Search

Background: Participation in adventure as a recreational therapy intervention is well-recognized for its benefits for people with disabilities. Advances in technology and adaptive equipment have increased accessibility to adventure-based activities for those with physical disabilities. Climbing has long been established to facilitate the psychological state of flow; however, there is little research on the experience of flow in individuals with physical disabilities and adaptive climbing, specifically. Purpose: This study investigated if flow is experienced differently between individuals with and without physical disabilities who participated in climbing programs and to determine if there was a relationship between flow and intentions in future participation in climbing. Methodology: The Flow State Scale-2 was used to assess flow and additional questions measured participation. Findings: The global flow score on the FSS-2 indicated that climbers with and without disabilities both experienced a flow-like state. Climbers without disabilities reported a significantly higher sense of control, one of the nine dimensions of flow. Implications: With a better understanding of how people with physical disabilities experience flow, practitioners can better design interventions to facilitate this experience and should know how flow can best be used to promote an active leisure lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) painting has emerged as a leading intelligence service. This study aims to empirically investigate users' continuance intention toward AI painting applications by utilizing and expanding the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and the Flow Theory. A comprehensive research model is proposed. A total of 443 questionnaires were distributed to users with AI painting experiences for data collection. The hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling. The primary conclusions drawn from this research include: 1) Confirmation plays a crucial role, significantly and positively predicting satisfaction and social impact. 2) Personal innovativeness has a significant effect on confirmation. 3) Satisfaction, flow experience, and social influence directly and positively predict intention, with social influence showing the most significant impact, while perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and performance expectancy show no significant impact on intention. 4) Habit plays a negative moderating role in the association between social influence and continued intention to use. These findings offer valuable insights and inspiration for users seeking to understand the appropriate utilization of AI painting and provide actionable directions for the development of AI painting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should successful e-commerce websites be boring but functional or should they provide immersive flow experiences? Past research showed that providing online consumers with immersive flow experiences is one of the goals of e-commerce websites; to do so can create a competitive advantage. This study challenges this assumption and explores, in the Turkish context, whether achieving a pseudo-flow experience should be the goal. We build on data from a questionnaire survey of 649 active users of idefix.com, the largest e-commerce website in Turkey, and adapt flow theory to identify the drivers of online shopping satisfaction and repurchase intentions. The data was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results revealed that affective and cognitive experiential states have a direct positive effect on online shopping satisfaction and repurchase intention. This research contributes to the debate on consumers' experiences in electronic commerce by expanding flow theory. We introduce and define 'pseudo-flow' in e-commerce which is the novelty of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores whether there are significant differences in the creativity level of future teachers in teaching design. In virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) experimental teaching environments, the K-DOCS creative power scale, the flow state scale, and the expert group assessment scale were used to investigate the mediation effect of flow, attention, and meditation on the creativity level. The results indicate that in the MR experimental teaching environment, the three factors have a moderate mediating effect on the creativity level of future teachers (n = 65), and meditation has a certain regulating effect on heart flow (0.175*); In the VR experimental teaching environment (n = 67), only the factor of heart flow has a moderate promotion effect on the creativity level of future teachers (0.822***). The study results indicate that the quality of future teachers' creative instructional design in the MR environment is higher than that in the VR environment. In addition more MR experimental teaching environments should be provided to cultivate the creativity level of future teachers in teaching design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In February 2021 Medtronic® (Minneapolis, MN) launched the HUGO™ Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) System in the global market. The aim of the current study is to describe the first case series and the optimal setup of robot-assisted pyeloplasty procedure, performed with HUGO RAS system in a tertiary referral robotic center. Methods: Data from consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted pyeloplasty at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis Hospital (Aalst, Belgium) were recorded. Baseline characteristics, and perioperative and surgical outcomes were collected. Results: Overall, 10 robot-assisted pyeloplasties were performed (October 2022–September 2023). Based on our expertise, the following minor setting changes have been made, relative to the official setup guide: the endoscope port and, subsequently, the left and right-hand ports were positioned more laterally. Additionally, the reserve/4th port was placed more laterally and cranially, and adjusted the arm cart's tilt angle, reducing it from −30° to −15°. The median docking time was 8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.2–9.8) minutes, and the median active console time was 89.5 (80.0–95.8) minutes. No conversion to open/laparoscopic surgery or perioperative complications was encountered. A single technical problem was recorded in 1 (10%) procedure. Specifically, one arm was blocked, and the procedure was accomplished with three arms without compromising the procedure success. Conclusions: This study represents the first worldwide series of robot-assisted pyeloplasty performed with the HUGO RAS system and shows promising results. The procedure might be safely performed with this robotic platform achieving optimal perioperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flow state describes intrinsically rewarding experiences of complete absorption in a task. While descriptive accounts of flow have gained prominence in "popular" psychology, scientific research has reached a crisis point due to perceived limitations of current theoretical explanations for the experience. Here, we evaluate key metatheoretical frameworks underpinning previous explanations of flow and situate the need for reconsidering the ontological status of flow experiences and the causal entailments that might be needed to explain them. We consider the possibility that the subject–object dualism implied, and the organismic asymmetry apparent in prevalent metatheoretical frameworks, may create intractable problems for explanations of flow. Finally, the suitability of the ecological metatheory and eco-physical variables for explaining flow experiences is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) are an important tool for countering pandemics such as COVID-19. Some are cheap; others disrupt economic, educational, and social activity. The