bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiotics susceptibility patterns of bacteria associated with diabetic wound infections in selected hospitals in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
Authors: Godswill Chinonyerem Udensi  , Samuel Chinedu Onuorah
Published: October 2024

This research investigated the bacteria associated with diabetic wound infections in selected hospitals in Awka, Nigeria and their antibiotics susceptibility patterns. 115(98.3%) isolates were characterized and identified from 117(100%) study participants specimen using standard microbiological methods. The results showed that 78(67.8%) were Gram-negative and 37(32.2%) were Gram-positive. Staphylococcus aureus 29(25.2%) was the predominant isolate followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa24(20.8%), Escherichia coli 21(18.3%), Klebsiella pneumonia 13(11.3%), Serratia marcescens 8(7.0%), Proteus vulgaris 5(4.3%), Enterococcus faecalis 4(3.5%), Enterobacter specie 4(3.5%), Bacteroide fragilis 3(2.6%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 3(2.6%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 1(0.9%). Antibiotics susceptibility testing revealed that Pseudomonas aeruginosawas most sensitive to Colistin (100%), followed by Gentamicin (87.5%) but resistant to Vancomycin (100%) and Erythromycin (87.5%), Staphylococcus aureus was most sensitive to Cefuroxime (100%), followed by Piperacillin-tazobactam (100%) but resistant to Meropenem (100%) and Ceftazidime (100%), Escherichia coli was most sensitive to Imipenem (90.5%) followed by Meropenem (81.0%) but resistant to Cefoxitin (100%) and Erythromycin (100%). Multidrug-resistance (MDR) profiles of the organisms showed that of the 115 bacterial isolates, 99 (86.1%) were MDR, that is resistant to more than two agents of antibiotic classes, whereas 16(13.9%) were non-MDR. Continuous surveillance to monitor etiology and antibiotics susceptibility patterns both in the community and hospital settings to guide the empirical use of antibiotics should be carried out. Increasing awareness among the population to the hazards of inappropriate antibiotics use through public health education campaigns should also be undertaken.
Influence of copper and zinc sulfates on in vitro propagation efficiency of orchids (Dendrobium phalaenopsis): A step towards optimizing clonal propagation protocols
Authors: K.P.G. Dilshika Madushani Polwaththa  , A.A. Yasarathna Amarasinghe
Published: October 2024

The Orchidaceae family, particularly Dendrobium orchids, plays a significant role in the global floriculture industry, yet developing efficient clonal propagation protocols is challenging. This study investigates the effects of copper sulfate (CuSO4) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) supplementation on the in vitro propagation of Dendrobium phalaenopsis orchids. Various concentrations of CuSO4 (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 mg/L) and ZnSO4 (4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 mg/L) were tested individually and in combination using Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) media, supplemented with different auxins and a constant cytokinin level. Dendrobium seeds (0.01 g per culture bottle) served as the starting material, with germination recorded by the first appearance of protocorms. Media with 6.0 mg/L CuSO4 resulted in the fastest protocorm emergence (31.56 days), while the combination of 4.0 mg/L CuSO4 and 12.0 mg/L ZnSO4 proved most effective overall, yielding a shorter germination time of 39 days, the highest shoot production (14 shoots), and the tallest shoots (12.56 cm) one-month post-germination. This combination also achieved the highest shoot multiplication rate (27.33) and enhanced chlorophyll content (2.41 mg/g) three months after transfer to multiplication media. Notably, during root formation, this treatment accelerated root initiation (31.11 days) and improved root vigor. The carryover effects of CuSO4 and ZnSO4 from in vitro to in vivo conditions were evident, with a 92.22% survival rate and no morphological differences from seed-grown plants. These findings highlight the synergistic benefits of CuSO4 and ZnSO4 in establishing an efficient method for orchid propagation with improved success rates in both in vitro and in vivo environments.
Abdominal fat distribution of bali ducks male fed with Asystasia gangetica (L) subsp. Micrantha leaf water extract
Authors: Gede Putu Angga Sri Wiguna  , Ni Made Witariadi  , Ni Gusti Ketut Roni
Published: October 2024

Bali ducks are one type of poultry that has the potential to be a supplier of animal needs besides chickens, but their productivity is still low. This study aims to see the effect of giving Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract on the distribution of abdominal fat in bali ducks male. The experimental design used a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and five replications and each treatment unit was filled with 3 ducks, so that were used 60 bali ducks male. The treatment of Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract through drinking water was: 0% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract (A); 2% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract (B); 4% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract (C); and 6% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract (D). The variables observed were slaughter weight, percentage (pad fat, mesenteric fat, ventricular fat, and abdominal fat). The results of the study showed that the slaughter weight and percentage of ventricle fat of bali ducks male given 2-6% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract had no different effect (P>0.05) compared to ducks given 0% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract, but giving 6% Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract was able to reduce the percentage of abdominal fat by 11.013% compared to treatments A, B, and C. It can be concluded that giving Asystasia gangetica leaf water extract at levels 2 - 6% did not affect the slaughter weight and percentage of ventricle fat and was able to reduce the percentage of pad fat, mesentery, and abdomen, and at level 6% produced the best results.
A systematic review on processing and health benefits of wood apple
Authors: Goyary Jyotirmoy , Khobragade Chetan Balram , Chudasama Mehul , Kalse Sandeep B
Published: October 2024

