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Abstract Water scarcity and its geopolitical implications have been a cornerstone of scholarly discourse. However, literature often overlooks the nuanced relationship between human traits and water management. Addressing this oversight, this study synthesized data from 149 articles (1991–2023), revealing a substantial connection between human actions and water management dynamics. From this data, a unique comprehensive framework was developed, focusing on the intricate interplay of human behaviors, leadership dynamics, economic factors, and technological advancements in water management. Unlike previous works, this framework holistically integrates these components, offering a fresh lens through which to understand the human-centric factors underpinning global water scarcity. This study underscores the framework’s vital role in guiding sustainable water management and strategy, making it an indispensable tool for stakeholders, from policymakers to environmentalists. In essence, this research not only bridges a knowledge gap but also serves as a beacon for addressing pressing water scarcity challenges in today’s world.

Fashion is a way to express identity and affiliations with specific social networks, and sociocultural organisations of health care facilities are no exception. Employees in hospitals must adhere to strictly regulated dress code policies, albeit shoes are one of few markers that are not regulated. The aim of this study was to analyse the expressed team identity among healthcare staff by studying signs of personality traits they share with colleagues, as found in their choice of footwear. A total of 213 images of hospital footwear, posted on Instagram, were analysed utilising thematic content analysis. The results show that choice of footwear signals seven different personality traits: the anonymous, an understated conformist; the discreet standout, a subtle individualist; the doer on the move, an active and ready contributor; the naturist, a barefoot enthusiast; the superior tourist, a temporarily elite visitor; the outsider, an unconventional maverick; and the legend, a battle-scarred veteran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with TP53 mutations has a worse prognosis. It was generally more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the TP53 co-mutated gene and clinical features, and prognostic value in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC at our hospital were recruited. They were divided into the TP53 mutation status (minor) (TP53 MU) and TP53 wild-type (major) (TP53 WT) groups according to their clinical characteristics after their mutation data and clinical information were collected. Serum markers were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Other clinical factors were compared between groups using χ2 test and Fisher exact test. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. Results: Of the 73 patients with NSCLC, 37 (50.68%) were found to carry TP53 mutation. TP53 MU and TP53 WT groups (n = 36) showed a significant difference in the number of smokers, incidence of squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR mutation, and number of advanced patients (P <.05), while gender, age, lymph node metastasis, and KRAS mutation did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The survival curves in the TP53/KRAS and the TP53/EGFR co-mutation groups suggest that patients with NSCLC may have a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) if they carry one of the 2 types of co-mutation. Conclusions: TP53 gene mutations are more common in patients with NSCLC and squamous cell carcinoma. New predictive markers for NSCLC prognosis may be TP53/KRAS and TP53/EGFR co-mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A production process using high-resolution cameras can be used for multi-camera recordings of theater performances or other stage performances. One approach to automate the generation of suitable image cuts could be to focus on speaker changes so that the person who is speaking is shown in the generated cut. However, these image cuts can appear static and robotic if they are set too precisely. Therefore, the characteristics and habits of professional vision mixers (persons who operate the vision mixing desk) during the editing process are investigated in more detail in order to incorporate them into an automation process. The characteristic features of five different vision mixers are examined, which were used under almost identical recording conditions for theatrical cuts in TV productions. The cuts are examined with regard to their temporal position in relation to pauses in speech, which take place during speaker changes on stage. It is shown that different professional vision mixers set the cuts individually differently before, in or after the pauses in speech. Measured are differences on average up to 0.3 seconds. From the analysis of the image cuts, an approach for a model is developed in which the individual characteristics of a vision mixer can be set. With the help of this novel model, a more human appearance can be given to otherwise exact and robotic cuts, when automating image cuts.

