While neighborhood safety and stranger danger have been mostly canonized to play a part in parents' physical activity (PA) avoidance, less is known about the impact of parental stress and perceived ...risk on children's PA avoidance and consequently on children's level of PA and wellbeing. Understanding the contributors to children's wellbeing during pandemic disease is the first critical step in contributing to children's health during epidemic diseases.
This study employed 276 healthy children, aged 10-12 years, and their parents. Data were collected in October and November 2020, about 9 months after the local closing of schools due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Parents and children answered a separate set of questions. Besides the demographic information, the parents responded to questions on their stress level, perceived risk of COVID-19, and PA avoidance for children. Children responded to questions on their PA and wellbeing in the last week. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS and IBM SPSS 22.
The result of the study supported the four directional research hypotheses of the sequential study model. As hypothesized, parents' stress and perceived risk levels of COVID-19 negatively affected children's PA. The PA level was shown to predict children's wellbeing and mental health. Housing type, parents' job security, number of siblings, number of members living together in-home, and history of death or hospitalization of relatives or family members due to COVID-19 were found to be associated with parents' stress and children's mental health.
This study sheds light on parents' role in children's wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents with higher stress and high restrictive behaviors might put their children at risk of mental disorders in the end.
Since the COVID-19 crisis has caused the cancellation of a great number of travel plans in the last two years, this study examines the prospects of the post-COVID-19 era, during which we expect ...tourism will return strongly. The impact of the epidemic on people’s attitudes toward tourism, particularly their tourist choices, appears to be a major challenge for post-COVID-19 international tourism development. Very little is known about tourists’ accommodation preferences during the period emerging after the COVID-19 crisis. With a long and challenging experience of lockdowns, stress, and fear of disease, the current study attempts to examine peoples’ preferences for hotel attributes during the post-COVID-19 era. It examines factors contributing to peoples’ preferences for hotels with biophilic attributes. A total of 507 Iranian undergraduate and graduate students participated in the study. They answered questions on their perceived stress, level of depression, the specific burden of COVID-19, the perceived benefits of nature, and their preferences for biophilic design attributes in their accommodation. The online survey was conducted from August to October 2021. We found that the burden of COVID-19 increased the stress level of the respondents, which consequently increased the chance of depression. We further found that perceived stress and the benefits of nature significantly affect tourists’ preferences for exposure to nature and hotels with biophilic attributes. Based on the data, we suggest that the demand for biophilic buildings will be strongly increased during the post-COVID-19 era.
This study aims to explore the factors contributing mental health of Afghan migrants residing in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges encountered by ...migrants, especially during times of crisis, this research delves into the influential factors of experienced anxiety, social cohesion, and stress and their significant contribution to the development of depression among Afghan migrants. The study included a sample of 469 individuals from the Afghan migrant community, aged 15 to 80 years. Data collection took place from December to March 2022 in Iran. The study revealed that anxiety and the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the occurrence of depression among Afghan migrants. Furthermore, the relationship between these factors and depression was mediated by the experience of stress. Conversely, higher levels of perceived social cohesion in the host country were linked to reduced stress and depression among the migrants. As Afghan migrants in Iran face a heightened risk of developing depression, the importance of social support and integration is underscored by the association between higher levels of perceived social cohesion in the host country and reduced levels of stress and depression. Recognizing the vulnerabilities of this population, it becomes evident that fostering social support networks and promoting integration can play a crucial role in mitigating the negative impact of migration-related stressors and enhancing mental wellbeing among this population.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The purpose of this research was to identify “threshold” concepts in introductory statistics courses by surveying engineering students. Threshold concepts are those ideas that bind a subject together ...and are fundamental to the thinking and practice within a discipline. In this exploratory study, the aim was to answer the following questions: What are the learners’ assessments of the proposed threshold concepts? Based on the learners’ assessments, which of the four threshold characteristics best describes the selected threshold concepts? What are the final proposed threshold concepts that incorporate the learners’ perspectives? What is the perception held by learners about the theory’s impact on the learning and teaching processes? Using qualitative and quantitative exploratory analysis to answer these questions, all students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science who took one of the 29 sections of the course Introductory Statistics offered at the University of Colorado at Boulder were surveyed. The findings reveal there are differences in threshold concepts identified by instructors and learners. The learners added 11 concepts to the 18 proposed by the instructors as threshold concepts. Based on these inputs, a list of potential threshold concepts incorporating the two perspectives—that of instructor and that of learner—was created, and a framework of knowledge to support curriculum design was developed. An important suggestion for future research is to explore how to incorporate these threshold concepts in redesigning the syllabi of such courses, depending on the proposed framework.
