bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teacher readiness in applying ATL skills in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools
Authors: Ramli Roziah , Awang Mohd Isha , Yusoff Nurahimah Mohd
Published: December 2021

This article aims to understand the challenges faced by teachers in implementing the Approaches to Learning Skills (ATL Skills) for the teaching of Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Schools (MYPIB) in Malaysia. This qualitative case study employed purposive sampling that involved six resilient teachers who were directly involved in the implementations of ATL Skills consisting of four Bahasa Melayu teachers, a MYPIB coordinator and ATL skills coordinator. Triangulation was used to compare data from different sources using semi-structured interviews, story completion tasks, and document analysis. Using the ATLAS.ti software as an aiding tool, thematic analysis was carried out to identify the themes that emerged from the codes. Findings showed that teacher readiness is a challenge that needs to be addressed in the process of applying ATL skills in the MYPIB implemented by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. Teachers still need courses and training to improve their mastery in the ATL skills application. This study provided implications to teaching and learning, and recommendations to teachers as well as the Ministry to make improvements in the effort to apply ATL skills in the teaching-learning processes at the MYPIB schools.
Calibration of the science process skills among Malaysian elementary students: A Rasch model analysis
Authors: Mustafa Nazahiyah , Khairani Ahmad Zamri , Ishak Nor Asniza
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to calibrate the test items of science process skills used as a test at primary school students to provide information on the difficulty of each item. Data were collected from 128 standard five students in a primary school in Penang. The test was given in multiple-choice as many as 40 items consisting of 33 items partial credit test was developed to gather information from the students. The analysis included an assessment of the model’s assumptions and calibrations according to the individual items. Information on the Rasch calibration according to the topic were provided. Results revealed that the measurement made fulfilled both model-data fit and unidimensionality assumptions. Further analysis showed that observing and communicating were endorsed as the easiest to master while inferring and classifying were the most challenging. The study discussed the implication, particularly towards the teaching and learning of science process skills in the classroom. Teachers should seriously consider the science process skills when designing their teaching and learning strategies in the classroom.
Exploring ESL learners’ blended learning experiences and its’ effectiveness through web-based technologies
Authors: Ramalingam Sangeeth , Yunus Melor Md , Hashim Harwati
Published: December 2021

The inability to gain employment among the Malaysian graduates became a critical issue due to lack of 21st century skills. Higher learning institutions are urged to play their significant roles in producing graduates who have subject knowledge and relevant 21st century skills. There are many teaching strategies which are currently in practice at tertiary institutions, however more efficient approach is needed to produce well-balanced graduates. This present research proposed a promising approach which is blended learning with web-based technologies to improve students’ 21st century skills. Current literature indicated blended learning has not been sufficiently explored in English as Second Language (ESL) context. Thus, this study aimed to explore ESL learners’ blended learning experiences using innovative web-based technologies and to examine the effectiveness of the blended learning strategy in improving the learners’ 21st-century skills. Qualitative data were collected through phone call interviews with the participants and analyzed through thematic analysis. Working with a sample of bachelor degree students at a tertiary institution revealed the participants’ blended learning experience exceptionally improved their 21st-century skills in various ways. The result of this study contributes to the pedagogical aspects of ESL teaching and learning and the improvement of 21st century skills among the students.
Managing educational institutions: School heads’ leadership practices and teachers’ performance
Authors: Aquino Cherry Joy C. , Afalla Bonimar T. , Fabelico Fitzgerald L.
Published: December 2021

School heads are agents of change who contribute a major impression on the educational milieu through their information-sharing methods, creating supportive social connections, participating in mentoring programs, and fostering progress. Hence, this study ascertained the interrelation between the public school head’s leadership practices and teachers’ performance. As correlation research, simple random sampling was used to calculate the sample size for teachers, while total enumeration was used for school heads. A structured questionnaire was developed to gather the necessary information that reinforced the theme of this analysis. Weighted mean was used to ascertain the level of leadership practices of school heads and the level of teacher performance. T-test, F-test, post-hoc test, and Pearson r were employed to establish the degree of association between and among variables. This study concluded that the variation in leadership practices experienced by school heads and teachers is absolutely vital, confirming that their reactions are fundamentally better. Teachers' performance is consistent irrespective of age, educational achievement, or significant contributions. In terms of teaching status and number of years of experience, head teachers have improved teaching efficiency than teachers and master teachers. Teachers with shorter relevant experience showed poorer educational quality relative to those who spent more time in the school system. School heads who have obtained their doctorate degrees get a greater level of leadership practices than the holders of master's degrees. The very productive performance of teachers stays the same, regardless of whether the school heads exhibit a very high degree of authentic leadership.
Relationships of language learning variables in the acquisition of third languages in a multilingual context
Authors: Wilang Jeffrey Dawala , Duy Thanh Vo
Published: December 2021

