Search Results (1,679)

Background/Objectives: Educational background is an aspect of socio-economic status, that may be associated with higher caries risk. This study aimed to investigate differences in caries prevalence between different school types for older adolescents in Greifswald, Germany. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected as part of compulsory dental school examinations between 2020 and 2023. Oral health status was assessed according to WHO criteria by six calibrated examiners and reported as mean D₃MFT (D₃: dentin caries, M: missing, F: filled, SD/±: standard deviation). To compare educational backgrounds, the adolescents were divided into two groups according to their age and type of school (11–15 and 16–18 years old). Results: The study included 5816 adolescents (48.7% females) with a mean D₃MFT of 0.65 (Q1–Q3: 0–1); 73.8% were clinically caries-free, having D₃MFT = 0, confirming the polarization in caries experience with 2.5 ± 2.13 SaC index. The logistic regression model showed a significantly increased Odds Ratio for having caries in relation to age, being male, having plaque or gingivitis (p < 0.005). There were significant differences in caries experience and prevalence between school types, where high schools had the lowest D₃MFT values in both age groups (0.39 ± 1.17 and 0.64 ± 1.49, respectively). The highest D₃MFT values were in schools for special educational needs in younger adolescents (1.12 ± 1.9) and in vocational schools in older adolescents (1.63 ± 2.55). Conclusions: In a low-caries-risk population, there were significant differences in caries experience and prevalence among adolescents in different school types. Prevention strategies should aim to reduce the polarization in caries across different educational backgrounds in late adolescence. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies suggested that transmission events could originate from schools. This study aimed to evaluate early-warning methods for identifying asymptomatic COVID-19 cases by implementing screening programs in schools. This study was conducted between September 2021 and May 2023, employing a rotation-screening plan for COVID-19 detection on a sample of students aged 14 to 19 years attending secondary schools in the regions of Tuscany, Veneto, Apulia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The schools were divided into two groups: experimental and control, with a ratio of 1:2. Two types of molecular salivary tests for SARS-CoV-2 were used to conduct the screening. This study included 16 experimental schools and 32 control schools. Out of 2527 subjects, 11,475 swabs were administrated, with 9177 tests deemed valid for analysis (a 20% loss of tests). Among these, 89 subjects (3.5%) tested positive. In control schools, 1895 subjects (6.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This study recorded peaks in infections during the winter and autumn months, consistent with patterns observed in the general population. Beginning in September 2022, a shift occurred, with 2.6% of positive cases reported in the case schools compared to 0.3% in the control schools. Initially, most cases of COVID-19 were detected in the control schools; however, as the pandemic emergency phase concluded, cases were primarily identified through active screening in experimental schools. Although student participation in the active screening campaign was low during the project’s extension phase, this approach was efficacious in the early identification of positive cases. Full article

This study addresses fairness in machine learning for student academic performance prediction using the UCI Student Performance dataset. We comparatively evaluate logistic regression, Random Forest, and XGBoost, integrating the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) to address class imbalance and 5-fold cross-validation for robust model training. A comprehensive fairness analysis is conducted, considering sensitive attributes such as gender, school type, and socioeconomic factors, including parental education (Medu and Fedu), cohabitation status (Pstatus), and family size (famsize). Using the AIF360 library, we compute the demographic parity difference (DP) and Equalized Odds Difference (EO) to assess model biases across diverse subgroups. Our results demonstrate that XGBoost achieves high predictive performance (accuracy: 0.789; F1 score: 0.803) while maintaining low bias for socioeconomic attributes, offering a balanced approach to fairness and performance. A sensitivity analysis of bias mitigation strategies further enhances the study, advancing equitable artificial intelligence in education by incorporating socially relevant factors. Full article

