Полисингулярная модель Вселенной И.А. Болдов, независимый исследователь ilboldov @yandex. ru +79885250508 Ни в одной другой области науки, кроме космологии, нет такого количества произвольных и заведомо ошибочных теорий, сосуществующих во времени с правильной теорией.Я. Б. Зельдович.

Theme: In the rapidly evolving landscape of intelligent mobile devices and the impending 6G networks, the Integrated Sensing Digital Framework (ISDF) emerges as a transformative force within the Internet of Things (IoT), offering unprecedented opportunities for real-time data collection. Comprising the Data Requester (DR), Sensing-Computing Provider (SCP), and Framework Executor (FE), ISDF revolutionizes data gathering by harnessing device intelligence and eliminating the need for specialized sensors, providing a rich source of realtime, diverse data at the convergence of physical and digital realms. However, the integration of ISDF presents challenges, particularly in privacy and reliability. Privacy threats such as data content, task content, and location and identity risks must be addressed for the framework's success. Additionally, the strain on network capacity due to ISDF's reliance on intelligent mobile devices requires careful management for effective support of Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC). This proposal focuses on innovative solutions that integrate principles from Integrated Sensing, Computing, and Communications (ISCC) and Zero Touch Network and Service Management (ZSM) to establish a secure and dependable ISDF framework, meeting the evolving needs of 6G systems.

Abstract:Design thinking has emerged as a transformative approach to teaching and learning in K-12 STEM education, offering students the opportunity to tackle real-world problems through a creative and collaborative process. This journal delves into the application of design thinking in K-12 STEM education, examining its significance, implementation strategies, and impact on student learning. Drawing on a diverse range of resources and practical insights, this journal provides a comprehensive overview of design thinking in education, highlighting its transformative potential and implications for future practice.Introduction:In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of integrating design thinking into K-12 STEM education. Design thinking emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and experimentation, making it an ideal framework for fostering creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills among students. This journal aims to explore the role of design thinking in K-12 STEM education, providing educators with practical insights and strategies for implementation.The Significance of STEAM:The integration of STEM with the arts, known as STEAM, has gained traction in education for its emphasis on creativity and design thinking. By incorporating design thinking principles into STEM education, educators can empower students to approach problems from multiple perspectives and develop innovative solutions. STEAM education fosters a holistic understanding of complex issues and encourages students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.Design Thinking Overview:Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that prioritizes empathy, collaboration, and iteration. Rooted in the design process, design thinking encourages students to identify and define problems, generate creative solutions, and iterate on their ideas through prototyping and testing. By adopting a design thinking mindset, students can develop essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, and resilience.Implementing Design Thinking in K-12 Education:Integrating design thinking into K-12 education requires careful planning, collaboration, and support from school leaders and educators. This section explores practical strategies for implementing design thinking in the curriculum, including project-based learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning opportunities. By creating a supportive learning environment and providing students with the necessary tools and resources, educators can empower them to engage in design thinking and apply it to real-world challenges.Empathy and User-Centered Design:Empathy is a fundamental aspect of design thinking, requiring individuals to step into the shoes of others to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, motivations, and experiences. In K-12 education, fostering empathy through design thinking can help students develop a deeper understanding of complex issues and perspectives, leading to more inclusive and user-centered solutions. This section explores techniques for cultivating empathy in the classroom and integrating user-centered design principles into student projects.Empathy is a fundamental aspect of design thinking, requiring individuals to step into the shoes of others to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, motivations, and experiences. In K-12 education, fostering empathy among students is essential for developing a deeper understanding of complex issues and perspectives and for designing solutions that are inclusive and user-centered.One approach to cultivating empathy in the classroom is through immersive experiences and role-playing activities. For example, students can engage in empathy interviews, where they interview individuals from diverse backgrounds to gain insights into their experiences and challenges. These interviews can help students develop a deeper understanding of the needs and motivations of others and inform the design of solutions that are more responsive to their needs.Another strategy for fostering empathy in design thinking is through the use of storytelling and narrative-based activities. By sharing stories and personal experiences, students can develop a deeper appreciation for the lived experiences of others and gain insights into the complex social, cultural, and economic factors that shape their perspectives and behaviors. These stories can serve as inspiration for design projects and help students develop a more empathetic mindset in their work.In addition to immersive experiences and storytelling activities, educators can also integrate empathy-building exercises into the curriculum, such as perspective-taking exercises, empathy mapping, and role-playing scenarios. These activities can help students develop their empathy skills and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse needs and perspectives of others.By fostering empathy through design thinking, educators can empower students to become more compassionate, empathetic, and socially responsible individuals who are capable of addressing complex challenges and making a positive impact on their communities.Inclusivity and Diverse Approaches:Inclusivity is essential in design thinking education to ensure that all students feel valued and heard in the creative process. By embracing diverse approaches to design thinking, educators can accommodate various learning styles and preferences, allowing students to express themselves authentically and contribute meaningfully to collaborative projects. This section examines strategies for promoting inclusivity and diversity in design thinking education, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.Becoming a Design Thinking Advocate:As educators, it is crucial to advocate for design thinking within our school communities and among our colleagues. By sharing our experiences and successes in implementing design thinking in STEM education, we can inspire others to embrace this innovative approach and its transformative potential. This section explores strategies for becoming a design thinking advocate, including hosting presentations, workshops, and collaborative projects, as well as mentoring other educators on their design thinking journey.Conclusion:Design thinking offers a powerful framework for teaching and learning in K-12 STEM education, enabling students to develop essential skills and mindsets for success in the 21st century. By integrating design thinking into the curriculum and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation, educators can empower students to tackle complex problems and make a positive impact on their communities. As we continue to explore the potential of design thinking in education, let us embrace its principles and practices to create a more inclusive, collaborative, and student-centered learning environment for all.                                                                                     REFERENCES Anderson, C., & Coleman, C. V., et al. (2017, March 8). From the mundane to the divine, some of the best-designed products of all time. The Conversation US, Inc.Bill, D. (2014, August 4). 8 tips and tricks to redesign your classroom. Edutopia. George Lucas Educational Foundation.Cooper, J. (2013, September 30). Designing a school makerspace. Edutopia. George Lucas Educational Foundation.Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. (2011). Bootcamp bootleg.Kahl, M. (2012, October 1). Recasting teachers and students as designers. MindShift. KQED.Lahey, J. (2017, January 4). How design thinking became a buzzword at school. The Atlantic.Mongeau, L. (2015, February 23). Steps for applying design thinking to build and evolve schools. MindShift. KQED.Passanisi, J. (2016, August 21). Design thinking in the history classroom. Future of History. MiddleWeb.Schwartz, K. (2013, March 4). What does 'design thinking' look like in school? MindShift. KQED.Schwartz, K. (2015, August 28). Can design thinking help find new solutions to old problems? MindShift. KQED.Stevens, A. (2013, June 26). How to apply design thinking in class, step by step. MindShift. KQED.TED. (n.d.). Re-imagining school playlist.University of Washington, College of Education. (2017, February 27). Redesigning family engagement in education.Abstract: The Art of Design. (2017). Netflix Original.Helvetica. (2007). Directed by G. Hustwit.How I Built This. (2016-Present). NPR podcast featuring entrepreneur interviews with G. Raz.Santa-Donato, G. (Ed.). (2015, August 15). Design thinking projects and challenges. The K12 Lab Wiki. Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford

