bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulations of Shock-driven Heavy Fluid Layer
Authors: Singh Satyvir
Published: February 2025

The present study presents the numerical simulations for a shocked-heavy fluid layer with a stratified N2/SF6/N2 configuration. Simulations were conducted using a third-order modal discontinuous Galerkin method to solve the compressible two-component Euler equations. The results were validated against experimental data, confirming the accuracy of the computational approach. Dynamics of the heavy fluid layer were found to be strongly influenced by the shock Mach numbers Ms = 1.15, 1.25, 1.5. At a lower Mach number Ms = 1.15, the interface deformations remained smooth and relatively symmetric, with limited vorticity generation and weak perturbations. Baroclinic effects at this stage were minimal, and the instability growth remained linear. As the Mach number increased to Ms = 1.25, the interaction became nonlinear, leading to the formation of small-scaled vortex structures driven by moderate baroclinic effects. Interface mixing intensified as rotational motion increased. At the highest Mach number Ms = 1.5, the interface rapidly evolved into chaotic structures, characterized by significant vorticity amplification, vortex roll-up, and the onset of turbulence. The baroclinic vorticity, resulting from the misalignment of pressure and density gradients, dominated the vorticity production mechanism, particularly at higher Mach numbers. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that average vorticity, baroclinic vorticity, and enstrophy grew rapidly with increasing Mach numbers. Enstrophy, which quantifies turbulence intensity, exhibited pronounced growth at Ms = 1.5, marking the transition to turbulent mixing.
The disenchanted fairy godmother: comparing how and why evidence-based management and public service professionals influenced policy performance in public school and active labour market policy in Denmark
Authors: Kelstrup Jesper Dahl , Jørgensen Jonas Videbæk , Hansen Magnus Paulsen
Published: February 2025

Background:

The aspiration to use evidence to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of policies is widely shared but often falls short. A common explanation for failure is the presence of barriers to utilising evidence or the inadequacies of the evidence available to policy makers.

Aims and objectives:

The article examines how and why evidence-based policies sometimes fail to enhance policy performance, through a comparative analysis of evidence-based management in Danish public school and active labour market policies after 2000. The two cases are characterised by similar policy performance problems but vary in terms of evidence-based management styles and responses from public service professionals.

Methods:

The article relies on document analysis and expert interviews with civil servants and key stakeholders to explain how and why evidence-based policies fail to improve policy performance in the two cases.

Findings:

We find that evidence-based policy making did not resolve performance problems in either case, though for different reasons. In public school policy, conflict over the 2014 Public School Reform impacted negatively on its implementation despite efforts to incorporate evidence in its design. In active labour market policy, evidence-based policies were imposed on job centres and institutionalised in key performance indicators, but over time critique of processual requirements and indignified casework accumulated and contributed towards a political decision to reform job centres.

Discussion and conclusion:

We advocate for setting realistic expectations about the potential of evidence in resolving policy performance problems and caution against overstating the ‘dream’ of evidence-based policy making.
A bibliometric analysis of the past 25 years at International Journal of Geographical Information Science
Authors: Cascón Katchadourian Jesús , Quesada Román Adolfo , Martínez Sánchez María Ángeles , Cobo Manuel Jesús
Published: February 2025

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and impact of the International Journal of Geographic Information Science (IJGIS) over the past 25 years. IJGIS, the first journal exclusively dedicated to Geographic Information Science (GIS), has significantly expanded its publication output to meet the growing demand for GIS research. Utilizing conceptual science mapping analysis, the study traces the thematic evolution of the journal by collecting scientific papers from the Web of Science database from 1997 to 2021. Bibliometric performance indicators were employed to highlight its influence and thematic development. The primary themes covered include error modeling, digital elevation models, simulation, conservation, and land-use change. Moreover, IJGIS has broadened its scope to include emerging topics such as volunteered geographic information, the integration of big data techniques, and artificial intelligence. Geographically, contributions are predominantly from the USA, followed by China and the UK, underscoring the journal's international recognition and impact. Compare global averages, IJGIS consistently maintains a high normalized impact within its thematic area. In conclusion, IJGIS has undergone significant evolution, adapting to GIS field changes, and expanding its global influence with prospects for further diversification and technological integration.
Content curation in a university library : Case study of scientific dissemination in Geology and Marine Sciences with the TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters
Authors: Casadellà Jordi , Guallar Javier
Published: February 2025

