Background: The healthcare system in Jordan is evolving and has to continuously respond to the changing risk profile of the population. The purpose of this study was to examine perception of users and providers of the...Background: The healthcare system in Jordan is evolving and has to continuously respond to the changing risk profile of the population. The purpose of this study was to examine perception of users and providers of the quality of home health care services. Methods: A descriptive design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 82 users of home health care services. Results: Users had low to fair satisfaction (30.5% - 69.5%) about the quality of care provided, had moderate satisfaction (72.0% to 81.7%) about the information received, and had low to fair satisfaction about education related to goal of treatment and medication (46.4% - 53.3%). Users had high level of agreement (>70%) that health agencies provided interpersonal care. Conclusion: The ability of the frail people to choose from a variety of cost-effective long-term care services is limited.展开更多
The challenges facing public schools are multifaceted and include: teachers dissatisfaction, non-commitment of educators, chronic absenteeism by educators, low morale, poor work ethics by educators, late coming of bot...The challenges facing public schools are multifaceted and include: teachers dissatisfaction, non-commitment of educators, chronic absenteeism by educators, low morale, poor work ethics by educators, late coming of both educators and learners, overcrowding in classes, lack of technical resources and many more. A cursory investigation of public secondary school buildings in Ado-Odo/Ota L.G.A shows its deplorable conditions of structural, aesthetical and decorative disrepair. Therefore the paper focused on examining users “perception of the present deplorable physical condition and neglect of public secondary school. The study engaged the use of quantitative method of analysis, employing the use of questionnaire administered randomly and distributed face-to-face to targeted despondences”. The result of findings revealed performance/productivity of building users depends largely on working and learning condition of building. The outcomes of the research would help policy makers, facilities maintenance experts and professionals alike to device a policy for regular maintenance of public building in other to enhance performance and increase productivity amongst users.展开更多
Public transport system has been a means of addressing transportation challenges in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, traffic jam and long travel time in cities worldwide. Transportation in Africa is unique in ...Public transport system has been a means of addressing transportation challenges in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, traffic jam and long travel time in cities worldwide. Transportation in Africa is unique in that it has the least developed public transport systems in the world, while also being one of the fastest urbanizing continents. Bus Rapid Transit being one of the public transport systems was introduced in Africa in 2008 as a means to provide solution on urban transportation challenges. Despite of public transport being the main means of transport in African developing countries, there have been a number of challenges that affects efficiency of performance of the system and makes its users uncomfortable. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the setbacks or challenges associated with operation and performance of the BRT system in the African developing countries and address them. The study employed mixed methods research design that integrates both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis. The study findings reveal that, there is an improvement on the perspectives of the commuters on public transport after introduction of BRT system. However, some challenges such as long waiting time, passengers overcrowding during peak hours, as well as safety and security can slowly change the perspective of the commuters. Therefore, to address these challenges it is recommended to reduce the long waiting time and improve accessibility by introduction of passenger information displays (bus information system) and automated fare collection system;reduce travel time by introduction of bus priority signal;and improve safety and security by introduction of signage and CCTV Camera within the bus and bus stops.展开更多
Hong Kong is a hyper-dense city with 7x10(6) people living in an area of 1100km(2). One way to improve the livability of compacted and congested cities like Hong Kong is through the provision of urban parks, an aspect...Hong Kong is a hyper-dense city with 7x10(6) people living in an area of 1100km(2). One way to improve the livability of compacted and congested cities like Hong Kong is through the provision of urban parks, an aspect that has largely been under-researched. This study focuses on how users perceive and utilize various facilities in the Kowloon Park. The findings revealed that the Kowloon Park is one of the most preferred parks in Hong Kong for both local residents and tourists. Users were quite satisfied with the park's facilities. Notably, the most important component of an urban park is its greenery. This is followed by water elements, seating places, and facilities for various recreational activities. The improvements users would like to see in urban parks include good design and management, meeting users' needs, overcoming barriers to use, and providing a high quality and varied experience for different groups in the community. The findings of this study provide a good basis to address park management issues from the users' perspective. In particular, parks should provide easy access, encourage optimum usage and enable complimentary improvements to the environment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To gather information regarding the usage of fresh medicinal plants and users′perceptions via face-to-face interviews.To date,there is no published report of firsthand account of their usage in Singapore.Su...OBJECTIVE To gather information regarding the usage of fresh medicinal plants and users′perceptions via face-to-face interviews.To date,there is no published report of firsthand account of their usage in Singapore.Such important information may be permanently lost if not properly collated in time.METHODS Information on demographic data,plant-use methods and perception of usage was collated.Participants were recruited via the local newspapers,by word of mouth etc.The survey protocol was approved by the NUS Institutional Review Board.Fresh plant samples/photographs were obtained from the users and voucher specimens were kept.RESULTS Two hundredusers who have used a total of 103 species of fresh medicinal plants anytime in the last 5years participated in the survey.The five most commonly used plants were Clinacanthusnutans(34 users),Strobilanthescrispus(31 users),Pereskiableo(25 users),Aloe vera(18 users),and Zingiberofficinale(16 users).The top 3 most commonly cited medical conditions were diseases of respiratory system(50 users),neoplasm(29 users)anddiseases of circulatory system(20 users).A total of 173 users(86.5%)did not consult any healthcare professional for advice about plant usage,and only one user consulted the pharmacist.Some of the common reasons given for using fresh medicinal plants were recommendation by others(150,75.0%),efficacy(137,68.5%),and safety(117,58.5%).Most users(170,85.0%)were satisfied or highly satisfied with the outcome of plants used.CONCLUSION Two hundred users of fresh medicinal plants have been successfully interviewed and the information documented systematically in a database.The results suggest that fresh medicinal plants have a role to play in healthcare in modern society.The information collated will serve as a useful resource for identifying promising plants for future drug discovery efforts.展开更多
