bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Apsidal Motion in Eclipsing Binaries Using ELC
Authors: Dimoff Alexander J. , Orosz Jerome A.
Published: August 2023

Apsidal motion is the precession of the line of apsides in the orbit of a binary star due to perturbations from General Relativity (GR), tides, or third-body interactions. The rate of precession due to tidal effects depends on the interior structures of the stars, and as a result, binaries in which this precession occurs are of great interest. Apsidal motion is observed through the analysis of eclipse times, which reveal small changes in the average interval between successive primary and secondary eclipses, taking all available observed times of eclipse and yielding an estimate of the apsidal rate. Given that this is a single observed quantity, various degeneracies are unavoidably present. Ideally, one would have a model that predicts eclipse times given the orbital and stellar parameters. These parameters for a given binary could then be computed using least squares, provided a suitably large number of eclipse times. Here we use the eclipsing light curve (ELC) program as such a model. The Newtonian equations of motion with additional force terms accounting for GR contributions and tidal distortions are integrated, yielding precise sky positions as a function of time. Times of mid-eclipse and instantaneous orbital elements are computed as a function of time. In this paper, we outline the method and compare numerically computed apsidal rates with standard formulae using a set of 15 binaries based on real systems. For our simulated systems, the derived apsidal rates agree with the standard formula.
A Surprising Lack of Metallicity Evolution with Redshift in the Long Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxy Population
Authors: Graham J. F. , Schady P. , Fruchter A. S.
Published: August 2023

The number of long-duration gamma-ray burst (LGRB) host galaxies with measured metallicities and host masses has expanded sufficiently to investigate how the distributions of these properties change with redshift. Using the combined host galaxy metallicity sample from Graham & Fruchter and Krühler et al., we find a surprising lack of evolution in the LGRB metallicity distribution across different redshifts. In particular, the fraction of LGRB hosts with relatively high metallicity (12+log(O/H) ≥ 8.4) remains essentially constant out to z = 2.5. This result is at odds with the evolution in the mass–metallicity relation of typical galaxies, which become progressively more metal poor with increasing redshift. A similar result is found when converting the LGRB host galaxy mass distribution taken from the Swift GRB Host Galaxy Legacy Survey (SHOALS) sample to a corresponding metallicity distribution by applying a redshift-dependent mass–metallicity relation. The SHOALS sample is compiled using an unbiased selection function implying that the observed lack of evolution in the host galaxy high-metallicity distribution is not caused by selection effects. However, the LGRB host galaxy metallicities estimated from the stellar mass are typically a quarter dex higher at all redshifts than the metallicity we measure spectroscopically. This implies that using mass–metallicity relationships to estimate host metallicities will thus produce a substantial systematic bias.
Evidence for Misalignment between Debris Disks and Their Host Stars
Authors: Hurt Spencer A. , MacGregor Meredith A.
Published: August 2023

We place lower limits on the obliquities between debris disks and their host stars for 31 systems by comparing their disk and stellar inclinations. While previous studies did not find evidence for misalignment, we identify six systems with minimum obliquities falling between ∼30°and 60°, indicating that debris disks can be significantly misaligned with their stars. These high-obliquity systems span a wide range of stellar parameters with spectral types K through A. Previous works have argued that stars with masses below 1.2 M
⊙ (spectral types of ∼F6) have magnetic fields strong enough to realign their rotation axes with the surrounding disk via magnetic warping; given that we observe high obliquities for relatively low-mass stars, magnetic warping alone is likely not responsible for the observed misalignments. Yet, chaotic accretion is expected to result in misalignments of ∼20° at most and cannot explain the larger obliquities found in this work. While it remains unclear how primordial misalignment might occur and what role it plays in determining the spin–orbit alignment of planets, future work expanding this sample is critical toward understanding the mechanisms that shape these high-obliquity systems.
Cosmological Simulations of Galaxy Groups and Clusters. III. Constraining Quasar Feedback Models with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array
Authors: Chakraborty Avinanda , Chatterjee Suchetana , Lacy Mark , Roy Soumya , Roy Samrat , Kar Chowdhury Rudrani
Published: August 2023

The thermal Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect serves as a direct potential probe of the energetic outflows from quasars that are responsible for heating the intergalactic medium. In this work, we use the GIZMO meshless finite mass hydrodynamic cosmological simulation SIMBA, which includes different prescriptions for quasar feedback, to compute the SZ effect arising from different feedback modes. From these theoretical simulations, we perform mock observations of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in four bands (320, 135, 100, and 42 GHz) to characterize the feasibility of direct detection of the quasar SZ signal. Our results show that for all the systems we get an enhancement of the SZ signal, when there is radiative feedback, while the signal gets suppressed when the jet mode of feedback is introduced in the simulations. Our mock ALMA maps reveal that, with the current prescription of jet feedback, the signal goes below the detection threshold of ALMA. We also find that the signal is higher for high redshift systems, making it possible for ALMA and cross SZ-X-ray studies to disentangle the varying modes of quasar feedback and their relative importance in the cosmological context.
Disk Wind–Driven Expanding Radio-emitting Shell in Tidal Disruption Events
Authors: Hayasaki Kimitake , Yamazaki Ryo
Published: August 2023