Skipjack tuna constitutes a crucial fishery resource in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) purse seine fishery, with high economic value and exploitation potential. It also serves as an essential subject for studying the interaction between fishery resource dynamics and marine ecosystems, as its resource abundance is significantly influenced by marine environmental factors. Skipjack tuna can be categorized into unassociated schools and associated schools, with the latter being predominant. Overfishing of the associated schools can adversely affect population health and the ecological environment. In-depth exploration of the spatial distribution responses of these two fish schools to environmental variables is significant for the rational development and utilization of tuna resources and for enhancing the sustainability of fishery resources. In sparsely sampled and complex marine environments, geographic similarity methods effectively predict tuna resources by quantifying local fishing ground environmental similarities. This study introduces geographical similarity theory. This study focused on 1° × 1° fishery data (2004–2021) released by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) combined with relevant marine environmental data. We employed Geographical Convergent Cross Mapping (GCCM) to explore significant environmental factors influencing catch and variations in causal intensity and employed a Geographically Optimal Similarity (GOS) model to predict the spatial distribution of catch for the two types of tuna schools. The research findings indicate that the following: (1) Sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS), and net primary productivity (NPP) are key factors in GCCM model analysis, significantly influencing the catch of two fish schools. (2) The GOS model exhibits higher prediction accuracy and stability compared to the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) and the Basic Configuration Similarity (BCS) model. R² values reaching 0.656 and 0.649 for the two types of schools, respectively, suggest that the geographical similarity method has certain applicability and application potential in the spatial prediction of fishery resources. (3) Uncertainty analysis revealed more stable predictions for unassociated schools, with 72.65% of the results falling within the low-uncertainty range (0.00–0.25), compared to 52.65% for associated schools. This study, based on geographical similarity theory, elucidates differential spatial responses of distinct schools to environmental factors and provides a novel approach for fishing ground prediction. It also provides a scientific basis for the dynamic assessment and rational exploitation and utilization of skipjack tuna resources in the Pacific Ocean. Full article

Background: Parents of children with type 1 diabetes play a key role in managing their child’s self-management, which can be stressful and burdensome. High involvement can lead to reactions such as emotional, cognitive, and physical exhaustion in parents. Understanding parents’ psychosocial impact due to their child’s disease is crucial for the family’s overall well-being. The purpose of this study was to describe stress and burden experienced by parents in families with children living with type 1 diabetes. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative approach, analyzing interviews with 16 parents of children aged 10 to 17 years living with T1D through qualitative content analysis. The data collection occurred between January and February 2025. Results: Managing a child’s Type 1 diabetes can be tough on family relationships, affecting how partners interact, intimacy, and sibling relationships. The constant stress and worry might leave parents feeling exhausted, unable to sleep, and struggling to think clearly, on top of the pain of losing a normal everyday life. The delicate balance between allowing a child with type 1 diabetes to be independent and maintaining control over their self-management renders these challenges even more demanding for the parents. Conclusions: Parents’ experiences highlight the need for robust support systems, including dependable school environments, trustworthy technical devices, reliable family and friends, and accessible healthcare guidance. These elements are essential not only for the child’s health and well-being but also for alleviating the emotional and practical burdens parents face. Full article

Background: Adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) is a key indicator of quality of life. While its development during schooling has been widely studied, few studies have examined changes in SWB after leaving school due to the need for longitudinal data. This study investigates changes in SWB among adolescents in Germany over the two years before and after leaving school, focusing on school type, socioeconomic position, gender, and family structure. Methods: We use data from the ninth-grade cohort of the German National Educational Panel Study, first surveyed in 2010 and followed annually. Growth modeling (specifically, a multilevel discontinuity model) is applied to analyze SWB trajectories and potential moderation by background characteristics. The final sample includes 19,767 observations from 6599 individuals. Results: SWB increases notably after leaving school and remains stable before and after the transition. The increase is smaller for adolescents completing higher secondary education, living in nuclear families, or identifying as male. These groups report higher SWB prior to the transition, so post-school changes reduce group differences. Conclusion: The findings suggest that schools may lack adequate resources to support adolescents in mastering key developmental challenges. While school is a critical environment, it may also impose pressures that are associated with lower well-being. Full article

The widespread use of bacteria in bioremediation led us to consider what Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and Baccalaureate students know about prokaryotes and what their attitudes towards them are. This study focuses on the analysis of the arguments made by secondary school students from several Spanish schools regarding the application of bioremediation to eliminate polluting plastics from the environment. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain information on descriptive aspects regarding the application of biotechnology to bioremediation. This instrument allows for a better understanding of what students know about biotechnology and what they value when adopting a particular attitude towards improving the environment through systematic observations and recording spontaneously occurring events. The arguments used by these students were analyzed from the perspective of the knowledge and values they consider when making their justifications. It was observed that the students viewed the use of microorganisms to treat waste positively and valued the environmental impact and scientific progress, although they had doubts about certain technical aspects. A teaching approach based on the biodegradation of plastics encourages critical thinking and can be integrated transversally into teaching, promoting debates and reflections on science and values. It is recommended that these types of activities continue to be developed to improve science education. Full article

