Level Of Attention Research Articles

Stone axes throw new light on Baltic stone age mortuary rites

Despite their ubiquity, Mesolithic lithic tools given as funerary offerings have rarely been studied in detail. Whereas personal ornaments (e.g. beads, pendants) are commonly interpreted as markers of social identity and status, archaeologists have struggled to understand the stone tools, commonly regarded as “utilitarian” items. As a result, this class of grave goods has not received the same level of attention, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of Mesolithic mortuary behaviours. Our research challenges long-lasting perceptions of lithic tools as strictly utilitarian objects and draws on studies of one of the most substantial stone axe funerary collections from one of the largest Stone Age cemeteries in Europe–Zvejnieki, Latvia. Evidence suggests the selection of unused axes as grave offerings, while unusual wear traces on an axe found in a female grave (no 57) raises questions about its use in the burial rites. Using a multi-proxy approach, we compare life histories of axes placed in burials to those recovered from contemporary, nearby settlement contexts. Finally, a strong correlation between axes and women and children at Zvejnieki challenges gendered stereotypes of stone tools, historically regarded as possessions of the adult male members of Stone Age societies.

The effectiveness of an online attention training program in improving attention and reducing boredom

Frequent and intense experiences of boredom may lead to negative consequences. Enhancing sustained attention has been suggested as a potential strategy for mitigating boredom. We investigated the effectiveness of a four-week intervention to improve attention levels in daily activities and alleviate boredom. In this quasi-experiment, 73 adults were allocated to either the intervention group (n = 32), which participated in a four-session online attention training program, or the no-intervention control group (n = 41). Data were collected through baseline and post-intervention questionnaires, as well as experience sampling over a 28-day period. In line with our hypotheses, multilevel modeling results indicated that attention levels in the intervention group increased throughout the training compared to the control group. Additionally, we observed a decrease in state boredom levels and a significant between-group difference in post-intervention boredom proneness. We found that the attention training program was effective in boosting attention levels and reducing boredom experiences and boredom proneness among healthy adults.

Shyness and self-consistency and congruence among Chinese adolescents: mediating role of social comparison orientation and moderating role of self-focused attention.

During the critical period of personality shaping and self-development, adolescents face unique challenges and opportunities. This study, based on Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, explored the relationship between shyness and self-consistency and congruence (hereinafter referred to as SCC), as well as its underlying mechanisms. Through a questionnaire survey on shyness, social comparison orientation, self-focused attention, and SCC among 984 adolescents, the results revealed that (1) Adolescent shyness negatively predicted SCC. (2) Social comparison orientation partially mediated the relationship between shyness and SCC. (3) Self-focused attention moderated the direct pathway of this mediation process, where a high level of self-focused attention exacerbated the negative impact of shyness on SCC. These findings offered a new perspective on understanding SCC and underscored the importance of addressing the information processing mechanisms of social comparison orientation and self-focused attention among shy adolescents in interventions aimed at promoting their psychological harmony and healthy growth.

How sexual objectification marks the brain: fMRI evidence of self-objectification and its harmful emotional consequences

Female Sexual Objectification refers to perceiving and treating women based on their body appearance. This phenomenon may serve as a precursor for dysfunctional behaviors, particularly among females prone to self-objectification and experiencing shame emotions. Understanding this challenging trajectory by disclosing its neural consequences may be crucial for comprehending extreme psychopathological outcomes. However, investigations in this sense are still scarce. The present study explores the neural correlates of female participants' experiences of being objectified and their relationship with self-objectification, emotional responses and individual dispositions in self-esteem, emotion regulation abilities and self-conscious emotion proneness. To this aim, 25 female participants underwent an fMRI experimental session while they were exposed to interpersonal encounters with objectifying or non-objectifying men. Participants’ experienced emotions and levels of attention shifted toward their bodies (self-objectification) was reported after each interaction. The results revealed increased brain activity in objectifying contexts, impacting cortical (frontal, occipital and temporal cortex) and subcortical regions (thalamus, and hippocampus) involved in visual, emotion, and social processing. Remarkably, the inferior temporal gyrus emerged as a crucial neural hub associated in opposite ways with self-esteem and the self-conscious emotion of shame, highlighting its role in self-referential processing during social dynamics. This study points out the importance of adopting a neuroscientific perspective for a deeper understanding of sexual objectification, and to shed light on its possible neural consequences.

