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Potential health risks for male athletes in professional road cycling are numerously investigated. For female athletes, necessary information is missing and thus there is a lack of equipment meeting their specific needs. The different pelvic anatomy of women compared to men suggests different saddle designs, different cycling short pads, and even different types of material to avoid pain and health problems. To collect data for a systematic development of pads specifically for women, we performed a study with 29 ambitious female athletes, who road cycle long distances (>90 min) at least once a week. First, we documented each athlete's recent cycling situation, including the perceived comfort, grievances and the equipment used. Second, molds of the pelvis-saddle interfaces were generated using a previously developed measurement saddle to analyze pressure distributions during both static and dynamic loading. Measures were taken using the idmatch system following a bike fitting, which suggested a bicycle setup incorporating, among other factors, the individual athlete's anthropometric data. Molds were subsequently digitized with a calibrated 3D scanner. Third, the digital pressure data resulting from the molds was analyzed considering its ability to represent interindividual differences, which validated the developed measurement saddle. Finally, a novel lattice-based pad prototype was designed based on the measured pressure data. Finite element analyses (FEA) were carried out to observe mechanical loads in the lattice structure and enable an optimization of the design. The prototype was additively manufactured using stereolithography (SLA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of society and technological progress, people pay more and more attention to the inheritance, protection and promotion of cultural heritage. Under the conditions of new technology and new media, communication media and channels are changing rapidly. Improving the speed, breadth and accuracy of the dissemination of information on Guangdong culture in the new era is a new requirement of the times for the dissemination of Guangdong culture. In order to effectively improve the accuracy of Guandong culture recommendation, the study first built a human-machine interactive visual communication platform. Among them, the random forest algorithm was improved by incorporating word embedding technology to facilitate the acquisition of semantic similarity. In addition, it was combined with long-short feature embedding technology and a lightweight gradient boosting tree model, which enabled the acquisition of user interest preferences. The results showed that the model classification accuracy after combining long short-term feature embedding techniques reached 95%, which could better capture the time series features of user behavior. The platform built reduced the risk of overfitting and improved the generalization ability of the model through the integration of multiple decision trees in random forest. Light gradient boosting machine performed excellently and had high computational efficiency when processing large-scale data through an efficient gradient boosting framework. The platform thus built had a recommendation accuracy rate of 97%. At the same time, the platform obtained personalized and similar content recommendation test sections, and the test results were all passed. This proves that the platform can not only accurately recommend Guandong cultural content, but also provide a good communication experience through visualization, providing new ideas and methods for research and practice in the field of Guandong cultural communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Imbalances between muscle strength and tendon stiffness influence the mechanical demand on the tendon (i.e., tendon strain) and may increase tendon injury risk. The purpose of this study was to identify muscle–tendon imbalances and to promote a more balanced musculotendinous adaptation through a personalized assessment and exercise prescription concept in female adolescent handball athletes (13–16 years). Methods: At four measurement time points during a competitive season, we used dynamometry and ultrasonography to assess knee extensor muscle strength, patellar tendon stiffness and strain. Tendon micromorphology was assessed with a peak spatial frequency (PSF) analysis of proximal tendon ultrasound images. Muscle–tendon imbalances were identified based on tendon strain during maximum voluntary contractions. A control group (n = 15) followed their usual training. In the intervention group, athletes with a deficit in tendon stiffness (strain ≥ 9%; n = 6) or no muscle–tendon imbalances (strain between 4.5% and 9%; n = 15) performed exercises (3x/week for 32 weeks) with a personalized load to reach ~ 6.2% tendon strain to predominantly promote tendon or both muscle and tendon adaptation. Individuals with a muscle strength deficit (strain ≤ 4.5%; n = 1) trained with submaximal loads to failure to promote muscle strength. Results: In the intervention group we found lower fluctuations of maximum tendon strain (p = 0.005) and a decrease in tendon strain over time (p = 0.010), which was more pronounced in individuals with initially high tendon strain. While there were no systematic changes in muscle strength or tendon stiffness at the group level (p > 0.05), the marked decrease in tendon strain in individuals with a deficit in tendon stiffness was caused by a predominant increase in tendon stiffness. Overall, the prevalence of muscle–tendon imbalances was reduced in the intervention group, while it temporarily increased in the control group. PSF did not differ between groups at baseline but decreased significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.013). Conclusions: The findings suggest that the personalized concept is suitable to promote a more uniform adaptation of knee extensor muscle strength and patellar tendon stiffness and to reduce the prevalence of musculotendinous imbalances in female adolescent athletes, which may have important implications for tendon injury prevention. Trial Registration: DRKS, DRKS00035110. Registered 20 September 2024–retrospectively registered, https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00035110. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores the relationship between individualization and gender‐related disparities in teleworking. The research is part of a larger project evaluating a pilot program among administrative personnel at an Austrian university before implementing telework across the organization. It presents three key points about the intersection of teleworking and parental roles. First, telework interlinks with individualization in general, and organizations should play a proactive role in preventing the stress that can arise from such individualization. Challenges through individualization have eased due to the collective experiences in the pandemic‐driven lockdowns. This overarching insight lays the groundwork for understanding the nuanced gender differences explored in the subsequent points. Second, this individualization process is gendered when it comes to parenting. The flexible nature of telework can ease the burden of juggling paid work with other responsibilities. At the same time, organizational telework initiatives can unintentionally reinforce traditional gender roles, placing women as primary caregivers. The findings indicate that when telework is solely a family‐friendly benefit, it leads to a double invisibility of mothers' workload. However, the normalization of hybrid telework as an inner‐organizational right might mitigate gendered hierarchies in the long term. Third, while all interviewed mothers felt responsible for parenting, fathers adopted different subject positions that did not disrupt the organizational normalization of mothers as primary caregivers. It sharpened during the pandemic. The study concludes that adopting hybrid telework models could challenge the prevailing "ideal worker" image and support mothers in advancing their careers. Collective experiences and ideas of flexibility as every employee's right can counteract individualization and gender inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current motorized towing system devices are highly precise when selecting loads and achieving results. An increased use could expand the theoretical body on the effects of overspeed methods. Our objectives were to analyze the results of an overspeed intervention with a motorized towing system on the maximum running speed (MRS), the step length and rate, the flight and contact time, and the distance to the first support from the vertical projection of the center of masses, as well as to make a methodological proposal. Six young athletes (age: 16.71 ± 2.00 years) performed ten overspeed sessions with the assistance of 5.05 ± 0.53% of body weight at 105.83 ± 1.79% of maximum running speed, using the 1080 Sprint device. After the intervention, non-significant (p > .05) increases of 2.94% (95% CI: 0.25 - 5.62) of the voluntary maximum running speed were obtained with a large effect size (rB: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.00 - 0.95). The distance to the first support from the vertical projection of the center of masses presented significant differences (p < .05; drB: 1; 95% CI: 1 - 1). The non-significant maximum running speed increases cannot be neglected in high-level competition, where small differences in performance separate athletes. To choose the appropriate training load is key, and so a standardized methodology allowing the comparison of results is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Imbalances between muscle strength and tendon stiffness influence the mechanical demand on the tendon (i.e., tendon strain) and may increase tendon injury risk. The purpose of this study was to identify muscle–tendon imbalances and to promote a more balanced musculotendinous adaptation through a personalized assessment and exercise prescription concept in female adolescent handball athletes (13–16 years). Methods At four measurement time points during a competitive season, we used dynamometry and ultrasonography to assess knee extensor muscle strength, patellar tendon stiffness and strain. Tendon micromorphology was assessed with a peak spatial frequency (PSF) analysis of proximal tendon ultrasound images. Muscle–tendon imbalances were identified based on tendon strain during maximum voluntary contractions. A control group (n = 15) followed their usual training. In the intervention group, athletes with a deficit in tendon stiffness (strain ≥ 9%; n = 6) or no muscle–tendon imbalances (strain between 4.5% and 9%; n = 15) performed exercises (3x/week for 32 weeks) with a personalized load to reach ~ 6.2% tendon strain to predominantly promote tendon or both muscle and tendon adaptation. Individuals with a muscle strength deficit (strain ≤ 4.5%; n = 1) trained with submaximal loads to failure to promote muscle strength. Results In the intervention group we found lower fluctuations of maximum tendon strain (p = 0.005) and a decrease in tendon strain over time (p = 0.010), which was more pronounced in individuals with initially high tendon strain. While there were no systematic changes in muscle strength or tendon stiffness at the group level (p > 0.05), the marked decrease in tendon strain in individuals with a deficit in tendon stiffness was caused by a predominant increase in tendon stiffness. Overall, the prevalence of muscle–tendon imbalances was reduced in the intervention group, while it temporarily increased in the control group. PSF did not differ between groups at baseline but decreased significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.013). Conclusions The findings suggest that the personalized concept is suitable to promote a more uniform adaptation of knee extensor muscle strength and patellar tendon stiffness and to reduce the prevalence of musculotendinous imbalances in female adolescent athletes, which may have important implications for tendon injury prevention. Trial Registration DRKS, DRKS00035110. Registered 20 September 2024–retrospectively registered, https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00035110 .

