bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyberspace: is it useful or not in the world of education?
Authors: Salam Muhammad Yusuf , Mudinillah Adam , Amrina Amrina , Suharmon Suharmon , Shidqi Muhammad Husni , Oktavia Nur Afni
Published: June 2024

This study aims to enhance the usage of Instagram among educators and students. Currently, in the field of education, this application is primarily used as a joining material or a place to take pictures. The use of social media in the form of Instagram can aid in children’s learning by increasing their activity and creativity. Additionally, the virtual world of Instagram makes it easy for learning material to be repeated anywhere and anytime. In this study, data was collected from Instagram users using a survey method that included interviews. The results showed that users complain of high data usage and difficulties in using the application as a learning platform. Therefore, it can be concluded that Instagram is primarily used by the general audience as a joining material and mood booster. This led the researchers to take the initiative to conduct further research on the potential use of Instagram in education.
Scientific argumentations research for last 10 years: analysis bibliometric
Authors: Suliyanah Suliyanah , Amiruddin Mohd Zaidi , Prahani Binar Kurnia
Published: June 2024

The topic of scientific arguments is crucial to discuss because it is one of the basic sciences that has close links with other topics. Moreover, this science has a close relationship with the skills of the 21st century today. This study aims to reveal the current trends in the scientific argumentation field for the last 10 years based on the Scopus database. This study uses quantitative research through bibliometric studies with the keyword scientific argumentation year. The results of this study indicate that the number of article publications during the years 2012 to 2021 on the topic of scientific argumentation has increased on average. However, the most visible increase was in 2018-2021. The United States, Indonesia, and Germany dominated the publication of scientific argumentation topics from 2012 to 2021. As for the top authors were from the United States and Germany. Furthermore, in scientific argumentation, dominated by subject areas based on science, keywords used are argumentation, students, and scientific argumentation. There were several suggestions for the research, namely: i) the need for further research, especially on the differences and similarities of each argumentation; ii) the need to discuss the appropriate scope of argumentation at the appropriate learning level; iii) collaboration between universities that have a focus on this argumentation field. It is highly recommended that the research be more robust; and iv) future research must adapt to the current development of arguments so that the topic does not decline but continues to become the basis for studying other sciences.
Student perceived value of engineering labs: a lab assessment instrument
Authors: Cook-Chennault Kimberly , Farooq Ahmad
Published: June 2024

Traditionally, engineering labs are expected to reinforce fundamental science, technology, engineering, and mathematical concepts that students need to demonstrate learning in the discipline. The emergence of online degrees, the COVID pandemic, and the development of virtual lab technologies have advanced how educators design lab courses. As these new laboratory environments and practices emerge, the need for tools to evaluate how students experience and value these labs are needed. The Student Perceived Value of an Engineering Laboratory (SPVEL) assessment instrument was designed to address this need. SPVEL is framed on the Technology Acceptance Model, Inputs-Environment-Outcome Conceptual Model, and Engineering Role Identity model. In this work, the SPVEL is validated for in-person engineering laboratories. An Exploratory Load Factor analysis was conducted on the responses to twenty-five questionnaire items using a dataset of 208 participants. The Principal Components Method was employed to extract five factors. Cronbach’s alphas for data reliability for each factor ranged from 0.65 to 0.93, indicating high internal consistency. SPVEL provides a mechanism for elucidating students’ perception of their laboratory experiences, how these experiences influence their engineering role identities, and how students value laboratory experiences as preparatory and reflective of the skills needed for their careers in engineering.
Corrective feedback on essay writing: English as second language teachers’ and students’ perspectives
Authors: Yaseen Muhammad , Hamzah Mohd Hilmi , Harun Minah
Published: June 2024

Many studies have examined how written corrective feedback (WCF) can raise English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ understanding of language concepts. However, not much is known about how students’ perceptions and preferences could influence the effects of WCF. This study examined how Secondary School Certificate (SSC) students and teachers in Pakistan International School, Saudi Arabia, felt about WCF in writing classes. It aimed to identify the WCF aspects of the target language the students preferred. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 30 SSC-level EFL students and 10 teachers at the school who participated voluntarily in the study. The findings revealed that the students had sympathetic perspectives despite having preferences for WCF. They mainly believed that WCF might help them enhance their language knowledge and writing abilities. Through WCF, they learned what to avoid and how to write better. The teachers also found WCF helpful in enhancing the basic understanding of the target language. The findings showed that the students and teachers believed direct WCF to be the most effective technique for improving the former’s writing abilities, followed by indirect strategies such as underlining errors or providing codes. The research was considered relevant and pertinent as it addressed diverse aspects of WCF.
Arduino-based real-time data acquisition systems: boosting STEM career interest
Authors: Prabowo Norbertus Krisnu , Paristiowati Maria , Irwanto Irwanto
Published: June 2024

