Traditional Programs Research Articles

Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Pain Intensity Level in Patient with Calcaneal Spur

Background: Heel pain is a common musculoskeletal issue that significantly impacts patient daily activities and, consequently, their quality of life. This clinical study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in reducing pain intensity in patients with calcaneal spurs.Objective: To investigate the effects of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy on pain intensity in patient with calcaneal spur.Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with calcaneal spurs based on clinical examination and lateral radiography between September 2022 and June 2023 were included in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy) and Group B (traditional physical therapy). All participants followed an exercise program; however, those in Group A received six sessions of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (10 Hz, 2000 pulses, at 2.4 bar). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain intensity both before and after treatment in all participants.Results: No significant differences were observed between Group A and Group B regarding gender, affected side, condition distribution, age, weight, height, or BMI (p > 0.05). Both groups experienced significant reductions in VAS scores post-treatment (p < 0.001); however, Group A demonstrated a greater improvement, with a percentage reduction in pain of -50.65%, compared to -28.17% in Group B. Additionally, post-treatment VAS scores were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.003), indicating that shockwave therapy yielded a more substantial reduction in painConclusions: Both radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy and traditional physical therapy programs significantly reduced pain intensity in patients with calcaneal spurs, with a favorable effect observed for radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy. These methods can be considered effective, safe, and conservative treatment options for managing calcaneal spurs.

The effect of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Exergames, which combine digital games and physical exercise, have become increasingly popular for rehabilitation in the health domain. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients who had undergone abdominal surgery. Seventy postoperative patients were included, and data collection took place between January 2023 and May 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to either an exergame rehabilitation program (n = 35) or a traditional rehabilitation program (n = 35). The assessed outcome was the quality of life, and data collection occurred at three different time points: upon admission, 48h postoperatively, and on the 7th day after surgery. Quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF Scale. At the third assessment, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (p = 0.016), indicating that the intervention group had a higher quality of life than the control group. The study showed a positive effect of exergames on the population under investigation. By the 7th day after surgery, the intervention group demonstrated an improvement in their quality of life compared to the control group. Center of Open Science OSF https://osf.io/286zb/ , registered in July, 2023.

Effectiveness and Feasibility of Digital Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been shown to effectively support postsurgical recovery in patients with lung cancer (LC) at various stages. While digital PR programs offer a potential solution to traditional challenges, such as time and space constraints, their efficacy and feasibility for patients undergoing LC surgery remain unclear. This systematic review aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of digital PR programs for individuals undergoing LC surgery. A systematic review was conducted, retrieving data from 6 English and 4 Chinese databases from their inception to January 1, 2024. References in related studies were also manually reviewed. The primary outcomes assessed were physical capacity, lung function, and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The secondary outcomes were compliance, hospital stay, chest tube duration, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Where applicable, recruitment and withdrawal rates were also evaluated. Meta-analysis and descriptive analysis were used to assess the outcomes. A total of 5 randomized controlled trials and 6 quasi-experimental studies (n=1063) were included, with 4 studies being included in the meta-analyses. Our meta-analyses revealed that digital PR reduced the decline in 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) by an average of 15 m compared with routine PR programs from admission to discharge, demonstrating a clinically significant improvement in physical capacity (mean difference -15.00, 95% CI -25.65 to -4.34, P=.006). Additionally, digital PR was associated with a reduction (26/58, 45%) in the likelihood of PPCs (risk ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.30-0.66, P<.001) and a reduction of 1.53 days in chest tube duration (mean difference -1.53, 95% CI -2.95 to -0.12, P=.03), without a statistically significant effect on postoperative hospital stay (mean difference -1.42, 95% CI -3.45 to 0.62, P=.17). Descriptive analyses suggested that digital PR has the potential to improve knowledge, lung function, quality of life, and self-efficacy, while reducing depression and anxiety. Notably, digital PR was found to be a safe, feasible, and acceptable supplementary intervention. Despite challenges with low recruitment, digital PR enhanced exercise compliance, increased patient satisfaction, and lowered dropout rates. This systematic review is the first comprehensive analysis to suggest that digital PR is a safe, feasible, acceptable, and effective intervention for promoting recovery in patients with LC after surgery. Digital PR has the potential to be a valuable supplement, expanding access to traditional PR programs. Future research should prioritize the development of interactive and inclusive digital solutions tailored to diverse age groups and educational backgrounds. Rigorous studies, including large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials with detailed protocols and robust methodologies, are needed to assess the short-, medium-, and long-term efficacy of digital PR, ensuring reproducibility in future research. PROSPERO CRD42023430271; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=430271.