Perceptions, attitudes, and demographic influences on metaverse: A comprehensive investigation

The Metaverse represents an innovative post-reality universe that seamlessly blends physical reality with virtual digital environments, facilitated by advanced technologies like virtual reality. As the adoption of Metaverse gains momentum, it becomes essential to comprehend individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, and the potential influence of demographic factors on their engagement with this novel digital realm. To address this gap, a comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to investigate participants’ understanding, attention, interest, and confidence in the Metaverse. The study also sought to examine how variables such as age, gender, education level, and professional background might impact respondents’ perceptions. This cross-sectional survey involved a diverse sample of 252 individuals residing in the UAE, encompassing different age groups, educational backgrounds, and occupations. The survey instrument was carefully designed to generate responses related to four primary dimensions: understanding, attention, interest, and confidence in the Metaverse. Demographic information, including age, gender, education level, and professional background, was also collected to assess potential associations with respondents’ perceptions. The survey findings revealed disparities based on gender and age in terms of understanding, attention, and interest in the Metaverse. Particularly, male respondents demonstrated higher levels of comprehension and attention in specific aspects, while undergraduate students or higher expressed significantly greater interest in Metaverse technology compared to individuals with lower educational backgrounds.

Speculative culture and corporate high-quality development in China: mediating effect of corporate innovation

This paper associates the speculative culture with the corporate total factor productivity (TFP), aiming to explore the influence of speculative culture on corporate high-quality development. The results reveal that the presence of a speculative atmosphere varies across different regions in China, leading to uneven development among companies located in these regions. Specifically, companies situated in regions with a weaker speculative culture demonstrate higher TFP. The finding suggests a causal relationship between speculative culture and corporate high-quality development by adopting an instrumental variable test using natural calamities. Moreover, the research indicates that speculative culture can impact corporate high-quality development by influencing their innovation activities. Additionally, the study identifies heterogeneous effects of speculative culture on companies of different sizes and levels of analyst attention. The implications of this research shed light on the influence of speculative culture on the real economy, providing insights into the informal institutional factors contributing to the corporate high-quality development in different geographical areas. These findings contribute to the promotion of economic high-quality development at the geographical level and inform related policy formulation.

Management of Proximal Femoral Metastasis “Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis”

Abstract Background Adequate treatment of patients with proximal femur metastases demands higher level of attention due to the increasing life expectancy, and the need of maintaining good functional integrity and quality of life. In the presence of impending or actual pathologic fracture, treatment requires a reconstruction which provides pain control, stable and secure fixation and allows for immediate weight-bearing. Objective to evaluate management of proximal femoral metastasis as regards: functional outcome, oncological outcome and complications. Material and Methods This systematic review was conducted on human subjects in different literatures collected from different medical websites before 2022 in which we compared osteosynthesis including IMN (group 1) and reconstruction whether endoprosthesis replacement, total hip arthroplasty or hip hemiarthroplasty (group 2) in treatment of proximal femoral metastasis. Results Osteosynthesis results in a high recurrence, failure rate and non-union, while Dislocation rates and infections were common in reconstruction. the survival rate was prolonged in reconstruction than in osteosynthesis by IMN.

Body composition, cardiovascular fitness and attention of school-aged male children practicing sports club activities: A cross-sectional.

The positive effects of physical activity on physical fitness, bone health, academic achievement, cognitive functions, mental health, and reduced obesity have been proven. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sports club activities, physical activity selected health-related fitness, and the d2 attention test. A cross-sectional study was conducted in different sports clubs. A total of 78 male students aged 10-13 years participating in various branches of sports clubs were included in the study, 42 of whom were assigned to the sports group and 36 to the control group. Questionnaires were administered to assess sports club participation and attention levels, while physical health profiles were tested with body composition and Yo-Yo IR1C performance measures. Data were analyzed according to sports participation and the five most frequently reported sports. The means and standard deviation of each study value were calculated for the total subjects and by participating in sports activity using the IBM SPSS (version 23) analysis program. Data normality was checked and confirmed by the Skewness and Kurtosis Tests. The results showed that boys enrolled in a sports activity had lower body mass (-17.9%, P < 0.05 d = 0.72), body mass index (-13.4%, P < 0.05, d = 0.87), and body fat (%) (-54.1%, P < 0.05, d = 1.38) and higher VO2max 32.3% (P < 0.05, d = 3.67), than the non-active group. The boys active in sports clubs also had better results in the total number of items processed (11%, P < 0.05 d = 0.50) and in concentration performance (17.7%, P < 0.05 d = 0.56) than the non-active group. In correlation analyses, VO2max was negatively associated with body mass, body mass index, and body fat (P = 0.011; P = 0.001 and P = 0.00, respectively) and positively related to the total number of items processed and concentration performance (P = 0.003 and P = 0.015, respectively). In the Pearson Correlation analyses, body fat showed a lower negative correlation with TN (r = 0.33; P = 0.003) and CP (r = 0.28; P = 0.015). Boys participating in regular sports have lower body mass, BMI, and BF values. In addition, boys who participated in sports showed higher imaginary fitness and selective attention and concentration capacity results, as expected, for any sports part compared to their body peers. Another attempt from this study is that body mass and body fat percentage recovery are negatively associated with fitness. Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents due to sedentary living, which has become a worldwide epidemic, it is recommended that pedagogical and public health strategies and policies be developed based on the physical fitness level of children.