The article aims to analyze the content curation process and the impact of TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters on subscribers . These newsletters , focusing on geology and ocean sciences , disseminate curated news to keep readers informed about scientific developments . The study seeks to establish metrics for accurately measuring subscriber interest and satisfaction ​A key challenge is the lack of specificity and standardized metrics for such specialized newsletters . To achieve the objectives, this study employees the almost study methodology . The evolution of the newsletters are analyzed based on data extracted from messaging platforms​ Additionally , participant observation is used to examine key aspects such as​ platforms used , the curation system , information sources , topics covered , and the developed metrics system​ Findings reveal stable open and click -to-open rates over time , indicating that subscribers maintain consistent expectations of interest regardless of the specific content Additionally , subscribers are classified into 16 categories based on interaction habits , providing valuable insights into reader behavior . These classifications and metrics are essential for understanding the audience and measuring the newsletters ' impact and success​ The study highlights the importance of continuous adaptation to new technologies, the value of specialized information for a diverse audience, the relevance of email as a communication channel, and the development of own metrics focused on user satisfaction. These contributions can be applied to other libraries and scientific dissemination newsletters.
Good practices on open access publications of projects funded by Horizon 2020
Authors: Pastor Ramon Elena , Campos Alejandra
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to analyse the results of open access publishing policies established for projects funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme. It specifically sought to: Identify specific publication requirements, quantify the number of peer-reviewed articles published in open access and analyse the number of documents deposited in institutional repositories. The archive of Horizon 2020 project publications provided by the EU Publications Office was used as a database. It was possible to determine the reported peer-reviewed publications. From those with DOIs, the data were cross-checked with the OpenAIRE platform to analyse open access and repository information. From the original data, a total of 206,400 peer-reviewed articles are observed, of which 202,102 have a DOI, 4,269 include the ISSN of the publication and only 28 have no data to reach access. Cross-referencing the data from those with DOIs in OpenAIRE a total of 126,154 of these articles have no metadata. This analysis highlights the need to improve the tracking of the access address of publications and to encourage deposit in open access repositories with open licences.
An example of gamification for pre-service teachers in online higher education: methods, tools, and purpose
Authors: Torrado Cespón Milagros , Bárcena Toyos Patricia
Published: February 2025

Using gamification in teaching practice can be highly effective if educators understand its application. Recognising potential confusion surrounding theoretical approaches to gamification, this paper analyses a specific example of gamification using ICT/ICRT tools for online master’s degree students. It details the design steps, encompassing theoretical foundations, online tools, narrative elements, and practical links to the gamification experience.
This study investigates the impact of gamification on student engagement and satisfaction in a virtual classroom setting. A total of 116 participants completed a questionnaire adapted from GAMEFULQUEST (Högberg et al., 2019) to assess their experiences after engaging in a series of gamified challenges. The questionnaire, translated and validated for Spanish-speaking students, evaluated seven dimensions of gamification: Accomplishment, Challenge, Competition, Guided, Immersion, Playfulness, and Social Experience.
Results indicated high levels of satisfaction, particularly in Playfulness (M=5.84) and Accomplishment (M=5.83), suggesting students valued both the enjoyment and sense of achievement derived from the tasks. Although satisfaction was generally high across all dimensions, the Social Experience dimension received a lower rating (M=5.01), highlighting an opportunity to enhance social connections among students.
These findings underscore gamification's transformative potential in boosting motivation and engagement, especially in higher education. The study emphasises the importance of aligning gamified experiences with students' needs and incorporating elements that foster interaction and narrative engagement. It also recommends further research to explore the long-term effects of gamification on learning outcomes and to identify best practices for its implementation in diverse educational settings.
Las herramientas digitales del profesorado para la docencia. Un estudio comparativo mediante Symbaloo
Authors: Martí Climent Alícia
Published: February 2025

En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una investigación basada en la implementación de una propuesta didáctica sobre la competencia digital docente en el contexto de la didáctica de la lengua y la literatura, que se ha llevado a cabo en la formación inicial del profesorado de Secundaria durante tres cursos (de 2020-2021 a 2022-2023) y, además, recientemente se ha realizado una prueba piloto con docentes en activo (febrero de 2023). El objetivo es identificar el repertorio de recursos tecnológicos de los futuros docentes de enseñanza secundaria, mediante el análisis de los PLE realizados mediante Symbaloo por los estudiantes del Máster de Profesor/a de Educación Secundaria de la Universitat de València, y contrastarlo con el de los docentes en activo. Los resultados muestran que el repertorio de herramientas digitales para la docencia ha variado a lo largo del tiempo y actualmente las más utilizadas son Kahoot, Genially, Canva, Google Drive, Google Classroom y YouTube. La propuesta de elaboración de un PLE sobre herramientas digitales mediante Symbaloo es extrapolable para su implementación y evaluación en el aula por parte de otros docentes, ya que promueve el aprendizaje personalizado y el desarrollo de la competencia digital.
Redes sociales: influencia en el aprendizaje profundo de estudiantes de Educación Secundaria
Authors: Ramírez García Antonia , Gutiérrez-Arenas Mª Pilar , Ruiz-Calzado Inmaculada
Published: February 2025