Wood apple (Aegle marmelos), also known as "bael" is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. It holds significant importance in traditional medicine and has been recognized for its numerous health benefits. This review aims to explore the processing techniques of wood apple and highlight its potential health-promoting properties. The processing of wood apple involves several steps, including harvesting, ripening, and extraction of pulp. The extracted pulp can be consumed fresh or processed into various forms, such as juice, jams, syrups, or even used as an ingredient in culinary preparations. It is a good source of vitamins (especially vitamin C), minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. The fruit is also known for its unique blend of bioactive compounds, including tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. These constituents contribute to its diverse health benefits.The fruit exhibits antimicrobial properties and helps combat bacterial and fungal infections. It also has hypoglycemic effects, potentially benefiting individuals with diabetes. The presence of bioactive compounds in wood apple suggests potential anticancer properties, although further research is needed in this area. Understanding the processing techniques and health-promoting properties of wood apple can provide valuable insights for the food industry and contribute to its integration into a healthy diet.
Research on the development of new alcoholic beverage like whisky from Vietnamese sticky rice
Authors: Anh Ho Tuan , Tu Pham Quang , Quyen Dang Thi Thanh
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to develop alcoholic beverage from Vietnamese sticky rice. The traditional famous technology of alcoholic beverage from cooked sticky rice in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam was researched and developed. The experiment has used raw materials as sticky rice variety DT21, treated soft water and yeast cake local production. After the solid and liquid fermentation processes of cooled cooked rice, the new type of alcoholic beverage like whisky was processed by the way to fractional distillation, removing the 3% primary and the 5% tail alcohol to obtain a 54% volumetric concentration middle distillate. Next, the whisky production technology was applied by storing the distillate in oak barrels and the addition of 4 g/l oak shavings type granular chip CSA 32, size 6-7 mm. After 12 months maturation in dry, clean, cool conditions, at a temperature of 20-30oC, and diluting with RO water, the finished alcoholic beverage with volumetric concentration 40% has amber color, typical aroma of whisky, very good sensory evaluation and meets Vietnam National Technical Regulation for alcoholic beverages.
Sensory characteristics and driver of liking of bottled drinking water in Indonesia
Authors: Ervina Ervina , Kristanael Kheren
Published: October 2024

Several factors determine the quality of drinking water, including sensory attributes. This study aimed to investigate the sensorial profiles of eight bottled drinking waters representing mineral, demineralized, oxygenated, and alkaline waters in the Indonesian market. In addition, the correlation between sensorial attributes and liking of bottled drinking water was also explored. The flash profiling method was employed involving 44 semi-trained panelists (mean age 19.8 ± 0.84, 32% men and 68% women) to characterize the sensory profiles of the bottled drinking water. In addition, the liking score was also asked using a 10-cm line scale. There were significant differences for astringency (p=0.012), bubbles (p<0.001), and fruity tastes (p=0.014) across the bottled-drinking water samples, indicating that oxygenated water has a higher intensity for these attributes. The mineral water was preferred as compared to the demineralized, oxygenated, and alkali water based on the PCA analysis. The sensorial attributes of cooling, sweet taste, and smoothness were positively correlated with consumer acceptability of bottled-drinking water while attributes of plastic taste, bitter, sour, salty, mineral taste, astringent, earthy, thickness, fruity, and bubbles were negatively correlated with liking. This is the first study investigating the sensory profiles and the driver of liking of commercial bottled-drinking water in the Indonesian market and the results can be used for the improvement and development of bottled-drinking water that will deliver the desirable profiles for consumers.
Effect of additives on the fermentative ability of commercial dry yeast in the production of mead
Authors: Shuichiro Ubukata , Hiroko Seki
Published: October 2024

Honey contains many monosaccharides as fermentation materials for mead production, but little nitrogen or minerals. Consequently, the quality of the final product is inconsistent owing to a lack of nutrients. Here, we sought to identify valuable additives that can be used as nutrient sources for efficient mead production. We examined the effects of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium sulfate, and salts on the alcoholic fermentation of honey must by dry yeast. The results showed that the alcohol concentration in the mead increased with the addition of diammonium hydrogen phosphate but decreased with the addition of ammonium sulfate. The addition of salts such as potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, or sodium chloride increased the alcohol concentration, whereas the addition of sodium carbonate or calcium chloride inhibited fermentation. Our findings indicate that the addition of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and sodium chloride is effective in the production of mead using. the dry yeast employed in this study.
Histological structure and physicochemical indicators of frozen crocodile meat
Authors: Stratev Deyan , Strateva Mariyana , Fasulkova Rumyana
Published: October 2024

