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Development and Validation of Adaptable Rubrics for Programming Assessments: Measuring Computational Competencies
No full textAdvanced technological innovations and problem-solving across various domains demand proficient programming skills. Thus, developing and measuring computational competencies are critical in this modern digital era. Despite their significance, assessing these competencies is challenging, especially when catering to personalized learning needs. Several assessment methods are available, yet there is a lack of fast, adaptable and validated evaluation tools. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating adaptable rubrics for assessing computational competencies and fostering improved learning outcomes in the computer programming domain. The preliminary rubric was developed per the JAVA programming curricula, educational frameworks, and experts' opinions. A sample of 300 students studying the JAVA programming language were assessed via a multiple-response objective assessment based on the initial rubric. The rubric-based evaluation results were subjected to rigorous statistical analyses, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, correlation, and regression analyses. The findings yielded a four-factor validated adapted rubric structure emphasizing the required computational competencies in the programming domain. Further, moderate associations between rubric scores and Java academic evaluations were revealed, highlighting the predictive validity of rubric-based objective assessments. This research work contributes to the refinement of rubric and assessment practices in programming education, offering insights into the role of adaptable rubrics in promoting student learning and suggesting pedagogical approaches. The findings of this study hold practical implications for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers. The targeted interventions, adapting rubric-based assessment criteria, improving pedagogical strategies, and enriching curriculum design ensure that the learning experiences of programming learners are tailored to their individual needs and aspirations
Sexual function in axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Full text linkObjectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined how axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and its specific disease features, impact sexual function. Methods: Systematic review of medical literature databases PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central from their inception to February 2025. Studies reporting sexual function outcomes in men or women with axSpA were included. After narrative synthesis of included studies, random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool a subset of outcomes. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the ROBINS-E tool. Results: From the initial 342 identified studies, 37 were included. Nineteen (50%) examined sexual function in men only, 13 (34%) across both genders, five (13%) in women only, and one (3%) did not specify. Nine studies (24%) reported general sexual dysfunction prevalence in people with axSpA, ranging from 32% to 71%. A meta-analysis of studies (n = 4) examining the International Index of Erectile Function in men with axSpA found that all domain scores, except sexual desire, were worse compared with controls. In women with axSpA, a meta-analysis (n = 4) of Female Sexual Function Index data revealed significantly poorer total sexual function scores, and arousal, pain, lubrication and desire sub-domain scores compared with controls. Conclusion: Between one- to two-thirds of people with axSpA report a sexual dysfunction. Pooling of data from a small subset of studies demonstrated statistically, and at times clinically, poorer sexual function scores in both men and women compared with controls. This conclusion is constrained by a lack of high-quality research and a notable scarcity of data concerning women
Rotating cylindrical acoustic invisibility cloak: Solution using perturbation method
Full text linkTransformation Acoustics initiated a new paradigm of metamaterial designs in the mid-2000s. Using this approach, an invisibility cloak can be created, and this holds promise for stealth and noise reduction applications in aviation. However, adapting this design to meet the demands of realistic conditions has proven challenging. The work below focusses on the design of a stationary 2D cylindrical cloak and its performance whilst rotating, a result not yet reported in the literature. The study utilises linearised equations of motion with convective terms. A differential equation for acoustic pressure in an anisotropic rotating fluid is formulated assuming radial dependence of its effective density components and bulk modulus. For a slowly rotating cloak the corresponding solution and scattering coefficients for the acoustic incident plane wave are derived using a perturbation method and compared with a numerical solution. These scattering coefficients are used to evaluate the performance of the rotating cloak. Results show that rotation causes a reduction in cloaking performance with greater scattering observed for increasing rotational speeds, with a reasonable agreement (within 1.7 %) between the methods within the range of applicability. The perturbation method used in this study provides a fast and computationally inexpensive approach to evaluating wave scattering from a rotating, radially graded anisotropic fluid region. The methodology and results presented lay a foundation for designing rotating acoustic cloaks, with potential applications in stealth technology and noise reduction in aviation
