Search Results (225)

As digital transformation progresses, schools are increasingly confronted with psychosocial challenges such as technostress, digital overload, and unequal participation in digital (learning) environments. This article investigates the conceptual relevance of digital well-being for school development, particularly in relation to social inequality. Despite growing attention, the term remains theoretically underdefined in educational research—a gap addressed through a theory-driven review. Drawing on a systematic search, 25 key studies were analyzed for their conceptual understanding and refinement of digital well-being, with a focus on educational relevance. Findings suggest that digital well-being constitutes a multidimensional state shaped by individual, media-related, and socio-structural factors. It emerges when individuals are able to successfully manage the demands of digital environments and is closely linked to digital inequality—particularly in terms of access, usage practices, and the resulting opportunities for participation and health promotion. Since the institutional role of schools has thus far received limited attention, this article shifts the focus toward schools as key arenas for negotiating digital norms and practices and calls for an equity-sensitive and health-conscious perspective on school development in the context of digitalization. In doing so, digital well-being is repositioned as a pedagogical cross-cutting issue that requires coordinated efforts across all levels of the education system, highlighting that equitable digital transformation in schools depends on a critical reflection of power asymmetries within society and educational institutions. The article concludes by advocating for the systematic integration of digital well-being into school development processes as a way to support inclusive digital participation and to foster a health-oriented digital school culture. Full article

Longstanding anomalies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), including the low quadrupole moment and hemispherical power asymmetry, have recently been linked to an underlying parity asymmetry. We show here how this parity asymmetry naturally arises within a quantum framework that explicitly incorporates the construction of a geometric quantum vacuum based on parity ($\mathcal{P}$) and time-reversal ($\mathcal{T}$) transformations. This framework restores unitarity in quantum field theory in curved spacetime (QFTCS). When applied to inflationary quantum fluctuations, this unitary QFTCS formalism predicts parity asymmetry as a natural consequence of cosmic expansion, which inherently breaks time-reversal symmetry. Observational data strongly favor this unitary QFTCS approach, with a Bayes factor, the ratio of marginal likelihoods associated with the model given the data $p\left(M|D\right)$, exceeding 650 times that of predictions from the standard inflationary framework. This Bayesian approach contrasts with the standard practice in the CMB community, which evaluates $p\left(D|M\right)$, the likelihood of the data under the model, which undermines the importance of low-ℓ physics. Our results, for the first time, provide compelling evidence for the quantum gravitational origins of CMB parity asymmetry on large scales. Full article

We investigate the bridge problem for stochastic processes, that is, we analyze the statistical properties of trajectories constrained to begin and terminate at a fixed position within a time interval $\tau$. Our primary focus is the time-reversal symmetry of these trajectories: under which conditions do the statistical properties remain invariant under the transformation $t\to \tau -t$? To address this question, we compare the stochastic differential equation describing the bridge, derived equivalently via Doob’s transform or stochastic optimal control, with the corresponding equation for the time-reversed bridge. We aim to provide a concise overview of these well-established derivation techniques and subsequently obtain a local condition for the time-reversal asymmetry that is specifically valid for the bridge. We are specifically interested in cases in which detailed balance is not satisfied and aim to eventually quantify the bridge asymmetry and understand how to use it to derive useful information about the underlying out-of-equilibrium dynamics. To this end, we derived a necessary condition for time-reversal symmetry, expressed in terms of the current velocity of the original stochastic process and a quantity linked to detailed balance. As expected, this formulation demonstrates that the bridge is symmetric when detailed balance holds, a sufficient condition that was already known. However, it also suggests that a bridge can exhibit symmetry even when the underlying process violates detailed balance. While we did not identify a specific instance of complete symmetry under broken detailed balance, we present an example of partial symmetry. In this case, some, but not all, components of the bridge display time-reversal symmetry. This example is drawn from a minimal non-equilibrium model, namely Brownian Gyrators, that are linear stochastic processes. We examined non-equilibrium systems driven by a "mechanical” force, specifically those in which the linear drift cannot be expressed as the gradient of a potential. While Gaussian processes like Brownian Gyrators offer valuable insights, it is known that they can be overly simplistic, even in their time-reversal properties. Therefore, we transformed the model into polar coordinates, obtaining a non-Gaussian process representing the squared modulus of the original process. Despite this increased complexity and the violation of detailed balance in the full process, we demonstrate through exact calculations that the bridge of the squared modulus in the isotropic case, constrained to start and end at the origin, exhibits perfect time-reversal symmetry. Full article