We study the evolution of a nonrelativistically expanding thin shell in radio-emitting tidal disruption events (TDEs) based on a one-dimensional spherically symmetric model considering the effect of both a time-dependent mass-loss rate of the disk wind and the ambient mass distribution. The analytical solutions are derived in two extreme limits; one is the approximate solution near the origin in the form of the Taylor series, and the other is the asymptotic solution in which the ambient matter is dominant far away from the origin. Our numerical solutions are confirmed to agree with the respective analytical solutions. We find that no simple power law of the time solution exists in early to middle times because the mass-loss rate varies over time, affecting the shell dynamics. We also discuss the application of our model to the observed radio-emitting TDE, AT 2019dsg.
Confronting a Thin Disk-wind Launching Mechanism of Broad-line Emission in Active Galactic Nuclei with GRAVITY Observations of Quasar 3C 273
Authors: Long Kirk , Dexter Jason , Cao Yixian , Davies Ric , Eisenhauer Frank , Lutz Dieter , Santos Daryl , Shangguan Jinyi , Shimizu Taro , Sturm Eckhard
Published: August 2023

Quasars show a remarkable degree of atomic emission-line broadening, an observational feature which, in conjunction with a radial distance estimate for this emission from the nucleus, is often used to infer the mass of the central supermassive black hole. The radius estimate depends on the structure and kinematics of this so-called broad-line region, which is often modeled as a set of discrete emitting clouds. Here, we test an alternative kinematic disk-wind model of optically thick line emission originating from a geometrically thin accretion disk under Keplerian rotation around a supermassive black hole. We use this model to calculate broad emission-line profiles and interferometric phases to compare to GRAVITY data and previously published cloud modeling results. While we show that such a model can provide a statistically satisfactory fit to GRAVITY data for quasar 3C 273, we disfavor it as it requires 3C 273 be observed at high inclination, which observations of the radio jet orientation do not support.
Discovery of the Elusive Carbonic Acid (HOCOOH) in Space
Authors: Sanz-Novo Miguel , Rivilla Víctor M. , Jiménez-Serra Izaskun , Martín-Pintado Jesús , Colzi Laura , Zeng Shaoshan , Megías Andrés , López-Gallifa Álvaro , Martínez-Henares Antonio , Massalkhi Sarah , Tercero Belén , de Vicente Pablo , Martín Sergio , Andrés David San , Requena-Torres Miguel A.
Published: August 2023

A quarter century after the detection of the last interstellar carboxylic acid, acetic acid (CH3COOH), we report the discovery of a new one, the cis-trans form of carbonic acid (HOCOOH), toward the Galactic center molecular cloud G+0.693–0.027. HOCOOH stands as the first interstellar molecule containing three oxygen atoms and the third carboxylic acid detected so far in the interstellar medium. Albeit the limited available laboratory measurements (up to 65 GHz), we have also directly identified several pairs of unblended lines in the astronomical data (between 75 and 120 GHz), which allowed us to slightly improve the set of spectroscopic constants. We derive a column density for cis-trans HOCOOH of N = (6.4 ± 0.4) × 1012 cm−2, which yields an abundance with respect to molecular H2 of 4.7 × 10−11. Meanwhile, the extremely low dipole moment (about 15 times lower) of the lower-energy conformer, cis-cis HOCOOH, precludes its detection. We obtain an upper limit to its abundance with respect to H2 of ≤1.2 × 10−9, which suggests that cis-cis HOCOOH might be fairly abundant in interstellar space, although it is nearly undetectable by radio astronomical observations. We derive a cis-cis/cis-trans ratio of ≤25, consistent with the smaller energy difference between both conformers compared with the relative stability of trans- and cis-formic acid. Finally, we compare the abundance of these acids in different astronomical environments, further suggesting a relationship between the chemical content found in the interstellar medium and the chemical composition of the minor bodies of the solar system, which could be inherited during the star formation process.
Hadronic versus Leptonic Origin of Gamma-Ray Emission from Supernova Remnants
Authors: Corso Nicholas J. , Diesing Rebecca , Caprioli Damiano
Published: August 2023