The objective of the present study was to determine the changes in the histological structure and some physicochemical indicators of frozen crocodile meat. Vacuum packs of frozen crocodile meat stored at -18℃ for 18 months were purchased from retail stores. Histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining methods. Physicochemical indicators and fatty acid composition were determined by standard methods. The histological study proved clear morphological changes in the structural components of the muscles. Physicochemical analysis showed 21.90% protein content, 6.09% lipid content, 69.56% water content, and 1.09% ash content. The largest was the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (47.45%), followed by saturated (36.39%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (16.53%). More studies on the histological structure and physicochemical parameters of other members of the order Crocodilya are needed to gather data on the nutritional value and biological wholesomeness of the meat from these species.
Doping of thermoelectric nanostructured solid solution Si1–xGex (x ~ 0,3) with donor and acceptor impurities during the synthesis process by spark plasma sintering
Authors:   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Kuznetsov Yu. M. , Erofeeva I. V. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Dorokhin M. V. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Boldin M. S. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Zdoroveishchev A. V. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Demina P. B. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Boryakov A. V. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Trushin V. N. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Voronin A. A. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Zavrazhnov A. Yu. ,   Voronezh State University, Nekrylov I. N. ,   Voronezh State University, Zdoroveishchev D. A. ,   Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
Published: October 2024

The work examines the doping of a Si1–xGeх solid solution with donor (Sb, P) and acceptor (B) impurities during the synthesis process using electric pulse plasma sintering from powders with submicron particle sizes. The impurity content varied from 0,5 to 2,0 at. %. Using the methods of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, it has been shown that the introduction of an impurity into a solid solution obeys the laws of equilibrium solubility; in particular, when the solubility limit is exceeded, precipitates of the impurity material are formed in the matrix of the material. This fact seems interesting, since electric pulse plasma sintering as a synthesis method is considered nonequilibrium. Studies of thermoelectric properties show that the selection of doping conditions makes it possible to form materials for which, despite the presence of impurity phase inclusions, high values of the thermoelectric figure of merit comparable to the world level of results can be obtained.
Polymer composite material for radiation protection of electron linear accelerators
Authors:   Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov, Pavlenko V. I. , Bondarenko G. G. ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics named after A.N. Tikhonov, Kashibadze V. V. ,   Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov, Domarev S. N. ,   Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov
Published: October 2024

The paper presents the results of the synthesis of a polymer composite material based on fluoroplastic press powder filled with tungsten (VI) oxide. Data on the modification of tungsten (VI) oxide with K-9 organosilicon resin are presented. It has been established that the creation of a silicon shell on the surface of oxide particles leads to a change in the hydrophilic nature of the surface to a hydrophobic one, assessed by a change in the contact angle. Mixing of fluoroplastic and modified WO3 powders was carried out using cryogenic grinding. Grinding was carried out for 30 minutes at a temperature below –60 °C. Next, the homogenized mixture of powders was loaded into a mold, heated to a temperature of 280 °C, kept for an hour and then pressed at a specific pressure of 80 MPa. The resulting composite samples have high strength characteristics, assessed by flexural strength: when filled with 30 wt. % σ = 21.17 MPa, and when filled with 60 wt. % — σ = 18.86 MPa. Computer simulation of the passage of electron radiation with energies from 1 to 10 MeV through the proposed composite compositions was carried out using the CASINO V2 program. The trajectories of electron motion were graphically plotted, and the effective path of electrons in a given composite material was calculated.
Fire protection of steel structures
Authors:   N.S. Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymer Materials, Yevtushenko Yu. M. , Toirov S. H. ,   N.S. Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymer Materials, Shevchenko N. N. ,   “Resmet-2” Ltd.
Published: October 2024

The review provides data on the current state of fire protection of steel structures, including the development of fire-resistant coatings, their composition, mechanism of action, test methods. The most important directions of further research have been identified: the search for the most effective components of fire protection with a symbiotic effect, increasing resistance to atmospheric influences, development and improvement of existing methods of testing fire-resistant coatings.
Wear resistance of carbide-containing deposited layers for drill pipe joints
Authors:   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Elagina O. Yu. , Buklakov A. G. ,   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Dumansky S. I. ,   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Galansky A. N. ,   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University)
Published: October 2024

