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This study examined the effect of extraversion and DIAMONDS situation characteristics, including Duty, Intellect, Adversity, Mating, Positivity, Negativity, Deception, and Sociality, on state happiness among Chinese participants. With a daily diary design, Study 1 established the relation between extraversion and daily happiness. With an experience sampling design, Study 2 not only replicated the positive relation between extraversion and state happiness, but also extend this conclusion by examining the effects of DIAMONDS situation characteristics on momentary happiness. Specifically, mating, positivity and sociality positively predicted momentary happiness, whereas adversity, negativity and deception negatively predicted momentary happiness. Duty and intellect were not related to momentary happiness. Interactions between extraversion and situation characteristics were also examined. Implications and limitations of this research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social situations can present challenges for those looking to reduce or avoid eating meat. In an experimental vignette study with a large representative sample of 1,117 UK-based meat eaters, we explore affective responses to requests for vegetarian meals and perceptions of those making the request across four social situations: a BBQ, a pub, a restaurant dinner, and a dinner party. We examine moderators of these perceptions including whether the requester presents themselves as vegetarian or a meat restrictor and whether they cite health, environmental or no motives for their request. Overall, we find that these moderators have a greater impact on meat eaters' perceptions of the requester than on their affective responses to the request. We also find that these outcomes are more impacted by the mention of motives than they are diet type. Standout findings include evidence that people citing environmental motives for their vegetarian meal request are perceived more negatively, while those with health motives are perceived more positively. We also identify substantial heterogeneity across the respondents' levels of meat attachment: those who are more attached to meat have more negative perceptions of vegetarian meal requesters and experience higher negative affect and lower positive affect in response to the request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the IELTS speaking test assesses English verbal-communication competence accurately and reliably, its traditional, retroactive scoring framework stops short of providing detailed diagnostic information about individual test-takers' specific domains of proficiency or deficiency. This study employed a cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) framework, grounded in cognitive psychology and diagnostic, formative feedback theories, to identify the specific cognitive (sub)skills and attributes required to successfully perform on the IELTS speaking test and examine the test-takers' perceptions regarding the CDA and IELTS-speaking-assessment interface. The purpose was to integrate CDA and feedback literacy into the IELTS assessment. Adopting a cognitive/psychometric perspective, we conceptualized language proficiency as encompassing separate cognitive subskills that can be systematically measured and diagnosed. To this end, we analyzed speaking data from 500 pre-IELTS candidates and conducted 20 expert interviews. The thematic analysis employed through the MAXQDA software helped identify five specific subskills related to the IELTS speaking test. Using a similar thematic analysis procedure, we extracted five perceptive themes regarding an integrated IELTS-CDA framework from the interview data of 151 participants. The results have important implications for the practicality and efficacy of employing CDA to improve IELTS speaking interpretation and feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on inclusive STEM-focused high schools (ISHSs) has focused on the design and implementation of ISHSs at the school-level, along with the positive effects of ISHSs on STEM course taking, college majoring, and STEM career orientations. Missing from the literature are studies that foreground the perspectives and voices of students of color and their perceptions of science and scientists from asset-based, critical perspectives. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative case study is to document the perceptions of science and scientists among racially, ethnically, and linguistically minoritized ninth graders at an urban, inclusive STEM-focused high school in a mid-sized, northeastern city in the United States, along with the contexts, sources, and associated experiences informing these perceptions. Iterative cycles of inductive and deductive coding and domain analysis, informed by theoretical perspectives on ecological systems and Discourses, revealed paradoxical perceptions. Students viewed science as a body of knowledge, testing and experimenting, a life-enhancing discovery, building on background information, and connected with other disciplines and everywhere. Students' perceptions of scientists were both stereotypical and expansive, including that scientists are smart and serious; use science equipment and gear in traditional lab contexts; and are creative, curious, and open-minded. While students primarily identified deceased White males as scientists, three girls of color mentioned counter-stereotypical women and people of color when they thought of science. Students noted that science field trips and after school programs, as well as science in the media and school, informed their perceptions. These findings suggest that despite reform efforts such as Science for All, very little has changed regarding conceptions of science and scientists. What is more, these findings are troubling when minoritized students at an ISHS continue to replicate status quo perceptions of science and scientists. This study has implications for practice, research, and policy related to building on and extending these views in more critically conscious and equity-oriented ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep hygiene behaviours are a suggested set of behaviours people can engage in to improve sleep. However, there are numerous issues relating to the measurement of sleep hygiene, primarily, the lack of consensus as to which behaviours impact sleep and should therefore be included in scales. Method: Cross-sectional correlational methods were used to assess the association between sleep quality, a highly inclusive range of sleep hygiene behaviours, and individual perceptions of those behaviours in a non-clinical sample of 300 participants. Results: Of the 35 sleep hygiene behaviours assessed, 18 were independently associated with sleep quality. Post-hoc factor analysis revealed that behaviours clustered together across four factors. A 'routine' factor included behaviours such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each night, and were important predictors of sleep quality, as were behaviours belonging to the 'perseverative cognition' and 'negative emotionality' factor. Other behaviours related to physiological processes like exposure to sunlight during the day and going to bed hungry were also significantly associated with sleep. Negative perceptions moderated the relationship between daytime exposure to sunlight and sleep. Conclusions: Although certain behaviours were significantly related to sleep, almost half were not, supporting the need to examine the association between sleep and behaviours used for sleep hygiene recommendations more critically. Reframing sleep hygiene recommendations into a condensed set of shared underlying mechanisms may be of benefit for the development of sleep hygiene scales and interventions in non-clinical populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the representation of diversity in STEM picture books for the primary grades. Research suggests that the inclusion or exclusion of various identities contributes to how children view their potential and sense of belonging, which can shape their STEM identity. Children often view books with the lens of understanding what role they can and cannot inhabit based on the characters they see represented within the pages of a book. Results indicated that primary STEM books had an absence of cultural specificity across all categories examined, showing relative invisibility for many groups of individuals. The authors conclude that there needs to be more intentionality related to culturally responsive pedagogy, pairing books with additional research that diversifies the curriculum and stimulates STEM dispositions in students, building bridges between cultures, teaching, and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to contribute knowledge about the influences of leaders' perceptions of digitalisation on arrangements for leading the expansion of access to and application of digital technologies in K–12 education. Supporting the digitalisation of K–12 education requires digital competence. School organisers' and school leaders' digital competence and perceptions of digitalisation contribute to how digital technologies are employed in schools. Survey and participant observations were used to investigate leaders' perceptions of digitalisation in K–12 education. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and theory of practice architecture. The results show that perceptions of digitalisation in K–12 education influence arrangements by allowing opportunities for enhanced quality in teaching and equality within and among schools. Further, collaborations between leaders, sharing ideas and experiences, and enhancing leadership are elements that contribute to the shaping of leaders' perceptions of digitalisation in schools. This paper contributes to the knowledge of leaders' perceptions of expanding the access to and application of digital technologies in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on African Americans' engagement in family therapy has focused on barriers to treatment. This qualitative study examines the experiences of African Americans who choose to attend family therapy. We utilized a pattern second cycle coding process to analyze survey data from 39 African American adults who attended family therapy. The findings generated five themes that describe the participants' experiences that brought them to family therapy, (1) life experiences that led to family therapy, (2) perceptions of therapy, (3) positive experiences that encouraged participants' use of family therapy, (4) factors that caused participants hesitancy in attending family therapy, (5) change in perception concerning family therapy. The final theme was generated by exploring participants' perceptions of family therapy before and after engaging. Thirty-four participants reported positive beliefs about therapy after receiving family therapy. In addition, participants' coping mechanisms before entering therapy are detailed to provide insights into how they managed issues before deciding to engage in family therapy. We offer recommendations for engaging African Americans in family therapy and implications for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of Canadian undergraduate students in health-related fields of study regarding the sexuality of disabled people. More specifically, we examine what is being taught to undergraduate students regarding the sexuality of disabled people, the sources of information that students rely upon to learn about this topic, and the current attitudes that these students hold. A modified version of the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire was completed by 156 healthcare students from 30 different Canadian post-secondary institutions. Data analysis revealed that participants generally held non-restrictive views about parenting, sexual rights, non-reproductive sexual behavior, and sexual self-control of people with disabilities; however, over half of the participants noted that their post-secondary curriculum did not provide them with enough information regarding disability and sexuality. The results of this study speak to the need for more information about the sexuality of disabled people in healthcare education curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) has become an increasingly popular supportive therapy option for patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate how researchers and clinicians in the oncology field perceive CAIM. Methods: We conducted an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey for researchers and clinicians who have published their work in oncology journals that are indexed in MEDLINE. The link to the survey was sent to 47, 991 researchers and clinicians whose contact information was extracted from their publications. The survey included various multiple-choice questions, and one open-ended question at the end to allow for any additional comments. Results: 751 respondents completed the survey, and they mostly identified themselves as researchers (n = 329, 45.13%), or as both researchers and clinicians (n = 332, 45.45%) in the field of oncology. Over half of the respondents perceive mind–body therapies (n = 354, 54.97%) to be the most promising CAIM category with regards to the prevention, treatment, and/or management of diseases related to oncology, and many respondents agreed that most CAIM therapies are safe (n = 218, 37.39%), and that clinicians should receive training on CAIM therapies via formal (n = 225, 38.59%) and supplemental education (n = 290, 49.83%). However, many respondents were unsure when asked if most CAIM therapies are effective (n = 202, 34.77%). Conclusions: The findings from this study demonstrated great current interest in the use of CAIM in oncology. This information can serve as a foundation for conducting additional research and creating customized educational materials for researchers and clinicians in oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School resource officers (SROs) are increasingly common in schools across the United States. The roles they occupy within schools are varied, potentially conflicting, and controversial. We examined SROs' (N = 287) perceptions of their role(s) within their assigned schools. Results revealed a discrepancy between how SROs view their role and how they believe students and school administrators view their role. While SROs characterized their role as multifaceted, they perceived that others viewed their role more narrowly. That many SROs believe their role is misunderstood may be a challenge for composite models of school policing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The learning environment (LE) includes social interactions, organizational culture, structures, and physical and virtual spaces that influence the learning experiences of students. Despite numerous studies exploring the perception of healthcare professional students (HCPS) of their LE, the validity evidence of the utilized questionnaires remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to identify questionnaires used to examine the perception of undergraduate HCPS of their LE and to assess their validity evidence. Five key concepts were used: (1) higher education; (2) questionnaire; (3) LE; (4) perception; and (5) health professions (HP). PubMed, ERIC, ProQuest, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies developing or adapting questionnaires to examine LE. This review employed the APERA standards of validity evidence and Beckman et al. (J Gen Intern Med 20:1159–1164, 2005) interpretation of these standards according to 5 categories: content, internal structure, response process, relation to other variables, and consequences. Out of 41 questionnaires included in this review, the analysis revealed a predominant emphasis on content and internal structure categories. However, less than 10% of the included questionnaires provided information in relation to other variables, consequences, and response process categories. Most of the identified questionnaires received extensive coverage in the fields of medicine and nursing, followed by dentistry. This review identified diverse questionnaires utilized for examining the perception of students of their LE across different HPs. Given the limited validity evidence for existing questionnaires, future research should prioritize the development and validation of psychometric measures. This will ultimately ensure sound and evidence-based quality improvement measures of the LE in HP education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Police and security presence in healthcare settings have grown. There are few studies exploring perceptions of these law enforcement agents among US Latine immigrants, who can be vulnerable to immigration enforcement actions due to past and ongoing criminalization and anti-immigrant policies. Objective: To explore Latine immigrants' perceptions of law enforcement in healthcare settings. Design: Exploratory, semi-structured qualitative interviews asked participants about their perspectives of law enforcement in healthcare settings. Participants: English- and Spanish-speaking adult patients (n = 19) from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Los Angeles, CA, serving predominantly low-income Latine immigrants. Approach: We used the framework method for analysis to establish a codebook and inform our thematic interpretation. Key Results: We identified three themes: (1) perceptions of safety offered by police officers are separated from the role of immigration officers; (2) perceptions of police officers are integrated into broader perceptions of the healthcare system; and (3) lived experiences, including immigration status, influenced valence response to officer uniforms and perceptions of officers. Most participants viewed police officers positively as maintaining order and safety, separating them from federal immigration enforcement actions, and reflecting on local, state, and organizational "sanctuary" or immigrant-friendly policies. Individuals with precarious immigration status more often saw officers as intimidating. Immigration enforcement remained a key concern. Conclusions: Differentiating police and security roles from immigration enforcement in healthcare could improve Latine immigrant trust and access. Future studies should explore perspectives of Latine immigrants in localities without sanctuary laws or organizational immigrant-friendly policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This longitudinal study investigated distress rates in patients with advanced ovarian cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined whether time, illness representations, and coping strategies predicted distress levels. Methods: UK patients with stage 3 or 4 ovarian