bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-language Validation of COVID-19 Compliance Scale in 28 Languages
Authors: Blackburn Angelique M. , Han Hyemin , Gallegos Aranza
Published: September 2022

Objective: Although compliance scales have been used to assess compliance with health guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, no scale known to us has shown content validity regarding global guidelines and reliability across a large international sample. Here, we have assessed the validity and reliability of the Compliance Scale developed by the COVIDiSTRESS II Global Consortium, a group of over 150 researchers from across the globe. Methods: We used exploratory factor analysis to determine the most reliable items on the English version of the survey. We conducted a measurement invariance test to determine whether the different language versions of the scale are measuring the same construct with the same measurement structure. Invariance testing indicated that measurement alignment was needed to ensure that the scales are comparable across languages and cultures. After alignment, we employed a novel R code to run MC simulation for alignment validation. Results: We found that alignment of the 6-item Compliance Scale worked well with this method. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed reliability of the six-item scale. Convergent validity was also found; COVID-19 compliance correlated with vaccine willingness. Conclusions: The Compliance Scale can be employed quickly across multiple languages and countries, and our alignment validation method can be conducted freely in R and employed for future cross-language surveys.
Preparations for working with the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework analytics effectively
Authors: Nguyen Minh-Hoang , Vuong Quan-Hoang
Published: September 2022

Nguyen, M. H., & Vuong, Q. H. (2022). Preparations for working with the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework analytics effectively. The Mindsponge and BMF Analytics For Innovative Thinking in Social Sciences and Humanities, De Gruyter, 117-144.
MASALAH GIZI BURUK DAN UPAYA PENANGANANNYA BERDASARKAN FIVE LEVEL OF PREVENTION
Authors: Hasanah Andi Nida'ul
Published: September 2022

Gizi buruk adalah suatu keadaan kekurangan konsumsi zat gizi yang disebabkan oleh rendahnya konsumsi energy protein dan makanan sehari-hari, yang ditandai dengan berat dan tinggi badan tidak sesuai umur (di bawah rata-rata) dan harus diterapkan oleh tenaga medis.
Aneka Teori Dan Jenis Penelitian Kualitatif
Authors: Jelahut Felisianus Efrem
Published: September 2022

Penelitian kualitatif merupakan metode-metode untuk mengeksplorasi dan memahami makna yang oleh sejumlah individu atau sekelompok orang dianggap berasal dari masalah sosial atau kemanusiaaan. Proses penelitian kualitatif ini melibatkan upaya-upaya penting seperti mengajukan pertanyaan-pertanyaan dan prosedur-prosedur, mengumpulkan data yang spesifik dari para partisipan, menganalisi data secara induktif mulai dari tema-tema khusus ke tema-tema umum dan menafsirkan makna data. Laporan akhir penelitian ini memiliki struktur atau kerangka yang fleksibel. Siapapun yang terlibat dalam bentuk penelitian ini harus menerapkan cara pandang penelitian yang bergaya induktif, berfokus pada makna individual dan menerjemahkan kompleksitas suatu persoalan. Ada hal penting yang harus dipahami oleh setiap orang yang belajar penelitian kualitatif yakni apa yang disebut sebagai orientasi teoretis atau perspektif teoritis? Apa yang dicari oleh ahli metodologi kualitatif dalam penelitiannya? Bagaimana ia melakukan penelitiannya? Dan bagaimana ia menafsirkan penelitannya itu? Semuanya bergantung pada perspektif teori. Bila kita menyebut ‘orientasi teoretis’ atau ‘perspektif teoretis’, maka kita berbicara tentang cara memandang dunia, apa yang dianggap penting oleh orang dan apa yang menyebabkan segala sesuatu berjalan. Disebutkan atau tidak, semua riset dibimbing oleh orientasi teoretis. Peneliti yang baik, menyadari landasan teoretisnya dan menggunakannya untuk keperluan mengumpulkan dan menganalisis data. Teori menyatukan data dan mencegah riset membuat gambaran yang tidak berarah dan tidak sistematis
Machine learning for understanding inland water quantity, quality, and ecology
Authors: Appling Alison , Oliver Samantha , Read Jordan , Sadler Jeffrey , Zwart Jacob
Published: September 2022

This chapter provides an overview of machine learning models and their applications to the science of inland waters. Such models serve a wide range of purposes for science and management: predicting water quality, quantity, or ecological dynamics across space, time, or hypothetical scenarios; vetting and distilling raw data for further modeling or analysis; generating and exploring hypotheses; estimating physically or biologically meaningful parameters for use in further modeling; and revealing patterns in complex, multidimensional data or model outputs. An important research frontier is the injection of limnological knowledge into machine-learning models, which has shown great promise for increasing such models’ accuracy, trustworthiness, and interpretability. Here we describe a few of the most powerful machine learning tools, describe best practices for employing these tools and injecting knowledge guidance, and give examples of their applications to advance understanding of inland waters.
Independent and Interdependent Self-Construal: An Examination of Migration History and Gender in Chinese- and European-Canadians
Authors: Cai Nicolle , Dang Silvain , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: September 2022