GeV and TeV emission from the forward shocks of supernova remnants (SNRs) indicates that they are capable particle accelerators, making them promising sources of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs). However, it remains uncertain whether this γ-ray emission arises primarily from the decay of neutral pions produced by very-high-energy hadrons, or from inverse-Compton and/or bremsstrahlung emission from relativistic leptons. By applying a semi-analytic approach to non-linear diffusive shock acceleration, and calculating the particle and photon spectra produced in different environments, we parameterize the relative strength of hadronic and leptonic emission. We show that even if CR acceleration is likely to occur in all SNRs, the observed photon spectra may primarily reflect the environment surrounding the SNR: the emission is expected to look hadronic unless the ambient density is particularly low (with proton number density ≲0.1 cm−3) or the photon background is enhanced with respect to average Galactic values (with radiation energy density u
rad ≳ 10 eV cm−3). We introduce a hadronicity parameter to characterize how hadronic or leptonic we expect a source to look based on its environment, which can be used to guide the interpretation of current γ-ray observations and the detection of high-energy neutrinos from SNRs.
Variability Catalog of Stars Observed during the TESS Prime Mission
Authors: Fetherolf Tara , Pepper Joshua , Simpson Emilie , Kane Stephen R. , Močnik Teo , English John Edward , Antoci Victoria , Huber Daniel , Jenkins Jon M. , Stassun Keivan , Twicken Joseph D. , Vanderspek Roland , Winn Joshua N.
Published: August 2023

During its 2 yr Prime Mission, TESS observed over 232,000 stars at a 2 minute cadence across ∼70% of the sky. These data provide a record of photometric variability across a range of astrophysically interesting timescales, probing stellar rotation, stellar binarity, and pulsations. We have analyzed the TESS 2 minute light curves to identify periodic variability on timescales of 0.01–13 days, and explored the results across various stellar properties. We have identified over 46,000 periodic variables with high confidence, and another 38,000 with moderate confidence. These light curves show differences in variability type across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, with distinct groupings of rotational, eclipsing, and pulsational variables. We also see interesting patterns across period–luminosity space, with clear correlations between period and luminosity for high-mass pulsators, evolved stars, and contact binary systems, a discontinuity corresponding to the Kraft break, and a lower occurrence of periodic variability in main-sequence stars on timescales of 1.5–2 days. The variable stars identified in this work are cross-identified with several other variability catalogs, from which we find good agreement between the measured periods of variability. There are ∼65,000 variable stars that are newly identified in this work, which includes the rotation rates of low-mass stars, high-frequency pulsation periods for high-mass stars, and a variety of giant star variability.
Immunohistochemical Study of The Expression of TACC3 in Colorectal Carcinoma and its Correlation with Other Pathological Prognostic Factors
Authors: Elmahdy Mohammed , Hosain Ahmed , Esmail Reham S. E. , Khattab Hany
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer comprising nearly 10% of all cancer cases worldwide. Many tumor markers have been used to expect the prognosis of CRC. Transforming acidic coiled- coil-containing protein 3 (TACC3) is one of the TACC family proteins. Physiologically, TACC3 is an important protein in the process of cellular division as it plays a key role in the formation of the mitotic spindle. Pathologically, TACC3 expression was studied in CRC, being found to be a poor prognostic factor.
AIM: The aim of the study was to study the expression of TACC3 and its relationship with other clinical and histopathological prognostic factors in patients with CRC.
METHODS: This is an observational and immunohistochemical study on 45 resection specimens from 45 CRC cases. This study was conducted at the pathology departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University from July 2019 to February 2020 Tumor tissues were prepared as formalin- fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. The paraffin blocks were sectioned at the 5 microns thickness. Then, the collected sections were stained with hematoxylin & eosin for histopathological revision and immune-histochemical staining for TACC3 proteins.
RESULTS: The mean immunoreactivity score (IRS) for the TACC3 expression in our sample was 70 ± 89.91. TACC3 IRS score was significantly higher in those tumors with N2 stage (IRS = 175 ± 107.1; p = 0.02), and with Stage III tumors (IRS = 136.4 ± 93.5; p = 0.04). The other parameters showed no statistically significant relationship with IRS scores.
CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical expression of TACC3 would be valuable as a prognostic marker in cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma, where the expression was found to show stronger and more widespread expression in cases with higher stages. Furthermore, TACC3 should therefore be considered as a potential candidate for targeted therapy, where its blockade may hinder the tumor’s ability to proliferate and progress.
Big Data for Beginners
Authors: Huybrechts Pieter
Published: August 2023

With the increasing amount of datasets being published and made available through global aggregators, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), new opportunities have opened to answer research questions that previously could not be considered. Techniques for large scale data integration offer benefits for the biodiversity research community (Heberling et al. 2021, Kays et al. 2020), profiting from the great and continuing efforts in data mobilisation and standardisation (such as Darwin Core, Wieczorek et al. 2012). These benefits include integrating several large data sources or enriching existing occurrence data with other information. Several commonly encountered barriers to large-scale use of biodiversity occurrence data exist. These include the lack of facilities for local storage of large and rapidly changing datasets, the computational power required for processing, unfamiliarity with existing toolsets, and insufficient resources to maintain big data infrastructure. These challenges are well documented in the context of high-throughput genomics (Marx 2013), and more recently in occurrence-based biodiversity research (for example Thessen et al. 2018).