This study examines the development of an Arduino-based real-time data acquisition system and its effect on secondary students’ STEM career interest (STEM-CIS). A total of 74 students were sampled from a prestigious private school in Jakarta, Indonesia, and a learning device was developed using the A.D.D.I.E. method. A one-group pretest-posttest research design was used to evaluate the effect of using the device during blended classroom activities. Data were collected through surveys using the STEM-CIS instrument and interviews. The study was based on the general practice of using Arduino software and hardware for practical purposes in Chemistry Laboratories and Sick Bay. The setup was successfully used in these different environments as a temperature monitoring system to record thermochemistry data and monitor a patient’s body temperature. The findings are consistent with prior research indicating that hands-on robotics activities can increase STEM interest and inspire students to pursue STEM careers. The results suggest that strong engagement in this activity facilitated the development of digital literacy and STEM skills. The STEM-CIS score at the 5% significance level was significantly increased after the experimentation with the device, with a paired t-test result of p<0.001. The effect size (Cohen’s d) showed a moderate effect of 0.74.
Relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction: a study on preschool teachers
Authors: Mingmei Yang , Pek Lim Seong
Published: June 2024

Teaching is a demanding profession that necessitates complex social and emotional skills. It has frequently been linked to negative outcomes such as tension, turnover, and job discontent. Every day, preschool educators interact with children and adults and must always maintain emotional control. This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction among preschool teachers. The study utilized a self-questionnaire; 280 first-line preschool teachers in Henan Province, Mainland, China, were selected to disseminate questionnaires. The overall mean score for emotional labor among preschool teachers was 3.90, indicating that these teachers are required to perform a great deal of emotional labor at work. Deep acting received the highest score, surface acting the second highest, and natural acting the lowest. There were considerable differences in emotional labor based on gender, kindergarten type, marital status, age, and job position. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between preschool teachers’ emotional labor and job satisfaction. A regression analysis revealed that deep acting positively predicted job satisfaction by a mean of 28.4%.
Blended learning in the development of university students’ metacognition
Authors: Malik Umit , Abdyhalykova Zhazira , Malikov Anuar
Published: June 2024

In the conditions of the advancing digitalization and the introduction of restrictions aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a search for new formats of learning at universities, the most promising of which the authors believe to be blended learning. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the development of metacognition in a university blended learning environment. The development of students’ metacognition as part of an empirical study is achieved by a set of methods, the key among which is the experiment. The results of the experimental study suggest that students’ perception of the environment of blended learning tends to improve. In particular, improvement is observed in the indicators of some metacognitive skills (the choice of the place and time of training, planning of learning activities, monitoring of the obtained knowledge, and the experience of working with information). The results reveal improvements in the self-regulatory component of metacognition. As a result of the study, it is concluded that the comprehensive development of metacognitive skills among students ensures their engagement in learning and greater consciousness and proves useful in the context of blended learning.
Effectiveness of generative learning strategies based on mobile learning technologies in higher education
Authors: Kravchenko Olena , Dokuchaieva Viktoriia , Sbitnieva Liudmyla , Sakhatska Vita , Akinshyna Iryna
Published: June 2024

The paper aims to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of generative learning strategies (GLS) using mobile learning technologies (MLT) in higher education, based on a quasi-experiment and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Methods included concept mapping, round table discussions, monitoring, computer testing, and statistical analysis. GLS with MLT demonstrated enhanced performance in Practical Ukrainian and English Language Courses. MLT-based GLS optimized teacher workload by reducing assignment checking time. Respondents rated MLT-based GLS for Ukrainian/English at 7.8/10. Effective methods included self-review, text correction, and concept mapping. The study validates MLT-based GLS in higher education, improving student performance and easing teacher tasks. Further research is planned for literature studies.
Student career centers measurement scale in higher education: exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Adha Maulana Amirul , Wolor Christian Wiradendi , Maisyaroh Maisyaroh , Mustiningsih Mustiningsih , Ansar Rudy
Published: June 2024

Previous research shows that measuring the quality of student career centers in higher education is not yet fully standardized and is often limited to qualitative approaches. The lack of valid and reliable measuring tools regarding the student career center can hamper efforts to improve and develop this service. The aim of the research is to develop and test a scale for measuring the quality of student career centers in the context of higher education. A quantitative approach with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used in this study, with respondents as many as 562 students from three different universities. Analysis and interpretation of the measurement scale evaluation was carried out in two stages, namely exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and continued with CFA. The research results identified that the dimensions of the role of career centers, utilization of career centers, management of workforce information, and fostering entrepreneurship are key elements that influence the effectiveness and impact of career centers in higher education. This scale can practically be used by each institution to evaluate the quality of the career centers they run, and can also be used by other researchers for further research.
The shifting classroom: impact of heightened seasonal heat in education through sentiment and topic modeling
Authors: Miranda John Paul P. , Penecilla Elmer M. , Gamboa Almer B. , Hernandez Hilene E. , Dianelo Roque Francis B. , Simpao Laharni S.
Published: June 2024

