HornBase: An audio dataset of car horns in different scenarios and positions.

In recent years, there has been significant growth in the development of Machine Learning (ML) models across various fields, such as image and sound recognition and natural language processing. They need to be trained with a large enough data set, ensuring predictions or results are as accurate as possible. When it comes to models for audio recognition, specifically the detection of car horns, the datasets are generally not built considering the specificities of the different scenarios that may exist in real traffic, being limited to collections of random horns, whose sources are sometimes collected from audio streaming sites. There are benefits associated with a ML model trained on data tailored for horn detection. One notable advantage is the potential implementation of horn detection in smartphones and smartwatches equipped with embedded models to aid hearing-impaired individuals while driving and alert them in potentially hazardous situations, thus promoting social inclusion. Given these considerations, we developed a dataset specifically for car horns. This dataset has 1,080 one-second-long .wav audio files categorized into two classes: horn and not horn. The data collection followed a carefully established protocol designed to encompass different scenarios in a real traffic environment, considering diverse relative positions between the involved vehicles. The protocol defines ten distinct scenarios, incorporating variables within the car receiving the horn, including the presence of internal conversations, music, open or closed windows, engine status (on or off), and whether the car is stationary or in motion. Additionally, there are variations in scenarios associated with the vehicle emitting the horn, such as its relative position-behind, alongside, or in front of the receiving vehicle-and the types of horns used, which may include a short honk, a prolonged one, or a rhythmic pattern of three quick honks. The data collection process started with simultaneous audio recordings on two smartphones positioned inside the receiving vehicle, capturing all scenarios in a single audio file on each device. A 400-meter route was defined in a controlled area, so the audio recordings could be carried out safely. For each established scenario, the route was covered with emissions of different types of horns in distinct positions between the vehicles, and then the route was restarted in the next scenario. After the collection phase, the data preprocessing involved manually cutting each horn sound in multiple one-second windowing profiles, saving them in PCM stereo .wav files with a 16-bit depth and a 44.1 kHz sampling rate. For each horn clipping, a corresponding non-horn clipping in close proximity was performed, ensuring a balanced model. This dataset was designed for utilization in various machine learning algorithms, whether for detecting horns with the binary labels, or classifying different patterns of horns by rearranging labels considering the file nomenclature. In technical validation, classifications were performed using a convolutional neural network trained with spectrograms from the dataset's audio, achieving an average accuracy of 89% across 100 trained models.

Fostering social participation among older adults: Perspectives of stakeholders.

BACKGROUND: Fostering social participation for active and healthy ageing among older adults is an urgent issue in a changing society that requires new approaches from occupational therapists as well as from society at large. AIM: To explore possibilities to foster social participation for older adults in society from the perspective of stakeholders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative design was applied. 18 key informants, engaged in supporting older adults in their organisational roles as either professionals or volunteers, participated in five different focus groups discussions. RESULTS: The results involved two overarching themes that reflects different perspectives on key informants' possibilities to foster social participation for older adults. The first theme describes how they direct their attention towards their roles within the organisations to foster social participation in their own context. The second theme describes the broader societal perspectives that they address to establish a common ground for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among different stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasise how addressing common challenges and developing collaboration are essential to foster older adults' social participation. It is therefore necessary to involve policy-makers and decision-makers. Occupational therapists and researchers should consider the value of occupational justice to drive collective and social approaches.

Exploring the quality of participation and strategies to support meaningful engagement in an adapted paddleboard program among individuals with disabilities.