Las redes sociales representan un nuevo estilo de vida para los más jóvenes. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar qué factores, vinculados al uso de redes sociales y contenidos digitales consumidos y producidos por estudiantes de secundaria, intervienen en la aplicación de estrategias de aprendizaje profundo. Para identificarlos, se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, con una muestra de 197 estudiantes. El instrumento empleado fue un cuestionario. Los resultados muestran un escaso empleo de estrategias de aprendizaje profundo. La frecuencia de uso de Instagram, Youtube y Twitter influye en la aplicación de estas estrategias, pero no TikTok o Discord/WhatsApp. Los tipos de contenidos producidos no influyen en la ejecución de estas estrategias, pero sí los contenidos consumidos. Evitar la interacción con el móvil durante el tiempo de estudio permite la aplicación de estrategias de autorregulación del aprendizaje, elaboración visual y de resumen, y de procesamiento profundo de la información. En conclusión, estos hallazgos posibilitan partir de evidencias para poder desempeñar una labor educativa y de orientación en el ámbito escolar ajustadas a la realidad de los estudiantes. Así como, ofrecer pautas a las familias para regular el trabajo académico de los estudiantes y supervisar los contenidos digitales que consumen en casa.
Structural equation modeling of Nigerian science, technology and mathematics teachers’ adoption of educational artificial in-telligence tools
Authors: Awofala Adeneye Olarewaju A. , Bazza Mike Boni , Ojo Omolabake Temilade , Oladipo Adenike J. , Olabiyi Oladiran S. , Arigbabu Abayomi A.
Published: February 2025

Recent progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has aroused interest in the growth and development of educational AI tools (EAITs). Teachers’ adoption of EAITs in classrooms has helped in shaping instructional decisions taken by them in an attempt to promote intelligently and actively students’ meaningful learning of contents areas. Nevertheless, science, technology and mathematics (STM) teachers in Nigeria are rarely adopting and incorporating EAITs in their classrooms pedagogical discourse, and their perceptions of EAITs are rarely assessed. To this end, this study identified human factors in acceptance of EAITs by STM teachers in Nigeria. The study proposed an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) integrating STM teachers’ perceived trust and instructional beliefs in EAITs through a quantitative blueprint of a descriptive survey design. The sample for the study consisted of 345 STM teachers in the six education districts of Lagos State, Nigeria. A valid and reliable instrument tagged adoption of educational artificial intelligence tools questionnaire (AEAITQ, α=0.87) was used to collect survey data which, were analysed via structural equation modeling. The study results showed that STM teachers with constructivist beliefs had the tendency to adopt and incorporate EAITs into their instructional decisions than their counterparts with traditional beliefs. Traditional instructional beliefs (TIB) had a negative influence on perceived trust (PT), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and perceived usefulness (PU). In addition, PT, PEOU and PU were strong factors predicting STM teachers’ adoption of EAITs. However, PEOU was the strongest factor that predicted STM teachers’ adoption of EAITs in pedagogical discourse. Important inferences regarding the growth and adoption of EAITs for significant stakeholders in STM education were discussed.
The Use of Arts through digital technology in Distance Education. The case of the Mental Health Social Work Course.
Authors: Katsama Irene
Published: February 2025

This article presents the use of digital technology and visual arts in higher education during the second corona virus lockdown in Greece. The continuous effort to identify creative ways to renew the interest and commitment of students to ongoing distance education led to the engagement of alternative teaching methods via digital means for the course: Mental Health Social Work (7th-semester course of the Department of Social Work at Democritus University). Students were asked to actively participate in an art-based pedagogical activity and successively reflect on thoughts and feelings concerning mental health. They were invited to take a virtual tour of the exhibition entitled “Life on the line”, organized by an NGO producing public multi-faceted art, fundraising, and initiating educational campaigns that focus on mental health, homelessness, and addiction in Canada. It was a campaign aiming to raise awareness of mental health issues through art. Following the virtual tour, students were asked to select a poster (painting or photograph), reflect on it, and note emerging feelings and thoughts concerning mental health. The objectives were to acquire insight to mental health issues through an experiential method utilizing arts. To present a comprehensive study many aspects need to be considered. The light here shines on the theoretical approaches and methods of social work being integrated with visual arts. Qualitative evaluation of a practice that uses arts in the field of mental health in social work took place. The focus is on the connection of data analyzed with theoretical concepts of mental health, as it relates to the pandemic’s influence on conditions and personal experiences. All of this is thoroughly presented, indicating educational benefits for students along with implications for social work education. At the same time, the major contribution of digital technology in Higher Education is highlighted.
Evaluating Social Inclusion Programs for People with Disabilities in Cyprus: A Client Perspective from the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
Authors: Neocleous Gregory , Demetriou Georgia
Published: February 2025