Regardless of country of residence, individuals of East Asian background typically report higher interdependent and lower independent self-construal than European-descent individuals. Despite previous work that have been done in people of East Asian descent in Western societies, little is known about the differences in their self-construal in relation to their migration history to the West. Additionally, gender influences on self-construal and the correlation between the two self-construal dimensions among this population remain unclear, given the mixed findings in existing literature. The current study discusses self-construal findings from Chinese-descent and European-descent individuals in Canada in relation to their migration history and gender. We hypothesized that individuals with an earlier migration history to Canada as well as men will report higher independent and lower interdependent self-construal. Students at a Canadian university (n = 524) completed the Self-Construal Scale (Singelis, 1994) and survey questions related to their gender, ethnicity, and migration history to Canada. Results of the study found that European-descent individuals and men reported higher independent self-construal than Chinese-descent individuals and women, respectively. Individuals with earlier migration history to Canada also reported higher independent self-construal. Correlations between independent and interdependent self-construal were found to be significantly higher in Chinese-Canadians who migrated to Canada around high school time than in any other group. Culturally-bound gender differences, reference-group effect, cultural differences between contemporary urban China and Chinese enclave communities in the West, and possible explanations for the unique experience of the high school migration group, are discussed.
Beyond reliability in first impressions research: Considering validity and the need to “mix it up with folks”
Authors: Satchell Liam , Jaeger Bastian , Jones Alex Lee , Lopez Beatriz , Schild Christoph
Published: September 2022

‘First impressions’ are a popular topic in social psychology. They are researched because the initial judgments of others are consequential in everyday life (such as job interviews, first dates, justice outcomes). In the context of broader concerns about the credibility of psychological science, first impressions research has developed commendable initiatives for improving reliability (open stimulus databases, international collaborations, replication studies and reanalyses). However, these initiatives can impact the validity of studying how people form first impressions. There is a long history of critiquing the usefulness of passive-observer judgments of controlled, reduced, presentations of people - and these concerns are still relevant today. Here, we highlight the praiseworthy practices improving reliability in first impressions research, before moving on to identify persistent methodological concerns in the field. Including inadequate stimulus sampling and diversity, constrained participant response options, limited consideration of study context, and limitations of atomised presentations of target people. We identify how these methodological limitations impact on theory development, how we might be over/underestimating everyday experience, and even misunderstanding social differences in autism and mental health. Finally, we identify opportunities for methodological reform, focusing on codifying, not controlling, interactions, promoting inductive, participant-led, methodologies, and asking for stronger theory development and clarity on ‘can’ vs ‘do’ research questions. Overall, we praise reforms for improving the reliability of first impressions research, but improvements to making scientific predictions about first impressions require renewed consideration of validity.
Adolescents seek social information under uncertainty
Authors: Slagter Scarlett , van Duijvenvoorde Anna C.K. , van den Bos Wouter
Published: September 2022

Adolescence is a period of emerging independence, in which adolescents face difficult decisions, including those that involve risk for health and well-being. Previous research suggests that learning from others might be a prominent strategy of adolescents to inform these difficult decisions. However, there is a gap in the literature that addresses the active role adolescents may have in gaining information about others’ behaviour (i.e., social information search). Here, we investigated when and how much social information adolescents search before making decisions under risk and ambiguity, using a novel social search paradigm. In this paradigm adolescents were able to reveal real information about their classmates’ choices before deciding on their final choice. Our two experiments suggest that social information search can be broken down in two independent decisions: first the decision to initiate search, followed by the decision to continue search. Several factors motivated initiation of search, including: 1) the difficulty of the choice, 2) uncertainty about the outcome, and 3) the magnitude of the reward at stake. Search took generally longer when adolescents faced information not in line with their initial preference. Finally, we observed that adolescents used the sampled social information to inform their risky-choice behaviour. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the dynamics of peer influence in adolescence and stress the importance of treating adolescents not only as receivers, but as active agents searching for social information.
Conversational eyebrow frowns facilitate question identification: An online VR study
Authors: Nota Naomi , Trujillo James , HOLLER JUDITH
Published: September 2022

Conversation is a time-pressured environment. Recognising a social action (the ‘speech act’, such as a question requesting information) early is crucial in conversation to quickly understand the intended message and plan a timely response. Fast turns between interlocutors are especially relevant for responses to questions, since a long gap may be meaningful by itself. Human language is multimodal, involving speech as well as visual signals from the body, including the face. But little is known about how conversational facial signals contribute to the communication of social actions. Some of the most prominent facial signals in conversation are eyebrow movements. Previous studies found links between eyebrow movements and questions, suggesting that these facial signals could contribute to the rapid recognition of questions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether early eyebrow movements (eyebrow frown or raise vs. no eyebrow movement) facilitate question identification. Participants were instructed to view videos of avatars where the presence of eyebrow movements accompanying questions was manipulated. Their task was to indicate whether the utterance was a question or a statement as accurately and quickly as possible. Data was collected using the online testing platform Gorilla. Results showed higher accuracies and faster response times for questions with eyebrow frowns, suggesting a facilitative role of eyebrow frowns for question identification. This means that facial signals can critically contribute to the communication of social actions in conversation by signaling social action-specific visual information, and provide visual cues to speakers’ intentions.
Examinations of Biases by Model Misspecification and Parameter Reliability of Reinforcement Learning Models
Authors: Toyama Asako , Katahira Kentaro , Kunisato Yoshihiko
Published: September 2022