AIM: Adapted paddleboard provides an outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) opportunity with many health benefits (e.g., physical activity, reduced stress, social engagement). However, nearly 50% of individuals with disabilities do not participate in any LTPA. Quality of LTPA participation influences sustainable adherence, while optimizing participant experiences. An adapted paddleboard program is offered in Quebec City, for adults with physical disabilities, but little is known about how participants perceive their quality of participation. This study aimed to describe individuals with disabilities' perceived quality of participation in the adapted paddleboard program, and to explore their suggestions of strategies to support meaningful engagement in the program. METHODS: An ethnographic mixed-methods design was conducted, consisting of participant observations during the 13-week program and semi-structured interviews based on the Quality Parasport Participation Framework (QPPF). Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation (MeEAP) questionnaire were collected. A mixed approach of data analysis was used for qualitative data and descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative data. RESULTS: Nine participants (8F) with various disabilities (42±15 years old) participated in the study. Emergent dimensions of quality of participation included belongingness and autonomy. Facilitators to participation were identified, such as autonomy support through volunteers and provision of adaptive equipment. Barriers to participation included water access and level of individual challenge. Suggested strategies to improve engagement included water access closer to parking and multiple groups for variable skill levels. CONCLUSIONS: Participants expressed high-quality of participation in adapted paddleboarding. The study allows the development of knowledge about conditions that enhance the experience of participating in outdoor LTPA.

Adapted paddleboard is an increasingly popular activity that can be adapted with material and environmental accommodations for people with disabilities to enable and enhance participation in outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA).Several facilitators, such as the safety of the site or the social support created by the group, enhance quality of experience in leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) including adapted paddleboard; therefore, support sustainable adherence in the practice of physical activities, well-being and social participation.Further opportunities to practice LTPA such as adapted paddleboard in a public space to promote social inclusion are necessary.

The role of motivation in shaping social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in physical-sports activity contexts.

The present study aims to test a model in which basic psychological needs (BPN) satisfaction in physical-sport activity contexts is associated with self-determined motivation, which, in turn, would predict the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. A total of 286 people with intellectual disabilities (53.5% men) who reported engaging in physical-sport activities responded to a validated questionnaire about the satisfaction of their BPN, motivation (using the Self-determination index [SDI]), and social inclusion. A Pearson's bivariate correlation and structural equation modeling were conducted. The resulting model was reanalyzed in a multigroup analysis to test its invariance across self and proxy reports. Positive associations were found between the satisfaction of the BPN and the SDI. However, the SDI and social inclusion were positively associated only in proxy reports (ßself = 0.07 vs. ßproxy = 0.30). The tested model established positive relationships between the BPN and SDI in autonomy (ßself = 0.21 vs. ßproxy = 0.18), competence (ßself = 0.47 vs. ßproxy = 0.53), and relatedness (ßself = 0.21 vs. ßproxy = 0.23). Further research is needed to understand the factors leading to discrepancies between participants and proxies when relating the SDI to social inclusion in the context of physical-sport activity. However, the results obtained suggest that it would be optimal to develop contexts of practice for people with intellectual disabilities in which the satisfaction of their BPN is favored and that this has a positive impact on their motivation and social inclusion.

Creating an Age-Friendly Environment in Farming - The Farmer's Yards Approach.

With demographic trends highlighting an inversion of the farming community age pyramid, with those aged 65 years and over constituting the fastest growing subgroup of the farming population globally, this article highlights a social initiative for older farmers called Farmer's Yards, embodying values, and aspirations pertinent to farmers in their later years, that is helping to create an age-friendly environment in farming in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. By providing older farmers with a platform for sustained social engagement and inclusion within the farming community, this social initiative aligns with principles promoting active and healthy aging, thereby contributing positively to their mental health and wellbeing in later life. In doing so, Farmer's Yards is helping to address recent calls by the European Commission for an increased emphasis on the delivery of creative mechanisms that enhance the quality of life of older farmers through social policy. The pilot phase of this social initiative outlined in this article, held in a Livestock Mart (Auction Market) setting in the west of Ireland, demonstrates how Farmer's Yards can strengthen Mart's long-standing position and reputation as centres of social activity within rural areas by helping older farmers maintain legitimate social connectedness, collegiality, and comradeship with their peers in advancing age in their respective regions, and in turn, combat social isolation and loneliness in later life. Recommendations for future research and on the expansion of Farmer's Yards are subsequently outlined.

Evaluating the moderating role of governance on the relationships between social inclusion, ICT infrastructure, and financial inclusion.