latter force governments to balance the health benefits of reduced infection and death against broader lockdown-induced societal costs. A literature has developed modeling how to optimally adjust lockdown intensity as an epidemic evolves. This paper extends that literature by augmenting the classic SIR model with additional states and flows capturing decay over time in vaccine-conferred immunity, the possibility that mutations create variants that erode immunity, and that protection against infection erodes faster than protecting against severe illness. As in past models, we find that small changes in parameter values can tip the optimal response between very different solutions, but the extensions considered here create new types of solutions. In some instances, it can be optimal to incur perpetual epidemic waves even if the uncontrolled infection prevalence would settle down to a stable intermediate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a practical issue to make professional resource planning towards low light environment such as museums, so as to achieve the optimal visual experience. This work aims at such scenes, and manages to deal with them from the perspective of vision computing-based optimal planning. Therefore, a smart optimal resource planning method for low light environment in museum based on convolutional vision computing network, is proposed in this paper. Based on the expected visual effect and light environment adaptation data in realistic situation, a convolution operations-based neural computing structure is developed to implement extraction and fusion of visual characteristics. And output of this part is further utilized for following digital evaluation of visual effect. At last, simulation experiments of the proposal are conducted to assess running effect of the proposal. The results show that time efficiency of proposal is reduced by 23.8% and the accuracy rate is improved by 12% compared with the U-net model. It is concluded that the proposal can be utilized in realist engineering applications to implement such tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parity-time (PT ) symmetry is a cornerstone of non-Hermitian physics as it ensures real energies for stable experimental realization of non-Hermitian phenomena. In this work, we propose PT symmetry as a paradigm for designing rich families of higher-dimensional non-Hermitian states with unique bulk, surface, hinge or corner dynamics. Through systematically breaking or restoring PT symmetry in different sectors of a system, we can selectively activate or manipulate the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) in both the bulk and topological boundary states. Some fascinating phenomena include the directional toggling of the NHSE, and the flow of boundary states without chiral or dynamical pumping, developed from selective boundary NHSE. Our results extend richly into 3D or higher, with more sophisticated interplay with selective bulk and boundary NHSE and charge-parity (CP ) symmetry. Based on non-interacting lattices, PT -activated NHSEs can be observed in various optical, photonic, electric and quantum platforms that admit gain/loss and non-reciprocity. PT-symmetric non-Hermitian systems possess real and complex eigenenergies in the symmetry unbroken and broken phases, respectively. Based on these spectral features and non-Hermitian band theory, the authors provide a framework to generate localized states and dynamics at different sectors of non-Hermitian systems, which can be selectively activated/deactivated by breaking/restoring PT symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality biofilm carriers are crucial for the formation of biofilm, but problems such as slow biofilm growth on the carrier surface have been troubling a large number of researchers. The addition of a carrier changes the flow state in the reactor, which in turn affects the microbial attachment and the quantity of microorganisms. Also, aerobic microorganisms need to use dissolved oxygen in the water to remove water pollutants. In this paper, a novel recirculating flow carrier with a hollow cylinder structure is proposed, with a certain number of hollow inverted circular plates placed at equal distances inside. In this paper, the hydraulic residence time, aeration volume, and the spacing of the inflow plates of the recirculating flow biofilm carrier, which are three important factors affecting the hydraulic characteristics of the reactor, are first investigated. At the same time, it was compared with the common combined carrier to find the optimal operating conditions for the hydraulic characteristics. Secondly, a reactor start-up study was carried out to confirm that the new recirculating flow biofilm carrier could accelerate the biofilm growth by changing the hydraulic characteristics. The results showed that under the same conditions, the hydraulic properties of the reactor were better with the addition of the recirculating flow carrier, with an effective volume ratio of 98% and a significant reduction in short flows and dead zones. The stabilized removal of COD, NH3-N, and TN in the reactor with the addition of the recirculating flow carrier reached about 94%, 99%, and 91% respectively, at the beginning of the 15th day, which effectively proved the feasibility of the recirculating flow carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the user experience and cognitive workload in digital storytelling through immersive virtual reality (VR). Specifically, it explores the relationship between various aspects of the user experience and their link to the cognitive workload. The investigation was conducted by means of a large-scale evaluation of an underwater archaeological VR experience that simulated diving into the reconstructions of a submerged ancient site combined with interactive 360° video storytelling. The evaluation included 125 participants from two different geographical locations. Results revealed a strong interdependence between all user experience scales, including presence, immersion, engagement, emotional response, state of flow, subjective judgment, and technological adoption of the VR equipment. Moreover, the sense of presence in VR was strongly related to the reported task performance. The article highlights the importance of understanding the user experience and cognitive workload when creating digital storytelling applications in immersive VR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What determines the flow of unsanctioned information in authoritarian regimes? To answer this question, we explore the use and circulation of illicit foreign information among citizens in North Korea. This paper focuses on how the structure of social relations among citizens determines where and with whom people acquire and disseminate politically unsanctioned and potentially illegal content offline. Based on findings from a choice‐based conjoint administered to 313 former residents of North Korea, we show that social capital and trust-related effects associated with the place where information is acquired and the person who provides it determine information flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) mobilizes Chinese construction and investment in developing countries. Ethiopia is Africa's "model" BRI country, due to China's elaborate infrastructure financing and building and its many manufacturing enterprises. Based on field and documentary research, we examine the BRI's meaning, as understood from the perspective of Ethiopia, in comparison to many China-oriented studies. We find that it is an informal Chinese state promise that even when capital flows from China to non-BRI states are curbed, flows to BRI states will be encouraged, and that Ethiopia exercises agency in leveraging the BRI for its development agenda. Using a comprehensive data set, we show that Chinese investment has become even more important in Ethiopia with the BRI