 at a half load and 0.089 at a quarter load). In conclusions, the proposed hybrid SH-DV control exhibits high robustness, adaptability, effectiveness, and acceptable safety level in response to variations in body load.

The Impact of Early Rehabilitation and the Acceptance of the Disease on the Quality of Life of Patients after Hip Arthroplasty: An Observational Study.

Background: The early introduction of physiotherapy significantly shortens the time required for a patient to regain full mobility after hip arthroplasty. Obtaining the expected result is determined by cooperation with a physiotherapist and the patient's involvement in the rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life, life satisfaction, and motor ability of patients after hip arthroplasty. Methods: This study included 147 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty at the Orthopedic and Trauma Department. The research material was collected using questionnaires, and the study used the Barthel Index (BI), Harris Hip Score (HHS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). In the studied group of patients, the Excia cementless endoprosthesis was primarily used (69.39%), as well as the Metha Short Hip prosthesis (15.65%), AM hip prosthesis (10.20%), and bipolar hip prosthesis (4.76%). Results: The analyzed group of patients included 95 women (64.63%) and 52 men (35.37%); the average age was 67 years. Six weeks after hip arthroplasty, mild disability occurred in 53.74% of the patients, while the remaining 46.26% had no disability, and 95.24% of the patients achieved a high level of acceptance of the disease and quality of life. Conclusions: Early improvement after hip replacement surgery contributes to eliminating the disability of the hip joint in the following areas: pain sensation, functionality, lack of deformation, and range of motion. Each subsequent stage of treatment increased the level of acceptance of the disease in the study group. The applied surgical treatment increased satisfaction with overall health and quality of life.

Patient-reported outcomes during accelerating the en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth using low-intensity electrical stimulation: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundLow-intensity electrical stimulation (LIES) is considered a relatively recent technology that has received little attention in orthodontics as a method of acceleration. This study aimed to evaluate patient-reported outcome measures when LIES is used to accelerate the en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth.Materials and methodsThe sample consisted of 40 patients (8 males, 32 females; mean age 21.1 ± 2.3 years), with Class II division I malocclusion who required extraction of the first premolars to retract upper anterior teeth. They were randomly assigned to the LIES group (n = 20) and the conventional en-masse retraction group (CER; n = 20). Patient responses regarding pain, discomfort, burning sensation, swelling, chewing difficulty, speech difficulty, and painkillers’ consumption were recorded at these nine assessment times: 24 h (T1), 3 days (T2), and 7 days (T3) after force application, then in the second month after 24 h (T4), 3 days (T5), and 7 days (T6) of force re-activation, and finally after 24 h (T7), 3 days (T8), and 7 days (T9) of force re-activation in the third month.ResultsThe mean values of pain perception were smaller in the LIES group than those in the CER group at all assessment times with no statistically significant differences between the two groups except during the second and third months (T5, T6, T8, and T9; P < 0.005). However, discomfort mean values were greater in the LIES group with significant differences compared to CER group during the first week of the follow-up only (T1, T2, and T3; P < 0.005). Burning sensation levels were very mild in the LIES group, with significant differences between the two groups at T1 and T2 only (P < 0.001). Speech difficulty was significantly greater in the LIES group compared to CER group at all studied times (P < 0.001). High levels of satisfaction and acceptance were reported in both groups, without any significant difference.ConclusionBoth the LIES-based acceleration of en-masse retraction of upper anterior teeth and the conventional retraction were accompanied by mild to moderate pain, discomfort, and chewing difficulty on the first day of retraction. These sensations gradually decreased and almost disappeared over a week after force application or re-activation.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05920525. Registered 17 June 2023 - retrospectively registered, http://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05920525?term=NCT05920525&rank=1.

Examining students' acceptance of the large‐scale HyFlex course: An empirical study