The prospects for the use of surfacing protective wear-resistant belts of various chemical compositions on the hardbanding coupling of drill pipes are considered. Studies of samples of drill pipes with deposited layers (hardbanding) were carried out: the Vickers hardness was determined (GOST R ISO 6507.1-2007) in the cross section of the deposited layer under a load of 98.07 N (10 kgf), the microstructure was analyzed on sections cut in the cross section deposited layer, wear resistance tests were carried out according to the ASTM G65 method. The composition of the carbide phases of such carbide-forming elements as Cr, Nb, Ti, V was calculated. A comparison of the data obtained showed that changes in the composition and amount of the carbide phase in the deposited layers, as expected, contributed to the formation of different hardness, which varied in the range from 692 HV to 774 HV. A comparison of the obtained hardness values and the total weight amount of the carbide phase shows the absence of a direct relationship between the influence of the composition and amount of the carbide phase on the level of hardness. The structure of the alloy matrix makes a large contribution to the hardness values of the deposited metal. It is concluded that in order to ensure maximum wear resistance of deposited layers operating under conditions of abrasive wear, it is necessary to give preference to chromium-based compositions that form the maximum amount of carbide phases.
El contexto académico, laboral, personal y de procedencia de los docentes de Educación Primaria y el desarrollo de metodologías activas de aprendizaje geográfico en España
Authors: Binimelis Sebastián Jaume , Usher Joe , Bagoly-Simó Péter
Published: October 2024

La geografía ocupa un reducido espacio en el ciclo de Educación Primaria en España. Por esta razón, se ha considerado oportuno llevar a cabo una investigación sobre las características de la enseñanza de la Geografía en los centros docentes de Educación Primaria en nuestro país, a partir de una encuesta con la que se ha constatado la difusión de métodos activos de aprendizaje basados en el trabajo de campo y en el uso del entorno más cercano del discente. La implantación de métodos activos ligados a la localidad y al trabajo de campo, ambas estrategias ligadas a las geografías cotidianas o ethnogeographies, no ha alcanzado grandes cotas en España. Su desarrollo está condicionado por la formación en geografía, por el contexto geográfico del centro, por el tipo de centro escolar, por la experiencia docente adquirida e, incluso, por el género (maestras y maestros).
Socio-linguistic portrait of Volga Tatars in the second half of the 19th century – the first decade of the 20th century: Theoretical foundations of study
Authors: Mirkhayev Rifat Firdinatovich , Minnullin Bakhtiyar Kimovich
Published: October 2024

The aim of the research is to determine the theoretical foundations for studying the socio-linguistic portrait of Volga Tatars in a historical perspective. The article reviews the works of Russian scholars in the field of studying language variations, language collectives, and the typology of language personalities, which are identified as key components of the category under consideration. The work is novel in that it is the first one to pose this question in Tatar linguistics. As a result, a methodology for studying the socio-linguistic portrait of Volga Tatars in the second half of the 19th century – the first decade of the 20th century has been developed.
Soviet production novel in the system of canons of social realism and soc art (“Marina’s Thirtieth Love” by V. Sorokin)
Authors: Zhilene Ekaterina Sergeevna
Published: October 2024

The aim of the study is to identify the features of the genre-structural and poetological constructions in Vladimir Sorokin’s conceptualist novel “Marina’s Thirtieth Love” (1984). The paper traces the connection between the genre features of the “Soviet novel” and the tradition of socialist realism literature and its deconstructions in the practice of conceptual art in the 1970s-1980s. The study examines not only the formal features of Sorokin’s conceptual novel, but also their content-related and semantic layers, which open up new perspectives of perception not only of the semantic component, but also of the form (genre) of the conceptual text. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that for the first time the genre of the work becomes the central object of research; Sorokin’s conceptual novel is considered in comparison with the genre of the production novel. The result of the research is the analytical identification of the target settings of the conceptual novelist V. Sorokin on overcoming the principles and techniques of Soviet socialist-realist art and the establishment by the avant-garde writer of discreditable perspectives of perception of social and ideologically stable “concepts” that developed in the post-October period and traditionally formed the genres of Soviet art. The ways of interaction and mutual influence of pictorial conceptual practices with the experience of literary creativity and ways of transferring visual techniques of conceptualists to the field of verbal art are traced. It is demonstrated which Soviet precedent texts, images, motifs, personalities (including M. Tsvetaeva and A. Solzhenitsyn) became the object for Sorokin’s novel deconstruction, became the “foundation stone” for his conceptualist experiment. It is found that the imitation base in Sorokin’s “Marina’s Thirtieth Love” was the so-called “production novel”, a thematic subvariety of socialist realism prose, subjected to Sorokin’s ironic apologetics and simultaneous debunking.
Author’s techniques of emphasizing temporal characteristics in R. Bradbury’s novel “Frost and Fire”: A cognitive approach
Authors: Demina Elena Anatolyevna
Published: October 2024