Babies react to changes in the characteristics of objects,presenting haptic recognition after a period of familiarization.We aimed to verify if infants responded to the different spatial orientations of an ergonomic p...Babies react to changes in the characteristics of objects,presenting haptic recognition after a period of familiarization.We aimed to verify if infants responded to the different spatial orientations of an ergonomic pacifier in the mouth.With informed consent,10 babies(271.6±60.8 days),users of ergonomic pacifiers,revealed motor behaviors that were divisible into three categories,sometimes through successive actions(i.e.,perception-action cycles were present):(i)repositioned correctly the pacifier,through different modes;(ii)repositioned it,but incorrectly,through different modes;and(iii)rejected the pacifier.So,these babies detected the incorrect position of the pacifier,and acted according to the principle of motor equivalence,since they implemented variations of a solution for the same need.展开更多
This article examines the complex relationship between disease perception,negative emotions,and their impact on postoperative recovery in patients with perianal diseases.These conditions not only cause physical discom...This article examines the complex relationship between disease perception,negative emotions,and their impact on postoperative recovery in patients with perianal diseases.These conditions not only cause physical discomfort,but also carry a significant emotional burden,often exacerbated by social stigma.Psycho-logical factors,including stress,anxiety,and depression,activate neuroendocrine pathways,such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis,disrupting the gut microbiota and leading to dysbiosis.This disruption can delay wound healing,prolong hospital stay,and intensify pain.Drawing on the findings of Hou et al,our article highlights the critical role of illness perception and negative emotions in shaping recovery outcomes.It advocates for a holistic approach that integrates psychological support and gut microbiota modulation,to enhance healing and improve overall patient outcomes.展开更多
Objectives Diabetes remains a major global health challenge in China.Artificial intelligence(AI)has demonstrated considerable potential in improving diabetes management.This study aimed to assess healthcare providers...Objectives Diabetes remains a major global health challenge in China.Artificial intelligence(AI)has demonstrated considerable potential in improving diabetes management.This study aimed to assess healthcare providers’perceptions regarding AI in diabetes care across China.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using snowball sampling from November 12 to November 24,2024.We selected 514 physicians and nurses by a snowball sampling method from healthcare providers across 30 cities or provinces in China.The self-developed questionnaire comprised five sections with 19 questions assessing medical workers’demographic characteristics,AI-related experience and interest,awareness,attitudes,and concerns regarding AI in diabetes care.Statistical analysis was performed using t-test,analysis of variance(ANOVA),and linear regression.Results Among them,20.0%and 48.1%of respondents had participated in AI-related research and training,while 85.4%expressed moderate to high interest in AI training for diabetes care.Most respondents reported partial awareness of AI in diabetes care,and only 12.6%exhibited a comprehensive or substantial understanding.Attitudes toward AI in diabetes care were generally positive,with a mean score of 24.50±3.38.Nurses demonstrated significantly higher scores than physicians(P<0.05).Greater awareness,prior AI training experience,and higher interest in AI training in diabetes care were strongly associated with more positive attitudes(P<0.05).Key concerns regarding AI included trust issues from AI-clinician inconsistencies(77.2%),increased workload and clinical workflow disruptions(63.4%),and incomplete legal and regulatory frameworks(60.3%).Only 34.2%of respondents expressed concerns about job displacement,indicating general confidence in their professional roles.Conclusions While Chinese healthcare providers show moderate awareness of AI in diabetes care,their attitudes are generally positive,and they are considerably interested in future training.Tailored,role-specific AI training is essential for equitable and effective integration into clinical practice.Additionally,transparent,reliable,ethical AI models must be prioritized to alleviate practitioners’concerns.展开更多
The cumulative prospect theory(CPT) is applied to study travelers' route choice behavior in a degradable transport network. A cumulative prospect theory-based user equilibrium(CPT-UE) model considering stochastic ...The cumulative prospect theory(CPT) is applied to study travelers' route choice behavior in a degradable transport network. A cumulative prospect theory-based user equilibrium(CPT-UE) model considering stochastic perception error(SPE) within travelers' route choice decision process is developed. The SPE is conditionally dependent on the actual travel time distribution, which is different from the deterministic perception error used in the traditional logit-based stochastic user equilibrium. The CPT-UE model is formulated as a variational inequality problem and solved by a heuristic solution algorithm. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed model and efficiency of the solution algorithm. The effects of SPE on the reference point determination, cumulative prospect value estimation, route choice decision and network performance evaluation are investigated.展开更多
Spatial computing and augmented reality are advancing rapidly,with the goal of seamlessly blending virtual and physical worlds.However,traditional depth-sensing systems are bulky and energy-intensive,limiting their us...Spatial computing and augmented reality are advancing rapidly,with the goal of seamlessly blending virtual and physical worlds.However,traditional depth-sensing systems are bulky and energy-intensive,limiting their use in wearable devices.To overcome this,recent research by X.Liu et al.presents a compact binocular metalens-based depth perception system that integrates efficient edge detection through an advanced neural network.This system enables accurate,realtime depth mapping even in complex environments,enhancing potential applications in augmented reality,robotics,and autonomous systems.展开更多