and that neither COVID-19 nor Ethiopia's civil war has reversed that trend. We also discuss local criticisms of Chinese activities, which challenge the wholly positive view of the BRI, but do not affirm the US-generated negative narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehending fluid flow in rock masses is essential for modern underground engineering, including chemical energy extraction, nuclear pollutant remediation, and hydrocarbon utilization, complicated by shear-induced and surface roughness effects in fractures. This study employed numerical simulations to investigate the fluid flow behavior in fractures with different surface roughness under shear, where the shear direction is perpendicular to the flow direction. The nonlinear flow of the fluid is observed to have a strong correlation with the confining pressure (Pz), roughness (JRC), and shear displacement (u). The generation of eddy currents is frequently linked to the presence of flow channel intricacies and the velocity of flow at a microscopic scale. The Forchheimer equation could describe the process of nonlinear phenomena accentuation very well. The fracture under Pz caused a reduction in hydraulic transmissivity (T) due to compression. Furthermore, the T changes dramatically as the shear process progresses. Based on the analysis of the Forchheimer coefficient (β) and critical Reynolds number (Rec) parameters used to determine the response of nonlinear flow, it appears that an increase in Pz facilitates the transition of the fluid into a nonlinear flow state. Conversely, shearing has the opposite effect and reduces the tendency toward nonlinear flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydropower turbine parts running in the sand-bearing flow will experience surface wear, leading to a decline in the hydropower unit's stability, mechanical performance, and efficiency. A voiceprint signal-based method is proposed for extracting the flow sediment content feature of the hydropower unit. Firstly, the operating voiceprint information of the hydropower unit is obtained, and the signal is decomposed by the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) algorithm, and a series of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) are obtained. Combined with correlation analysis, more sensitive IMF components are extracted and input into a convolutional neural network (CNN) for training, and the multi-dimensional output of the fully connected layer of CNN is used as the feature vector. The k-means clustering algorithm is used to calculate the eigenvector clustering center of the hydropower unit with a clean flow state and a high sediment content state, and the characteristic index of the hydropower unit sediment content is constructed based on the Euclidean distance method. We define this characteristic index as SI, and the change in the SI value can reflect the degree of sediment content in the flow of the unit. A higher SI value indicates a lower sediment content, while a lower SI value suggests a higher sediment content. Combined with the sediment voiceprint data of the test bench, when the water flow changed from clear water to high sediment flow (1.492 × 105 mg/L), the SI value decreased from 1 to 0.06, and when the water flow with high sediment content returned to clear water, the SI value returned to 1. The experiment proves the effectiveness of the method. The extracted feature index can be used to detect the flow sediment content of the hydropower unit and give early warning in time, so as to improve the maintenance level of the hydropower unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a long and narrow corridor, the installation of roof smoke blocking structures is a measure to slow down the spread of fire smoke. When employing multiple smoke blocking structures, the spacing between these structures is a critical parameter that needs to be considered for optimal effectiveness. This paper analyzes the smoke blocking performance of double structures at different spacing and measures the smoke flow velocity both upstream and downstream of the double structures. According to the analysis of the smoke velocity vector obtained from numerical simulation, the smoke can be divided into three zones based on the flow state of the smoke after passing through the front smoke screen structure, namely the vortex zone, surge wave zone, and steady flow zone. When the rear smoke screen is located in the surge zone, the smoke blocking effect is optimal. Analysis of the morphology of the smoke layer indicates that the length of the vortex region is directly proportional to the upstream smoke flow velocity. The numerical and experimental results both indicate that an excessively large or small spacing between the structures fails to achieve optimal smoke control effectiveness. When the spacing is within an optimal range, the smoke velocity is the lowest. Finally, using a real architectural corridor as a case background, this paper presents a design example of roof smoke blocking structures. In order to arrange as many smoke blocking structures as possible, an appropriate spacing between the structures should be slightly larger than the vortex region. The smoke control effectiveness of multiple roof structures was validated through numerical simulation. As a result, the time required for smoke to pass through the corridor increases by 110 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to enhance the lubrication performance of thrust bearings. The influence of columnar convex–concave compound microtexture on bearing performance is investigated Design/methodology/approach: Based on the compound microtexture model of thrust bearings, considering surface roughness and turbulent effect, the variation of lubrication characteristics with the change in the compound microtexture parameters is studied. Findings: The results indicate that, compared with circular microtexture, the maximum pressure of compound microtexture of thrust bearings increases by 7.42%. Optimal bearing performance is achieved when the internal microtexture depth is 0.02 mm. Turbulent flow states and surface roughness lead to a reduction in the optimal depth. The maximum pressure and load-carrying capacity of the bearing decrease as the initial angle increases, whereas the friction coefficient increases with the increase in the initial angle. The lubrication performance is best for bearings with a circumferential parallel arrangement of microtexture. Originality/value: The novel composite microtexture with columnar convex-concave is proposed, and the computational model of thrust bearings is set. The influence of surface roughness and turbulent flow on the bearing performance should be considered for better conforming with engineering practice. The effect of microtexture depth, arrangement method and distribution position on the lubrication performance of the compound microtexture thrust bearing is investigated, which is of great significance for improving tribology, thrust bearings and surface microtexture theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solutions of long, flexible polymer molecules are complex fluids that simultaneously exhibit fluid-like and solid-like behavior. When subjected to an external flow, dilute polymer solutions exhibit elastic turbulence--a unique, chaotic flow state absent in Newtonian fluids, like water. Unlike its Newtonian counterpart, elastic turbulence is caused by polymer molecules stretching and aligning in the flow, and can occur at vanishing inertia. While experimental realizations of elastic turbulence are well-documented, there is currently no understanding of its mechanism. Here, we present large-scale direct numerical simulations of elastic turbulence in pressure-driven flows through straight channels. We demonstrate that the transition to elastic turbulence is sub-critical, giving rise to spot-like flow structures that, further away from the