Concern About COVID‐19 Mediates the Relationship Between Life‐History Strategy and Stockpiling Food
Full text linkLife-history theory (LHT) charts the relationship of environmental conditions to resource allocation trade-offs made by organisms to either reproduce or invest in somatic maintenance. Hazardous environments in which resources are unreliable should prompt adoption of a "fast" life-history strategy in which short-term gains are favoured. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to examine whether an increase in existential threat as signalled by a shift in environmental status impacted people's decision making in LHT-relevant domains. In this online psychometric study (N = 274 individuals), we examined whether concerns about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between life-history strategy and the desire to have or have more children, and stockpiling food and household groceries. Contrasting results emerged. COVID-19 concern mediated the relationship between LHS and stockpiling food and household groceries but not LHS and reproduction. These findings highlight potential differences in decision consequences or the type of shift in environmental conditions needed to prompt particular responses
(345) Is Peri-Operative Penile Length Change Following Penile Prosthesis Surgery a Debunkable Myth or Hard Reality: A Review of Prospective Evidence
No full textIntroduction - Penile prosthesis implantation remains a definitive treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) unresponsive to medical therapies, with consistently high long-term satisfaction rates. However, concerns about penile length loss following surgery continue to be a major source of patient anxiety. Perceived or actual shortening can affect sexual confidence and satisfaction. As penile length is a key determinant of postoperative outcomes, understanding its changes and modifiable factors is vital for counselling and care. Objective - This systematic review consolidates current prospective evidence on peri-operative penile length changes following primary inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery and explores the role of implant type, measurement methods, and rehabilitation protocols. Methods - A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Seven databases (PubMed, Medline, ClinicalKey, Embase, OVID, Google Scholar, and NHS Wales e-Library) were searched for studies published between January 2000 and June 2024. Eligible studies were prospective, reported pre- and post-operative penile length changes following primary IPP implantation for ED, and were published in English. Due to heterogeneity in measurement techniques, implant types, and rehabilitation protocols, meta-analysis was not feasible. A narrative synthesis was performed. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), respectively. Results - Eleven studies (10 prospective, 1 retrospective) involving 547 patients were included. Penile length was typically measured using stretched penile length (SPL) from the pubic symphysis to the meatus, though variations existed in technique and anatomical landmarks. Four studies demonstrated a measurable increase in penile length postoperatively, particularly with the use of length-expanding implants like the AMS LGX and structured cycling regimens. Four studies reported no significant change in length at follow-up, and two studies observed modest decreases at 3 and 12 months. Notably, several studies found that subjective reports of length loss did not align with objective measurements, suggesting a strong psychological component. Postoperative rehabilitation protocols varied widely, ranging from early daily cycling and vacuum device use to more delayed or passive strategies. No standardized protocol emerged as clearly superior, though earlier initiation and consistent cycling were generally associated with more favorable outcomes. Conclusions - Contrary to widespread belief, most patients undergoing primary IPP implantation do not experience true penile length loss. The majority of studies report preserved or increased length, with subjective dissatisfaction often unlinked to objective change. Variability in measurement techniques, implant selection, and postoperative management limits definitive conclusions. Standardized approaches to length measurement and rehabilitation, along with focused pre-operative counselling, are essential to improve patient satisfaction and accurately address concerns about penile length
DPMMN: A Dual Performer-Multi-Modal Network for Emotion Recognition
Full text linkBackground and ObjectiveAlthough emotion recognition systems have been widely advocated, their accuracy can be affected when a person’s normal facial features overlap with their expressions when in a particular emotional state. This study, therefore, explores how heatmaps of electroencephalography (EEG) signals can be integrated with facial information to improve the accuracy of emotion recognition systems.MethodThe key idea of the proposed work is to fuse EEG signal heatmaps and Facial information for recognizing eight different emotions. For implementing this new idea, we propose a Dual Performer Multi-Modal Network (DPMMN). For each modality, the proposed work integrates modified Vision Transformer (ViT) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). The integration is achieved by concatenating the features extracted from each modality and using them to classify the different emotions. In contrast to a baseline ViT, which uses self-attention layers, the proposed work replaces self-attention layers with the Performer layers through a kernelized attention approach. This results in extracting distinct visual features from EEG signal heatmaps and facial images. Similarly, for capturing temporal features from EEG heatmaps and Facial videos, the proposed LSTM replaces a traditional feed-forward network with a recurrent structure. This step helps to learn sequential dependencies across the patches.ResultsA comprehensive evaluation of DPMMN with respect to current state-of-the-art systems shows favorable results, with DPMN achieving 97.02 % in identifying eight distinct emotions on the DEAP benchmark dataset.ConclusionThe proposed work shows that the use of EEG signal heatmap with facial information is better than EEG signal and facial information alone. Similarly, integrating performer layers with ViT and LSTM is better than existing models for extracting distinct features to classify eight emotions