In both science and theology, there has been a revolution in our understanding of the nature of human uniqueness. As a background to this Symposium on the subject, a summary is here given of the history of Homo sapiens that is being revealed by fossil, archaeological, and genetic evidence. This is followed by a description of some of the distinctive characteristics of humans that have been proposed in the past, such as language, tool use, self‐consciousness, art, and culture. Ideas from theology and philosophy that are salient for the dialogue with science are then mentioned, together with a summary of the scientific and theological insights on uniqueness from contributors to this Symposium in Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Adab Al-Kufa is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Non--small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with TP53 mutations has a worse prognosis. It was generally more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the TP53 co-mutated gene and clinical features, and prognostic value in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC at our hospital were recruited. They were divided into the TP53 mutation status (minor) (TP53 MU) and TP53 wild-type (major) (TP53 WT) groups according to their clinical characteristics after their mutation data and clinical information were collected. Serum markers were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Other clinical factors were compared between groups using χ² test and Fisher exact test. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: Of the 73 patients with NSCLC, 37 (50.68%) were found to carry TP53 mutation. TP53 MU and TP53 WT groups (n = 36) showed a significant difference in the number of smokers, incidence of squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR mutation, and number of advanced patients (P < .05), while gender, age, lymph node metastasis, and KRAS mutation did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The survival curves in the TP53/KRAS and the TP53/EGFR co-mutation groups suggest that patients with NSCLC may have a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) if they carry one of the 2 types of co-mutation. CONCLUSIONS: TP53 gene mutations are more common in patients with NSCLC and squamous cell carcinoma. New predictive markers for NSCLC prognosis may be TP53/KRAS and TP53/EGFR co-mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to analyze the potential differences in the motivation factors of volunteers according to the demographics; sex, level of education, and type of events in Brazil. The Volunteer Motivations Scale for International Sporting Events was administered to Brazilian volunteers via an online survey. Back-translation was used to ensure accuracy between the original scales. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to perform the transcultural adaptation. MANOVA was utilized to compare differences in demographic variables. Volunteers were motivated by two factors: Love of Sports and Community Involvement. The level of education verified significant differences only in the love of sport factor. The MANOVA revealed that the volunteers with a lower level of schooling (incomplete and elementary school) have higher levels of motivation (love for sport) compared to volunteers with high school, undergraduate, master's and PhD degrees. The interaction between sex and level of education indicated a significant difference in the same factor, and the interaction sex and type of event with the factor Community Involvement. Therefore, the results identify some differences in demographics. It is concluded that Volunteers' motivation is linked to the love of sport and involvement with the community and is related to sex and schooling, highlighting the importance of investigating volunteer motivations amongst sports events to promote positive development in management practices, specially to Brazilian sports events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important topics in the third millennium is the problem of love which can be discussed from different aspects. In this regard, the objective of the present study is to survey a new mentality of love. This study investigates the characteristics of a love-based human and a love-based society. The method of the present study is descriptive-survey and the researcher used a single sample t-test. In this study, the collected data has been analyzed by descriptive statistical tests and inferential statistics, but the significant point is that the main indicators of this study have been obtained from a qualitative research by profound interviews with elites about love. At this stage, Tehran University students declared their levels of belief in these categories. Findings show that in connection with the characteristics of a love-based human, including: sense of responsibility, freedom, courage, feel safe, happiness, peace, hope, creativity, transparency, discipline, art, intimacy, interaction of intellect and felling, spirituality of presence, sacrifice, patience and forgiveness with 99% probability from the respondent's standpoint in this research, the score of love-based human characteristics was higher than the average. The results show that according to the components and categories of love-based human and lovebased society, many contradiction and conflicts can be respond in society and the path of Iran's development in furtherance the dimension and characteristics of these two indicators will be ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropomorphism describes the tendency to endow objects with human characteristics, with some individuals being more inclined to do this than others. In an ambiguous environment, this phenomenon can offer guidance. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported attribution and evoked anthropomorphism when viewing house facades. Data was collected from three countries (Germany, Denmark, Canada; N = 305). Implicit house anthropomorphism was measured using the Global Vectors for Word Representation method. Explicit anthropomorphism was assessed using the Individual Differences in Anthropomorphism Questionnaire (IDAQ) and a specific House Anthropomorphism Score (EHAS). No significant relationship was found between implicit and explicit house anthropomorphism. Individual IDAQ scores were significantly associated with EHAS across all participants, regardless of country. Additionally, a high degree of agreement in explicit ratings between countries suggests that cultural differences are rather negligible. When objects are given human personality traits and people interact with them because emotions are triggered, it is important to understand which aspects elicit positive and reactive behaviors. In particular, houses, which have high psychological significance as objects of self-expression, might contribute to well-being, so research in this area can provide important knowledge for urban design and architecture., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this paper, I argue that patient preferences concerning human physical attributes associated with race, culture, and gender should be excluded from public healthcare robot design. On one hand, healthcare should be (objective, universal) needs oriented. On the other hand, patient well-being (the aim of healthcare) is, in concrete ways, tied to preferences, as is patient satisfaction (a core WHO value). The shift toward patient-centered healthcare places patient preferences into the spotlight. Accordingly, the design of healthcare technology cannot simply disregard patient preferences, even those which are potentially morally problematic. A method for handling these at the design level is thus imperative. By way of uncontroversial starting points, I argue that the priority of the public healthcare system is the fulfillment of patients' therapeutic needs, among which certain potentially morally problematic preferences may be counted. There are further ethical considerations, however, which, taken together, suggest that the potential benefits of upholding these preferences are outweighed by the potential harms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As is well known, the characteristics of being human are important to all of us because they signify our basic identity as individuals. It can be asked, however, which of those characteristics are related to our well-being as that is assessed by our life satisfaction. It is the intention of this study to explore the connections among human character strengths and life satisfaction. The human character strengths studied here include curiosity, love of learning, wisdom, having a “big picture perspective,” self-awareness, honesty, kindness, social intelligence, intangible values, gift giving, social responsibility, and hope and humor. A total of 498 responses were collected from adult shoppers in Bangkok, Thailand. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that among the various human character strengths, as well the demographic characteristics, wisdom, self-awareness, household income, hope, education, social responsibility, and intangible values have positive impacts on life satisfaction The only negative element that was seen to have a negative influence on life satisfaction was curiosity. Further analyses of the significant determinants of life satisfaction for those with varying household incomes and levels of education were carried out and are discussed in this article.

The aim of the research is to provide a survey-based result on the individual digital skills and human characteristics of the workforce influenced by digital transformation. The online questionnaire is completed by managers and white collar workers of Hungarian manufacturing companies in spring 2021 (n=489). Descriptive statistics and relationship tests are used for analysing the results. The main findings are: (1) digital transformation reduced the demand for human labour, the workforces have basic digital skills used in a few parts of companies, and the digital transformation has increased the challenge in the lack of digital skills of the workforce. (2) Human characteristics are important as an impact of the digital transformation. (3) The size of the companies influences human characteristics changed as a result of the digital transformation. Managers have to focus on improving human and digital skills of the workforces needed in increasingly digital work environments, therefore providing adequate training is an urgent need while companies undergo digital transformation. The study investigates an important socio-technical phenomena determining how digital transformation places specific demands on individual digital skills. Significant human characteristics such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, adaptability, resilience and creativity are essential to successfully exploit the digital transformation.