The field of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) has long grappled with the limitations imposed by static environmental assumptions, a challenge that becomes increasingly pronounced ...in dynamic settings. Addressing this gap, our study introduces a pioneering technique, Accurate and Dynamic Reliable SLAM (YoloV8-SLAM), which represents a paradigm shift in VSLAM technology. This novel approach combines the prowess of dynamic object detection with advanced multi-view geometry, thereby elevating the system’s accuracy, robustness, and efficiency in varied dynamic scenarios. At the core of YoloV8-SLAM is an innovative adaptive segmentation process that skilfully merges geometric motion details from successive frames. This integration not only isolates dynamic objects with heightened precision but also ensures consistent mapping accuracy. The system employs the latest YoloV8 model, synergizing it with an Enhanced Multi-View Geometry algorithm. This combination is adept at handling a spectrum of dynamic conditions, further bolstered by a precise point selection mechanism that swiftly retrieves motion information, crucial for real-time applications. Our extensive evaluations demonstrate that YoloV8-SLAM significantly outperforms existing methods such as including DynaSLAM (Bescos et al., 2018), DM-SLAM (Cheng et al., 2020), RDS-SLAM (Liu et al., 2021), Blitz-SLAM (Fan et al., 2022), and OVD-SLAM (He et al., 2023). Notably, it achieves a 38–45% reduction in Absolute Trajectory Error and a 66–72% decrease in Relative Pose Error, underscoring its superior performance. The breakthrough of YoloV8-SLAM lies in its seamless amalgamation of cutting-edge machine learning with robust geometric principles. This fusion not only facilitates effective dynamic segmentation but also ensures stable structural reconstruction, even in highly dynamic environments. This work marks a substantial advancement in SLAM technology, particularly in addressing the complexities of dynamic and unrestricted settings. YoloV8-SLAM sets a new benchmark in the field and paves the way for future explorations in dynamic SLAM solutions, promising to revolutionize applications requiring high fidelity in real-world, ever-changing environments.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) significantly affects learning, health, and productivity in educational buildings, particularly classrooms. Thermal comfort is crucial to IEQ in classrooms, and ...various approaches have been developed to assess it. This study compares subjective evaluation, fieldwork measurement, and simulation methods in naturally ventilated secondary school classroom environments in Abuja, Nigeria. It evaluates their reliability, validity, advantages, and limitations. In achieving this objective, fieldwork measurements, questionnaire surveys, and building simulations were conducted in 83 classrooms with 2758 respondents. The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using the analytical software programs SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel. The study found that the Actual Mean Vote (AMV) comfort operative temperature for classrooms was 28.7 °C. Findings from the comparative analysis of the methods indicate that the PMV generally overestimates students’ thermal sensation and that the fieldwork measurement Predicted Mean Votes (PMVf) undervalues the neutral temperature by 4.2 °C. In contrast, the computer-simulated Predicted Mean Votes (PMVs) undervalues it by 3.9 °C. The study found that all three methods are valid and reliable, with some advantages and limitations, depending on the assessment’s specific context and goals. The findings provide valuable insights into improving indoor environmental quality and occupant satisfaction in educational buildings, contributing to the discourse on assessing thermal comfort in classrooms and informing the development of more effective assessment methods. The systematic comparison of these methods addresses a notable gap in the literature, providing practical insights to optimize thermal conditions in learning environments.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Most thermal comfort research has traditionally focused on office and commercial buildings as opposed to educational facilities. Due to the high population density in schools and the undesirable ...impact an unsuitable thermal setting can have on performance, teaching and learning, providing thermal comfort in school facilities is crucial. Considering the above information, this study aims to collect empirical data from secondary schools in Abuja’s hot and dry climate to evaluate thermal comfort settings for students in naturally ventilated classrooms and the applicability of ASHRAE Standard-55 in the area. To achieve this, field investigations were conducted in free-running classrooms from four secondary schools. The study involved 1448 students drawn from 41 classrooms. Data collection involved measuring classroom thermal comfort variables and respondent survey, simultaneously performed while students were learning in the classroom. Findings revealed none of the studied classrooms’ thermal conditions met the ASHRAE Standard-55 comfort range. However, 44% of students felt comfortable. The study indicated a regression-neutral temperature of 28.8°C and a ‘comfort temperature’ range of 26 to 31°C. The findings of this research could form the foundation data for a local thermal comfort standard. However, the prior thermal experiences of respondents were not investigated in this study.