Background: Skipping breakfast, a prevalent issue among children and adolescents, has been reported to be associated with academic performance and long-term health. However, less attention has been given to the types of breakfast foods consumed. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the association between breakfast variety and dietary knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among preadolescents. Methods: The study included 1449 students in grades 4–6 from Zhongshan city, Guangdong province. Data were collected through face-to-face field investigation using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire encompassed sociodemographic characteristics, as well as dietary KAP. Results: Among all participants, 1315 reported consuming breakfast daily. Dietary diversity varied significantly: 8.8% consumed only 1 type of food, 52.9% consumed 2–4 types, and 38.3% consumed ≥5 types. Students who consumed a greater variety of breakfast foods exhibited more favorable dietary and lifestyle patterns. Specifically, those who consumed ≥5 types of food showed statistically significant associations with healthier practices, including reduced intake of sugary beverages and night snacks, stronger adherence to dietary guidelines, more positive attitudes toward improving eating habits, longer sleep durations, increased participation in meal preparation, greater dish variety in meals, and higher engagement in daily physical activity. Conclusions: Breakfast variety was associated with KAP, particularly when breakfast types ≥ 5, providing more sufficient and favorable evidence for breakfast consumption. Full article

Promoting behavioral change in mobility is essential for sustainable urban development. This study evaluates the effectiveness of gamified challenges in fostering sustainable travel behaviors among high school students and teachers within the High School Challenge (HSC) 2024 campaign in Lecco, Italy. Over a 13-week period, participants tracked their commuting habits via gamified mobile application, Play&Go, that awarded points for sustainable mobility choices and introduced weekly challenges. Using behavioral (GPS-based tracking) and self-report data, we assessed the influence of challenge types, player characteristics (HEXAD Player Types, Big Five traits), and user experience evaluations on participation, retention, and behavior change. The results show that challenges, particularly those based on walking distances and framed as intra-team goals, significantly enhanced user engagement and contributed to improved mobility behaviors during participants’ free time. Compared to the 2023 edition without challenges, the 2024 campaign achieved better retention. HEXAD Player Types were more predictive of user appreciation than Personality Traits, though these effects were more evident in subjective evaluations than actual behavior. Overall, findings highlight the importance of tailoring gamified interventions to users’ motivational profiles and structuring challenges around SMART principles. This study contributes to the design of behaviorally informed, scalable solutions for sustainable mobility transitions. Full article

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the one-year efficacy of three spectacle lens designs, highly aspherical lenslets (HALs), horizontally asymmetric peripheral defocus (HAPD) lenses, and standard single vision lenses (SVLs) in slowing myopia progression in school-aged children. Methods: In this prospective, non-randomized study, 57 children, aged 8–17 years, were grouped based on the type of lenses worn: HAL (n = 16), HAPD (n = 21), or SVL (n = 20). Comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations were performed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Outcome measures included spherical equivalent refraction (SER), spherical refraction (SR), cylindrical refraction (CR), and axial length (AL). Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: All groups showed some progression in SER and AL over 12 months. The HAL group demonstrated the smallest median SER change (−0.3 D), compared to HAPD (−0.5 D) and SVL (−0.4 D), though group differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.111). Axial elongation was significantly lower in the HAL group (0.1 mm, IQR: 0.0–0.2 mm) compared to HAPD and SVL (both 0.2 mm, p < 0.0001). CR remained stable in all groups, with no clinically meaningful changes. The HAPD groups showed no advantages over SVL in any parameter. Conclusions: Among the three lens types studied, HAL lenses were the most effective in reducing both refractive and axial myopia progression over 12 months. These findings support their use as a reliable intervention in pediatric myopia control. Full article

About 8% of Ghanaians, including adolescents, have various types of disabilities. Although many legal and constitutional protections for people with disabilities, including adolescents, exist in Ghana, it is widely known that these persons face a variety of psychosocial issues. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the unremitting marginalisation of people with disabilities in general, but the extent to which these can be generalised to adolescents with disabilities is unknown. This study, therefore, sought to document the determinants, manifestations, and consequences of disability-related stigma among differently abled adolescents in three special schools in northern, middle, and southern Ghana. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used. Overall, 54 participants were purposively selected for a semi-structured interview and focus group discussions. Braun and Clarke’s procedure for thematic analysis was followed. The findings showed a variety of stigmatising experiences by adolescents with disabilities in their sociocultural context. More broadly, the cause of disability was linked to the ramifications of parental sins against the gods, being a descendant of river gods, and the consequences of bewitchment/curses by family members. Others included the perceived transmissibility of the disability and disability as a visible condition. Stigma manifested in the form of pejorative labelling, ableism, and social exclusion. The consequences of this stigma included negative psychological and emotional effects (i.e., depression, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence) and suicidal ideation. There is an urgent need for stigma reduction interventions for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana as part of an effort to improve their wellbeing. Full article