This research applies text mining techniques to examine sentiments and themes among Filipino students adjusting to full in-person classes after pandemic-driven flexible learning, focusing on their experiences during April to June 2023–a period usually marked by vacations due to intense heat. By applying the natural language toolkit (NLTK) for sentiment analysis and Scikit-learn for topic modeling, the study gathered data from Filipino students on their in-person class experiences during this unique calendar shift. Post data cleaning, NLTK was used for sentiment analysis and latent Dirichlet allocation for topic modeling. The findings indicate that the high temperatures adversely affected students, as evidenced by frequent references to terms such as “room,” “focus,” and “hard.” The study identified a mix of positive and negative sentiments and highlighted key issues like academic challenges and the learning environment’s impact. This study also offered insights into students’ coping strategies during extreme heat. These results stressed the importance of considering environmental factors in educational planning and provide actionable insights for institutions to enhance the in-person learning experience, particularly in challenging weather conditions. Moreover, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of sentiment analysis and topic modeling in understanding and unraveling student experiences in specific contexts.
Lived Experiences of Non-Indigenous Teachers in an Aeta Community: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Orcales-Tabile Delyn
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to determine the experiences of non-indigenous teachers assigned in an IP school. Learning and respecting the cultural protocols in gaining the trust not only for their students but also for the whole Aeta community to become an effective teacher of the diverse learners. Understanding how non-indigenous teachers and indigenous teachers work together to provide quality education that both meet its standards while maintaining their rich cultural heritage. The researcher utilized a phenomenological research study followed a transcendental approach to explore the experiences of non-indigenous teachers assigned in an IP community for the school year 2019-2020. The participants of the study were the six female and two male non-indigenous teachers designated in an IP community for a year or more. Eight participants are senior and junior high school teachers and one master teacher at LAKAS high school. Total population sampling is used to yield data for this study. Since the number of non-IP teachers assigned in LAKAS high school is very small. Based on the gathered data, there are 7 themes emerged in this study that described the qualities of non-IP teachers. The following themes are (1) cognizant, (2) self-fulfilling, (3) adaptable, (4) collaborative (5) and compassionate.
Learning Motivation and Self-Efficacy in English Among Seventh Graders
Authors: Tayag Eunice S. , Tiamzon Justine S. , Bagang Ashley Nicole D. , Manalili Jaymie Crizel N. , Frasco Berna D. , Sarinas Paulo , Buendia Rose May , Dominado Noel L.
Published: June 2024

The study aimed to evaluate learning motivation and self-efficacy among seventh graders. The result of the findings was the low of confidence in public speaking, business writing, and the lack of interest in English culture, history and literature. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was utilized, involving 283 seventh grade learners from one of the schools in Cluster 1 Division of Pampanga. The result of the study showed that the respondents have low confidence in writing an English letter, are afraid of public speaking, and lack interest in English cultural content. On the other hand, they see English as a tool for their future when they seek jobs or travel abroad, and they also see English as their motivation to study hard for their future career. Furthermore, the study also discovered connection between the two variables. Learning motivation could result from the positive outcomes of the students' insight when it comes to English; they would motivate themselves to master English. Although self-efficacy will determine their beliefs about their ability to learn, these learning motivations and self-efficacy further contribute to improving the learning confidence of a student. Finally, the findings have significance for boosting confidence and improving the abilities of the learners. Providing opportunities for students to use English in supportive environments, making English learning relevant and engaging, and helping students develop positive self-efficacy beliefs about their ability to learn English should be the main goals of interventions.
Characterization of Pinilisa Dance Using the Dance Protocol as Performed by A Local Community in Isabela
Authors: Guado Mark Jason D.
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to characterize the Pinilisa dance using the dance protocol as performed by a local community in Isabela and to create instructional materials as well as to improve the Pinilisa dance movement.  Using ethnographic and narrative inquiry in the data gathering through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), observation, structured interview guide, and documentation, this study documented, notated, and analyzed the Pinilisa dance as a reflection of the Ilocano culture, as well as the costumes, props, accessories, movement or dance pattern, dance notation, staging (formation) and performance, music notation, and sequencing to facilitate the development of supplemental instructional materials in teaching folk dance in Grade 7 Physical Education subject. This study's key informants were the residents and government employees of Jones, Isabela who are knowledgeable about the Pinilisa dance, including the municipal vice-mayor, municipal administrator, tourism officer, festival organizer, selected Local Government Units (LGUs), choreographers, and PE teachers. This study revealed that Pinilisa dance is an expression of Ilocano culture emphasizing five aspects: political, social, physical, economic, and religious. It is a dance that celebrates the abundant harvest of Pinilisa rice, from planting and harvesting to selling, honoring its people and expressing gratitude for the year's abundant crop. It embodies the Ilocano values of being hard-working, industrious, family-oriented, bayanihan, cheerful, resilient, and God-fearing, which reflects the people of Jones. The instructional materials in which the documented Pinilisa dance is an input for significant use in PE class in Grade 7, particularly in teaching folk dance. It is an additional instrument for uplifting, preserving, and promoting Jones, Isabela's cultural heritage.
Barriers and Coping Strategies among Obese and Overweight Learners: Sequential Explanatory Study
Authors: Angeles Princess Jamailah P. , Cruz Mikaela Yumi S. , Mendoza Cyril B. , Pamintuan Marianne D. , Lacson John Carlo G. , Ignacio Kate Rhielyn L. , Espinosa Dexter B. , Galang John Renus F.
Published: June 2024