cancer were recruited between September 2020 and March 2021. Data were collected at baseline (T0), 2 months (T1), and 4 months (T2) post-enrolment. Validated questionnaires assessed distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear of progression) and predictors (coping strategies and illness perceptions), analysed via multilevel modelling. Results: Seventy-two participants returned a questionnaire at T0, decreasing to 49 by T2. High distress was observed, with over 50% of participants experiencing anxiety and depression consistently. Nearly 60% reported clinical levels of fear of progression at some point. PTSD rates resembled the general population. Although distress levels remained stable over time, some individual variability was observed. Time had minimal effect on distress. Coping strategies and illness perceptions remained stable. Threatening illness perceptions consistently predicted distress, while specific coping strategies such as active coping, acceptance, self-blame, and humour predicted various aspects of distress. Together, these factors explained up to half of the distress variance. Conclusion: The findings have implications for routine screening for distress and the inclusion of psychological treatment pathways in advanced ovarian cancer care. Addressing illness representations is crucial, with attention to informational support. Future research should explore the long-term effects of heightened distress and the effectiveness of interventions targeting illness perceptions. This study informs current clinical practice and future pandemic preparedness in cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Settlement expansion and commercial agriculture affect landscape sustainability and ecosystem service provision. Integrated landscape approaches are promoted to negotiate trade-offs between competing land uses and their reconciliation. Incorporating local perceptions of landscape dynamics as basis for such negotiations is particularly relevant for sub-Saharan Africa, where most people depend on natural ecosystems for livelihoods and well-being. This study applied participatory scenario building and spatially explicit simulation to unravel perceptions of the potential impact of rubber and settlement expansion on the provision of selected ecosystem services in southwestern Ghana under a business-as-usual scenario. We collected data in workshops and expert surveys on locally relevant ecosystem services, their indicator values, and the probable land-use transitions. The data was translated into an assessment matrix and integrated into a spatially explicit modeling platform, allowing visualization and comparison of the impact on ecosystem service provision of land-use scenarios under rubber plantation and settlement expansion. The results show the capacity of current (2020) and future land-use patterns to provide locally relevant ecosystem services, indicating a decline in capacity of ecosystem service provisioning in the future compared to the 2020 land-use patterns, a threat to the benefits humans derive from ecosystems. This highlights urgent need for policies and measures to control the drivers of land-use/land-cover change. Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of diversifying land-use/land-cover types for sustainable landscape development. The paper contributes new insights into how spatially explicit and semi-quantitative methods can make stakeholder perceptions of landscape dynamics explicit as a basis for implementing integrated landscape approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a landscape, perceptions can influence people's actions and behavior toward natural resource use. Improving landscape governance, therefore, requires understanding the different concerns of stakeholders operating within the landscape. This paper analyzes the perceptions of local stakeholders—local landscape users, practitioners engaged in conservation and sustainable resource use, and private actors—regarding the landscape governance system, using the Q-methodology to identify common concern entry points for the implementation of a landscape approach in the Western Wildlife Corridor (WWC) in northern Ghana. To this end, individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with local communities and organizations operating in three Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs). They identified destructive livelihood activities, constrained livelihoods, and a weak governance system as the main challenges, and the need to balance livelihoods with conservation, strengthening landscape governance through the CREMA initiative, and awareness raising as the main solutions. Thus, the Q-method allowed identifying common concern entry points regarding landscape challenges, governance issues, and potential solutions. I argue that consensus among stakeholders regarding these challenges and solutions could lay the groundwork for a multi-stakeholder process in the area, which could help foster the implementation of an integrated landscape approach in the WWC landscape. It is crucial to support the livelihoods of local people to reduce pressures on natural resources. It is also important to strengthen the functioning of local CREMA management bodies with technical, logistical, and financial support. Implementing a participatory monitoring and evaluation mechanism is critical in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding in myriad industries and systems. This study sought to investigate public trust in using AI in the criminal court process. While previous research has identified factors that influence trust in AI, such as perceived accuracy and transparency of algorithms, less is known about the role of influential leaders—such as judges—in shaping public trust in new technology. This study examined the relationship between locus of control, anthropomorphism, cultural values, and perceived trust in AI. Participants completed a survey assessing their perceptions of trust in AI in determining bail eligibility, bail fines and fees, sentencing length, sentencing fines and fees, and writing legal documents (e.g., findings and disposition). Participants were more likely to trust AI performing financial calculations rather than determining bail eligibility, sentence length, or drafting legal documents. Participants' comfort with AI in decision-making also depended on their perceptions of judges' trust in AI, and they expressed concerns about AI perpetuating bias and the need for extensive testing to ensure accuracy. Interestingly, no significant association was found with other participant characteristics (e.g., locus of control, anthropomorphism, or cultural values). This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the role of judges as influential leaders in shaping public trust in AI and examining the influence of individual differences on trust in AI. The findings also help inform the development of recommended practices and ethical guidelines for the responsible use of AI in the courts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has emerged as one of our most pressing global challenges, with far-reaching implications for various sectors, including agriculture. The Earth's climate is undergoing significant changes, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. These changes result in rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Consequently, the agricultural sector, which relies heavily on stable climatic conditions, faces numerous challenges threatening global food security and livelihoods. The present study deals with the issue of climate change and its impact on yields and agricultural production in the province of Khemisset. The methodology used is a combination approach of quantitative and qualitative research. Among other tools for processing data were descriptive statistics and principal component analysis. In total, 120 research units are surveyed in the study area; the number of farmers is not homogeneous, and four categories of producers have been formed to analyze the perceptions and farmer strategies developed. They have been chosen according to the soil, vegetation, and livestock type. The main conclusions derived from the study results are: We observed a negative evolution of climate parameters during the period 1985–2015. Virtually all the producers of the area studied perceive a negative evolution of the different climatic parameters, which is consistent in most cases with the analysis of meteorological data. The changes and climate variability have negative impacts on agriculture. The local populations have a good understanding of the evolution of agricultural yields. Using fertilizers, crop rotation, early varieties of crops, and other types of adaptations are the responses of some farmers from the Zemmour tribes to the effects of climate change. Climate change is already affecting agriculture and will continue to do so. It is crucial to highlight the immediate requirement for inclusive measures to address and adjust to the consequences of climate change on agriculture to guarantee the endurance, sustainability, and food security of our agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change awareness and support for decarbonization among different parts of society are crucial to any initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Iran is one of the top CO2-emitting countries. However, there have been limited