This paper reinforces the importance of third language acquisition research in a multilingual context focusing on language experience, vocabulary learning strategies, emotional self-regulation strategies, and language anxiety. This study explored three languages: Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, to know if there are significant relationships between the above variables in third language acquisition. Three specific sets of survey questionnaires were distributed to various students enrolled in foreign language courses offered in a language department in a university. To focus on the relationships of language learning variables of a foreign language, correlational design was used to analyze the survey questionnaires' responses for each language course. Among students who were enrolled in Chinese, significant relationships were established between language anxiety and language experience, language anxiety, and emotional self-regulation strategies. Significant associations were found between emotional self-regulation strategies and language experience, emotional self-regulation strategies, and vocabulary strategies, and language performance and language experience for those students enrolled in the Korean language. In learning Vietnamese, significant relationships were found between language anxiety and vocabulary strategies, language performance, and language anxiety. Teachers may need to re-evaluate prepared teaching and learning materials, for example, material difficulty, to help students alleviate anxiety in learning.
Factors affecting teacher performance
Authors: Kanya Nita , Fathoni Aryo Bima , Ramdani Zulmi
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to see whether there is an influence of school principal leadership, organizational culture, and teacher competence on teacher performance. Another aim was to see how much influence these factors have on teacher performance either partially or simultaneously. The research used a quantitative approach with survey methods. Analysis of the data used was multiple regression. Participants involved in the study were 385 teachers in Bandung high school by using proportional stratified random sampling. The results of the study showed that there was a significant influence on the school principal leadership variables, organizational culture, and teacher competence on teacher performance. Statistically the amount of contribution from all independent variables was 68.12%, so the remaining 32.88% was determined by other variables not measured in the study. This research was also useful to find out the factors that can improve teacher performance, so that it is expected to be a theoretical or practical consideration in schools in order to improve the quality of teachers and schools.
Development of curriculum design evaluation instruments in strengthening Al-Irsyad ideology in Indonesia
Authors: Subando Joko , Kartowagiran Badrun , Munadi Sudji
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this research was to develop a curriculum design evaluation instrument in strengthening Al-Irsyad ideology. The research activity began with a literature review on the curriculum then continues with the development of the instrument. The results of the development of the instrument items were validated by 11 experts and tested on a limited scale by involving 17 teachers from Al-Irsyad Junior High School, Surakarta, Cirebon, and Purwokerto, Indonesia. The next activity was an expanded trial involving 53 teachers from Al-Irsyad schools in West Java, Central Java, and East Java, the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. Data from expert reviews were analyzed by using Aiken's formula. Limited trial data were analyzed with the EFA model using the help of the SPSS program, and data from the extended trial results were analyzed by CFA using the help of the Smart PLS version 2.0 program. The results indicated that the instrument has a good validity guarantee because the loading factor value ranges from 0.5571-0.9463 (>0.5), and the AVE value ranges from 0.5901-0.8051 (>0.5), and has guaranteed reliability because of the CR value ranges from 0.8394-0.9397 (>0.7) and Cronbach alpha ranges from 0.7692-0.9286 (>0.7). The instrument feasible to be used as a measurement tool in evaluating the Al-Irsyad curriculum design in Indonesia.
Digital citizenship trend in educational sphere: A systematic review
Authors: Prasetiyo Wibowo Heru , Naidu Noor Banu Mahadir , Tan Bee Piang , Sumardjoko Bambang
Published: December 2021

The surge of information in the digital age has impacted social problems. Accordingly, digital citizenship had been discussed mostly within topics related to digital security, IT education. A systematic review is needed to provide an overview for educators and policymakers in Indonesia to address ethical and technical issues to improve the online environment safely. However, there are limited studies that systematically review the existing literature on implementing digital citizenship in Indonesia. The present study was guided by PRISMA review protocol using three databases, i.e., Scopus, Google Scholars, and ProQuest, concerned with digital citizenship, digital competence, digital literacy, and information and communications technology (ICT) skills. There were 205 articles screened; this study obtained 20 articles that fit the predetermined inclusion criteria. This study used content analysis to encode, organize categories, and develop the themes. Based on the thematic analysis, this study has three main themes namely digital readiness, digital citizenship competencies, and educational policies. This review contributes to the existing literature by providing direction to future study and embedded digital citizenship competencies in the educational setting as a catalyst for a new literacy.
Community empowerment in leading pesantren: A research of Nyai’s leadership
Authors: Samsu Samsu , Kustati Martin , Perrodin David D. , Ritonga Mahyudin , Kosim Muhammad , Rusmini Rusmini , Suwendi Suwendi
Published: December 2021

Leadership is one of the essential factors that can influence community involvement in realizing the character of male and female students in the pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Jambi, Indonesia. This study proposed Nyai’s (female religious leaders in the pesantren) charismatic, economic, and social responsibility leadership models in the context of community empowerment (CE). This quantitative research aimed to determine the contribution of Nyai’s leadership models to CE. The data from the questionnaire were analyzed using path and flowchart analysis. The results showed that the three Nyai’s leadership models in this study influenced and contributed to CE to support the pesantren’s activities and programs. This study recommended adopting the three Nyai’s leadership models in empowering the community in the pesantren.
Academic resilience for preservice teachers among field of sciences: A measurement scale in education
Authors: Dalimunthe Muhammad Bukhori , Djatmika Ery Tri , Pratikto Heri , Handayati Puji , Dewi Rosmala , Mustakim Siti Salina
Published: December 2021