his study aims to assess the key barriers to physical activity among overweight and obese adolescents, discovering that the most significant obstacles are a lack of time, different priorities, and a poor perception of one's body. A mixed method sequential explanatory design was used in the study which involves 50 respondents and 8 outliers in one of the public senior high schools in Cluster 1, Division of Pampanga. These findings are consistent with broader research, which shows that time constraints, low motivation, and self-consciousness pose typical challenges for those dealing with weight concerns. Interestingly, the study finds that social support from friends is the preferred coping strategy, implying a preference for emotional comfort over creative solutions. Despite exhibiting good internal problem-solving skills in planning and goal setting, there is a lack of confidence in execution. Furthermore, preferred avoidance coping mechanisms, such as daydreaming and fantasizing, indicate a preference for emotional distance and self-soothing over direct confrontation. The study underlines the value of building self-acceptance and engaging in the present moment as potential alternatives to daydreaming. It also identifies possible issues such as low self-esteem and a desire to escape reality. Notably, overweight and obese learners face different physical and psychological difficulties. The study points out the importance of peer support in coping techniques, as students rely greatly on peers for emotional support, which inspires emotions such as belonging and appreciation. Lastly, learners indicate a stronger willingness to get involved with organized activities such as sports, recognizing the potential benefits of improving physical fitness. It is recommended to further investigate the roles of peer support and sport program and how they affect obese and overweight students. Additionally, it is also recommended to explore the metal health aspects.
Resenha: Letramento em saúde e o combate à resistência antimicrobiana - um diálogo necessário
Authors: Britto-Costa Letícia Fernandes de , Padoveze Maria Clara
Published: June 2024

Resenha do artigo: HERMESEN, E. D.; MACGEORGE, E. L.; ANDRESEN, M.; MYERS, L. M.; LILLIS, C. J.; ROSOF, B. M. Decreasing the Peril of Antimicrobial Resistance Through Enhanced Health Literacy in Outpatient Settings: An Underrecognized Approach to Advance Antimicrobial Stewardship. Advances in Therapy, v. 37, pp. 918-932, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-019-01203-1.
Endothelial Heterogeneity in the Response to Autophagy Drives Small Vessel Muscularization in Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yaoita Nobuhiro , Tabuchi Arata , Liu Shaofei , Chen Shiau-Haln , Li Qiuhua , Hegemann Niklas , Li Caihong , Rodor Julie , Timm Sara , Laban Hebatullah , Finkel Toren , Stevens Troy , Alvarez Diego F. , Erfinanda Lasti , de Perrot Marc , Kucherenko Mariya M. , Knosalla Christoph , Ochs Matthias , Dimmeler Stefanie , Korff Thomas , Verma Subodh , Baker Andrew H. , Kuebler Wolfgang M.
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis and proliferation of apoptosis-resistant cells is a hallmark of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Yet, why some ECs die and others proliferate and how this contributes to vascular remodeling is unclear. We hypothesized that this differential response may: (1) relate to different EC subsets, namely pulmonary artery (PAECs) versus microvascular ECs (MVECs); (2) be attributable to autophagic activation in both EC subtypes; and (3) cause replacement of MVECs by PAECs with subsequent distal vessel muscularization.

METHODS:

EC subset responses to chronic hypoxia were assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing of murine lungs. Proliferative versus apoptotic responses, activation, and role of autophagy were assessed in human and rat PAECs and MVECs, and in precision-cut lung slices of wild-type mice or mice with endothelial deficiency in the autophagy-related gene 7 (
Atg7
EN-KO
). Abundance of PAECs versus MVECs in precapillary microvessels was assessed in lung tissue from patients with PH and animal models on the basis of structural or surface markers.