transition, eventually spread throughout the domain. We provide evidence that elastic turbulence is organized around unstable coherent states that are localized close to the channel midplane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A planetary centrifugal mixer can fluidize highly viscous fluids in a vessel by strong centrifugal force. Although high rotation and revolution speeds are effective for particle dispersion, experimental observation and numerical simulation of the fluid flow in a moving vessel with a gas-liquid interface have not been well studied. Therefore, we propose the methodology to estimate a shear rate, which dominates the particle dispersion, by the temperature measurement. We measured the fluid and gas temperatures during mixing and used the heat balance equation to estimate the viscous dissipation rate, providing the mean shear rate. As a result, the effect of the mixing conditions on the mean shear rate has been clarified. Furthermore, the ratio of centrifugal force to viscous force helps identify the viscous dominant region, where not only a considerable rotation speed of the vessel but also a large revolution radius is helpful to increase the shear rate. [Display omitted] • The shear rate was estimated based on the temperature change and heat balance equation. • The ratio of centrifugal force to viscous force is introduced to characterize the flow state. • In the viscous dominant regime, a large revolution radius effectively increases the shear rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the phase transition process from free flow to congested state in communication networks is one of the hot topics of dynamically complex systems, and many related theoretical and computational efforts have been made to improve traffic systems' organization and load management. A criterion to measure the organization efficiency of the system is the formation process of a global traffic flow cluster from local small clusters in a communication network which can be evaluated by measuring the percolation threshold. While little attention has been paid to percolation in such studies, in this research, the traffic percolation threshold is defined based on the system nodes' loads to examine the influences of the network structures, different routing strategies, and distributions of transmission capacities on the efficiency of the communication networks. Considering the obtained results, it was found any variation in the network structure and traffic control strategies that leads to a rather diverse load distribution among the system's nodes can organize traffic loads more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, introduced by Mehrabian and Russell in 1974, has become a dominant theoretical model in the service industry to determine consumer behaviour. However, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the theory are rare, and most research produces only empirical data. This research paper aims to compile and analyse research articles that have applied the SOR theory within the healthcare sector over the past five years to measure the model’s effect and relevancy. The paper establishes a consistent method of compiling past papers from online databases, and only research papers cited under the SOR theory in the healthcare sector are analysed. The study finds that the SOR model is commonly used alongside other theories, such as Flow Theory and Theory of Reasoned Actions, and can be deemed generalizable to the service industry regardless of the industry. However, the paper has limitations, such as the overgeneralization of the collection of SOR papers without a specific scope, and future research could improve the results by carrying out a metaanalysis to further determine the overall model’s reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow cytometry analyses of lymphocyte subpopulations (T, B, NK) are crucial for enhancing clinical algorithms and research workflows. Estimating the total error (TE) values for the percentage and absolute number of lymphocyte subpopulations using the state-of-the-art (SOTA) approach with real data from an external proficiency testing (EPT) scheme was performed. A comparison with previously published Biological Variability (BV)-based specifications was carried out. A total of 44,998 results from 86 laboratories over 10 years were analysed and divided into two five-year periods (2012–2016) and (2017–2021). Data come from the IC-1 Lymphocytes scheme of the Spanish External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) GECLID Program. This quantitative scheme includes percentages and absolute numbers of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD19+, and CD3−CD56+CD16+ NK cells. The percentage of TE was calculated as:|reported value − robust mean|*100/robust mean for each laboratory and parameter. The cut-off for TE is set at 80 % best results of the laboratories. A significant reduction in the SOTA-based TE for all lymphocyte subpopulations in 2017–2021 was observed compared to 2012–2016. The SOTA-based TE fulfils the minimum BV-based TE for percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations. The parameter with the best analytical performance calculated with SOTA (2017–2021 period)-based TE was the percentage of CD3+ (TE=3.65 %). The values of SOTA-based specifications from external quality assurance program data are consistent and can be used to develop technical specifications. The technological improvement, quality commitment, standardization, and training, reduce TE. An update of TE every five years is therefore recommended. TE assessment in lymphocyte subsets is a helpful and reliable tool to improve laboratory performance and data-based decision-making trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a longitudinal person-oriented approach, this study aimed to examine the prevalence and stability of achievement goal profiles among gymnasium students (N = 794) in relation to their experiences with digital technologies in education. Achievement goal orientations and experiences with digital technologies in education (ICT use in learning and school-based activities, attitudes toward ICT use for educational purposes, flow experience while using ICT, and satisfaction with ICT implementation) were assessed by online questionnaire administered twice, seven months to one year apart. Resultsrevealed four groups of students based on their achievement goal orientation profiles: mastery-oriented,success-oriented, avoidance-oriented and indifferent. In total, 77% of the students displayed identical profiles in both measurements suggesting a substantial stability in goal profiles. The transitions that were observed were mainly from more to less favourable profiles. The comparison of the goal orientation profiles indicated that the mastery-oriented and success-oriented students were generallymore inclined towards digital technology for educational purposes, although the differences between the success-oriented and indifferent students were less pronounced at the second assessment point. The indifferent and avoidance-oriented students were less satisfied with ICT implementation. The findings build on previous work on the prevalence and stability of achievement goal profiles among high school students while also offering new insights into the relations between goal profiles and experiences with digital technologies in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Technological advancements in games increased the popularity of online gaming. The rapid expansion of the eSports market may largely be attributed to the ever-increasing popularity amongst Generation Y amateur gamers. The primary objective of this study is to determine the factors influencing Generation Y amateur gamers' ongoing eSports gameplay intentions. Design/methodology/approach: This study used the extended unified theory of acceptance as the theoretical framework. Data analysis included