Employing battery energy storage systems for flexible ramping products in a fully renewable energy power grid: A market mechanism and strategy analysis through multi-Agent Markov games

In high-proportion renewable energy power systems, flexible ramping products (FRPs) are critical for mitigating the volatility of renewable energy outputs and enhancing the adaptability of power systems. This paper aims to explore a fully renewable energy power system, with a battery energy storage system (BESS) as the sole provider of FRPs. An innovative market mechanism and new approaches to market equilibrium analysis are introduced. Initially, a common day-ahead (DA) market is established, covering both electricity and ancillary services with FRPs. The setup allows FRP providers to make bidding decisions and get rewarded based on actual ramping mileages. A bi-level multi-agent Markov game (MG) model is formulated. The upper level integrates the proposed strategies of wind power plants (WPP), photovoltaic power plants (PVP), and BESS, while the lower level encompasses the joint market clearing mechanism. An iterative solution algorithm, using reinforcement learning, is also introduced to address the model, effectively circumventing the privacy concerns associated with traditional mathematical programming methods. The proposed solution models and strategies are validated and demonstrated to be effective through two illustrative examples, highlighting their application and relevance in fully renewable energy power systems.

Practice and evaluation of the suicide prevention gatekeeper training program incorporating dialogue

Objective This study aimed to examine the practice and evaluation of the suicide prevention gatekeeper training program incorporating dialogue conducted as part of a comprehensive suicide prevention project.Methods To provide individual support for suicide prevention, supporters' flexibility should be improved. The Niigata City Mental Health Center aims to improve traditional lecture-based human resource development programs for suicide prevention. In fiscal year (FY) 2017, we developed a "Gatekeeper Training Textbook for Suicide Prevention" that incorporates dialogue. Training programs using this textbook have been conducted since FY 2018. A self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 975 participants in training programs from FY 2018-2022. The survey included the type of institution, understanding of responding to suicide risk, decrease/no decrease in difficulty in responding to suicide risk, and opinions and impressions of the programs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the difference in the proportions of decrease/no decrease in difficulty in responding to suicide risk by institutions was examined. Descriptions of the program's learning and awareness were analyzed qualitatively.Results There were 761 (78.1%) respondents. Regarding their understanding of responding to suicide risk, 95.9% of the respondents answered, "I understood better." Questions about the decrease/no decrease in difficulty in responding to suicide risk revealed that youth- and child-rearing support institutions scored higher than other institutions, whereas school-related institutions scored lower than other institutions regarding the rate of decrease in "2; asking individuals who have self-harmed about their wounds," "4; appropriately assessing the urgency of suicide risk," "6; asking about their desire to die," and "7; asking about their plans to commit suicide." Comments and opinions about the program were divided into four categories.Conclusion We have developed a new method for suicide prevention gatekeeper training that incorporates dialogue and involves training with various community supporters. The number of respondents who answered that the difficulty decreased regarding receptive responses and cooperation with other institutions increased after training. Additionally, the respondents' understanding of their responses and cooperation were reported in free-written descriptions. However, training content and evaluation methods that match each organization's characteristics should be considered because there were differences in the tendency of decreases in difficulty after training between institutions.

Virtual dissection applications in learning human anatomy: international medical students' perspectives.

Understanding human anatomy is fundamental to building medical competencies. This study explored the diverse perceptions of medical students in Saudi Arabia and Egypt concerning virtual dissection applications. Students from different Saudi and Egyptian governmental universities were invited. The online questionnaire covered the sociodemographic characteristics, students' perception of the advantages of virtual anatomy applications, satisfaction with their efficiency, and their recommendation to use them. Comparisons were performed in country-wise and then university-wise patterns. Significance was considered with a P < 0.05. The mean age of 401 participants was 20 ± 1.6. Females were 63% and the males were 37%. Saudi universities participated by 47% and Egyptian universities by 53% with various academic levels. The traditional program covers 25% of the participants and 75% are in integrated programs. Virtual dissection applications were used by 84% of the sample while the remaining 16% did not use them. No significant differences between Saudi participants and those from Egypt in the adopted teaching methods and the usual use of virtual dissection applications. However, significant differences in considering the ease of virtual applications (P = 0.016), their perfectness in lectures (P = 0.04), and their perception (P = 0.034). Also, there was no significant difference in satisfaction while their recommendation differed significantly (P = 0.034). The university-wise comparisons elaborated significant differences in the feasibility, reality, usefulness, preference, and perfectness of virtual dissection applications in lecturing. Technology can be an efficient complementary, not a replacement resource to support the educational process. Also, students' perceptions are valuable in maximizing the educational benefits of curricula.