The evacuation of people under threat is an effective disaster prevention and mitigation measure in response to flash floods and geological hazards,and it is also an essential element of pre-disaster planning.However,...The evacuation of people under threat is an effective disaster prevention and mitigation measure in response to flash floods and geological hazards,and it is also an essential element of pre-disaster planning.However,the effect of the interactions between perception factors on residents'willingness to evacuate is an urgent problem to be solved.Therefore,this paper introduces risk,stakeholder,and protective action perceptions from the protective action decision model as the main explanatory variables.These three core perceptions are subdivided into affective risk perception,cognitive risk perception,government perception,other-stakeholder perception,resourcerelated attributes,and hazard-related attributes.A questionnaire survey was conducted from June to July 2023 among residents of mountainous communities in nine villages in three towns in Sichuan Province,China.359 cross-sectional data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to explore the effects of six perception factors on evacuation intentions.The results of the study showed that:(1)affective risk perception,government perception,other-stakeholder perception,and hazard-related attributes all directly and positively influence residents'intentions to evacuate;(2)cognitive risk perception is mediated by stakeholder and protective action perceptions,which indirectly and positively affect residents'intentions to evacuate.Based on the hypothesized paths,strategies to improve residents'willingness to evacuate are discussed from the perspective of three core perceptions:strengthening disaster risk education,improving residents'cohesion,and building government credibility.The results of this study can provide theoretical support and practical suggestions for emergency management departments to formulate emergency evacuation strategies,which can aid decision-makers in better understanding residents'intentions to evacuate,optimizing evacuation information dissemination pathways,and strengthening disaster risk management capabilities.展开更多
Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital...Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital in our African regions. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of uterine fibroids among women who came to the gynecology-obstetrics department of the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) Tsévié. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study, with data collection conducted from May 7th to 20th, 2024, using systematic sampling. The study included all women present in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of CHR Tsévié during the study period who willingly and informedly consented to participate in the survey. Results: 362 women participated in the study. Among them, 36.8% had a secondary level, and 72.9% were Christians. About 97.5% had heard of uterine fibroids. In 63.5% of cases, their entourage was the principal source of information. The diagnostic methods mentioned by the women were ultrasound in 94.6% of cases, while prayers and occultism were also cited in 28% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. While 91.9% of the women considered the hospital, the place for treatment, some indicated that treatment would require plant-based approaches (46.8%) and prayers (26%). The cost of treatment was an obstacle for 85.4% of women, and 61.3% expressed fear of dying during surgery. There was a statistically significant relationship between treatment choice and religion. Conclusion: The majority of women had heard of uterine fibroids but had incorrect information about the treatment.展开更多
Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was c...Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.展开更多
The subcortical visual pathway is generally thought to be involved in dangerous information processing,such as fear processing and defensive behavior.A recent study,published in Human Brain Mapping,shows a new functio...The subcortical visual pathway is generally thought to be involved in dangerous information processing,such as fear processing and defensive behavior.A recent study,published in Human Brain Mapping,shows a new function of the subcortical pathway involved in the fast processing of non-emotional object perception.Rapid object processing is a critical function of visual system.Topological perception theory proposes that the initial perception of objects begins with the extraction of topological property(TP).However,the mechanism of rapid TP processing remains unclear.The researchers investigated the subcortical mechanism of TP processing with transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS).They find that a subcortical magnocellular pathway is responsible for the early processing of TP,and this subcortical processing of TP accelerates object recognition.Based on their findings,we propose a novel training approach called subcortical magnocellular pathway training(SMPT),aimed at improving the efficiency of the subcortical M pathway to restore visual and attentional functions in disorders associated with subcortical pathway dysfunction.展开更多
SARS-CoV-2,particularly the Omicron variant,often leads to flavor perception dysfunction in infected individuals,making a comprehensive understanding of its duration and recovery patterns a critical part of disease ma...SARS-CoV-2,particularly the Omicron variant,often leads to flavor perception dysfunction in infected individuals,making a comprehensive understanding of its duration and recovery patterns a critical part of disease management.This study surveyed a cohort of 199 mildly-to-moderately affected SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected patients,focusing on the alterations in their olfaction,taste,and chemesthesis perception.Further,a subset of 36 participants(18 healthy and 18 infected)underwent sensory evaluations to check the variation of umami taste sensitivity.The results demonstrated that most of the infected cohort experienced chemosensory disorders,with the recovery period varying between one week and over a month.Intriguingly,the severity of flavor perception changes during infection significantly correlated with the length of the recovery period.Furthermore,this study explored the specific manifestations of flavor perception dysfunction,potential contributing factors,and potential mechanistic explanations for chemosensory disorders.These include local damage,inflammatory responses,and virus-induced neural damage.However,this study revealed no significant change(P>0.05)in umami taste sensitivity among infected patients 55 days post-infection.While this research faces limitations related to its self-reported,cross-sectional design,and regional focus,it offers valuable insights into the multifaceted impact of COVID-19,particularly the Omicron variant,on chemosensory perception.展开更多