Currently, biotechnological advances have surpassed the classical aims of medicine. Critical conceptual changes have impacted the medical construct of the doctor-patient relationship, such as a) the diversity of the concept of human nature; b) the concept of human corporeality; c) the subjective concept of autonomy, and d) the value of quality of life. A bioethical analysis of these concepts leads to understanding why current medicine could be heading towards an 'enhancement' or 'transhumanist' medicine. The conclusion shows that medicine accepts the application of biotechnology advances under the classical postulates focused on the health field and that it is necessary to deeply reflect on their application to provide improvements or new functions to healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Ethics-Law & History / Türkiye klinikleri tıp Etiği, Hukuku ve Tarihi Dergisi is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Health advice in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has called upon the public to re-evaluate risk associated with recently routine behavior. However, differences in demographics, situational circumstances, and psychological dispositions create inequities in how people are able to respond to risks presented by the virus. Within a sample of 482 Americans, we examined the frequency of behavior reconceptualized as 'risky' by CDC public health guidelines released on 30 March 2020. We applied a cluster analysis using a data-driven persona framework from the field of user-design research, using only situational and dispositional (i.e. psychological) variables to identify profiles of individuals. This profile approach unpacked important variability in the evaluation of risk for COVID-19 contagion, as well as adherence to public health guidance. Profiles engaged in high-risk behaviors were more likely required to work on-site and report higher financial impact related to the pandemic. Applying the profile approach facilitates personalized communications tailored to the psychological and situational circumstances of each profile that can promote compliance with public health guidelines and guide policy decisions. These results also suggest that risk-taking behaviors within the context of COVID-19 may also be driven by factors related to economic inequity since those who are more likely to be essential workers do not have the ability to remain as compliant to social distancing compared to those with higher economic status. Recommendations for policies promoting federally mandated paid leave policy in the US and employing qualitative methods for future research is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks are widely used as a fast and ubiquitous information-sharing medium. The mass spread of food rumours has seriously invaded public's healthy life and impacted food production. It can be argued that the government, companies, and the media have the responsibility to send true anti-rumour messages to reduce panic, and the risks involved in different forms of communication to the public have not been properly assessed. The manuscript develops an empirical analysis model from 683 food anti-rumour cases and 7,967 data of the users with top comments to test the influence of the strength of rumour/anti-rumour on rumour control. Furthermore, dividing the users into three categories, Leaders, Chatters, and General Public, and study the influence of human characteristics on the relationship between the strength of rumour/anti-rumour and rumour control by considering the different human characteristics as moderator variables. The results showed that anti-rumours have a significant positive impact on the control of rumours; the ambiguity of rumours has a significant negative impact on the Positive Comment Index (PCI) in rumour control. Further, the Leaders increased the overall level of PCI, but negatively adjusted the relationship between evidence and PCI; the Chatters and the General Public reduced the overall level of PCI, and Chatters weakened the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI while the General Public enhanced the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI. In the long run, the role of Leaders needs to be further improved, and the importance of the General Public is growing in the food rumour control process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed objective is to identify the level of spirituality in university teachers during the context of the pandemic. The correlational descriptive quantitative methodology was used with Mann Whitney's U, Spearman's rho and Kruskal Wallis's H tests in 85 university professors from the Faculties of Health and Humanities of a public entity. Applying the Spirituality scale, the information was analyzed using SPSS, version 24. The results show high levels of spirituality in 96% of teachers. There are statistically significant differences in the scores with respect to age and sex in the spiritual needs dimension, with men and the group between 30 and 39 years old having the highest average (p <0.05). The self-awareness dimension predominated at the highest level. Conclusions: spirituality, as a construction given from beliefs, practices and own experiences, represents a relevant element for the care of being; considering it essential to face difficulties, especially in apparently disruptive situations such as COVID-19. In the experience of the pandemic, teachers adopt spirituality as a part of their being that gives value to themselves, guides the search for harmony with nature and focuses on their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to analyze the potential differences in the motivation factors of volunteers according to the demographics; sex, level of education, and type of events in Brazil. The Volunteer Motivations Scale for International Sporting Events was administered to Brazilian volunteers via an online survey. Back-translation was used to ensure accuracy between the original scales. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to perform the transcultural adaptation. MANOVA was utilized to compare differences in demographic variables. Volunteers were motivated by two factors: Love of Sports and Community Involvement. The level of education verified significant differences only in the love of sport factor. The MANOVA revealed that the volunteers with a lower level of schooling (incomplete and elementary school) have higher levels of motivation (love for sport) compared to volunteers with high school, undergraduate, master's and PhD degrees. The interaction between sex and level of education indicated a significant difference in the same factor, and the interaction sex and type of event with the factor Community Involvement. Therefore, the results identify some differences in demographics. It is concluded that Volunteers' motivation is linked to the love of sport and involvement with the community and is related to sex and schooling, highlighting the importance of investigating volunteer motivations amongst sports events to promote positive development in management practices, specially to Brazilian sports events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Teachers’ evaluation as an accountable process in promoting the quality of medical education is the main mission of the university. Teachers are key and effective facilitator of this process. Some of the attributes of faculty from the students’ point of view to help students to learn and make the learning process more effective. For this purpose, a study was conducted to determine the characteristics of effective faculty in improving education and its influence on students in Iran. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted through systematic review and meta-analysis. For this purpose, the articles that were published in Iran were either in English in Persian and were selected for the study without considering the time period. Articles were searched in databases of Cochrane Library Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Ovid, Science Direct, WILEY, Scopus, ProQuest, Medline, Elsevier Magiran, and SID. Finally, 21 articles that met the criteria for meta-analysis were included in the study and their quality was evaluated. Results: Attributes were extracted in six domains. The six main dimensions are as follows: Individual and personality traits, communication skills, teaching skills, research skills, evaluation skills, and observing educational rules. Conclusion: Personal characteristics, research skills and communication skills were among the most important characteristics of an effective faculty from the students' perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the characteristics in the recruitment of instructors.

