High Level Research Articles

Bridging the Headset: Engagement, Collaboration, and Learning in and around Virtual Reality

Abstract To study engagement and learning, we developed an asymmetric collaborative version of an existing VR-experience about environmental sustainability, enabling student teams of three, with only one wearing a headset at any time, to collaborate in three different virtual reality subgames. We compared this collaborative version to a non-collaborative version in a between-subjects experimental study (n = 20), finding that student teams using the collaborative version interacted to a larger extent while performing the subgames. The students in these teams self-reported a higher level of engagement, and observations suggested that interactions extended beyond necessary instructions. We did not find any significant differences when it comes to learning measured by scores on pre- and post-knowledge tests, but quantitative analysis of responses indicates that the VR-experience affected students overall and a qualitative analysis of an open question suggested a particular effect on the collaborative teams. Logged performance data indicated that collaborative teams managed to solve the tasks involved in the subgames at least as efficiently as the teams using the non-collaborative version.

The Effect of Individual Attitude toward Healthy Nutrition on Adherence to a High-UFA and High-Protein Diet: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

502 subjects were randomized to an intervention group (IG; dietary pattern focused on high intake of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), plant protein and fiber) or control group (CG; dietary recommendation in accordance with the German Society of Nutrition) within a 36-month dietary intervention trial. Sum scores for effectiveness, appreciation and practice of healthy nutrition were assessed using ATHN questionnaire during the trial (n = 344). Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between ATHN and dietary patterns at baseline and at month 12. Retirement, higher education level, age and lower body mass index (BMI) were associated with higher ATHN sum scores. ATHN was similar in CG and IG. Higher baseline intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and fiber as well as lower intake in saturated fatty acids (SFA) were associated with higher scores in practice in both groups. The intervention resulted in a stronger increase of UFA, protein and fiber in the IG after 12 months, while intake of SFA declined (p < 0.01). Higher scores in appreciation were significantly associated with higher intake of fiber and lower intake of SFA in the CG at month 12, whereas no associations between ATHN and macronutrient intake were observed in the IG after 12 months. While ATHN appeared to play a role in general dietary behavior, ATHN did not affect the success of the specific dietary intervention in the IG at month 12. Thus, the dietary intervention achieved a substantial modification of dietary pattern in the IG and was effective to override the impact of the individual ATHN on dietary behavior.

Exploring the predictive values of CRP and lymphocytes in coronary artery disease based on a machine learning and Mendelian randomization

PurposeTo investigate the predictive value of leukocyte subsets and C-reactive protein (CRP) in coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsWe conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis (MR) on leukocyte subsets, C-reactive protein (CRP) and CAD, incorporating data from 68,624 patients who underwent coronary angiography from 2010 to 2022. After initial screening, clinical data from 46,664 patients were analyzed. Techniques employed included propensity score matching (PSM), logistic regression, lasso regression, and random forest algorithms (RF). Risk factors were assessed, and the sensitivity and specificity of the models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Additionally, survival analysis was conducted based on a 36-month follow-up period.ResultsThe inverse variance weight (IVW) analysis showed that basophil count (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–1.00, P = 0.048), CRP levels (OR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.73–1.00, P = 0.040), and lymphocyte count (OR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.16, P = 0.001) are significant risk factors for CAD. Using LASSO regression, logistic regression, and RF analysis, both CRP and lymphocyte counts were consistently identified as risk factors for CAD, prior to and following PSM. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the combination of lymphocyte and CRP levels after PSM achieves a higher diagnostic value (0.85). Survival analysis revealed that high lymphocyte counts and low CRP levels are associated with a decreased risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Conversely, a higher CRP level combined with lymphocyte counts correlates with a poorer prognosis.ConclusionThere is a causal relationship between lymphocytes, CRP and CAD. The combined assessment of CRP and lymphocytes offers diagnostic value for CAD. Furthermore, high CRP levels coupled with low lymphocyte counts are associated with a poor prognosis.

Caring for Adolescent Learners in the Virtual Classroom: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the recent past, fully online instruction has been most prominent at the higher education level, though online K-12 schools have lately gained some traction. However, the COVID-19 pandemic precipitated new potential for rapid expansion of online K-12 education. As these settings continue to develop, the unique social emotional needs of adolescent learners must be considered, and the need for a robustly developed online pedagogy of care is pressing. An unexpected and untapped resource for developing a framework for an online pedagogy of care can be found in examining the practices of traditionally face-to-face teachers who were unexpectedly thrust into a virtual setting during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. This case study examined the experiences of three traditionally face-to-face middle school teachers as they began a new school year in an entirely virtual format. Their experiences demonstrate a high potential for teacher modeling of care and individualized feedback for students and suggest that creating authentic moments for student dialogue and practice of collaborative caring interactions may prove challenging in the virtual setting.