RESULTS:

In vitro and in vivo, PAECs proliferated in response to hypoxia, whereas MVECs underwent apoptosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses support these findings in that hypoxia induced an antiapoptotic, proliferative phenotype in arterial ECs, whereas capillary ECs showed a propensity for cell death. These distinct responses were prevented in hypoxic
Atg7
EN-KO
mice or after
ATG7
silencing, yet replicated by autophagy stimulation. In lung tissue from mice, rats, or patients with PH, the abundance of PAECs in precapillary arterioles was increased, and that of MVECs reduced relative to controls, indicating replacement of microvascular by macrovascular ECs. EC replacement was prevented by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of autophagy in vivo. Conditioned medium from hypoxic PAECs yet not MVECs promoted pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in a platelet-derived growth factor–dependent manner. Autophagy inhibition attenuated PH development and distal vessel muscularization in preclinical models.

CONCLUSIONS:

Autophagic activation by hypoxia induces in parallel PAEC proliferation and MVEC apoptosis. These differential responses cause a progressive replacement of MVECs by PAECs in precapillary pulmonary arterioles, thus providing a macrovascular context that in turn promotes pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, ultimately driving distal vessel muscularization and the development of PH.
English Private Money, 1648–1672
Authors: Monter William
Published: June 2024

Between 1644 and 1672, England halted the production of its lowest denomination coins, prompting ordinary individuals and communities to create coins to address the shortage of small change. A large twentieth-century collection that includes over 13,000 such surviving tokens has largely been overlooked by historians and economists, despite the tokens’ significance. In this source and others are a total of over 9,000 types of tokens, originating mainly from the City of London, thirty-seven English counties, and the Irish Pale. Catalogued in an eight-volume Sylloge, published over thirty years, the tokens offer valuable insights into England’s history and societal dynamics during a tumultuous period that included two major regime changes, plague, and London’s Great Fire.
What Does the Surfer Know That Confucius Doesn’t?: Zhuangzian Skill Stories and Hawaiian Epistemology
Authors: Morrow Sydney
Published: June 2024

In her chapter “Models of knowledge in the Zhuangzi: Knowing with chisels and sticks,” Karyn L. Lai ponders Confucius’s conversation with the cicada catcher in the Zhuangzi. Lai asks, “What does the cicada catcher know that Confucius doesn’t?” The knowledge that Confucius and his disciples seek may be precisely what they can never have. I explore the epistemological rift between ways of knowing by applying Karen Amimoto Ingersoll’s distinction between “seascape epistemology” (based on Native Hawaiian, Kānaka Maoli, ways of knowing) and Western epistemology (framed as girding neocolonialist expansion on the Hawaiian Islands).
Comparative Philosophy and Practical Applied Ethics
Authors: Sullivan Laura Specker
Published: June 2024

Comparative philosophy is gaining traction in professional academic philosophy, with specialist journals, organizations, books, and public campaigns. These inroads have been made in canonical areas of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, logic, and value theory. Yet comparative philosophy still plays little role in practical applied ethics, an interdisciplinary research area in which work with practice and policy implications are dominated by the anglophone world. In this article, I explain why comparative work might be especially difficult in this type of applied ethics, and I suggest how comparative philosophers might overcome these challenges to connect their theoretical work with contemporary practical issues.
Unveiling novel and known Cryptaphelenchus species from China and USA
Authors: Gu Jianfeng , Castillo Pablo , Ma Xinxin , Munawar Maria
Published: June 2024

Cryptaphelenchus species are wood- or bark-inhabiting nematodes, generally mycetophagous and reported to have endophoretic associations with insects. In the present study, we describe two new and one known Cryptaphelenchus species detected in imported and domestic wood samples. Cryptaphelenchus americanum n. sp. and C. minutus were detected in the log samples of Pinus taeda imported from the USA, whereas C. orientalis n. sp. was isolated from the bark of dying Pinus sylvestris trees in Inner Mongolia, China. Both new species displayed characteristic features, including a relatively short body length, four lateral lines, a short post-vulval uterine sac in females, and a distinct cloacal apophysis in male tails. Newly recovered and known species were characterised molecularly, and phylogenetic trees were constructed to study their relationship with related Cryptaphelenchus species. Notably, the genetic divergence observed among Cryptaphelenchus species was found to be more significant compared to morphometrical differences, highlighting the importance of molecular data in taxonomy. The identification of new and known species expands our understanding of the genus and suggests that Cryptaphelenchus species may be under studied, underscoring the necessity for continued exploration.
Gender and Theological Tradition
Authors: do Vale Fellipe
Published: June 2024

Two incompatible trends have characterized contemporary systematic theological work. On the one hand, consistency with the broad Christian tradition has grown as a methodological desideratum, especially through the work of theological retrieval. On the other hand, theologians who turn their attention to gender maintain that it cannot look to Christian history for salutary resources. Can a theologian interested in giving an account of gender utilize the recognizable virtues of systematic theology? This article argues that it is possible. By retrieving doctrines that implicate gender, a theologian can be both catholic and sensitive to the right inheritance of the Christian tradition.
“To Seek the Welfare of the City”
Authors: Lowe John T.
Published: June 2024

