Search Results (367)

The mental and emotional health of an athlete is crucial for their performance and well-being. Sports-related stress can significantly impair their mental health. Further, there were minimal tools available to measure Sports resilience, specifically during COVID-19 restrictions or earlier. This study reports the preliminary validation of the Sports Mind Inventory (SMI) in athletes from different geographical areas (n = 66), with the majority of participants from Mauritius, and tests the SMI in elite athletes practicing the Yoga of Immortals (YOI). YOI is a unique combination of specific yogic postures, breathing exercises, sound therapy & meditation, which has demonstrated benefit in improving measures of mental health. The exploratory factor analysis of the 24-item SMI resulted in a six-factor inventory. The confirmatory factor analysis of these six-factor SMI showed goodness-of-fit index (0.935), and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) of 0.949, showing good fit and reliability. The correlation between overall scale and individual factors showed diverse degree of positive correlations. This validated SMI was then tested to investigate whether YOI can enhance athletes’ resilience to sports-related stress. Participants were a diverse set of athletes based in Mauritius who routinely engage in a wide range of athletic activities. Participants were randomly assigned to receive four weeks of YOI or no intervention. Both groups completed the SMI questionnaire at baseline and again after four weeks. The YOI intervention significantly increased (p = 0.002) the total mean SMI scores, and underlying factors, i.e., Factor 1: Positive and Competitive sports mindset (p = 0.014), Factor 2: Social relatedness and adaptability (p = 0.008), Factor 3: Resilient mindset and self-confidence (p = 0.036), Factor 4: Sports Resilience and Emotional Responses (p = 0.001). This indicated improved sports resilience and psychological health. No improvement was observed in the control group. The correlation analysis in YOI group at week-4 showed positive correlation between overall scales and underlying construct. In conclusion, SMI showed acceptable fitness to measure sport resilience. This YOI intervention helped in improving sports-related stress and improved athletes’ resilience. Full article

Background/Objectives: Single-phase CT angiography (sCTA) is widely used to assess collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke, but its static nature can lead to an underestimation of collateral flow. Our study aimed to develop and validate a direct, qualitative dynamic CTA (dCTA) collateral score based on CTP source images, without the need for post-processing software, to provide a more accurate prognostic tool. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 112 patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke from a prospective registry who underwent non-contrast CT, sCTA, and CTP within 8 h of onset. Collateral circulation was graded using a 4-point sCTA score and our novel 4-point dCTA score, which incorporates temporal filling patterns. We used linear regression to compare the association of both scores with CTP-derived core/hypoperfusion volumes, infarct growth, and final infarct volume. Results: The dCTA method frequently reclassified patients with poor collaterals on sCTA to good collaterals on dCTA (n = 23), while the reverse was rare (n = 5). A better collateral score was significantly associated with smaller core volume for both sCTA and dCTA, but the dCTA score demonstrated a superior model fit (R² = 0.36 vs. 0.32). Similar superior correlations for dCTA were observed for hypoperfusion, infarct growth, and final infarct volumes. Critically, only the dCTA score significantly modified the association between core volume and time since stroke onset (p for interaction = 0.04). Conclusions: A collateral score derived from CTP source images (dCTA) offers a more reliable prediction of infarct lesion sizes and progression than conventional sCTA. By incorporating temporal resolution without requiring extra software, dCTA provides a robust correlation with stroke temporal evolution and represents a readily implementable tool to enhance patient selection in acute stroke. Full article