Reinforcement learning models have the potential to clarify meaningful individual differences in the decision-making process. This study focused on two aspects regarding the nature of a reinforcement learning model and its parameters: the problems of model misspecification and reliability. Online participants, N=453, completed self-report measures and a probabilistic learning task twice 1.5 months apart, and data from the task were fitted using several reinforcement learning models. To address the problem of model misspecification, we compared the models with and without the influence of choice history, or perseveration. Results showed that the lack of a perseveration term in the model led to a decrease in learning rates for win and loss outcomes, with slightly different influences depending on outcome volatility, and increases in inverse temperature. We also conducted simulations to examine the mechanism of the observed biases and revealed that failure to incorporate perseveration directly affected the estimation bias in the learning rate and indirectly affected that in inverse temperature. Furthermore, in both model fittings and model simulations, the lack of perseveration caused win-stay probability underestimation and loss-shift probability overestimation. We also assessed the parameter reliability. Test-retest reliabilities were poor (learning rates) to moderate (inverse temperature and perseveration magnitude). A learning effect was noted in the inverse temperature and perseveration magnitude parameters, showing an increment of the estimates in the second session. We discuss possible misinterpretations of results and limitations considering the estimation biases and parameter reliability.
Value Cores for Inner and Outer Alignment: Simulating Personality Formation via Iterated Policy Selection and Preference Learning with Self-World Modeling Active Inference Agents
Authors: Safron Adam , Sheikhbahaee Zahra , Hay Nick , Orchard Jeff , Hoey Jesse
Published: September 2022

Humanity faces multiple existential risks in the coming decades due to technological advances in AI, and the possibility of unintended behaviors emerging from such systems. We believe that better outcomes may be possible by rigorously exploring frameworks for intelligent (goal-oriented) behavior inspired by computational neuroscience. Here, we explore how the Free Energy Principle and Active Inference (FEP-AI) framework may provide solutions for these challenges via affording the realization of control systems operating according to principles of hierarchical Bayesian modeling and prediction-error (i.e., surprisal) minimization. Such FEP-AI agents are equipped with hierarchically-organized world models capable of counterfactual planning, realized by the kinds of reciprocal message passing performed by mammalian nervous systems, so allowing for the flexible construction of representations of self-world dynamics with varying degrees of temporal depth. We will describe how such systems can not only infer the abstract causal structure of their environment, but also develop capacities for “theory of mind” and collaborative (human-aligned) decision making. Such architectures could help to sidestep potentially dangerous combinations of systems with high intelligence and human-incompatible values, since such mental processes are entangled (rather than orthogonal) in FEP-AI agents. We will further describe how (meta-)learned deep goal hierarchies may also well-describe biological systems, suggesting that potential risks from “mesa-optimisers” may actually represent one of the most promising approaches to AI safety: minimizing prediction-error relative to causal self-world models can be used to cultivate modes of policy selection and agent personalities that robustly optimize for achieving goals that are consistently aligned with both individual and shared values. Finally, we will describe how iterative policy selection and preference learning can result in "value cores" or self-reinforcing, relatively stable attracting states that agents will seek to return to through their goal-oriented imaginings and actions.
The Creation and Validation of Active Cooperative Behavior Scales for Nurses
Authors: Ng Matthew Alexander , Horan Kristin
Published: September 2022

Background and Purpose: Constructive or active and cooperative conflict behaviors have been linked to several positive outcomes related to nurses, patients, and organizations. Despite this, general conflict management instruments are still employed despite their lack of focus on these behaviors. The purpose of this study is to create and validate active cooperative behavior scales for nurses.Methods: Traditional scale development methodology was employed for both creation and validation in a nursing/healthcare sample.Results: The newly created ACBS shows acceptable internal consistency and explains more variance on job satisfaction than a commonly used compromising subscale. Conclusions: The ACBS can assist currently practicing nurses and hospitals in identifying easily implementable behaviors that lead to effective conflict management as well as help educate nursing students in these vital skills.
An adjunction hypothesis between qualia and reports
Authors: Tsuchiya Naotsugu , Saigo Hayato , Phillips Steven
Published: September 2022