The scale of measuring academic resilience in a decade has experienced rapid development. Numerous instruments have been formulated by previous researchers, but it has not explicitly measured the academic resilience for preservice teachers. The purpose is to construct a new measure of academic resilience for preservice teachers, which consists of two stages: the validity and reliability of the instrument; and continued with differences in academic resilience for preservice teachers among the fields of social, science, and language. Measurement instruments were given to lectures (eight experts) and students (n=236) from various universities in Medan, Indonesia. The content validity used V-Aiken, and construct validity used confirmatory factor analysis; reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient and internal consistency reliability. The results show that the constructs of composure, commitment, control, coordination, empathy, perseverance, and adaptive have excellent and accurate validity and reliability to measure academic resilience. The findings are specific that there are significant differences in the academic resilience for preservice teachers among field of sciences. Researchers imply that they can use these instruments appropriate and responsive to academic resilience for preservice teachers highlighting among the sciences' domain so that future research can be carried out to explore these differences.
E-STEM project-based learning in teaching science to increase ICT literacy and problem solving
Authors: Muzana Syarifah Rahmiza , Jumadi Jumadi , Wilujeng Insih , Yanto Bagus Endri , Mustamin Abdul Aziz
Published: December 2021

The aim of the research was to determine the effectivity of implementation of e-learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (E-STEM) project-based learning model in teaching science to improve information, communication, and technology (ICT) literacy and problem solving. The study adopted quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design. E-STEM project-based learning model was applied in experimental classroom, while the control classroom applied conventional teaching. The sample was 46 students who was selected using cluster sampling method. They were in grade VIII academic year 2020/2021 which representing the population students of Junior High School 8, in Aceh Besar, Indonesia. The data were collected using test instrument and questionnaires. Validity verification of instrument measured based on Aiken index, while instrument reliability was determined based on Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The data were analyzed using Manova and descriptive quantitative. The result of the study showed that there is meaningful difference of ICT literacy and problem solving mean score based on the difference of both teaching approach. It is concluded that the implementation of E-STEM project-based learning model and problem solving in teaching science has significant impact in increasing ICT literacy and problem solving.
Difficulties in implementing 21st century skills competence in vocational education learning
Authors: Mutohhari Farid , Sutiman S. , Nurtanto Muhammad , Kholifah Nur , Samsudin Achmad
Published: December 2021

The 21st century learning requires complex competencies, transformations of technology-based learning and non-cognitive skills need. This situation makes it difficult for teachers of Indonesian vocational education apply 21st century skills. This study aimed to analyze the level of difficulty of teachers and students in vocational education and analyzing the differences in the difficulties faced in vocational education. This research used survey research with a quantitative approach. A total of 178 people participated in the study consisting of two public vocational high schools and two private vocational schools with the distribution of respondents consisting of 155 students and 23 teachers. Collecting data using a questionnaire in the form of a statement of difficulties faced by teachers and students, including creativity skills, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and digital literacy or information and communication technology (ICT) as many as 50 items. The instrument used was a Likert scale with very difficult, difficult, easy, and very easy categories. The findings of the study showed: i) All skills were identified on the “easy” criteria; and ii) There were significant differences between the difficulties faced by teachers and students, especially communication skills. The recommendation in this study is the need to improve 21st century skills to produce competitive graduate candidates in vocational education.
COVID-19 PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE TÜRK BANKACILIK SİSTEMİNDEKİ MEVDUAT BANKALARININ TOPLAM FAKTÖR VERİMLİLİĞİNDEKİ DEĞİŞİMLER
Authors: BİCİL İbrahim
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada koronavirüs salgını sürecinde mevduat bankalarının kredi kullandırma ve karlılık bakımından etkinlikleri araştırılmaktadır. Etkinlik ölçümünde, Türk Bankacılık sisteminde toplam aktifler içindeki payı %1’in üzerinde olan 11 mevduat bankası esas alınmıştır. Bu bankaların kredi ve karlılık etkinliklerini ölçmek için girdi değişkeni olarak aktif büyüklük, toplam mevduat, şube sayısı ve personel sayısı kullanılmıştır. Çıktı değişkeni olarak ise toplam kredi ve dönem net karı kullanılarak, 2019 Haziran-2021 Mart dönemi için Malmquist Toplam Faktör Verimliliği Endeksi hesaplamaları yapılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular 2019 Aralık-2020 Mart ve 2020 Aralık-2021 Mart dönemlerinde mevduat bankalarının faktör verimliliklerinin önemli ölçüde azaldığı yönündedir. Verimlilik azalışının, bankaların sermaye yapılarına göre farklılaştığı tespit edilmiştir. Verimlilik kayıpları bakımından kamusal sermayeli bankaların performansının yabancı sermayeli ve özel sermayeli bankalara göre daha iyi seyrettiği görülmüştür.
COVID-19 PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE TWİTTER YORUMLARI İLE ALTCOIN KRİPTO PARA PİYASASI ARASINDAKİ NEDENSELLİĞİN DUYGU ANALİZİ İLE İNCELENMESİ: RİPPLE ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ERDİNÇ Utku , BURSA Nurbanu
Published: December 2021