The school climate is defined as the conditions present within a learning environment that influence the development of educational practices in the context of the school. A positive school climate is crucial for improving learning opportunities, students’ academic performance, and the overall quality of daily schoolwork, thereby promoting educational sustainability. The aim of this research was to analyse and compare the relationships among teachers and among students to understand the school climate in high-efficacy schools and low-efficacy schools. A content analysis was conducted on 50 semistructured interviews with members of the leadership teams from both types of schools. The findings showed that in highly effective schools, there are more favourable perceptions of the school climate, better relationships among teachers, and higher expectations for students than in schools with low efficacy. Improving the school climate can optimise educational performance and should be considered a key strategy to improve both the effectiveness of schools and their long-term sustainability. Full article

Substrate is an important component of a fish’s habitat environment. Fish preferences for substrate influence their growth and development, feeding, hiding, schooling, and reproduction. To explore the habitat preference of Brachymystax tsinlingensis, this study was conducted on the preferences of B. pre-smolts, post-smolts, and juveniles for three substrate colors, white, blue, and black, and four substrate types, sand (<0.5 cm in diameter), small gravel (1–2 cm in diameter), medium gravel (5–7 cm in diameter), and large gravel (12–16 cm in diameter), which were investigated in light (10–60 lx) and dark (no light) environments. The results showed that the individual populations of B. tsinlingensis in three periods of time had a clear preference for substrate color, preferring black substrate and staying away from blue substrate under both light and dark environmental conditions; B. tsinlingensis pre-smolts and post-smolts preferred sandy substrate, and juveniles preferred medium gravel substrate. The choice of substrate color and substrate type by B. tsinlingensis is a manifestation of the living environment characteristics of this species, which is conducive to their hiding, better avoidance of enemies, and improvement of their survival rate. Based on the research results and the early biological characteristics of B. tsinlingensis, it is recommended to use black or dark substrate during the cultivation of B. tsinlingensis fry. During the larval fish stage, a sandy substrate environment should be provided. During the juvenile fish stage, a medium-gravel environment should be provided. Full article

Juvenile substance use continues to be well researched. Prior research suggests that youth substance use can have far-reaching impacts. While several causes of substance use have been explored, including parental supervision and family structure, it is unclear if caregiver type can impact a juvenile’s substance-using behavior. The current study uses school-level data to examine self-reported substance use among youth who reside with both biological parents, a single parent, custodial grandparent(s), or other caregiver types. The results identify significant differences in self-reported substance use across primary caregiver types. These findings have implications for specific substance use prevention programs to target youth who reside in custodial grandparent-headed households. Full article

Background/Objectives: Developmental disabilities substantially affect the daily lives of children and their families. Although interest in examining the developmental profiles of children with various disabilities has grown, few studies have systematically compared them. This study aimed to characterize the developmental profiles of preschool-aged children with different disabilities. It was hypothesized that developmental profiles would differ depending on the type of developmental disability. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Scores on the Battelle^® Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI−2) were retrieved for a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 46 children diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS) (n = 22), global developmental delay (GDD) (n = 17), and developmental language disorder (DLD) (n = 7) upon completion of an early intervention program. Developmental quotients (DQs) for the overall BDI−2 and for each domain were determined. Results: The children’s mean age was 42.39 ± 5.23 months (range: 30–57). Significant differences were observed among groups with regard to global DQ and all domain-specific DQs (p ≤ 0.01). The GDD group demonstrated the highest DQs across all domains and globally, in comparison to the other groups. Conversely, children with DS had substantially lower DQs across all domains and globally compared to those with GDD, and in the motor and communication domains compared to children with DLD. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of early intervention strategies to improve communication in children with DS and highlight the need for regular assessments to monitor progress and identify potential limitations, particularly during the preschool-to-school transition. Additionally, specialists should advise parents of children with DLD to adopt specific behaviors that support the development of their children’s social, adaptive, and language skills. Full article