Advancing and enabling effective implementation in EU security research
No full textEngage2innovate (E2i) aims to transform EU-funded security research into an engine for impactful innovation by addressing the critical challenge of implementation.Despite billions invested in security research, only a fraction of outputs are implemented. E2i addresses this gap by championing a human-centred design approach that engages end-users, understands their needs and operational contexts, and prototypes and validates solution designs.Advocating a human-centred design approach, E2i will advance security R&I practice, enabling projects to deliver relevant, practical, and sustainable solutions.To support this, E2i is developing a Security R&I Toolbox. This Toolbox will provide practical tools and methodologies based on a human-centred design process, ensuring structured engagement with end-users and stakeholders. By supporting projects in framing problems, understanding operational contexts, and prototyping solutions, the Toolbox will enable the delivery of security solutions fit for real-world use.Through its efforts, E2i aims to shape the future of EU security R&I practice, embedding human-centred design principles that drive innovation uptake and impact across the EU
Review of methods for assessing the measured heat transfer coefficient (HTC)
Full text linkOne of the initial steps in globally reducing energy demand involves accurately predicting energy requirements in the building sector and enhancing the thermal performance of buildings. Research indicates that the actual energy performance of building envelopes can differ significantly from initial predictions, often due to inconsistencies in building materials and poor workmanship. As a result, the heat exchange through building components often exceeds designed values, emphasising the importance of evaluating the as-built performance to gain accurate insights into the actual building behaviour. This discrepancy between predicted and the as-built actual energy usage is commonly referred to as the energy performance gap. Addressing this gap necessitates the introduction of performance indicators, such as the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC), a metric to quantify the actual as-built energy performance. Over the past 40 years, various methodologies and testing procedures have been developed to measure this indicator. These methods range from dedicated measurements performed on individual level to comprehensive assessments of whole-building performance, utilising in-use measurements in combination with data-driven approaches. Given the complexity and variability in these methodologies, and to reinforce their practical applicability, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in as-built thermal performance characterisation is of great importance. Therefore, this paper aims to summarise the most up-to-date advancements in this field, highlighting the strengths and limitations of existing methods, and uncovering gaps in robustness, reliability and reproducibility. By doing so, it seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the tools and techniques available to accurately assess the achieved thermal performance of buildings, supporting their future integration in practice
Use of Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) and Australian Therapy Outcome Measures (AusTOMs) in community physiotherapy and community occupational therapy services: a scoping review
Full text linkBackground: Outcome measures enable benchmarking within and between services, which is essential for ensuring best practice standards. There is limited consensus regarding which outcome measures should be utilised within the community. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview on the Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) and Australian Therapy Outcome Measures (AusTOMs) in community physiotherapy and occupational therapy services whilst identifying any gaps that exist in the evidence base. Methods: A Scoping review was conducted as per PRISMA guidance. CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE and PubMed were researched, and articles were screened based on pre-defined criteria. The results were themed for reporting. Results: 13 studies included. Article themes were sensitivity, validity and reliability of the outcome measures and the use of the TOMs/AusTOMs in community settings.Conclusion: Both the TOMs and AusTOMs have been shown to be potentially valid and reliable tools for use in community therapy services. Different levels of improvement have been reported across services using either outcome measure. Future research should investigate the specific floor and ceiling effects of both measures within community populations. Additionally, comparing TOMs data with AusTOMs data could help identify whether one measure is more advantageous than the other in specific circumstances
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