Background: Sickle cell anemia(SCA), a genetic hemoglobin disorder, suggests essential inner ear compromise and poor auditory processing. In humans, auditory processing differs physiologically between males and female...Background: Sickle cell anemia(SCA), a genetic hemoglobin disorder, suggests essential inner ear compromise and poor auditory processing. In humans, auditory processing differs physiologically between males and females, possibly true for SCA due to gender-specific disease pathophysiological changes. Objective: To investigate gender differences in psychoacoustical abilities, and speech perception in noise in SCA individuals and further compare with normal healthy(NH) population. Methods: 80 SCA and 80 NH normal-hearing participants aged 15-40 years were included and further grouped based on gender. Auditory discrimination for frequency, intensity, and duration at 500Hz and 4000Hz;temporal processing(Gap detection threshold & Modulation Detection Threshold) and Speech Perception In Noise(SPIN) at 0d BSNR tests were evaluated and compared between males and females of SCA and NH population. Results: SCA performed poorer compared to NH for all experimental measures. In the NH population, males performed poorer than females in psychoacoustical measures whereas within the SCA population, the reverse was true. Female participants performed better in the SPIN test in both populations. Conclusions: The adverse impact of SCA on the auditory system due to circulatory changes might cause poorer performance in SCA. Poorer performance by Female SCA is possibly due to the contrary impact of lower Hb level overlying Sickle disease.Estrogen levels and gender preference in auditory processing might lead to better performance by females within the NH population. SPIN performance depends on different attentional demands and sensorimotor processing strategies in noise beyond psychoacoustical processing may lead to better female performance in both populations.展开更多
Intelligent perception,as a cutting-edge field of modern science and technology,is profoundly changing our understanding and interaction with the world.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence,the Interne...Intelligent perception,as a cutting-edge field of modern science and technology,is profoundly changing our understanding and interaction with the world.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence,the Internet of things,big data,and other technologies,intelligent perception systems have shown great potential in non-destructive testing,safety monitoring,human-computer interaction,and precision measurement.Traditional sensing technologies face many challenges in complex scenarios or specific needs,while intelligent perception provides a new path for innovation and breakthroughs in instrumentation and sensing technologies through multidisciplinary integration.展开更多
While people met in order to socialize on public spaces in the past, these areas are perceived as a ‘alone in the crowds’ by people who are in the loneliness of modern era, as well as these areas still serve as a so...While people met in order to socialize on public spaces in the past, these areas are perceived as a ‘alone in the crowds’ by people who are in the loneliness of modern era, as well as these areas still serve as a social area. Individuals from all of society, especially minority groups, feel that they are accepted and they show themselves in a way in the public space. Even though the perception and usage of public space have changed in time, people still feel free themselves in these areas. However, ‘terrorism’, which is a reality in today's world, is one of the cases which pose danger to the public spaces. Thus, the image of these areas has changed from “the areas where individuals they feel freer” to “the areas where people are vulnerable to many potential attacks”. This study tells you how the public perception has changed over time and examine the intended use of the public due to these changes. Terrorist activities increased all of the World and public spaces of the individual in the face of this reality, perception and Jane Jacobs, urban life and public relations with the charm of the terrorist phenomenon is one of the main problems the 21st century in the context of views on security are discussed. Also in this report, in order to provide a team recommendation for safe public space taking into account the author's views on security was available. For this purpose, the metropolis of Istanbul is selected as the study area were interviewed and the people living in Istanbul with internet environment. At the end of the 90s until today has changed the perception of how the public and in the public domain when individuals are discussed how they use.展开更多
A recommender system is a tool designed to suggest relevant items to users based on their preferences and behaviors.Collaborative filtering,a popular technique within recommender systems,predicts user interests by ana...A recommender system is a tool designed to suggest relevant items to users based on their preferences and behaviors.Collaborative filtering,a popular technique within recommender systems,predicts user interests by analyzing patterns in interactions and similarities between users,leveraging past behavior data to make personalized recommendations.Despite its popularity,collaborative filtering faces notable challenges,and one of them is the issue of grey-sheep users who have unusual tastes in the system.Surprisingly,existing research has not extensively explored outlier detection techniques to address the grey-sheep problem.To fill this research gap,this study conducts a comprehensive comparison of 12 outlier detectionmethods(such as LOF,ABOD,HBOS,etc.)and introduces innovative user representations aimed at improving the identification of outliers within recommender systems.More specifically,we proposed and examined three types of user representations:1)the distribution statistics of user-user similarities,where similarities were calculated based on users’rating vectors;2)the distribution statistics of user-user similarities,but with similarities derived from users represented by latent factors;and 3)latent-factor vector representations.Our experiments on the Movie Lens and Yahoo!Movie datasets demonstrate that user representations based on latent-factor vectors consistently facilitate the identification of more grey-sheep users when applying outlier detection methods.展开更多
Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured...Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.展开更多
文摘Background: The healthcare system in Jordan is evolving and has to continuously respond to the changing risk profile of the population. The purpose of this study was to examine perception of users and providers of the quality of home health care services. Methods: A descriptive design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 82 users of home health care services. Results: Users had low to fair satisfaction (30.5% - 69.5%) about the quality of care provided, had moderate satisfaction (72.0% to 81.7%) about the information received, and had low to fair satisfaction about education related to goal of treatment and medication (46.4% - 53.3%). Users had high level of agreement (>70%) that health agencies provided interpersonal care. Conclusion: The ability of the frail people to choose from a variety of cost-effective long-term care services is limited.