Game-Based Learning and Gamification, Effective Innovation in Emergency Medicine Training Program

Background: Game-based learning (GBL) and gamification have recently been applied in medical education. Both approaches utilize methods to teach specific skills or knowledge in a more motivating manner than traditional teaching. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of GBL and gamification in an emergency medicine (EM) residency training program by comparing education through e-learning with GBL and gamification. Methods: We randomly enrolled EM residents into two groups. Over the course of one educational year, one group of residents participated in a GBL and gamification course (10 designed GBL and gamification sessions), while the other group received e-learning materials (10 designed podcasts and videos). Traditional training programs continued as routine in both groups. After the intervention, we assessed learners' educational achievements (exam scores) in both groups. Additionally, EM residents' viewpoints (in the first group) on the innovative program were collected using the model for the evaluation of educational games (MEEGA). Finally, the short version of the postgraduate hospital educational environment measure (PHEEM) was administered to evaluate learners' general feedback (in the first group) about the new educational environment after the intervention. Results: Game-based learning and gamification significantly improved scores in written, oral, and electronic exams assessing knowledge, skills, clinical reasoning, and judgment among EM residents (P-value &lt; 0.05). All MEEGA items under “Usability” and “Player Experience” had mean scores &gt; 3 (indicating agree and totally agree) (median score = 3 - 4). All PHEEM items under “Teacher Support and Skills” and “Work Conditions and Allocated Time for Learning” also had mean scores &gt; 3 (indicating agree and totally agree) (median score = 4). Conclusions: Game-based learning and gamification enhanced EM residents’ knowledge, skills, clinical reasoning, and judgment. Learners largely agreed on the positive impact of the intervention on their residency training program.

Closing the Gap: A Holistic Approach to Leadership Development in Times of Change

Effective leadership is essential for organizations to thrive in today’s fast-paced and complex business environment. However, many companies face critical leadership development gaps, particularly in managing change, attracting and retaining top talent, and fostering diversity. This article examines these challenges and provides actionable strategies for addressing them. Organizations often struggle to cultivate leaders prepared to drive transformation, as traditional leadership programs focus on stability rather than agility. Attracting talent is also hindered by the absence of key leadership qualities like emotional intelligence and collaboration. Furthermore, a lack of diversity in leadership pipelines limits innovation and decision-making capabilities. To overcome these gaps, organizations must foster change leadership through hands-on initiatives and mentoring, develop high-performance cultures that empower and engage employees, and create diverse pipelines by addressing unconscious bias and providing sponsorship programs. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Accenture demonstrate how aligning leadership strategies with modern business needs can drive sustained success. Ultimately, leadership development must be a continuous, integrated effort woven into the organization’s culture to meet evolving challenges and ensure long-term growth.