In this document, we provide an overview of the Auto-WCEBleedGen Version V1 and V2. The challenge V1 was organized virtually by MISAHUB (Medical Imaging and Signal Analysis) in collaboration with the 8th International CVIP 2023 (Conference on Computer Vision and Image Processing) from August 15-November 11, 2023. The challenge V2 is being organized virtually by MISAHUB in collaboration with the

Authors: Lisa Mandle1, Andrew Shea2,3, Emily Soth1, Jesse A. Goldstein1, Stacie Wolny1, Jeffrey R. Smith4,5, Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer6,7, Richard P. Sharp6,8, Mayur Patel1AffiliationsNatural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USAGlobal Sustainable Finance, Morgan Stanley, New York, NY 10036Current affiliation: Frontier & Stripe Climate, Stripe, South San Francisco, CA 94080Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton New Jersey 08544High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544Global Science, WWF. 131 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, 1954 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108SPRING, 5455 Shafter Ave., Oakland CA 94618Abstract: Aligning economic activities with the global sustainable development agenda requires understanding companies’ impacts on nature. Here, we present a new approach for quantifying the direct impacts of companies’ physical assets on nature based on global maps for eight ecosystem services and biodiversity metrics. We apply this approach to a set of over 2,000 global, publicly traded companies with 580,000 mapped physical assets. We find that companies in utility, real estate, materials, and financial sectors have the largest impacts on average, but there is substantial variation among companies within all sectors. In addition, we use high-resolution satellite imagery to assess the impact of active lithium mines based on their footprints. We show that the impact varies substantially among mines and can also be tracked across time for a mine. This approach enables differentiation among companies and assets based on their impacts to nature relative to their revenue or production.