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the fact that in the novel “Frost and Fire” by R. Bradbury the author uses techniques that can emphasize temporal characteristics, stylistic convergence being one of them. 18 fragments have been classified into three groups based on cognitive time models they render: “time = plant life”, “time = animal life”, “time = human”. Linguistic means depicting different temporal features have been closely analyzed. The novelty of the study is determined, on the one hand, by detecting two author’s techniques that can emphasize time properties: embedding (use of a lexical unit with temporal semantics as a component of other stylistic device) and fusion (combination of two different stylistic tools in one unit). On the other hand, these tools have been proved to single out the character’s voice. The results of the research indicate that predominant temporal properties in the novel are high speed and cyclicity. It was shown that ellipses, capital letters, exclamatory and interrogative sentences, repetition of the number “8” mark the individuality of the character’s perception of time in his indirect speech. It was possible to establish that the personification of plant life and time itself, the abundance of temporal metaphors emphasizing its rapid flow determine the unique features of Bradbury’s manner of writing.
Diminutives in the word family with the base word “старый” (old)
Authors: Vlasova Karine Abramovna
Published: October 2024

The study aims to describe diminutive words in the word family with the base word “старый” (old) involving data from the Russian National Corpus. The study also presents English equivalents to the diminutives identified in the word family with the base word “старый”. Such a study shows how different linguistic cultures use diminutive forms to convey emotional nuances. In English, for example, it is not always possible to find a direct analogue to Russian diminutives, often additional words or phrases are required to convey similar meanings. This highlights the uniqueness of the Russian language and its ability to convey complex emotional states through word formation. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the diminutives from the word “старый” are considered in the context of its word family involving data from the Russian National Corpus. The results of the study show that, despite the low frequency of use, these words play a significant role in colloquial speech and literature, enriching the language with expressive means. Understanding and proper use of diminutives can significantly enrich communication skills, as well as intensify understanding of the cultural and emotional aspects associated with the use of language. In conclusion, this study not only reveals the specifics of the use of diminutives in the Russian language, but also opens up new opportunities for further study of linguistic phenomena and their cultural contexts.
Perceptions at War: Exploring Public Attitude Formation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict
Authors: Gadimova-Akbulut Nazrin , Petrosyan Anush
Published: October 2024

The post-2020 escalations in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, culminating in the Azerbaijani military offensive of September 2023 and the subsequent mass exodus of the Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, once again underscored the persistent deadlock in the peace process and the failure to achieve compromise. This article aims to analyze the genesis of maximalist attitudes within Armenian and Azerbaijani societies in the years preceding the 2020 war, as well as the factors contributing to the endurance of these attitudes in the years that followed. Drawing on the analysis of maximalist attitudes formation during the interwar period (1994–2020), the research delves into the obstacles encountered by peace activists and peacebuilders in their efforts to counter dominant nationalism, alongside other challenges and structural impediments in the peacebuilding process. Finally, the study investigates the determinants that shaped the post-war attitudes in Armenia and Azerbaijan preceding the pivotal events of September 2023.
Shifts in Racial Inequalities and White Backlash in the 21st Century U.S.
Authors: Sarmal Apoorva , Cha Leah , Skinner-Dorkenoo Allison Louise
Published: October 2024

Progress toward racial inequality over the course of U.S. history has not been linear, and reductions in racial inequalities have historically been met with racist backlash. In the current research, we examine whether shifts in racial inequalities in key structural areas in recent decades can be used to predict implicit and explicit racial attitudes among White U.S. residents (N = 222,203). Consistent with the hypothesis that increasing racial equality is threatening, the majority of the statistically significant effects we observed indicated increased pro-White attitudes among White residents of states where racial inequalities decreased over time. State-level reductions in racial inequalities related to government assistance and employment—which have both been highly politicized—were predictive of greater pro-White attitudes among White U.S. residents. Overall, the current findings provide suggestive evidence that reductions in state-level racial inequalities may threaten the status quo, heightening pro-White attitudes among White U.S. residents.
Revisiting Generalization Theory in the Age of Educational AI - Implications for Empirical Educational Research
Authors: Degen Ben
Published: October 2024

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has rapidly advanced in recent years, offering personalized learning experiences, real-time feedback, and predictive analytics. However, research on educational inequities reinforced by the application of AI-driven tools raise important questions about reliability and adaptability across diverse educational settings. This paper revisits Generalizability Theory (G-Theory), originally developed by Cronbach and colleagues, and examines its relevance in the age of AI-driven education. It is argued that it is timely to use G-Studies and Decision (D-) Studies that could facilitate the effectiveness of AI tools across different contexts and ameloriate education inequities. Key use cases, such as AI-based assessments and predictive analytics are discussed, and limitations as well as implications for study designs highlighted. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.
Critical data studies meets discard studies: Waste data reflectivity in digital urban waste tracking system
Authors: Strzelecka Celina
Published: October 2024