文摘The challenges facing public schools are multifaceted and include: teachers dissatisfaction, non-commitment of educators, chronic absenteeism by educators, low morale, poor work ethics by educators, late coming of both educators and learners, overcrowding in classes, lack of technical resources and many more. A cursory investigation of public secondary school buildings in Ado-Odo/Ota L.G.A shows its deplorable conditions of structural, aesthetical and decorative disrepair. Therefore the paper focused on examining users “perception of the present deplorable physical condition and neglect of public secondary school. The study engaged the use of quantitative method of analysis, employing the use of questionnaire administered randomly and distributed face-to-face to targeted despondences”. The result of findings revealed performance/productivity of building users depends largely on working and learning condition of building. The outcomes of the research would help policy makers, facilities maintenance experts and professionals alike to device a policy for regular maintenance of public building in other to enhance performance and increase productivity amongst users.
文摘Public transport system has been a means of addressing transportation challenges in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, traffic jam and long travel time in cities worldwide. Transportation in Africa is unique in that it has the least developed public transport systems in the world, while also being one of the fastest urbanizing continents. Bus Rapid Transit being one of the public transport systems was introduced in Africa in 2008 as a means to provide solution on urban transportation challenges. Despite of public transport being the main means of transport in African developing countries, there have been a number of challenges that affects efficiency of performance of the system and makes its users uncomfortable. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the setbacks or challenges associated with operation and performance of the BRT system in the African developing countries and address them. The study employed mixed methods research design that integrates both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis. The study findings reveal that, there is an improvement on the perspectives of the commuters on public transport after introduction of BRT system. However, some challenges such as long waiting time, passengers overcrowding during peak hours, as well as safety and security can slowly change the perspective of the commuters. Therefore, to address these challenges it is recommended to reduce the long waiting time and improve accessibility by introduction of passenger information displays (bus information system) and automated fare collection system;reduce travel time by introduction of bus priority signal;and improve safety and security by introduction of signage and CCTV Camera within the bus and bus stops.
基金Under the auspices of the Germany-Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme (No.GER/99-00/01) and the Faculty Re-search Grant of the Hong Kong Baptist University (No.FRG/00-01/I-38)
文摘Hong Kong is a hyper-dense city with 7x10(6) people living in an area of 1100km(2). One way to improve the livability of compacted and congested cities like Hong Kong is through the provision of urban parks, an aspect that has largely been under-researched. This study focuses on how users perceive and utilize various facilities in the Kowloon Park. The findings revealed that the Kowloon Park is one of the most preferred parks in Hong Kong for both local residents and tourists. Users were quite satisfied with the park's facilities. Notably, the most important component of an urban park is its greenery. This is followed by water elements, seating places, and facilities for various recreational activities. The improvements users would like to see in urban parks include good design and management, meeting users' needs, overcoming barriers to use, and providing a high quality and varied experience for different groups in the community. The findings of this study provide a good basis to address park management issues from the users' perspective. In particular, parks should provide easy access, encourage optimum usage and enable complimentary improvements to the environment.