ObjectiveTo develop a theoretical framework for stage-based, individualized mobile smoking cessation interventions to guide the design of smoking cessation applications (APPs). MethodsA systematic literature review of studies of smoking cessation APPs was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024. Classic behavior change theories applied in existing smoking cessation APPs were adapted through literature review and expert consultation to establish a motivation-ability-prompt-reflect/reward (MAPR) model. Based on the established MAPR model, theoretical framework for a stage-based, individualized mobile smoking cessation interventions was constructed. Using the constructed theoretical framework, two experts classified intervention strategies within the functional modules of two smoking cessation APPs, and a consistency ratio was calculated to assess the reliability of the framework. ResultsThe theoretical framework constructed is divided into three layers. The first layer includes five core intervention elements: motivation, capability, prompting, reflection, and reward. The second layer defines five stages of cessation experienced by smokers: contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse. The third layer consists of nine intervention strategies that can induce behavioral change in smoking cessation: empathy, education, training, incentives, environmental restructuring, modeling, reminders, feedback, and resources and tools that can be used interchangeably across the five stages of smoking cessation. The agreement rates of the intervention strategy classification for two smoking cessation APPs were 88% and 90%, respectively. ConclusionThe stage-based, individualized mobile smoking cessation intervention framework developed in this study provides a concise theoretical framework for the development of professional smoking cessation APPs.

AbstractThis study proposed a three-tier test (T3), where students were not only asked to give answers and reasons for their answers but also to engage in review questions. Furthermore, an individualized three-tier test (IT3) was implemented by incorporating customization and personalization into the T3. The T3 was utilized in Group A while the IT3 was used in Group B. Both tests were applied to help students learn English grammar. An empirical study was conducted to examine the varied reactions of these two groups, in terms of test performance, task performance, and learning behavior. Regarding test performance, Group B outperformed Group A. Regarding task performance, Group B obtained higher task scores than Group A. Regarding learning behavior, Group A tended to rely on a single scaffolding hint iteratively whereas Group B preferred utilizing various scaffolding hints concurrently. These results suggested that the IT3 was relatively beneficial to students. The aforementioned findings could provide guidance for the effective implementation of online tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Monitoring internal load is crucial for athletes but often requires invasive methods for muscle-related parameters, limiting practicality. Infrared thermography (IRT) related parameters might overcome this limitation. This systematic review aimed to examine the available literature on the response of IRT related parameters to (non-)sport specific exercise and reveal relationships with internal load parameters in athletic populations. Methods: Four scientific databases were systematically searched (February 2024) with keywords related to IRT, load, and sports disciplines. Risk of bias was evaluated using QUADAS-2. Main inclusion criteria for studies were i) reporting of IRT related parameters and other internal load parameters prior/post (non-)sport specific exercise ii) inclusion of least Tier 2 athletes ≥ 18 years. After identifying n = 10,538 studies, 13 articles (n = 231 participants) were included. Results: Following (non-)sport specific exercise in athletic populations, the majority of relevant studies showed a decrease in IRT related parameters within 15 min, while studies showed an increase in IRT related parameters following 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after exercise cessation. Relationships between alterations in IRT related parameters and other internal load parameters are inconsistent across the literature. Conclusion: While the majority of studies show an increase in IRT related parameters following (non-)sport specific exercise, relationships with other internal load parameters and underlying physiological mechanisms evoking IRT related alterations are not conclusively revealed in athletic populations. Future research needs to assess the relationship of IRT related parameters especially with inflammatory parameters in athletic populations following (non-)sport specific exercise. Practitioners might assess IRT related parameters in conjunction with other load parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do we understand the multiplicity of crises the world is currently facing? This paper presents a new thesis: They are all interconnected and can be traced back to the single root cause of an outdated understanding of democracy. "Partitioning representation", making one mark on a ballot every few years and having every world citizen represented just by their government in supranational affairs, is no longer effective. It was successful in Western societies and world society in the 1950s to 1980s because group