This article examines the implementation and impact of the Digital Urban Waste Tracking System (DUWTS) in Poland, a smart waste management technology designed to enhance waste segregation practices in urban environments. DUWTS combines public administration and private sector efforts to oversee proper waste disposal through advanced dataveillance technologies. The system utilizes electronic ground containers equipped with sensors and QR codes to weigh and record waste, aiming to improve recycling levels and manage waste data. The purpose of the research is to critically explore the concept of "waste data reflectivity," highlighting the socio-technological implications of data representation in waste management. The major findings reveal significant distortions and errors in data reflection, impacting various stakeholders, including municipalities, waste disposal companies, and residents. The study concludes that while DUWTS represents a technological advancement, it also perpetuates existing challenges in waste management by obscuring true complexities and responsibilities. Integrating critical discard studies and critical data studies, the article provides a nuanced understanding of the data-driven waste management systems' complexities and challenges.
IS THE ACCELERATED EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EMERGENCE OF THE FINE-STRUCTURE CONSTANT (1/137)?
Authors: Recchia Arcangelo
Published: October 2024

In this contribution, it is shown how the fine-structure constant emerges when two systems interact, one of which, light, perceives the universe as static due to not experiencing the passage of time, while the other, matter, experiences accelerated expansion. In this way, the fine-structure constant can be related to the rate of expansion of the universe; 𝛼 can thus be expressed through the ratio of the theoretical radius of the universe 𝑅𝑢𝑇 ≈ 13,6 Gly to the measured radius 𝑅𝑢𝐼 ≈ 46,5 Gly. 𝛼 = (𝑅𝑢𝑇/𝑅𝑢𝐼)^4 ≈ (13,6 Gly/46,5 Gly)^4 ≈ 1/137 (1.21) From the above, it is clear that, since the rate of expansion of the universe has not remained constant over time, the value of the fine-structure constant must also have changed (unless there is over time a proportional variation of the speed of light 𝑐), as have other physical constants and quantities. This implies that physical laws have not remained unchanged throughout the history of the universe. Regarding the spatial variation of 𝛼, the issue is more complex and falls outside the scope of this work.
Investigating the Effects of Code-Switch Types on Cognitive Control
Authors: kheder souad , Medina Rodrigo Mello , Valdés Kroff Jorge , Kaan Edith
Published: October 2024

Code-switching, here defined as the use of two languages within a single sentence, has been hypothesized to engage cognitive control such as inhibition and conflict monitoring. The current project investigates whether structurally distinct types of code-switching engage cognitive control differently. We tested this in a conflict adaptation paradigm. Early Spanish-English bilinguals in the US listened to (Experiments 1, 2, 4) or read (Experiment 3) unilingual Spanish sentences and sentences with dense or insertional switches to English. After each sentence, participants saw a Flanker trial and indicated the direction of the center arrow while ignoring the flanking arrows. If processing code-switches increases engagement with cognitive control, then subsequent incongruent Flanker trials should demonstrate a reduced Flanker conflict effect. Across four experiments, we found either no effect of code-switching on Flanker performance (Experiment 1) or found that the Flanker conflict effect was larger after code-switched than after unilingual sentences (Experiments 2-4). We found no evidence that there was a difference between insertional and dense code-switching on the Flanker conflict effect or a difference between modalities. We therefore have no evidence that processing code-switched sentences enhances cognitive control. We interpret our finding in terms of resources: code-switches without an interactive context are unexpected and pragmatically odd. This draws resources and attention away from a following Flanker trial, leading to a larger conflict effect after a code-switch.
Beyond the sample: Individual differences in psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zegers Jari , Kleinberg Bennett
Published: October 2024

There is increasing evidence that the psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic are heterogenous. We model classes in a dataset of emotional responses to the pandemic using latent class trajectory analysis on a panel dataset of UK-based participants. Participants (n=868) rated eight emotions on a nine-point Likert scale in April of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and provided demographic variables, data on perceived social support and the impact of life events. Using a latent class trajectory analysis, we found evidence for six distinct latent trajectory classes: 68.3% of individuals belonged to classes with a pattern of well-coping (decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive emotions) while the remainder showed patterns of poor adjustment. Social support and negative life events were predictive of class membership in a multinomial logistic regression: low social support and experiencing negative life events increased the probability of participants belonging to poorly adjusted classes. Our study suggests that most individuals – over the period of four years - were able to adjust well to the pandemic, while a about one third of individuals struggled considerably. Social support may be of interest as a protective factor and could aid policy makers during future crises.
Considering Heterogeneity within Negative Emotionality Can Inform the Distinction between Diathesis-Stress and Differential Susceptibility: Children’s Early Anger and Fear as Moderators of Effects of Parental Socialization on Antisocial Conduct
Authors: Kim Juyoung , Kochanska Grazyna
Published: October 2024