Effect of smartphone applications on reducing the pain of office syndrome among staff at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University: a quasi-experimental design

Office syndrome is a term used to describe musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occurring in the workplace. The persistent problem of office syndrome means that constant efforts are required to find a solution. This study was a quasi-experimental investigation. The aim was to examine the impact of a smartphone application on reducing the pain associated with office syndrome in a group of participants. The purposive selection technique was employed to obtain a certain sample group from the staff of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University who spend 6–8 hours per day working on computers and experience pain in their muscles in eight areas, namely the neck, shoulders, back, wrists, waist, hips, legs, and calves. The sample size was 30. The data analysis requires the use of both descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically generalised estimating equations (GEE). The study found that the group of 30 staff at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University had an average overall pain score of 3.31 (SD = 0.40) at the baseline, which decreased to 2.17 (SD = 0.17) in week 4, and 1.47 (SD = 0.21) at week 8. The comparative analysis of the baseline, week 4, and week 8 revealed a significantly higher average pain level before smartphone application use (baseline) than after weeks 4–8, at the statistical significance level of 0.05. Therefore, the institution should promote the usage of the NotifyOfficeSyndrome application among staff who regularly use computer screens to improve their overall health and eliminate the discomfort associated with office syndrome.

Estimation of Lactate Thresholds, Aerobic Capacity and Recovery Rate from Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Highly Trained Speed Skaters and Healthy Untrained Individuals.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to compare lactate thresholds and aerobic capacity from a graded-intensity exercise test (GXT) for near-infrared spectroscopy measurements in healthy, untrained individuals and highly trained athletes. Methods: This study included 29 untrained students (13 females) and 27 highly trained speed skaters (13 females). A maximal effort GXT was performed on a cycloergometer. The lactate-based aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, and the corresponding thresholds for muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), were determined. Results: The power values determined for all thresholds were significantly higher in female and male speed skaters compared to male and female college students. SmO2 at anaerobic thresholds was significantly lower in female speed skaters than in female students. Both female and male skaters showed greater changes in SmO2 after the GXT compared to students. The recovery did not significantly differ between groups within gender. There was a significant positive correlation in females between the rate of muscle reoxygenation and VO2max power (r = 0.610). In speed skaters, the rate of muscle reoxygenation was not significantly higher than students and correlated positively with VO2max (r = 0.449). Conclusions: The SmO2 at the exercise thresholds, during and after maximal exercise, depends on the training status of the individual. The participants with a higher physical fitness level showed greater decreases in ΔSmO2 at the AT level, as well as after maximal exercise. SmO2 corresponding to the well-established exercise thresholds may be applied to guide training prescription. The rate of muscle reoxygenation after a GXT was also dependent on the aerobic capacity of the participants.

From Tweets to Streets: Observational Study on the Association Between Twitter Sentiment and Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in New York City from 2019 to 2022.

Anti-Asian hate crimes escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, limited research has explored the association between social media sentiment and hate crimes toward Asian communities. This study aims to investigate the relationship between Twitter (rebranded as X) sentiment data and the occurrence of anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City from 2019 to 2022, a period encompassing both before and during COVID-19 pandemic conditions. We used a hate crime dataset from the New York City Police Department. This dataset included detailed information on the occurrence of anti-Asian hate crimes at the police precinct level from 2019 to 2022. We used Twitter's application programming interface for Academic Research to collect a random 1% sample of publicly available Twitter data in New York State, including New York City, that included 1 or more of the selected Asian-related keywords and applied support vector machine to classify sentiment. We measured sentiment toward the Asian community using the rates of negative and positive sentiment expressed in tweets at the monthly level (N=48). We used negative binomial models to explore the associations between sentiment levels and the number of anti-Asian hate crimes in the same month. We further adjusted our models for confounders such as the unemployment rate and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. As sensitivity analyses, we used distributed lag models to capture 1- to 2-month lag times. A point increase of 1% in negative sentiment rate toward the Asian community in the same month was associated with a 24% increase (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.44; P=.005) in the number of anti-Asian hate crimes. The association was slightly attenuated after adjusting for unemployment and COVID-19 emergence (ie, after March 2020; P=.008). The positive sentiment toward Asian tweets with a 0-month lag was associated with a 12% decrease (IRR 0.88; 95% CI 0.79-0.97; P=.002) in expected anti-Asian hate crimes in the same month, but the relationship was no longer significant after adjusting for the unemployment rate and the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic (P=.11). A higher negative sentiment level was associated with more hate crimes specifically targeting the Asian community in the same month. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring public sentiment to predict and potentially mitigate hate crimes against Asian individuals.