Background/Objectives: In Japan, well-balanced meals composed of staple grains, protein-rich main dishes, and vegetable sides are recommended. However, issues such as infrequent breakfast consumption and poor vegetable intake persist. Obesity and non-communicable disease (NCD) rates from age 40 have also begun rising. Therefore, we investigated the structural associations between healthy diets and weight control for NCD prevention, including the potential associations with rice consumption and eating out/home meal replacement use in middle-aged Japanese individuals. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey based on data from 577 respondents to the 2016 Hyogo Diet Survey, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, aged 40–59 years. A healthy diet was defined as including at least two well-balanced meals daily, eating breakfast regularly, and eating five or more vegetable dishes daily. A hypothetical model included factors associated with healthy diets and maintaining a healthy weight (energy, salt, fat, and sugar intake; using nutritional fact labels; and regular exercise), and the frequencies of rice consumption and eating out/home-meal replacement. A simultaneous multi-population analysis by sex was performed. Results: Simultaneous multi-population analysis showed acceptable goodness-of-fit. Maintaining appropriate weight and eating rice were positively associated with healthy diet scores in both sexes. However, for men, using home meal replacements was negatively associated. Conclusions: Among middle-aged Japanese in Hyogo Prefecture, weight control for NCD prevention and rice consumption were linked to healthy diets. In men, using home meal replacements was associated with worse diet quality. Full article

During the automatic leveling process of small low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) after airdrop, their state parameters and control surface efficiency undergo drastic changes. It is difficult to achieve good control effects using controllers with fixed parameters. To solve these problems, this study proposes a parameter adaptive PID controller based on indicated airspeed. When tuning the controller parameters, in order to ensure the successful pulling of the UAV and the safety of structure and flight, it is necessary to optimize the success rate of pulling up, normal overload, angle of attack (AOA), airspeed, and descent altitude simultaneously. These five indicators are of different importance to the UAV. To facilitate parameter tuning based on these differences, an improved second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is proposed, which combines a comprehensive fitness mechanism based on target priority and segmented scoring and an adaptive genetic strategy. In this study, different priorities were set for all indicators, and segmented scores were given based on individual indicators to calculate the comprehensive fitness, which guided the evolutionary direction of the population. Then, while the genetic parameters were modified, elite individuals were retained to balance search ability and convergence. Finally, the effectiveness of this mechanism was confirmed through comparative simulation. The flight test results show significant differences from the simulation results of the controller designed in this study, but the basic trend remains consistent. The controller can effectively suppress the oscillations caused by the initial state. Full article

Purpose: The present study aimed to describe the adaptation and validation process of the MuRQoL (Music Related Quality of Life questionnaire) from English to Hebrew and to describe normative data from a cohort of adults with normal hearing versus those with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Methods: After thoroughly translating and adapting to Hebrew, the participants completed the questionnaire online. We calculated the Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega scores for all scales and subscales. The construct validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and the “known group” method. A total of 310 adults participated in this study. Fifty-four participants were deaf or hard of hearing, and 256 had normal hearing. Results: Internal consistency of the MuRQoL-He scales and subscales demonstrated good-to-excellent reliability. The goodness-of-fit indices for the frequency and importance scales were within acceptable standards. We found a significant difference in the frequency scale, where the normal-hearing group scores were significantly higher than those of the deaf and hard-of-hearing groups. Conclusions: The validity and reliability of the MuRQoL-He have been confirmed, indicating that it is suitable for guiding music rehabilitation for Hebrew-speaking deaf and hard-of-hearing adults. Full article

Anxiety disorders represent a significant global health challenge, yet a substantial treatment gap persists, motivating the development of scalable digital health solutions. This study investigates the potential of integrating passive physiological data from consumer wearable devices with subjective self-reported surveys to predict state–trait anxiety. Leveraging the multi-modal, longitudinal LifeSnaps dataset, which captured “in the wild” data from 71 participants over four months, this research develops and evaluates a machine learning framework for this purpose. The methodology meticulously details a reproducible data curation pipeline, including participant-specific time zone harmonization, validated survey scoring, and comprehensive feature engineering from Fitbit Sense physiological data. A suite of machine learning models was trained to classify the presence of anxiety, defined by the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (S-STAI). The CatBoost ensemble model achieved an accuracy of 77.6%, with high sensitivity (92.9%) but more modest specificity (48.9%). The positive predictive value (77.3%) and negative predictive value (78.6%) indicate balanced predictive utility across classes. The model obtained an F1-score of 84.3%, a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.483, and an AUC of 0.709, suggesting good detection of anxious cases but more limited ability to correctly identify non-anxious cases. Post hoc explainability approaches (local and global) reveal that key predictors of state anxiety include measures of cardio-respiratory fitness (VO₂Max), calorie expenditure, duration of light activity, resting heart rate, thermal regulation and age. While additional sensitivity analysis and conformal prediction methods reveal that the size of the datasets contributes to overfitting, the features and the proposed approach is generally conducive for reasonable anxiety prediction. These findings underscore the use of machine learning and ubiquitous sensing modalities for a more holistic and accurate digital phenotyping of state anxiety. Full article