identities enabled the generation of democratic self-efficacy among citizens. Individualism, mediatization and globalization have ended that. Instead, we need to give more responsibility to citizens and civil society in the political process, a model that is referred to as Civil Democracy. It provides the essential tools to shift from escalating problems to solving them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individualizing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) parameters can improve precision in neuropsychiatric disorders. One important decision for the clinician is the selection of an appropriate montage—conventional or high-definition (HD)—to implement dose-controlled tDCS while maintaining the patient's safety. Method: The present study simulated tDCS administration using T1-weighted brain images of 50 dementia, 25 depression patients, and 25 healthy individuals for two conventional and HD montages, targeting the regions of interest (ROIs) in the dorsal and ventral pathways that support language processing. For each tDCS configuration, the electric fields at the ROIs and the individualized dose required to achieve the desired current intensity at the target ROI across the subjects were estimated. Linear regression was performed on these parameters. Result: A significant relationship between atrophy and current dose that varies according to the disease was found. The dementia patients with significant brain atrophy required a higher personalized dosage for HD montage, as the current intensity at the target ROIs was lower and more variable than that of conventional montage. For dementia, tDCS individualization is pathway-dependent, wherein HD configuration of the dorsal route requires current dosages above the safety limit (>4 mA) for 46% of individuals. However, there was no significant difference in electrode configurations between the HD and traditional setups for depression and healthy volunteers without significant brain atrophy. Conclusions: HD-tDCS with fixed locations is limited, making conventional tDCS more effective for dose-controlled applications. In patients with atrophy, individualized adjustments based on simulations are needed due to the variable stimulation strength in the ROI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violent crimes are often pigeon-holed by bloodstain found at the crime scene. The science of analysing the bloodstains found at the crime scene is referred to as bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA). The bloodstain pattern analysis embraces analysts recognising and interpreting bloodstain patterns to uncover how they were bent, when they were created, who created them and what object was used. Bloodstain pattern analysis is an important technique for determining what happened at the crime scene and presenting answers to the crime that occurred. Bloodstain pattern analysis is a subfield of forensic science that utilises blood evidence to dive a conclusion about a crime and to illustrate the shadows of violent crimes. Though violent crime scenes that involve bloodshed often provide a prosperity of data in the form of the patterns, location, and possible causes of the bloodshed, it is unfortunate that such critical information can be missed and/or evidence demolished due to futile ways of protecting and preserving bloodstain patterns at the crime scene by the crime scene investigators from the Local Criminal Record Centre. The article took qualitative empirical approach where participants were interviewed with the permission obtain from South African police Services and ethical clearance acquired from the University of South Africa. Findings and recommendations in this article were significant for implementation by the police. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies that enable individualization for students have significant potential in special education. Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) refers to digital assessments that automatically adjust their difficulty level based on students' abilities, allowing for personalized, efficient, and accurate measurement. This article examines whether CAT performs differently for students with and without special educational needs (SEN). Two simulation studies were conducted using a sample of 709 third-grade students from general and special schools in Germany, who took a reading test. The results indicate that students with SEN were assessed with fewer items, reduced bias, and higher accuracy compared to students without SEN. However, measurement accuracy decreased, and test length increased for students whose abilities deviated more than two SD from the norm. We discuss potential adaptations of CAT for students with SEN in the classroom, as well as the integration of CAT with AI-supported feedback and tailored exercises within a digital learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article builds on existing definitions of the popularizing style and investigates how the main features of this style are realized in short texts popularizing Czech linguistics and linguistic findings about Czech. The paper is based on texts by Czech linguists throughout the last 75 years: 23 books published since 1948 and 330 contemporary texts published by the scholars of the Czech Language Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in various newspapers and magazines. It focuses on genre characteristics of these texts, most often referred to as "jazykové koutky" (literally "language corners"), but also as columns, glosses, feuilletons, reflections or essays -- i.e., genres that are similar in their hybrid nature and informal expression. The stylistic analysis focuses on the dialogical nature of these texts, on the contact between the author and the reader, as projected into the texts. The results of a comparison between older popularization texts (roughly from the second half of the 20th century) and the most recent texts, from 2019-2024, are also presented: in the most recent texts, subjectivization, individualization, emphasized contact, and bringing authors closer to their intended readers come to the forefront significantly, while at same time the entertainment value, playfulness, and wittiness increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsiveness is currently a hot topic in the psychotherapy literature with a large variation in what the term means to colleagues of various orientations. This adds to its popularity but limits the scope of whatever is written or said about responsiveness. The fact that the meaning of responsiveness has developed over time within the approaches adds also to the variation, while an understanding of development has the potential of deepening the understanding of each approach. As a fair description and comparison of even just the most important approaches is by far out of reach for a page-limited article, the development of one approach, which may be termed the "Bernese" approach is described here, along with lessons learnt and general comments. The approach includes Plan Analysis case formulations, the concept of complementary or Motive-Oriented Relationship, a description of a combined qualitative and quantitative assessment, and many methodological and conceptual considerations. Personal development is woven in. Overall, it seems fair to say that this approach, at its core developed long before responsiveness became popular, has turned out to still be useful, with a gain in depth as far as concepts and assessment are concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous publications contain high-quality descriptions of causes, processes, and effects of global trends. However, very few of these publications are theoretically guided or aim at theory building. This is a handicap preventing most publications on global trends from developing high-quality explanations and prognostications. This article contains an attempt at developing a conceptual framework for resolving the issue. The attempt is based on the paradigm of social interaction and includes arguments in favor of four global trends: upgrading the rationality of organizations, individualization, spread of instrumental activism, and homogenization of culture. The decomposition of the trends makes it possible to identify their structures and dynamics. The analyzed examples usually refer to constructive processes and effects. In reality, the global trends are internally controversial and bring about both constructive and destructive processes and effects. The most challenging task for future studies concerns the interplay of the internal dynamics of each global trend with the dynamics of the configuration of global trends. The conceptualization of the dynamic configuration of interacting global trends is the core of the diagnosis of the global situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Imbalances of muscle strength and tendon stiffness can increase the operating strain of tendons and risk of injury. Here, we used a new approach to identify muscle–tendon imbalances and personalize exercise prescription based on tendon strain during maximum voluntary contractions (εmax) to mitigate musculotendinous imbalances in male adult volleyball athletes. Methods: Four times over a season, we measured knee extensor strength and patellar tendon mechanical properties using dynamometry and ultrasonography. Tendon micromorphology was evaluated through an ultrasound peak spatial frequency (PSF) analysis. While a control group (n = 12) continued their regular training, an intervention group (n = 10) performed exercises (3 × /week) with personalized loads to elicit tendon strains that promote tendon adaptation (i.e., 4.5–6.5%). Results: Based on a linear mixed model, εmax increased significantly in the control group over the 9 months of observation (pCon = 0.010), while there was no systematic change in the intervention group (pInt = 0.575). The model residuals of εmax, as a measure of imbalances in muscle–tendon adaptation, demonstrated a significant reduction over time exclusively in the intervention group (pInt = 0.007). While knee extensor muscle strength increased in both groups by ~ 8% (pCon < 0.001, pInt = 0.064), only the intervention group showed a trend toward increased normalized tendon stiffness (pCon = 0.824, pInt = 0.051). PSF values did not change significantly in either group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that personalized exercise prescription can reduce muscle–tendon imbalances in athletes and could provide new opportunities for tendon injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Româna de Dreptul Muncii is the property of Wolters Kluwer Romania 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.)

Copyright of Journal of Strategic & Social Research is the property of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Social Science Institute 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.)