Background and Objectives: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common condition linked to substantial urogenital symptoms, notably sexual dysfunction. This meta-analysis sought to determine the overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with CP/CPPS, considering the four primary categories: desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain disorders. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review, following MOOSE guidelines, was performed across four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) for the period from January 2000 to 2025. The review included observational studies reporting the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with CP/CPPS. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I², τ², and Chi-squared tests, while publication bias was assessed via funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s test. Results: The meta-analysis incorporated data from 26 studies, representing a total of 20,127 participants. The pooled prevalence of overall sexual dysfunction was 59% (95% CI: 34–81%; I² = 98%) across six studies and 5333 participants. Pooled erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence was 34% (95% CI: 26–42%; I² = 99%) across 24 studies with 20,127 participants, whereas pooled prevalence for premature ejaculation (PE) was 35% (95% CI: 22–49%; I² = 98%) across 10 studies with 13,686 participants. Significant heterogeneity was observed across all analyses (I² > 98%). Funnel plot analysis suggested potential asymmetry, but Egger’s test was non-significant (p = 0.7034). Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms the high prevalence of sexual dysfunction, including ED and PE, in men with CP/CPPS, providing a comprehensive estimate of its burden. The substantial heterogeneity observed underscores the need for further research to identify contributing factors and develop targeted interventions. Full article

This paper investigates the link between commodity price volatility and stock market indices in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on commodities such as oil, cocoa, and gold over a daily period from 2 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. In order to conduct this study, the BEKK-GARCH process is applied to test the volatility transmission across commodity and stock markets, while focusing on the asymmetry in the conditional variances of these markets. The analysis reveals a 30% increase in volatility spillovers during the COVID-19 period, highlighting significant asymmetry in conditional variances between African stock markets and global commodity markets. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that conditional variances in stock and commodity markets are asymmetrical. This study advances the literature on volatility transmission by providing novel evidence on asymmetric spillovers between African stock markets and global commodity prices, particularly during COVID-19. It offers insights into the unique role of emerging African markets in global financial interconnectedness. Full article

This paper investigates systemic tail dependence within the crypto-asset ecosystem by examining interconnectedness across eight major tokens spanning Layer 1 cryptocurrencies, DeFi tokens, stablecoins, and infrastructure/governance assets. We employ a novel partial correlation-based network framework and quantile-specific connectedness measures to examine how co-movement patterns evolve under normal and extreme market conditions from September 2021 to March 2025. Unlike conventional correlation or variance decomposition approaches, our methodology isolates direct, tail-specific transmission channels while filtering out standard shocks. The results indicate strong asymmetries in dependence structures. Systemic risk intensifies during adverse tail events, particularly around episodes such as the Terra/Luna crash, the USDC depeg, and Bitcoin’s 2024 halving cycle. Our analysis shows that ETH, LINK, and UNI are key assets in spreading losses when the market falls. In contrast, the stablecoin DAI tends to absorb some of the stress, helping reduce risk during downturns. These results indicate critical contagion pathways and suggest that regulation targeting protocol-level transparency, liquidity provisioning, and interoperability standards may reduce amplification mechanisms without eliminating interdependence. Our findings contribute to the emerging literature on crypto-systemic risk and offer actionable insights for regulators, DeFi protocol architects, and institutional investors. In particular, we advocate for the incorporation of tail-sensitive network diagnostics into real-time monitoring frameworks to better manage asymmetric spillover risks in decentralized financial systems. Full article

This study addresses the problem of DC-link current pulsations in four-wire AC/DC converters with energy storage operating under unbalanced load conditions. A sensorless compensation algorithm based on AC-side voltage and current measurements is proposed, eliminating the need for additional sensors. The algorithm incorporates a Second Order Generalized Integrator (SOGI) filter for accurate detection and compensation of the pulsating component. Experimental validation under severe asymmetry confirmed the method’s effectiveness. In case 1, the AC component of the DC-link current was reduced from 7 A to 1.4 A and, in case 2, from 3 A to 0.5 A. Corresponding FFT analysis showed a reduction in relative amplitude from 240% to 21.5% and from 264% to 22%, respectively. In an asymmetrical charging scenario (case 3), the AC component was reduced from 2.5 A to nearly 0 A, corresponding to a decrease from 42% to 4.9% in the FFT spectrum. These results demonstrate that the proposed method enables stable converter operation even under deep phase current imbalances, significantly improving energy storage reliability and utility grid performance. Full article