Social networks are widely used as a fast and ubiquitous information-sharing medium. The mass spread of food rumours has seriously invaded public’s healthy life and impacted food production. It can be argued that the government, companies, and the media have the responsibility to send true anti-rumour messages to reduce panic, and the risks involved in different forms of communication to the public have not been properly assessed. The manuscript develops an empirical analysis model from 683 food anti-rumour cases and 7,967 data of the users with top comments to test the influence of the strength of rumour/anti-rumour on rumour control. Furthermore, dividing the users into three categories, Leaders, Chatters, and General Public, and study the influence of human characteristics on the relationship between the strength of rumour/anti-rumour and rumour control by considering the different human characteristics as moderator variables. The results showed that anti-rumours have a significant positive impact on the control of rumours; the ambiguity of rumours has a significant negative impact on the Positive Comment Index (PCI) in rumour control. Further, the Leaders increased the overall level of PCI, but negatively adjusted the relationship between evidence and PCI; the Chatters and the General Public reduced the overall level of PCI, and Chatters weakened the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI while the General Public enhanced the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI. In the long run, the role of Leaders needs to be further improved, and the importance of the General Public is growing in the food rumour control process.

There's something strange about Freud's Civilization and its Discontents (1930). Biologically, Freud was a Neo-Lamarckian, who believed in both the modification of organisms through need and the inheritance of acquired characteristics. However, in Civilization, Freud argued that because human nature is immutable, society has dim odds of improving substantially. Lamarckians, of course, rejected that any species-nature is immutable, as species can always be transformed via the inheritance of acquired characteristics. In fact, many of Freud's Viennese contemporaries-such as Wilhelm Reich, Julius Tandler, and Paul Kammerer-took their Lamarckism to license precisely the sorts of radical social projects Freud deemed impossible. Thus the Freud of Civilization helped himself to a rigid view of human nature which, given his associated biological views, he seemingly ought to have rejected. In this paper, I explain this apparent inconsistency, and suggest Freud resolved it in the following way: Freud was not merely a Lamarckian, but also a strong and peculiar kind of recapitulationist, who believed stages of psychological development both recapitulate phylogeny, and "remain with us" throughout both individual lives and future species-history. I suggest Freud's recapitulationism supposed a certain inertia: what occurred in phylogenetic history cannot un-occur, and therefore there are aspects of our nature which we cannot un-acquire. In this way, Freud reached a rigid conception of human nature despite his Lamarckism., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

International studies establish that there is a relationship between Diabetes Mellitus and Tuberculosis; it is believed that the immunosuppression produced by the high level of glucose allows the development of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, in the Technical Standard for the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis (TB) in El Salvador, the management of people with Diabetes Mellitus is integrated for both the investigation of symptomatic respiratory people and the diagnostic methods to be used, as well as the management of patients with TB and decompensated diabetes. In order to provide new knowledge in the prevention of this binomial, it is necessary to know which characteristics potentiate tuberculosis disease in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. The present systematic bibliographic review aims to determine the social, physical and metabolic characteristics associated with tuberculosis in people with type II Diabetes Mellitus. A search for scientific articles was carried out in EBSCO, HINARY, PubMed and Scielo. With the descriptors, 110 results were found, of which 44 f ulfilled the filters and 19 scientific articles were selected. Those scientific publications included were prepared in the last 10 years (2010 to 2019). It was possible to conclude that; associated social characteristics are: age between 40 and 59 years old, female sex, low level of education, low socioeconomic level, smoking and alcoholism. The associated physical characteristics were overweight and hypertension and associated metabolic characteristics were an increase in Glycosylated Hemoglobin greater than 7%, an increase in LDH (low-density lipoprotein), an increase in triglycerides and a decrease in HDL (high-density lipoprotein). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite consensus that personality influences mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) recovery, it has been underexamined. We evaluated the extent to which diverse personality and psychiatric symptom dimensions predict mTBI recovery. Methods: This prospective cohort study involved psychological assessments of hospital patients with mTBI (n = 75; median = 2 days post-injury, range = 0–12 days) and orthopedic trauma controls (OTC; n = 79) who were used for comparison in mediation modeling. Chronic symptoms were evaluated at 3 months after mTBI (n = 50) using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) symptom checklist. Linear regression analyses were used to identify the predominant predictors of chronic symptoms in mTBI. Modern mediation analyses tested the hypothesis that personality traits predict chronic symptoms through acute psychological response to injury. Results: In mTBI, trait psychoticism directly predicted chronic mTBI symptoms and was the strongest personality predictor overall. Furthermore, an internalizing personality dimension emphasizing negative affect/emotionality and detachment predicted chronic mTBI symptoms indirectly through enhancement of acute somatic complaints. In OTC, internalizing personality acted through the same mediator as in mTBI, whereas the effect of psychoticism was also mediated through acute somatic complaints. There was varying support for a moderated direct effect of personality traits at low levels of positive emotionality across models. Conclusion: These causal models provide novel insights about the role of personality in mTBI symptom recovery, highlighting the complexity of how psychological processes may interact to affect recovery and revealing that some of these processes may be non-specific to brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Al-Frahids Arts is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sex dolls have been criticized for reproducing unrealistic expectations about human bodies. Yet precise sex doll measurements are lacking in the literature nor has there been any systematic attempt to determine the extent to which sex dolls exaggerate human characteristics. To address this gap, we compared the specifications of sex dolls marketed in the USA with the characteristics of women and men living in the USA. Specifically, we tested if and to what degree female dolls were slimmer (H1) and male dolls more muscular (H2) than female and male humans, respectively. Furthermore, we tested if and to what degree female dolls' breasts (H3) and male dolls' penises (H4) were larger than those of women and men. We also tested if sex dolls' observed race/ethnicity was more often White than that of the US population (H5). In 2023, we collected the measures of all 757 full-body sex dolls marketed by the US retailer SexyRealSexDolls.com. Body measures from the US population were extracted from scientific literature. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using R. All hypotheses were fully or partially confirmed, which indicated that sex dolls marketed in the USA are not realistic depictions of the US population but hypergendered (H1, H2), hypersexualized (H3, H4), and racially fetishized (H5). Implications of the lack of realism are discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abstract With the improvement of living standards, personalized clothing customization has become a trend of people’s apparel demand. The key factor in personalized clothing customization is a three-dimensional human modeling. With the development of image analysis technology, it is possible to use image analysis technology to extract human characteristics. In this paper, two-dimensional human feature regions and characteristic parameter extraction methods of images are used. The backpropagation neural network (BP neural network) is used to curve the three-dimensional human characteristics, and the neck, chest, waist, and buttocks of 22 subjects are verified. The results show that the use of this method can well achieve the extraction of human characteristic parameters.