In this paper, we examine the Moderating Role of Governance on the Relationships between social inclusion (SI), Information and communication technology infrastructure (ICT), and financial inclusion (FI) in 46 countries representing a global sample span from 2010 to 2020. We collect the data from the IMF's financial access survey and construct a multidimensional FI index. Based on the FI index, we divide the sample into two sub-samples (med-high level and low-level FI countries). For the empirics, we employed panel-corrected standard errors, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares techniques. We find that SI is negatively related to FI. ICT infrastructure positively influences FI. Further, we find that governance with sound ICT infrastructure and socially inclusive communities enhances FI. The findings of sub-samples are similar to the full sample results except for a promoting effect of SI and governance in the case of med-high financially inclusive economies. Moreover, the Interaction term of governance and ICT infrastructure is insignificant in med-high financially inclusive economies and negatively significant in low financially inclusive economies. Our study reports novel findings which have significant implications for policymakers and financial institutions to effectively develop and implement new policies which strengthen the institutional base, develop digital banking infrastructure, enhance SI to boost up FI and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Exploratory Study on the Impact on Emotional Health Derived from Participation in an Inclusive Choir.

Participation in group activities such as choirs has been shown to have positive effects on emotional health and overall well-being. Inclusive choirs, which integrate individuals of various abilities and diverse backgrounds, provide a unique space for social interaction, emotional expression, and inclusion. This study aims to explore the impact of participation in an inclusive choir on the emotional health of its members, identifying both positive and negative emotional impacts as well as personal experiences derived from their participation. This longitudinal exploratory study combines participant observation, field notes, focus groups, and questionnaires to gain a deep understanding of the participant's emotional experiences through their narratives. The study was conducted in an inclusive choir located in a medium-sized city in Spain, which brings together people of various ages, genders, abilities, and cultural backgrounds. The results indicated that most participants experienced significant improvements in their emotional well-being, including increased self-esteem, a greater sense of belonging, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants also reported that the choir provided a safe space for emotional expression and the building of meaningful relationships. Participation in an inclusive choir can have a considerable positive impact on the emotional health of its members.

Employment of young people with disabilities: The potential of social partnership of universities, municipalities and the labor market of Ukraine.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the existing global experience of university and labor market partnerships concerning the employment of youth with disabilities. It was found that current cooperation models are implemented locally, in a fragmented manner, and are limited to interactions between universities and large enterprises. OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to explore the current state of meeting the needs of students with disabilities in terms of providing educational services and employment opportunities and to analyze the interaction between universities, municipalities, and the labor market to improve employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. METHODS: The study considered a survey of three target groups from different regions of Ukraine (105 students with disabilities, 321 university faculty members, and 102 enterprise managers) conducted to study the current state of needs satisfaction in providing educational services and employing people with disabilities. RESULTS: The findings indicated a lack of coordination among stakeholders, an absence of systematization, and organization in addressing the issue of improving the employment of youth with disabilities. The research enabled the identification of existing and desired connections between the subjects of social partnership. A social partnership model between universities, municipalities, and the labor market was developed to improve the employment of youth with disabilities. CONCLUSION: The study results are promising, as implementing the social partnership model will broadly impact society.

Inclusive classroom norms and children's expectations of inclusion of peers with learning difficulties in their social world.

We examined whether inclusive classroom norms predicted children's reasoning and expectations about the inclusion of peers with learning difficulties from different perspectives (i.e., self, friends, and unfamiliar story protagonist). Swiss elementary school children (N = 1019; 51% girls; Mage = 10.20 years; Grades 3-6) shared their perceptions of inclusive classroom norms and answered questions regarding the inclusion of a character with learning difficulties in an academic scenario. Multilevel analyses revealed that children expected less inclusion from their friends (estimated OR = 0.14, p < .001) or the unfamiliar story protagonist (estimated OR = 0.15, p < .001) than from themselves. Inclusive classroom norms positively predicted children's own (estimated OR = 3.17, p = .041) and their friends' inclusion expectations (estimated OR = 4.59, p = .007). Moreover, individuals who perceived higher inclusive norms than the classroom average were less concerned that the inclusion of the child with learning difficulties would threaten successful group functioning (γ = - 0.19, p = .011). To target the inclusion of children with learning difficulties, school psychologists can heighten classmates' perceptions of inclusive norms and pay attention to individual differences in norm perception.

