bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Relationship Between Visual Attention, Story Comprehension, and Vocabulary Skills in Malaysian Prereaders
Authors: Wong Hoo Keat , Thang Siew Ming , Sue Chee Hao , Ahju Rosalind A. K. , Loo Fung Lan
Published: November 2023

Based on the cross-channel connections between auditory and pictorial representations, it has been proposed that the presentation of coherent narration along with the picture and text content may enhance children's story comprehension and vocabulary learning. The authors tested 40 four- to five-year-old Malaysian prereaders (17 Malays, 23 Chinese) for story comprehension while observing their eye movements to determine the degree to which the presence of pictures and/or text aids understanding of the narration and influences looking patterns. Both Malay and Chinese prereaders showed no interest in the printed text that was presented alongside the picture on the same page, which is consistent with earlier findings. This suggests that ethnic origins have little influence on how prereaders direct their visual attention to the relevant information for story comprehension. When there was no narration, they fixated longer on the text and less on the image, indicating that a significant amount of mental effort was required to process the words without verbal information. Regardless of stimulus congruency, storytelling performance affected how much children focused on target objects and keywords. More intriguingly, it was found that in Malay prereaders, there was a correlation between story comprehension and vocabulary skills across tasks. Additionally, Malay prereaders who performed well looked at the displayed stimuli longer than Chinese prereaders who performed well, especially when a narrator was presented alongside the visual stimulus. These novel findings are discussed along with their implications for multimedia learning and future research directions.
A Novel Spatial Data Pipeline for Orchestrating Apache NiFi/MiNiFi
Authors: Carthen Chase D. , Zaremehrjardi Araam , Le Vinh , Cardillo Carlos , Strachan Scotty , Tavakkoli Alireza , Harris Jr. Frederick C. , Dascalu Sergiu M.
Published: November 2023

In many smart city projects, a common choice to capture spatial information is the inclusion of lidar data, but this decision will often invoke severe growing pains within the existing infrastructure. In this article, the authors introduce a data pipeline that orchestrates Apache NiFi (NiFi), Apache MiNiFi (MiNiFi), and several other tools as an automated solution to relay and archive lidar data captured by deployed edge devices. The lidar sensors utilized within this workflow are Velodyne Ultra Puck sensors that produce 6-7 GB packet capture (PCAP) files per hour. By both compressing the file after capturing it and compressing the file in real-time; it was discovered that GZIP and XZ both saved considerable file size being from 2-5 GB, 5 minutes in transmission time, and considerable CPU time. To evaluate the capabilities of the system design, the features of this data pipeline were compared against existing third-party services, Globus and RSync.
A disaster of politics: The energy supply crisis in South Africa
Authors: Wentink Gideon J.
Published: November 2023

On 09 February 2023, the South African government declared and classified the energy supply crisis in South Africa as a state of disaster. This is directly the opposite of what the president announced a few months before the event (Ramaphosa 2022). To answer the question posed in the title of this opinion piece, it is necessary to take a brief look at the build-up to the declaration and classification of the state of disaster of 09 February 2023. Then I will discuss what a disaster entails according to South African legislation, and I will conclude with closing comments.
A Spoonful of Solar to Help the Medicine go Down Exploring Synergies Between Health Care and Energy
Authors: Concessao Lanvin , Meenawat Harsha , Ginoya Namrata , Hazarika Masfick , Kumar Gupta Dheeraj , Sahay Vandita
Published: November 2023

Given the wide adoption of decentralized solar energy systems in rural health facilities, this report explores the role of decentralized solar energy interventions in rural health facilities and its linkages to provisioning of health care services, especially for underserved populations. It reviews current decentralized energy interventions across multiple Indian states under different financing, ownership, and operating modes and attempts to understand the lacunae that certain implementation models face in terms of scalability and what conditions are essential to ensure the sustainability of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) systems in rural health facilities in the long run. The report is a culmination of extensive literature review, in-person interviews, field visits to the health facilities, as well as our own experience in supporting development partners to implement decentralized solar energy solutions in India. We studied 22 health facilities that are being powered by decentralized solar energy systems in rural parts of six Indian states—i.e., Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Odisha.
PENERAPAN METODE C 4.5 UNTUK PENENTUAN KELULUSAN MATAKULIAH MATEMATIKA DISKRIT
Authors: Mallala Syamsuddin , Basrie Basrie
Published: November 2023

