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Social group activity recognition is a challenging task extended from group activity recognition, where social groups must be recognized with their activities and group members. Existing methods tackle this task by leveraging region features of individuals following existing group activity recognition methods. However, the effectiveness of region features is susceptible to person localization and variable semantics of individual actions. To overcome these issues, we propose leveraging attention modules in transformers to generate social group features. In this method, multiple embeddings are used to aggregate features for a social group, each of which is assigned to a group member without duplication. Due to this non-duplicated assignment, the number of embeddings must be significant to avoid missing group members and thus renders attention in transformers ineffective. To find optimal attention designs with a large number of embeddings, we explore several design choices of queries for feature aggregation and self-attention modules in transformer decoders. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance and verify that the proposed attention designs are highly effective on social group activity recognition.

The study of group activity analysis has garnered significant attention. Group activity offers a unique perspective on the relationships between individuals, providing insights that individual and crowd activities may not reveal. This paper aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing a comprehensive review of the methods employed in utilizing deep learning for the analysis of group activity. The review encompasses an overview of various methodologies for group detection, segmentation, feature extraction, and description. Additionally, it delves into the classification, recognition, and prediction of group activities, including crowd trajectory prediction. The representation of crowd activity patterns and labels, along with an exploration of datasets for crowd activity analysis, is also included. Ultimately, the paper concludes with a discussion of potential future research directions in the field. By offering a comprehensive review of the advancements in group activity analysis through the lens of deep learning, this paper aims to provide researchers with a better understanding of the field's progress, thereby contributing to the continued development of this area of study.

Background The rapid integration of blended learning (BL) into anatomy education has transformed traditional teaching. the preferences and perceptions of medical students toward BL, and its impact on anatomy learning, remain underexplored. Objective This multi-institutional study aimed to assess medical students’ preferences and perceptions regarding BL in anatomy education, and to identify factors influencing their anatomy learning across three universities in Egypt and Oman. Methods A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 615 medical students from Alexandria University (Egypt), Mansoura University (Egypt), and National University (Oman). The validated Blended Learning Questionnaire (BLQ), adapted from Western Sydney University, was administered online. The BLQ evaluated preferences for learning modalities, satisfaction with BL, the role of self-regulated learning (SRL), small group activities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and ANOVA, with significance set at p  < 0.05. Results students expressed a preference for BL and online modalities over traditional face-to-face lectures, with the highest preference for BL observed in National University. Female students favoured small group learning, while SRL was most valued by National students. The use of audio-visual resources and flexibility in accessing online materials were highly rated. Institutional differences were noted in preferred online tools and the value of small group activities. Conclusion Medical students across diverse settings prefer blended and online learning approaches for anatomy, highlighting the need for flexible, resource-rich, and student-cantered curricula. These highlight the importance of supporting SRL and using technology to optimize anatomy education, with implications for curriculum design and faculty development.