基金The project supported by the National University of Singapore(NUS)Academic Research Fund(R-148-000-137-112to KHL)NUS Provost Industrial PhD Programme Research Scholarship(to SYY)Singapore International Graduate Award(to SZ)
文摘OBJECTIVE To gather information regarding the usage of fresh medicinal plants and users′perceptions via face-to-face interviews.To date,there is no published report of firsthand account of their usage in Singapore.Such important information may be permanently lost if not properly collated in time.METHODS Information on demographic data,plant-use methods and perception of usage was collated.Participants were recruited via the local newspapers,by word of mouth etc.The survey protocol was approved by the NUS Institutional Review Board.Fresh plant samples/photographs were obtained from the users and voucher specimens were kept.RESULTS Two hundredusers who have used a total of 103 species of fresh medicinal plants anytime in the last 5years participated in the survey.The five most commonly used plants were Clinacanthusnutans(34 users),Strobilanthescrispus(31 users),Pereskiableo(25 users),Aloe vera(18 users),and Zingiberofficinale(16 users).The top 3 most commonly cited medical conditions were diseases of respiratory system(50 users),neoplasm(29 users)anddiseases of circulatory system(20 users).A total of 173 users(86.5%)did not consult any healthcare professional for advice about plant usage,and only one user consulted the pharmacist.Some of the common reasons given for using fresh medicinal plants were recommendation by others(150,75.0%),efficacy(137,68.5%),and safety(117,58.5%).Most users(170,85.0%)were satisfied or highly satisfied with the outcome of plants used.CONCLUSION Two hundred users of fresh medicinal plants have been successfully interviewed and the information documented systematically in a database.The results suggest that fresh medicinal plants have a role to play in healthcare in modern society.The information collated will serve as a useful resource for identifying promising plants for future drug discovery efforts.
文摘Babies react to changes in the characteristics of objects,presenting haptic recognition after a period of familiarization.We aimed to verify if infants responded to the different spatial orientations of an ergonomic pacifier in the mouth.With informed consent,10 babies(271.6±60.8 days),users of ergonomic pacifiers,revealed motor behaviors that were divisible into three categories,sometimes through successive actions(i.e.,perception-action cycles were present):(i)repositioned correctly the pacifier,through different modes;(ii)repositioned it,but incorrectly,through different modes;and(iii)rejected the pacifier.So,these babies detected the incorrect position of the pacifier,and acted according to the principle of motor equivalence,since they implemented variations of a solution for the same need.
文摘This article examines the complex relationship between disease perception,negative emotions,and their impact on postoperative recovery in patients with perianal diseases.These conditions not only cause physical discomfort,but also carry a significant emotional burden,often exacerbated by social stigma.Psycho-logical factors,including stress,anxiety,and depression,activate neuroendocrine pathways,such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis,disrupting the gut microbiota and leading to dysbiosis.This disruption can delay wound healing,prolong hospital stay,and intensify pain.Drawing on the findings of Hou et al,our article highlights the critical role of illness perception and negative emotions in shaping recovery outcomes.It advocates for a holistic approach that integrates psychological support and gut microbiota modulation,to enhance healing and improve overall patient outcomes.
基金supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology Social Development Project(No.BE2020787)。
文摘Objectives Diabetes remains a major global health challenge in China.Artificial intelligence(AI)has demonstrated considerable potential in improving diabetes management.This study aimed to assess healthcare providers’perceptions regarding AI in diabetes care across China.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using snowball sampling from November 12 to November 24,2024.We selected 514 physicians and nurses by a snowball sampling method from healthcare providers across 30 cities or provinces in China.The self-developed questionnaire comprised five sections with 19 questions assessing medical workers’demographic characteristics,AI-related experience and interest,awareness,attitudes,and concerns regarding AI in diabetes care.Statistical analysis was performed using t-test,analysis of variance(ANOVA),and linear regression.Results Among them,20.0%and 48.1%of respondents had participated in AI-related research and training,while 85.4%expressed moderate to high interest in AI training for diabetes care.Most respondents reported partial awareness of AI in diabetes care,and only 12.6%exhibited a comprehensive or substantial understanding.Attitudes toward AI in diabetes care were generally positive,with a mean score of 24.50±3.38.Nurses demonstrated significantly higher scores than physicians(P<0.05).Greater awareness,prior AI training experience,and higher interest in AI training in diabetes care were strongly associated with more positive attitudes(P<0.05).Key concerns regarding AI included trust issues from AI-clinician inconsistencies(77.2%),increased workload and clinical workflow disruptions(63.4%),and incomplete legal and regulatory frameworks(60.3%).Only 34.2%of respondents expressed concerns about job displacement,indicating general confidence in their professional roles.Conclusions While Chinese healthcare providers show moderate awareness of AI in diabetes care,their attitudes are generally positive,and they are considerably interested in future training.Tailored,role-specific AI training is essential for equitable and effective integration into clinical practice.Additionally,transparent,reliable,ethical AI models must be prioritized to alleviate practitioners’concerns.
基金Project(2012CB725400)supported by the National Basic Research Program of ChinaProjects(71271023,71322102)supported by the National Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2015JBM053)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China
文摘The cumulative prospect theory(CPT) is applied to study travelers' route choice behavior in a degradable transport network. A cumulative prospect theory-based user equilibrium(CPT-UE) model considering stochastic perception error(SPE) within travelers' route choice decision process is developed. The SPE is conditionally dependent on the actual travel time distribution, which is different from the deterministic perception error used in the traditional logit-based stochastic user equilibrium. The CPT-UE model is formulated as a variational inequality problem and solved by a heuristic solution algorithm. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed model and efficiency of the solution algorithm. The effects of SPE on the reference point determination, cumulative prospect value estimation, route choice decision and network performance evaluation are investigated.