Andrew Fuller is mostly read in light of his missiological fervor and rarely cast into political light. However, a successive reading of Andrew Fuller on patriotism, benevolence, and slavery will expand our understanding of antislavery narratives and the development of immediatism among religious activity in Europe. Here, Fuller demonstrated how close religion and politics were linked and advocated why piety informed politics well after the English Civil Wars (1642–1651). Moreover, this study illustrates how Calvinistic Baptists both encouraged and resisted civil polity so long as it was informed by biblical interpretation and not the Enlightenment ideals of deistic altruism. While Fuller, and other Calvinistic Baptists, did not possess the same influence as other contemporary Christian abolitionists, such as William Wilberforce (1759–1833), his thoughts on patriotism reveal that the webs of antislavery and abolitionism within the historical and theological veins of the Reformed tradition have yet to be untangled.
Beatific Governance and the Problems of Evil
Authors: Luke Sean
Published: June 2024

Several authors have recently argued that the Reformed doctrine of providence poses particular problems of evil that are intractable. How can one hold to a robust, Reformed doctrine of providence without either making God the author of evil or turning God into a Machiavellian tyrant? In this paper, I outline a model of providence I call “Beatific Governance”, in which God ordains and directs all that comes to pass unto the display of his beauty in all things without being the author of evil; and he does so, I argue, without violating an agent-causal view of freedom. I then resource this model to address several formulations of the problem of evil.
22. A Theory of Culture for Evolutionary Demography
Authors: Colleran Heidi
Published: June 2024

Evolutionary demography is a community of researchers in a range of different disciplines who agree that “nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of demography” (Carey and Vaupel 2005). My focus here is a subset of this research (henceforth ‘evolutionary demography’ or ‘evolutionary anthropology’) that originated in anthropology in the late 1970s and which typically examines micro-level phenomena concerning reproductive decision-making and the evolutionary processes generating observed patterns in reproductive variation. Scholars in this area tend to be more involved in long-term anthropological fieldwork than any other area of the evolutionary sciences. But card-carrying anthropologists are declining among their number as researchers increasingly come from other backgrounds in the biological and social sciences, with an associated decline in the contribution of ethnographic work. Most practitioners identify with the sub-field of human behavioral ecology – the application of sociobiological principles to human behavior – and distinguish themselves from the sister fields of evolutionary psychology and cultural evolution. Human behavioral ecology has been criticized for abstracting away the details of both culture and psychology in its focus on adaptive explanations of reproductive behavior, and for its commitment to ultimate over proximate causation. This chapter explores these critiques. Inspired by EA Hammel’s seminal paper “A theory of culture for demography” (Hammel 1990), I examine how the culture concept is used in evolutionary research. Like Hammel, I argue that a theory of culture for evolutionary demography requires engaging more seriously with (and in) ethnographic work. I highlight some challenging examples to motivate discussion about adaptive reproduction and natural fertility. Going further, I advocate for cultural evolution as an integrative framework for bringing both culture and psychology into the core of evolutionary demography research. This will involve expanding our theoretical and conceptual toolkits: (1) building and testing proximate mechanistic models, (2) delineating and evaluating causal claims at multiple levels of analysis and time scales, and (3) exploring co-evolution or feedback between demography and culture.
Impact of Vegetation Assimilation on Flash Drought Characteristics across the Continental United States
Authors: Fallah Ali , Barlow Mathew A. , Agel Laurie , Kim Junghoon , Mankin Justin , Mocko David M. , Skinner Christopher B.
Published: June 2024

Predicting and managing the impacts of flash droughts is difficult owing to their rapid onset and intensification. Flash drought monitoring often relies on assessing changes in root-zone soil moisture. However, the lack of widespread soil moisture measurements means that flash drought assessments often use process-based model data like that from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS). Such reliance opens flash drought assessment to model biases, particularly from vegetation processes. Here, we examine the influence of vegetation on NLDAS-simulated flash drought characteristics by comparing two experiments covering 1981–2017: open loop (OL), which uses NLDAS surface meteorological forcing to drive a land surface model using prognostic vegetation, and data assimilation (DA), which instead assimilates near-real-time satellite-derived leaf area index (LAI) into the land surface model. The OL simulation consistently underestimates LAI across the United States, causing relatively high soil moisture values. Both experiments produce similar geographic patterns of flash droughts, but OL produces shorter duration events and regional trends in flash drought occurrence that are sometimes opposite to those in DA. Across the Midwest and Southern United States, flash droughts are 4 weeks (about 70%) longer on average in DA than OL. Moreover, across much of the Great Plains, flash drought occurrence has trended upward according to the DA experiment, opposite to the trend in OL. This sensitivity of flash drought to the representation of vegetation suggests that representing plants with greater fidelity could aid in monitoring flash droughts and improve the prediction of flash drought transitions to more persistent and damaging long-term droughts.