The importance of interactions between child temperament and parenting has been accepted ever since Thomas and Chess (1977) proposed their “goodness-of-fit” construct, but over the last three decades, pertinent research has grown exponentially. Researchers examining child characteristics that can moderate the effects of socialization have tested increasingly complex, nuanced, and sophisticated models, largely inspired by the highly influential frameworks of child plasticity or differential susceptibility (Belsky & Pluess, 2009). Yet, multiple questions remain unsettled. We addressed four such questions as applied to predicting children’s observed disregard for rules at age 4.5 in a study of 200 community families from the US Midwest. (1) We examined children’s observed negative emotionality at 16 months, most commonly seen as plasticity “trait”, but separating anger and fear proneness, which may differently moderate effects of socialization. (2) We examined two separate aspects of observed parental socialization at age 3, Mutually Responsive Orientation and power assertion. (3) We distinguished analytically diathesis-stress from differential susceptibility. (4) We examined all effects in mother- and father-child relationships. We supported both diathesis-stress and differential susceptibility, depending on the facet of negative emotionality, the aspect of socialization considered, and parental gender, highlighting the nuanced nature of the processes involved.
Registered report: How does the process of explaining affect one’s beliefs?
Authors: Handley-Miner Isaac J , Young Liane
Published: October 2024

People routinely try to explain claims of fact (why a food is unhealthy, why a stock will crash, why a behavior harms the environment). How does this process affect people’s beliefs in those claims? Prior work suggests competing hypotheses: Some research suggests people will believe information more after explaining it, while other research suggests people will feel more uncertain after explaining it. Across four studies, U.S. adults explained and evaluated the truth of claims of fact. Study 1a (N=52, 1,560 obs.) and Study 1b (N=94, 2,820 obs.) found no significant effect of explaining claims (versus thinking about or retyping them) on participants’ beliefs. However, in a much larger Study 1c (N=330, 13,200 obs.), participants believed claims more after explaining them. Study 2 (N=400, 12,000 obs.) aims to reconcile competing hypotheses from prior work by testing whether the depth of explanation determines its impact on beliefs.
Psychometric properties of parents' beliefs about children's emotions questionnaire (PBACE) in the Iranian setting
Authors: Azimi Maryam , Pourmohamadreza-Tajrishi Masoume , Dolatshahi Behrouz
Published: October 2024

This study explored the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of Parents' Beliefs about Children's Emotions Questionnaire (PBACE) in the Iranian setting. The PBACE is a self-report measure comprising seven subscales: Value of Anger, Cost of Positivity, Control, Parental Knowledge, Manipulation, Stability, and Autonomy. The psychometric properties of the PBACE, including reliability, content, convergent, and construct validity, and dimensionality, were assessed in a sample of 397 parents of children aged 5-11 years. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the factor structure of seven models and a general seven-correlated model, which showed good model fit for the PBACE and its subscales, except for the Parental Knowledge subscale. The poor fit of the Parental Knowledge subscale led to testing a six-correlated model without it, which demonstrated superior model fit compared to the seven-correlated model. Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) indicated good content validity for the scale. Additionally, significant associations with children's emotion regulation established satisfactory convergent validity. Internal consistency, measured by the Omega coefficient, was acceptable for all subscales except Parental Knowledge, while the PBACE overall demonstrated excellent internal consistency. Findings from the bifactor model indicated that the measure could be considered unidimensional with some multidimensional features. Although the poor fit and lower Omega coefficient for the Parental Knowledge subscale suggest that it should not be used, the PBACE is recommended for research and clinical purposes in Iran due to its sound psychometric properties.
Deceiving Only Ourselves? The Assessment and Exclusion of ‘Suspicion’ is Linked to Lower Quality of Psychological Evidence
Authors: Brown Wyatt Thomas , Chester David
Published: October 2024

‘Suspicion’ probes in experimental psychology are a widely used methodological tool and often touted as a gold standard approach to ensuring the internal validity of experimental methods. However, such probes and their associated suspicion-mitigation efforts (e.g., excluding ‘suspicious’ participants) remain unstandardized and unvalidated. Through meta-analytic p-curves, we compared the evidentiary value of studies that reported the use of ‘suspicion’ probes versus those that did not, as well as studies that either retained or excluded ‘suspicious’ participants. We sampled 200 independent effects from psychology experiments that employed deception and were recently published in five eminent journals of experimental psychology: Cognition, Emotion, JEP: General, JPSP (all sections), and Psychological Science. Studies that reported the use of ‘suspicion’ probes (k = 100) had less evidentiary value and statistical power than those that did not report the use of ‘suspicion’ probes (k = 100). Furthermore, studies that excluded ‘suspicious’ participants (k = 50) had less evidentiary value and similar statistical power to those that retained ‘suspicious’ participants (k = 50). Though we cannot claim that these differences are causally-induced by ‘suspicion’ probes, our findings call into question the value of performing such probes and using them to exclude ‘suspicious’ participants in the context of hypothesis testing in experimental psychology.
Validation and comparative analysis of three different versions of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire: a network analysis approach
Authors: Kroon Emese , Romein Christophe Floriaan Aurelien , Andriese Chinouk , Franken Ingmar , Marroun Hanan El
Published: October 2024