However, while these hurdles and bottlenecks are very real, several of them have low cost of entry solutions. The aim of this presentation is to encourage the community to explore ambitious queries, to combine and examine all available data in its totality and to break down specific technical barriers, by providing a practical overview for researchers to maximise the power of large-scale data processing in their work.

While big data processing may seem daunting, tools accessible to users without a background in big data are available for both local workstations and cloud computing services that allow for scalable data processing at low cost, for instance Databricks Community Edition or Apache Arrow. Using these resources, researchers can incorporate larger datasets into existing protocols, and by doing so, uncover patterns and insights that would be otherwise impossible to acquire using smaller subsets of the ever-expanding complex set that biodiversity occurrence data presents.
Global Lepidoptera Index: Progress and Issues with Developing a Comprehensive Global Checklist of Moths and Butterflies
Authors: Hobern Donald
Published: August 2023

Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) form one of the four largest animal orders, with published estimates that around 174,250 species had been described up to 2009 (Chapman 2009). Many species are conspicuous, charismatic and regularly recorded by citizen scientists. As a result, iNaturalist contains more than 15 million Lepidoptera observations (10.5% of all observations), and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) includes more than 83 million occurrence records for the group from all sources (3.5% of all biodiversity data and 9.8% of all non-bird data).

A modern and comprehensive checklist of global moths and butterflies would therefore play a significant role in improving our ability to interpret biodiversity patterns and change. However, there is still no dataset that adequately covers the order, and good accessible digital checklists exist for a minority of families.

The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex) has served as the primary checklist for Lepidoptera used by Catalogue of Life (COL), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and other global biodiversity informatics initiatives, with selected families sourced for other well-curated projects. LepIndex is the digitised version of a card index developed and maintained over decades at the Natural History Museum, London. Its intended purpose was to link published species names with the original literature references. LepIndex includes most names published prior to around 1985 (with some geographical bias) and additions for some groups up to around 1995. Since the card index was developed purely as a nomenclatural resource, no effort was made to track changes in generic placement and generally reflect taxonomic opinion from the time when each card was added. As a result, binomial combinations in LepIndex do not necessarily reflect either the original author's published binomial or contemporary classification. In superfamilies such as Gelechioidea and Noctuoidea, which have undergone significant reorganisation in the light of modern findings, many names are not associated even with the currently recognised family for the species.

LepIndex has been migrated to TaxonWorks and is now maintained as the Global Lepidoptera Index (GLI), but addressing a shortfall of nearly 40 years of active taxonomy and fixing other legacy issues remains a major challenge. COL has recently worked with several groups of taxonomists to develop modern digital checklists for several families, but some groups can only practically be improved through edits to GLI.

This presentation will summarise progress and metrics indicating the scale of the remaining task and the effort that will be required to maintain a comprehensive checklist that rapidly and accurates reflects new taxonomic findings.
Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Rhododendron mariesii and comparative genomics of related species in the family Ericaeae
Authors: Li Zhiliang , Huang Zhiwei , Wan Xuchun , Yu Jiaojun , Dong Hongjin , Zhang Jialiang , Zhang Chunyu , Wang Shuzhen
Published: August 2023

Rhododendron mariesii Hemsley et Wilson, 1907, a typical member of the family Ericaeae, possesses valuable medicinal and horticultural properties. In this research, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. mariesii was sequenced and assembled, which proved to be a typical quadripartite structure with the length of 203,480 bp. In particular, the lengths of the large single copy region (LSC), small single copy region (SSC), and inverted repeat regions (IR) were 113,715 bp, 7,953 bp, and 40,918 bp, respectively. Among the 151 unique genes, 98 were protein-coding genes, 8 were tRNA genes, and 45 were rRNA genes. The structural characteristics of the R. mariesiicp genome was similar to other angiosperms. Leucine was the most representative amino acid, while cysteine was the lowest representative. Totally, 30 codons showed obvious codon usage bias, and most were A/U-ending codons. Six highly variable regions were observed, such as trnK-pafI and atpE-rpoB, which could serve as potential markers for future barcoding and phylogenetic research of R. mariesii species. Coding regions were more conserved than non-coding regions. Expansion and contraction in the IR region might be the main length variation in R. mariesii and related Ericaeae species. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. mariesii was relatively closed to the R. simsii Planchon, 1853 and R. pulchrum Sweet,1831. This research will supply rich genetic resource for R. mariesii and related species of the Ericaeae.
The application of digital tools in Ukrainian pharmacies within holistic marketing
Authors: Sakhnatska Nataliia , Aliekperova Nataliia , Kosyachenko Kostyantyn , Kostenko Alexander
Published: August 2023