An Equity-Based Research Agenda to Promote Social Inclusion and Belonging for People With IDD.

Having a sense of social inclusion and belonging, typically characterized by our personal relationships and community participation, is the central essence of life for most people, yet it remains elusive for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This article summarizes the work of a diverse group of researchers and advocates to propose 6 big-picture, equity-based goals to drive future research in the field: (1) understanding the role of intersectionality, (2) understanding intimate relationships, (3) promoting formation of communities of care to support social inclusion, (4) understanding life course trajectories of social inclusion, (5) understanding social inclusion in virtual spaces, and (6) understanding how to promote social inclusion in the entire research process.

16th European Network of Sport Education Forum.

The 16th European Network of Sport Education (ENSE) Forum was held in Rome, Italy at the University of Rome 'Foro Italico' on 21 and 22 September 2023. The Forum was organised under the theme Sport Education for Sustainable Development: The Euro-Med Perspective and featured presentations and input from over 40 researchers, officials and policymakers. In this report, we highlight the key themes addressed at the Forum and highlight some of the notable contributions at the event.

Global Approach to Follow-Up of Celiac Disease.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder induced by the ingestion of gluten, affects approximately 1.4% of the population. Gluten damages the villi of the small intestine, producing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and a subsequent loss of nutrient absorption, causing destabilization of the nutritional status. Moreover, gluten can trigger extra intestinal symptoms, such as asthma or dermatitis, but also mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. Moreover, people suffering from celiac disease sometimes feel misunderstood by society, mainly due to the lack of knowledge about the disease and the gluten-free diet. Thus, the treatment and follow-up of patients with celiac disease should be approached from different perspectives, such as the following: (1) a clinical perspective: symptomatology and dietary adherence monitorization; (2) nutritional assessment: dietary balance achievement; (3) psychological assistance: mental disorders avoidance; and (4) social inclusion: educating society about celiac disease in order to avoid isolation of those with celiac disease. The aim of this narrative review is to gain deep insight into the different strategies that currently exist in order to work on each of these perspectives and to clarify how the complete approach of celiac disease follow-up should be undertaken so that the optimum quality of life of this collective is reached.

Empowerment and social inclusion through Para sports: a qualitative study on women with physical impairments in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Participation in sports represents a potent means of empowerment and social inclusion. Nevertheless, women with physical impairments encounter specific challenges in accessing Para sports. The main aim of this study is to present the experiential participation and achievements in sports of women with physical impairments in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Twenty women athletes with physical impairments who engaged in competitive Para sports in Saudi Arabia were interviewed. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was employed to extract themes elucidating the experiences of women athletes with physical impairments in Para sports. Results: Four dimensions were identified: (i) Exploring participation in sports; (ii) The positive impact of participation in sports; (iii) obstacles in participation in sport; and (iv) hopes and aspirations to improve participation in Para sports. Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia, participation in Para sports functions as a powerful tool for empowering and socially integrating women with physical impairments. However, these women encounter challenges in accessing sports. Achieving empowerment in Para sports necessitates the establishment of an inclusive ecosystem that celebrates diversity and equality. Collaborative efforts from governments, sports organizations, communities, and individuals are indispensable in creating an environment where women with impairments can flourish in sports.