efforts in studying the Iranian population's knowledge of global warming, their concerns about its consequences, and their support for a decarbonized economy. In this work, we study climate change awareness and the support for decarbonization among university students in Isfahan Province. Isfahan is one of the most populated and developed provinces in Iran. Therefore, understanding the awareness and willingness to act among the educated young generation adults in this province is critical in assessing plans to mitigate climate change in Iran. We present a correlation analysis between students' backgrounds (age, gender, economic background, and level of education) and their concerns about climate change consequences and their support for a transition toward a decarbonized economy. The results show that most surveyed students (N = 388) agree that global warming is a concerning issue. Moreover, most students have taken some actions in their personal lives to reduce their carbon footprint. However, the support for policies to prevent climate change was not as strong among the students. Our analysis shows younger students have higher support for climate actions. Moreover, female students are more aware of the climate crisis and its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) are vital for global climate change mitigation and offer diverse local ecosystem co-benefits. Despite existing literatures on integrating national and international BCE agendas at the local level, the development and implementation of localized BCE strategies often lag behind. To provide insights on this knowledge gap, we present a case study conducted in Eastern Samar, Philippines. Employing a multi-framework analysis- encompassing DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, responses), SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results), and PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental) frameworks, stakeholder perceptions collected from focus group discussions highlight issues and challenges in developing and implementing a BCE strategy. Findings reveal that the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 in the study sites stimulated conservation efforts and raised awareness, but governance structures and policy enforcement influence the success and longevity of management and conservation efforts. Through the integration of multiple frameworks, this study outlined a potential localized BCE strategy, emphasizing both internal priorities such as stakeholder engagement and alternative livelihoods and external priorities related to policy and technological supports. While developed based on a specific case study in the Philippines, the proposed strategy is presented in a general manner, enabling its potential replication in other provinces in the Philippines or in countries with similar geographic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, was released in November 2022, sparking a significant surge in global awareness and utilization of generative AI across various domains. Although recent studies have acknowledged the significance of ChatGPT in the education sector, they have yet to focus on exploring faculty attitudes toward ChatGPT. We gathered a comprehensive corpus of tweets containing "#ChatGPT" and "#highered" between November 30th, 2022, and April 30th, 2023. We analyzed data by triangulating VADER, NRC lexicon, and ground coding. Findings suggest that 40% of the expressed sentiments were positive, 51% were neutral, and 9% were negative. The study also revealed the diverse range of emotions held by higher education faculty regarding ChatGPT, with trust and joy being the most prevalent positive sentiments and fear and anger being the most prevalent negative sentiments. This study shed light on faculty members' perceptions of ChatGPT, contributing to a better understanding of the impact, emotions, and incorporation of ChatGPT in the higher education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is an emerging challenge that is triggering natural variabilities and disasters globally. In Gilgit–Baltistan (GB) region of Pakistan, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) have been occurring frequently due to glacier surges, increasing the vulnerability of mountain communities, particularly small farmers. This research aims to investigate the climate change-induced GLOFs of the Shishper glacier in Hunza valley of GB with the intent of studying the farming activities; local awareness and perceptions toward climate change; impacts of climate change and GLOFs on agriculture; and adaptation mechanisms based on indigenous knowledge. Mixed-methods research approach was employed for a field survey in two villages inhabited by farmers of the Burusho community. Quantitative data were gathered from a sample of 180 respondents by using a structured questionnaire, whereas field observation coupled with photography and spot interviews were undertaken to accumulate qualitative data. Results revealed that many farmers lost their fertile land, and their crops and fruit orchards were severely damaged as a result of the devastating effects of climate change and recent GLOFs in 2019 and 2020, resulting in low crop yield and agricultural income. Local communities typically respond to GLOFs through self-help strategies and indigenous methods to sustain their livelihoods. However, our findings suggest that current adaptation practices are insufficient in light of rising climate risks. Thus, there is an urgent need to assist mountain communities by providing maximum support and interventions to enhance their resilience to future GLOFs and to increase people's adaptive capacity by strengthening their socioeconomic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change continues to affect food production and farmers incur additional costs to adopt appropriate adaptation strategies to combat its effects and attain food security. To enhance adaptive and sustainable coping strategies and food security, it is necessary to study the opportunity costs of implementing climate adaptations and how they influence the net revenue of farmers. Therefore, the study empirically investigates adaptation to climate change and the net revenue of cassava farmers in Southwest Nigeria. The primary data used for this study were collected through a well-structured questionnaire for 221 respondents. The analytical methods used were descriptive statistics, paired sample tests, and multiple regression. Analysis revealed that the majority (55%) of the sampled cassava farmers employed planting different varieties and using agrochemicals as their main adaptation strategies. The results revealed that insufficient funding and labour shortage were the main barriers to adaptation in the study area. The results of opportunity cost on net revenue and costs using paired samples test revealed that cassava farmers derived and perceived the utility and the net benefits using adaptation measures than when it is not used. The result of the regression showed that climate variables such as adaptation options, rainfall, and access to climate information are co-joint with socioeconomic and production factors to determine the average net revenue in the area. Therefore, the study suggests that the costs of adaptation resources should be subsidized by the government at affordable prices for the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using panel data from Luxembourg, we investigate the relationship between young individuals' perceived coping with the COVID-19 pandemic context and subjective well-being during the short and mid-term phases of the pandemic (i.e., a few months after its outbreak in July 2020 and one year later in July 2021). Additionally, the study examines how this relationship evolves depending on youths' subjective social status. Luxembourg is an important setting, as it is one of the happiest countries in the world, with the highest GDP per capita. According to our results, perceived coping with the COVID-19 context matters for subjective well-being beyond individual and macro characteristics. We found a strong correlation between perceptions of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic context and subjective well-being in high-social-status individuals and a weaker correlation for low- and middle-social-status individuals. Furthermore, the relationship between perceptions of coping with the pandemic and well-being was stable over time. The article stipulates several reasons for these results, such as a 'comfort conditioning' response to the pandemic for young high-social-status individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endangered Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) populations have been decreasing in Portugal due to a combination of factors such as habitat destruction and human persecution. This is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, where packs are highly fragmented, isolated, and with few individuals. Human-Wildlife-Conflicts occur in this area due to high levels of livestock depredation, an outcome of the low diversity and density of wild prey. As a consequence, human persecution is relatively high and is considered a main threat to wolves' survival. Through studying public attitudes towards these wolf populations and discerning prevalent patterns, insights can be gained to guide management strategies in mitigating these factors. A total