로버스카우트의 초·중등학교 연계 봉사활동 사례 연구: 로버스카우트 제도의 교육봉사활동으로서의 가능성 탐색

Objectives This study aims to explore the potential of the Rover Scout program as an educational volunteer activity by analyzing the experiences of university students who are Rover Scouts affiliated with the Korea Scout Association. These students participated in volunteer activities, guiding students during school field trips in ele-mentary and secondary schools. Methods To achieve this, a qualitative case study was conducted on the volunteer activities of university students who are Rover Scouts. These activities were carried out in collaboration with elementary and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of a local educational office (both entities are anonymized as A Association and A Educational Office, respectively). In-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted with five university stu-dents and graduates who voluntarily continued to perform over 100 hours of volunteer work for more than a year, even after fulfilling their graduation requirements. Results The participants gained diverse experiences in guiding students during activities outside the classroom, which were often in unstable environments. Due to the systematic volunteer management system centered around A Association, the participants were able to sustain their volunteer activities for an extended period, which enhanced their understanding of students and nurtured their aspirations to become teachers. However, they also faced challenges, such as a lack of support from their universities and the absence of clear boundaries regarding the role of Rover Scouts in volunteer work. Conclusions The Rover Scout activities, as analyzed in this study, were consistent with the purposes and content of educational volunteer activities. Moreover, these activities contributed to developing essential skills and expe-riences, such as knowledge related to organizing field trips and managing student behavior, which are crucial for teachers but difficult to acquire through traditional teacher training programs. Based on these findings, the study suggests implications for improving university volunteer programs and the Rover Scout system to enhance the quality of volunteer activities.

Vascular occlusion for optimising the functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of global disability with conventional exercise yielding only modest improvements. Here we aimed to investigate the benefits of integrating blood flow restriction (BFR) into traditional exercise programmes to enhance treatment outcomes. The Vascular Occlusion for optimizing the Functional Improvement in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis randomised controlled trial enrolled 120 patients with KOA at Ghent University Hospital, randomly assigning them to either a traditional exercise programme or a BFR-enhanced programme over 24 sessions in 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 3 months postintervention using linear mixed models with Dunn-Sidak corrections for multiple comparisons. Primary outcome was the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire at 3 months follow-up with knee strength, Pain Catastrophizing Scale questionnaire and functional tests as secondary outcomes. Analysis followed an intention-to-treat approach (NCT04996680). The BFR group showed greater improvements in KOOS pain subscale (effect size (ES)=0.58; p=0.0009), quadriceps strength (ES=0.81; p<0.0001) and functional tests compared with the control group at 12 weeks. At 3 months follow-up, the BFR group continued to exhibit superior improvements in KOOS pain (ES=0.55; p=0.0008), symptoms (ES=0.59; p=0.0004) and quality of life (QoL) (ES=0.66; p=0.0001) with sustained benefits in secondary outcomes. Drop-out rates were similar in both groups. Incorporating BFR into traditional exercise programmes significantly enhances short-term and long-term outcomes for patients with KOA demonstrating persistent improvements in pain, symptoms, QoL and functional measures compared with conventional exercise alone. These findings suggest that BFR can provide the metabolic stimulus needed to achieve muscle strength and functional gains with lower mechanical loads. Reduced pain and increased strength support a more active lifestyle, potentially maintaining muscle mass, functionality and QoL even beyond the supervised intervention period. NCT04996680.

Efficacy of a Multimodal Digital Behavior Change Intervention on Lifestyle Behavior, Cardiometabolic Biomarkers, and Medical Expenditure: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends providers offer individualized healthy behavior interventions for all adults, independent of their risk of cardiovascular disease. While strong evidence exists to support disease-specific programs designed to improve multiple lifestyle behaviors, approaches to adapting these interventions for a broader population are not well established. Digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) hold promise as a more generalizable and scalable approach to overcome the resource and time limitations that traditional behavioral intervention programs face, especially within an occupational setting. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a multimodal DBCI on (1) self-reported behaviors of physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness; (2) cardiometabolic biomarkers; and (3) chronic disease-related medical expenditure. We conducted a 2-arm randomized controlled trial for 12 months among employees of an academic health care facility in the United States. The intervention arm received a scale, a smartphone app, an activity tracker, a video library for healthy behavior recommendations, and an on-demand health coach. The control arm received standard employer-provided health and wellness benefits. The primary outcomes of the study included changes in self-reported lifestyle behaviors, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and chronic disease-related medical expenditure. We collected health behavior data via baseline and quarterly web-based surveys, biometric measures via clinic visits at baseline and 12 months, and identified relevant costs through claims datasets. A total of 603 participants were enrolled and randomized to the intervention (n=300, 49.8%) and control arms (n=303, 50.2%). The average age was 46.7 (SD 11.2) years, and the majority of participants were female (80.3%, n=484), White (85.4%, n=504), and non-Hispanic (90.7%, n=547), with no systematic differences in baseline characteristics observed between the study arms. We observed retention rates of 86.1% (n=519) for completing the final survey and 77.9% (n=490) for attending the exit visit. This study represents the largest and most comprehensive evaluation of DBCIs among participants who were not selected based on their underlying condition to assess its impact on behavior, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and medical expenditure. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04712383; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04712383. RR1-10.2196/50378.