Evaluation of social inclusion in Brazilian adult women with epilepsy: Perception of stigma and quality of life.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures that can affect the perception of stigma and compromise the quality of life of those living with it. In addition, sociodemographic factors such as employment and maintaining a job, education, and the autonomy to drive vehicles are often impaired. OBJECTIVE: To assess the social inclusion of adult women with epilepsy in relation to the perception of stigma and quality of life, and the clinical aspects of the disease. METHODOLOGY: Data from 70 adult Brazilian women with epilepsy regarding aspects related to their social inclusion were verified. Such data were linked to clinical aspects and scores from the questionnaires: Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31) and the Epilepsy Stigma Scale (ESS), with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Average age of 45.5 years, 40 (57.1 %) women were divorced/single/widowed, 31 (44.3 %) women had less than 10 years of formal education, 32 (45.7 %) women had no income, and 57 (81.4 %) did not have a driver's license. The age at the time of the first seizure was 18 years, the seizures were focal in 46 (65.7 %) cases, and 26 (37.1 %) cases were seizure-free in the last year. A high number of women reported that the diagnosis of epilepsy negatively influenced aspects of autonomy such as the possession of a driver's license and going out alone. Longer duration of epilepsy was associated with lower education, not having children, and lower scores on the QOLIE-31. Higher scores on the QOLIE-31 were correlated with lower frequency of seizures and with the age at the time of the first seizure. Values in the dimension - energy and fatigue of the QOLIE-31 were significantly lower in the group with less independence compared to the other two groups with more independence, in latent class analyses (ANOVA, adjusted for age 42.1 ± 35.6 vs 57.2 ± 28.4 vs 73.9 ± 23.8, p = 0.0295). DISCUSSION: Clinical aspects of epilepsy and having a partner, autonomy, and independence such as driving vehicles are factors that contribute to social inclusion and to the perception of a better quality of life for adult women with epilepsy. CONCLUSION: It was observed that having a partner, autonomy, and independence such as driving vehicles are factors that contribute to social inclusion and to the perception of a better quality of life for adult women with epilepsy.

A capacity-building intervention for parents of children with disabilities in rural South India.

BACKGROUND: A disability service organization piloted a parent capacity-building intervention for parents of children with developmental disabilities in rural South India. AIMS: To examine the impact of this parent capacity-building group intervention on parent empowerment, peer support, social inclusion, advocacy skills, and the factors influencing these outcomes. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A qualitative study recruited 37 participants from 17 parent groups through convenience sampling. Six focus groups occurred six months post the start of this intervention and explored these parents' experiences with the groups and their perceived impacts. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Qualitative analysis yielded four main themes and corresponding sub-themes: peer support (feeling peaceful and supported, building self-efficacy), social inclusion (space to share, acceptance and identity), knowledge sharing (increasing awareness, accepting advice), and advocacy (building confidence, making requests). Participation in parent groups provided participants with opportunities to find peer support, utilize knowledge sharing, feel socially included, and build advocacy skills. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study provides a greater understanding of the impact and benefits of parent capacity-building interventions in low-resource settings. Results will improve this intervention and guide other organizations in creating similar programs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: This paper adds perspectives of parents who are caregivers of children with developmental disabilities in rural South India. More specifically, this paper highlights the impact of a parent-focused intervention in group settings in both rural and urban areas. Parent support group interventions are not common in India and low- and middle-income countries and there is a paucity of literature describing these interventions and their impact. In this study, parents described a need for multifaceted interventions to support their child in the community. These parent groups provided space for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities to make connections, feel validated, and grow confidence to utilize new knowledge or advice shared by other parents to further enhance their lives. Further, parent-group settings provide opportunities to build advocacy skills through timely discussions. Parents reported an increase in feelings of acceptance within the group itself but not within the wider community. This highlights the need for involving the wider community in interventions to promote integration for families with children with disabilities.

Understanding experiences of 'Gig Buddies': A befriending scheme for people with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Research into befriending for people with intellectual disabilities is limited. This study aimed to explore the impact, mechanisms of change, and limitations of a befriending scheme for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. METHODS: Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Thirteen individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism were interviewed and data thematically analysed. RESULTS: Four themes were generated: 'Something fun for me'; 'A good connection'; 'Increasing independence'; and 'A life less quiet'. Befriending had direct benefits through the activities undertaken and the befriending relationships themselves being fun and reducing isolation. Befriending facilitated belonging, improved access to mainstream activities, and fostered independence by providing safety and support. The importance of shared interests and external support for the relationship was highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: Positive outcomes of befriending were found, supporting existing literature and revealing new information from the voices of participants with intellectual disabilities themselves.