Accurate modelling of near surface wind speeds is essential for robust resource assessment, turbine design, and grid integration. This study presents a unified framework comparing four candidate marginal distributions—Weibull, Gamma, Lognormal, and Generalised Extreme Value (GEV)—across 21 years of daily observations from 11 sites in New South Wales and southern Queensland, Australia. Parameters are estimated by maximum likelihood, with L-moments used when numerical fitting fails. Univariate goodness-of-fit is evaluated via information criteria (Akaike Information Criterion, AIC; Bayesian Information Criterion, BIC) and distributional tests (Anderson–Darling, Cramér–von Mises, Kolmogorov–Smirnov). To capture spatial dependence, we fit an 11-dimensional regular vine (“R-vine”) copula to the probability-integral-transformed data, selecting pair-copula families by AIC and estimating parameters by sequential likelihood. A composite score (70% univariate, 30% copula) ranks distributions per location. Results demonstrate that Lognormal best matches central behaviour at most sites, Weibull remains competitive for bulk modelling, Gamma often excels in moderate tails, and GEV best represents extremes. All turbine yield results presented are illustrative, showing how statistical choices impact energy estimates; they should not be interpreted as operational forecasts. In a case study, 5000 joint simulations from the top-two models drive IEC V90 and E82 power curves, revealing up to 10% variability in annual energy yield due solely to marginal choice. This workflow provides a replicable template for comprehensive wind resource and load hazard analysis in complex terrains. Full article

Understanding students’ attitudes toward science is vital for fostering engagement in scientific fields. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA) for Greek upper-secondary Physics classrooms and explore how attitudes vary by gender, grade, and school location. A translated and culturally adapted version of TOSRA was administered to 662 students (grades 10–11) from urban and rural schools. Five of the original seven factors were retained. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) tested the factor structure and reliability. Group comparisons were conducted using t-tests. A 32-item, five-factor structure showed good fit (CFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.966, RMSEA = 0.064) and high internal consistency (α = 0.89 overall). Students reported stronger acceptance of inquiry and enjoyment-related factors compared with leisure and career interest. Boys scored higher on Leisure, 11th graders on Adoption of Scientific Attitudes, and rural students on Career Interest. The Greek TOSRA-Physics is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing science attitudes and evaluating inquiry-based programs. Full article

The growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivities has generated interest in gluten-free products. Whole sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an excellent source of nutrients and is gluten-free. However, the absence of gluten makes it technologically challenging to produce leavened products. This research aims to utilize a response surface methodology to optimize the specific loaf volume and crumb firmness of a whole sorghum-based gluten-free bread formulation, evaluating different levels of milk powder, egg white, yeast, sugar, psyllium husk powder, xanthan gum, and soy lecithin. The models fit achieved an $R^2\ge 80\%$. The optimized formulation increased the specific loaf volume from 1.7 to 2.8 cm³ g⁻¹ and decreased crumb firmness from 10.6 to 3.7 N compared to the initial gluten-free bread formulation (C1). Egg white, milk powder, and psyllium contribute to the formation of a gluten-like network, which enables gas retention, dough expansion, and volume increase. In addition, soy lecithin, among hydrocolloids, enhances dough stability and moisture retention, resulting in a softer crumb. Sensory evaluation indicated good consumer acceptability (average score of 7 on a 9-point hedonic scale), particularly for texture and flavor. These findings suggest that optimal formulation of sorghum achieves both technological and sensory properties, supporting its potential as a viable gluten-free bread alternative. Full article