The paper aimed to analyze the attitude and awareness of pharmacists to the application of digital tools in the activities of Ukrainian pharmacies within holistic marketing. A survey of 745 pharmacists from different regions of Ukraine was conducted. Many pharmacists are wary of the legalization of virtual pharmacies in Ukraine. At the same time, they have a positive attitude regarding such digital tools as free online doctor’s and pharmacist’s consultations and the availability of mobile applications. Almost half of the respondents rate online platforms’ role in pharmacists’ continuous professional development as “very important.” The most popular activities are online testing (70.9%), online training exercised by mentors (51.9%), and corporate webinars (34.6%). Based on the research results, a structured model was developed to improve the customer-centricity of pharmacies within holistic marketing and the process of digitalization.
Digital health in Bulgaria: Imagination or possible reality?
Authors: Dimitrova Maria , Dimitrov Rosen , Ahchiyska Katerina , Nikolaeva Martina , Ganova Mira , Petrova Guenka
Published: August 2023

Digital health is an emerging, strategic health priority for years. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital health technologies to make health systems and services more effective was widely recognized. Many countries around the globe have successfully digitalized their healthcare systems in some form. However, Bulgaria still falls behind in this matter and will need a rapid boost to provide a modern digital medical information system, accessible to all citizens. We did a two-step policy environmental and questionnaire-based analysis to describe the barriers, opportunities, and benefits of successful health care system digitalization in Bulgaria. digital health legislation and strategy framework are the neediest tools for the Bulgarian health systems at that point. Given the challenges and barriers to digital health transformation in Bulgaria, a well-defined regulatory and strategy framework can provide the necessary structure, guidelines, and support to drive the adoption and implementation of digital health solutions.
Pueblos indígenas y políticas públicas sobre sustancias psicoactivas
Authors: Arcia Grajales John Harvy
Published: August 2023

El presente estudio realiza una lectura histórico - crítica al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en contextos indígenas. Se hace un recorte de realidad - con autoridades, docentes, estudiantes y cuidadores - acerca de los saberes, relaciones y prácticas situadas en Sipirra sobre sustancias psicoactivas. A través del mapeo colectivo se relatan las acciones comunitarias, aprendizajes colaborativos e interculturales en el territorio. Emergen relatos acerca de plantas maestras o enteógenos que curan. La medicina tradicional con plantas como tabaco, coca, cannabis, amapola, floripondio, yagé, entre otras, surge en las voces de quienes colaboran al mapear sobre el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. En los relatos de la comunidad educativa Sipirra se encuentran tensiones al significar los saberes, las prácticas y las relaciones entre plantas medicinales y drogas. También se pone en tensión el discurso gubernamental al identificar contradicción entre propiciar en la política pública estudios interculturales que propendan por la autonomía y la salvaguarda de la identidad cultural en los pueblos originarios y, en oposición promueva desde la Encuesta Nacional del Consumo de Sustancias Psicoactivas (2020) la idea de que el yagé es una sustancia psicoactiva ilegal, desconociéndola como planta maestra en territorios ancestrales. Surge como iniciativa del resguardo de Cañamomo Lomaprieta sembrar y cuidar una «huerta escolar de enteógenos» en la institución educativa como «espacio pedagógico» para significar desde los saberes ancestrales de la comunidad, las relaciones con las plantas y contribuir en la atención y en la prevención con prácticas ancestrales, a las problemáticas contemporáneas de consumo en contextos urbanos.
Situación de amenaza de muerte: enfoque colectivo sobre personas en riesgo
Authors: Carvalho Paiva Rosana
Published: August 2023

Ese artículo propone la noción de situación de amenaza de muerte como una herramienta analítica para una comprensión contextual de la experiencia de colectivos afectados por amenazas de muerte y otros actos de violencia. La producción de esa noción está fundamentada en la investigación etnográfica que he llevado a cabo entre 2016 y 2018 en cinco asentamientos informales y en una comunidad ribereña en el estado de Amazonas (Brasil). Esas localidades se han encontrado involucradas en conflictos territoriales en los cuales los ocupantes viven bajo la permanente amenaza de expulsión forzosa de la tierra. Se propone una triple perspectiva de análisis: lingüística, psicosocial y jurídica. Los significados atribuidos a las categorías de violencia y amenaza; y sus afectaciones psicosociales con enfoque en los sujetos colectivos fundamentan el contrapunto entre los usos del derecho penal referentes a los delitos de amenaza y de intimidación y los dispositivos existentes para la protección de personas defensoras de derechos humanos en riesgo. Como conclusión, se observa la disyunción entre esos instrumentos legales y la realidad vivida en el contexto estudiado.
Dynamics of Motivation in Online Education
Authors: B. S. Pallavi , Tejasvini S. , Zimik Michael Yuivaming
Published: August 2023

