Traditional Concept Research Articles

Are there unique facets of therapeutic alliance for users of digital mental health interventions? An examination with the eHealth Therapeutic Alliance Inventory

Therapeutic alliance (TA) is a well-established predictor of clinical outcomes in traditional psychotherapy. However, its association with outcomes in eHealth interventions has been inconsistent, which might be due to the absence of measurements specifically designed to capture TA in eHealth settings. The eHealth Therapeutic Alliance Inventory (ETAI) incorporates conventional as well as unique eHealth TA subscales, enabling to examine the contribution of new facets of TA beyond traditional concepts. This study investigates the predictive contribution of eHealth TA subscales compared to conventional TA subscales on clinical outcomes and evaluates the concurrent criterion validity of the ETAI. The study was conducted within the framework of a randomized controlled trial involving a 10-week digital parent training program aimed at addressing child disruptive behaviors. Parents were randomly assigned to either an enhanced-quality or a standard-quality program. Parents from 68 families completed the ETAI at five weeks' post-program initiation and at the post-intervention phase. The primary outcome was the improvement in child behavior, measured by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory. Positive Pearson correlations were found between all ETAI subscales covering unique eHealth TA aspects, measured at the 5-week time-point, and improvement in child behavior at post-intervention (rs ≥ 0.23, ps < 0.03). The conventional TA subscale showed no significant Pearson correlation with improvement in child behavior. When examining the unique contributions of ETAI-subscales to explain the improvement in child behavior, only ETAI-Perceived Emotional Investment subscale was found to have a unique contribution (β = 0.29, p = 0.019). In addition, scores on most ETAI subscales were significantly higher among parents using the enhanced-quality program compared with the standard program (Cohen's ds > 0.48), reinforcing ETAI's criterion validity. The development of TA scales that incorporates unique eHealth TA subscales show initial promise in predicting outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand how different factors of eHealth TA relate to clinical outcomes across diverse clinical targets and programs.

Survey of Reliability Challenges and Assessment in Power Grids with High Penetration of Inverter-Based Resources

Decarbonization is driving power systems toward more decentralized, self-governing models. While these technologies improve efficiency, planning, operations, and reduce the carbon footprint, they also introduce new challenges. In modern grids, particularly with the integration of power electronic devices and high penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs), traditional reliability concepts may no longer ensure adequate performance due to systemic restructuring. This shift necessitates new or significantly modified reliability indices to capture the characteristics of the evolving power system. Ensuring converter reliability is essential for effective planning, which requires precise, component-to-system-level modeling, as different converters impact system performance indicators. However, the existing literature in this field faces a significant limitation, as most studies focus on a singular perspective. Some examine reliability at the device-level, others at the component-level, while broader reviews in power systems often emphasize system-level analysis. In this paper, we aim to bridge these gaps by comprehensively reviewing the interconnections between these levels and analyzing the mutual influence of power converter and system reliability. A key point to highlight is that, with the rapid evolution of modern power grids, decision-makers must adopt a multi-level approach that incorporates insights from all levels to enable more accurate and realistic planning and operational strategies. Our ultimate goal is to provide an in-depth investigation of studies addressing the unique challenges posed by modern power grids. Finally, we will highlight the gaps in the literature and suggest directions for future research.

10.N. Scientific session: Gender and parenthood: short and long-term income, career, and health inequities