Penilaian untuk kelulusan matakuliah di tiap dosen berbeda-beda pada matakuliah. Khusus untuk matematika diskrit ini bukan lagi penilaian di ambil secara umum seperti tugas, uts, uas tapi diperoleh dari penguasaan tiap materi. Materi perkuliahan menjadi kriteria dalam penilaian untuk kelulusan mahasiswa. Dari kriteria tersebut dapat diolah untuk menentukan secara cepat jumlah mahasiswa yang lulus dan tidak lulus matakuliah tanpa dilakukan penghitungan nilai akhir dengan cara mengambil data training atau data sample untuk diolah menjadi dasar dari penuntuan keputusan.  Pengolahan cepat ini dapat dilakukan dengan menggunakan salah satu algoritma dari C4.5. Algoritma C.4.5 merupakan algoritma yang digunakan untuk membentuk pohon keputusan (Decision Tree).
SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS KEBOCORAN PIPA AIR BERBASIS WEB PERUMDAM TIRTA KENCANA KOTA SAMARINDA
Authors: Saputra Hernando , Bustomi Tommy , Arfyanti Ita
Published: November 2023

SIG adalah suatu sistem informasi berbasiskan komputer untuk menyimpan, mengelola dan menganalisis, serta memanggil data bereferensi geografis. Dengan memanfaatkan SIG akan memberikan kemudahan kepada pengguna atau para pengambil keputusan untuk kebijakan yang akan diambil, khususnya yang berkaitan dengan aspek keruangan (spasial).

Tujuan dari pembuatan aplikasi ini adalah untuk membantu dalam pencarian titik lokasi kebocoran pipa Perumda Air Minum Tirta Kencana Kota Samarinda dan menurunkan tingkat kehilangan air dalam kebocoran pipa air.

Metode penelitian menggunakan metode Waterfall yang mempunyai 5 tahapan yaitu Analisis Sistem, Perancangan, Pemrograman, Pengujian, dan Perawatan. Pengujian dalam penelitian ini menggunakan pengujian Blackbox-Testing dan pengujian Beta-Testing Adapun hasil akhir dari peneltian ini yakni berupa rekomendasi untuk meningkatkan suatu informasi geografis yang dapat bekerja dengan baik pada Perumda Air Minum Tirta Kencana Kota Samarinda.
ANALISA KUALITAS LAYANAN PADA PROGRAM STUDI SISTEM INFORMASI MENGGUNAKAN METODE SERVQUAL DAN KANO
Authors: Sinawati Sinawati , Saputra Indra Tri , Hafid M.
Published: November 2023