Covid-19 pandemisinin dünya genelinde sağlık, eğitim gibi alanlarda olduğu gibi ekonomi alanındaki etkisi de oldukça büyüktür. Salgınla mücadele kapsamında uygulanan kapanma süreçleri ve çalışma saatlerindeki değişiklikler, bireylerin ekonomik durumlarında bozulmalara yol açmış ve bunun bir sonucu olarak, sosyal medyanın da etkisiyle çeşitli yatırım araçlarına gösterilen ilgi artmıştır. Bu yatırım araçlarından birisi de, kripto paralar olmuştur. Çalışmada, Twitter kullanıcılarının Ripple hakkında paylaştıkları Türkçe tweetler ile Ripple’ın gün sonu fiyatı arasındaki nedensellik, Covid-19 pandemi sürecinde duygu analizi ve nedensellik testiyle incelenmiştir. Duygu analizi sonucunda elde edilen duygu skorları ile aynı tarihlerdeki Ripple’a ait gün sonu kapanış fiyatları arasında pozitif yönlü %21’lik bir korelasyon elde edilmiştir. Sonrasında, ilgilenilen değişkenlerin aynı düzeylerde durağan olmamalarından dolayı Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi uygulanmış ve tek yönlü bir nedensellik bulunmuştur. Analizler sonucunda #xrp etiketi ile paylaşılan Türkçe tweetlerin, Ripple’ın fiyatları üzerinde etkisi olduğu istatistiksel olarak ortaya konmuş; ancak fiyatların Türkçe Twitter yorumlarını etkilediğine dair yeterince bir kanıt bulunamamıştır.
AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ’NİN AKDENİZ POLİTİKALARI ÖZELİNDE STRATEJİK ÖZERKLİĞİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: OĞURLU Ebru
Published: December 2021

Stratejik özerklik, Avrupa Birliği’nin geleceği ve güvenliğinin bir teminatıdır. Uzun yıllardır Avrupa siyasetinde kendine yer bulan kavram, Birlik içindeki ve dışındaki gelişmeler neticesinde son zamanların sıklıkla tartışılan konularından biri haline gelmiştir. Avrupa Birliği’nin stratejik özerkliği kendi içinde entegrasyonun uyumunu, birliğini ve bütünlüğünü sağlamasını, yakın çevresi ve komşu bölgelerinde ise daha fazla risk ve sorumluluk almasını gerektirmektedir. Bu çerçevede, Akdeniz Bölgesi, Avrupa Birliği’nin stratejik özerkliğinin değerlendirilebileceği alanların başında gelmektedir. Bölge ülkelerine yönelik politikalarını 1960’ların başında ikili çerçevede başlatan Avrupa Birliği, özellikle 2004 yılında Avrupa Komşuluk Politikasını kabul etmesinden itibaren kurumsal bir çerçevede devam ettirmektedir. Avrupa Birliği’nin Akdeniz’e yönelik girişimleri stratejik özerkliğinin bir yansıması olarak kabul edilse de uygulamadaki hatalar ve eksiklikler Birliğin stratejik bir aktör olmanın gerektirdiği net bir stratejiden yoksun olduğunu göstermektedir. Mevcut şartlar altında tüm girişimlerine ve etkili bir stratejik özerkliğe sahip olma ihtiyacına rağmen, Avrupa Birliği’nin Avrupa-Arap Diyaloğu sürecinden itibaren Akdeniz’e yönelik uygulamaları hem Brüksel'in hem de ilgili ülkelerin sıkışıp kaldığı bir bataklık olarak kalmakta ve Avrupa Birliği’nin stratejik özerklik iddialarını zayıflatmaktadır.
Interactions between Jews and Christians in Later Medieval Provence
Authors: Smail Daniel Lord
Published: December 2021

This study uses an extensive body of archival evidence from Latin-Christian sources to explore economic and social interactions between Provençal Jews and Christians. Evidence discussed in section one indicates that the city’s Jewish and Christian communities interacted to a significant degree, and not just in the domain of moneylending. Data derived from a network analysis suggests that Jews were prominent in providing brokerage services. In the second section, analysis of a small sample of Jewish estate inventories indicates that the material profiles of Jewish and Christian families were very similar. In the third section, an analysis of a register of debt collection shows that Jews were involved in credit relations at a rate that was proportional to their population. Jewish moneylenders filled an economic niche by providing Christians with the liquidity to pay off structural debts generated by the political economy of rents and taxes.
A Century of Dialogue around Durkheim as a Founding Father of the Social Sciences
Authors: van Binsbergen Wim
Published: December 2021