AbstractThe HyFlex course has been widely adopted in higher education settings. However, there is a paucity of empirical studies examining students' acceptance of large‐scale HyFlex courses, as well as factors influencing their acceptance. To fill this research gap, the present study investigated students' acceptance of a large‐scale HyFlex course and the variations in their acceptance according to different participation modes (ie, on‐site, synchronously online and mixed attendance), based on a total of 160 valid samples from a large‐scale HyFlex course at a normal university in central China during the fall semester of 2022. The results indicated that students' overall HyFlex course acceptance was generally high, and the students who alternately engaged in on‐site and synchronously online learning had the highest level of acceptance. Furthermore, this study employed structural equation modelling to validate a model integrating the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with connected classroom climate (CCC). The findings showed that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and CCC directly influenced students' acceptance, with performance expectancy having the strongest direct effect. However, social influence only had an indirect effect on students' acceptance, while CCC had both direct and indirect effects. This study carries substantial theoretical and practical implications, enhancing our understanding of students' acceptance of the HyFlex learning approach.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic The adoption of the HyFlex course, especially in the context of large‐scale courses, is prevalent in higher education settings. Existing studies have predominately focused on assessing the impact of HyFlex course on student engagement and learning outcomes, the development and implementation of HyFlex course structures, and educators' perspectives and experiences with HyFlex courses. Although some research has delved into students' satisfaction with HyFlex courses, particularly in small class settings, our understanding of students' acceptance of large‐scale HyFlex course remains limited. There has been a noticeable gap in investigations exploring distinctions among students who opt for varying HyFlex course delivery modes, such as on‐site, synchronously online and mixed attendance formats. What this paper adds This study reveals that students generally displayed a high level of acceptance towards the large‐scale HyFlex course. Notably, students who participated in alternating on‐site and synchronously online learning exhibited a significantly higher level of acceptance towards the HyFlex course compared to their counterparts. A novel approach was employed in this study by integrating the UTAUT model with the concept of connected classroom climate (CCC) to comprehensively explore the key influencing factors and their interrelationships regarding students' acceptance of a large‐scale HyFlex course. The study found that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), facilitating conditions (FC) and CCC were all significant factors that positively influenced students' acceptance of the HyFlex course. Particularly, PE emerged as the factor with the strongest direct impact on HyFlex course acceptance (ACP). Interestingly, social influence (SI) did not exhibit a significant direct effect on students' ACP. However, it had a significant and positive indirect effect on students' ACP through the mediation of PE. Furthermore, CCC was shown to have both direct and indirect effects on students' acceptance of the HyFlex course, with the indirect effect of CCC on ACP accounted for nearly half of the total effect. Implications for practice and/or policy Instructors should prioritize emphasizing the advantages and benefits of HyFlex courses to enhance students' motivation and willingness to participate actively in these courses. This may involve showcasing how HyFlex course offer flexibility, convenience and varied learning opportunities. When implementing HyFlex courses, instructors should work to mitigate students' perceived EE. This could be achieved through streamlining course navigation, ensuring user‐friendly technology tools and providing clear guidelines for participation. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to enhance perceived learning support to facilitate students' engagement and acceptance of HyFlex courses. Instructors in HyFlex course settings should place a strong emphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment. This involves fostering interactions among students, encouraging peer‐to‐peer support and providing resources and guidance to help students navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by HyFlex course formats. Building a sense of community and connectedness among students can significantly impact their acceptance and success in such courses.

Feasibility of a Telephone-Delivered Group Meditation Intervention for Chronically Ill Socially Isolated Older Adults

ABSTRACT Objectives This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a group-based telephone-delivered meditation intervention to reduce social isolation in older adults. It included weekly training sessions and daily practices of loving-kindness meditation in small groups via telephone conferences for six weeks and an extended group meditation practice for another six weeks. Methods Community-living older adults (age 60+) with multiple chronic conditions and experiencing social isolation were recruited. Each participant was assessed at the pretest, posttest, and follow-up (6 and 12 weeks after pretest). Outcome measures included social interaction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms. Open-ended questions were asked in the posttest and follow-up. Results Sixteen individuals enrolled, and fourteen completed the program (87.5% retention). Completers showed high levels of adherence (95% attendance to training) and acceptability and a statistically significant increase in social interaction at follow-up. Qualitative data suggest that participants experienced changes in emotion regulation, motivation and confidence, and sense of belonging. Conclusions A group-based telephone-delivered meditation intervention targeting chronically ill older adults who experience social isolation is technically feasible, very acceptable, and potentially beneficial to them. Clinical Implications Older adults enjoy learning meditation. Telephone conferencing is a low-cost tool for engaging socially isolated older adults in social interactions and group meditation.

Descriptive cross-sectional study to evaluate perception, attitude, and practice of parents regarding COVID-19 vaccination in children 10-12 years of age-A step toward prevention of future COVID-19 outbreaks in India.