BACKGROUND: Climate change represents a critical global challenge, hindered by skepticism towards data manipulation and politicization. Trust in climate data and its policies is essential for effective climate action. OBJECTIVE: This perspective paper explores the synergistic potential of blockchain technology and Large Language Models (LLMs) in addressing climate change. It aims to demonstrate how their integration can enhance the transparency, reliability, and accessibility of climate science, thus rebuilding public trust and fostering more effective climate action. METHODS: The paper analyzes the roles of blockchain technology in enhancing transparency, traceability, and efficiency in carbon credit trading, renewable energy certificates, and sustainable supply chain management. It also examines the capabilities of LLMs in processing complex datasets to distill actionable intelligence. The synergistic effects of integrating both technologies for improved climate action are discussed alongside the challenges faced, such as scalability, energy consumption, and the necessity for high-quality data. RESULTS: Blockchain technology contributes to climate change mitigation by ensuring transparent and immutable recording of transactions and environmental impacts, fostering stakeholder trust and democratizing participation in climate initiatives. LLMs complement blockchain by providing deep insights and actionable intelligence from large datasets, facilitating evidence-based policymaking. The integration of both technologies promises enhanced data management, improved climate models, and more effective climate action initiatives. CHALLENGES: The paper identifies blockchain technologies' scalability, energy consumption, and the need for high-quality data for LLMs as significant challenges. It suggests advancements towards more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms and the development of sophisticated data preprocessing tools as potential solutions. CONCLUSION: The integration of blockchain technology and LLMs offers a transformative approach to climate change mitigation, enhancing the accuracy, transparency, and security of climate data and governance. This synergy addresses current limitations and futureproofs climate strategies, marking a cornerstone for the next generation of environmental stewardship.

We propose a communication-efficient collaborative inference framework in the domain of edge inference, focusing on the efficient use of vision transformer (ViTs) models. The partitioning strategy of conventional collaborative inference fails to reduce communication cost because of the inherent architecture of ViTs maintaining consistent layer dimensions across the entire transformer encoder. Therefore, instead of employing the partitioning strategy, our framework utilizes a lightweight ViT model on the edge device, with the server deploying a complicated ViT model. To enhance communication efficiency and achieve the classification accuracy of the server model, we propose two strategies: 1) attention-aware patch selection and 2) entropy-aware image transmission. Attention-aware patch selection leverages the attention scores generated by the edge device’s transformer encoder to identify and select the image patches critical for classification. This strategy enables the edge device to transmit only the essential patches to the server, significantly improving communication efficiency. Entropy-aware image transmission uses min-entropy as a metric to accurately determine whether to depend on the lightweight model on the edge device or to request the inference from the server model. In our framework, the lightweight ViT model on the edge device acts as a semantic encoder, efficiently identifying and selecting the crucial image information required for the classification task. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed collaborative inference framework can reduce communication overhead by 68 % with only a minimal loss in accuracy compared to the server model.

A document by Lukas Kugler. Click on the document to view its contents.

This article demonstrates geospatial analysis techniques to visualize and quantify deforestation using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery . It leverages Amazon SageMaker and open datasets from the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI) to process time series imagery capturing landscape changes related to wildfires near Paradise, California. After configuring access to the Sentinel-2 data registry, bounding boxes and date ranges isolate relevant pre-treatment and post-treatment scenes bracketing major fire events. Comparative visualization highlights patterns of healthy forest persistence versus zones of more complete canopy removal post-fire. Suggestion is to move such analytical routines into automated pipeline to enable scalable automated deforestation mapping as new Sentinel-2 observations become available over time. Overall, this article demonstrates core techniques for leveraging cloud-based geospatial data and computing tools to derive actionable intelligence maps and indicators pertinent to sustainability challenges like wildfire impacts and climate adaptation. 

A document by Sergei V. Jargin. Click on the document to view its contents.

Time Dilation is the difference in the amount of time two clocks measure in the same inertial frame. Many studies have explored the relativity of time dilation using various approaches. However, the scientific and mathematical explanation of time dilation of moving things and light pulse clocks still has limited research. Therefore, this article examines relativity by utilizing scientific and mathematical approaches, the experience of moving things and light pulse clock ticks have been examined. The study revealed that the time elapsed for the same process is different for the different observers. Here, it showed that the time can be expressed in the form of a wave. In addition, the relative distance changes between the observers, and the observing subject time flows differently for the observer relative to the observing subject.