Significance Statement

Flash droughts are a subset of droughts with rapid onset and intensification leading to devastating losses to crops. Rapid soil moisture decline is one way to detect flash droughts. Because there is a lack of widespread observational data, we often rely on model outputs of soil moisture. Here, we explore how the representation of vegetation within land surface models influences the U.S. flash drought characteristics covering 1981–2017. We show that the misrepresentation of vegetation status propagates soil moisture biases into flash drought monitoring, impacting our understanding of the onset, magnitude, duration, and trends in flash droughts. Our results suggest that the assimilation of near-real-time vegetation into land surface models could improve the detection, monitoring, and prediction of flash droughts.
Clarifying the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Uncomplicated Pediatric Mastoiditis
Authors: Esce Antoinette R. , Trujillo Samantha A. , Hawley Karen A.
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

Acute pediatric mastoiditis is a bacterial infection of the mastoid bone most commonly associated with acute otitis media. Complicated mastoiditis is traditionally characterized by intracranial complications or subperiosteal abscess, but definitions are inconsistent in the literature. Surgical intervention is identified as the main treatment for complicated mastoiditis, but there is some evidence to support medical management of uncomplicated mastoiditis. This study sought to clarify the diagnostic criteria and management of uncomplicated acute mastoiditis.

Methods:

All cases of acute pediatric mastoiditis were identified from a single institution over a 16-year period and reviewed for demographic and clinical data. Two different definitions of uncomplicated mastoiditis were compared; the traditional one that excluded patients with intracranial complications or subperiosteal abscess (SPA) and the proposed definition that also excluded patients with any evidence of bony erosion including coalescence, not just SPA. Univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted.

Results:

Eighty cases were identified. Using the traditional definition of uncomplicated mastoiditis, 46.3% of cases were uncomplicated, compared to 36.2% when using the proposed definition. Truly uncomplicated patients, categorized with the proposed definition, were treated more consistently: no patients underwent mastoidectomy and they were less likely to receive a long term course of antibiotics. On multivariate regression analysis, only categorization with the proposed definition of uncomplicated mastoiditis was independently associated with less long-term antibiotic therapy and non-surgical management.

Conclusion:

Uncomplicated acute mastoiditis should be defined using clinical criteria and exclude any cases with evidence of bony erosion, including coalescence or subperiosteal abscess. These truly uncomplicated patients often do not require mastoidectomy and can be prescribed a shorter course of antibiotics. Further research into treatment pathways is necessary to optimize the management of uncomplicated acute pediatric mastoiditis.
SMAFIRA: a literature-based web tool to assist researchers with retrieval of 3R-relevant information
Authors: Butzke Daniel , Bert Bettina , Gulich Konrad , Schönfelder Gilbert , Neves Mariana
Published: June 2024

The search for 3R-relevant information is a prerequisite for any planned experimental approach considering animal use. Such a literature search includes all methods to replace, reduce and refine (3Rs) animal testing with the aim of improving animal welfare, and requires an intensive screening of literature databases reflecting the current state of knowledge in experimental biomedicine. We developed SMAFIRA, a freely available online tool to facilitate the screening of PubMed/MEDLINE for possible alternatives to animal testing. SMAFIRA employs state-of-the-art language models from the field of deep learning, and provides relevant literature citations in a ranked order, classified according to the experimental model used. By using this classification, the search for alternative methods in the biomedical literature will become much more efficient. The tool is available at https://smafira.bf3r.de .
Flood and Drought: The Challenges of Seasonality in the Operation of Rome’s Sewers, 1870-1900
Authors: Valenti Salvatore
Published: June 2024

In nineteenth-century Rome, heavy rains were common, particularly during the autumn. The average depth of rain in Rome during the period 1862-1877 was greater than, for example, London. In Rome there were, however, huge seasonal fluctuations in this value. There was a considerable difference in rain content between the wettest and the driest month of the year, and sometimes extremely heavy rains concentrated in just a few hours. These variations between dry summers and wet autumns/winters presented challenges to the Hydraulic Service of Rome. Since 1870, the city has experienced rapid urban growth accompanied by a process of renewal and building of new vital infrastructure, such as combined sewers, which were intended both to drain the city and to remove the city’s sewage. It was, however, challenging to integrate these two different tasks into a fixed infrastructure in a city with vast seasonal variations in water flow. Rome’s sewers, at times, struggled to cope with the overabundance of water during autumn and winter days with consequent flooding of the lowest parts of the city as pure water was flushed throughout the network to remove waste and sewage during the summer. The paper concludes that the engineering model underlying the construction of Rome’s combined sewers was derived from the experience of cities with a different climate, such as Paris and London, but proved less effective in the context of a Mediterranean city.
Subjective evaluation of thermal comfort of tropically acclimatized subjects in air conditioned, naturally ventilated and radiant cooling environments
Authors: Arumugam Jayashree , MP Maiya , SM Shiva Nagendra
Published: June 2024

The thermal sensation of people is subjective. It depends on the external climatic condition and thermal history of a person. Thermal comfort standards suggest a narrow temperature range to assert an environment as comfortable or otherwise.