Online education is a process where learners encompass various subject areas, disciplines, and degree programs via an internet connection rather than in person. Online learning has become an essential part of delivering flexibility in education. The objective of the book chapter is to create and improve the motivational environment during online classes. It guides students who lack the motivation to achieve their degrees and educational objectives through online education. Students often need more motivation to succeed in the online and face-to-face teaching process. This chapter will focus on identifying the motivational factors, including intrinsic and extrinsic, that are essential for improving students' participation in online education which enables them to understand the importance and necessity of motivation for achieving their goals and desired degrees in any mode of instruction. This chapter will provide them techniques and technology that researchers have proved to be effective and improve the self-motivation factor for students to succeed in all modalities.
Challenges of Motivating Students in Online Learning Platforms
Authors: Bezen Sevim
Published: August 2023

This chapter will determine the challenges of motivating students in online learning platforms based on Turkish teachers' experience. The study was designed in phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods. The study group consisted of 18 Turkish Anatolian high school teachers. Data in the study was collected through semi-structured interviews. Teachers were given five open-ended questions developed by the researcher, and data were analyzed through content analysis. At the end of the study, it was determined that teachers had teacher-, student- and learning environment-related difficulties, and had problems motivating students online. In this respect, it is believed that the online learning process, an alternative to face-to-face learning, should be improved by students' needs for sustainable teaching. Moreover, vocational development courses should improve teachers' proficiencies in online environments.
Academic Capabilities, Social Positionality, and the Reading Performance of Historically Underserved Students in Online Small Groups
Authors: Gumbs Michelle McAnuff
Published: August 2023

The exploratory study uses a series of linear regression analyses to examine the unique and combined contributions of students' academic capabilities and disposition and social positionality to the reading performance of a national sample of 8th graders who participated in online small group learning during the COVID-19 lockdown. The average scaled score on the 2022 state assessment, collated in NAEP Data Explorer, was the dependent variable. Data on student-perceived academic capabilities and disposition, social positionality, and participation in online small groups came from that source. Analyses were done in Explorer. Results showed that positionality on race/ethnicity and disability robustly and negatively predicted reading performance for Black and Hispanic students. Gender mattered for these groups. For most students, the online small group format made no significant contribution to performance, although further analysis showed that the face-to-face format contributed significantly to higher performance for all students. Asian students were the only non-White groups for whom positive contributions were evident for online learning. However, the demographics for Asians were skewed by parental education. Risks, ramifications, and remedies for fractured relationships and classroom social dynamics are explored.
Undergraduate Students' Motivation to Online Learning in a Low-Resource Setting
Authors: Roy Goutam , Rahman Arifur , Tanni Sanjida Akter , Dutta Sushmita
Published: August 2023

Motivation is essential to online learning since it determines students' engagement, involvement, perseverance, and academic performance. This chapter sheds light on the state of motivation among Bangladeshi undergraduate students and investigates their expectations and challenges regarding online learning. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected following an explanatory sequential research design. The chapter has demonstrated how the motivational status of students can be improved and how the academic year and academic performance are related to online learning motivation. Moreover, students in a low-resource online learning environment encounter challenges due to insufficient technology accessibility, economic crisis, poor internet connection, problems accessing learning resources, teachers' and students' preparedness problems, and an unfavourable learning environment. After examining students' expectations for online learning motivating exponential increase, the final section discusses policy, pedagogical, and research consequences.
Journal Jargon
Authors: Madarbakus-Ring Naheen , Ring Liam Peter
Published: August 2023

The development of online learning platforms has made L2 (second language) listening more accessible, flexible, and convenient for learners. However, it remains to be seen if learning online via a device holds the same value as learning in the classroom. This chapter examines the online journals of four learners on an extensive listening course. Using learner self-reflection prompts, this chapter examines how the learners chose listening resources, identified listening difficulties, and set individual goals to address their difficulties. The results showed that the learners chose different online resources, used different strategies to address their listening difficulties, and improved their confidence and comprehension when choosing familiar resources and topics. They also developed greater competence in choosing autonomous approaches by the end of the course. The chapter concludes by suggesting how listening journals can be used in online and hybrid classrooms to help learners' motivation and practices of L2 listening.
Exploring the Online Teaching Strategies of ELT in an Online English Language Program and Their Impact on Student Achievement in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Abbasi Muhammad Hassan , Aftab Mariam
Published: August 2023