Unveiling the Drivers of Social Entrepreneurship Intentions: Insights from Business Graduates in Bangladesh

Young business graduates often show a higher level of entrepreneurial intention due to their ambition, energy, innovation, drive, and capacities. However, there is limited research on what drives them towards social entrepreneurship (SE) in a complex developing country such as Bangladesh. This quantitative study investigates the factors motivating business graduates’ SE intention (SEI) using 314 finalised survey responses from Bangladeshi universities. We used SPSS 25 and SmartPLS 4.0 to analyse the data and found that the need for achievement, self-confidence, and socio-cultural values, have significant positive effects on business graduates’ SEI, whereas risk-taking, and economic factors have no significant effects. These findings add value to the upper echelons theory with implications for the policymakers in similar contexts to foster SE among the youth.

Bibliometric study of the advances made in clinical dermatological research in Spain from 2015 through 2021: update of the MaIND project and interactive online map

Introduction: A clinical dermatological research was conducted in Spain from 2005 through 2014 as part of the MaIND project with the provinces or centers with the highest number of published articles. However, a low level of evidence in scientific production was confirmed as the overall result. The aim of this study is to update the Spanish clinical dermatological research in bibliometric terms from 2015 through 2021 with comparisons between both periods of time.Material and methods: We conducted a bibliometric study to replicate the methodology used in the article to be updated. We included articles whose corresponding authors' affiliation was a Spanish dermatological center, which met the criteria for clinical research in dermatology, including a level of evidence ≤ 4.Results: A total of 1674 out of the 10199 articles met the inclusion criteria. An interactive map representing quantitative and qualitative indicators calculated for the 2005-2021 is presented here. In the study period, we found an increasing trend both in the number of published articles (p < 0.002) and in the mean number of citation-years per article (p < 0.01). A total of 22 of the articles had a level of evidence > 4, with a positive trend towards more articles having a higher level of evidence (p < 0.03). Actas Dermosifilográficas still maintains its position as the journal with the highest number of articles received (18%, a total of 302 articles).Conclusions: The results of this study show that, in Spain, the scientific production of dermatology represents an upward trend in quantity, impact, and level of evidence.

Patient satisfaction and associated factors with inpatient health services at public hospitals in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe way the healthcare delivery system is reflected by patient satisfaction. Establishing a health system with better results depends on it. It has been assumed that higher patient satisfaction levels correlate with quality healthcare outcomes. There is little national data to support patient satisfaction with inpatient health services in Ethiopia. In order to estimate the pooled proportion of patient satisfaction and determine the associated factors with inpatient health services at public hospitals, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in the extraction of the data. To get the included studies, the following electronic databases were searched: Pub-Med, Google Scholar, Med-Line, Web of Science, Scopus and Repositories. Software called STATA version 17 was used to analyze statistical data using the random effects model. Forest plots were used to display the pooled results.ResultsOf the 1583 records resulted in electronic databases searching, 11 studies with 3,958 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimated pooled proportion of patient satisfaction with inpatient health services was found to be 57.4% (95% CI: 50.88–64.59, I2 = 95.25%). Assuring privacy for patients (OR = 7.44, 95% CI: 3.63–15.25, I2 = 0.0%), availability of direction signs (2.96, 95% CI: 1.91–4.57, I2 = 0.0%), providing adequate information (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.63–6,58, I2 = 65.60%), history of previous admission (OR = 0.29, 0.18–0.46, I2 = 86.36%) and providing on time treatment (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.21–2.20, I2 = 86.36%) were statistically significant factors associated with patient satisfaction with inpatient health services.ConclusionThe estimated pooled level of patient satisfaction with inpatient health services is low in Ethiopia. A higher level of patient satisfaction with inpatient health treatments was predicted by factors such as privacy assurance, fast services, availability of direction signs, provision of services with adequate information transfer, and no history of previous admission. To improve patient satisfaction, the Ministry of Health and hospital administration must place a strong emphasis on ensuring the provision of high-quality, standard-based inpatient healthcare.