It is important to evaluate people’s thermal perception in different climatic regions and set comfort limits based on their thermal perception. This study evaluates the thermal perception of subjects in hot and humid climatic regions at higher indoor temperatures and air velocities. Three different thermal environments chosen for the study are air conditioned (AC), naturally ventilated (NV), and radiant cooling (RC) thermal environments. The study shows that more than 80% of subjects voted as comfortable in AC and RC thermal environments for the measured Top and va range of 25.3 – 28.4℃/0.1 – 0.3m/s and 25.9 – 29.1℃/0.1 – 0.9m/s respectively.

The findings gathered from the study in NV environment indicate that 68% of subjects opt for the use of table fans over ceiling fans. The subjects' free control of air movement improves their thermal sensation over no control of air movement, indicating that they prefer table fans and free control of air movement. In AC, NV, and RC thermal environments, humidity and air quality remain uncontrolled. In AC and RC thermal environments, less than 20% of subjects voted unacceptable for the humidity sensation and Perceived air quality (PAQ) scales in nearly all the studied experimental conditions. In NV thermal environment, the percentage of subjects voting dissatisfied on the humidity sensation scale and PAQ scale is 30-52% and 26-37%, respectively. This outcome shows that a thermally comfortable environment with air movement improves subjects' humidity sensation and PAQ even when humidity and air quality are unaltered. The study points out that air velocity played a vital role in influencing the thermal sensation, humidity sensation and perceived air quality of subjects in the three studied thermal environments. Further the study shows that with free control of air movement will significantly aid in rising the comfort temperature band of tropically acclimatized subjects.

Practical application

The study shows the variation in limits of thermal comfort indices such as operative temperature and air velocity for tropically acclimatized subjects in three thermal environments. The same group of subjects participated in the subject study conducted in air conditioned, naturally ventilated and radiant cooling thermal environments. The outcomes indicate that subjects are comfortable at higher indoor temperature and air velocity. Further the outcomes showed that the humidity and air quality sensation of subjects is influenced by the subjects’ thermal sensation and air velocity.
Differential Costs of Raising Grandchildren on Older Mother-Adult Child Relations in Black and White Families
Authors: Hou Yifei , Suitor J. Jill , Gilligan Megan , Ogle Destiny , Stepniak Catherine
Published: June 2024

Drawing from theories of affect, role strain and stress processes, we studied the impact of raising grandchildren on older mothers’ relationships with the adult offspring whose children they raised, with particular attention to how these patterns differ by race and ethnicity. We used mixed-methods data collected from 531 older mothers regarding their relationships with 1935 of their adult children as part of the Within-Family Differences Study. Multilevel regression analyses showed that raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child closeness in Black families; however, in White families, raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child conflict. Qualitative analyses revealed that these differences could be explained by the tendency of Black grandmothers to emphasize positive aspects of raising grandchildren, compared to White grandmothers, who viewed raising grandchildren as demanding and who described their exchanges with their adult children as unequal. Overall, our findings reflect racial and ethnic differences in intergenerational solidarity.
Psychological Interventions for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder as a Primary Diagnosis Among Adolescents: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Arora Silky , Satapathy Sujata
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to do a meta-analysis focusing on the efficacy of psychological intervention for the adolescent population and PTSD as a primary outcome variable.

Collection and Analysis of Data:

An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Science Direct, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases from January 1, 1990, to March 31, 2023. Original studies and systematic reviews/meta-analyses were segregated. In the first study, 129 meta-analyses (MAs) were screened and 8 MAs were analyzed. In the second study, six RCTs and five non-RCTs exclusively including adolescents with a primary diagnosis of PTSD were analyzed. The MA revealed the average sample size to be 243.33 (SD = 372.94) with 63.98% female participants in RCTs and 153 (SD = 237.17) with 56.99% female participants in non-RCTs. A total of 13 different interventions were analyzed. Cognitive-behavioral intervention had a large effect size of 1.63 for PTSD. Cochrane’s Q test and I2 index revealed considerable heterogeneity among groups. There was no significant difference between RCTs and non-RCTs in the total number and duration of intervention sessions and the duration of each session. However, the average follow-up time points varied significantly between RCTs and non-RCTs. RCTs followed random sequence generation and, hence, had a low risk of selection bias.

Conclusion:

Although the CBT framework with a focus on trauma and traumatic emotions was at the core of treatment efficacy, the type of trauma was the key consideration. Further studies of treatment efficacy moderated by specific trauma characteristics are required to advance the knowledge base in the treatment of PTSD in adolescents.