Manufacturing companies are confronted with increasing product complexity and shorter development times. In human-centered production systems, employees can adapt to new and changing tasks after completing learning processes. In such kind of production systems, human characteristics are crucial factors of system capabilities. A review on model based integration of human representations in production system design is presented based on qualitative literature survey. It covers publications between 1999 and 2020 using Web of Science and Google Scholar in both domains, Production Systems and Human Factors. The aim of this paper is to analyze Human Factors and their impact that can influence human performance in a human-centered production system. It presents findings from identification, consolidation and interpretation of published work currently available on Human Factors in production engineering. Thus, it contributes recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern primatology began in 1952-3 through artificial feeding of Japanese macaques at Koshima and Takasakiyama. Artificial feeding allowed short-distance observation, individual recognition and long-term observation. These new methods applied to wild monkeys made possible new findings，such as life-time kinship bonds, social organization, cultural behaviors, etc.，which changed anthropology, biology, psychology and also other social sciences. During the 1st stage of the studies led by K Imanishi and J Itani，researchers focused their efforts not on biology but on sociology. Itani declared that Japanese primate studies do not reflect natural science. On the other hand，some other researchers carried out ecological studies of monkeys and proceeded on to socioecology. Itani attributed the dominance relations among individuals to the social order or hierarchy, whereas other researchers did so to competition over resources to increase reproductive success. In 1956 and in 1962, respectively，the Japan Monkey Centre and the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute were established. JMC contributed as the first organization of primatology in Japan, and KUPRI added to a confluence of field and experimental primatology. DNA fingerprinting to analyze the relatedness of individuals accelerated the unification of field and laboratory studies. After 1970, agricultural damage caused by wild monkeys exploded due to deforestation and the presence of unguarded crops. Researchers had to work to prevent such monkey activity in the field. They were also forced to cull this endemic primate species. As a result, the field of primatology had to expand in cognitive science, physiology，brain science and genetics as well as conservation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Teachers’ evaluation as an accountable process in promoting the quality of medical education is the main mission of the university. Teachers are key and effective facilitator of this process. Some of the attributes of faculty from the students’ point of view to help students to learn and make the learning process more effective. For this purpose, a study was conducted to determine the characteristics of effective faculty in improving education and its influence on students in Iran. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted through systematic review and meta-analysis. For this purpose, the articles that were published in Iran were either in English in Persian and were selected for the study without considering the time period .Articles were searched in databases of Cochrane Library Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Ovid, Science Direct, WILEY, Scopus, ProQuest, Medline, Elsevier Magiran, and SID. Finally, 21 articles that met the criteria for meta-analysis were included in the study and their quality was evaluated. Results: Attributes were extracted in six domains .The six main dimensions are as follows: Individual and personality traits, communication skills, teaching skills, research skills, evaluation skills, and observing educational rules. Conclusion: Personal characteristics, research skills and communication skills were among the most important characteristics of an effective faculty from the students' perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the characteristics in the recruitment of instructors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maximum cooperative grasping mass and diameter of the human thumb and index finger were investigated by 7560 grasp-release trials on various masses of solid cylinders and various sizes of rings. The maximum grasping mass of the participants’ thumb-index finger depended on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths (P < 0.05), but not on the hand-used and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P > 0.05). The maximum grasping diameter of the participants’ thumb-index finger depended on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P < 0.05), but not on the gender and hand-used (P > 0.05). There was a non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping mass on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths and another non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping diameter on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length. Two regression models were useful in the optimal size design of robotic hands intending to replicate thumb-index finger grasping ability. This research can help to define not only a reasonable grasp mass and size for a bionic robotic hand, but also the requirements for hand rehabilitation.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is present throughout the natural follicular phase. However, the debate is still not settled on whether LH is needed during ovarian stimulation in IVF. This commentary looks at the evolution of this debate, mentioning three elephants in the room that were ignored by the Pharma industry, professional organizations, and clinicians alike: 1. The different endocrinology between the long agonist and the antagonist protocols. 2. The fixed dose of the two most widely commercially available antagonist preparations, namely cetrorelix and ganirelix. 3. The fact that most research in this area uses population-based criteria, ignoring endocrine parameters. Individual genetics of the LH receptor gene may also serve to individualize LH needs during stimulation; however, the jury is still out regarding this approach. CONCLUSIONS: Individual endocrine and genetics parameters may shed meaningful light on the question of LH supplemental during ovarian stimulation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