Abstract Despite the last decades’ changes in the distribution of household and child-rearing tasks, its main responsibility tends to fall on women. As such, parenting may remain an important determinant of gender inequalities in income, careers, and health and well-being. In 2022, on average, European women’s gross income was 12.7% below men’s. This income gap is, in part, explained by inequalities in full-time employment: in the EU, 31.5% of women with children worked part-time, which contrasts with 20.2% of women without children, with 4.9% of men with children, and 7.2% of men without children. These income and career impacts may occur due to the persistence of some traditional conceptions of the division of paid and nonpaid labor. These conceptions, and the subsequent inequalities in career progression and income, may be reflected in women’s living conditions, work-family conflict, chronic strain, well-being, and health. Yet, it can also be posited that men, experiencing the pressure to remain the main provider in the family and the most recent expectations to comply with childrearing roles, may also see their well-being and health affected. However, countries with higher gender equity have shown better results in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy for women and men. It can be argued that women and men, especially those who have children, benefit from countries with more progressive parental policies, such as longer and more equally divided parental leaves, accessible childcare, or flexible working schemes. It could, thus, be expected that these countries present higher gender equity in paid and nonpaid work division, career progression, and income, with a higher couple balance, and healthier family environments, with health gains for women and men who are parents and their children. This workshop aims to present and open to discussion recent research outcomes on the role of parenthood on income, career, and health inequalities across European countries. It will show results from quantitative and qualitative studies that focus on analyzing these impacts in the short- and long-term. By discussing these results, researchers and public health professionals may grasp parental, labor market, or social policies or health programs to foster gender equality in access to better living conditions and health, especially during and after parenthood. Key messages • Parenthood may widen gender inequities regarding income and career progression, contributing to the gender gap in health and well-being. • By understanding the magnitude of gender inequities and their distribution across countries, public health researchers and professionals may identify policies that effectively address the gender gap.

Study on Moral Education Value and Realization Path of Chinese Traditional Life View

Chinese traditional life view is ancient Chinese people to the value of life and human survival and development and other issues held a basic point of view, in essence, it is the Chinese traditional culture the most basic, core concept of life. Digging and elucidating the moral education value contained in the Chinese traditional life concept, through giving full play to the role of self-life concept education, improving the care of family life concept education, optimizing the form of school life concept education and strengthening the guarantee of social life concept education from multiple dimensions, to provide rich ideological and moral resources and spiritual motivation for life concept education. To better cultivate qualified builders and successors of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The World Philosophical Significance of the Concept of Yin and Yang—Taking Slote's "Yin/Yang" as An Opportunity

Slote transformed the traditional Chinese philosophical concept of "yin and yang" into "yin/yang" in his understanding, and applied it to many of Slote's own theoretical systems. This not only enriched his theoretical construction, but also proved the strong vitality of the concept of "yin and yang" in the formation and development of world philosophy. Slote called on Chinese philosophers to pay attention to the concept of traditional Chinese philosophical thought represented by "yin and yang". He used Feng Qi as an example to explain his world philosophy concept, and his "yin/yang" concept was the core of his world philosophy attempts. We can glimpse the possibility of the concept of "yin and yang" from Slote's attempt and uncover its philosophical significance in the world.

Research on the Character Traits of Female Protagonists in Games: An Example from the Otome Games

Abstract: With the development of the game industry, the role of gender in game design has increasingly come to the fore, with particular attention being paid to the way female players are represented in games. In the domain of gaming, the otome genre, which is characterized by its distinct narrative and characterization, has garnered a significant female player base. However, for a considerable period of time, the portrayal of female characters in games has frequently been influenced by traditional gender concepts, thus resulting in the emergence of certain stereotypes and inequalities. As such, the examination of the character traits of female protagonists in otome games not only facilitates a more profound comprehension of the influence of game culture on gender perceptions, but provides insights and inspiration for the creation of games with more egalitarian and diverse gender images. In this paper, the characteristics of female protagonists in otome games developed by some Japanese game developers are analyzed, and their impact on gender equality is explored. By comparing the characteristics of the female characters across different types of games, the paper elucidates that, despite their frequent portrayal as independent, strong, and assertive, these characters are still shaped by traditional gender norms to varying degrees. Accordingly, the analysis presents recommendations for advancing more egalitarian and diverse gender images within the gaming industry.

Exploration of Blended Teaching in Financial Management Major of Higher Education Institutions in the Digital Age

With the advent of the digital age, universities are starting to break traditional teaching concepts, integrate innovative thinking into teaching models, and strive to improve the effectiveness and applicability of their majors. In order to improve students’ practical ability and employment competitiveness, universities should introduce blended learning methods in classroom teaching, continuously strengthen students’ theoretical knowledge and practical ability, guide them to use the knowledge they have learned to solve practical problems, and enhance their comprehensive strength. This article will analyze the necessity and problems of implementing blended learning in financial management majors in universities, explore the specific path of blended learning in financial management majors in the digital age, and provide reference opinions for universities to cultivate high-quality talents.