Introduction: We would like to provide our case numbers and our experiences over the last eight years in this single-center retrospective analysis. Furthermore, we gathered pre-therapy Lesion-to-Lung-Ratios of CPAMs to retrospectively analyze the influence of these parameters on outcome. Methods: The data was collected between 2015 and 2022. Information was obtained from the electronic case record. Pre-therapy pulmonary lesion volumes [mm 3], Lesion-to-ipsilateral-Lung-Ratio and Lesion-to-both-Lungs-Ratio of CPAMs were calculated by computed tomography images using a specialized software. Results: 40 cases were identified; of these, 27 were CPAM, seven were pulmonary sequestration, four were bronchogenic cysts, and two were congenital lobar emphysema. Histological examination was performed at each resection with no signs of malignancy. The average age at surgery was 5,68 ± 5,36 months. The average time for CPAM surgery was 126 ± 53 minutes. The length of stay was an average of 6 ± 1,41 days vs. 17 ± 18,23 days (thoracoscopic vs. open). A larger Lesion-to-Lung-Ratio appears to be associated with a longer postoperative hospital stay and is more likely to present symptoms. Discussion and Conclusion: In cases where patients display no symptoms, mild symptoms, or smaller CPAM lesions, it may be reasonable to postpone a computed tomography scan of the thorax until about six months of age for re-evaluation of surgical indications. Smaller Lesion-to-Lung-Ratio and asymptomatic presentation are favorable for surgery. Both intraoperative and postoperative complications are relatively uncommon when operated in an experienced center. The value of thoracoscopic surgery is undeniable in well selected cases.

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels have been widely used in tissue engineering because of their excellent biological and physical properties. Here, we used a microfluidic flow-focusing chip based on Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to fabricate cell-laden GelMA hydrogel microspheres. Structures of throat region and photocrosslinking region on the chip, flow rate ratio of GelMA and oil phase, GelMA concentration were optimized to obtain stable and suitable size of microspheres. GelMA microspheres encapsulating fibroblasts generated by the microfluidic chip was about 271.4 µm. Cell-laden GelMA microspheres can be cryopreserved by slow freezing and rapid freezing. The survival rate of encapsulated cells after rapid freezing was significantly higher than that of unencapsulated cells. There was no significant difference between the results of rapid freezing of encapsulated cells with 5% DMSO and traditional slow freezing of suspended cells with 10% DMSO. It demonstrates the possibility that GelMA hydrogel itself can replace some of the cryoprotective agents and has some protective effect on cells. Our study provides new ideas to optimize GelMA hydrogels for cell cryopreservation, facilitating the off-the-shelf availability of tissue engineered constructs.

In this paper, we consider a predator-prey model with Cosner type functional response and combined harvesting. First, we explore the existence and stability of the equilibria. Then using the center manifold theorem and normal form theory, we investigate codimension one and codimension two bifurcations of the model. The analysis shows that the system has a variety of bifurcation phenomena including transcritical bifurcation, saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation and homoclinic bifurcation. Our findings indicate that the dynamics with harvesting are significantly richer than the system without harvesting. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to support the analytical results.

Objective The objective benefit of trans-vaginal mesh (TVM) on the storage function of the bladder in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients waits to be established. This study investigated if TVM improves the bladder storage by specifically focusing on its effects on the compliance. Design A retrospective cohort study Setting A medical center Population Female patients with voiding dysfunction who underwent TVM for prolapse stage ≥ II (POP Quantification system) and received urodynamic investigations before and after the operation. Methods: Data of pressure-flow cystometry and the derived pressure-volume analysis (PVA) were analyzed. Main outcome measures Bladder compliance, infused volume, and threshold pressure. Results Compared with the pre-operative control, TVM consistently and significantly increased the mean compliance of the filling stage (Cm; p<0.05 N=22); and further analyses demonstrated TVM increased the compliance of the late half (C2/2; p<0.01, N=22), while it exhibited insignificant effects on that of the early half (C1/2; p>0.05, N=22) of the filling stage. Moreover, without affecting the infused volume (Vinf; p>0.05, N=22), TVM decreased the threshold pressure (Pthd; p<0.01, N=22) and post-voided residual volume (Vres; p<0.05, N=13). Conclusions TVM improve storage function of POP patients via increasing bladder compliance, particularly at the late filling stage for it restored anatomical location and geometric conformation for bladder expansion. In addition, TVM also ameliorated voiding dysfunctions as it reduced urine retention, a symptom could lead to upper urinary tract damage and/or urinary incontinence.