of 222 questionnaires were collected from populations inhabiting Central Portugal, divided into three interest groups (general public, livestock owners, and hunters).We estimated Attitude, Fear, and Knowledge Indexes regarding the wolf. Attitudes towards wolves were positive, with the fear being neutral but the knowledge being low; attitudes tend to be more positive with the decrease of fear and the increase of knowledge, and fear tends to decrease with the increase of knowledge. The main factor negatively influencing attitudes was fear, although age seemed to have more influence on livestock owners' attitudes. The factors influencing fear included gender, knowledge, and personal experience with wolves. These findings can be used to target specific groups with environmental awareness initiatives, aiming to increase knowledge and reduce sources of fear. It is crucial to develop tailored conservation measures considering stakeholders' viewpoints to effectively protect the Iberian wolf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human editors and proofreaders now face a new, and possibly serious, challenge: the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that some consider to be as efficient and precise as experts in editing/proofreading. This research aims to investigate editors' and proofreaders' perceptions of current AI tools. It examines whether editors/proofreaders view AI as an opportunity or a threat and considers their insights into the future of AI tools for them. The study collected qualitative data through email questionnaires from 17 professional editors and proofreaders purposively appointed from a society of professional editors and proofreaders in Egypt. The results revealed that the responses regarding AI for editors and proofreaders are generally mixed, with a range of both positive and negative perspectives. Some responses highlight the opportunities and benefits that AI tools can bring, such as increased efficiency, time-saving, and improved productivity. Others express concerns about potential threats, such as the possibility of AI replacing humans, ethical considerations, and the need for continued human involvement in the editing/proofreading process. Overall, the attitudes toward AI tools for editing and proofreading reflect a paradoxical view of the technology's impact on the field. The active engagement and participation of editors and proofreaders are essential for the successful implementation of AI technologies in editorial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our society depends on the effective management of phosphorus (P). Phosphorus is a key component of agricultural fertilizers to improve crop yields, and also plays a critical role in many industrial processes and consumer products. In the past decade, there have been numerous calls for innovative approaches to manage P more sustainably, as it is a nonrenewable resource that can adversely impact aquatic ecosystems from runoff and inefficiencies in P use. To develop more sustainable solutions that will ultimately be adopted, diverse stakeholder perspectives must be recognized, including those in industry, government, academia, non-governmental organizations, and other civil groups. This study responds to this need by identifying stakeholder views, needs, concerns, and challenges regarding P sustainability. An online survey was developed and deployed to individuals identified as P sustainability experts and professionals in the U.S. and abroad. Based on responses from 96 stakeholder participants from a range of sectors, areas of expertise, and geographies, we found that the vast majority of stakeholders considered current P use to be unsustainable and were very concerned about the ability to manage P sustainably. Stakeholder participants did not distinguish between urgent and long-term challenges, and perceived financial and regulatory issues to be of greatest importance. Stakeholder participants expressed a range of needs to improve P management systems, including improved management practices, new technologies, enhanced regulations, and better approaches for engagement. Outcomes from this work can help inform future research, engagement, and policy priorities to ensure sustainable P management solutions based on stakeholder-identified perspectives and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who have been trafficked may experience longer-term mental health consequences with a significant impact on all life domains. Key professionals must be prepared and adopt practices that help to prevent and fight child trafficking and the harm caused. This study aims to explore the current knowledge of professionals from Portugal on child trafficking and perceptions about their practices and skills. The sample consisted of 614 professionals from justice (47.1%), education (19.4%), social (18.9%), and health care (14.7%) areas who completed an online survey. Professionals were more knowledgeable about forms of exploitation and less about victims' profile. Professionals who had direct contact with and/or training in human trafficking presented more knowledge and positive perceptions about their practices and skills. This study aims to raise awareness and develop informed training programs based on professionals' needs and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a race to innovate, develop or create hydrogen production technologies to accelerate energy transition and create a hydrogen economy. Acceptance has been used in social science literature as a lens through which to anticipate possible challenges surrounding hydrogen technologies. However, very few studies problematize perceptions and focus on the production of hydrogen. Hence, this study aims to bridge these theoretical and empirical gaps using a mixed-method approach based on semi-structured interviews (n = 7) and a questionnaire survey (n = 73) to understand stakeholders' perceptions of hydrogen production sources through a social construction of technology lens. Results: The findings suggest a tendency to favor hydrogen produced from renewable sources and to reject hydrogen produced from non-renewable sources. All the examined groups conform to this pattern. Their perceptions are based on prior knowledge of hydrogen technologies, with participants seeking information from specialized sources or from activities promoted by their organizations. Participants anticipate that hydrogen will be generated primarily through renewable energy sources and utilized where direct electrification is unfeasible. In addition, they envisage that the hydrogen economy will enhance energy democracy through representative participation in decision-making. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that the topic is limited to certain social groups and kept away from the public eye. Furthermore, unlike the benefits, the perception of risk appears to have no impact on perceptions' construction. High confidence in science appears to minimize the recognition of potential risks and bolster the recognition of potential benefits. There is, however, a lot of uncertainty about the possible real impacts of the hydrogen economy. Conclusions: There appears to be a collective perspective on hydrogen production sources, indicating the existence of social representations. Nevertheless, group attitudes and backing towards hydrogen vary. The participants identify hydrogen as a matter that remained unnoticed for over a decade, despite its prominent position in the policies and economic approaches of numerous countries. The topic has been relegated to third parties. This exclusion of civil society from decision-making may justify the NGO group's critical stance towards hydrogen. Moreover, it suggests that energy democracy, which is based on information dissemination and participation, is not being achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Agri-food systems in Europe are predominantly male dominated. Female food entrepreneurs can play a key role in the development of novel, sustainable food products. The aim of the present study was to gain an increased understanding of the various barriers which female agri-food entrepreneurs situated in rural areas perceive as hindrances to their entrepreneurial growth and development and their opinions on mentorship programmes. Methodology: Seven separate focus groups comprising of a total of 25 female participants were carried out with agri-food entrepreneurs throughout Europe (Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Italy). Discussions were semi-structured and revolved around individuals' perceptions of the support received from their surrounding infrastructure and their opinions on barriers and enablers for entrepreneurship development. A reflective thematic analysis was conducted following verbatim transcription of the conversations from the focus groups. Findings: Three major themes were identified. Barriers to business development included the lack of adequate financial support and the frustrations experienced with the complexity of funding applications. Socio-cultural support was oftentimes lacking. Participants were aware of the benefits of an online presence to develop their business but lacked confidence in their digital abilities. Few female entrepreneurs were aware of mentorship programmes, and most were unsure what this practice would entail. These findings highlight a range of issues in need of addressing to improve the infrastructure surrounding female agri-food entrepreneurs throughout Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored young children's perceptions of engineers and engineering through their drawings and narratives. Twenty-six children ranging from four-to eight-years-old participated. Results indicated that although children in this group had limited knowledge of engineers and engineering, most of them, regardless of gender, not only drew engineers reflecting their own gender, but they also identified themselves as engineers already. More than half of them would like to become engineers when they grow up. This study supports the idea that young children are capable engineering learners and calls for age-appropriate, play-based engineering learning experiences in the early years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media use, e-health literacy, and the risk and benefit perceptions of e-cigarettes among college students in Taiwan. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1,571 Taiwanese college students, which included four questionnaires to assess participants' perceptions, social media use behavior, e-health literacy, and sociodemographic factors. The data were presented in terms of means, standard deviations, and percentages. Stepwise regression was used to identify factors associated with the participants' perceptions. The study found that 75.01% of the participants were exposed to e-cigarette information on social media, with 31.26% actively searching for it and 15.95% sharing it. Participants had a high e-cigarette risk perception, indicating low benefit perception, but acceptable e-health literacy. Factors such as current e-cigarette and tobacco use, e-health literacy, academic achievement, and sex significantly predicted e-cigarette risk perception, while sharing e-cigarette related information, sex, age, academic achievement, and current e-cigarette use significantly predicted its benefit perception. Thus, implementing effective e-health literacy programs to enhance college students' e-cigarette risk perception is recommended along with a proactive approach to tackle e-cigarette advertising messages on social media, minimizing their sharing behavior to decrease their perception of associated benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding people's travel behavior is necessary for achieving goals such as increased bicycling and walking, decreased traffic congestion, and adoption of clean-fuel vehicles. To understand underlying motivations, researchers increasingly are adding subjective variables to models of travel behavior. This article presents a systematic review of 158 such studies. Nearly every reviewed article finds subjective variables to be predictive of transport outcomes. However, the 158 reviewed studies include 2864 distinct subjective survey questions. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to reach definitive conclusions about which subjective variables are most important for which transport outcomes. In addition to heterogeneity, challenges of this literature also include an unclear direction of causality and tautological relationships between some subjective variables and behavior. Within the constraints imposed by these challenges, we attempt to evaluate the explanatory power of subjective variables, which subjective variables matter most for which transport choices, and whether the answers to these questions vary between continents. To reduce heterogeneity in future studies, we introduce the Standardized Transport Attitude Measurement Protocol, which identifies a curated set of subjective questions. We have also developed an open-access database of the reviewed studies, including all subjective survey questions and models, with an interactive, searchable interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization has become a more prevalent reality in our cities, posing complex challenges to the surrounding environmental systems. As the built environment surges, ecological lands that are essential to cities' sustainability are displaced by other land uses such as residential. This has implications for the sustainability of these ecologically sensitive areas. Employing a mixed research approach, and case studying three communities; including Ahinsan, Ayigya, and Danyame in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis, this study explored local perceptions and attitudes on the sustainable functional roles of ecologically sensitive areas in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana from a socio-economic purview. Overall, the study divulges that city residents generally have relatively positive perceptions towards ecologically sensitive areas, however, their attitudes towards these ecologically sensitive areas are negative. This study conclusively answered questions vis-à-vis the functions of ecologically sensitive areas, the effects of human activities on the sustainability of these ecologically sensitive areas, and theperceptions and attitudes of city residents toward these ecologically sensitive areas. Further studies are needed to appraise the fate of effective land use planning and environmental sustainability in cities' political economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) has been extinct from the UK since the late medieval period. Recently, the idea of a reintroduction of the species has entered the public sphere. While reintroduction receives support from the public, there is significant opposition to the idea within the UK farming community. This study used a questionnaire survey to investigate the attitudes of UK farmers towards the reintroduction of the lynx. The theory of planned behavior was also used to predict farmers' intention to cull lynx in the case of a reintroduction and the drivers behind this. Results indicated negative attitudes towards reintroduction among UK farmers. Older people, those from potential reintroduction areas, and sheep farmers, those whose income is dependent on farming and those with higher perceived knowledge of lynx, had more negative attitudes. Women were significantly more afraid of lynx than men. We also revealed that many farmers intended to hunt lynx in the case of a reintroduction, with attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control being significant predictors of intended behavior. Stronger protective laws for lynx could reduce intention to cull. Additionally, active management and regulation of the lynx population can facilitate harmonious coexistence. These findings suggest that high levels of legal protection and strategies that aim to encourage social norms against illegal culling of lynx, reduce capability to kill lynx (through policies relating to the use of equipment that can be used to kill lynx), or aim to change attitudes to culling lynx could help reduce the perceived conflict of farmers with regard to lynx reintroduction and increase the success of a reintroduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of final consumers in energy transition and renewable energy development is undeniable. Furthermore, the acceptability and intention to use renewable energy very much depends on different factors behind. This study, based on representative survey in Lithuania, aims to analyse in the line with sociodemographic variables the influence of positive and negative perceptions of renewable energy on intention to use it. The study analyses not only intention to use renewable energy sources (RES) in general but addresses bioenergy and other RES separately. The results indicate higher knowledge of other RES to compare to the bioenergy. Usage of some RES also have influence on RES knowledge and negative environmental perceptions. Applied regression analysis reveals that positive environmental impacts and economy outcomes contribute to the intention to use RES the most. Age, gender, living place and usage of RES are also predictors of intention to use RES, though difference in between predictors behind intention to use bioenergy and other RES is observed. This study could help policy makers and informational campaigns managers to reach the targeted final consumers and improve RES development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers’ perceptions about climate change may help to explain the farming systems that they adopt and the effectiveness of their production practices in mitigating the negative impacts of the agricultural sector on the environment. This study analyzed the perceptions of 273 farmers participating in the Sustainable Rural Project—a large-scale climate change mitigation project in Brazil—that promoted the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies in the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes. Using a principal component analysis, we developed a Climate Change Perception Indicator (CCPI): an index to categorize farmers according to their perceptions about the impacts of climate change on agriculture. Our results indicate that farmers’ motivations to adopt sustainable agricultural practices were strongly driven by economic factors. We also found evidence to suggest that political agendas can influence farmers’ environmental perceptions. Moreover, older farmers with a higher level of education and more experience tended to demonstrate a stronger concern about climate change. However, the level of adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies was generally low, and a lack of technical knowledge and financial support may hinder widespread adoption of these practices. Thus, an approach that includes consideration of farmers’ perceptions about the impacts of climate change on their business may improve outcomes from the Sustainable Rural Project and other projects that aim to enhance the adoption of sustainable agriculture technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Anthropocene era, securing protected areas (PAs) has become an important strategy to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services. However, insufficient integration of social aspects in the management of PAs and failure to consider the rights and potential contributions of impacted communities often result in conservation conflicts and unfulfilled biodiversity targets. It is therefore critical to incorporate the requirements and attitudes of local communities in developing conservation strategies for PAs. Additionally, comprehensive studies representing diverse geographical and sociocultural landscapes are needed to better understand people-park interactions. We evaluated how communities' location, sociodemographics, and perceptions of potential benefits influence their attitudes toward PAs and conservation support in Myanmar. We conducted questionnaire surveys with 1099 households in five PAs: Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Natma Taung National Park, and Shwe Set Taw Wildlife Sanctuary. Our results indicate that distance to PA, occupation, gender, and geographical differences significantly influenced attitudes. Most informants relied on PA resources and recognized more benefits than those who did not. Informants with knowledge of or experience with conservation were more willing to contribute to conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure of farmers to pesticides due to inadequate safety measures is a concern in low-income countries in Africa and Asia. However, until now, there have been limited studies on the farmers' risk due to pesticide application to fruit crops. The knowledge of farmers' exposure related to pesticide use and their safety practices was studied among 100 banana farmers in three areas (Padampur, Jagatpur, and Thimura) of Chitwan district, Nepal. More than 75% of the farmers complained about problems related to insects. Most frequently used insecticides in the area were chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin. Ten percent (10%) of the applied pesticides were highly hazardous to humans, according to the World Health Organization hazard category, with skin rash being the most common acute symptom reported by 29% of the farmers. Banned organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides, such as endosulfan and triazophos, respectively, are still being used by farmers in the aforementioned areas. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed the lack of knowledge and safety practices among farmers leading to inadequate awareness related to the negative effects of pesticide use on human health and the environment. Therefore, government extension service can play a crucial role in improving banana farmers' knowledge of the toxic effects of pesticides as well as enforcing the Nepali language in the labeling of pesticide containers and packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change is expected to have serious socioeconomic impacts on smallholder agriculture, but overall impacts will also depend on the extent of household adaptation to climate change. This study investigates household-level factors that may help describe and explain perceptions about climate change and examine how these perceptions influence choices related to specific land-use adoption strategies. Logistic regressions were applied to address these objectives. Cross-sectional survey data were derived from 315 randomly selected smallholder mixed farmers in Ethiopia. The results indicate that a significant number of farmers believe that temperatures have increased over the last 10–20 years and that precipitation has declined. Education, agroecological settings, and social capital significantly influenced perceptions of increased temperature. Gender, distance, access to climate change information, and social capital significantly influenced perceptions of reduced rainfall. The odds of decisions to adopt specific land-use adaptation measures to climate change are significantly influenced by perceived changes in rainfall and temperature but also by social, human, and natural capital access. Adoption is also linked to gender, distance to markets, access to climate change information, and farm location. Thus, rural interventions aimed at addressing more general agricultural adaptation to climate change should account for these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I explore what is known as "marine sense" to highlight the specificity of tacit understandings of the environment in which intuition is pivotal to practical action. I argue that the concept of "marine sense" affords a finer and more nuanced understanding of the ways in which populations interact with marine environments and posit that the fishers' knowledge is operative because it is coupled with other skills that make it suitable for action and for adopting effective behaviors. Thus "marine sense" and "knowledge" become two distinct forms (or modalities) of understanding the marine environment. I outline what research on "marine sense" could constitute in relation to recent advances on the interactions between humans and oceans in the context of my ethnographic fieldwork among the Wayuu of Manaure (Colombia). I specifically highlight frames of reference that inform how freediving underwater fishers organize their (dialogical) relationship to the sea through perceptions and sensations that are on a general level central to an intuitive understanding of observable events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key summary points: Aim: The primary aim was to systematically review the qualitative literature examining attitudes to ageing amongst health care professionals. Findings: Emergent themes included the attitudes and behaviours of healthcare professionals towards older people, role of family, definitions of an older person, and behaviours of older adults towards healthcare professionals. An overarching theme was the systemic context of attitudes to ageing. Message: Attitudes to ageing of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals are shaped within complex healthcare systems necessitating interprofessional approaches and systemic change. Objectives: Older adults utilising healthcare may be vulnerable to systemic bias regarding ageing potentially affecting care. Primary aim is to systematically review the qualitative literature examining attitudes to ageing amongst health care professionals (HCPs). Secondary aim is to describe and compare attitudes to ageing between different professional groups. Methods: Studies examining attitudes to ageing of HCPs were identified using four databases. Original qualitative research with HCPs was included, excluding studies examining students alone, reviews, and grey literature. Three authors undertook standardised data extraction and quality rating for each study and thematic synthesis, with a fourth senior author reviewing. Quality appraisal followed the Attree and Milton guidelines (2006), including studies rated A–C. Results: Of 5869 citations, 13 met initial inclusion criteria. Synthesis of the 12 studies graded A–C followed (excluding one study rated-D). Nurses, doctors, and social workers were most frequently investigated. Identified themes included Attitudes towards older persons, The role of the older persons' family, Behaviour of HCPs towards older persons, Behaviour of older persons towards HCPs, and Definitions of an older person. An overarching theme emerged of the systemic context of attitudes to ageing. Common attitudes were found across disciplines, with doctors emphasising complexity and dependency and nurses the burden of care. Conclusions: HCP's attitudes to ageing vary and are shaped by professional experiences and systemic factors. HCP attitudes may affect responses to and care of the older person. Therefore, interprofessional research, and systemic and service changes across disciplines are required to foster real and sustainable attitudinal change to support older peoples' care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been a growing interest in the use and adoption of augmented reality (AR) technology in educational institutions recently, there is limited research dwelling on pre-service teachers' technical and pedagogical preparation for AR technology. This study investigated teacher candidates' perceptions concerning their learning and immersive experiences of different AR tools and compared these tools on seven dimensions, i.e., intention to use, multimedia, satisfaction, usefulness, self-efficacy, effectiveness, and system quality. A mixed method approach was adopted to analyze qualitative and quantitative data gathered from 55 pre-service teachers who attended a five-day online seminar program about AR tools. The findings showed that teachers developed positive views for all AR tools but some tools like CoSpaces, Fectar, and Blippar were found to be significantly superior in all dimensions to Wikitude, UniteAR, and Unity & Vuforia. The findings also revealed that AR tools presented both affordances and challenges for instructional learning environments. While affordances included materializing and visualizing the abstract concepts, providing permanent learning, and catching interest, challenges consisted of unaffordable applications, limited educational content, internet connectivity issues, and limited access to devices. Overall, the findings of the current study have offered significant implications for designing and preparing AR-enhanced interactive course materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-protein feeding is a strategy used to decrease nitrogen excretion and ammonia (NH3) emissions from animal manure, while maintaining productivity. The optimal protein content depends on many factors, including the type, age, and production level of the animal, as well as the availability, composition, and digestibility of the feed ingredients. Farmers in many developing countries lack information about the protein content of feed and about low-protein feeding, including those in China. This lack of information hinders the making of accurate NH3 emission inventories and strategies for reducing these emissions. We determined farmers' knowledge and perceptions of low-protein feeding in 338 livestock farms, and the actual protein content of 591 feed samples collected from China. Farmers knew little about protein and low-protein feeding; they simply followed the instructions from feed-delivering companies or contracting companies. The mean protein content of the dairy cows' diets (159 ± 20 g/kg DM) was relatively low. Layer hens' diets had a mean protein content of 184 ± 22 g/kg DM, and 14% of their diets were in excess of requirement. Broiler farms used compound feed, of which 23% were in excess of requirement and 15% were deficient in protein. Overall, the mean protein contents were close to the recommended levels for low-protein animal feeding, according to national guidelines, which are similar to the guidelines of the National Research Council (NRC) of the United States. However, there were large variations between farms, suggesting the scope for improvement on many farms. Our research provides farmers, feed companies, policy makers, and institutions with useful information to improve feed management, and to improve the inventories and assessment of NH3 emissions from animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education institutions has become a necessity rather than an option. As higher education institutions enrol students for conventional and distance education programs, lecturers are not only compelled to equip themselves with technological knowledge and skills, but are also supposed to receive support from their institutions to fully integrate technology in their academic endeavours. This study examined lecturers' perceptions of support for integrating ICTs in teaching and learning in higher education institutions in Tanzania. A mixed methods research approach was used to conduct the study. Data were collected through survey and interviews. The analysis was done through SPSS 26.0 and JASP 0.12.2 for quantitative data, and MaxQDA 20.0 for qualitative data. The study sample of 115 lecturers was drawn from five universities in Tanzania. The results of the study revealed that majority of lecturers were dissatisfied with the support for integrating ICTs in teaching and learning offered by their institutions. The findings also indicated that there were no significant differences in lecturers' perceptions of support services for integrating ICTs in teaching and learning by gender and age. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that universities have the obligation to provide adequate support to lecturers in terms of training, technical staff, finance and facilities to effectively integrate technology in teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs) use electrical or magnetic stimulation to treat psychiatric conditions. For depression therapy, PEIs include both approved treatment modalities, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and experimental neurotechnologies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and adaptive brain implants (ABIs). We present results from a survey-based experiment in which members of four relevant stakeholder groups (psychiatrists, patients with depression, caregivers of adults with depression, and the general public) assessed whether treatment with one of four PEIs (ECT, rTMS, DBS, or ABIs) was better or worse than living with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and then provided a narrative explanation for their assessment. Overall, the prevalence of many narrative themes differed substantially by stakeholder group—with psychiatrists typically offering different reasons for their assessment than non-clinicians—but much less so by PEI modality. A large majority of all participants viewed their assigned PEI as better than living with TRD, with their reasons being a mix of positive views about the treatment and negative views about TRD. The minority of all participants who viewed their assigned PEI as worse than living with TRD tended to express negative affect toward it as well as emphasize its riskiness, negative side effects, and, to a lesser extent, its invasiveness. The richness of these narrative explanations enabled us to put in context and add depth to key patterns seen in recent survey-based research on PEIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a recent increase in academic attention, little is known about how the general population perceives BDSM practitioners. Though the gay/lesbian community has undergone de-medicalization and de-stigmatization over time, the same process for BDSM practitioners is in its infancy. Past research suggests that BDSM practitioners do expect to be stigmatized by others, especially in the healthcare system; however, little is known about how the general population currently perceives and stigmatizes the BDSM community. In the current study, we found that the general population (N = 257) does stigmatize BDSM practitioners more than the gay/lesbian population, and both are stigmatized more than a low-stigma comparison group (people in romantic relationships), F(2, 253) = 21.70, p <.001, η 2 = 0.15. These findings help to inform mental healthcare providers and the general population about BDSM practitioners, with the goal of inspiring additional research and activism aimed at combating misinformation and reducing stigma toward this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 response introduced legal restrictions on social distancing globally, affecting healthcare staff personally and professionally. These restrictions suspended routine hospital visiting, which may have left staff feeling they had to compromise on the care they provided. Such conflict may be experienced as moral injury. This scoping review aimed to synthesise international evidence, to answer this question: "Have COVID-19 restrictions affected healthcare staff's experiences of moral injury? If so, how?" Nine studies met the search criteria. Although healthcare staff seemed to be aware of the risks and effects of moral injury, they were still reluctant to "name" it. Healthcare staff's own emotional and spiritual needs were mostly ignored. Although psychological support is often the recommended approach by organisations, a greater focus on spiritual and emotional support is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local communities' perception on how ecosystems such as mangroves contribute to their resilience to climate change is essential to effectively engage them in adaptation and mitigation actions. This study assessed the perceptions of coastal communities on climate change, and the contribution of mangroves in their resilience to climate change in the southern Côte d'Ivoire. Individual interviews (n = 120) were conducted in four coastal villages, selected based on their proximity to mangroves. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test simple correspondence analysis. Informants' knowledge on climate change was low. However, the scarcity of rainfall (62%), increased temperature (heat) (32%), and the high frequency of high winds (6%) have been cited as indicators of changes in the climate. More than half of respondents (63.3%) agreed that mangroves help people adapt to climate change because they produce more fish, shield people from poverty, and lessen flooding, storms, and erosion in their communities. This study has demonstrated a substantial relationship between the level of mangrove significance knowledge and the profession practiced in terms of whether it is affected by climate change. People with higher levels of education and members of particular professions frequently know more about climate change. The profession is a key driver in the knowledge of the contribution of mangroves in protecting fish fauna against climate change. Mangroves reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to the effects of climate change through their ecosystem services which include fish productivity (which provides income to fishermen and fish sellers as well as alternative income to farmers), protection against flooding and erosion, and more. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to conserve this ecosystem at all costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]