In 2012 social scientists, philosophers and religious scientists celebrated the centennial of the publication of one of the most seminal books in the modern study of religion, Les formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse, by the then leading French sociologist Emile Durkheim’s (1858–1917); in 2017, we commemorated that author’s untimely death at age 59, broken by World War I in which he lost his only son and many of his beloved students. Educated, first as a Rabinnical student then as a modern philosopher, Durkheim earned his place among French thinkers primarily as a “founding father” of the social sciences. Having recently (on the basis of a life-long preoccupation) devoted a book-length study to Durkheim’s religion theory, I intend in this essay to highlight major aspects of Durkheim as an exponent of French thought. I shall first briefly situate Durkheim in his time and age, with special emphasis on his political views and his ethnic identity as a secularised Jew. Then I turn to Durkheim’s relation with the discipline in which he was originally trained, philosophy. I shall pay attention to the complex relationship between Durkheim and Kant and further highlight his dualism, epistemology, and views on primitive classification, as well as his puzzling realism, the place of emergence in his thought, and his moralist tendencies. I shall finally articulate Durkheim’s transition to sociology and how he gave over the torch of emerging sociology to his main students, having thus created an adequate context in which to discuss Durkheim’s final masterpiece (Les formes) and the still dominant theory of religion it expounds.
Foucault and Chomsky on Grammar and Governmentality
Authors: Barry Conor
Published: December 2021

This essay explores the use of the notions of grammar and governmentality in the work of Michel Foucault and Noam Chomsky. The goal is to exhibit the contrast but also mutual influence of these thinkers. Chomsky places his own linguistic theory in what he calls a tradition of Cartesian linguistics. Foucault’s presents an archaeology of general grammar in the French Classical Era. Chomsky and Foucault equally posit principles of governmentality. Both differ in terms of what they think the study of language brings to our understanding of ethical and political freedom. Governmental structure and grammatical structure, for Foucault, are always conventional, rather than essential – merely expressions of power dynamics. For Chomsky, the innate and natural human universality implied by underlying structures, in contrast, intimates a path to freedom from governmental coercion and oppression.
Media Consumption and News Literacy Habits During the covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Guldin Rachel , Noga-Styron Krystal , Britto Sarah
Published: December 2021

The covid-19 pandemic disrupted political, economic, and social life in the United States beginning in March 2020, disproportionately affecting historically underrepresented groups. Media assumed unique roles during the pandemic, serving simultaneously as the gateway to work, education, social life, news, and public health information. Yet the covid-19 pandemic has been so challenged by misinformation that the World Health Organization declared it an infodemic. Because misinformation can prolong pandemics and increase deaths, news and media literacy can benefit society at large, especially vulnerable populations. The purpose of this descriptive study is to capture how undergraduates used media, how they obtained their news, and how they engaged news literacy skills during the covid-19 pandemic. A survey of over 900 undergraduate students showed that over two-thirds of respondents increased media use. Over half of respondents reported entertainment as their top reason for media use during the pandemic and reported news as their last reason. Respondents reporting previous exposure to news literacy education were significantly more likely to use most of the measured news literacy strategies. The findings of this study can support developing pandemic-responsive news and media literacy education which will be useful during future pandemics.
Establishment of trimester-specific reference intervals for thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine during pregnancy in southwest China by indirect method
Authors: Guo Ying , Wei Bin , Dai Wei , Xie Hongjian
Published: December 2021

Objective

A series of physiological changes in thyroid function occur during pregnancy and differ from those non-pregnant women. This study aimed to establish the pregnancy-specific reference intervals of TSH and FT4 using an indirect method based on the healthy pregnant women from southwest China population.

Methods

Thyroid function test results which available on the Laboratory Information System (LIS) were collected from the pregnancies who visited the Obstetric Clinic or the Department of Gynecology between 1 January 2015, and 30 December 2020. We grouped the data by trimesters to establish the reference intervals (RIs) based on the clinical consensus of different levels of TSH and FT4 at different weeks of gestation. All arrangements were referenced to the document CLSI EP28-A3C.

Results

A total of 33,040 thyroid function test results of pregnant women, aged 31 (28,33) years were statistical analyzed. Estimated RIs for TSH and FT4 in the first, second and third trimesters corresponding to the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles in TPOAb negative were 0.02–5.23, 0.03–5.24, 0.37–5.68 mIU/L, 11.66–20.69, 10.1–18.59, 9.85–16.86pmol/L, respectively.

Conclusion

This study provides trimester-specific RIs for TSH and FT4 among healthy pregnant women in southwest China which guides clinicians to diagnosis and screen for thyroid disorders in this region.
Lumbar Flexion During Driving: Establishing a Methodology for Characterising Real-Time Posture Data Collected by Innovative Technology
Authors: Tinitali Sarah , Haines Terry , Bowles Kelly-Ann
Published: December 2021

Objective

To determine a methodology for the analysis of real-time driving posture data in the low back pain population.