Provision of "Isms" and Spontaneous Art: From the Development of Art History

This paper explores the development of art from early cave paintings to modern Provisionism and spontaneous art, analyzing how art, as a significant form of human cultural expression, has continuously evolved with changes in society and technology. As time progresses, the definition and boundaries of art are no longer fixed but have expanded along with the shifting roles of artists. The rise of Provisionism indicates that artists are no longer merely creators of works but designers of audience experiences, with the meaning of artworks further extended and enriched through audience participation. At the same time, spontaneous art blurs the line between art and everyday life, suggesting that ordinary actions and improvisations can be considered art in the right context. This paper also discusses how these emerging art forms challenge traditional art concepts and provide new perspectives for the future development of art.

THE EFFECT OF THE BYOD MODEL IN COMPARISON WITH THE TRADITIONAL USE OF ICT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

It is often today claimed in the media and literature that we are in a time of tremendous technological growth, with everything in society being modernised and the dominance of digital technologies on the horizon. In contrast, digital technologies can result in changes in society and greatly affect interpersonal relationships and communication between people. Digital technologies affect all generations, and especially children in primary school. It seems that the use of these devices in education could be beneficial for both parties, schools and pupils. Thanks to their flexibility there is the possibility of using different didactic approaches that directly respond to the specific learning styles and diverse needs of pupils, from the slowest to the most gifted. The aim of this paper is to describe the effect of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model in comparison to the traditional concept of digital technology in the higher primary school classroom. The aim of the research was to compare the effect of the BYOD model on teaching compared to the traditional use of digital technology using a questionnaire and a didactic test. The research was conducted in Czech Republic and utilized pupils smartphones and Ipads. For this finding, thematically identical teaching units were designed and implemented for two groups of pupils. The two experimental groups differed from each other only in the way they used digital technologies. This experiment was conducted in the context of teaching two tribal classes of children 11-12 years old. A total of 42 children participated in the research, of which 18 formed the research group and 24 formed the control group. The design of the thematic units was oriented to one of the modules of the computer science subject. Specifically, the lessons focused on hardware and software. The Nearpod web application was chosen for the BYOD model intervention in teaching, mainly because of its availability, accessibility and ease of orientation in the application. The research results suggest that the BYOD model may not always be effective; however, factors that caused or otherwise influenced this are discussed.

OLG Model Analysis of Delayed Retirement and Social Pension Effects on Family-Based Elderly Care in China

Driven by the traditional concept of “Raising Children to Ensure Old-age Security”, China’s elderly care system has long relied on a family-centered approach, with intergenerational financial transfers (IFTs) serving as a major source of income for the elderly. However, as China’s population ages, the government’s plan to implement delayed retirement from 2025, along with pension reforms, is expected to reshape family-based eldercare and intergenerational financial dynamics. This paper employs an Overlapping Generation (OLG) model, grounded in unified growth theory, which incorporates a delayed retirement policy under the constraint of pension fund balance to examine the impact of adjusting the pension contribution rates (PCRs) and raising retirement age (RA) on IFT rates. The research findings indicate a negative correlation between RA, PCR, and IFT. Both policies have the potential to alleviate the burden on family-based eldercare. The integrated implementation of these two policies not only creates room for a phased reduction in pension contribution rates but also enables the effective utilization of senior workers’ expertise and experience.

