Stenden University of Applied Sciences

Serious games can be defined as abstracted representations (simulations) of our perceived reality which provide safe environments for exploration of that reality and learning. Consequently, serious gaming can be defined as an end-to-end collaborative and iterative process of delivering value with serious games. The essential component of that process are models of our perceived reality which are first used to guide a serious game design and then the translation of insights from a game run into action. This belief in the importance of models of reality was first triggered and then reinforced through my professional partnership and work with Richard D. Duke in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This chapter will reflect on the four essential requirements behind development of effective models of reality, all of which were a cornerstone of a serious gaming design approach promoted and used by Dick Duke: clarity of problem definition, thorough system analysis, collaborative and iterative development process, and the visual representation of the problem environment (the big picture).

Ample evidence has documented the importance of coping self-efficacy (CSE) in predicting psychological adaptation following adversity. Prior research has shown that greater exposure to negative consequences associated with major collective traumas diminishes the perceived ability to cope. However, the impact of exposure to stressors on future CSE projections remains unknown. This longitudinal study examined individ-uals' self-appraisals of their coping capabilities with future adversities (future coping self-efficacy [FUTURE-CSE]) in a sample of adult Poles (N = 1245). Participants were interviewed three times from July 2021 to August 2022, during the later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 hardships, operationalized as pandemic-related stressors and the extent of direct virus exposure, resulted in greater confidence in individuals' ability to manage future adversities effectively. These effects were observed while controlling for sociodemographic factors, psychological distress symptoms, and prior levels of the pandemic-specific CSE. Additionally, FUTURE-CSE beliefs were associated with lower levels of concurrently assessed symptoms of psychological distress. This protective function of FUTURE-CSE remained statistically significant even after controlling for prior levels of distress, pandemic-specific CSE, sociodemographic factors,

Glycosylated nanoparticles hold significant promise for applications in biomedicine, because of their ability to mimic complex carbohydrate interactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of block copolymers featuring both a glycosylated...

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Based on theory and practice it takes the student through the key issues focusing on the hospitality industry, particularly the hotel sector. It analyses environmental, economic and social value in the industry, and what can be done to maximise the good for all the stakeholders in the long term.

Introduction Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) improve in several outcome domains over the course of illness, but to different degrees. In this meta‐analysis, we investigated whether longitudinal changes in different outcome domains are associated with each other and which factors moderate these changes over time. Methods Our protocol was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024504253). We included 109 studies, identified through searches in PsycInfo, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane up until November 2023, investigating longitudinal changes in at least two outcome domains (symptoms, social functioning, cognition or personal recovery) for patients with SSD with at least 1 year follow‐up. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients for associations of changes between outcome domains. Potential moderating effects of demographic, clinical, social, or study characteristics were explored. Quality assessment was executed using the QUIPS tool. Results We found substantial positive associations between changes in symptoms, social functioning, and cognition. Especially, changes in negative symptoms and overall social functioning were associated with changes in several outcome domains. Changes in personal recovery were only associated with changes in symptoms. We found more substantial improvements in combinations of outcomes for patients with a shorter illness duration, females, a lower percentage of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, and patients receiving treatment focused on targeted outcomes. Conclusions Symptoms, social functioning, and cognition often concurrently improve and may boost each other. This suggests that an integrated approach targeting several outcome domains jointly boosts long‐term improvement. However, changes in personal recovery seem to occur separately from other outcome domains. Therefore, targeted attention for personal recovery is needed. Trial Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42024504253

This study investigates the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using a hyperbolic vortex plasma discharge under various plasma-atmospheric conditions demonstrating varied degradation times for PFAS of different chain lengths. Experiments with spiked long-chain perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in deionized (DI) water show that bipolar ‘flashover’ plasma polarity achieves more effective degradation compared to monopolar positive or negative polarity. For a spiked PFAS matrix of varying chain lengths in DI water, results indicate that the production of reactive species in the gas phase by plasma discharge, and their subsequent dissolution in water through the water vortex, enables the degradation of short-chain perfluorobutanoic acid in the bulk liquid. In contrast, the degradation of long-chain PFAS primarily occurs at the gas-water interface, likely due to direct interactions between the plasma and the PFAS molecules. The addition of the Hyamine 1622 surfactant during treatment significantly enhances the degradation of both short- and long-chain PFAS in DI water, groundwater, and industrial effluent. The results of groundwater treatment indicate that the presence of high concentrations of other substances, particularly anions, slows down the degradation of PFAS, especially short-chain PFAS with carboxylic acid groups. Depending on the conditions and the type of PFAS, degradation can be achieved up to 99% after 75 min of treatment, with typical energy input around 7.2 kJ L⁻¹ or 2 kWh m⁻³.

This paper revisits the effects of financial market openness and stock market returns on economic development in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries over the period 1993–2022. We performed the panel stationarity test advanced that accommodates the presence of multiple structural breaks and exploits the cross-section variations. Empirical results from several panel tests provide strong support for the long-run positive effect of financial market openness on economic growth and a long-run negative association between stock market returns and growth. Findings of the robustness checks reveal that the effect of both financial market openness and stock market returns on economic growth differs across countries.

A particular kind of triboelectrification occurs during the flow of liquids through tubes. Here, we used Faraday cups and Kelvin probes to investigate the charge of aqueous solutions and alcohols flowing through a polytetrafluorethylene tube. An excess of positive charges was observed in all liquids collected by the Faraday cup after the flow. While the tube displays a small potential during the flow, likely due to electrokinetic effects, a very high negative potential was observed after the completion of the flow. Aqueous solutions with varying pH showed significant differences in charge accumulation only at pH 2.93 and 4.99, while most of the charge accumulation can be suppressed using common surfactants. Alcohols displayed an inverse relationship between charge accumulation and carbon chain length, except for methanol. Thus, we used graphite-based nanocomposites as noncontact induction electrodes near the tube for flow sensing. A proof of concept was conducted using these induction electrodes to differentiate between water and ethanol flowing inside the tube, which was repeated thousands of times. Finally, the output voltage signal from the induction electrode was processed through an input signal filter and a microcontroller, where four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were incorporated to indicate the flow and type of liquid.

2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF)-based polyesters are an interesting new class of biobased and potentially biodegradable furanic polymers. However, their thermal properties are currently insufficient, making them unsuitable for potential applications as commodity plastics. To improve this, several polyesters were synthesized using an enzymatic bulk polymerization process with the monomers BHMF and aliphatic dimethyl esters of varying spacer lengths. The BHMF units were subsequently cross-linked with a biobased bismaleimide (BM-689) through a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between the furan and maleimide groups. This approach clearly demonstrated that these furan-based polyesters can be thermoreversibly cross-linked using this bismaleimide. The use of different spacer lengths further allows the variation in relative reaction rates and affects the reversibility and reprocessability of the polymers. In situ ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed the identification of the endo- and exostereoadducts formed by the Diels–Alder reaction. A rheological analysis demonstrated the reprocessability and the thermal properties were further characterized via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This study sheds light on the thermal and mechanical enhancement of biobased BHMF-based polyesters, while maintaining their recyclability, which widens the range of potential application of this promising polymer.