By virtue of their teaching role and contact with students, health professions (HP) educators are often the first point of connection for students who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Educators are increasingly expected to include some form of pastoral care in their role. Mental health-related interactions with students may have a negative emotional impact on educators, particularly when roles and expectations are not clearly defined and where boundaries are not managed effectively. Using positioning theory as a lens, this study explored how educators experienced such interactions and how this manifested in positions, storylines, and speech acts. Interviews were conducted with 27 HP educators at a faculty of medicine and health sciences. Reflexive thematic analysis using inductive coding identified themes corresponding to the nearing, weighted, ambivalent, and distancing positions participants adopted in relation to students with mental health difficulties. There was fluidity in and between positions, and more than one position could be occupied simultaneously; participants each moved through different positions in response to different relational situations. Multiple storylines informed these positions, representing how moral- and care-informed responsibility intersected with responsiveness to make certain actions possible or impossible. Normative and personal value narratives were evident in storylines, in many cases underscored by care or justice ethics. The value of positioning theory in facilitating reflective faculty development initiatives for educators engaged in these interactions is discussed., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This paper argues that the best interpretation of the human nature concept used in evolutionary social science (ESS) is as the human adaptive complex. This understanding of the concept enables us to make sense of the features of human nature that are described in that literature as symptomatic of traits which are part of human nature, rather than being constitutive of human nature itself. This enables this proposal to make better sense of how the human nature concept is used than other current proposals for how to understand that concept., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The maximum cooperative grasping mass and diameter of the human thumb and index finger were investigated by 7560 grasp-release trials on various masses of solid cylinders and various sizes of rings. The maximum grasping mass of the participants' thumb-index finger depended on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths (P < 0.05), but not on the hand-used and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P > 0.05). The maximum grasping diameter of the participants' thumb-index finger depended on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P < 0.05), but not on the gender and hand-used (P > 0.05). There was a non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping mass on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths and another non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping diameter on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length. Two regression models were useful in the optimal size design of robotic hands intending to replicate thumb-index finger grasping ability. This research can help to define not only a reasonable grasp mass and size for a bionic robotic hand, but also the requirements for hand rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive statistics the data of Guangdong lightning casualties assembly records in the 1995-2016 and the data of the 1999-2016 Guangdong Lightning Location System.(1)It is concluded that there were 1075 lightning casualties case, the number of fatalities was about 1.2 times that of the injured.The maximum number of lightning fatalities in a lightning casualties case was 17,the probability of multiple injuries is much greater than that of many people, and the government of rural areas where the casualties caused by lightning are higher than the average level of the whole province should pay more attention to the lightning defensive work.(2)The monthly characteristics of lightning disasters are related to the annual changes of lightning activities, and the time characteristics of lightning disasters are related to people’s working hours. Especially in rural areas where outdoor activities are concentrated, pay more attention to the frequent lightning activity time.(3)Lightning casualties case occur most frequently in farmland. The largest number of lightning fatalities caused by lightning occurred in buildings. It is easy to cause mass death and casualty in buildings without lightning protection and beside trees. (4)The proportion of male and female in casualties caused by lightning disasters is equal, and female are more likely to die when both male and female are struck by lightning. Due to different types of work in different age groups, the male casualties (25-64 years old) are higher than females, but the female casualties in the 31-40 age group with the most casualties are 1.46 times that of males.In a word,it is extremely urgent to solve the problems of lightning protection and disaster reduction services for rural areas and farmers and to raise awareness of lightning protection and disaster reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liberal education is under severe attack from critics who assert that it does not provide adequate preparation for contemporary life. To address these concerns I propose new approaches to liberal learning based on two principles: (1) We should teach students how to transform thinking into effective action and (2) The ability to connect thought to action can be achieved by intentionally developing human capacities for abstract thinking, self-direction, social interaction, and language. The article begins with a description of the criticisms of liberal learning, and a brief analysis of the origins of liberal education, including the assertion that liberal learning has always combined thinking skills with civic responsibility. This is followed by arguments that abstract thinking, self-direction, social interaction, and language are part of human nature and that their development can be a foundation for liberal education. A framework for enhancing these qualities is then described, including the infusion of connection-making within and across courses, inclusion of courses where students address large-scale issues, advising that stresses individual decision-making, and opportunities for public presentation of ideas and internships. These activities can strengthen the ability to engage in high-level thinking and connect thinking with decision-making and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]