Kualitas pelayanan adalah landasan utama untuk mengetahui tingkat kepuasan pelanggan. Perusahaan dapat dikatakan baik jika mampu menyediakan barang atau jasa sesuai dengan keinginan pelanggan. Kualitas produk dan kinerja layanan yang baik akan mempengaruhi peningkatan kepuasan pelanggan. Metode Servqual yaitu metode untuk menentukan standar yang seharusnya dapat meningkatkan kualitas layanan berdasarkan gap antara harapan dan kenyataan. Metode Kano adalah metode yang bertujuan untuk mengklasifikasikan Pertanyaan produk atau layanan berdasarkan sejauh mana mereka dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pelanggan. Kedua metode tersebut diintegrasikan untuk menghasilkan penentuan prioritas peningkatan kualitas skala prioritas. Penelitian ini menggunakan analisis Servqual dan GAP untuk menentukan nilai ekspektasi mahasiswa dan keyakinan dimana Kano mengategorikan layanan berdasarkan kualitas denganharapan yang didapatkan oleh mahasiswa tentang kualitas pelayanan Program Studi Sistem Informasi STMIK PPKIA Tarakanita Rahmawati diberikan kuesioner sebanyak 150 responden Mahasiswa. Pemetaan dari 150 responden terdapat 80 orang berjenis kelamin laki-laki dan 70 orang berjenis kelamin perempuan, serta rentang usia responden 20 tahun hingga 25 tahun. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Pertanyaan Staf PS santun dan ramah dalam memberikan pelayanan kepada mahasiswa yang menjadi prioritas pelayanan dan peningkatan kualitas dengan nilai skor hubungan dari 2 metode sebesar -0.55, yang mana kualitas pelayanan ada tersebut harus dapat ditingkatkan sehingga dapat memuaskan mahasiswa dalam menerima pelayanan di Program Studi.
Interprofessional education: collaborative team work among undergraduate medical students
Authors: Shumaila Rafi
Published: November 2023

Madam,
The last decade has been a global shift towards collaborative learning and practice. A Joint Commission Report noticed that 80% of all medical errors were due to miscommunications during patient handoffs, with 44% occurring in inpatient settings1. Learning Together to Work Together for Health is the essential guide for the working of Interprofessional Education (IPE), the idea presented by WHO and is defined as an experience that “occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve outcomes”2. The core competencies for IPE include collaborative teamwork, communication skills, ethical practice, roles and responsibilities, and conflict resolution2. IPE expects to improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards collaboration to enhance their future clinical practice. Pakistan is a developing country that is strengthening IPE. The Karachi Medical and Dental College launched a training program on research methodology focusing on the principles of IPE to improve primary care delivery2. The Dental Hygiene Program at Aga Khan University is also an example of IPE improving patient healthcare3. These deficiencies can be overcome by vertically and horizontally integrating IPE in the curriculum.  The absence of a formal team-based care programme deprives most students from learning about professional roles. This warrants a need to focus on learning approaches that can be used in undergraduate curricula and thereby create and foster a collaborative learning environment. Case-based learning and team-based learning are valuable approaches resulting in experiential learning and reflection. Simulations allow students to practice and improve their communication and collaboration among medical students. E-learning is worthwhile for enlightening their understanding and cognizance of further profession’s duties and authorities, which is unique to the leading competencies of IPE4.
The logistics of setting up IPE activities may be more challenging. The leadership confrontation such as lack of management between the faculties and lack of support by organization, curriculum challenges like IPE courses designing, teaching challenges, such as shortage of faculty members training, skills and competence in interprofessional and resistance to transformation i.e. dearth of resources are the main challenges for the institutions5. The institutions should engage in policies in the best strategies to implement interprofessional education. Hierarchical heads and policymakers need to put forth an effort to advance IPE so that different professions can benefit from each other more easily.
Medical Gastronomy and Glucofriendly Gastronomy: Tools for Chronic Disease and Diabetes Care
Authors: Sanjay Kalra  , Atul Dhingra  , Nitin Kapoor
Published: November 2023

In this communication, we introduce and describe the concepts of medical gastronomy, glucofriendly gastronomy, and gastronomic phenotypes. We discuss the clinical relevance of these frameworks in chronic disease management, including obesity and diabetes care. We propose the use of the phrase ‘medical gastronomy’ to describe the practice of choosing, cooking and consuming food, which is not only appealing or tasty, but nutritious and healthy as well. ‘Glucofriendly gastronomy’ conceptualizes the art and science of choosing, cooking and consuming food, which is not only safe for persons living with diabetes, but appealing and tasty, too. The term ‘gastronomic phenotype’ is the sum of all attributes related to the practice or art of choosing, cooking and consuming food. This includes the individual’s likes (dislikes), preferences and choices related to meal frequency, meal composition, meal quantity and meal sequencing.
Keywords: Culinary medicine, diabetes, diet, nutrition, obesity, person centred care
Assessment of problem-based learning in dental education and exploring barriers to its implementation: theory to reality
Authors: Farrukh Khadija , Ambreen Usmani  , Syed Bilal Yousuf
Published: November 2023