基金financially supported by the POSCO-POSTECH-RIST Convergence Research Center program funded by POSCOthe National Research Foundation (NRF) grants (RS-2024-00462912, RS-2024-00416272, RS-2024-00337012, RS-2024-00408446) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of the Korean government+2 种基金the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) grant (No. 1415185027/20019169, Alchemist project) funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Korean governmentthe Soseon Science fellowship funded by Community Chest of Koreathe NRF PhD fellowship (RS-2023-00275565) funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Korean government。
文摘Spatial computing and augmented reality are advancing rapidly,with the goal of seamlessly blending virtual and physical worlds.However,traditional depth-sensing systems are bulky and energy-intensive,limiting their use in wearable devices.To overcome this,recent research by X.Liu et al.presents a compact binocular metalens-based depth perception system that integrates efficient edge detection through an advanced neural network.This system enables accurate,realtime depth mapping even in complex environments,enhancing potential applications in augmented reality,robotics,and autonomous systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A20111)the National key R&D Program(2022YFC3080100)。
文摘The evacuation of people under threat is an effective disaster prevention and mitigation measure in response to flash floods and geological hazards,and it is also an essential element of pre-disaster planning.However,the effect of the interactions between perception factors on residents'willingness to evacuate is an urgent problem to be solved.Therefore,this paper introduces risk,stakeholder,and protective action perceptions from the protective action decision model as the main explanatory variables.These three core perceptions are subdivided into affective risk perception,cognitive risk perception,government perception,other-stakeholder perception,resourcerelated attributes,and hazard-related attributes.A questionnaire survey was conducted from June to July 2023 among residents of mountainous communities in nine villages in three towns in Sichuan Province,China.359 cross-sectional data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to explore the effects of six perception factors on evacuation intentions.The results of the study showed that:(1)affective risk perception,government perception,other-stakeholder perception,and hazard-related attributes all directly and positively influence residents'intentions to evacuate;(2)cognitive risk perception is mediated by stakeholder and protective action perceptions,which indirectly and positively affect residents'intentions to evacuate.Based on the hypothesized paths,strategies to improve residents'willingness to evacuate are discussed from the perspective of three core perceptions:strengthening disaster risk education,improving residents'cohesion,and building government credibility.The results of this study can provide theoretical support and practical suggestions for emergency management departments to formulate emergency evacuation strategies,which can aid decision-makers in better understanding residents'intentions to evacuate,optimizing evacuation information dissemination pathways,and strengthening disaster risk management capabilities.
文摘Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop from the connective and muscular tissues of the uterus. Common among African-American women, patients suffering from them often arrive late to the hospital in our African regions. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of uterine fibroids among women who came to the gynecology-obstetrics department of the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) Tsévié. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study, with data collection conducted from May 7th to 20th, 2024, using systematic sampling. The study included all women present in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of CHR Tsévié during the study period who willingly and informedly consented to participate in the survey. Results: 362 women participated in the study. Among them, 36.8% had a secondary level, and 72.9% were Christians. About 97.5% had heard of uterine fibroids. In 63.5% of cases, their entourage was the principal source of information. The diagnostic methods mentioned by the women were ultrasound in 94.6% of cases, while prayers and occultism were also cited in 28% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. While 91.9% of the women considered the hospital, the place for treatment, some indicated that treatment would require plant-based approaches (46.8%) and prayers (26%). The cost of treatment was an obstacle for 85.4% of women, and 61.3% expressed fear of dying during surgery. There was a statistically significant relationship between treatment choice and religion. Conclusion: The majority of women had heard of uterine fibroids but had incorrect information about the treatment.
文摘Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.
文摘The subcortical visual pathway is generally thought to be involved in dangerous information processing,such as fear processing and defensive behavior.A recent study,published in Human Brain Mapping,shows a new function of the subcortical pathway involved in the fast processing of non-emotional object perception.Rapid object processing is a critical function of visual system.Topological perception theory proposes that the initial perception of objects begins with the extraction of topological property(TP).However,the mechanism of rapid TP processing remains unclear.The researchers investigated the subcortical mechanism of TP processing with transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS).They find that a subcortical magnocellular pathway is responsible for the early processing of TP,and this subcortical processing of TP accelerates object recognition.Based on their findings,we propose a novel training approach called subcortical magnocellular pathway training(SMPT),aimed at improving the efficiency of the subcortical M pathway to restore visual and attentional functions in disorders associated with subcortical pathway dysfunction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32001824,31901813,32001827)。
文摘SARS-CoV-2,particularly the Omicron variant,often leads to flavor perception dysfunction in infected individuals,making a comprehensive understanding of its duration and recovery patterns a critical part of disease management.This study surveyed a cohort of 199 mildly-to-moderately affected SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected patients,focusing on the alterations in their olfaction,taste,and chemesthesis perception.Further,a subset of 36 participants(18 healthy and 18 infected)underwent sensory evaluations to check the variation of umami taste sensitivity.The results demonstrated that most of the infected cohort experienced chemosensory disorders,with the recovery period varying between one week and over a month.Intriguingly,the severity of flavor perception changes during infection significantly correlated with the length of the recovery period.Furthermore,this study explored the specific manifestations of flavor perception dysfunction,potential contributing factors,and potential mechanistic explanations for chemosensory disorders.These include local damage,inflammatory responses,and virus-induced neural damage.However,this study revealed no significant change(P>0.05)in umami taste sensitivity among infected patients 55 days post-infection.While this research faces limitations related to its self-reported,cross-sectional design,and regional focus,it offers valuable insights into the multifaceted impact of COVID-19,particularly the Omicron variant,on chemosensory perception.