This article examines how the Republic of Cyprus’s welfare state supports and includes people with disabilities through the services provided by the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (DSID). The aim is to analyze the DSID as a case study to determine whether it has fulfilled its mission to ensure the rights of people with disabilities through its services. A quantitative research methodology was employed, primarily using a closed-ended questionnaire distributed to service users via related organizations. The survey results were processed, analyzed, and compared with the DSID’s Annual Reports. The study identifies problems within the DSID and provides solutions for these issues.
Percepción del apoyo formal en personas en situación de sinhogarismo: accesibilidad y eficacia de los servicios en el Centro Municipal de Acogida de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Authors: Díaz González José Manuel , González González Lucía , Valenzuela Herrera Shahina Mayumy
Published: February 2025

El sinhogarismo es la manifestación de la extrema exclusión social generada por factores estructurales, personales, relacionales e institucionales que se encuentran interconectados y que se agrava por el estigma y los prejuicios de la sociedad que dificulta su integración social. A través de este estudio se propone explorar las percepciones de las personas en situación de sinhogarismo sobre el apoyo y recursos disponibles para su atención, analizando su eficacia y accesibilidad. Para comprender a fondo sus experiencias, se empleó un enfoque cualitativo exploratorio basado en entrevistas a diez personas residentes en el Centro Municipal de Acogida de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, utilizando un guion de entrevista diseñado específicamente para este estudio, validado por personas expertas y profesionales y ajustado según la percepción de personas en situación de sinhogarismo. Los resultados muestran que, aunque algunos participantes valoran positivamente los apoyos recibidos, otros perciben barreras y discriminación en el acceso a los servicios. Además, el desempleo y la precariedad económica son las causas predominantes de su situación, acompañadas de factores como la migración y problemas familiares. Estos hallazgos subrayan la heterogeneidad en las experiencias de sinhogarismo y la influencia del estigma en el acceso a los recursos. Es necesario abordar tanto las necesidades materiales como emocionales de estas personas, proponiendo estrategias integradas que promuevan su inclusión y bienestar social.
Alfabetización científica y brecha social. Diferencias entre centros singulares y centros convencionales y proyectos de mejora a través del aprendizaje-servicio
Authors: Mondría Grau Inés , Gómez Ferragud Carlos Bernardo
Published: February 2025

El presente trabajo pretende analizar las posibles diferencias en los niveles de alfabetización científica entre centros educativos convencionales y centros singulares, donde gran parte de su población está en riesgo de exclusión social. Se llevo a cabo una investigación en una muestra de estudiantes de 5º curso de Educación Primaria de tres centros de la provincia de Valencia (España): un centro de carácter singular con un porcentaje relevante de alumnado con necesidades de compensación educativa, un centro público ordinario y un centro concertado. Los resultados mostraron niveles de alfabetización científica significativamente inferiores en el alumnado del centro singular en comparación con los otros centros. Se concluye la necesidad urgente de incluir prácticas educativas de éxito, como los proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio en los centros singulares, para abordar la brecha en los niveles de alfabetización científica, como proponen la mayoría de las políticas educativas nacionales e internacionales.
The impact of Service-Learning on Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers
Authors: Ayllón-Salas Patricia
Published: February 2025

Service Learning (SL), a pedagogical approach that integrates academic learning with practical service to the community, is an important strategy for developing a range of essential skills, from social and personal to professional. The field of Physical Education is particularly suited to the application of SL, given its myriad social benefits, such as fostering personal and social responsibility, promoting inclusion and cultivating conflict resolution skills. In this sense, the present research aims to identify the state of the art and extend the search for quality interventions to the year 2023, checking whether SL research has improved in the last 7 years. Therefore, the primary objective of this systematic review is to evaluate and synthesise the results of SL interventions implemented at university level for pre-service physical education teachers. The expert guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were followed to conduct this systematic review. The findings of the review highlight the positive impact of SL on pre-service physical education teachers. However, the existing body of research also highlights the need to improve the quality of research by raising standards of validity and reliability to strengthen the robustness of the evidence base.
The Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education. Bringing higher education institutions in the Flanders region together on service-learning and community engagement
Authors: Somers Kaat
Published: February 2025

The Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education brings together higher education institutions from the Flemish region in Belgium. The network is coordinated by the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp and aims to promote and advance the service-learning pedagogy in Flemish higher education. This contribution describes the history of the network, its goals and partners involved, the activities undertaken by the network and its partner institutions, and the steps that are taken to move ahead in the further development of a Flemish service-learning network.
The European Association of Service-Learning in Higher Education. An analysis of its role as a catalyst for Erasmus+ projects to enhance the impact of service-learning in Europe
Authors: Culcasi Irene , Somers Kaat , Standaert Nicolas , Paz-Lourido Berta
Published: February 2025