The role of the O2O blended teaching model in improving the teaching effectiveness of physical education classes

Abstract The deep fusion of Internet technology and education is constantly pushing forward the reform of university education. Traditional educational ideas, concepts, and models cannot keep pace with the times, and hybrid teaching has become a new way of education in colleges and universities. To improve the teaching effect of physical education classes, the study used a blended teaching model and designed a teaching evaluation and performance prediction model under the blended teaching model based on an improved cluster analysis method and attention mechanism. The lab results indicated that under the blended teaching model, students’ performance increased by 12.89 points, and the level of skill mastery and proficiency increased by 26.52 and 28.55%, respectively, with grades more inclined to high score distribution. “Excellent” grade clustering increased by 77.71%, and “Good” grade clustering increased by 19.01%. The minimum error sum of squares of the improved clustering algorithm was 58.18 and 36.25% lower than the other two algorithms, and the clustering results were more relevant. The two-way attention mechanism algorithm predicted higher accuracy results and performed best on all four evaluation metrics, with a prediction accuracy of 98.23%, an accuracy of 98.42%, and an F1 value of 91.78%. This hybrid teaching model is more in line with the characteristics of the physical education teaching discipline, successfully cultivates students’ independent learning ability, stimulates students’ love for physical education courses, and achieves better teaching results.

Do red marine carbonates represent oxic environments? New understanding from the Upper Ordovician marine limestone in Tarim Basin, China

Marine red beds (MRBs), typically colored by Fe- and Mn-rich minerals, are often interpreted as indicators of bottom water oxygenation. However, their continuous formation requires long-term input of aqueous derived Fe-Mn oxides and/or stable sources of Fe2+ and Mn2+ ions, challenging the traditional concept of “red equals oxic environment.” This study investigates two coeval Upper Ordovician Sandbian MRB carbonate intervals in the Tarim Basin. Previous studies attributed the pigment origin to hematite. Th/U values and total rare earth element and yttrium (REY) contents increased in the MRB interval, indicating a terrestrial source of iron. Hematite was observed within the intercrystal pores of calcite precipitating from porewater, consistent with high Nicarb abundance and MREE-enriched bulge pattern in the red intervals. Both sections exhibit high Fecarb and Mncarb, pointing to substantial reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides. Simulation shows that isotopic discrimination (Δ13C) between carbonate and organic carbon could be biased by increasing benthic Fe-Mn flux, leading to decreased Δ13C values in MRB intervals. Ce/Ce∗ values in the high-Mncarb interval reflect the releasing of Ce by reductive dissolution of Mn oxides. The commonly used carbonate-based redox proxy I/(Ca + Mg) ratio is correlated positively with Mncarb in the shallower section and with TOC in the deeper section, while it is negatively correlated with TOC in the shallower horizon, suggesting that iodine behavior may be influenced by adsorption and releasing of Mn hydro-oxides and organic matter besides oxygen contents. This study links MRB coloring to Fe and Mn mineral cycling in pore water through reductive dissolution and oxidative precipitation, and highlights potential biases of carbonate-based redox proxies that might be susceptible to other electron acceptors/donors such as Fe-Mn oxides and organic matter, in addition to free oxygen in seawater.

“Those girls are vicious little monsters”: reading subversive femininities in Yellowjackets

ABSTRACT Provoking questions about morality and civility, survival narratives which feature young adults often offer new visions of social organisation by positing extreme scenarios of isolation and breakdown. In Showtime’s Yellowjackets, the survivor-protagonists are framed as monstrous, but also as disruptive “others” with the potential to unravel regulatory systems. By resisting gendered mythologies, the survivor-protagonists are associated with varying expressions of autonomy and agency, and an amplified sense of difference and abjection. In considering the subversive potential of an all-female Lord of the Flies, this paper explores how the central characters of Yellowjackets gain power by accessing and enacting forms of “otherness” in violent and radical ways. It argues that by rejecting the norms used to relegate women to the margins, the Yellowjackets profoundly unsettle, even corrupt, traditional conceptions of femininity and idealised visions of girlhood.