What is the nature of the relationship between qualia, or contents of consciousness, and behavioral reports? Traditionally, this type of question has been only addressed via a qualitative and philosophical approach. Some theorists emphasize an incomplete and inaccurate nature of reports of one’s own qualia to discourage formal research programs on qualia. Other empirical researchers, however, have made substantial progress in understanding the structure of qualia from such limited reports. What is the precise relationship between the two? To answer this question, we introduce a concept of “adjoint” or “adjunction” from category theory in mathematics. We claim that adjunction captures some aspects of the nuanced relationships between qualia and reports. A concept of adjunction allows us to clarify conceptual issues with precise mathematical formulation. In particular, adjunction establishes coherence between two categories that cannot be considered equivalent, yet has an important relationship. This rises in empirical experimental situations between qualia and reports. More importantly, an idea of adjunction naturally leads to various proposals of new empirical experiments to test predictions about the nature of their relationship as well as other issues in consciousness research.
Pupillometric evidence for a temporal expectations-based account of persistence under temporal uncertainty
Authors: Lempert Karolina Maria , Carballeira Caroline , Sehgal Sakshi , Kable Joe
Published: September 2022

People often quit waiting for delayed rewards when the exact timing of those rewards is uncertain. This behavior has often been attributed to self-control failure. Another possibility, however, is that quitting is the result of a rational decision-making process in the face of uncertainty, based on the decision maker’s expectations about the possible arrival times of the awaited reward. There are forms of temporal expectations (e.g., heavy-tailed) under which the expected time remaining until a reward arrives actually increases as time elapses. In those cases, the rational strategy is to quit waiting when the expected reward is no longer worth the expected time remaining. In order to arbitrate between the “limited self-control” and “temporal expectations” accounts of persistence, we measured pupil diameter during a persistence task, as a physiological marker of surprise (phasic responses) and effort (pre-decision diameter). Phasic pupil responses were elevated in response to reward receipt. Critically, the extent to which pupils dilated following rewards depended on the delay: people showed larger pupillary surprise responses the more delayed the reward was. This result suggests that people expect the reward less the longer they wait for it, a form of temporal expectations under which limiting persistence is rational. Moreover, pre-decision pupil diameter prior to quit events was not associated with how long the participant had been waiting, but rather, depended on how atypical the quit decision was compared to the participant’s usual behavior. Together, these data provide physiological evidence for a temporal expectations account of persistence under temporal uncertainty.
A Sequential Sampling Approach to the Integration of Habits and Goals
Authors: Zhang Chao , van Wissen Arlette , Dotsch Ron , Lakens Daniel , IJsselsteijn Wijnand
Published: September 2022

Habits often conflict with goal-directed behaviors and this phenomenon continues to attract interests from neuroscientists, experimental psychologists, and applied health psychologists. Recent computational models explain habit-goal conflicts as the competitions between two learning systems, arbitrated by a central unit. Based on recent research that combined reinforcement learning and sequential sampling, we show that habit-goal conflicts can be more parsimoniously explained by a dynamic integration of habit and goal values in a sequential sampling model, without any arbitration. A computational model was developed by extending the multialternative decision field theory with the assumptions that habits bias starting points of preference accumulation, and that goal importance and goal relevance determine sampling probabilities of goal-related attributes. Simulation studies demonstrated our approach’s ability to qualitatively reproduce important empirical findings from three paradigms – classic devaluation, devaluation with a concurrent schedule, and reversal learning, and to predict gradual changes in decision times. In addition, a parameter recovery exercise using approximate Bayesian computation showcased the possibility of fitting the model to empirical data in future research. Implications of our work for habit theories and applications are discussed.
Sense of agency may not improve recollection and familiarity in recognition memory
Authors: Tsuji Nanami , Imaizumi Shu
Published: September 2022

Sense of agency (SoA) is a feeling of controlling one’s own action. Recognition memory can improve for stimuli that involve SoA perhaps because of the self-reference effect. Recognition memory consists of recollection (i.e., detailed memory of stimuli) and familiarity (i.e., a feeling that stimuli are in memory). The self-reference effect is often observed in the recollection. Here, we investigated whether SoA particularly improves the recollection process. Participants pressed a key to produce an outcome (i.e., box movement followed by word presentation in Experiment 1 or word presentation in Experiment 2) and rated their SoA over the outcome. The outcome was spatially congruent or incongruent with the action. The participants learned the words intentionally (Experiment 1) or incidentally (Experiment 2). Performances of recollection and familiarity were assessed using the remember/know procedure. Our results suggest that the participants’ SoA was successfully manipulated. However, contrary to our hypothesis and previous findings, we found no effects of voluntary action and action–outcome congruence on recollection and familiarity processes of recognition memory, regardless of the latency of word presentation and learning strategies. Further studies are needed to replicate and elucidate the relationship between the SoA and recognition memory.
Growing Australia’s smaller cities to better manage population growth
Authors: Beer Andrew , Crommelin Laura , Vij Akshay , Dodson Jago , Dühr Stefanie , Pinnegar Simon
Published: September 2022