This chapter aims to find out the different strategies utilized by the English language teachers in their online classes. For this purpose, a qualitative multiple case study approach has been adopted to know about the strategies in detail. The findings showed that the teachers used a number of strategies to engage the learners in online classes to motivate them to take the classes regularly and overcome the boredom. Also, innovative ways of teaching the four skills of language using different activities, online resources, and technology integrated applications. Testing and assessment were done utilizing the digital software and multiple ways of assessing the performance of the leaner. Also, a range of digital tools and applications enabled the learners to perform better in online classes. These applications enable the learner to understand the instructions easily and apply their knowledge and learn by peer-competition and group collaboration. Overall, the different strategies utilized by the teachers enabled the students to perform better in the online classes.
Assessment for a Purpose
Authors: Hughes Larry W. , Bilodeau Julie A.
Published: August 2023

The assessment function at many institutions is typically more about assessment for its own sake than about closing the loop on continuous improvement in learning and development. In this chapter, the authors will offer a fidelity model through which course designers can leverage assessment findings to identify opportunities for, and implementation of, interventions with an eye toward sparking learner motivation, enhancing student learning, spurring persistence, and to thus “close the loop” on prior deficiencies noted through assessment. The literature on motivation and student learning are melded and then leveraged to inform online course development for measurable outcomes important to academics and administrators. In conclusion, a case is provided to illustrate the efficacy of this approach.
Evaluation of Students' Engagement, Outcomes, and Satisfaction vis-à-vis Motivational Techniques in Online Teaching
Authors: Gupta Sandhya
Published: August 2023

With the advent of corona virus, the functioning of higher academic institutions has come to a halt. The academic institutions were put under a lot of pressure to deal with the unparalleled transition from conventional to digital learning as a result of the shutdown. Faculty performs an important role in attempting to make learning fun, shaping pupils' perceptions and personal qualities, and assisting students in passing. The knowledge and expertise of educators will influence how they furnish lessons and utilize instructional and motivational strategies in an educational setting. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to explore the connection among instructional and motivational strategies, students' engagement, outcomes, satisfaction, and transactional distance among college students with the help of standardized tools. Results revealed that motivational and instructional strategies emerged as significant predictors of students' engagement, outcomes, and satisfaction.
Underserved Disability Populations in Rural Communities
Authors: Looby Eugenie Joan , Ahonle Zaccheus James , Li Tinmuk , Donald Lindsey , Gray Kimberly Tillman , Carter Shayna , Almutairi Abdullah
Published: August 2023

This chapter (a) examines rehabilitation challenges faced by underserved disability populations in rural communities (UDPRC); (b) explores barriers encountered by three large UDPRC (aging adults with disabilities (AAWDs), persons with mobility impairments (PWMIs), and persons with mental health conditions (PWMHCs); and (c) suggests culturally competent practices and social justice advocacy strategies for improved service delivery. Cultural competence and social justice advocacy are emphasized as these lenses may engender equity in rehabilitation practices for UDPRC.
Race, Ethnicity, and Persons With Disabilities
Authors: Talley Kelli Gary
Published: August 2023

This chapter defines concepts related to diversity and summarizes a foundational framework in the field of rehabilitation counseling that conceptualizes disparities in the disability community. It provides an extensive overview of different cultural perspectives of disability for each of the main racial and ethnic groups represented in the United States. This is followed by documented disparities found in research literature for each racial and ethnic groups in intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, and/or physical disabilities. The cultural aspects of culturally diverse racial and ethnic people with disabilities are summarized. Brief suggestions are provided to deliver culturally responsive services. The future research directions section suggests that since cultural competence is evolving, it is important to acknowledge the expansion of the definition of culture and provide more rigorous research to address the intersectionality of cultural concepts, as well as mixed methodology and qualitative research to provide a rich description of the multicultural and disability experience.
Geographical Diversity
Authors: Harley Debra A. , Hall Andrea D. Hampton , Miller-Rankin Jennifer M. , Ju Hyun-Ju A.
Published: August 2023

The multiplicity of species includes biological, linguistic, sexual, cultural, gender, etc. diversity, and all these elements coexist within the same geographic space; it is called geographical diversity. Rural populations possess distinct challenges and characteristics than urban areas that require an understanding of their unique cultural system and responses. The purpose of this chapter is to identify ways in which rural and urban geographical diversity influence people who live there and to understand how geography provides and limits access to resources and opportunities.
Collaboratively Establishing Memorandums of Understanding to Guide Graduate-Level Service Learning Experiences
Authors: Grassetti Stevie N. , Brumley Lauren , Dixon Patricia , thames-taylor tonya
Published: August 2023