A framework to foster accessibility in post-pandemic virtual higher education

The SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) forced educational institutions to move their programmes to the virtual world. Several tech-based solutions –including virtual training and tutoring, discussion forums, access to content and information, collaborative platforms, and Open Educational Resources (OER)– were implemented to address this shift and continue to be used in the post-pandemic era due to the advantages they offer, especially for hybrid and blended learning. However, the implementation of these tech-based solutions also revealed several accessibility issues that need to be addressed to fully leverage the technological benefits. This study aims to provide a framework to facilitate the adoption of good practices related to technological accessibility in virtual Higher Education. The implementation of the framework is divided into four basic actions, each of which should be tailored to the constraints and needs for improving accessibility in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The framework's instantiation in four HEIs serves as a proof-of-concept in real-world scenarios. The preliminary results suggest that the proposal is promising, as it was adaptable to the specific needs of each HEI fostering accessibility and inclusion through technological alternatives that align with their organisational structures and current levels of attention to accessibility.

Teachers’ Use of Code Switching to Pashto Language in Classroom Discussion: Experiences of non-Pashto Speaking Students in University of Peshawar

The purpose of the study was to explore the learning experiences of non-Pashto speaking students, which ensued due to teachers’ code switching to Pashto language at University of Peshawar. Employing qualitative methods, the objectives of the study included: exploring perceptions of students about teachers’ use of code switching on non-Pashto speaking students’ learning; analyzing the difficulties students’ face; and exploring strategies that students use to overcome the barriers of language in learning. Population of the study consisted of students of University of Peshawar. Using snowball sampling technique, 25 participants were selected from three faculties of University of Peshawar. The data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis technique. Findings of the study reveal that some teachers code switch to Pashto, the local language which creates barriers in learning for the non-Pashto speaking students. This code switching affects students’ academically, behaviorally and emotionally. Consequently, students face an obstructive classroom climate, which severely influences their level of attention and interest and results in their non-participative role in class. The study recommends considering inclusive education principles in linguistically diverse classrooms, so that all the students are treated and benefited equally. Moreover, it suggests that teachers adhere to the National Professional Standards for Teachers in Pakistan (NPSTs) to enhance learning effectiveness.

An IoE-SVM Based Statistical Investigation to Measure Effect of Air Pollutant Substances on Student’s Attention Level

An IoE-SVM Based Statistical Investigation to Measure Effect of Air Pollutant Substances on Student’s Attention Level

Embracing Implementation Science to Enhance Fisheries and Aquatic Management and Conservation

The management and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources are inherently applied activities. Therefore, when knowledge generated from research and monitoring, or knowledge that is held by practitioners and other actors (e.g., Indigenous elders, fishers), fails to inform those applied decisions, the persistent gap between knowledge and action is reinforced (i.e., the knowledge–action gap). In the healthcare realm, there has been immense growth in implementation science over the past decade or so with a goal of understanding and bridging the gap between knowledge and action and delivering on evidence‐based decision making. Yet, within fisheries and aquatic sciences, the concept of implementation science has not received the same level of attention. We posit, therefore, that there is an urgent need to embrace implementation science to enhance fisheries and aquatic management and conservation. In this paper, we seek to describe what implementation science is and what it has to offer to the fisheries and aquatic science and management communities. For our context, we define implementation science as the scientific study of processes and approaches to promote the systematic uptake of research and monitoring findings and other evidence‐based practices into routine practice and decision making to improve the effectiveness of fisheries management and aquatic conservation. We explore various frameworks for implementation science and consider them in the context of fisheries and aquatic science. Although there are barriers and challenges to putting implementation science into practice (e.g., lack of capacity for such work, lack of time to engage in reflection, lack of funding), there is also much in the way of opportunity and several examples of where such efforts are already underway. We conclude by highlighting the research needs related to implementation science in the fisheries and aquatic science realm that span methodological approaches, albeit a common theme is the need to involve practitioners (and other relevant actors) in the research. By introducing the concept and discipline of implementation science to the fisheries and aquatic science community, our hope is that we will inspire individuals and organizations to learn more about how implementation science can help deliver on the promise of evidence‐based management and decision making and narrow the gap between research and practice.