This Inquiry final report brings together three separate research projects to examine the capacity of Australia’s smaller cities to assist in managing population growth, including international and national migration; and provides advice on which policy instruments and programs are most likely to redirect population movements to these places. Absolute population growth was highest amongst smaller cities located in coastal regions next to the two major cities in south-east Australia. By contrast, population decline was concentrated in inland and remote towns, particularly in centres associated with resource industries. International migration was largely similar, with most relocating to larger regional urban centres; few international arrivals choose smaller cities as their first destination. The report outlines a number of potential policy direction options:•develop and activate land use planning to support the development of smaller cities•develop a portfolio of place-based policies that seek to concentrate investment in a limited number of smaller cities•encourage the growth of further education in smaller cities•expedite the growth of smaller cities as preferred places of residence for older Australians, including retireesThe policy options are not mutually exclusive. Governments could potentially implement a portfolio of actions to maximise the prospects of smaller cities and associated regions.The diversity of regional cities needs to be clearly acknowledged, as does the desire for greater local input in planning. Translating this into greater localised land use planning capacity will provide the best chance of ensuring growth happens for regional cities, not just to them.
To Foreignize or to Domesticate? How Media Vary Cross-Nationally in Their Degrees of Incorporating Foreign Events
Authors: van Dooremalen Thijs , Duyvendak Jan Willem
Published: September 2022

While the domestication literature indicates how national media link foreign events to a country’s domestic affairs, it has thus far only examined modes of domestication - the ways through which these links are created. In this article, we introduce a different dimension of the phenomenon: degrees of domestication. This includes the extents to which a foreign event gets connected with the domestic. By making a topic-modeling analysis of French and Dutch newspaper articles about 9/11, the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the Arab Spring and Donald Trump’s political rise, we provide an explorative case study of this dimension. We inductively arrive at a scale ranging from no to extreme domestication of the event, classified according to four degrees of domestication: 1) an entirely foreign affair; 2) a foreign political affair involving domestic actors; 3) a domestic political affair; 4) or a personal disruption. French newspapers score higher on the second degree, the Dutch ones on the third and fourth. A deepening of this pattern shows how these differences stem from two distinctive cultural repertoires that journalists and other media participants employ when relating to foreign events: a French one, which sees them as an opportunity to dominate the international political stage, and a Dutch one, which considers them a reason for reflecting on domestic or personal matters. These clear differences indicate the concept’s importance for the literature and for investigating it within other national media contexts.
Higher education, ICTs and inclusion: Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: van Schalkwyk Francois , Canares Michael
Published: September 2022

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and government-imposed lockdowns, higher education institutions across the globe have had to change the way in which education is provided to millions of students. At the same time, concerns have been expressed that the pandemic may well deepen systemic socioeconomic vulnerabilities and societal divides, including in higher education. In this paper we examine the extant literature to better understand the relationship between the wholesale shift to online teaching and learning in the early stage of the pandemic, the reliance on digital technologies, and the outcomes of these changes of the inclusion of marginalized students in the provision of higher education. The cases of the Philippines and South Africa are selected, and show that despite (1) attempts to ameliorate the disruptions of the pandemic by bolstering access to digital devices and the internet among marginalized students, and (2) implementing remote, distance learning and teaching, the provision of digital educational technologies did not live up to their expected democratization of access and educational attainment.
The economic dynamics and population change of Australia’s regional cities
Authors: Li Tiebei , Denham Todd , Dodson Jago , Vij Akshay
Published: September 2022

This research investigates patterns and dynamics of population, migration and economic change in Australian regional urban centres 2011–2016 through the changing economic profile and performance of Australia’s regional urban centres and assesses how demographic and migration patterns are shaping and responding to economic change.The contribution of regional urban centres to Australia’s economic and population growth has been a topic of growing policy interest in the past two decades, as a result of rapid growth in the major cities and concerns for parts of regional Australia that have experienced population decline. Associated with these trends is the distribution of economic activity and employment—particularly as traditional regional strengths such as agriculture, manufacturing and mining have declined as sources of employment in recent decades.This analysis identifies three significant trends: larger and metropolitan-proximate regional urban centres are generally increasing in population more rapidly than other regional urban centres; coastal urban centres have experienced faster population growth rates than inland urban centres; and population losses tend to be concentrated in inland, smaller, remote and often resource-reliant towns.
Small Business under the COVID-19 Crisis: Expected Short- and Medium-Run Effects of Anti-Contagion and Economic Policies
Authors: Kawaguchi Kohei , Kodama Naomi , Tanaka Mari
Published: September 2022

This study makes a causal inference on the effects of anti-contagion and economic policies on small business by conducting a survey on Japanese small business managers’ expectations about the pandemic, policies, and firm performance. We first find the business suspension request decreased targeted firms’ sales by 10 percentage points on top of the baseline 9 percentage points decline due to COVID-19, even though the Japanese anti-contagion policy was in a form of the government’s request that is not legally enforceable. Second, using a discontinuity in the eligibility criteria, we find lump-sum and prompt subsidies improved firms’ prospects of survival by 19 percentage points. Third, the medium-run recovery of firms’ performance is expected to depend crucially on when infections would end, indicating that the anti-contagion policies could complement longer-run economic goals.
Media use and societal perceptions: The dual role of media trust
Authors: Strömbäck Jesper , Shehata Adam
Published: September 2022