文摘Background: Sickle cell anemia(SCA), a genetic hemoglobin disorder, suggests essential inner ear compromise and poor auditory processing. In humans, auditory processing differs physiologically between males and females, possibly true for SCA due to gender-specific disease pathophysiological changes. Objective: To investigate gender differences in psychoacoustical abilities, and speech perception in noise in SCA individuals and further compare with normal healthy(NH) population. Methods: 80 SCA and 80 NH normal-hearing participants aged 15-40 years were included and further grouped based on gender. Auditory discrimination for frequency, intensity, and duration at 500Hz and 4000Hz;temporal processing(Gap detection threshold & Modulation Detection Threshold) and Speech Perception In Noise(SPIN) at 0d BSNR tests were evaluated and compared between males and females of SCA and NH population. Results: SCA performed poorer compared to NH for all experimental measures. In the NH population, males performed poorer than females in psychoacoustical measures whereas within the SCA population, the reverse was true. Female participants performed better in the SPIN test in both populations. Conclusions: The adverse impact of SCA on the auditory system due to circulatory changes might cause poorer performance in SCA. Poorer performance by Female SCA is possibly due to the contrary impact of lower Hb level overlying Sickle disease.Estrogen levels and gender preference in auditory processing might lead to better performance by females within the NH population. SPIN performance depends on different attentional demands and sensorimotor processing strategies in noise beyond psychoacoustical processing may lead to better female performance in both populations.
文摘Intelligent perception,as a cutting-edge field of modern science and technology,is profoundly changing our understanding and interaction with the world.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence,the Internet of things,big data,and other technologies,intelligent perception systems have shown great potential in non-destructive testing,safety monitoring,human-computer interaction,and precision measurement.Traditional sensing technologies face many challenges in complex scenarios or specific needs,while intelligent perception provides a new path for innovation and breakthroughs in instrumentation and sensing technologies through multidisciplinary integration.
文摘While people met in order to socialize on public spaces in the past, these areas are perceived as a ‘alone in the crowds’ by people who are in the loneliness of modern era, as well as these areas still serve as a social area. Individuals from all of society, especially minority groups, feel that they are accepted and they show themselves in a way in the public space. Even though the perception and usage of public space have changed in time, people still feel free themselves in these areas. However, ‘terrorism’, which is a reality in today's world, is one of the cases which pose danger to the public spaces. Thus, the image of these areas has changed from “the areas where individuals they feel freer” to “the areas where people are vulnerable to many potential attacks”. This study tells you how the public perception has changed over time and examine the intended use of the public due to these changes. Terrorist activities increased all of the World and public spaces of the individual in the face of this reality, perception and Jane Jacobs, urban life and public relations with the charm of the terrorist phenomenon is one of the main problems the 21st century in the context of views on security are discussed. Also in this report, in order to provide a team recommendation for safe public space taking into account the author's views on security was available. For this purpose, the metropolis of Istanbul is selected as the study area were interviewed and the people living in Istanbul with internet environment. At the end of the 90s until today has changed the perception of how the public and in the public domain when individuals are discussed how they use.
文摘A recommender system is a tool designed to suggest relevant items to users based on their preferences and behaviors.Collaborative filtering,a popular technique within recommender systems,predicts user interests by analyzing patterns in interactions and similarities between users,leveraging past behavior data to make personalized recommendations.Despite its popularity,collaborative filtering faces notable challenges,and one of them is the issue of grey-sheep users who have unusual tastes in the system.Surprisingly,existing research has not extensively explored outlier detection techniques to address the grey-sheep problem.To fill this research gap,this study conducts a comprehensive comparison of 12 outlier detectionmethods(such as LOF,ABOD,HBOS,etc.)and introduces innovative user representations aimed at improving the identification of outliers within recommender systems.More specifically,we proposed and examined three types of user representations:1)the distribution statistics of user-user similarities,where similarities were calculated based on users’rating vectors;2)the distribution statistics of user-user similarities,but with similarities derived from users represented by latent factors;and 3)latent-factor vector representations.Our experiments on the Movie Lens and Yahoo!Movie datasets demonstrate that user representations based on latent-factor vectors consistently facilitate the identification of more grey-sheep users when applying outlier detection methods.
基金supported by the Key Discipline Program of the Fifth Round of the Three-Year Public Health Action Plan(2020-2022 Year)of Shanghai,China(GWV-10.1-XK08).
文摘Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.