This study focuses on the evolution and impact of the European Service-Learning Association in Higher Education, with a focus on the role of Erasmus+ projects in this development. Indeed, the service-learning expansion at the European level is closely linked to Erasmus+ projects that have facilitated the creation of networks, research and institutional practices. A significant result was the founding of the European Association of Service-Learning in Higher Education (EASLHE) in 2019. The association promotes social justice, civic responsibility and engagement through service-learning, aiming to promote and institutionalize this practice across Europe. The article discusses the Europe-wide network’s milestones and its mission and articulation. Special emphasis is given to the mapping process of Erasmus+ projects on service-learning that reveals the importance of networks in sharing best practices, facilitating collaboration, and influencing educational policies. Emerging themes include digital empowerment, sustainability, and conflict resolution. This contribution provides a structured overview of service-learning in Europe, highlighting how collaborations activated among European partners improve the effectiveness, dissemination and impact of the educational proposal by contributing to the development of a more equitable and participatory society.
Promoting Civic Engagement, Inclusiveness and Quality Education through Central and Southeastern European Network for Service-Learning
Authors: Brozmanová Gregorová Alžbeta , Malkic Edina , Butyka Maria , Zeka Hatixhe , Bejenaru Simina
Published: February 2025

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the specificities of actor networking within the Central and Southeastern European Network for Service-Learning. It presents the context that led to the network's emergence in the region. The paper then delves into the network's main activities, highlighting how its collaborative initiatives have facilitated cross-border knowledge exchange, training programs, the establishment of a Regional Service-Learning Award, and advocacy for policy changes to institutionalise service-learning across Central and Eastern Europe. A dedicated section of the study is focused on evaluating the network's impact on its member organisations and the region's broader advancement of service-learning pedagogy. This includes an examination of the benefits that organisations have experienced by being part of the network, as well as the network's contribution to the growth and sustainability of service-learning initiatives. Finally, the study reflects on the CSEE Network for Service-Learning prospects, exploring strategies and opportunities for further strengthening regional collaboration and highlighting the long-term benefits of networking for promoting service-learning in Central and Eastern Europe.
Adaptive double sinusoidal-assisted EMD 3D shape profilometry measurement method
Authors: Lai Xin , Xiao Yunke , Tong Siqi , Zheng Suzhen , Chen Zhenyi
Published: February 2025

To enhance the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction accuracy using the Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) method in non-uniform light intensity environments, an adaptive double sinusoidal-assisted empirical mode decomposition (ADSAEMD) algorithm is proposed in this paper. The background is pre-processed employing an adaptive filter, and the fringe density map is used to initially filter out the background of the deformed fringes. Adaptive double sinusoidal signals are symmetrically added and phase-shifted as auxiliary signals, the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm is used for image mode decomposition. The intrinsic modal function (IMF) generated by iterating through both internal and external layers effectively avoids the mode mixing problem (MMP), and the stopping criterion is set to terminate the iterative procedure of EMD. Simulation and experiment show that the proposed algorithm in this paper separates random noise and background components from the fringe pattern in the non-uniform illumination environment, removes the influence of non-uniform ambient light, and effectively recovers the 3D shape of the object.
Bacteriocin-like peptides encoded by a horizontally acquired island mediate Neisseria gonorrhoeae autolysis
Authors: Poncin Katy , McKeand Samantha A. , Lavender Hayley , Kurzyp Kacper , Harrison Odile B. , Roberti Annabell , Melia Charlotte , Johnson Errin , Maiden Martin C. J. , Greaves David R. , Exley Rachel , Tang Christoph M.
Published: February 2025

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a human-specific pathogen that causes the important sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhoea, an inflammatory condition of the genitourinary tract. The bacterium is closely related to the meningococcus, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Both these invasive bacterial species undergo autolysis when in the stationary phase of growth. Autolysis is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) which is part of the life cycle of remarkably few bacteria and poses an evolutionary conundrum as altruistic death provides no obvious benefit for single-celled organisms. Here, we searched for genes present in these 2 invasive species but not in other members of the Neisseria genus. We identified a ~3.4 kb horizontally acquired region, we termed the nap island, which is largely restricted to the gonococcus and meningococcus. The nap island in the gonococcus encodes 3 cationic, bacteriocin-like peptides which have no detectable antimicrobial activity. Instead, the gonococcal Neisseria autolysis peptides (Naps) promote autolytic cell death when bacteria enter the stationary phase of growth. Furthermore, strains lacking the Naps exhibit reduced autolysis in assays of PCD. Expression of Naps is likely to be phase variable, explaining how PCD could have arisen in these important human pathogens. NapC also induces lysis of human cells, so the peptides are likely to have multiple roles during colonisation and disease. The acquisition of the nap island contributed to the emergence of PCD in the gonococcus and meningococcus and potentially to the appearance of invasive disease in Neisseria spp.
Community perspectives regarding brain-computer interfaces: A cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults in the UK
Authors: El-Osta Austen , Al Ammouri Mahmoud , Khan Shujhat , Altalib Sami , Karki Manisha , Riboli-Sasco Eva , Majeed Azeem
Published: February 2025