Alcohol is widely used, but motives for consumption vary. Since drinking motives are proximal predictors of initiation and escalation of alcohol use, accurate measurement of these motives is crucial. This study compared the psychometric properties – factor structure, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability- of the 12-item, 18-item, and the original 20-item versions of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ). We also examined the associations between drinking motives and alcohol use outcomes using network analysis. A total of 434 adults (77.4% female) completed the baseline session and 130 (85.3% female) participated in a follow-up approximately two weeks later. Results showed that the subscales of the DMQ have good internal consistency ( .80) regardless of version. Test-retest reliability was acceptable to good (rs= .71-83) but was higher for social and enhancement than for conformity and coping motives. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 12-item short form outperforms the original 20-item version and the more recently proposed 18-item version. Partial correlation networks including DMQ subscales and alcohol outcomes revealed consistent positive association between social motives and binge drinking, alcohol use quantity per drink occasion and enhancement motives, while frequency of use was primarily associated with coping motives. However, while associations amongst drinking motives were identical in the 12- and 18-item version, these differed from the 20-item version. This study demonstrates how network models can be valuable tools in the validation and comparison of questionnaires and shows that the 12-item DMQ could be a good alternative for the often used longer forms.
How the Simulation Hypothesis answers, “Why the Quantum?”
Authors: Khan Tariq
Published: October 2024

A short essay suggesting that the nature of computer programs, involving structure and sequence, may be a direct analogy to quantum mechanical canonical pairs e.g., the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle with position and momentum, thus supporting the Simulation Hypothesis that our reality is a programmed simulation. Additional examples are provided from modern physics that support the Simulation Hypothesis and an idea is proposed where conscious minds are synonymous with a computer gate residing at the boundary of future and past existing to constantly create relations.
Workplace Mindfulness Through Role Clarity: Extending the Environmental Model
Authors: Meaden James
Published: October 2024

This study examines how role clarity influences mindfulness, using data from 170 full-time employees. Structural Equation Modeling showed that role clarity significantly predicts mindfulness, even after accounting for prior mindfulness practice. By extending the Environmental Model of Mindfulness, this paper highlights the role of I/O psychology in advancing mindfulness research, with a focus on how organizational design fosters presentmoment awareness. The findings provide practical insights for organizations seeking to enhance mindfulness and well-being through improved role clarity.
The child’s history of early stance toward parental socialization as a context for emerging moral self: A cascade from infancy to toddlerhood to preschool age
Authors: Kim Juyoung , Kochanska Grazyna
Published: October 2024

As interest in early morality has grown, researchers have increasingly focused on young children’s moral self, but recent studies have targeted mostly its structure and associations with behavior rather than its developmental origins. Addressing this gap, we followed children, mothers, and fathers in US Midwest from late infancy (16 months old, N = 194, 93 girls, 101 boys), to toddlerhood (3 years old, N = 175, 86 girls, 89 boys), to preschool age (4.5 years old, N = 177, 86 girls, 91 boys). We proposed that moral self at preschool age originates in the second and third years, when the onset of parental control engenders in the child both receptive and adversarial stance toward the parent. In infancy and in toddlerhood, we collected behavioral indications of both stances – positive affect and responsiveness (in toddlerhood, also positive representation of the parent); and defiance and violations of parental prohibition. At preschool age, we measured child moral self in a puppet interview (Kochanska, 2002). For both mother- and father-child relationships, structural equation modeling supported direct paths from receptive and adversarial stance at age 3 years to higher and lower moral self, respectively, and the expected indirect effects of the child’s receptive stance in infancy on moral self, mediated by the receptive or adversarial stance in toddlerhood. The path from toddler-age adversarial stance to lower moral self was present only in father-son relationships. This study highlights the long-term pivotal significance of the child’s early stance toward the parent for the formation of moral self.
Analyzing polarization among Spanish political elites using Machine Learning techniques
Authors: Ansia Daniel , Folgado Miguel , Sanz Veronica
Published: October 2024

This work presents an analysis of ideological and affective polarisation in the Spanish parliament from the year 2000 until 2022 using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. Parliamentary records were harvested, pre-processed, and analyzed using document embeddings to assess ideological polarisation and sentiment analysis with VADER and Transformer models for affective polarisation. The results highlight a significant increase in both ideological and affective polarisation, particularly in recent parliamentary terms. This work contributes with new tools to map political discourse and offers a rich dataset for further research on Spanish political elites.