Earth Observation spacecraft play a pivotal role in various critical applications impacting life on Earth. Historically, these systems have adhered to conventional operational paradigms, namely the "mow-the-lawn" and "bent pipe" approaches. In these paradigms, operational schedules are formulated on the ground and subsequently uploaded to the spacecraft for execution. Execution involves either systematically acquiring vast amounts of data (mow-the-lawn) or targeting specific areas of interest as defined by end users or operators. We aim to depart from these traditional methodologies by integrating onboard Artificial Intelligence, near real-time communication, and new observing strategies in one system called CogniSAT-6. These innovations will amplify the amount, speed, and quality of the information yielded by such a system by up to an order of magnitude. This paper provides an overview of the current state of the art in autonomous Earth Observation spacecraft and the application of onboard processing in Earth Observation spacecraft. An overview is given of the CogniSAT-6 mission, its concept of operations, system architecture, and data processing design. In addition, the first results of our in-orbit functional tests are presented. Since we believe that the technology presented here will have a significant impact on society, an ethical framework for such systems is presented. Finally, the benefits of the technology and implications for Earth Observation systems going forward are discussed.

IntroductionEpiglottitis refers to inflammation of the epiglottis and adjacent supraglottic structures, primarily due to infection [1]. Without treatment, epiglottitis can progress to life-threatening airway obstruction. Historically associated with pediatric populations, particularly causing emergency airway obstruction in young children under the age of 6, the epidemiology of epiglottitis has shifted with the widespread use of conjugate vaccines. In recent years, cases in adults have become increasingly rare, making the presentation of epiglottitis in the adult population an intriguing and uncommon occurrence.

A document by Jorge Quarleri. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Marleen Stuhr. Click on the document to view its contents.