There are 59 dental colleges in Pakistan out of which 17 are in the public sector and 42 in private. However, only a few use problem-based learning methods, though it is a popular strategy in dental education all around the world. This study aims to assess problem-based learning model in dental education and explore the barriers of its implementation in a private dental college of Karachi. Qualitative case-study approach was employed. The philosophical stance used was critical realism. Qualitative data was collected by participant observation, video recorded observation and video elicited semi-structured in-depth interviews of five faculty members and 15 students. Results showed that students were more interested in interactive sessions while faculty members were in favour of problem-based learning sessions. Thematic analysis was done to generate themes. This research applies reproduction method to explain the necessary and contingent relations and causal powers.
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Association between hip flexor tightness and lumbar instability in adults
Authors: Khan Asghar , Malik Arshad Nawaz
Published: November 2023

The study aimed to explore the association between hip flexors tightness and lumbar instability in adults. The study design was correlational and 64 subjects of both genders (male and female) with age range from 20 to 50 years were selected with a history of low back pain (LBP) with or without referred pain. Two examiners were assigned for application of the Modified Thomas Test (MTT) for hip flexors tightness and lumbar prone Instability Test (LPIT) and Prone Lumbar Extension Tests (PLET) for lumbar instabilities. The numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) was used for pain assessment. The two examiners were not aware of each other’s findings. The lambda value 0.238 which shows there is a weak association between MTT and PLET. The Cramer’s V value 0.179 also shows a weak relationship between MTT and LPIT. This study observed that there is a weak association between tight hip flexors and lumbar instability.
Bursting heart syndrome; a rare case of aortocaval fistula repair
Authors: Kareem Talha , Ahmed Muhammad Adeel , Nihal Faizan , Ehsan Omer , Khan Iqbal
Published: November 2023

In this case report we will discuss a case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, oliguria and right heart failure. A Computed Tomography (CT) aortogram revealed a fistulous abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The objective of this study is to discuss the haemodynamic changes regarding aortocaval fistula and consider various management options.
A literature search was undertaken on PubMed using appropriate search terms. Case series and reviews reporting presentation, diagnosis and operative management of aortocaval fistula were selected and discussed.
We reached a conclusion that early identification improves surgical planning and reduces mortality. Major abdominal arteriovenous fistula repair appears to be a safer and more successful therapy with positive short and midterm outcomes. Aortocaval fistula care requires a more extensive patient series, so even better conclusions can be drawn.
Keywords: Inferior vena cava; Aortocaval fistula; Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Open aneurysm repair; EVAR; Hybrid abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Flexible bronchoscopy combined with videolaryngoscope for tracheal intubation in a child with Hunter syndrome: a case report
Authors: Shamim Faisal , Gulamani Amber , Nisar Abdullah , Rashid Saima , Siddiqui Humayun kaleem
Published: November 2023

Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II) has the highest reported prevalence of difficult tracheal intubation among the seven known types of mucopolysaccharidoses. Despite improved difficult airway guidelines and equipment, conventional approaches may fail in some cases. A 10-year-old child with Hunter syndrome, was scheduled for multiple dental extractions. On the first visit, failed intubation was declared as per Difficult Airway Society guidelines in the surgical day-care suite of our institute and the procedure was postponed. The case was then planned to be handled in the main operating room with additional preparation and input from the paediatric otolaryngologist for possible tracheostomy, paediatric intensive care for postoperative need for ventilation, and difficult airway resource faculty for an unconventional approach—videolaryngoscope combined with fibreoptic bronchoscope—which resulted in safe administration of anaesthesia. This case illustrates the importance of meticulous planning in the management of previously failed airway.
Role of shear wave elastography in assessment of placental elasticity in normal and high-risk pregnancies in third trimester
Authors: Imtiaz Sheeza , Naz Nasreen , Walid Ayesha , Rahim Anila , Waseem Hira Fatima
Published: November 2023