Tephritidae is an economically important family among Diptera that also exhibits high diversity, biogeographical distribution, and different lifestyles. Despite the recent release of genomes and mitochondrial genome sequences of various species of the family, the evolutionary history of the group and the origin of host adaptation within it remain poorly understood. We undertook a whole-mitochondrial-genome study covering molecular variation at the mitochondrial level by analyzing 10 new mitochondrial genomes obtained from genomic data reported and downloaded from the SRA database from NCBI, analyzed in FastQC and assembled through MITGARD, and 44 mitogenomes available in the Organelle—Refseq database, in total representing 4 subfamilies, 9 tribes, 13 genera, and 54 species. We determined compositional asymmetry and codon usage patterns across the different subfamilies analyzed by using DNASp6 and CAICal. We found high evolutionary rates in the NADH genes, which could play an important role in the adaptation of species to different hosts and environmental variation. By using maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction obtained by IQTREE and ModelFinder, and lifestyle and distribution data of the included species, we considered a generalist feature, explained as possible predominant adaptation in some members of the family. This study in Tephritidae tries to demonstrate possible patterns among molecular variability in mitogenomes, adaptations, and lifestyles. Our findings suggest that selection pressures on certain NADH genes may be linked to host specificity in some Tephritidae species, providing evolutionary insights into how molecular evolution drives ecological adaptation or biogeographical diversity, probably in response to changing environmental conditions and host–parasite co-evolution across taxa. Full article

Background and Objectives: This cross-sectional study investigates the association between fatigue and upper limb (UL) function in people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: Adult PwMS were recruited from five Italian MS centers. Fatigue was evaluated using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), while UL function was assessed through the Box and Block Test (BBT), Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), and Hand-Grip Strength (HGS). Data analysis included Spearman rank correlations and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: A total of 261 participants were involved. Significant correlations were found between fatigue severity, UL function, and patient-reported manual ability. Physical and cognitive aspects of fatigue were independently related to functional impairments. Participants with clinically relevant fatigue demonstrated lower subjective UL function, poorer BBT and HGS performance, and greater HGS asymmetry. Discussion: The study underscores the complex relationship between fatigue and functional impairments in MS. The findings suggest both strength and dexterity contribute to the perception of clinically relevant fatigue in PwMS, highlighting the importance of incorporating both domains to complement neurological assessment. Conclusion: Fatigue in PwMS is linked to both subjective and objective measures of UL function. Assessing strength and dexterity alongside fatigue may enhance clinical understanding and inform targeted rehabilitation strategies. Full article

Background: Repeated short maximal sprints induce high blood lactate concentrations and may influence neuromuscular coordination, but the relationship between lactate accumulation and inter-limb asymmetry in elite athletes remains unclear. Objectives: This study sought to investigate how blood lactate dynamics during repeated sprint efforts relate to sprint performance and inter-limb muscle asymmetry in elite female sprinters. Methods: Eight elite women (21.3 ± 5.4 y; 54.2 ± 5.1 kg; 165.4 ± 4.3 cm) performed four sets of five all-out 50 m sprints (1 min rest between reps; 5 min between sets). Sprint times were electronically timed. Capillary lactate was measured at rest and 1 min/4 min post-set. Quadricep, hamstring, and gluteal asymmetry was assessed via textile electromyography. Nonparametric statistics (Spearman’s ρ, Friedman test) were applied. Results: From Set 1 to Set 4, sprint time fell from 7.25 ± 0.13 s to 7.07 ± 0.16 s (p = 0.044), 1 min lactate rose from 8.51 ± 2.65 to 15.60 ± 2.66 mmol/L (p < 0.001), and 4 min lactate from 7.16 ± 2.32 to 13.64 ± 2.76 mmol/L (p = 0.002). Muscle group asymmetries decreased (p < 0.01), with lactate at 1 min, correlating negatively with quadriceps (ρ = −0.59) and gluteal (ρ = −0.48) asymmetry. Conclusions: In elite female sprinters, progressive lactate accumulation during repeated 50 m bouts is linked to faster times and reduced muscle asymmetry, suggesting that lactate may enhance neuromuscular coordination under fatigue. Full article