How citizens’ perceptions of societal problems are shaped by media use has been a critical question in media effects research for decades. This study addresses a specific puzzle concerning media effects in contemporary fragmented media environments: the dual role of media trust as both (a) an antecedent variable guiding news selection and (b) a moderator variable conditioning the effects of news use on perceptions of societal problems. Building upon the differential susceptibility to media effects model, we analyze the role of media trust for citizens’ orientation towards mainstream and alternative news media—and how such usage influences perceptions of two major societal issues: health care and school. Findings from a four‐wave panel survey conducted in Sweden suggest that public service and alternative news use matter for citizens’ perceptions of societal problems and that media trust influences news choices and may, partly, condition media effects.
TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THE USE OF GOOGLE CLASSROOM IN ENGLISH LEARNING AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MANDAU SUB-DISTRICT
Authors: Simatupang Hilmer Marulitua , Jismulatif Jismulatif , Dahnilsyah Dahnilsyah
Published: September 2022

This research aimed to explore the teachers’ perceptions on the use of Google Classroom in English learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Mandau sub-district. There were 41 English 41 English teachers who have used Google Classroom from 8 public senior high schools chosen as samples. This study used a quantitative method that employed questionnaire to collect the data consisting of 20 statements. Using SPSS 25, the quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. The results show that the use of Google Classroom is considered very helpful during the pandemic with mean value 4.28 (very high). In the learning process, the use of Google Classroom is considered very practical, showing the mean value 4.02 (high). In the teams of ease of learning, Google Classroom is considered easy to learn the features and uses with a mean value of 4.27 (very high). The teachers are satisfied with Google Classroom as indicated by the mean value of 4.29 (very high). Therefore, the teachers felt that using Google Classroom in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was effective because the application was a good way or alternative way to do the learning activity and made it easier to teach English during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANALISA SUSEPTIBILITAS MAGNETIK DAN KANDUNGAN LOGAM BERAT PADA TANAH PERKEBUNAN KELAPA SAWIT
Authors: Hutauruk Marisayani , Sinuraya Salomo
Published: September 2022

The study of soil carried out from oil palm plantation soils at Garuda sakti street, Tapung, Kampar, Riau has been implemented since November 2019 to March 2020. This study aims to determine magnetic susceptibility, mass susceptibility, magnetic degree and to identify soil compositions and the content of heavy metals in the soils and to analyse the influence of content of heavy metals to the magnetic susceptibility. The samples were taken about one hundred points, then the samples were dried, cleaned, mashed and sifted. Magnetic susceptibility was measured using the Probe Magnetic Pasco PS-2162. Magnetic particles were separated from samples using the NdFeB magnet and identification of soil composition and the content of heavy metals were carried out using the XRF. The result shows that the value of magnetic susceptibility, mass susceptibility, magnetic degree are fluctuated and the compositon of the soils are Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Fe, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn  S, Cl, Co, Cu, Ga, Ge, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ag, Eu, Re and Pb and proved that soil has been contaminated by heavy metals such as V, Cr, Al, Fe, Ti and Sr from the soils until increase the Magnetic susceptibility of that soils.
PREDIKSI KADAR PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10) MENGGUNAKAN JARINGAN SYARAF TIRUAN DI KOTA PEKANBARU
Authors: Puspita Wima , Defrianto Defrianto , Soerbakti Yan
Published: September 2022

This aims of this study is to predict particulate matter (PM10) levels in Pekanbaru using back propagation artificial neural networks (ANN) based on weather factors. The data used in the form of data from 2014 – 2017 as training data and 2018 data as test data. The architecture proposed is composed of 5 – 5 – 1 neurons and uses the logig-logsig-purelin functions. The training process produces a traincgb with a small MSE value and in the process of testing the PM10 prediction compared to BMKG data has an average error of 26.9062%.
INTERPRETASI LAPISAN BAWAH PERMUKAAN DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE GEOLISTRIK KONFIGURASI SCHLUMBERGER DAN GEOKIMIA: STUDI KASUS TPA MUARA FAJAR RUMBAI
Authors: Yasmin Alifia Putri , M Juandi
Published: September 2022

The need for water daily is a big problem for people living around Muara Fajar Final Processing Place (TPA) – Rumbai. This study aims to identify the depth of subsurface structures around the Muara Fajar landfill area using the Schlumberger configuration dielectric method and determine the water quality in the community wells around the landfill site. The data obtained in the acquisition process are used to calculate the apparent resistivity value at each measurement point and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Then proceed with the inversion process using the progress program so that obtained resistivity value and layer thickness at each point of measurement. The results of measurement inline 1 get a range of resistivity values ranging from 961.19 – 2.10 Ωm and line 2 of 109.31 – 31.15 Ωm. Underground water taken is residents well water in the research area as many as 5 sample points using GPS. This underground water sample will be tested with parameters such as pH, TDS, Conductivity, Salinity, and Turbidity. Underground water cannot be consumed from the results of the water quality test with the parameters mentioned at the beginning if referring to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia because the pH obtained in all underground water samples is < 6.5 or acidic, the value of the conductivity exceeds the quality standard, and high dominant salinity value. As for the TDS and Turbidity parameters, the values are by the quality standard.
POTENSI DAUN JAHE MERAH SEBAGAI BAHAN DASAR PEMBUATAN ELEKTRODA SUPERKAPASITOR
Authors: Taer Erman , Putri Juwita Ade , Yanti Novi , Apriwandi Apriwandi , Taslim Rika
Published: September 2022