Objective: To assess the elasticity of placenta using shear wave elastography in normal and high-risk pregnancies in the third trimester.
Method: The prospective, observational study was conducted at the Dow Institute of Radiology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from September 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, and comprised singleton pregnant women during 28-40 weeks of gestation who were referred from the obstetric department. The subjects were divided into normal pregnancy group A and high-risk pregnancy group B. Risk factors include gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, placenta previa, morbidly adherent placenta, old primigravida, teen age and morbid obesity were noted. All the patients underwent grey scale, Doppler ultrasonography and shear wave elastography. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.
Results: Of the 104 subjects, 78(75%) were in group A and 26(25%) were in group B. The overall mean age was 34.2±3.59 years. In group B, mean placental shear wave velocity was 2.34±1.17m/sec and elasticity was 24.41±25.51kPa compared to 1.42±0.55 m/sec and 13.6±10.23kPa in group A (p<0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between shear wave velocity and elasticity values in both groups (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Shear wave elastography was found to be a useful technique in detecting placental stiffness, and can be used as an adjunct to the currently available ultrasonographic methods in high-risk pregnancies.
Key Words: Shear wave, Elastography, Placenta, Velocity, Elastic modulus, High-risk pregnancy.
Co-creating LearnHigher: demystifying and shaping what we do
Authors: Beeson Helena , Dettmer Jennie , Fallin Lee , Key Laura , Ramakrishnan Sumeetra
Published: November 2023

Established in 2005, the LearnHigher platform provides high quality, peer-evaluated resources which support students’ learning development. It was developed through a collaborative network of 16 institutions and is overseen by a working group who support and encourage the submission of resources.
Following a summary of the past year and a demonstration of the submission process, the audience had the opportunity to reflect on LearnHigher and help shape its future. The authors aimed to hear about how LearnHigher had informed teaching and learning. This was a chance for the community to share experiences of using and submitting resources, and to consider ways to increase impact on professional development and practice. The session culminated in an open forum of discussion regarding future directions, enabling the community to shape how LearnHigher moves forward in 23-24 and beyond.
Equality, diversity and inclusion: learning from laying our cards on the table (resource showcase)
Authors: Sillence Matthew , Doan Hanh , Clark Amanda
Published: November 2023

In this showcase, we presented a card resource for learning developers who work with staff or students to set up an inclusive learning environment. These are often personal interactions and need to be explored respectfully (Love, Gaynor, and Blessett, 2016; Mahmood, Gray and Benincasa, 2022). The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) cards were created by the University of Hertfordshire and comprise 26 topics and illustrations, ranging from ‘belonging’ to ‘trust’, and exist in both a physical and digital format. Resources used as games can encourage participation, reflection, and transformational thinking (Peabody and Noyes, 2017; Clark, Dickerson, and Jarvis, 2022), which are all important for encouraging respectful conversations about EDI issues.

A collaborative project with the University of East Anglia to explore the use of the cards was funded by ALDinHE. Full ethics approval was gained from both universities before beginning. It recruited staff and students at Hertfordshire and East Anglia who worked with EDI issues and gathered reflections from facilitators and participants who used the cards in different learning contexts, such as academic support staff development exercises and student representation workshops. They reported that the card prompts allowed for personal storytelling and they suggested further topics for the cards set.