Abstract This research paper introduces the Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26), a tool designed to measure tendencies towards excessive daydreaming in college students aged 19-23. The scale aims to identify students who may be experiencing Maladaptive Daydreaming and assess its impact on their academic performance. A sample of 38 college students, consisting of 8 females and 30 males, participated in the study. The DMDS-26 demonstrated a high level of reliability (coefficient of 0.89) and successfully identified some students with tendencies towards Maladaptive Daydreaming. The findings suggest the importance of recognizing and addressing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies among college students to support their academic success. Introduction Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) refers to an immersive form of daydreaming that significantly interferes with daily functioning and overall well-being. Individuals experiencing MD often find themselves consumed by vivid and elaborate daydreams, sometimes for hours at a time, to the extent that it disrupts their ability to engage in real-world activities and responsibilities. This phenomenon can have profound effects on various aspects of an individual's life, including their academic performance, social relationships, and psychological well-being. In academic settings, students affected by Maladaptive Daydreaming may struggle to concentrate on their studies, leading to decreased productivity and academic underachievement. Moreover, MD can impact social interactions, as individuals may prefer the company of their daydreams over real-life relationships, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. From a psychological perspective, Maladaptive Daydreaming can be a coping mechanism for dealing with stress, trauma, or unmet emotional needs. Recognizing and addressing MD is crucial not only for the affected individuals' well-being but also for the academic institutions and communities they are part of. Modern psychology is increasingly recognizing Maladaptive Daydreaming as a distinct psychological phenomenon and is striving to develop effective assessment tools and interventions to help individuals manage and cope with this condition. Recognizing the importance of identifying and addressing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies has led to the development of DMDS-26. Unlike traditional diagnostic measures that focus solely on clinical diagnosis, the DMDS-26 is designed to identify individuals who may exhibit inclinations towards pathological daydreaming traits, regardless of clinical status. This scale is valuable not only in non-clinical populations, such as students but also in clinical settings, where it can be utilized to track the progress of treatment interventions. By providing a comprehensive understanding of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies, the DMDS-26 facilitates early identification and intervention, ultimately promoting better academic outcomes and psychological well-being for affected individuals.   MethodsDevelopment Process of the DMDS-26:Literature Review: The development of the Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26) began with a comprehensive review of existing literature on Maladaptive Daydreaming. This involved examining peer-reviewed studies, clinical reports, and theoretical frameworks related to the phenomenon. The purpose of this review was to gain a thorough understanding of the key themes, behaviors, and characteristics associated with Maladaptive Daydreaming.Item Generation: Based on the insights gained from the literature review, a pool of potential items for the DMDS-26 was generated. These items were designed to capture various aspects of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies, including the frequency, intensity, duration, content, and impact of daydreaming episodes. Items were formulated to assess both positive and negative aspects of Maladaptive Daydreaming, such as the extent to which daydreaming provides comfort versus the extent to which it interferes with daily functioning.Expert Review: The initial pool of items was then subjected to expert review by psychologists, researchers, and clinicians with expertise in Maladaptive Daydreaming. These experts evaluated the clarity, relevance, and comprehensiveness of each item, providing feedback on areas for improvement. Items that were deemed unclear, redundant, or irrelevant were revised or eliminated based on the feedback from the expert reviewers.Pilot Testing: Following the expert review process, a pilot test of the DMDS-26 was conducted with a small sample of individuals who self-reported experiencing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies. This pilot test served to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the scale, as well as to identify any potential issues with item wording, response options, or formatting. Feedback from pilot test participants was used to further refine the items and ensure their clarity and relevance.Final Selection of Items: After iterative rounds of revision and refinement, the final selection of items for the DMDS-26 was made. Items were chosen based on their psychometric properties, including their ability to reliably and validly measure the construct of Maladaptive Daydreaming. The selected items were designed to be clear, concise, and easily understandable, making them suitable for use with diverse populations, including college students aged 19-23.Categorization of Items into Three Phases:Phase 1: "I Enjoy"This phase consists of items designed to assess the positive aspects of daydreaming, such as enjoyment, intensity, liking, and time spent engaged in daydreaming activities.Phase 2: "I Find it Hard to"This phase focuses on items that measure the cognitive and behavioral aspects of daydreaming, as well as the intensity of daydreaming episodes.Phase 3: "When I Daydream"This phase includes items that assess the overall impact of daydreaming on social and interpersonal relationships, as well as on overall well-being.Validation Process:Data Collection Methods: Participants were recruited from a sample of college students aged 19-23, representing both genders, through various recruitment methods such as university bulletin boards. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their involvement in the study. Participants completed the Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26), along with additional measures to assess related constructs, such as general daydreaming tendencies, academic performance, and psychological well-being.Data were collected anonymously to ensure confidentiality and minimize social desirability bias.Participant Demographics:The study sample consisted of 38 college students aged 19-23, with a gender distribution of 8 females and 30 males.Participant demographics were collected to provide context for the study findings and to ensure that the sample was representative of the target population of college students.Statistical Analyses: Reliability Analysis: Internal consistency reliability of the DMDS-26 was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. This analysis measures the extent to which items on the scale are correlated with each other, providing an indication of the scale's reliability.Validity Analysis: Construct validity of the DMDS-26 was examined using factor analyses, including both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). EFA was conducted to explore the underlying factor structure of the scale and identify any potential subscales or dimensions. CFA was then used to confirm the hypothesized factor structure of the scale and assess its goodness of fit to the data.Convergent and Discriminant Validity: The convergent and discriminant validity of the DMDS-26 were assessed by examining its correlations with other measures of related constructs, such as general daydreaming tendencies, academic performance, and psychological well-being. Higher correlations with measures of daydreaming and lower correlations with measures of academic performance and psychological well-being were expected, demonstrating the scale's ability to differentiate between Maladaptive Daydreaming and other constructs.Ethical Considerations:The study was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines for research involving human participants, ensuring the protection of participants' rights and well-being.Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and measures were taken to maintain confidentiality and anonymity throughout the data collection and analysis process.ResultsDescriptive Statistics: The mean DMDS-26 score for the sample of college students aged 19-23 was found to be 21.5, with a standard deviation of 5.2. The range of scores varied from a minimum of 13 to a maximum of 30. This suggests that, on average, participants scored moderately on the scale, with some variability in scores across the sample.Reliability Coefficient: The internal consistency reliability of the DMDS-26 was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which yielded a high coefficient of 0.89. This indicates a strong level of internal consistency among the items on the scale, suggesting that the items are consistently measuring the same underlying construct of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies. Such a high coefficient indicates that the scale reliably captures the intended construct, enhancing confidence in its use for research and clinical purposes.Significant Findings: The validation study identified a subgroup of college students with elevated scores on the DMDS-26, indicating tendencies towards Maladaptive Daydreaming. Among the participants, 15 out of 38 (39.5%) scored above the cutoff for elevated Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies. These individuals may experience challenges in academic work due to the impact of excessive daydreaming on their ability to concentrate and engage in learning activities effectively.Correlational analyses revealed that higher DMDS-26 scores were associated with lower academic performance, as evidenced by self-reported grades or objective measures such as GPA. Specifically, participants with elevated Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies reported lower average GPAs (M = 2.8) compared to those with lower scores (M = 3.5). Additionally, students with higher DMDS-26 scores reported greater interference of daydreaming with their daily activities, including academic tasks, social interactions, and overall well-being.These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies in college students, as they may have significant implications for academic success and overall psychological well-being.DiscussionInterpretation of Findings: The findings of the validation study provide valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies among college students aged 19-23. The identification of a subgroup of participants with elevated scores on the DMDS-26 suggests that Maladaptive Daydreaming is not uncommon in this population. These individuals may face challenges in academic settings due to difficulties in concentration and focus, as evidenced by the negative association between DMDS-26 scores and academic performance. The high internal consistency reliability of the DMDS-26 indicates that the scale effectively captures the construct of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies, providing a reliable tool for assessing this phenomenon in college students.Implications for Academic Institutions and Individuals: Identifying college students with Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies has significant implications for academic institutions and the affected individuals. For academic institutions, recognizing and addressing Maladaptive Daydreaming can help support student success and well-being. Implementing interventions and support services tailored to the needs of students with Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies can improve academic outcomes and enhance overall student satisfaction.For individuals affected by Maladaptive Daydreaming, recognition and intervention can lead to improved academic performance, better time management skills, and enhanced psychological well-being. Providing resources such as counseling, support groups, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help individuals develop coping strategies and reduce the negative impact of excessive daydreaming on their daily lives.Limitations and Future Directions: Despite the valuable insights provided by the validation study, several limitations should be acknowledged. The relatively small sample size of 38 participants limits the generalizability of the findings and may have affected the statistical power of the analyses. Additionally, the use of self-reported measures, such as the DMDS-26 and academic performance, introduces the potential for response bias and inaccuracies in reporting.Future research should aim to address these limitations by conducting larger-scale studies with more diverse participant samples. Longitudinal studies could also provide valuable information on the stability of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies over time and their impact on academic and psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, qualitative research methods, such as interviews and focus groups, could offer deeper insights into the lived experiences of individuals with Maladaptive Daydreaming and inform the development of more targeted interventions.ConclusionThe validation study of the Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26) has provided valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies among college students aged 19-23. The findings indicate that Maladaptive Daydreaming is not uncommon in this population, with a subgroup of participants exhibiting elevated scores on the DMDS-26, suggesting a propensity towards excessive daydreaming behaviors.The high internal consistency reliability of the DMDS-26 underscores its utility as a reliable tool for assessing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies in college students. By identifying individuals with elevated scores on the scale, academic institutions can better understand the challenges faced by students affected by Maladaptive Daydreaming and implement targeted interventions to support their academic success and psychological well-being.The implications of identifying college students with Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies are significant, both for academic institutions and the affected individuals. Implementing interventions and support services tailored to the needs of students with Maladaptive Daydreaming can improve academic outcomes, enhance overall student satisfaction, and foster a more inclusive learning environment.Despite the valuable insights provided by the validation study, several limitations should be acknowledged, including the relatively small sample size and the use of self-reported measures. Future research should aim to address these limitations by conducting larger-scale studies with more diverse participant samples and utilizing longitudinal research designs to explore the stability of Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies over time.In conclusion, the validation of the DMDS-26 highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing Maladaptive Daydreaming tendencies among college students. By raising awareness of this phenomenon and providing targeted support, academic institutions can empower students to overcome the challenges associated with excessive daydreaming and achieve their academic and personal goals.Declarations Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Conflict of Interest: no conflicts of interest. Funding: No funding was received for this research. Approval was granted by the Institutional Ethics Committee, IGNU Ref:- Letter No.453DREPO- 02/01/2024Appendix The Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26) is also available online through the DrDeenz platform, offering the convenience of automatic scoring and enhancing time efficiency in assessment processes. This digital version of the scale streamlines the scoring process, eliminating the need for manual scoring and reducing the time and resources required for data collection and analysis.