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic and all age groups were equally affected. Coronavirus had devastating effects worldwide due to the emergence of new variants till vaccination was adopted to eradicate the transmission of the virus and restore normalcy. However, children were not included in the initial phase of vaccination. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of perception, attitude, and practice among parents toward the COVID-19 vaccination drive in children 10-12 years of age. The present research is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey including parents of children aged 10-12 years as participants. The survey was conducted between May 2022 and July 2022 with a sample size of 320. A high willingness (80%) among parents was found for getting their children vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines were perceived to be safe by the parents (59%) and efficacious (75%) for their children. Parents (67%) felt that the benefits of getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19 prevail over the risks of the vaccine. Parents 214 (67%) feel the need of getting their child vaccinated for sending them to school followed by availing of daycare facilities after school 54 (17%) among working parents. A significant association (P < 0.05) was seen between the variables of practice being followed by parents and their children as per COVID-19 norms. Parent's negative attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination was associated with availability of no/unclear safety information (36%), fear of adverse effects of vaccine (3%), and false belief of having long-term immunity due to natural infection (32%). The positive attitude of parents was due to trust in positive information/news about the vaccine (42%), belief in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine (5%), acceptability for mild adverse effects (1%), and the necessity of vaccine to send children to schools (1%). The awareness of parents regarding COVID-19 vaccination for children was limited, high level of acceptance for vaccination was seen in our study. We recommend to continuing educational programs through mass campaigns to increase increasing awareness among parents for getting COVID-19 vaccination for their children. Vaccine hesitancy including vaccine safety concerns of parents should be addressed by presenting myths and facts related to COVID-19 vaccine using television, radio, and social media platforms.

Exploring the Connection Between Attitudes Towards New Chinglish and Social Media Among Chinese College Students

New Chinglish has emerged as an undeniable and popular trend on Chinese social media platforms, particularly among Chinese college students. These college students are not only the main force of English users and learners in China but also the major netizens on Chinese social media platforms. However, within a cultural context where ‘standards and adherence to norms have traditionally been of paramount importance to the Chinese’ (Kirkpatrick, 2017: 278), the conflicting attitudes and use towards either upholding traditional viewpoints or adopting opposing stances regarding the New Chinglish warrant intriguing and meaningful exploration. Thus, this study aims to explore the connection between their attitudes towards New Chinglish and its usage behaviors on social media among Chinese college students. It seeks to unveil the reasons underlying their attitudes towards the use of New Chinglish. The in-depth exploration reveals a contradictory and uncertain evaluation of their usage of New Chinglish on social media, despite its high level of understandability and acceptability among them. Personal acceptability and preference do not solely determine their attitudes towards their use of New Chinglish on social media; instead, various social factors, such as language inequality, influence their language use behavior and attitudes, leading to a compromise between individual preferences and social influences. Specifically, this study offers insight into the genuine reactions and usage tendencies of English in real-life situations, indicating the future trends in English language development in China.

Stigma experiences, effects and coping among individuals affected by Buruli ulcer and yaws in Ghana.

Stigma related to skin neglected tropical diseases like Buruli ulcer (BU) and yaws has remained underexplored and existing studies are limited to individual diseases despite the WHO call for integration in disease management. Within two districts in central Ghana, we explored stigma associated with BU and yaws to understand overlaps and disease-specific nuances to help guide integrated interventions. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 current or formerly affected individuals to assess the experiences, effects and coping strategies adopted to manage disease related stigma. Data were analysed along broad themes based on the sociological construct of macro and micro interaction and Goffman's treatise on stigma. Disapproving community labels fueled by misconceptions were noted among BU participants which contributed to macro stigma experiences, including exclusion, discrimination and avoidance. In contrast, a high level of social acceptance was reported among yaws participants although some micro-level stigma (anticipated, felt and self-stigma) were noted by individuals with both diseases. While younger participants experienced name-calling and use of derogatory words to address affected body parts, older participants and caregivers discussed the pain of public staring. Stigma experiences had negative consequences on psychosocial well-being, schooling, and social relations, particularly for BU affected people. Problem-focused strategies including confrontation, selective disclosure and concealment as well as emotion-focused strategies (religious coping and self-isolation) were noted. The types and levels of stigma varied for BU and yaws. Stigma experiences also differed for adults and children in this setting and these differences should be accounted for in integrated interventions for these skin NTDs. School health programs need to prioritize educating school teachers about skin NTDs and the negative impact of stigma on the wellbeing of children.

Does teaching writing through Canva application assist students’ writing performance?

This study involves the issues of teaching writing in English skills in junior high school in the context of the digital world, highlighting the need to utilize technology-driven tools. Canva, an effective design tool, is included in the study as a possible alternative for improving students writing skills. The study aims at looking into the impact of utilizing Canva on students' writing skills and their assessment of the application's contribution to writing creativity. The report examines six connected research that illustrates Canva’s beneficial effects on several aspects of learning and teaching. A mixed-method approach is used in the methodology, employing a randomized pre-test-post-test control group design. Thirty-eight eighth-grade SMP Negeri 2 Sukodono students participated in the study. To examine Canva's effectiveness in developing writing skills, quantitative data obtained through pretest and posttests is analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Furthermore, data from a questionnaire are used to investigate students’ impressions of Canva’s usefulness, ease of use, and suitability for supporting writing abilities. The results show significant improvements in the experimental group, validating that Canva improves students’ writing skills positively. The results of the questionnaire show that students have a high level of acceptance and good impressions of Canvas's utility, ease of usage, and suitability for improving writing skills. The findings add to the expanding research proving Canva's effectiveness as an English language learning tool. The report encourages additional research to investigate Canva’s long-term impact in various learning contexts and deployment methodologies.