Background

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) represent a ground-breaking advancement in neuroscience, facilitating direct communication between the brain and external devices. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the lives of individuals with neurological disorders by providing innovative solutions for rehabilitation, communication and personal autonomy. However, despite the rapid progress in BCI technology and social media discussions around Neuralink, public perceptions and ethical considerations concerning BCIs—particularly within community settings in the UK—have not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective

The primary aim of this study was to investigate public knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding BCIs including ethical considerations. The study also explored whether demographic factors were related to beliefs about BCIs increasing inequalities, support for strict regulations, and perceptions of appropriate fields for BCI design, testing and utilization in healthcare.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 December 2023 and 8 March 2024. The survey included 29 structured questions covering demographics, awareness of BCIs, ethical considerations and willingness to use BCIs for various applications. The survey was distributed via the Imperial College Qualtrics platform. Participants were recruited primarily through Prolific Academic’s panel and personal networks. Data analysis involved summarizing responses using frequencies and percentages, with chi-squared tests to compare groups. All data were securely stored and pseudo-anonymized to ensure confidentiality.

Results

Of the 950 invited respondents, 846 participated and 806 completed the survey. The demographic profile was diverse, with most respondents aged 36–45 years (26%) balanced in gender (52% female), and predominantly identifying as White (86%). Most respondents (98%) had never used BCIs, and 65% were unaware of them prior to the survey. Preferences for BCI types varied by condition. Ethical concerns were prevalent, particularly regarding implantation risks (98%) and costs (92%). Significant associations were observed between demographic variables and perceptions of BCIs regarding inequalities, regulation and their application in healthcare. Conclusion: Despite strong interest in BCIs, particularly for medical applications, ethical concerns, safety and privacy issues remain significant highlighting the need for clear regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines, as well as educational initiatives to improve public understanding and trust. Promoting public discourse and involving stakeholders including potential users, ethicists and technologists in the design process through co-design principles can help align technological development with public concerns whilst also helping developers to proactively address ethical dilemmas.
An AI-based approach to predict delivery outcome based on measurable factors of pregnant mothers
Authors: Owusu-Adjei Michael , Ben Hayfron-Acquah James , Frimpong Twum , Gaddafi Abdul-Salaam
Published: February 2025

The desire for safer delivery mode that preserves the lives of both mother and child with minimal or no complications before, during and after childbirth is the wish for every expectant mother and their families. However, the choice for any particular delivery mode is supposedly influenced by a number of factors that leads to the ultimate decision of choice. Some of the factors identified include maternal birth history, maternal and child health conditions prevailing before and during labor onset. Predictive modeling has been used extensively to determine important contributory factors or artifacts influencing delivery choice in related research studies. However, missing among a myriad of features used in various research studies for this determination is maternal history of spontaneous, threatened and inevitable abortion(s). How its inclusion impacts delivery outcome has not been covered in extensive research work. This research work therefore takes measurable maternal features that include real time information on administered partographs to predict delivery outcome. This is achieved by adopting effective feature selection technique to estimate variable relationships with the target variable. Three supervised learning techniques are used and evaluated for performance. Prediction accuracy score of area under the curve obtained show Gradient Boosting classifier achieved 91% accuracy, Logistic Regression 93% and Random Forest 91%. Balanced accuracy score obtained for these techniques were; Gradient Boosting 82.73%, Logistic Regression 84.62% and Random Forest 83.02%. Correlation statistic for variable independence among input variables showed that delivery outcome type as an output is associated with fetal gestational age and the progress of maternal cervix dilatation during labor onset.
Children’s digital privacy on fast-food and dine-in restaurant mobile applications
Authors: Mulligan Christine , Gillis Grace , Remedios Lauren , Parsons Christopher , Vergeer Laura , Potvin Kent Monique
Published: February 2025