Lightning is an impressive, widespread natural phenomenon, yet many questions about its physics remain unanswered due to its extreme speed, transience, and high energy. These intrinsic characteristics make optical observations capturing its formation, propagation, and discharge challenging with conventional optical cameras. Furthermore, optical sensors with extremely high-speed frame rates and high dynamic ranges are needed. While high speed cameras have been used to capture lightning, their lack of portability, high cost and high data storage requirements can limit lightning research. To address these challenges, the use of neuromorphic technologies, inspired by the sensing and data processing mechanisms of biological photoreceptors, offers a unique approach. Event-based vision sensors offer low latency, less power than a conventional camera, and have sensing capabilities that operate across a dynamic range of over 120dB. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of Event-Based Vision Sensor in lightning research by presenting data collected during a full lightning storm and provides examples of how event-based data can be used to interpret various lightning features. We used a Prophesee Gen4 Event-Based Vision Sensor to record a thunderstorm over a fifty-minute span on 24 January 2023, from Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. During this observation, we recorded numerous Cloud-to-Ground and Cloud-to-Cloud lightning strikes. To assess the Event-Based Vision Sensor’s effectiveness in capturing commonly observed lightning features, we used custom algorithms and in-house post-processing software was used to analyze and interpret the data. We conclude that the Event-Based Vision Sensor has the potential to improve high-speed imagery due to its lower cost, data output, and ease of deployment, ultimately establishing it as an excellent complementary tool for lightning observation.