Introduction: the perceived instructor quality (PIQ), in fitness group activities (GA), plays a vital role in users’ satisfaction, motivation, and long-term engagement with fitness services. Objective: this study aimed to assess and compare PIQ from both user and instructor perspectives, and to analyze how user perceptions vary according to gender, age group, and club attended. Methodology: a total of 270 users and 32 instructors from five clubs of a fitness chain in Portugal completed an adapted version of the QIF-AG questionnaire, assessing 10 IQ items. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA, with Tukey post hoc comparisons. Results: results showed that users consistently rated instructors more positively than the instructors themselves, with statistically significant differences in their communication, punctuality, and knowledge. Female users reported higher IQ scores than males, particularly in relational dimension. While age-related differences were not statistically significant, younger users tended to give higher ratings across most items. Significant variations were also found among the clubs, some showing more favorable ratings, especially in technical-pedagogical dimension. Discussion: findings underscored the multidimensional and context-sensitive nature of users PIQ. Fitness professionals and managers are encouraged to implement targeted quality improvement strategies, considering the user profiles and club characteristics. Conclusions: this investigation highlights the value of integrating multiple perspectives and contextual variables when assessing service quality in fitness. Introducción: la calidad percibida del instructor (CPI) en actividades grupales (AG) de fitness desempeña un papel clave en la satisfacción, la motivación y la adhesión a largo plazo de los usuarios. Objetivo: evaluar y comparar la CPI desde las perspectivas de usuarios e instructores, y analizar cómo varía según el sexo, el grupo de edad y el club. Metodología: participaron 270 usuarios y 32 instructores de cinco clubes de una cadena de fitness en Portugal, quienes completaron una versión adaptada del cuestionario QIF-AG, que evalúa 10 ítems de calidad del instructor. Se realizaron pruebas t para muestras independientes y ANOVA de un factor, con comparaciones post hoc de Tukey. Resultados: los usuarios valoraron a los instructores de forma más positiva que la autoevaluación de los propios, con diferencias significativas en comunicación, puntualidad y conocimiento. Las mujeres obtuvieron puntuaciones de CPI más altas que los hombres, especialmente en la dimensión relacional. Aunque las diferencias por edad no fueron significativas, los usuarios más jóvenes tendieron a otorgar puntuaciones más elevadas. También se observaron variaciones entre clubes, sobre todo en la dimensión técnico-pedagógica. Discusión: los resultados indicaron que la calidad percibida del instructor varía según la perspectiva de los participantes y el contexto del club, siendo especialmente relevantes los aspectos relacionales y técnico-pedagógicos. Conclusiones: esta investigación ha mostrado la importancia de integrar múltiples perspectivas y variables contextuales en la evaluación de la calidad del servicio en fitness. Introdução: a qualidade permitida do instrutor (CPI) em atividades grupais (AG) de fitness desempenha um papel chave na satisfação, na motivação e na adesão a um amplo espaço dos utilizadores. Objectivo: avaliar e comparar o IPC a partir das perspectivas dos utilizadores e dos instrutores, e analisar como varia em função do sexo, do grupo de pais e do clube. Metodologia: participaram 270 utilizadores e 32 instrutores de cinco clubes de uma cadeia de fitness em Portugal, que preencheram uma versão adaptada do questionário QIF-AG, que avalia 10 itens de qualidade do instrutor. Foram realizados testes para amostras independentes e ANOVA de um fator, com comparações post hoc de Tukey. Resultados: os utilizadores valorizam os instrutores de forma mais positiva que a autoavaliação dos propios, com diferenciais significativos em comunicação, pontualidade e conhecimento. As mulheres obtiveram pontuações de IPC mais elevadas do que os homens, especialmente na dimensão relacional. Embora as diferenças entre os pais não sejam significativas, os utilizadores mais jovens tendem a obter pontuações mais elevadas. Também se observam variações entre clubes, sobre tudo na dimensão técnico-pedagógica. Discussão: os resultados indicam que a qualidade percebida do instrutor varia consoante a perspetiva dos participantes e o contexto do clube, sendo especialmente relevantes os aspetos relacionais e técnico-pedagógicos. Conclusões: esta investigação mostrou a importância de integrar múltiplas perspetivas e variáveis ​​contextuais na avaliação da qualidade do serviço de fitness.

This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the physical activity (PA) of older adults with pre-frail status by examining sedentary behavior (SB) and PA using triaxial accelerometer data, with non-frail older adults as the control group. In this study, we divided the study participants into older adults who regularly participated in self-initiated citizen group exercise activities and those who did not. Data were collected between September and December 2017. We analyzed data from 256 older adults (women: 86.3%) aged ≥65 years. The interaction effect of participation status (participation and non-participation group) and frailty status (pre-frail and non-frail group) for moderate-to-vigorous PA (F = 9.178, p = 0.003) and daily mean number of steps (F = 9.351, p = 0.002) was significant. For the participation group, there was no difference between pre-frail older adults and non-frail older adults regarding length of SB and PA time, indicating that PA level was maintained in the participating pre-frail older adults. In contrast, moderate-to-vigorous PA and daily mean number of steps were low in pre-frail older adults who did not participate in the activities. The opportunity to participate in self-initiated group exercise activities and other PAs in the community may help pre-frail older adults maintain their PA.

ABSTRACTBackgroundA variety of group activities is promoted for nursing home (NH) residents with dementia with the aim to reduce apathy and to increase engagement and social interaction. Investigating behaviors related to these outcomes could produce insights into how the activities work. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate behaviors seen in people with dementia during group activity with the seal robot Paro, differences in behaviors related to severity of dementia, and to explore changes in behaviors. MethodsThirty participants from five NHs formed groups of five to six participants at each NH. Group sessions with Paro lasted for 30 minutes twice a week during 12 weeks of intervention. Video recordings were conducted in the second and tenth week. An ethogram, containing 18 accurately defined and described behaviors, mapped the participants’ behaviors. Duration of behaviors, such as “Observing Paro,” “Conversation with Paro on the lap,” “Smile/laughter toward other participants,” were converted to percentage of total session time and analyzed statistically. Results“Observing Paro” was observed more often in participants with mild to moderate dementia ( p = 0.019), while the variable “Observing other things” occurred more in the group of severe dementia ( p = 0.042). “Smile/laughter toward other participants” showed an increase ( p = 0.011), and “Conversations with Paro on the lap” showed a decrease ( p = 0.014) during the intervention period. ConclusionsParticipants with severe dementia seemed to have difficulty in maintaining attention toward Paro during the group session. In the group as a whole, Paro seemed to be a mediator for increased social interactions and created engagement.