Children are targeted by unhealthy food marketing on digital media, influencing their food preferences, intakes and non-communicable disease risk. Restaurant mobile applications are powerful platforms for collecting users’ data and are popular among children. This study aimed to provide insight into the privacy policies of top dine-in and fast-food mobile apps in Canada and data collected on child users. Privacy policies of the top 30 fast-food and dine-in restaurants in Canada were reviewed. A convenience sample of 11 English-speaking Canadian residents aged 9-12 years with fast-food apps on their mobile phones were recruited to use ≥1 fast-food restaurant mobile app(s). Children used the app(s) for 5-10 minutes and placed food orders. Parents submitted a Data Access Request (DAR) on their child’s behalf to the food company. Descriptive analysis and a flexible deductive approach to content analysis evaluated data collected through DARs. Overall, 26 privacy policies were analyzed. The intended age of app users was indicated by 12 (46%) food companies, 10 (39%) of which specified it as ≥13 years. No company had a compulsory age verification process. Twenty-four (92%) companies disclosed the data collected on app users: 23 (89%) did not distinguish between information pertaining to children or adults, and 21 (81%) described a protocol for action if they inadvertently collected data on children. Twenty-four DARs were sent to companies; 11 (45.8%) of which were fulfilled by companies, and 4 (16.7%) resulted in the receipt of children’s data. All responding food companies were found to collect sociodemographic information on child participants (e.g., name, email). Some collected other information, such as order details and available promotional offers. This study demonstrates current fast-food and dine-in restaurant privacy policies are insufficient and provides insight into data collected on children via fast-food apps. Policies must be strengthened to ensure children’s privacy and protection online.
Beyond the screen: Exploring the dynamics of social media influencers, digital food marketing, and gendered influences on adolescent diets
Authors: Amson Ashley , Bagnato Mariangela , Remedios Lauren , Pritchard Meghan , Sabir Soulene , Gillis Grace , Pauzé Elise , White Christine , Vanderlee Lana , Hammond David , Potvin Kent Monique
Published: February 2025

Adolescent obesity remains a public health concern, exacerbated by unhealthy food marketing, particularly on digital platforms. Social media influencers are increasingly utilized in digital marketing, yet their impact remains understudied. This research explores the frequency of posts containing food products/brands, the most promoted food categories, the healthfulness of featured products, and the types of marketing techniques used by social media influencers popular with male and female adolescents. By analyzing these factors, the study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how social media influencer marketing might contribute to dietary choices and health outcomes among adolescents, from a gender perspective, shedding light on an important yet underexplored aspect of food marketing. A content analysis was conducted on posts made between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022, that were posted by the top three social media influencers popular with males and female adolescents (13–17) on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (N = 1373). Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies for posts containing food products/brands, promoted food categories, product healthfulness, and marketing techniques. Health Canada’s Nutrient Profile Model was used to classify products as either healthy or less healthy based on their content in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Influencers popular with males featured 1 food product/brand for every 2.5 posts, compared to 1 for every 6.1 posts for influencers popular with females. Water (27% of posts) was the primary food category for influencers popular with females, while restaurants (24% of posts) dominated for males. Influencers popular with males more commonly posted less healthy food products (89% vs 54%). Marketing techniques varied: influencers popular with females used songs or music (53% vs 26%), other influencers (26% vs 11%), appeals to fun or coolness (26% vs 13%), viral marketing (29% vs 19%), and appeals to beauty (11% vs 0%) more commonly. Influencers popular with males more commonly used calls-to-action (27% vs 6%) and price promotions (8% vs 1%). Social media influencers play a role in shaping adolescents’ dietary preferences and behaviors. Understanding gender-specific dynamics is essential for developing targeted interventions, policies, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting healthier food choices among adolescents. Policy efforts should focus on regulating unhealthy food marketing, addressing gender-specific targeting, and fostering a healthy social media environment for adolescents to support healthier dietary patterns.
From print to perspective: A mixed-method analysis of the convergence and divergence of COVID-19 topics in newspapers and interviews
Authors: Chen Qingqing , Crooks Andrew , Sullivan Adam J. , Surtees Jennifer A. , Tumiel-Berhalter Laurene
Published: February 2025

In the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, various government-led initiatives and individual actions (e.g., lockdowns, social distancing, and masking) have resulted in diverse pandemic experiences. This study aims to explore these varied experiences to inform more proactive responses for future public health crises. Employing a novel “big-thick” data approach, we analyze and compare key pandemic-related topics that have been disseminated to the public through newspapers with those collected from the public via interviews. Specifically, we utilized 82,533 U.S. newspaper articles from January 2020 to December 2021 and supplemented this “big” dataset with “thick” data from interviews and focus groups for topic modeling. Identified key topics were contextualized, compared and visualized at different scales to reveal areas of convergence and divergence. We found seven key topics from the “big” newspaper dataset, providing a macro-level view that covers public health, policies and economics. Conversely, three divergent topics were derived from the “thick” interview data, offering a micro-level view that focuses more on individuals’ experiences, emotions and concerns. A notable finding is the public’s concern about the reliability of news information, suggesting the need for further investigation on the impacts of mass media in shaping the public’s perception and behavior. Overall, by exploring the convergence and divergence in identified topics, our study offers new insights into the complex impacts of the pandemic and enhances our understanding of key issues both disseminated to and resonating with the public, paving the way for further health communication and policy-making.
Towards a unifying phylogenomic framework for tailed phages
Authors: Weinheimer Alaina R. , Ha Anh D. , Aylward Frank O.
Published: February 2025