Effect of high intensity in every set on strength gains in novice lifters: a randomized controlled trial

Background and Study Aim. Effective program design is essential for maximizing adaptation by balancing strength gains, minimizing stress, and enhancing recovery. However, it remains unclear whether training at high intensity in every set is necessary for optimal strength gains. This study compares the effects of two distinct 6-week resistance training programs on maximum strength in novice lifters. Material and Methods. Twenty participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the traditional strength program (TSP) or the combined strength program (CSP), both periodized to increase the number of sets every 2 weeks over a total of 6 weeks. A two-way ANOVA was used to analyze maximum isometric strength, maximum dynamic strength, and strength ratio differences between groups and over time. Results. The results showed significant increases in maximum isometric knee extension and elbow flexion strength for both the TSP (CI 95% = 55.87-99.92 N and CI 95% = 10.93-26.86 N, respectively) and the CSP (CI 95% = 43.32-111.42 N and CI 95% = 8.54-28.96 N, respectively). Similarly, maximum dynamic knee extension and elbow flexion strength also improved significantly in both programs (knee extension: TSP CI 95% = 8.16-17.24 kg and CSP CI 95% = 9.10-28.32 kg; elbow flexion: TSP CI 95% = 6.74-11.26 kg and CSP CI 95% = 3.05-10.70 kg). Additionally, strength ratios increased significantly in both the TSP (knee extension CI 95% = 0.87-1.36 N/kg and elbow flexion CI 95% = 0.15-0.42 N/kg) and the CSP (knee extension CI 95% = 0.68-1.59 N/kg and elbow flexion CI 95% = 0.14-0.39 N/kg) from baseline. Conclusions. Both training programs led to significant increases in maximum strength metrics. Novice practitioners did not need to train at high intensity in every set to achieve substantial strength gains. This was particularly evident during the early weeks of training, when recovery and adaptation are critical.

The effectiveness of the physical education curriculum following the Sports Club model on the physical development of high school students in Vietnam

Background and Study Aim. The physical development of high school students is often hindered by the limitations of traditional physical education programs, which may not fully engage students or promote balanced physical growth. In light of these concerns, the need to explore alternative educational models that can enhance students' physical development has become evident. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the potential effectiveness of a physical education curriculum following the Sports Club model in improving the physical development of high school students. Material and Methods. A total of 84 female 10th-grade students participated in the study. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 42 students following the Sports Club model and a control group of 42 students following the current physical education curriculum. The experiment lasted for 17 weeks. Both groups completed initial and final physical fitness tests. These tests included the 30-second sit-up test (to assess core strength), the 30-meter sprint test (to measure speed), the 4 × 10-meter shuttle run test (to evaluate agility), the standing long jump test (to measure explosive leg power), and the 5-minute running field test (to assess endurance). Results. The female students in the experimental group demonstrated greater physical development compared to the control group in all five assessment tests. The experimental group showed the most significant improvement in the 30-second sit-up test, with a growth rate of 26.71%. The lowest growth was observed in the 5-minute running field test, at 9.92%. In contrast, the control group showed its highest improvement in the 30-second sit-up test, with a growth rate of 9.44%. However, there was minimal to no improvement in the 4 × 10-meter shuttle run and the 5-minute running field test for the control group. Conclusions. The Sports Club model improved students' physical fitness more effectively compared to the current curriculum, offering greater benefits in all tested areas. It is recommended that teachers further integrate and refine the implementation of the Sports Club model in future physical education programs to enhance teaching effectiveness.