Red ginger leaf waste (Zingiber Officinale Var Rubrum) has been successfully processed as an active carbon base material for supercapacitor electrodes. The process of making carbon electrodes starts from the preparation of the original material, drying, refining, chemical activation, integrated pyrolysis and neutralization. The focus of this research is on the chemical activator ZnCl2 which is used with different concentrations of (0.1 and 0.5) M. Activated carbon powder is printed using a press to produce carbon in the form of solid coins of uniform size. The optimization of the carbon element in the sample is carried out through a pyrolysis process at high temperature with a one-stage integrated technique. Where, carbonization in the N2 gas environment is carried out starting from room temperature 30°C up to 600°C followed by physical activation until the high temperature reaches 800°C in CO2 gas environment. Characterization of activated carbon samples from red ginger leaves begins with determining the amount of shrinkage that occurs in the pyrolysis process by measuring the mass, diameter and thickness of the carbon coins. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties were tested using two methods, namely cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) in a symmetrical two-electrode system. The electrochemical characterization was carried out under the influence of an aqueous electrolyte of 1M KOH and 1M Na2SO4 at a low potential window of 0-1 V. The optimum conditions of electrochemical properties were found in the red ginger leaf activated carbon sample with a ZnCl2 activator concentration of 0.5M for the electrolyte. KOH with a specific capacitance value of 115.9 F/g. while for electrolyte Na2SO4 found in ZnCl2 activator 0.1M with a value of 72 F/g. Through these results, red ginger leaves are known to have great potential as a base material for activated carbon electrodes to improve the performance of supercapacitors.
सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व बोध गराउने नेपाली बालउपन्यास
Authors: राजेन्द्र खनाल
Published: September 2022

बालबालिकाहरूमा सामाजिक सम्बन्धको विकास गराउँदै सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व बोध गराउने हेतुलाई प्राधान्य दिई सिर्जना गरिएको नेपाली बालउपन्यासको विश्लेषण गर्नु नेपाली समालोचनाको अपेक्षित अध्ययन हो । नेपाली बालउपन्यासमा यस प्रकृतिको विश्लेषण भएको नपाएकाले तथ्यपरक विश्लेषणसहित यो लेख तयार पारिएको हो । सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व बोध गराउने नेपाली बालउपन्यासको विश्लेषण गर्नु यस लेखको मुख्य उद्देश्य हो । यस लेखमा पुस्तकालयीय अध्ययन कार्यबाट तथ्य सङ्कलन गरी नेपाली बालउपन्यासलाई प्राथमिक सामग्रीका रूपमा उपयोग गरिएको छ । सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वसँग सम्बद्ध विविध सैद्धान्तिक पुस्तकहरूलाई द्वितीयक सामग्रीका रूपमा लिइएको यस लेखमा वर्णनात्मक विधिको प्रयोग गरिएको छ । यस लेखमा नेपाली बालउपन्यासमा प्रविष्ट सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वका विविध सन्दर्भलाई नेपाली समाजका मूल्य तथा व्यवहारका सापेक्षमा अध्ययन गरिएको छ । बालबालिकाहरूलाई आप्mनो परिवार, साथी तथा समाजप्रति उत्तरदायी बनाउने र कर्तव्य निर्वाहतर्पm उन्मुख गराउने व्यवहारको समावेशन नै उपन्यासमा प्रविष्ट सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वका सन्दर्भ हुन् । नेपाली बालउपन्यासमा सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वका सन्दर्भले प्रशस्त स्थान पाएको देखिन्छ । मित्रताका सुमधुर सम्बन्ध, समपर्ण एवम् सामाजिक सेवाभावमा बालकालिकालाई सुसूचित गराइएको छ । प्राणीजन्य सहभाव, विवेकसम्मत न्याय, समानता तथा सद्भावका विषयवस्तुलाई पनि उपन्यासमा प्रविष्ट गरी बालबालिकाहरूलाई मानवीय संवेदना तथा अवस्थाअनुसारका भूमिकामा केन्द्रित गरी नेपाली बालउपन्यासमा सामाजिक कर्तव्य तथा उत्तरदायित्वका पर्याप्त सन्दर्भहरू प्रस्तुत गरिएका छन् । सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वलाई प्राधान्य दिइएका प्रमख नेपाली बालउपन्यासहरू ‘बालक, बिरुवा र पृथ्वीमाता’, ‘एक दिनको यात्रा’, ‘मान्छे, भैंसी र मुरी चामलको भात’, ‘मावलीको यात्रा’, सानी’, ‘मुस्ताङको गुफा’, ‘डा. चिम्पु चिन्पाञ्जी’, ‘मेहनती गौरी’ र ‘सुनपरी’, ‘सङ्गमपुरे दाजुबहिनी’, ‘चोर’, ‘रूपाको रूप’, ‘शिविरकी सुन्तली’, ‘यार्चा’, ‘दुर्गा हजुरमाको भूत’, ‘बहुलाएको रुख’, ‘अचम्मकी सन्ध्या’, ‘मीना’, ‘कालो पाटी’, ‘अमर मित्रता’ तथा ‘सुरुङको बाटो’ रहेका छन् । यस्ता बालउपन्यासले बालबालिकाहरूलाई मनोरञ्जन दिनुका साथै सामाजिक भूमिकाप्रति सचेत तुल्याउने अभिप्राय लिएको प्रस्ट हुन्छ ।
Educating Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Nepal: Exploring Realities and Challenges fromTeachers’ Perspectives
Authors: Niure Dhruba Prasad , Shrestha Madhav Kumar
Published: September 2022