Classifying viruses systematically has remained a key challenge of virology due to the absence of universal genes and vast genetic diversity of viruses. In particular, the most dominant and diverse group of viruses, the tailed double-stranded DNA viruses of prokaryotes belonging to the class Caudoviricetes, lack sufficient similarity in the genetic machinery that unifies them to reconstruct an inclusive, stable phylogeny of these genes. While previous approaches to organize tailed phage diversity have managed to distinguish various taxonomic levels, these methods are limited in scalability, reproducibility, and the inclusion of modes of evolution, like gene gains and losses, remain key challenges. Here, we present a novel, comprehensive, and reproducible framework for examining evolutionary relationships of tailed phages. In this framework, we compare phage genomes based on the presence and absence of a fixed set of gene families which are used as binary trait data that is input into maximum likelihood models. Our resulting phylogeny stably recovers known taxonomic families of tailed phages, with and without the inclusion of metagenome-derived phages. We also quantify the mosaicism of replication and structural genes among known families, and our results suggest that these exchanges likely underpin the emergence of new families. Additionally, we apply this framework to large phages (>100 kilobases) to map emergences of traits associated with genome expansion. Taken together, this evolutionary framework for charting and organizing tailed phage diversity improves the systemization of phage taxonomy, which can unify phage studies and advance our understanding of their evolution.
A cross-sectional study of essential surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia care capacity in the public sector in Fiji
Authors: Sundar Ashneel , Makutu Jope , Waqainabete Ifereimi , Zhang Grace , Tudravu Jemesa , Turagava Josese , Maoate Kiki , Patel Rajeev , Qin Rennie Xinrui
Published: February 2025

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery indicator collection highlighted gaps in surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia (SOA) care in Fiji. Our study is the first comprehensive assessment of essential SOA care capacity in Fiji to guide national surgical planning. In February 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of public hospitals in Fiji using the World Health Organization-Program in Global Surgery and Social Change surgical assessment tool. We surveyed 18 facilities, including three divisional hospitals (DHs) and 15 subdivisional hospitals (SDHs). Twenty-two functional operating rooms (ORs) and 27 post-anaesthesia care beds served 884,887 people. Surgical care was concentrated in DHs and only delivered in select SDHs during outreaches. While SDHs had OR space, they lacked equipment, supplies, and human resources. From 2016 to 2021, surgical volume per 100,000 population increased by approximately 50% from 1,490 to 2,248; however, SOA specialists density per 100,000 population increased marginally from 5.8 to 7.1. There is significant variation across divisions. The Northern division has more ORs (4.55), SOA specialists (9.1), and surgical volume (3,731) per 100,000 population than the Central (2.40, 7.9, 2,367) and Western (1.78, 5.3, 1,519) divisions. This is due to more OR space and functioning, specialist post creation, and outreach services to SDHs. Policy recommendations include upgrading key SDHs with essential SOA care capacity, growing the SOA workforce, strengthening facility maintenance and climate resilience, and strengthening outreach programs. Investment in surgical care capacity must be urgently increased to meet the population’s needs.
Enteritis necroticans and Clostridium perfringens type C; Epidemiological and pathological findings over the past 20 years
Authors: Johnson Stuart , Skinner Andrew M. , Lostutter Calob , Duke Trevor , Posthaus Horst
Published: February 2025

Enteritis necroticans (EN) in humans caused by infection with Clostridium perfringens type C, once thought limited to the highlands of Papua New Guinea has been identified sporadically worldwide. Outbreaks still occur among children in low-income countries and isolated cases occur among children and adults in other countries. Here the disease seems to be associated with diabetes mellitus and other risk factors. C. perfringens type C is also an important cause of necrotizing enteritis among animals, particularly pigs. Research into the pathogenesis of this disease has confirmed the central role of beta toxin and its target, the endothelial cell. Unlike most bacterial enteric infections, the primary anatomic location of EN is the proximal small intestine, reasons for which are not completely understood. Ongoing surveillance for C. perfringens type C infection is warranted as well as public health measures of prevention in locations where environmental and food hygiene is poor.