Graduate-level service learning experiences come with unique advantages and risks. With advanced training, graduate students hold advanced knowledge and specialized skills. Such knowledge and skill, when applied to work in community settings, could run the risk of colonization and virtue signaling if not informed by community wisdom and if not responsive to the community's requests for services. Graduate students' specialized skills may be particularly valuable to community partners and could also risk the exploitation of graduate student labor if not carefully planned. Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) are tools by which partners can clearly communicate from the outset of service-learning initiatives by collaboratively establishing guidelines that protect the interests of both community partners and graduate students. In this chapter, the authors introduce colonization and exploitation of graduate student labor as two risks that could be associated with graduate-level service learning experiences. They describe MOUs as tools that can reduce risks.
Dark Tourism
Authors: Chakraborty Oindrila
Published: August 2023

The chapter delves into a relatively newer segment in tourism arena: dark tourism. Dark tourism is a phenomenon that embodies the dramatic side of society including some horrific experiences. It is a complex fusion of history and heritage, tourism, and catastrophes. It has a tonne of promises and could definitely improve the economic progress of any country. It has the most vibrant youthful tourists. Due to its own attitudes and views, the Indian subcontinent lags in recognising this gold mine and promoting it, though it has always been observed as a spiritual hub and capital of occultism, hovering around the esoteric, supernatural beliefs and practices. If the Indian subcontinent adopts the global perspective on dark tourism and develops the necessary rules, infrastructure, and defences to deal with controversies and political concerns, it will see a significant increase in its domestic and international tourism-related earnings through exploration of this vast domain of possibilities.
Project-Based Learning Through the Flipped Classroom Model
Authors: Rubio Antonio Daniel Juan
Published: August 2023

The present education system must evolve in order to adapt to today's digital age where technology and communication heavily influence learning. However, many classrooms still provide instruction through the traditional lecture method. The traditional, teacher-focused classroom can be uninspiring and even build frustration during the learning process. This chapter explores how a didactic intervention based on project-based learning through the flipped classroom model impacts the interest and content knowledge of 5th level of primary education students in Spain.
Counter-Melodies and Creativity
Authors: Brown Sophie , Bobyak Lindsay
Published: August 2023

This chapter provides an introduction to the Pre-Texts method for integrating civics, innovation, and literacy. It draws on the experience of Lindsay Bobyak and Sophie Brown in using Pre-Texts with elementary students as part of Creative Roots Collective, which provides educational opportunities in rural Colorado. This chapter provides tangible strategies for elementary teachers and educators which can improve literacy and oracy outcomes for students and bridge the gap between the idealism and practicality of a creative, collaborative, and co-owned classroom experience. The chapter provides vignettes of the arts-based protocol in action and breaks down the component Pre-Texts activities. Finally, the authors look at positive changes in student behavior and provide guidance for integrating Pre-Texts into the classroom.
Inclusion Is a High Impact Practice for All Students
Authors: Schulze Rob
Published: August 2023

This chapter promotes the ethical and practical importance of inclusion, teaches about specific strategies that will assist teachers in practicing inclusion, and provides practical examples that can be applied in the inclusive classroom. The concerns of the chapter are to advocate for inclusion in the public school, to make clear the positive impacts of inclusion on all students (not just students with disabilities), and to ensure that teachers have specific, research-based strategies and tools to practice effective inclusion.
A Critical Analysis of Research in School Education through Social-Psychological Theories
Authors: Zaremohzzabieh Zeinab , Ahrari Seyedali
Published: August 2023

The central focus of the social psychology of school education revolves around applying social psychology theories to the field of education. It aims to gain insight into teaching, learning, and the dynamics that occur within classrooms and extend to other contexts, all through the lens of social psychology. Over the past few decades, the significant impact of social psychology theories on school education has become evident. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding how these theories are commonly employed to identify and comprehend the factors that influence social behavior. This chapter aims to address this lack of knowledge. It presents a set of social psychological theories that scholars or experts in school education can use to comprehend the dynamics of social psychological aspects in school education. The primary role of this chapter is to provide a review of the existing “theories” to date and also to present a comparative analysis of the notable models that may contribute to understanding the research on social psychology in school education.
Journeying Through the Impact of ICTs on Individual Subjective Well-Being and Social Relations
Authors: Bajwa Ruqia Safdar
Published: August 2023

This comprehensive review investigates the profound impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on individual well-being and social relations, with a specific focus on the pervasive role of the Internet in modern life. In today's interconnected digital world, understanding the dynamic interplay between ICTs, social cognition, and well-being is of utmost importance. The review thoroughly examines existing literature to illuminate both the positive and negative effects of ICTs on well-being, emphasizing their significance in shaping social connections, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. The multifaceted role of the Internet is explored, encompassing digital communities, virtual identities, and access to information. To promote well-being in the digital era, the review presents cutting-edge tools and interventions. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, it calls upon policymakers to work together in fostering a well-being-centric digital landscape that enriches lives and unlocks the full potential of ICTs for a brighter tomorrow.