Abstract            Synthetic chemicals are increasingly being added to the environment to modify natural processes with the intent of reversing inflicted damage and/or attempting to improve upon existing functions. These efforts tend to be expensive and to lose some of their effectiveness over time. Moreover, they may induce unanticipated adverse effects, not the least of which are due to the synthetic chemicals remaining within the environment. Nature has the intrinsic capacity to modify its processes in response to changed conditions. These modifications comprise natural adaptations to retain optimal functions. Nature’s allostasis refers to the range and versatility of these adaptative responses, which can involve multiple components within any given ecosystem. Yet, there are limits to these allosteric adaptations, primarily because the required amounts of energy may not be available. These limits are referred to as tipping points, beyond which there are persisting functional impairments. Nature uses an energy that is referred to by the acronym KELEA (Kinetic Energy Limiting Electrostatic Attraction). Providing disordered ecosystems with added KELEA is proving to be an inexpensive, more effective, and non-toxic alternative to using synthetic chemicals. The added KELEA is intended to restore Nature’s capacity for allostatic adaptations and, thereby, regain normal functional activity. This article cites several published health, agricultural, and industrial applications of KELEA involving the use of fluid-activating volcanic material-derived Kiko pellets. The potential worldwide cost savings achievable by replacing many of the currently used chemical-based modifications with KELEA-based approaches are likely to be in the trillions of dollars. Moreover, there are certain energy-based applications for which there are no chemical-based alternatives. Educational programs, coupled with clear documentation of benefits, will be key factors in accepting the concept of KARNA – KELEA Assisted Restoration of Nature’s Allostasis.

Seismic waves excited by human activity frequently mask signals due to tectonic processes, and are therefore discarded as nuisance. Seismic noise-field analysis is, however, a powerful tool for characterizing anthropogenic activities. Here, I apply this analysis to examine seismic precursors to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The precursory activity in Gaza included massive mobilization which took place in the hours leading to the attack, and was documented on multiple media outlets. Favorable conditions, which arise due to a temporary lack of anthropogenic activity in Israel, allow remote seismic stations to record signals due to Gaza vehicle traffic. I use these seismograms to identify anomalous ground-motions, associate them with pre-attack mobilization, and precisely determine their location. By applying array analysis to three seismic stations located tens-of-kilometers from the Gaza Strip, I was able to obtain valuable information on the Hamas attack plans. This suggests that embedding seismic noise-field analysis into decision-making protocols could enhance preparedness, thus providing an opportunity to blunt terrorist attacks and reduce the number of casualties.

Water resources are one of the key systems by which climate change will indirectly affect economic and social development sectors. Significant climate change impacts on water resources will have limiting effects on development sectors. Taking these repercussions of climate change impacts on water resources into account in economic and social development planning and management is the main resilience response to implement. In practice, such a response will require relevant specific approaches, knowledge, information, solutions and decision support tools to achieve the desired resilience objectives. In this paper, we describe the Badolo ClimWaterProspect framework, a framework for designing and implementing climate change and water resources integration in development policies actions. It includes methodological tools, knowledge corpuses and a decision support matrix for an objective-based planning of water resources and climate change integration in development policies. The main results of this article are information, solutions and knowledge families, resilience objectives families and a decision support matrix for development sectors resilience to the repercussions of climate change impacts on resources water plans. Fundamentally, The Badolo ClimWaterProspect framework is an innovative, inclusive and participatory tool for significantly improving the relevance, efficiency, performance and impact of water resources and climate change integration in sectoral development policies actions.