This longitudinal study determines the frequency and way of people doing activities from Spring 2020 to Summer 2021 during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Six online surveys were carried out between April 2020 and July 2021. 4,992 participants were engaged in the cross-sectional study and 203 participants who provided repeat responses were included in the subset sample of prospective cohort analysis. Primary outcomes measured were the frequency and the mode of doing the activities (online or in-person) across sixteen selected activity groups, as defined by the UK National Time Use Survey. The results show that cultural activities, spending time with others, and travelling, were the activities with the largest proportions of frequency and mode changes. The most significant changes occurred from March to June 2020, a period that included the first lockdown. Survey results from this period show a significant decrease among most of the sixteen measured activities. From March to October 2020, a period which spans the first lockdown and its subsequent ease of restrictions, showed the most significant shift from accessing activities in-person to online. Despite ‘Freedom Day’, the July 19 th 2021 date in which all restrictions were abolished, it was found that people do cultural activities and group activities at a significantly lower frequency than before the pandemic. In addition, despite a lack of restrictions after this date, more than half of participants access many activities, such as spending time with others, shopping, work and studying, online or hybrid. This study provides an invaluable insight into understanding how people in the UK changed their lifestyle, including what activities they do, and how they accessed those activities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health policy implemented to address the pandemic. These results may serve as unique evidence for policymakers.

We examined the relationship between the intrinsic structure of a carbocatalyst and catalytic activity of peroxomonosulfate (PMS) activation for acetaminophen degradation. A series of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes with different degrees of oxidation was synthesized by the unzipping method. The linear regression analysis proposes that pyridinic N and graphitic N played a key role in the catalytic oxidation, rather than pyrrolic N and oxidized N. Pyridinic N reinforce the electron population in the graphitic framework and initiate the non-radical pathway via the formation of surface-bound radicals. Furthermore, graphitic N forms activated complexes (carbocatalyst-PMS*), facilitating the electron-transfer oxidative pathway. The correlation also affirms that -C=O was dominantly involved as a main active site, rather than -C-OH and -COOH. This study can be viewed as the first attempt to demonstrate the relationship between the fraction of N-groups and activity, and the quantity of O-groups and activity by active species (quenching studies) was established to reveal the role of N-groups and O-groups in the radical and non-radical pathways.

The aim of this research is to find out connections of identifications with the work group (group identification), informal subgroups (micro-group identification), and other members in the work group (interpersonal identification), considering cognitive, affective, and behavioral components, with an employee’s contribution to cooperative activities. The sample includes 302 fellows of 35 workgroups in Russian commercial companies and public organizations. Empirical data were collected with the Questionnaire of Interpersonal Identification, the Questionnaire of Micro-group and Group Identification, and the Collaborative Group Activity Scale from the Leadership, Contribution, and Interpersonal Style Questionnaire. All the tools were assembled into the computer-based assessment program “Group Profile” (GP) to conduct the survey individually on PC. It was found that all three dimensions of group identification and affective measures of interpersonal and micro-group identification predict individual contribution to collaborative activities in groups. Employee involvement in the informal subgroup within the work group mediates relations between identification dimensions at different levels and contribution to collaborative activities. The ties of additional characteristics (gender, age, tenure with the organization) with cooperative activities have been described. The multivariate model of identification makes it possible to extend the research scope and enhance the understanding of causes and effects of employee identification in the group.

In just two decades, the number of states that have adopted external voting policies has boomed. Today, these policies, which allow emigrants to take part in home country elections from abroad, are widely found in Europe and Latin America. Looking at the cases of Italy, Mexico, and Bolivia, this book examines the motivations and consequences for states that enfranchise citizens abroad. This analysis sheds light on the impact of emigrants in home country politics, the motivations for emigrants to take part in the elections of a country where they no longer reside, and the consequences of this practice on receiving societies. With a multi-disciplinary approach, this book will appeal to scholars and students of sociology, political science, legal studies, international relations, migration, and transnationalism.