Background

The strength of the relationship between driving posture and low back pain is yet to be defined due to the lack of studies in the field using validated and repeatable posture measurement tools. Reliable and validated real-time measurement tools are now available, yet reliable methods of analysis of these data are yet to be established.

Method

Ten occupational drivers completed a typical work shift while wearing an inertial motion sensor system (dorsaVi ViMove). Real-time lumbar flexion data were extracted, with test–retest reliability of mean lumbar flexion, peak lumbar flexion, and standard deviation of lumbar flexion analysed at different times across a work shift, and in different sections within a drive.

Results

Mean lumbar flexion was highly repeatable over numerous drives in one day, with greater test–retest reliability if the first five minutes of driving data were excluded. Peak lumbar flexion had acceptable test-retest reliability over numerous drives in one day, while standard deviation of lumbar flexion was not a repeatable measure.

Conclusion

Mean lumbar flexion was a reliable outcome for characterising driving posture in drivers with low back pain. Peak lumbar flexion may be used if appropriate to the individual study. Standard deviation of lumbar flexion is not a reliable posture outcome.

Application

This paper provides a reliable methodology for analysis of real-time driving posture data in occupational drivers with low back pain.
Multi-objective optimization of tensile properties of the corrugated composite sheet
Authors: Bahrami-Novin Nastaran , Mahdavi Ehsan , Shaban Mahdi , Mazaheri Hashem
Published: December 2021

Corrugated sheets with optimized mechanical properties are crucial for lightweight design in industrial applications. This study considered and optimized a corrugated sheet with a sinusoidal profile to enhance elastic modulus, tensile-bending coupling, and weight reduction. For this aim, first, flat specimens consisting of E-glass woven fiber and epoxy resin were made by hand lay-up method, following ASTM D3039. The tensile test determined young’s modulus of flat samples. Afterward, two molds with supports were fabricated. The corrugated specimens were constructed and exposed to a standard tensile test. The finite element analysis was used to simulate the tensile test of corrugated samples. The numerical force-displacement curve is derived from numerical analysis and verified by experimental results. After that, two multi-objective optimization problems, mass-constraint and global optimization, were implemented. Analytical formulations were verified by numerical and experimental results and utilized for optimization purposes. The genetic algorithm was used to examine and confirm trade-off behavior between objective functions. The Pareto fronts diagrams for mentioned two multi-objective optimization problem were obtained. Finally, the optimum parameters are calculated by using the LINMAP (Linear Programming Technique for Multi-dimensional Analysis of Preference) method.
“Move backward to make a step forward”: Understanding the migration of the highly educated to Sorong City, West Papua, Indonesia
Authors: Malamassam Meirina Ayumi , Hidayati Inayah , Setiawan Bayu , Latifa Ade
Published: December 2021

Highly educated people are mainly concentrated in big cities or metropolitan areas. However, some of them choose to move to less developed regions. Using information from in-depth interviews of 15 highly educated migrants that recently moved to Sorong City, a small city in easternmost Indonesia, this study examines the narratives behind their spatial movements. The findings show that promising career development is a critical factor in their migration decision-making process. Although most of them faced difficulties with the limited living amenities in Sorong city, the migrants managed to improve their employability and accelerate their social mobility. However, some migrants expressed their intentions to remigrate from the city in the future. This situation indicates the lack of migrants’ social integration and the challenges in the human capital accumulation in the region.
The Truth Project
Authors: Markowitz David M. , Blackburn Kate G. , Saxena Keya , Marion Jade , Olivarez Omar , Hernandez Rebecca , Woodworth Michael T. , Hancock Jeffrey T.
Published: December 2021

The United States Constitution grants Americans the “right to a speedy and public trial,” with an assumption that the trial is impartial and fair. Recent data suggest a nontrivial number of cases fail to meet this standard. During interrogations, suspects can be presented with false evidence, long interrogations can undermine a suspect’s cognitive ability, and minimization tactics often mislead suspects into believing justice is on their side. These dynamics facilitate false confessions and wrongful convictions, which are common in the United States and globally. We argue the current approaches to understand and predict innocence in legal cases are insufficient and interdisciplinary research is required to prevent innocent people from going to jail. In this review, we cover research on wrongful convictions and false confessions, ending with The Truth Project ( www.truth-project.io ), a new global framework to connect scholars and facilitate research into behavioral patterns of innocence.
The ancestors’ masculinities in Genesis
Authors: Winkler Mathias
Published: December 2021

In Genesis, many of the male protagonists represent different peoples in the Levant and their relationships among each other. How those ancestors perform as ‘masculine’ men reflects the notion of the masculinity of the peoples descending from them, formulated from an Israelite/Judahite point of view. While the ancestors of Israel and Judah (Seth, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) perform a certain masculine style, which can be labelled as pious, peaceful, gentle, smart and cultivated, the ancestors of neighbouring peoples (Ham, Lot, Ishmael, Esau) are portrayed as wild or sexually perverted but also aggressive, dominant or hypermasculine. The authors perceive their own people in a historically realistic way; they are no super-men. However, their masculine performance is favoured throughout and even divinely approved.
Supporting the Behavioral Health of Older Adults: Evaluating a Multi-Site, Multi-Actor, Multi-Agency Initiative
Authors: Stodola Allyson , Kyler-Yano Jason Z. , Hasworth Serena , Winfree Jaclyn , Dawson Walter D.
Published: December 2021