exploratory principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis. Findings: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis suggest that Generation Y amateur gamers' ongoing eSports gameplay intentions is an eight-factor model that is reliable, valid and has acceptable model fit. The results of the path analysis indicate that habit, price-value, flow, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions have a statistically significant positive influence on amateur gamers' ongoing eSports gameplay intentions, whilst social influence and hedonic motivation have a negative but non-significant influence on those intentions. Research limitations/implications: The sample was formed using only amateur eSports gamers. In this regard, the opportunity exists to research professional eSports gamers. This study only focussed on Generation Y members between 18 and 36 years old. As a result, there is an opportunity for researchers to research the different generations of South African eSports gamers to determine whether there are any differences or similarities between generational segments. Practical implications: The results of this study clearly indicate that flow, together with habit are salient contributors to ongoing gameplay intentions amongst amateur eSports gamers in South Africa. A reasonable assumption that can be made here is that flow is also instrumental in encouraging habitual gaming, which increases the importance of flow in overall ongoing gameplay intentions. This suggests that R&D expenditure should be directed at enhancing user engagement by building increased levels of flow into eSports games. Social implications: eSports game developers can also achieve a desired state of flow by creating daily challenges that reward players when the players achieve specific objectives, which will encourage gamers to enter a state of flow when provided with challenges to complete. However, these in-game challenges should have a variety of levels regarding difficulty, ranging from beginner, intermediate and advanced levels so as not to exceed the effort expectancy of different groups of players. Game developers should provide regularly updated challenges to gamers to ensure that eSports games remain enjoyable and does not become predictable. Originality/value: Given the nascence of research on eSports behaviour, the results of this study provide a novel addition to the knowledge pool, particularly in terms of amateur eSports behavioural intentions. Interestingly, hedonic motivation and social influence were non-significant negative predictors of Generation Y amateur gamers' ongoing eSports gameplay intentions. The recommendations provide various marketing strategies and opportunities for eSports business expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the development of users' behavioural intentions to visit sports venues when using AR-based content using the stimulus-organism-response model. The study centred on individuals who had experienced the AR-based content at Gocheuk Sky Dome. This study presents a structural model that illustrates the connections between three attributes of Augmented Reality (AR)-interactivity, vividness, and novelty (stimulus)-and their influence on the flow experience. This, in turn, affects the intention to depend on AR-based content for visiting a sports venue. A survey was conducted to evaluate the model, targeting young visitors in their 20s and 30s who are knowledgeable about AR technology. The study's findings indicate that novelty had the greatest influence on flow, followed by vividness, while interactivity did not show any significant impact. Flow had a significant impact on all four experiences: education, entertainment, aesthetics, and escapism. The positive impact on the intention to visit AR-based sports venues was observed only in relation to entertainment and education experiences. The role of consumer cultural innovativeness was examined as a moderator in the proposed structure model for visiting AR-based sports venues. These insights offer valuable information for the development of AR-based content in countries with culturally significant tourist destinations for sports enthusiasts. They also guide destination marketers in promoting AR in the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the Flow experience has been researched extensively in music education, there is limited investigation into exploring the link between the Suzuki piano method and Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory. To address this gap, a quasi-experimental study was conducted to examine how the Suzuki piano method can promote the flow state of adult piano beginners. The study involved 36 participants assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. Both groups underwent an eight-week training program in Suzuki Piano Method and Conventional Group Piano Class respectively. After the program, participants from both groups underwent a posttraining performance test and completed a survey, namely Learning and Performing Experience Scale (LPES), modified based on the Short Flow State Scale (S-FFS) by Martin and Jackson to examine their flow experience. The treatment group showed significantly higher flow experience levels than the control group, particularly in dimensions of Concentration, Unambiguous feedback, Timelessness, Loss of self-consciousness, Sense of control, Autotelic experience, and Challenge-skill balance. The findings suggested that the Suzuki piano method may promote flow experiences among adult beginners in piano learning. The implication of the study signified that the collaborative and interactive learning inherent in the method might be beneficial in achieving flow state and could be a consideration in conducting group piano classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow, the holistic sensation people experience when they act with total involvement, is a known driver for desired work outcomes like task performance. However, the increasing ubiquity of IT at work can disrupt employees' flow. Thus, the impact of IT-mediated interruptions on flow warrants more attention in research and practice. We conducted a NeuroIS laboratory experiment focusing on a typical office work task--an invoice matching task (i.e., matching customer payments to invoices). We manipulated interruption frequency (low, high) and content relevance (irrelevant, relevant) to study the impact of interruptions on self-reported flow, its dimensions, and high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV; calculated from electrocardiography recordings) as a proxy for parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activation. We found that content relevance moderated the relationship between interruption frequency and self-reported flow and that these results vary along flow dimensions. Content relevance also moderated the relationship between interruption frequency and PNS activation. Furthermore, selfreported flow was positively associated with both perceived and objective task performance, while PNS activation was not related to either performance measure. Lastly, we found no relationship between PNS activation (measured by HF-HRV) and self-reported flow, contributing to an important debate in the NeuroIS literature on whether physiological evidence constitutes an alternative or a complement to selfreports. Overall, our findings indicate that frequent interruptions are not harmful per se. Rather, considering content relevance is critical for a more comprehensive understanding of the effects on selfreported flow, its dimensions, and the underlying physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic scoring of students' physical experimental operations is a very practical application which has not been researched deeply. The common method for automatic scoring of students' experimental operations is to infer the behavior of experimental operations through the state of