Effects of Block-Based Visual Programming on K-12 Students’ Learning Outcomes

Computer programming is regarded as an important skill for the future. However, many K-12 students face challenges and difficulties in learning traditional text-based programming. Block-based visual programming (BVP) can reduce the difficulty of learning programming and is seen as a potential programming education tool. Nevertheless, the effects of BVP on K-12 student learning outcomes remain unclear, and there is no evidence of meta-analysis. This is the first meta-analysis that aims to examine the effects of BVP on K-12 students’ learning based on 42 effect sizes from 29 independent experimental studies (2000–2023). The result suggests that BVP has an upper-medium effect on learning ( SMD = 0.769, 95% CI = [0.554, 0.984], p &lt; .001), particularly in the cognitive outcome ( SMD = 0.698, p &lt; .001). Moreover, the BVP tool, study design, and region have moderating effects. The BVP’s effects are larger when: (1) with 61∼100 students, (2) for junior high school, (3) with the learning duration of &gt;1 month, (4) targeting math, (5) among novice students, (6) using Scratch, ScratchJr, Alice, and App Inventor, (7) employing project-based learning and project-based + game-based learning, (8) base on quasi-experimental design, (9) in Africa and Europe, (10) with latter publication years. Finally, discussions, implications, limitations, and future directions are put forward.

Balancing Athletic and Academic Excellence: A Quantitative Study of Student-Athletes' Time Management Strategies

This study focuses on the unique challenges faced by student-athletes and explores how they find a balance between competitive sports and academic pursuits. Through a one-year longitudinal study of 360 college athletes from a variety of sports and academic backgrounds, we deeply analyzed the relationship between time management strategies and academic achievement, athletic performance, and psychological health. The study used quantitative research methods to analyze the data and revealed several key time management strategies that were associated with significant improvements in academic and athletic performance. In particular, we discovered a novel "flexible focus" strategy that enabled students to quickly switch their attention between learning and training while maintaining high efficiency. In addition, the study found the moderating effects of social media use, sleep patterns, and nutritional intake on time management effects. Based on these findings, we proposed a comprehensive "dual-track development model" to provide a practical guidance framework for student-athletes, coaches, and educators. This model is not only applicable to traditional college sports programs, but also considers the emerging field of e-sports, providing a new perspective for understanding and supporting the comprehensive development of student-athletes in the 21st century. The results of this study have important implications for higher education policy, athletic training program design, and the development of student support services, providing an empirical basis for promoting the comprehensive development of student-athletes.

FlawCheck: Detecting Smart Contract Vulnerabilities Based on Symbolic Execution

ABSTRACTSmart contracts are turing‐complete computer programs running on blockchains. Like traditional programs, smart contracts are also vulnerable. However, unlike traditional programs, it is very difficult to modify smart contracts once they are deployed on the blockchain. Therefore, reducing potential vulnerabilities in contracts before deployment to the blockchain is very important. The existing smart contract detection tools mostly fail to fully consider the complex control flow relationships within smart contracts, leading to false positives and false negatives. To address these problems, we propose FlawCheck, a vulnerability detection tool based on symbolic execution. First, it compiles smart contract source code into bytecode. Then, it disassembles bytecode into an opcode sequence, building the dependencies of contract control flow. Next, it performs preliminary analysis on the information generated during the simulated execution on the Ethereum virtual machine to identify suspicious vulnerability paths. Finally, it detects these suspicious paths by using symbolic execution. We verified that FlawCheck can detect five types of smart contract vulnerabilities. Experimental results on a dataset of 13016 real contracts shows that FlawCheck has higher accuracy than other tools.

Real-Time Collaborative Programming in Undergraduate Education: A Comprehensive Empirical Analysis of Its Impact on Knowledge, Behaviors, and Attitudes

Real-time collaborative programming (RCP), which allows multiple programmers to work concurrently on the same codebase with changes instantly visible to all participants, has garnered considerable popularity in higher education. Despite this trend, little work has rigorously examined how undergraduates engage in collaborative programming when using RCP. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design to investigate the impact of RCP on undergraduates’ programming knowledge and skills, behaviors, and attitudes toward collaboration. Eighty-two participants were randomly assigned to either the RCP group or the Traditional Collaborative Programming (TCP) group. The data analysis yielded noteworthy findings. First, RCP significantly improved learners’ problem-solving skills and led to higher knowledge test scores compared to TCP. Second, there were no significant differences in attitudes toward collaboration between the two groups. Third, analysis of programming behaviors indicated that the RCP group exhibited more efficient coding practices, including producing a greater volume of code and executing it more successfully. Additionally, the RCP group’s code-testing activities were predominantly concentrated at the first half of the class sessions. Based on the empirical research results, three major pedagogical implications were proposed. These findings highlight the benefits of integrating RCP into programming education and suggest avenues for future research into collaborative learning dynamics.