Personalization is a growing trend in politics that has been well studied, yet the current literature has no causal explanations for the relationship between personalized media activities and personal votes or an understanding the contextual factors that shape it. This study examines how candidates have used Facebook as means of personalization and its impact on voting during Taiwan’s 2020 legislative campaign. It assumes that personalized campaigns originate from a need among candidates to gain personal votes and that this need is determined by the intensity of a given competition. Intensified competition between parties increases a candidate’s need for personalized activities on social media, which in turn bring in more personal votes. Through a content analysis of 27,977 Facebook posts and the compiling of data on personal votes, the models confirm two hypotheses: those in party strongholds (safe districts) are less likely to make personalized posts, and those who post more personalized messages are more likely to gain personal votes. This paper enhances our understanding of how different facets of personalization within social media are intricately linked and mutually reinforce one another in shaping voter behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) and topology optimization (TO) emerge as vital processes in modern industries, with broad adoption driven by reduced expenses and the desire for lightweight and complex designs. However, iterative topology optimization can be inefficient and time-consuming for individual products with a large set of parameters. To address this shortcoming, machine learning (ML), primarily neural networks, is considered a viable tool to enhance topology optimization and streamline AM processes. In this work, a machine learning (ML) model that generates a parameterized optimized topology is presented, capable of eliminating the conventional iterative steps of TO, which shortens the development cycle and decreases overall development costs. The ML algorithm used, a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) known as Pix2Pix-GAN, is adopted to train using a variety of training data pairs consisting of color-coded images and is applied to an example of cantilever optimization, significantly enhancing model accuracy and operational efficiency. The analysis of training data numbers in relation to the model's accuracy shows that as data volume increases, the accuracy of the model improves. Various ML models are developed and validated in this study; however, some artefacts are still present in the generated designs. Structures that are free from these artefacts achieve 91% reliability successfully. On the other hand, the images generated with artefacts may still serve as suitable design templates with minimal adjustments. Furthermore, this research also assesses compliance with two manufacturing constraints: the limitations on build space and passive elements (voids). Incorporating manufacturing constraints into model design ensures that the generated designs are not only optimized for performance but also feasible for production. By adhering to these constraints, the models can deliver superior performance in future use while maintaining practicality in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to combine research agendas on Digital Sociology and the Sociology of cinema, explicitly considering the spread of Serial TV Shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix and HBO-Max. Since the early 2000s, with Web 2.0 allowing a shift in the traffic and consumption of multimedia –music, photos, videos, and animation– on the Internet, the presence of audiovisual content in everyday life has become more intensified than before with cinema and broadcast television. It is argued in this paper that this technological shift changes how societies and individuals relate to electronically mediated images and constitute symbolic and valuation references through social life. However, much of the cultural and imagistic references set in motion in present digital media were established by cinema and television currently in the 20th century, being seen in a naturalized way, although historically produced. This paper reviews Pierre Sorlín’s sociological approach to films as ideological productions, contributing to form historical and social shared ways of conceiving reality, and Sorlin’s methodological guidelines for analyzing films. However, the differences between cinema and television series are considered, according to Esquenazi’s approach to TV series. Nevertheless, this paper highlights how technical and cultural specificities of today’s digital media, paired with a deep individualization process, set new analytical challenges. So, it is presented an analytical reflection that places together connectivity and cinematic culture in order to comprehend how today’s ideologies are partly influenced by specific recurrent imagistic constructions diffused by streaming platforms by using cinema and television languages.

Background. Globalization and individualization are the main features of modern society. Globalization has a huge destructive potential for national identity and identity of people. Cultural and civilizational features of various countries are being erased, socio-cultural institutions and management technologies are losing their stability of functioning. Goal. The analysis of the spiritual foundations of civilization helps to identify the main ways of forming a new person capable of spiritual rebirth. The research methods are based on the theoretical analysis of modern scientific literature using the possibilities of a comparative approach. Results. The global crisis that has engulfed modern society is of a large-scale nature. The way out of this situation can be a dialogue based on the mutual enrichment of national cultures and traditions. The spiritual foundations of the dialogue of cultures are philosophy and religion. Despite the fact that philosophy and religion follow different paths, they pursue the same goal – the education of spirituality in man. Through spirituality, they awaken the creative potential of a person, contributing to social activity and stabilization of society necessary for social transformation. The scope of the results. The theme of the philosophy of dialogue is a priority because it means recognizing the importance of cultural interaction. The space of dialogue is a unifying principle for overcoming differences between nations, classes, and religions due to the uniqueness and objectivity of the philosophical approach applicable at all levels of public life.