Lack of crucial information exacerbates barriers to mitigating human–elephant conflicts in rural Kenya

Abstract Crop foraging by African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana negatively affects farmer livelihoods and support for conservation, yet affordable, sustainable and practical solutions remain elusive. To inform conservation priorities, our goal was to assess the hitherto little explored relationships between farmers’ views on agricultural damage and the socio-economic factors limiting their use of elephant deterrents. We tested our hypotheses associated with the demographic categories of age, education level, years spent farming, gender, exposure to information on deterrent methods, farm size, village and relevant combinations of these factors by surveying 206 respondents across six villages in rural Kenya and analysing the resulting data using an information theoretic approach. Respondents were almost four times more likely to use deterrents if exposed to the relevant information, and almost five times more likely to do so if they had secondary education as opposed to none. Farmers with a higher level of education were five times more likely to have received information on deterrents compared to those with no formal education. Participants who had not received information on deterrents were almost three times more likely to believe that they could implement deterrent methods. Respondents who stated that they could not implement deterrents overwhelmingly cited a lack of financial resources as the reason. Overall, we found that crucial information on reducing elephant crop foraging is not reaching the relevant stakeholders, and socio-economic factors such as education and exposure to information appear to limit uptake of protective measures. These insights are important for developing mitigation strategies and supporting the livelihoods of people affected by negative human–elephant interactions, and thus for effective elephant conservation. Our findings also have broader applications for practitioners seeking to understand barriers stakeholders face in their efforts to mitigate negative interactions with wildlife.

Financial Literacy of the Undergraduate Students at the College of Hilly Region in Nepal: A Case of Okhaldunga Campus

This study aims to evaluate the status of financial literacy of the undergraduate students of the campus situated in a hilly region of Nepal taking into consideration of 108 students as the convenient sample respondents among from the 459 students studying at the Okaldhunga Campus, Okaldhunga. The data collected through face-to-face manner and structured Google form of questionnaire and analyzed with the help of descriptive statistics indicates that the undergraduate students did not differ by gender in respect to their level of financial knowledge. However, younger, higher-income earners, and management students demonstrated comparatively higher level of financial knowledge than their counterparts. In terms of financial behavior, respondents predominantly adopt moderate spending habits and prioritize saving for future security, commonly depositing savings into bank accounts and using additional income for fixed deposits. Most respondents track their expenses at least occasionally, with the primary motivation for saving being to create a safety net for emergencies. Regarding financial influence, many students rely on family and social media for guidance on managing their money, and parents are often the primary decision[1]makers for finances in many households.

Alarm Management in Provisional COVID-19 Intensive Care Units: Retrospective Analysis and Recommendations for Future Pandemics.

In response to the high patient admission rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, provisional intensive care units (ICUs) were set up, equipped with temporary monitoring and alarm systems. We sought to find out whether the provisional ICU setting led to a higher alarm burden and more staff with alarm fatigue. We aimed to compare alarm situations between provisional COVID-19 ICUs and non-COVID-19 ICUs during the second COVID-19 wave in Berlin, Germany. The study focused on measuring alarms per bed per day, identifying medical devices with higher alarm frequencies in COVID-19 settings, evaluating the median duration of alarms in both types of ICUs, and assessing the level of alarm fatigue experienced by health care staff. Our approach involved a comparative analysis of alarm data from 2 provisional COVID-19 ICUs and 2 standard non-COVID-19 ICUs. Through interviews with medical experts, we formulated hypotheses about potential differences in alarm load, alarm duration, alarm types, and staff alarm fatigue between the 2 ICU types. We analyzed alarm log data from the patient monitoring systems of all 4 ICUs to inferentially assess the differences. In addition, we assessed staff alarm fatigue with a questionnaire, aiming to comprehensively understand the impact of the alarm situation on health care personnel. COVID-19 ICUs had significantly more alarms per bed per day than non-COVID-19 ICUs (P<.001), and the majority of the staff lacked experience with the alarm system. The overall median alarm duration was similar in both ICU types. We found no COVID-19-specific alarm patterns. The alarm fatigue questionnaire results suggest that staff in both types of ICUs experienced alarm fatigue. However, physicians and nurses who were working in COVID-19 ICUs reported a significantly higher level of alarm fatigue (P=.04). Staff in COVID-19 ICUs were exposed to a higher alarm load, and the majority lacked experience with alarm management and the alarm system. We recommend training and educating ICU staff in alarm management, emphasizing the importance of alarm management training as part of the preparations for future pandemics. However, the limitations of our study design and the specific pandemic conditions warrant further studies to confirm these findings and to explore effective alarm management strategies in different ICU settings.

Knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among physicians, nurses and students at a regional hospital in Nepal

Introduction: In 2019, Nepal had the highest mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) globally, and the prevalence of COPD in Nepal is expected to increase. Available research shows that the knowledge of COPD among patients in Nepal is poor and that the practice of COPD management among healthcare personnel needs to improve. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of COPD among healthcare personnel at a regional hospital and students at a local School of Health Science. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among healthcare pro- fessionals and students in Tansen, Palpa district, Nepal. Scoring was based on a scale of up to 12 points, with a result of 10 points or above considered satisfactory knowledge. Results: A total of 56 healthcare workers and 208 students participated in the survey. All participants' median (IQR) score was 98,10. Among healthcare professionals, the level of knowledge was below expected on questions regarding vaccinations to prevent pneumonia and spirometry to set the diagnosis. The time spent in the healthcare profession did not increase knowledge scores. Second- and third-year nursing students had a statistically significantly higher level of knowledge than first-year nursing students. Conclusions: While healthcare personnel showed a high degree of skills in several aspects of COPD knowledge, significant gaps persist, highlighting areas for improvement in COPD care within Nepal.

WP4.5 - Changes in Social Care Post Major Emergency General Surgery Procedures

Abstract Introduction Emergency General Surgery (EGS) is a major part of the provision of healthcare and patients undergoing EGS are at elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to determine factors contributing to patients losing their independence and being discharged to residential and nursing homes having previously lived in their own residences. Methods Data from patients in the NELA database (2014-2022) was analysed, considering demographics, ASA score, admission and discharge dates, presenting pathology, operation type, and discharge destination. Comparative analyses segmented patients based on post-discharge EGS destinations. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors linked to residential/nursing home placement post-discharge. Significance was set at p&amp;lt;0.05. Results Data from all patients in the NELA database (n=1,611) was analysed. Nearly one in ten patients over the age of 70 never returned home. Patients requiring additional support were on average 8.6 years older (p=0.008). Over the age of 80 years, the need for extra social support increased substantially with each increasing year in age and those over the age of 85 years old were more than twice as likely to require extra support than 80-year-olds (p&amp;lt;0.001). Patients who died were 11.4 years older compared to those discharged without additional support (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion A significant proportion of patients, particularly the elderly, do not return to their usual place of residence and require a higher level of care post-emergency surgery. These important social factors need to be considered before operating as they may have significant quality of life and economic implications.

Kidney damage and associated risk factors in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

The colliding epidemic of infectious and non-communicable diseases in South Africa could potentially increase the prevalence of kidney disease in the country. This study determines the prevalence of kidney damage and known risk factors in a rural community of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of the Mbekweni Community Health Centre in the Eastern Cape between May and July 2022. Relevant data on demography, medical history, anthropometry and blood pressure were obtained. The glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Creatinine (CKD-EPICreatinine) equation and the re-expressed four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation, without any adjustment for black ethnicity. Prevalence of kidney damage was defined as the proportion of individuals with low eGFR (<60mL/min per 1.73m2). The presence of proteins in the spot urine samples was determined with the use of test strips. We used the logistic regression model analysis to identify the independent risk factors for significant kidney damage. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the 389 participants was 52.3 (± 17.5) years, with 69.9% female. The prevalence of significant kidney damage was 17.2% (n = 67), as estimated by the CKD-EPICreatinine, with a slight difference by the MDRD equation (n = 69; 17.7%), while the prevalence of proteinuria was 7.2%. Older age was identified as a significant risk factor for CKD, with an odds ratio (OR) = 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.1, p < 0.001). Hypertension was strongly associated with proteinuria (OR = 4.17, 95% CI 1.67-10.4, p<0.001). This study found a high prevalence of kidney damage (17.2%) and proteinuria (7.97%) in this rural community, largely attributed to advanced age and hypertension, respectively. Early detection of proteinuria and decreased renal function at community health centres should trigger a referral to a higher level of care for further management of patients.