Policymakers often overlook people living with physical disabilities and older adults’ behavioral health (BH) needs. Older adults experience alarmingly high rates of mental illness and substance use disorders, which often intersect with neurocognitive challenges. Emerging evidence suggests the SARS-COV-2 pandemic has exacerbated these disparities. BH needs amongst older adults and people living with physical disabilities have major implications for policy and service delivery. While a multitude of local interventions to support BH exist, few state-level programs focus on this population. In 2015, Oregon established the Behavioral Health Initiative for Older Adults and People with Physical Disabilities (referred to as the Initiative) with this specific purpose. A multi-year evaluation of this Initiative suggests several important improvements have occurred. Yet, barriers remain that hinder optimal service provision and enable siloed aging and BH services between agencies. The findings indicate ways the Initiative can leverage initial successes to further support this population.
The Bubble of Normalisation: A Qualitative Study of Carers of People With Dementia Who Do Not Seek Help for a Diagnosis
Authors: Parker Michelle , Barlow Sally , Hoe Juanita , Aitken Leanne M.
Published: December 2021

Objective

Improving dementia diagnosis rates are a key feature of dementia strategy and policy worldwide. This study aimed to explore the experience of carers of people diagnosed with dementia during or following a hospital admission in order to identify factors that had prevented them from seeking help beforehand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 informal carers including adults caring for a parent, a friend or a spouse diagnosed with dementia between 2010–2019, following an acute hospital admission for a physical health problem, having not sought help previously.

Main Findings

Carers created a ‘bubble of normalisation’ around themselves and the person living with dementia (PLWD) to reject the label of dementia and protect the PLWD from a loss of independence, discrimination and prejudice they felt would be the result of a diagnosis. Carers struggled to talk to the PLWD about dementia reinforcing denial and stigma. Post-diagnosis carers felt unsupported and questioned the value of diagnosis.

Principal Conclusions

Stigma related to images of dementia as a disease that takes away independence and identity prevented discussion about dementia between carers and the PLWD. A lack of open discussion about memory concerns between health care professionals and carers also served to delay diagnosis.
Burnout, Self-Efficacy, and Resilience in Haitian Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Georges Marie Therese , Roberts Lisa R. , Johnston Taylor Elizabeth , Nick Jan M. , Dehom Salem
Published: December 2021

Purpose of Study: Though nursing burnout is a global problem, research on nurse burnout in Haiti is scarce. In a context of multiple personal, social, and environmental challenges, this study assessed burnout and associated factors among Haitian nurses. Design of Study: A multi-site cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey in French and Haitian Creole was conducted in five Haitian hospitals using forward and back translated scales measuring burnout (emotional exhaustion [EE], depersonalization [DP], personal accomplishment [PA]), self-efficacy, nursing work environment, resilience, and demographics. Findings: Haitian nurses ( N = 179) self-reported moderate EE ( M = 21, SD = 11.18), low DP ( Mdn = 2.0, range = 29), and high personal accomplishment ( Mdn = 41.0, range = 33). General self-efficacy ( M = 32.31, SD = 4.27) and resilience ( M = 26.68, SD = 5.86) were high. Dissatisfaction with salary, autonomy, and staffing were evident. Conclusions: It is noteworthy that burnout was lower than expected given the scarce resource, difficult socio-politico-economic environment. High levels of self-efficacy and resilience likely mitigated a higher level of burnout. Adaptation enables these nurses to manage their critical conditions and practice holistic nursing, which may inspire hope among nurses in similar contexts.
Flowers of evil: Constructing the wicked in Wisdom of Solomon
Authors: Sun Jiani
Published: December 2021

The distinction between the good and the wicked is common in wisdom literature. Although the distinction can be viewed as ubiquitous, I would like to problematize it by considering the literary device deployed in constructing the archetypes of the good and the wicked. Specifically, I analyze the depiction of the wicked in chapters 1–6 in Wisdom of Solomon and argue that the construction of the wicked in Wisdom is indispensable in understanding how the righteous obtain wisdom through divine protection and acceptance of divine provision. First, I offer a close reading of the text, mainly Chapters 1–6, and parse out the ways of depicting the wicked in Wisdom of Solomon. In particular, I highlight the “collectivity” of the crowd, as opposed to a “single” righteous individual or group. Social theories of the crowd are critical to my formulation of the characteristics of the wicked. Second, I examine the relationship between the wicked and the righteous, and propose the idea of “a mirror effect” in these antithetical depictions. The mirror effect exhibits didactic values, as it instructs one to pursue righteousness and shun from evil. Third, I focus on the interaction between God, the righteous, and the wicked and suggest that divine intervention in helping the righteous stand firm among the wicked manifests both divine justice and divine mercy.
Investigation on friction-induced judder of vehicle driveline based on a nonlinear friction model
Authors: Chang Shili , Xia Yuanfeng , Pang Jian , Yang Liang
Published: December 2021