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Links between dormitory satisfaction and academic achievement, happiness, sense of belonging to space, academic progress, physical and mental well-being have been well-established. However, the ...relationship between greenery and degree of satisfaction among university students is poorly understood. This study was an attempt to understand whether access to greenery is associated with university students’ dormitory satisfaction. To this end, 200 students living in a dormitory at Kerman Islamic Azad University were recruited through random convenience sampling. The data were gathered through a questionnaire. The pot plants were distributed among the participants. Analysis of the data using T-test showed that students' satisfaction with the dormitory increased significantly after receiving the pot plants. The finding of the study will help landscape architects, planners and policymakers to maximize the satisfaction of the students at dormitory by providing the students with greenery.ResumenLos vínculos entre el grado de satisfacción en las residencias universitarias y el logro académico, la felicidad, el sentido de pertenencia al espacio, el progreso académico, el bienestar físico y mental están ampliamente establecidos. Sin embargo, la relación entre la vegetación y el grado de satisfacción entre los estudiantes universitarios es poco conocida. Este estudio trata de explicar si disponer de vegetación está asociado con la satisfacción de los estudiantes en las residencias universitarias. Con este fin, se eligieron al azar 200 estudiantes de una residencia en la Universidad de Kerman Islamic Azad. Los datos fueron recopilados a través de un cuestionario. Se distribuyeron plantas en maceta entre las participantes . El análisis de los datos mediante el test de la T mostró que el grado de satisfacción de las estudiantes de la residencia aumentó significativamente después de recibir las plantas. El hallazgo del estudio ayudará a los arquitectos, paisajistas, planificadores y legisladores a maximizar la satisfacción de los estudiantes al proporcionarles vegetación en la residencia universita
Links between dormitory satisfaction and academic achievement, happiness, sense of belonging to space, academic progress, physical and mental well-being have been well-established. However, the ...relationship between greenery and degree of satisfaction among university students is poorly understood. This study was an attempt to understand whether access to greenery is associated with university students’ dormitory satisfaction. To this end, 200 students living in a dormitory at Kerman Islamic Azad University were recruited through random convenience sampling. The data were gathered through a questionnaire. The pot plants were distributed among the participants. Analysis of the data using T-test showed that students' satisfaction with the dormitory increased significantly after receiving the pot plants. The finding of the study will help landscape architects, planners and policymakers to maximize the satisfaction of the students at dormitory by providing the students with greenery. Resumen Los vínculos entre el grado de satisfacción en las residencias universitarias y el logro académico, la felicidad, el sentido de pertenencia al espacio, el progreso académico, el bienestar físico y mental están ampliamente establecidos. Sin embargo, la relación entre la vegetación y el grado de satisfacción entre los estudiantes universitarios es poco conocida. Este estudio trata de explicar si disponer de vegetación está asociado con la satisfacción de los estudiantes en las residencias universitarias. Con este fin, se eligieron al azar 200 estudiantes de una residencia en la Universidad de Kerman Islamic Azad. Los datos fueron recopilados a través de un cuestionario. Se distribuyeron plantas en maceta entre las participantes . El análisis de los datos mediante el test de la T mostró que el grado de satisfacción de las estudiantes de la residencia aumentó significativamente después de recibir las plantas. El hallazgo del estudio ayudará a los arquitectos, paisajistas, planificadores y legisladores a maximizar la satisfacción de los estudiantes al proporcionarles vegetación en la residencia universita
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