Unraveling the regulatory cell death pathways in gastric cancer: a multi-omics study

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent form of cancer worldwide and has a high death rate, with less than 40% of patients surviving for 5 years. GC demonstrates a vital characteristic of evading regulatory cell death (RCD). However, the extent to which RCD patterns are clinically significant in GC has not been well investigated. The study created a regulatory cell death index (RCDI) signature by employing 101 machine-learning algorithms. These algorithms were based on the expression files of 1292 GC patients from 6 multicenter cohorts. RCDI is a reliable and robust determinant of the likelihood of surviving in general. Furthermore, the precision of RCDI surpasses that of the 20 signatures that have been previously disclosed. The presence of RCDI signature is closely linked to immunological characteristics, such as the infiltration of immune cells, the presence of immunotherapy markers, and the activation of immune-related functions. This suggests that there is a higher level of immune activity in cases with RCDI signature. Collectively, the use of RCDI has the potential to be a strong and encouraging method for enhancing the clinical results of individual individuals with GC.

Familiarity, Use, and Perception of AI-PoweredTools in Higher Education

Purpose: AI-powered tools and the use of these tools for teaching and learning have grown exponentially. While there are several studies that examine students' use of AI tools for learning, the results are inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of students' familiarity and use of various AI-powered tools for learning, and to gain greater insight into students' perspectives on the benefits and risks of using AI-powered tools in educational settings. Study design/methodology/approach: The study deployed a survey to understand and compare the degree of familiarity and use of AI-powered tools among first and final-year university students. Additionally, several questions focused specifically on students' concerns regarding the use of AI in their studies. Findings: Results indicate that first-year students exhibited a higher level of familiarity with AI tools prior to the start of their studies, while final-year students demonstrated a deeper and more diverse usage of these technologies. Despite concerns raised, the study does not conclusively support negative impacts on student engagement or development of critical thinking skills. While the study indicated that students are well aware of the general limitations of AI use, they did feel not well supported nor informed as to how AI-powered tools can be used within their studies and have expressed the need for greater support and guidance from the university. Originality/value: Research findings have significant implications for educational institutions and policymakers as they strive to leverage AI effectively to enhance the learning experience while addressing concerns and preferences in this rapidly evolving educational environment.

Fault-Tolerant Decentralized Control for Large-Scale Inverter-Based Resources for Active Power Tracking

Abstract Integration of Inverter Based Resources (IBRs) which lack the intrinsic characteristics such as the inertial response of the traditional synchronous generator (SG) based sources presents a new challenge in the form of analyzing the grid stability under their presence. While the dynamic composition of IBRs differs from that of the SGs, the control objective remains similar in terms of tracking the desired active power. This letter presents a decentralized primal-dual-based fault-tolerant control framework for the power allocation in IBRs. Overall, a hierarchical control algorithm is developed with a lower level addressing the current control and the parameter estimation for the IBRs and the higher level acting as the reference power generator to the low level based on the desired active power profile. The decentralized network-based algorithm adaptively splits the desired power between the IBRs taking into consideration the health of the IBRs transmission lines. The proposed framework is tested through a simulation on the network of IBRs and the high-level controller performance is compared against the existing framework in the literature. The proposed algorithm shows significant performance improvement in the magnitude of power deviation and settling time to the nominal value under faulty conditions as compared to the algorithm in the literature. Better active power tracking performance compared to the existing method in literature.

Partial information sharing in supply chains with ARMA demand

AbstractIn this paper we suggest a novel mechanism for information sharing that allows a retailer to control the amount of shared information, and thus to limit information leakage, while still assisting the supplier to make better‐informed decisions and improve the overall efficiency of the supply chain. The control of the amount of leaked information facilitates information sharing because, absent such control, a retailer may refrain from sharing information due to the concern of information leakage. Specifically, we analyze a supply chain in which a retailer observes Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) demand for a single product where all players use the myopic order‐up‐to policy for determining their orders. We introduce a new class of information sharing arrangements, coined partial‐information shock (PaIS) sharing. This new class of information sharing agreements extends the previously studied mechanisms of demand sharing and full‐information shock sharing. We demonstrate that the retailer can construct a PaIS sharing arrangement that allows for an intermediate level of information sharing while simultaneously controlling the amount of leakage. We characterize when one PaIS arrangement will be more valuable to the supplier than another. We conclude with a numerical study that highlights that there does not necessarily need to be a tradeoff between the supplier having a better forecast and the retailer experiencing a higher level of leakage.