experimental instruments. Video object detection is the basic task of detecting the state of experimental instruments, and the problem of missed detection or false detection in video multi-object detection is one of the main reasons leading to the error of automatic scoring results. However, existing methods of video object detection mainly improve the accuracy of the model in public datasets, which has the disadvantage of not correcting false detection while improving accuracy. Therefore, an efficient video object detection method composed of YOLOv5 and a logical reasoning post-processing method was proposed to fill this gap. We compared our method with other state-of-the-art methods on three independent datasets of physical experimental instruments. We established a pipeline for automatic scoring of students' experimental operations, designed flow charts and state score tables of three physics experiments, and compared the automatic scoring results with the average scores of six experimental teachers. The results show that our method is more robust and efficient in this application scenario. We hope this report can promote the application of logical reasoning methods in video object detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great deal of scholarship links leaders' psychological traits to their monadic tendency to use force abroad, but virtually no work considers how the interaction of leadership psychology influences the systematic likelihood of dyadic interstate conflict. We develop and test several competing explanations of how the interactive conceptual complexity of leaders—a psychological trait that consistently predicts monadic conflict propensity—might affect the ebb and flow of conflict within rivalries. Our time-series analyses of the US–Soviet Cold War rivalry, utilizing the leadership trait analysis coding scheme, demonstrate that, in accordance with the monadic logic, increases in the interactive conceptual simplicity between US presidents and Soviet premiers predict a significantly higher incidence of militarized interstate dispute initiation and a greater volume of conflictual dyadic (COPDAB, conflict and peace data bank) behavior. At the same time, however, the least conflict-prone pairing is one in which a conceptually complex leader interacts with a conceptually simplistic counterpart. This suggests that the presence of even one complex leader can increase empathy and diminish the aggressive misperception and retaliatory "downward spirals" that haunt rivalries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi-directional pedestrian flow in corridors is a complex dynamic system due to the diversity in pedestrian psychological characteristics. Incorporating individual differences of pedestrians is vital for improving pedestrian flow models. However, due to the inherent complexity and variability of pedestrian movement, model parameter calibration remains challenging. Controlled experiments are needed to collect empirical pedestrian movement data under different environments. This enriches the database on pedestrian movement patterns and provides necessary support for improving pedestrian flow models. To address this issue, we conducted controlled experiments to quantify pedestrian heterogeneity by defining the direction of fuzzy visual field (DFVF). The DFVF incorporates various static and dynamic pedestrian factors. We used it to modify the traditional cellular automata model. This improved model simulates bi-directional pedestrian movements in the corridors, reproduces density-speed and density-volume relationships, and reveals self-organization phenomena. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted to examine the impacts of pedestrian density and facility spatial layout on evacuation time. Pedestrian interactions were also studied to uncover fundamental bi-directional flow properties. As pedestrian density increased, the evacuation time showed an exponential upward trend. Corridor length significantly impacts evacuation time, while increasing corridor width helps control it. As crowd density increases, pedestrian flows exhibit three distinct steady states: the strolling flow at low densities, directional separated flows at medium densities, and dynamic multi-lane flows at high densities. In summary, the modified cellular automata model successfully incorporates pedestrian heterogeneity and reveals intrinsic bi-directional pedestrian flow patterns. This study provides valuable insights for pedestrian facility design and optimizing pedestrian flow organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of smart tourism technology (STT) attributes (accessibility, informativeness, interactivity, and personalisation) in creating a positive STT experience, influencing tourists' intentions to revisit, thus benefiting the image of a heritage site. A conceptual model was developed by formulating key reasoning from the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and flow theory. Four hundred samples were collected from four national heritage sites in India to test the model. The results indicated that the STT role is critical in developing tourists' STT experience and revisit intention, with STT attributes representing the central route of elaboration tending to play a stronger role. This study discusses results across age (old/young) and gender (male/female) with theoretical implications that could also contribute meaningful insights to marketers, government bodies, and corporations involved in tourism development. Importantly, the emergence of STT and the dimensions of the heritage site image are discussed from a sustainability perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is significant research on the built environment’s support for children’s optimal learning in educational settings. While faith itself is transmitted through conversation with God, the process of conversation, as well as a child’s interaction and growth within their community, is affected by the physically built environment of the classroom. By filtering data through a lens of God’s gift of place, we can see what is often taken for granted or measured by adult standards. When place is viewed as the third teacher, best practices can help children enter a flow state of learning which supports their spiritual development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity to study the oxygen activity of aqueous media in the flowing state to solve various problems has been substantiated. It has been found that emitted γ-quanta as a result of decay of 16N nuclei with energy more than 9 MeV cause the formation of additional color centers and reversible optical defects in the fiber. Their appearance leads to increased radiation-induced losses in the optical fiber, which reduce the power of laser radiation transmitted through it. A new optical method has been developed that makes it possible to study the nature of oxygen activity change by the number of γ-quanta emitted by 16N nuclei when the liquid moves along the pipeline. For the first time, the nature of the change in the spectral distribution of the number of 16N nuclei emitted as a result of oxygen activity was investigated, and its features in the current flow were determined. In order to realize long-term studies of oxygen activity, a method was proposed to restore optical properties of fiber in the presence of background radioactive radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the feasibility and the potential effects of adding music to meditative movement on affect and flow. Fifteen participants were recruited and they were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (a) meditative movement without music (NM); (b) recorded music and meditative movement (RM); and (c) live music and meditative movement (LM). Participants from each group engaged individually in a 45-minute online session, practicing three qigong exercise sets. To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and