Transcranial direct current stimulation over medial prefrontal cortex reduced alpha power and functional connectivity during somatic but not semantic self-referential processing

Past self-report and cognitive-behavioural studies of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on semantic self-referential processing (SRP) have yielded mixed results. Meanwhile, electroencephalography (EEG) studies show that alpha oscillation (8–12 Hz) may be involved during both semantic and somatic SRP, although the effect of tDCS on alpha-EEG during SRP remains unknown. The current study assessed the EEG and subjective effects of 2 mA tDCS over the mPFC while participants were SRP either on semantic (life roles, e.g., “friend”) or somatic (outer body, e.g., “arms”) self-referential stimuli compared to resting state and an external attention memory task in 52 young adults. Results showed that whereas mPFC-tDCS did not yield significant changes in participants’ mood or experienced attention or pleasantness levels during the SRP task, EEG source analysis indicated, compared to sham stimulation, that tDCS reduced alpha power during somatic but not semantic SRP in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and the frontal, parietal, temporal, and somatosensory cortex, and reduced the functional connectivity between the left inferior parietal lobule and the ventral PCC, but only when mPFC-tDCS was applied at the second while not the first experimental session. Our results suggest that while mPFC-tDCS may be insufficient to alter immediate subjective experience during SRP, mPFC-tDCS may modulate the power and functional connectivity of the brain’s alpha oscillations during somatic SRP. Future research directions are discussed.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Attention Level and Reading Speed in Children

Investigation of the Relationship Between Attention Level and Reading Speed in Children

CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS DIFFERENCES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KOREA AND INDONESIA

The pressing issue of climate change demands an informed future generation, yet how aware are students? This study dives into the varying levels of climate change awareness among 1,079 Korean and 2,507 Indonesian primary school students using a sophisticated survey tool developed by Lee et al. (2021). Surprisingly, while both groups exhibited high levels of awareness, significant cross-cultural differences were uncovered. Indonesian students demonstrated higher levels of action, concern, belief, attention, and policy. This stands in stark contrast to Korean students, who, despite having a higher understanding of causes and effects, showed lower levels of belief and attention to the issue. These findings not only challenge us to rethink our educational strategies but also underscore the critical role of cultural contexts in shaping environmental awareness. This comparative analysis reveals startling insights into the complexities of educating the next generation about climate change, setting the stage for urgent educational reforms. Keywords: climate change education, awareness of climate change, cross-cultural comparison, South Korea, Indonesia, primary school students

Alice Rosenstein (1898–1991) First German Female Neurosurgeon

Gender inequality has been a long-standing issue throughout history, with limited progress despite the rise of women in the workforce. Historically, women were deemed inferior to men, including within the medical profession, due to perceived bodily differences. This perception was reinforced in religious texts, depicting women as bearing the burden of the first woman's transgressions. Such attitudes also influenced the treatment of women's health, with menstruation viewed as a natural source of suffering. Nevertheless, a thorough examination of medical history unveils a deep-rooted bias against women. This antiquated and discriminatory notion lacks any foundation in scientific truth. Indeed, an examination of the contributions made by female physicians reveals that they deliver equivalent levels of care, attentiveness, preventive measures, and therapeutic efficacy as their male counterparts. The narratives of female trailblazers in the medical field, like Alice Rosenstein, the first female neurosurgeon in Germany, provide compelling evidence of this phenomenon. This paper delves into her professional journey and the significant influence she has had on the field of neurosurgery.

Auditory Sensory Gating: Effects of Noise.

Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) indicate that noise degrades auditory neural encoding, causing decreased peak amplitude and increased peak latency. Different types of noise affect CAEP responses, with greater informational masking causing additional degradation. In noisy conditions, attention can improve target signals' neural encoding, reflected by an increased CAEP amplitude, which may be facilitated through various inhibitory mechanisms at both pre-attentive and attentive levels. While previous research has mainly focused on inhibition effects during attentive auditory processing in noise, the impact of noise on the neural response during the pre-attentive phase remains unclear. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to assess the auditory gating response, reflective of the sensory inhibitory stage, to repeated vowel pairs presented in background noise. CAEPs were recorded via high-density EEG in fifteen normal-hearing adults in quiet and noise conditions with low and high informational masking. The difference between the average CAEP peak amplitude evoked by each vowel in the pair was compared across conditions. Scalp maps were generated to observe general cortical inhibitory networks in each condition. Significant gating occurred in quiet, while noise conditions resulted in a significantly decreased gating response. The gating function was significantly degraded in noise with less informational masking content, coinciding with a reduced activation of inhibitory gating networks. These findings illustrate the adverse effect of noise on pre-attentive inhibition related to speech perception.

Principles and Sustainable Perspectives in the Preservation of Earthen Architecture from the Past Societies of the Iberian Peninsula

In recent years, special attention has been paid to the lessons in sustainability offered by traditional and vernacular architecture, especially with regards to the promotion of both material and technical production in earthen construction. However, these systems were already widely found in past societies, whose legacy in terms of construction is presented through the complex cultural framework of archaeological sites, which require highly variable work that lacks professional consensus, usually transcending the adaptive and sustainable nature originally observed. This dual nature aids the social operation of these scenarios and can prematurely hinder earthen construction’s life cycle and didactic quality, cementing its status as a necessary reflection for the identification and prevention of future problems. In terms of sustainability, the aim of this study is to analyze the spectrum of architectural interventions used for the preservation of earthen structures in archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula, in natural, social, and economic terms, while examining their capacity to adapt in the face of adverse phenomena. For this reason, following bibliographical review and fieldwork collection, a database was established combining a series of architectural characteristics and a history of interventions in 85 selected archaeological sites conserved in situ. Following reflection on these sites, maps were drawn up to show the geographical scope of these principles and offer a general overview of perspectives, highlighting the aspects deserving of varying levels of attention, as well as proposing strategies for sustainable preservation which will allow its transmission over time for the scientific and cultural enjoyment of coming generations.

Ten-Minute Physical Activity Breaks Improve Attention and Executive Functions in Healthcare Workers.

Occupational health is a major problem in modern work environments. Physical activity breaks (PABs), short exercise periods delivered during working hours, incorporating exergames or outdoor activities, have emerged as a novel approach that could be used to improve work efficiency and workplace wellbeing. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of PABs on attention levels and executive functions in healthcare workers. A total of 27 healthcare workers (M = 14, W = 13; 49.55 ± 12.46 years), after 4 h of work, randomly performed one of three 10 min conditions weekly in a counterbalanced order: No Physical Activity Break (NPAB); Outdoor Physical Activity Break (OPAB); Physical Activity Break with Exergame (PABEx). After the conditions, executive functions and selective attention were assessed by the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), and the Trail Making A,B test (TMT A,B), respectively. Significant differences between OPAB and NPAB as well as between PABEx and NPAB in the TMT-A test χ2(2) = 44.66 (p < 0.001) and TMT-B test χ2(2) = 48.67 (p < 0.001) were found, respectively. TMT-A and SCWT interference/time scores of the PABEx and OPAB conditions were significantly lower than those of NPAB (p < 0.001). In the SCWT interference/error score, no significant difference was found between the PABEx and NPAB (p > 0.05), but the score was statistically lower in the OPAB condition than PABEx (p = 0.001) and PABEx condition compared to OPAB for TMT-A (p = 0.001). Findings showed that the OPAB and PABEx conditions are effective in improving selective attention and executive functions in healthcare workers. Employers can foster a healthier and more productive workforce by promoting a culture of movement and prioritizing employee health, which in turn can enhance patient care outcomes.

Analysis Of Dental Service Characteristics From A Dentist’s View In The Clinics Of Primary Health Care Sector In Baghdad

Dentist rely on his arrangement for dental service characteristics, represented by tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. A research attempts to measure a view of dentist for these characteristics and it determines their relative importance and it diagnose a gap of each characteristic to save his prevention performance. Research adopts checklists for dentists in the dental clinics of Primary Health Care Sector in Baghdad whose number reached to (74) dentists. The results were present in tables and analyzed using illustrative Pi and Pareto diagrams, it showed that dental service applied but with a varying and unequal level of attention. Dentist concerned with dental service characteristics, and he considers them essence of preventive dentistry.