Preference for Competitive Employment in People with Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Proportions.

PURPOSE: The inclusion of people with mental disorders (MD) into competitive employment has become an important political and therapeutic goal. The present paper investigates meta-analytically to which extent people with MD who were unemployed or on sick leave due to MD prefer to work in a competitive job environment. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis of proportions, we searched Medline, PsycInfo, Cinahl, Google Scholar, and reference lists for peer-reviewed publications from 1990 to Dec 2023, which provided data on the job preferences of people with MD. Two authors independently conducted full-text screening and quality assessments. Pooled proportions of job preferences were calculated with a random-effects meta-analysis of single proportions, and subgroup analyses were performed to examine characteristics associated with job preferences. RESULTS: We included 30 studies with a total of 11,029 participants in the meta-analysis. The overall proportion of participants who expressed a preference for competitive employment was 0.61 (95%-CI: 0.53-0.68; I2 = 99%). The subgroup analyses showed different preference proportions between world regions where the studies were conducted (p < 0.01), publication years (p = 0.03), and support settings (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Most people with MD want to work competitively. More efforts should be given to preventive approaches such as support for job retention. Interventions should be initiated at the beginning of the psychiatric treatment when the motivation to work is still high, and barriers are lower. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The protocol is published in the Open Science registry at https://osf.io/7dj9r.

Mental health and work: a European perspective.

Among the many social determinants of health and mental health, employment and work are getting momentum in the European political agenda. On 30-31 January 2024, a 'High-level Conference on Mental Health and Work' was held in Brussels on the initiative of the rotating Belgian Presidency of the European Union. It addressed the issue developing two different perspectives: (1) preventing the onset of poor mental health conditions or of physical and mental disorders linked to working conditions (primary prevention); (2) create an inclusive labour market that welcomes and supports all disadvantaged categories who are at high risk of exclusion (secondary and tertiary prevention). In the latter perspective, the Authors were involved in a session focused on 'returning to work' for people with mental disorders and other psychosocial disadvantages, with particular reference to Individual Placement and Support as a priority intervention already implemented in various European nations. The themes of the Brussels Conference will be further developed during the next European Union legislature, with the aim of approving in 4-5 years a binding directive for member states on Mental Health and Work, as it is considered a crucial issue for economic growth, social cohesion and overall stability of the European way of life.

'Chugging along, plugging in and out of it': Understanding a place-based approach for community-based support of mental health recovery.

Community-based Mental Health (MH) organisations in the United Kingdom (UK) are facing challenges for sustaining in-person service delivery. Without empirical evidence that demonstrates the value of a place-based approach for MH recovery, and the types of resources needed to build nurturing spaces for peer support, community-based MH organisations will struggle to maintain their physical spaces. We present empirical insights from a case study involving interviews with 20 students accessing peer support services at the Recovery College Collective, a community-based MH organisation located in the North East of England. The interview study aims to evidence how a place-based approach can afford MH recovery. We draw from discourses on place-making and interpret our interview findings through an established framework that highlights four mechanisms through which place impacts recovery: place for doing, being, becoming and belonging. We use this framework to structure our findings and highlight key qualities of place for establishing and maintaining MH recovery. Our contribution is two-fold: we address a gap in the literature by providing empirical understandings of how place influences MH recovery, whilst extending previous research by considering the role that place plays in community-based organisations. This is timely because of the challenges faced in securing in-person service delivery post-pandemic, and a shift towards remote service provision models. We highlight key implications: (i) Accessing a physical place dedicated to MH support is vital for people who do not have anywhere else to go and are socially isolated due to their health conditions; (ii) Connecting through peer-to-peer interaction is an integral part of the recovery process, and learning from people with lived experience can inform a place-based approach that best suit their needs; and (iii) Recognising the value of place for MH support, and the resources needed for peer support delivery in the community, will help secure places that our research participants described as lifesaving.