Konsep Tata Ruang Goa Gajah dan Kolam Patirthan Berdasarkan Arsitektur Tradisional Bali

The aim is to find out the application of the spatial layout of Goa Gajah and the Patirthan pond based on traditional Balinese architecture and to find out the relationship between Goa Gajah and the Patirthan pond reflected in the function of the building. The research method is qualitative with inductive reasoning. Data collection was carried out using literature studies, observations, interviews and documentation studies. The collected data was processed using spatial character analysis, contextual analysis and qualitative analysis supported by spatial theory of traditional Balinese architecture and architectural function theory. The results of the research concluded that Goa Gajah and the Patirthan pond were identified as being based on traditional Balinese architectural spatial concepts, namely; Tri Hita Karana; Tri Angga and Tri Loka; and orientations. Analysis of the relationship between Goa Gajah and the Patirthan pond also implies a philosophical relationship between mountains and the sea. The activities at Goa Gajah and the Patirthan pond clarify the relationship between buildings, and represent the building as a social environment for ascetics.

Measurement error and information bias in causal diagrams: mapping epidemiological concepts and graphical structures.

Measurement error and information bias are ubiquitous in epidemiology, yet directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) are infrequently used to represent them, in contrast with confounding and selection bias. This represents a missed opportunity to leverage the full utility of DAGs to depict associations between the variables we actually analyse in practice: empirically measured variables, which are necessarily measured with error. In this article, we focus on applying causal diagrams to depict the data-generating mechanisms that give rise to the data we analyse, including measurement error. We begin by considering empirical data considerations using a general example, and then build up to a specific worked example from the clinical epidemiology of hearing health. Throughout, our goal is to highlight both the challenges and the benefits of using DAGs to depict measurement error. In addition to the application of DAGs to conceptual causal questions (which pertain to unmeasured constructs free from measurement error), which is common, we highlight the advantages associated with applying DAGs to also include empirically measured variables and-potentially-information bias. We also highlight the implications implied by this use of DAGs, particularly regarding the unblocked backdoor path causal structure. Ultimately, we seek to help increase the clarity with which epidemiologists can map traditional epidemiological concepts (such as information bias and confounding) onto causal graphical structures.

Resolving social dilemmas with minimal reward transfer

Social dilemmas present a significant challenge in multi-agent cooperation because individuals are incentivised to behave in ways that undermine socially optimal outcomes. Consequently, self-interested agents often avoid collective behaviour. In response, we formalise social dilemmas and introduce a novel metric, the general self-interest level, to quantify the disparity between individual and group rationality in such scenarios. This metric represents the maximum proportion of their individual rewards that agents can retain while ensuring that a social welfare optimum becomes a dominant strategy. Our approach diverges from traditional concepts of altruism, instead focusing on strategic reward redistribution. By transferring rewards among agents in a manner that aligns individual and group incentives, rational agents will maximise collective welfare while pursuing their own interests. We provide an algorithm to compute efficient transfer structures for an arbitrary number of agents, and introduce novel multi-player social dilemma games to illustrate the effectiveness of our method. This work provides both a descriptive tool for analysing social dilemmas and a prescriptive solution for resolving them via efficient reward transfer contracts. Applications include mechanism design, where we can assess the impact on collaborative behaviour of modifications to models of environments.

Service modularity in the digital era: integrating environmental sustainability and post-pandemic insights

Purpose This study aims to explore service modularity in the context of digital technology and environmental sustainability, particularly considering the transformative impacts of the post-pandemic world. It aims to shed light on how service modularity can adapt to and thrive in these evolving circumstances. Design/methodology/approach Using a comprehensive analytical approach, this paper addresses the critical concerns and limitations inherent in traditional service modularity concepts. It proposes novel perspectives on service modularity, enriched by recent technological advancements and sustainability imperatives. Findings The research reveals new dimensions of service modularity, emphasising its significance in the era of digital transformation and heightened environmental awareness. It provides empirical insights into how service modularity can be effectively reimagined and implemented in response to the challenges and opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications The findings offer valuable guidance for organisations seeking to enhance their service delivery through modularity. The study underscores the importance of integrating digital innovation and sustainability principles into service design and execution in the post-pandemic era. Originality/value This paper makes a novel contribution to the field of service modularity by intertwining it with the realms of digital technology and environmental sustainability. It offers a unique perspective on adapting service modularity to contemporary challenges, thereby enriching the existing body of literature and providing a foundation for future research in this area.