Hey Building! Novel Interfaces for Parametric Design Manipulations in Virtual Reality

Parametric Design enables designers to formulate and explore new ideas through parameters, typically by manipulating numerical values. However, visualising and exploring the design space of an established parametric design solution is natively difficult through desktop displays for designers due to screen space constraints and requiring familiarity with visual-language programming interfaces. Thus, we sought to explore Virtual Reality (VR), inspired by Natural User Interfaces (NUI), to develop and explore new interfaces departing from traditional programming interfaces, that could complement the spatial and embodied affordances of contemporary VR devices. Informed by two industry-led focus groups with architects we developed and examined the usability of three different interfaces: 1) Paramaxes , an axes-based interface that allows designers to distribute and manipulate parameter visualisations around them in physical space; 2) ParamUtter , a Voice-based User Interface (VUI) that allows designers to manipulate parameter visualisations through natural languages; 3) Control Panel , which presents the parameters as sliders in a scrollable pane and acts as baseline comparison. We ran an exploratory study with experts and found that the Control Panel was ultimately the preferred interface for a design manipulation task. However, participants commented favorably towards qualities in the unconventional interfaces, with ParamUtter scoring highest in System Usability Scores (SUS), and participants valuing the potential of using physical space to explore design spaces with Paramaxes .

Selection of aerodynamic characteristics and engine parameters of a maneuverable aircraft under epistemic uncertainty

At the preliminary stage of aircraft design, it is usually required to solve the problem of insufficient initial data for applying traditional algoristic-type mathematical programming models. In many cases, numerous input parameters cannot be accurately specified at the time of making design decisions. If the inaccuracy of parameters is not taken into account, the actual values of target functions may differ significantly from the calculated ones when solving optimization problems. In this regard, the issue of current interest is the development of algorithms to improve the reliability of design decisions under conditions of epistemological uncertainty when experts engage in the formation of initial data. The paper considers the problem of selecting aerodynamic characteristics and engine parameters of maneuverable aircraft under conditions of uncertainty associated with inaccuracy of expert data. The applied problem under consideration is further complicated by the necessity to include “black box” models in the algorithms being developed. The paper proposes algorithms that apply the uncertainty theory together with “black box” models that implement optimization calculation techniques derived from previous engineering practice of aircraft design. Using these algorithms, experts are able to set uncertain parameters whereby the lack of data is factored in using uncertainty distribution functions. In cases of monotonicity of uncertain parameters in target functions, application of the uncertainty theory provides a significant reduction in computational costs compared to the method of statistical modeling in optimization calculations. The paper presents the results of computational studies of the developed algorithms. A genetic algorithm (mathematical optimization solver) is used to optimize the search for design solutions. Pareto frontiers are obtained for different confidence levels enabling to make design decisions including values of aerodynamic characteristics and engine parameters of maneuverable aircraft.

Using Continuous Online Assessment of Learning Outcomes for Grading: A Case Study

In recent years, the problem of the number of students enrolled in STEM courses falling below the minimum required to carry out the courses has worsened. This situation, which used to occur primarily in degree programs at the end of their life cycle, is increasingly happening in active STEM degree programs as well. The declining attractiveness of traditional STEM degree programs and negative demographic trends are seen as the main causes of this problem. To assist students and their teachers in this situation, a novel approach to grading student work based on the level at which students achieve learning outcomes in an online system was explored. Since the focus was on STEM students, math-based tasks were used to assess student knowledge within the online system. In addition to the accuracy of the final results of the tasks, the accuracy of the intermediate results was also monitored. Each result was linked to the corresponding concepts, which in turn were linked to the corresponding learning outcomes. By entering correct intermediate and final results, the online system was able to monitor student success in mastering concepts and learning outcomes. The implemented online system utilizes fuzzy inference to calculate the levels at which students have achieved the learning outcomes. These levels are continuously recalculated during the semester and presented to the students through generated recommendations after each solved task. The proposed approach has positively impacted students’ motivation to learn during the semester, as confirmed by an anonymous questionnaire. Additionally, the results have shown that the final level at which students have achieved the learning outcomes within the online system, calculated at the end of the semester, can be used for grading and is comparable to the grades students would achieve in traditional midterm and final exams, thus helping teachers with their workload.