Analyzing multiple data sources from a global information technology (IT) consulting multinational enterprise (MNE), this research unpacks the configuration of a digitalized HR ecosystem of artificial intelligence(AI)‐assisted human resource management (HRM) applications and HR platforms. This study develops a novel theoretical framework mapping the nature and purpose of a digitalized AI‐assisted HR ecosystem for delivering exceptional employee experience (EX), an antecedent to employee engagement (EE). Employing the theoretical lenses of EX, EE, AI‐mediated social exchange, and engagement platforms, this study's overarching aim of this article is to establish how AI‐assisted HRM fits into an organization's ecosystem and, second, how it impacts EX and EE. Our findings show that AI‐assisted applications for HRM enhance EX and, thus, EE. We also see increases in employee productivity and HR function's effectiveness. Implications for research and practice are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on research on cohort-specific trends in life-course differentiation and destandardization, our study seeks to explore how patterns of family-life-course diversity relate to characteristics of sociopolitical regimes. Applying sequence analysis, we analyse cohort-specific family life courses from nine European countries and Canada, classifying them into five sociopolitical regimes (Nordic, Anglo-Saxon, Mediterranean, Continental, Eastern). We use data from the Harmonized Histories and the German National Educational Panel Survey. Our results indicate that sociopolitical regimes differentiate patterns of life-course diversity quite well in the Nordic, Anglo-Saxon, and Eastern European countries but to a lesser degree in the Mediterranean and Continental countries. In methodological terms, our results suggest that distinguishing patterns of diversity between and within life courses helps to create a more nuanced empirical account of changing life-course patterns, particularly in a cross-national perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injury mechanisms of the lumbar spine under dynamic loading are dependent on spine curvature and anatomical variation. Impact simulation with finite element (FE) models can assist the reconstruction and prediction of injuries. The objective of this study was to determine which level of individualization of a baseline FE lumbar spine model is necessary to replicate experimental responses and fracture locations in a dynamic experiment. Experimental X-rays from 26 dynamic drop tower tests were used to create three configurations of a lumbar spine model (T12 to L5): baseline, with aligned vertebrae (positioned), and with aligned and morphed vertebrae (morphed). Each model was simulated with the corresponding loading and boundary conditions from dynamic lumbar spine experiments. Force, moment, and kinematic responses were compared to the experimental data. Cosine similarity was computed to assess how well simulation responses match the experimental data. The pressure distribution within the vertebrae was used to compare fracture risk and fracture location between the different models. The positioned models replicated the injured spinal level and the fracture patterns quite well, though the morphed models provided slightly more accuracy. However, for impact reconstruction or injury prediction, the authors recommend pure positioning for whole-body models, as the gain in accuracy was relatively small, while the morphing modifications of the model require considerably higher efforts. These results improve the understanding of the application of human body models to investigate lumbar injury mechanisms with FE models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review aimed to propose a definition of personalized psychological treatment and to suggest how the definition can be operationalized. PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to 11 December 2023 for studies in which a definition of personalized psychological treatment was included or a systematic operationalization of personalized psychological treatment was described. Based on a narrative synthesis of the collected definitions, summary categories were developed that informed the proposed definition. Operationalizations were described according to what aspect of treatment, how and when treatment was personalized. The extent to which the operationalizations deviated from the proposed definition was assessed. Thirty-four studies with definitions and 200 with operationalizations were included. The following definition was proposed: personalized psychological treatment aims to optimize treatment outcome for the individual patient by tailoring treatment to unique or specific needs, preferences or other characteristics and includes a systematic adaptation of treatment or a differentiation between treatment strategies. Based on the operationalizations, timing of personalization, specification of the systematic approach and treatment elements that could be personalized were added to the proposed definition. Evidence-based personalization of psychological treatments can be enhanced by clear operationalization based on a comprehensive definition of personalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The research focuses on the current trend of increasing the quality of education, which brings with it increased demands on teacher competences in the implementation of differentiated instruction for primary students from the very beginning of schooling. The key subject of the research investigation is the inclusive concept of differentiated instruction, which represents a complex modification of the educational content, process, product and evaluation of the educational process. According to the Strategies of Educational Policy of the Czech Republic until 2030+, ensuring comparable and high-quality teaching in primary schools