Due to friction characteristics of clutch, the driveline is prone to cause a judder during vehicle starting, and then to cause the vehicle body to vibrate, which affects driving quality. In order to analyze the judder phenomenon, a nonlinear numerical friction model based on the Gaussian friction model is established in this paper. For the driveline of a front-wheel-drive vehicle, a five-degree-of-freedom (5DOF) lumped parameter model including a nonlinear friction element is established. The complex mode of the driveline during the clutch in slip condition is calculated. The key parameters affecting the driveline stability are analyzed. The self-excited judder and pressure-induced judder of the driveline are numerically simulated, and the corresponding causes are analyzed. The nonlinear friction torque of the clutch is also calculated. Furthermore, the effects of the key parameters such as the torsional stiffness and damping of the clutch and drive shaft suppressing the self-excited judder and pressure-induced judder are numerically studied respectively. Compared with the widely used Karnopp friction model, the nonlinear numerical friction model established in this paper comprehensively includes the stribeck effect in slip and the friction torque characteristics in stick. The phenomena of the judder and stick-slip of the driveline during vehicle starting are more accurately simulated. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the dynamic model including the nonlinear friction element established in this paper.
Study on the leakage of plunger pair under static condition in high-pressure common rail injector considering deformation effect
Authors: Gao Zhenbo , Zhang Yong , Wang Dandan
Published: December 2021

Plunger pair is the key component of high pressure common rail injector and its sealing performance is very important. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the leakage mechanism of plunger pair. Under static condition, the high-pressure fuel flow in the gap of the plunger pair caused the deformation of the plunger pair structure and the temperature rise of fuel. For a more comprehensive and accurate study, the effect of deformation, including elastic deformation and thermal expansion, the physical properties of fuel, including density, viscosity and specific heat capacity, as well as the influence of plunger posture in the plunger sleeve, including concentric, eccentric, and inclination condition, are considered in this paper. Firstly, the mathematical models including Reynolds equation, film thickness equation, non-isothermal flow equation, parametric equation of fuel physical property, and section velocity equation are established. The numerical analysis based on finite difference method for the solution of these models is given, which can simultaneously solve for the fuel film pressure distribution, temperature distribution, thickness distribution, distribution of fuel physical properties, and leakage rate. The models are validated by comparing the calculated leakage rates with the measurements. The effects under different posture of plunger are discussed too. Some of the conclusions provided good guidance for the design of high-pressure common rail injector.
An improved prognostics model with its application to the remaining useful life of turbofan engine
Authors: He Jia-Jun , Zhao Yong-Ping
Published: December 2021

Machinery prognostics play a crucial role in upgrading machinery service and optimizing machinery operation and maintenance schedule by forecasting the remaining useful life (RUL) of the monitored equipment, which has become more and more popular in recent years. The safety of aviation is one of the issues that people are most concerned about in the field of transportation, since it might cause disastrous loss of life and property once accident happened. The turbofan engine is an important part of the aircraft that provides thrust for plane. With aging, the turbofan engine becomes prone to failures. As a result, it would be worth studying prognostics in turbofan engine to improve the reliability of machinery and reduce unnecessary maintenance cost. Recently, a data-driven prognostics modeling strategy called the classification of predictions strategy (CPS) was proposed, in which the continuous signal and the discrete modes of an actual system come together to achieve RUL estimation. However, machine health states measured from classification rarely have just one potential situation, and this strategy cannot determine whether the fault occurs or not by a certain probability which comes closer to reality. Moreover, since there is no information and prior knowledge of prognostics application, it is hard to obtain the probability of various situations from raw measured data. Hence, based on previous work, this paper proposes an improved prognostics modeling method named the classification of predictions strategy with decision probability (CPS-DP), whose key innovations mainly include three parts: (1) decision probability process (DPP) where each step of multi-step prediction obeys geometric distribution and can judge whether the failure state occurs using the decision probability; (2) decision probability calculation (DPC) algorithm, which is first proposed by this paper and can calculate the values of decision probability without prior knowledge of prognostics application; and (3) withdrawal mechanism optimizer (WMO), which is specially designed to compensate for the shortcomings of DPP and further enhance the performance of the prognostics model. In brief, first, CPS is used to build a basic prognostics model to acquire RUL estimation results, in which the information applied to find the probability has been contained. Later, the mean of RUL estimation errors is figured from the results, which is further employed to calculate the probability using DPC algorithm. Then, CPS-DP can be achieved by means of integrating two parts: DPP and CPS. Furthermore, to further improve the performance, WMO is utilized to optimize CPS-DP with rolling back predictions. Ultimately, an enhanced prognostic model based on CPS-DP is set up through uniting CPS, DPP, and WMO. To validate the proposed method, experimental results on the turbofan engine in 2008 prognostics and health management competition are investigated.