Al-Balāghah’s Legacy in Modern Secular Journalism

Abstract Contemporary studies have already explored al-Risālah magazine’s (1933–1953) dynamic role in championing a far-reaching secular-grounded educational mission— which was made more urgent by the encounter with Western innovations. Still, little attention has been paid to the journal’s strong linkages with Arabic classical heritage. This article argues that al-Risālah’s writings employed concepts and terminology related to al-balāghah, or eloquence, that were by turns accurate, controversial, and innovative. These uses enriched the spectrum of al-balāghah’s applicability also to the discussion of current preoccupations with other fields like psychology. While accounting for thought-provoking works like Tāhā Ḥusayn’s al-Bayān al-ʿarabī min al-Jāḥiẓ ilā ʿAbd al-Qāhir [The Arabic Bayān, from al-Jāḥiẓ to ʿAbd al-Qāhir, 1933,] Amīn al-Khūlī’s al-Balāghah wa-ʿilm al-nafs [al-Balāghah and Psychology, 1939,] and al-Zayyāt’s Difāʿun ʿan al-balāghah [In Defense of al-Balāghah, 1945] as pioneering studies towards the new conceptualizations of the discipline up to the mid-half of the twentieth-century, this study purports to trace the presence of al-balāghah in al-Risālah’s articles in both quantitative and qualitative terms through the employment of DH tools for data mining. By mapping the ontological shifts that occurred in traditional languages and concepts’ employment as both contrastive and continuous, the present inquiries showcase modern Arab culture’s dialectics of secularism and literary revisionism as self-sufficient, culturally embedded and integrated, and not as byproducts of contact with the West.

Comedy as journalism in Zimbabwe

Post-2000, Zimbabwe has witnessed a gradual shrinking of communicative space. In its efforts to control the narrative about the causes of the country’s multi-dimensional crisis, the ruling ZANU-PF government has used a gamut of legal and extra-judicial strategies to stifle press and other related freedoms. In this highly restrictive context, comedy has emerged as a viable source of information about events unfolding in the country as well as an alternative public sphere where counter-hegemonic discourses are ventilated by citizens who were previously excluded from the mainstream public sphere. Building on Mpofu’s (2017) and Mano’s (2007) studies on art and music as variants of journalism, our paper argues that comedy should be viewed as a variant of journalism in post-2000 Zimbabwe. We employ the normative roles of journalism, and Nancy Fraser’s (1990) concept of the alternative public sphere as our framework for examining how comedy, and more specifically Comic Pastor’s Monthly Comic Awards, has filled the void created by mainstream journalism by performing the journalistic function of communicating salient issues during the protracted Zimbabwean crisis. Our findings converge with, and broaden, Mpofu’s (2017) and Mano’s (2007) thesis that alternative sources of expression such as comedy should be viewed as journalism in crisis contexts. These findings also reinforce the need to expand traditional conceptions of journalism that narrowly limit the practice to traditional mass media.

Corpi sofferenti d’amore. L’Ingénu di Voltaire tra intêret e sensibilité

In his conte philosophique L’Ingénu (1767), Voltaire engages in his philosophical battle through an original analysis of the love affair between the naïve protagonist Huron and Mademoiselle de Saint-Yves, a young Breton girl with a strict Catholic upbringing. The conflict between their desire to marry and the religious and political institutions is represented here by means of stylistic grafts belonging to the tradition of the genre of the sentimental novel, which in the middle of the 18th century was on the rise in France and the rest of Europe. Making the most recent discoveries in the medical-psychological field his own, Voltaire thus aims to establish the empathic bond on which the moral background of sentimental rhetoric was based through the representation of the psychological and physical suffering of the young protagonists. Distancing himself from the traditional concept of moral ‘virtue’ that was at the basis of the English sentimental novel, Voltaire thus instituted a reflection on amorous sentiment, now conceived not only as the main expression of the passion of individuals, but as a critical device to try to elaborate in an alternative way that reunion between private and public virtues that was at the basis of the Enlightenment mission.