Background/Objectives: No Arabic-language version of the Observable Social Cognition Rating Scale (OSCARS) is available that allows to properly and specifically assess social cognition (SC) in Arabic-speaking populations. This study aimed to examine the preliminary psychometric characteristics of the Arabic translated version of the OSCARS, including factor structure, reliability, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance across sex. Methods: This cross-sectional study has been conducted during February and March 2024 and included 113 chronic, remitted, and clinically stable patients with schizophrenia. Results: The originally proposed two-factor model (Social Cognitive Bias and Social Cognitive Ability) showed acceptable model fit after removal of two items that yielded low factor loadings (items 2 and 3). Total and factor scores showed good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.85–0.94. Measurement invariance was established across sex groups at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. No significant differences emerged between male and female patients for latent mean scores of the OSCARS. Finally, concurrent validity was supported by appropriate patterns of correlations with functioning, recovery, and emotional intelligence measures. Conclusions: The Arabic OSCARS stands out as a brief, valid, reliable, and comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate SC in Arabic-speaking patients with schizophrenia based on the perspectives of interviewers. Offering this measure to clinicians and researchers who work in Arab settings may close the existing gap in the assessment of SC in schizophrenia. Due to its easy and fast application, the Arabic OSCARS is believed to be highly valuable in clinical and research practices. Full article

Addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality requires convergence competencies that enable learners to devise sustainable solutions. Such competencies have been emphasized in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields, but empirical research and assessment tools tailored to Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) remain scarce. This study aimed to develop and validate a self-assessment tool to measure convergence competencies among HASS learners. A three-round Delphi survey with domain experts was conducted to evaluate and refine an initial pool of items. Items with insufficient content validity were revised or deleted, and all retained items achieved a Content Validity Ratio (CVR) of ≥0.800, with most scoring 1.000. The validated instrument was administered to 455 undergraduates participating in a convergence education program. Exploratory factor analysis identified five key dimensions: Convergent Commitment, Future Problem Awareness, Future Efficacy, Convergent Learning, and Multidisciplinary Inclusiveness, explaining 69.72% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the model’s goodness-of-fit (χ² (160) = 378.786, RMSEA = 0.054, CFI = 0.952), and the instrument demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.919). The results confirm that the tool is both reliable and valid for diagnosing convergence competencies in HASS contexts, providing a practical framework for interdisciplinary learning and reflective engagement toward sustainable futures. Full article

Background: Claustrophobia is defined as the fear of enclosed spaces, and it is a rather common specific phobia. Although the Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ) is a valid questionnaire to measure claustrophobia, there have been no studies validating this tool in Greek. Thus, our aim was to translate and validate the CLQ in Greek. Methods: We applied the forward–backward translation method to translate the English CLQ into Greek. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the two-factor model of the CLQ. We examined the convergent and divergent validity of the Greek CLQ by using the Fear Survey Schedule-III (FSS-III-CL), the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-NL-N), and the Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We examined the convergent validity of the Greek CLQ by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the CLQ scores and scores on FSS-III-CL, NEO-FFI-NL-N, STAI-S (state anxiety), and STAI-T (trait anxiety). We examined the divergent validity of the Greek CLQ using the Fisher r-to-z transformation. To further evaluate the discriminant validity of the CLQ, we calculated the average variance extracted (AVE) score and the Composite Reliability (CR) score. We calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha to assess the reliability of the Greek CLQ. Results: Our CFA confirmed the two-factor model of the CLQ since all the model fit indices were very good. Standardized regression weights between the 26 items of the CLQ and the two factors ranged from 0.559 to 0.854. The convergent validity of the Greek CLQ was very good since it correlated strongly with the FSS-III-CL and moderately with the NEO-FFI-NL-N and the STAI. Additionally, the Greek CLQ correlated more highly with the FSS-III-CL than with the NEO-FFI-NL-N and the STAI, indicating very good divergent validity. The AVE for the suffocation factor was 0.573, while for the restriction factor, it was 0.543, which are both higher than the acceptable value of 0.50. Moreover, the CR score for the suffocation factor was 0.949, while for the restriction factor, it was 0.954. The reliability of the Greek CLQ was excellent since the ICC in test–retest study was 0.986 and the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.956. Conclusions: The Greek version of the CLQ is a reliable and valid tool to measure levels of claustrophobia among individuals. Full article