This study aims at exploring the realities and challenges that have been taking place for years while providing educational servicesto students with intellectual disabilities in Nepal. Interpretive-constructivist paradigm accompanied by phenomenological research design was usedto carry out this research. Eight teachers teaching to thestudents with intellectual disabilities were chosen from four special schools (two from each) located within Kathmandu valley by using purposive sampling method, and then all sample teachers were interviewed by using in-depth interview technique to collate credible and authenticinformation required for the study. Study results reveal that a number of attempts such as special education services in a separate setting, distinct structure of curriculum, community-based instruction, etc. had been made to optimize the access of these students to educational program. Nevertheless, thestudents with intellectual disabilitieswere not receiving quality educational services because of various challenges such as inadequate training to teachers, poor expectations from children, insufficient resources, etc.  These students, therefore, should be taught in an inclusive educational setting byproviding community-based services based on the severity of their disability.
Editorial Vol.7(1)
Authors: Bhattarai Ram Prasad
Published: September 2022

Not available.
A Review of Environmental Vulnerabilities Related to Nepal’s Graduation Process from Least Developed to a Developing Country Status
Authors: Adhikari Ambika , Bhattarai Keshav , Sharma Basu
Published: September 2022

Nepal has long aspired to graduate from the Least Development Country (LDC) to Developing Country category as defined by the United Nations system. Nepal had met two of the three graduating criteria and could have technically graduated from the LDC status in 2015. However, based on the Nepal government’s request to defer the review, the new 2021 assessment by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) recommended that the country should graduate from the LDC status by 2026. The graduation requires not only meeting pre-defined development-related thresholds, but also maintaining sustained improvements in at least two consecutive assessments in two of three areas: gross national income (GNI) per capita, human assets index (HAI), and economic and environmental vulnerability index (EnVI). Nepal’s economy is dependent on several environment-related factors such as agriculture, tourism, hydro-power, and natural resources. This economic development is also solidly tied to the environmental well-being of the country. The authors agree with the Nepal government’s desire to graduate from the LDC status. In this paper, we review the graduation process, assess indicators of the Environmental Vulnerability (EnVI), review the current situation with respect to environmental vulnerability, and point out where it needs to develop appropriate goals, policies, and programs to help the country graduate and join the ranks of developing countries.
Science Diplomacy: An Overview in the Global and National Context
Authors: Shrestha Sunil B. , Parajuli Laxmi K. , Shrestha Marina Vaidya
Published: September 2022

Science Diplomacy seeks avenues for strengthening humanity and consolidating the existing inter-nation relationships through academic and industrial collaboration between nations on various scientific and technological frontiers.  Science and technology are effective tools for addressing global challenges and cross-boundary disputes amicably by promoting international scientific collaboration to harness the potentials of partner countries. In this perspective, we revisit the global developments in science diplomacy and with a particular focus on Nepal, we explore how science diplomacy has been vital for establishing scientific collaborations. The paper also highlights the effort and the role played by the Nepali diaspora for enhancing scientific collaboration and technology transfer between Nepal and the scientifically advanced nations. While further strengthening diplomatic ties that Nepal currently enjoys with friends worldwide, we discuss various policy measures that can leverage scientific output in the country by encompassing scientific and technological collaboration as an integral part of foreign policy. We believe that this paper can also serve as a useful reference to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and combat global challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and pandemics through science diplomacy and cooperation.
Blending Foreign Policy with Nepal’s Geostrategic Location
Authors: Khanal Gopal
Published: September 2022

Over the course of a century, the Western world’s power hegemony has gradually shifted to Asia. China is emerging as a superpower with technological advancement, cashless transactions, 5Gdevelopment, and one of the most powerful military forces. China’s power in Asia has added worries to the United States of America. The purpose of this research is to emphasize Nepal’s geostrategic location and its impact on foreign policy. Nepal is located between the two rising economies in the world, China, and India, who have had conflicting and competitive relations, and therefore requires to delicately balance its relations given the sensitive geopolitical location. But it doesn’t mean Nepal should compromise her sovereignty and territorial integrity while maintaining geopolitical balance. Similarly, India and China need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal. This has been a major challenge for Nepal to design its foreign policy based on sound geopolitical theories. Although literature on Nepal’s geostrategic importance is limited, this paper explores the impact of its geographic location on foreign policy in the changing global order.