by introducing internal differentiation and individualization is a key strategy for improving the quality of teaching of heterogeneous collectives. However, teachers are not sufficiently prepared for this reality and there is very little relevant literature. Using a qualitative research design that includes participant observation and semi-structured interviews with seven teachers from three regions of the Czech Republic, this paper seeks to systematically map the implementation of these pedagogical strategies in the years 2021-2023 with first and second year primary students in the subjects of Czech language and mathematics. A multi-case study of seven teachers presents a longitudinal study of the implementation of differentiated teaching strategies with a focus on its inclusive concept, which is reflected in all components of the educational process. This dissertation highlights the urgent need for further research in this critically important area, especially in light of the lack of exploration of pedagogical means of differentiation and individualization in the Czech research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global – albeit uneven – nature of the Covid-19 pandemic has heralded changes that shape and reshape ethnoscapes, technoscapes, finanscapes, ideoscapes, mediascapes (Appadurai 1996) [Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press] and linguascapes (Pennycook 2003) [“Global Englishes, Rip Slyme and Performativity.” Journal of Sociolinguistics 7 (4): 513–533]. It is unsurprising then that the papers in this Special Issue show how contradictions have become commonsensical in the post-Covid landscape. Agency runs as an overarching theme across the papers in diverse forms: the reassigning of primary responsibility for health to individuals by authorities (Huang); the undertaking of active surveillance of the self and others (Leppänen); increasing agency through digital technology and multimodal repertoires (Ou and Maelström); and activism in the form of positive digital citizenship (Jiang) or online and offline political activism and protest (Silva and Lopes). Intertwined with this theme of agency, a number of areas emerge: the issue of personalisation or individualisation in digital communication; the increasing multi-modality and in particular the creative move from remediation to resemiotisation, benign and malignant; the role of surveillance, in terms of the policing of order, maintenance of behaviour and control of the self and others, and of explicit groups by official authorities; and the hierarchies and inequalities in terms of the uneven experience of the pandemic and its ongoing effects and activist responses to this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years in advanced societies a process of individualization has been consolidated in the different social institutions, also in families. Manifesting itself in diverse and complex ways. This article describes and analyzes the irruption of pets in Spanish homes (also catalan) and aims to understand the motivations of families (their members) to live with pets. A relationship was established between the decrease in family members and the entry of pets into homes. Relevant literature, quantitative data and 10 in-depth interviews were used for the research: 5 parents and 5 young adults knowledgeable about the subject. They have explained their reflections, experiences and experiences on pets highlighting their importance and significance. People without experiences and relationships (past and/or present) with domestic animals are considered a waste of time, resources...; on the contrary, those pet caregivers value their emotional and affective contributions and their role in increasing their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to highlight the transformations of political citizenship in Italy analysing its formal and material dimensions. The profound social change of recent decades has affected both dimensions with a progressive transformation of the formulation and the practice of the right to vote. The analysis of the initiatives of institutions and the actions of citizens, from the post-war period to the present day, shows an alignment of Italy with the political dynamics of mature democracies in the mark of individualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safe and efficient provision of intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) requires a strategy to individualize infusion rates. Estimating the maximum acceptable infusion rate (MaxInfRate) of soybean oil–based ILE (SO‐ILE) in individuals by using a triglyceride (TG) kinetic model was reported to be feasible. In this study, we aimed to externally validate and, if needed, update the MaxInfRate estimation. Methods: The maximum TG concentration (TGmax) in patients receiving SO‐ILE at MaxInfRate was evaluated to determine if it met the definition of being <400 mg/dl for 90th percentile of patients. The TG kinetic model was evaluated through prediction performance checks and was subsequently updated using the data set of both the previous model development and present validation studies. Results: Out of 83 patients, 74 had TGmax <400 mg/dl, corresponding to a probability of 89.2% (95% CI, 81.9%–95.2%), and the 90th percentile of TGmax was 400 mg/dl (95% CI, 328–490 mg/dl), closely aligned with the theoretical values. However, the individual TGmax values were biased by the infusion rate because the covariate effects were overestimated in the TG kinetic model, requiring a minor revision. The updated MaxInfRate with the combined data set showed unbiased and more accurate predictions. Conclusion: The MaxInfRate was validated in external inpatients and updated with all available data. MaxInfRate estimation for individuals could be an option for the safe and efficient provision of SO‐ILE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]