Usability and user expectations of a HoloLens-based augmented reality application for learning clinical technical skills

The application of augmented reality in training health science students is increasingly widespread. The aim of this work was to assess the usability and user expectations of an augmented reality application for smart glasses (Microsoft HoloLens) that can be used to train on four invasive procedures (i.e. intramuscular injection, nasogastric tube insertion, endotracheal intubation and suctioning via tracheostomy tube). A descriptive study was conducted with nursing students from three Spanish universities. Participants answered a questionnaire to assess the use of the ARSim2care application. This application offers the possibility of visualizing the internal anatomical structures during the training of the clinical technical skills for the performance of the mentioned invasive techniques. The questionnaire included demographic data, the System Usability Scale and questions about the user expectations in relation to learning with the use of augmented reality. In total, 61 participants responded to the questionnaire after using the ARSim2care application. The mean score of the System Usability Scale was 73.15 (standard deviation: 15.04) and 62.4% (n = 38) of the participants considered their experience with the application as excellent or good. In relation to user expectations, more than 90% of students indicated that the use of the application could improve their motivation and stimulation in learning, their content retention and their anatomical understanding. The developed ARSim2care application for Microsoft HoloLens showed a high level of usability and acceptance as a learning tool for training certain clinical procedures by visualizing the internal structures of the body.

Towards sustainable urbanization in new cities: Social acceptance and preferences of agricultural and solar energy systems

Social acceptance of end users is indispensable for the implementation of agricultural and solar energy systems to create a more sustainable and productive residential building sector. Thus, the main aim of this study is to investigate the social acceptance level of the two systems and the implementation preferences of Egyptian end users, i.e., residents, in relation to their different sociocultural backgrounds. Given that most of the construction in Egypt is taking place in new cities, the acceptance of such systems strongly relates to societal implications for urban sustainability. An online survey was therefore disseminated to the residents of new cities in the Greater Cairo Region in Egypt (n = 274). A contingency analysis was conducted using the SPSS tool, calculating the Chi-squared and Fisher tests to identify significant associations between the variables. Results indicated a high level of social acceptance of both the agricultural (71 %) and solar energy (64 %) systems. The attitude of residents towards the systems and their experience using them were the variables exhibiting the highest association with social acceptance of agricultural systems (p < 0.001 for attitude and experience) and solar energy systems (p = 0.04 for attitude and p = 0.002 for experience). The most preferred system types were the horizontal planters on hand railings and roof-mounted photovoltaics. Responses showed that production was the main aim for agricultural systems, while economic returns were the main aim for solar systems. However, both systems faced the same barriers, especially in relation to economic barriers. Out of the 12 sociocultural variables tested, respondents’ age had the most significant impact on the implementation preferences of both systems followed by gender, residence type, and access to shared facilities. Our study addressed a knowledge gap by comparing the two systems to identify the common or different reasons behind the disparity between their high theoretical potential versus low on-ground implementation. Future research could investigate other underlying factors behind social acceptance beyond the analyzed sociocultural aspects and tackle the types of each system in detail.

Military education in extended reality (XR): learning troublesome knowledge through immersive experiential application

Extended reality (XR) applications for education are usually associated with motivation, engagement, knowledge and experiences that are difficult to achieve in the real world. One example of such knowledge in military education is the threat-based approach to protection of civilians in armed conflicts. The Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC) educates officers on the threat-based approach. This approach challenges conventional military practice, introducing new ways of thinking about what military forces can and cannot do to protect civilians from violence. Today, militaries are expected to protect civilians from perpetrators that target them as part of their warfare, expanding their responsibilities under International Humanitarian Law. This expansion of tasks represents “troublesome knowledge” for many military officers and demands a deeper understanding of the rationales and strategies driving perpetrators’ targeting of civilians. To overcome this pedagogical challenge, we developed an XR-supported educational program combining immersive experiences and pedagogical approaches, including combined 360°-videos and embodiment, dialogue with virtual humans and collaborative VR-landscapes to encourage immersive peer-to-peer learning. The results are encouraging, suggesting high levels of acceptance by learners of the threat-based concept, an effect on stimulating critical discussion and a positive reaction to XR-supported learning.