Biological studies on symmetry can be expanded to consider red (longer wavelengths) and blue (shorter wavelengths) shifts as antisymmetries (opposite-pattern symmetries), which may arise from similar underlying causes (invariant process symmetries). In this context, classic shift asymmetries of redder plumage in response to higher dietary carotenoids appear conceptually incomplete, as potential blue-shifted counterparts were not considered. A latent symmetric response is highlighted by recent evidence showing that the maximum absorbance bands of various colorful plumage pigments are red-shifted in birds with ultraviolet-sensitive (UVS) color vision but blue-shifted in those with violet-sensitive (VS) color vision. Blue-shifted responses to increased dietary carotenoid contents may also be underestimated, as relevant studies have focused on species-rich but uniformly UVS Passerida passerines. This study explored the relationship between pattern–process symmetries and diets of VS Piciformes–Coraciiformes by gauging the responses of their plumage reflectance to a modified diet index (Diet_c), where the overall rank carotenoid contents of food items were weight-averaged by three levels of importance in a species’ diet. In the case of both sexes, the main long-wavelength reflectance band for the three carotenoid-based pigment classes defined the same graded series of blue shifts in response to higher Diet_c. Yellow showed a strong absolute (negative slope) blue shift, orange showed a weaker absolute blue shift, and red exhibited only a blue shift (flat, non-significant slope) relative to absolute red shifts (positive slope). The secondary shorter-wavelength reflectance band was also unresponsive to Diet_c in the VS Piciformes–Coraciiformes (relative blue shift) compared with earlier evidence for it decreasing (absolute red shift) at higher Diet_c in UVS species. Results for the intervening minimum reflectance (maximum absorbance) band were intermediate between those for the other reflectance bands. No pigment class monopolized lower or higher Diet_c, but red was less variable overall. Phylogenetic independence, sexually similar responses, and specimen preservation reinforced characterizations. A review of avian perceptual studies suggested that VS models discriminate yellows and oranges extremely well, consistent with the importance of the corresponding carotenoids as Diet_c indicators. Both UVS and VS species appear to produce putatively more costly and possibly beneficial carotenoid metabolites and/or concentrations in response to higher Diet_c, supporting underlying invariant processes in relation to carotenoid limitations and honest signaling despite opposite plumage shifts and their different chemical bases. In symmetry parlance, pigment classes (red) or wavebands (short) that lack responses to Diet_c suggest broken pattern and process symmetry. The biology of VS Piciformes–Coraciiformes may favor such exceptions owing to selection for visual resemblance and tuning specializations, although universal constraints on physical and chemical properties of (particularly red) carotenoids may favor certain functional tendencies. Thus, symmetry principles organize carotenoid diversity into a simplified and predictive framework linked to color vision. Full article

Background: Nearly half of under-five deaths are linked to undernutrition. Most evidence on undernutrition relies on conventional anthropometric measures. Conventional anthropometric measures fail to capture its overlapping forms and are limited in providing the true burden and distinct disaggregated patterns of undernutrition. Using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), this study aims to provide updated regional and country-level pooled prevalence estimates of the overall burden and various single and coexisting patterns of undernutrition among children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: We systematically searched Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2006 and October 2023. Studies reporting the prevalence of aggregated CIAF or any of the disaggregated forms of CIAF (stunting only, wasting only, underweight only, stunting-underweight, wasting-underweight, and stunting-wasting-underweight) based on the 2006 World Health Organisation (WHO) growth standard were included. Data extraction was performed by two reviewers, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Pooled prevalences of various categories of undernutrition were estimated using a random effect model meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to identify possible sources of heterogeneity among the included studies. Publication bias was checked using the Asymmetry funnel plot and Egger’s test. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023458796). Result: This systematic review and meta-analysis identified 3898 published studies from the database search, of which 26 were included. In SSA, the overall pooled prevalence of undernutrition among children was 37.45% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 31.97, 42.92). Of these, 10% (95% CI: 8.02, 11.98) of children experienced at least one coexisting form, and 25.5% (95% CI: 16.78, 33.72) experienced at least one single form of undernutrition. Stunting only [22.32% (95% CI: 18.26, 26.39)] was the most prevalent disaggregated pattern of undernutrition, followed by the coexistence of stunting with underweight [10.15% (95% CI: 8.17, 12.13)]. Conclusions: Over one in three children in SSA experienced at least one form of undernutrition. Nearly one-third of these undernourished children were affected by multiple forms of undernutrition. The high prevalence of coexisting undernutrition indicates the need to develop multi-indicator nutrition strategies that could simultaneously address the various dimensions of undernutrition in children. Full article