practicality were investigated through the analysis of anecdotal notes, open-ended questionnaires, and video recordings. Potential effects of music and meditative movement were examined by comparing scores from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Short Flow State Scale (SFSS). Statistical tests were performed to determine pre- and post-session differences, between group differences in affect and flow, as well as the effect sizes. Results indicated that the addition of music to qigong is feasible and has a different impact on affect and flow than meditative movement alone. Adding recorded music to meditative movement led to the largest change in affect and was positively valenced. The addition of live music to qigong exercises contributed to the largest increase in flow. The feasibility and preliminary results support the scientific need for further fully-powered investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the high levels in Latin America, women's necessity-driven entrepreneurship is a field that has been little explored. Contemporary research suggests that entrepreneurs may experience less work-life conflict than other workers, but that gender differences mean that women are at a disadvantage in terms of uses of time and the sexual division of labor. We explore how 20 Chilean craftswomen experience their (productive) work time. The content analysis of group interviews shows that these socially at-risk women entrepreneurs achieve wellbeing at work by entering a state of flow. They describe their experience as personal time, which resembles leisure more than it does actual work. This source of emotional wellbeing seems to be a personal strategy that helps them cope with their precarious situation. Their boundaries between work and personal time are blurred. Our findings illustrate how uses of time can be perceived differently in different contexts. We put particular emphasis on the restorative nature of personal time and the need for further research in this area from a gender approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to objectively evaluate the optimal state of desk work (flow state) through physiological measurements and use the data to support workers' mental health and well-being. We suppose that the flow state evaluation in real-time can contribute to a concentrated work environment, improved work efficiency, and stabilize worker's minds. This study reports on the development of the mental task modeled on daily work for the physiological measurement experiment. In the first phase of the research, a field survey was conducted with 55 desk workers to understand the details of their jobs and develop suitable mental tasks. Further, the relationship between daily work content and subjective stress was clarified. In the second phase, based on the results of the field survey, a task inducing the flow state was developed for practical use. Through empirical experiments with 35 participants (22 adults and 13 students), the developed task was evaluated for its usefulness and possible issues by examining the relationships among subjective assessment, task performance, degree of flow state, and individual characteristics. The study results showed that the proposed mental task developed in this study constitutes practical work that can be used for concentrated and goal-directed efforts. The task also demonstrated the property of inducing a flow state. Further, the results suggest that it is necessary to adjust the task difficulty level and implement effective feedback methods to induce the flow state more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow is an intrinsic motivational state associated with full task engagement, positive affect, and enhanced performance. While research has examined how different language tasks interact with flow experiences, no study has examined learner flow experiences in a wide range of tasks using an experience sampling method to determine how universal basic task features (e.g., modality, participant structure, information distribution, and targeted skills) interact with flow. The present study aims to respond to this gap in the research. Participants were 13 teachers and 327 students from 18 intact French L2 classes in a Canadian postsecondary school. Teachers selected and implemented an average of six tasks from their personal repertoires at random moments throughout the semester. Immediately following each task, learners anonymously completed a flow experience questionnaire (N = 1408; α = 0.91), and teachers a task description questionnaire containing 17 basic task features (N = 81). Statistical analyses show that 10 of the 17 variables significantly interacted with learners' flow experiences. The results not only validate a frequently used flow measurement and establish norms for future research but also outline a framework language teachers can use to evaluate and modify practices to improve learners' subjective classroom experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow experience's role in helping people feel greater enjoyment and involvement is often used in online-consumer behavior platforms may be applied and refined further in a restaurant setting. While considering the challenging boundary conditions of the flow experience, this study contains the results of an exploration into whether the state of flow occurs during a relatively passively dining activity on the consumer's part. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) because of its prediction-oriented nature, this study found that the flow experience can occur in a dining environment where one's involvement is less active than that of online settings influences consumer word-of-mouth and revisit intentions. This study also demonstrates that extrinsic cues change people's level of acceptance of intrinsic cues in restaurants. Academically, this study expands the theory of flow in the hospitality context. Practically, I suggest that restaurant managers need to continuously develop and monitor the factors that can induce flow experiences in restaurants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the degree and location of vertebrobasilar stenosis and quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA) distal flow. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke with ≥50% stenosis of the extracranial or intracranial vertebral or basilar arteries, and QMRA performed within 1 year of stroke. Standardized techniques were used to measure stenosis and to dichotomize vertebrobasilar distal flow status. Patients were grouped based on the involved artery and the severity of disease. All p‐values were calculated using chi‐squared analysis and Fisher exact test with statistical significance defined as p <.05. Results: Sixty‐nine patients met study inclusion, consisting of 31 with low distal flow and 38 with normal distal flow. The presence of severe stenosis or occlusion was 100% sensitive, but only 47% predictive and 26% specific of a low distal flow state. Bilateral vertebral disease was only 55% sensitive but was 71% predictive and 82% specific of a low‐flow state and was five times and nearly three times more likely to result in a low‐flow state compared to unilateral vertebral disease (14%) and isolated basilar disease (28%), respectively. Conclusions: Severe stenosis of ≥70% may mark the minimal threshold required to cause hemodynamic insufficiency in the posterior circulation, but nearly half of these patients may remain hemodynamically sufficient. Bilateral vertebral stenosis resulted in a fivefold increase in QMRA low distal flow status compared to unilateral vertebral disease. These results may have implications in the design of future treatment trials of intracranial atherosclerotic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND As the number of dermatologists offering cosmetic procedures continues to increase, so does the need for hands-on exposure to cosmetic dermatology during residency.A resident cosmetic clinic (RCC)model presents as amutually beneficial opportunity for trainees to obtain first-hand experience, while patients have access to more affordable pricing. OBJECTIVES (1) To assess volume and variety of cosmetic dermatological procedures during residency. (2) To compare Loma Linda University (LLU) Dermatology RCC data with national residency program data. (3) To provide guidance for other dermatology residency programs who wish to incorporate cosmetic training into their educational curriculum. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this cross-sectional, retrospective, chart review study, resident training in cosmetic procedures at the LLU RCC was quantified and compared with that of national program averages, minimums, and maximums as reported by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medication Education. RESULTS LLU RCC residents performed more nonablative skin rejuvenation, intense pulsed light, and soft tissue augmentation procedures as the resident surgeon compared with other dermatology residents across the nation. CONCLUSION Institutional review highlights an unmet need for greater exposure to and training in a variety of dermatologic cosmetic procedures during residency. Practical considerations for achieving optimal learning experiences were provided through the implementation of a resident cosmetic clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood holds immense significance in shaping the physical, mental, and emotional growth of children. Orphaned children face heightened susceptibility to encountering various physical and mental health challenges, thereby depriving them of the opportunity to experience optimal well-being throughout their childhood and beyond. Pakistan is home to an estimated 4.6 million orphaned children, with the majority being under the age of 17. The objective of the study was to assess the mental and physical health of children living in orphanages of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 110 children aged 7 to 18 years, living in orphanages of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to assess their physical and mental health. Anthropometric measurements were taken and the presence or absence of anxiety was determined by using the “Revised Children Manifest Anxiety Scale” (RCMAS) questionnaire. Results: 50% of the study population was underweight based on their BMI, while 46.36% had normal weight and 1.82% were overweight or obese. Out of the 33 male participants, 20 were found to be underweight. The results of the RCMAS scoring revealed that 20.9% of the children had anxiety, with a higher prevalence among females as compared to males. Conclusion: Prevalence of underweight was found to be higher among male orphans. Female orphans were more likely to experience anxiety and depression as compared to males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores whether the motivation to leisure is related to flow. Contrary to popular belief, it was hypothesised that motivation to leisure positively influences 'flow'. The study involved 233 college students (M = 157, F = 76). The tests used were the intrinsic leisure motivation scale and the flow state scale. A clear positive relationship was established between motivation to leisure and flow (r = 0.521, p< 0.01). Motivation to leisure explained 27.18% of the variance in flow. Self-determination was found to be the single most influencing factor on the following flow factors: challenge-skill balance, clear goals, unambiguous feedback, concentration on the task at hand and sense of control (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Various supporting studies and theoretical explanations of findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an experiment to examine how virtual reality (VR) and active navigation interact to improve audience experience in virtual concerts. To manipulate the medium, the participants were presented with concert-related audiovisual stimuli via a head-mounted VR device or a computer. To manipulate the participants' access to different perspectives (navigation mode), they were allowed to actively switch, or were passively guided, between the audience's perspective and the performer's perspective. According to the results, VR and active navigation induced a higher sense of presence (feeling of being somewhere else) than did computer and passive navigation, and thus, they increased the audience's state of flow and gave them higher degrees of satisfaction and concert-attending intention. VR and active navigation also increased the participants' role identification (feeling of being someone else), which again gave them higher degrees of satisfaction and concert-attending intention. This research contributes to the literature supporting VR's enhancement of concert experiences and further highlights the important relationship between action, perception, and experience satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the competitive context of Division I (DI) intercollegiate sport, an unwillingness to undertake change can often reflect the attitudes of complacency on the part of stakeholders, that their institution is doing an adequate job in providing the optimal experience for its student-athletes, or resignation, that they can do no more to increase success. This paper examines New State University's, a pseudonym for a DI Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), organizational deficit thinking. It demonstrates prevalent deficit thinking in intercollegiate athletics and offers suggestions to reframe such thinking. Schroeder's (2010) case study cultural framework was used and the interaction of four collegiate environments examined. These were institutional culture, leadership and power, internal athletic department, and external athletic department. Data collection and triangulation analysis included 36 interviews, researcher observations, photos, archival data, and social media. The complexity of assumptions, traditions, deeply held beliefs, and values suggests a proud sense of identity projected to the outside world that, nevertheless, prevents the internal athletic department's ability to address perennial deficit thinking. In this case, the nexus justifying deficit thinking centered on geographical location of the university. Specifically, location was blamed for team losses, inability to retain quality coaches, and a negative culture of fandom. On a larger scale, deficit thinking may be prevalent in many DI universities attempting to compete with the few programs with perennial championships across sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threshold density for intrinsic toroidal rotation reversal is studied using a newly proposed model [Li et al., Nucl. Fusion 61, 104002 (2021)] based on the neoclassical toroidal plasma viscosity (NTV) effect induced by symmetry breaking due to the existence of internal kink mode. In this model, rotation reversal happens when the NTV steady state flow jumps between "electron root" and "ion root," which depends on plasma collisionality regimes. To make it convenient for cross machine comparisons or extrapolation to the future device, a scaling of threshold density for rotation reversal is proposed based on the physics of transition between the 1 / ν and superbanana plateau regimes, i.e., the normalized collisionality over the particle toroidal precessional frequency rather than over the particle bounce frequency that is frequently used in neoclassical theory. The theoretical scaling of the threshold density on electron temperature and magnetic field strength is well verified by the NTVTOK modeling. Other effects, such as boundary condition, temperature gradient, and temperature ratio, which cannot be included in the theoretical scaling, are also investigated by using the NTVTOK modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]