The detection of coils in reservoir areas is part of the environmental perception technology of unmanned cranes. In order to improve the perception ability of unmanned cranes to include environmental information in reservoir areas, a method of automatic detection of coils based on two-dimensional LiDAR dynamic scanning is proposed, which realizes the detection of the position and attitude of coils in reservoir areas. This algorithm realizes map reconstruction of 3D point cloud by fusing LiDAR point cloud data and the motion position information of intelligent cranes. Additionally, a processing method based on histogram statistical analysis and 3D normal curvature estimation is proposed to solve the problem of over-segmentation and under-segmentation in 3D point cloud segmentation. Finally, for segmented point cloud clusters, coil models are fitted by the RANSAC method to identify their position and attitude. The accuracy, recall, and F1 score of the detection model are all higher than 0.91, indicating that the model has a good recognition effect. Full article

Orthognathic surgery (OS) is a complex procedure commonly used to treat dentofacial deformities (DFDs). These conditions, related to jaw position or size and often involving malocclusion, affect approximately 15% of the population. Due to the complexity of OS, accurate planning is essential. Digital assessment using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) tools enhances surgical predictability. However, limitations in soft tissue simulation often require surgeon input to optimize aesthetic results and minimize surgical impact. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of virtual surgery planning (VSP) by analyzing the relationship between planning deviations and surgical satisfaction. A single-center, retrospective study was conducted on 16 patients who underwent OS at San Pedro University Hospital of La Rioja. VSP was based on CT scans using Dolphin Imaging software (v12.0, Patterson Dental, St. Paul, MN, USA) and surgeries were guided by VSP-designed occlusal splints. Outcomes were assessed using the Orthognathic Quality of Life (OQOL) questionnaire and deviations were measured through pre- and postoperative imaging. The results showed high satisfaction scores and good overall outcomes, despite moderate deviations from the virtual plan in many cases, particularly among Class II patients. A total of 63% of patients required VSP modifications due to poor soft tissue fitting, with 72% of these being Class II DFDs. Most deviations involved less maxillary advancement than planned, while maintaining optimal occlusion. This suggests that VSP may overestimate advancement needs, especially in Class II cases. No significant differences in satisfaction were observed between patients with low (<2 mm) and high (>2 mm) deviations. These findings support the use of VSP as a valuable planning tool for OS. However, surgeon experience remains essential, especially in managing soft tissue behavior. Improvements in soft tissue prediction are needed to enhance accuracy, particularly for Class II DFDs. Full article

Introduction: Nutrition literacy has garnered growing research attention worldwide, yet only a few instruments have been developed to specifically measure this construct among adolescents. Accordingly, the present research sought to examine the validity and reliability of the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale (ANLS) within a group of Lebanese adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2022 to March 2023, targeting a nationally representative sample. Results: Fit indices of the three-factor structure were good. Internal reliability was adequate for the following three subscales: Functional Nutrition Literacy (FNL) (ω = 0.88/α = 0.88), Interactive Nutrition Literacy (INL) (ω = 0.87/α = 0.86) and Critical Nutrition Literacy (CNL) (ω = 0.89/α = 0.89). Invariance was established across genders at configural, metric, and scalar levels. A significantly higher mean FNL and INL scores were found in males compared to females, with no significant difference between the two genders in terms of CNL. Higher FNL, but not CNL and INL scores were significantly associated with lower child food security. Conclusions: The Arabic ANLS has exhibited robust psychometric reliability, validity, and cost-effectiveness as a tool for assessing nutrition literacy. By utilizing the Arabic version of the ANLS, we can more efficiently and accurately assess the nutritional literacy of adolescents. Full article