Background/Objectives: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has proven to be a promising intervention for major depressive disorder (MDD). Even so, the specific neurophysiological mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, particularly regarding frontal EEG markers, remain insufficiently understood. This pilot study investigated both the clinical efficacy and neurophysiological impact of frontal tDCS in individuals with mild to severe depression, with particular focus on mood changes and alterations in Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA), Beta Symmetry, and Theta/Alpha Ratios at the F3 and F4 electrode sites. Methods: A total of thirty–one participants were enrolled and completed a standardized Flow Neuroscience tDCS protocol targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using a bilateral F3/F4 montage. The intervention included an active phase of five stimulations per week for three weeks, followed by a Strengthening Phase with two stimulations per week. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), while neurophysiological changes were evaluated via standardized quantitative EEG (QEEG) recordings obtained before and after the treatment course. Among the participants, fourteen individuals had a baseline MADRS score of ≥20, indicating moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Results: Following tDCS treatment, significant reductions in MADRS scores were observed across the cohort, with clinical response rates notably higher in the moderate/severe group (71.4%) compared to the mild depression group (20.0%). Neurophysiological effects were modest: no significant changes were detected in FAA or Beta Symmetry measures. However, a substantial reduction in the Theta/Alpha Ratio at F4 was found in participants with moderate to severe depression (p = 0.018, Cohen’s d = −0.72), suggesting enhanced frontal cortical activation associated with clinical improvement. Conclusions: These findings indicate that frontal tDCS is effective in reducing depressive symptoms, particularly in cases of moderate to severe depression. While improvements in FAA and Beta Symmetry were not significant, changes in the Theta/Alpha Ratio at F4 point toward dynamic neurophysiological reorganization potentially linked to therapeutic outcomes. The Theta/Alpha Ratio may serve as a promising biomarker for tracking tDCS response, whereas other EEG metrics might represent more stable trait characteristics. Future research should prioritize individualized stimulation protocols and incorporate more sensitive neurophysiological assessments, including functional connectivity analyses and task-evoked EEG paradigms, to understand the mechanisms underlying clinical improvements. Full article

Eye diseases (EDs), including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, are major contributors to vision loss and reduced quality of life worldwide. These conditions not only affect millions of individuals but also impose a significant burden on global healthcare systems. As the population ages and lifestyle changes increase the prevalence of conditions like diabetes, the incidence of EDs is expected to rise, further straining diagnostic and treatment resources. Timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management and prevention of vision loss, as early intervention can significantly slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes. However, traditional diagnostic methods rely heavily on manual analysis of fundus imaging, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and subject to human error. This underscores the urgent need for automated, efficient, and accurate diagnostic systems that can handle the growing demand while maintaining high diagnostic standards. Current approaches, while advancing, still face challenges such as inefficiency, susceptibility to errors, and limited ability to detect subtle retinal asymmetries, which are critical early indicators of disease. Effective solutions must address these issues while ensuring high accuracy, interpretability, and scalability. This research introduces a 2D single-channel convolutional neural network (CNN) based on ResNet101-V2 architecture. The model integrates gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) to highlight retinal asymmetries linked to EDs, thereby enhancing interpretability and detection precision. Evaluated on retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) datasets for multiclass classification tasks, the model demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving accuracy rates of 99.90% for four-class tasks and 99.27% for eight-class tasks. By leveraging patterns of retinal symmetry and asymmetry, the proposed model improves early detection and simplifies the diagnostic workflow, offering a promising advancement in the field of automated eye disease diagnosis. Full article

Research on the effects of digital transformation in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) is growing, yet remains underdeveloped, particularly in the context of emerging economies. While previous studies highlight the performance benefits of digital readiness, they often overlook how sector-specific challenges influence these outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between digital readiness and firm performance among MSEs in Bhutan, with a focus on the moderating roles of internal (operational) and external (supply chain) issues. Drawing on data from 217 survey responses collected from firm owners and operators, this study compares tourism and non-tourism sectors to reveal sectoral asymmetries in digital transformation outcomes. The results show that digital readiness is positively associated with firm performance across both sectors. However, the strength of this relationship is differentially moderated by contextual challenges: external issues negatively moderate the digital readiness–performance link in the tourism sector, while internal issues play a similar moderating role in the non-tourism sector. Additionally, firms in the tourism sector report higher levels of both digital performance and satisfaction with digitalization than their non-tourism counterparts. These findings contribute to the Diffusion of Innovation Theory by emphasizing the contingent and asymmetric nature of digital adoption effects across industry sectors. This study offers practical implications for managers and policymakers by underscoring the need for sector-sensitive digital strategies and support mechanisms. Full article