This session, led by learning developers and teaching staff, explored the idea of the ‘brave space’ (Arao and Clemens, 2013, p. 142; Palfrey, 2017) and why ‘serious play’ is important in learning (Rieber, Smith and Noah, 1998, p. 29). It discussed where and when the cards can be used, in terms of: a physical or digital space; the curriculum or disciplinary context; and the stage of the learner’s journey. The EDI cards and new guidance booklet were made available for delegates to take away.
Pengaruh Debt to tottal asset (DTA),Net profit margin (NPM) dan Earning per share (EPS)Terhadap harga saham pada perusahaan farmasi yang terdaftar di BEI
Authors: Rahman Adi , Nurulrahmatiah Nafisah
Published: November 2023

Pengaruh debt to tottal asset (DTA), Net profit margin (NPM), Dan Earning per share (EPS) Terhadap Harga Saham Pada Perusahaan Farmasi Yang terdaftar di BEI, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Pengaruh debt to tottal asset (DTA), Net profit margin (NPM), Dan Earning per share (EPS) Terhadap Harga Saham Pada Perusahaan Farmasi Yang terdaftar di BEI, Nafisah Nurulrahmatiah. M.Ak, jurnal keuangan
Influence of Generic Strategies on Student Attraction by Church Based Schools in Kenya (A Case Study of CITAM Schools)
Authors: Kithome Christine , Makau Godfry K
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This study focused on assessing the influence of generic strategies on student attraction by church-based schools in Kenya with a case study of Christ Is the Answer Ministry schools. It is guided by the subsequent definite objectives; to determine the influence of Cost leadership strategy, focus strategy and Differentiation strategy on student attraction by church-based schools in Kenya.

Methodology: The study has used descriptive cross-sectional design. The management personnel and teachers were the target population for the exercise which were limited to ten schools owned by CITAM. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires containing both open ended and close ended questions. The questionnaires were to be administered through a drop and pick method. Qualitative analysis was done on the information collected from the results of the questionnaires. Quantitative analysis includes descriptive statistical technique. Descriptive statistics compliments the use of frequencies, mean and percentages that was summarized and presented using tables, graphs and charts. The data was analysed with the aid of a linear regression model from an SPSS analysis tool.

Findings: The study established that differentiation strategy and focus strategy had a positive and influence on student attraction by church based schools in Kenya as shown by beta values of 0.983 and 0.364 and significant values of 0.000 and 0.000 respectively. This bears the implications that increasing aspects either differentiation strategy or focus strategy with one unit results to increase in the levels of on student attraction with respective beta units. Cost leadership strategy on the other hand had a negative influence on student attraction by church based schools in Kenya as shown by a beta value of -0.002. On differentiation strategy, the study recommends prioritizing technological leadership is crucial in creating a modern and innovative learning environment that resonates with the preferences of contemporary students, enhancing customer care should be a central focus for church-based schools to create a supportive and nurturing educational community and expanding market share is essential in reaching a broader audience and establishing the school's unique value proposition within the educational landscape.

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: On focus strategy, the study recommends, prioritizing targeted market segmentation is essential in catering to the unique needs and preferences of specific student groups, the focus on academic performance should remain a central priority in enhancing student attraction to church-based schools and strategic media advertisements play a crucial role in raising awareness and visibility of the unique educational offerings and values-based learning environment offered by church-based schools.
The effect of the slowmation technique on attitudes towards social studies lessons, active learning, and metacognitive awareness
Authors: Gürbüzer Sümeyra , Çite Hakan , Alkış Küçükaydın Menşure
Published: November 2023

The role and importance of technology applications in increasing the cognitive and affective learning of students have been accepted. For this reason, it has been considered important to use different materials and various educational technologies in the preparation of active learning environments. In this context, the effect of the use of the slowmation technique in primary school social studies courses on students' attitudes, active learning, and metacognitive awareness was investigated in this study. The sample of the study, in which a quasi-experimental design was used, consisted of 4th-grade primary school students. The social studies attitude scale, active learning process scale, and metacognitive awareness scale for children were used. During the 5-week practices, slowmation covering different subjects was prepared. Parametric analyses were applied to the data obtained during the application process. According to the analyses performed, the slowmation technique was effective in improving the attitudes towards and active learning of the social studies course. Based on the findings, the limitations of the slowmation technique were mentioned, long-term studies were suggested, and it was suggested to investigate the issue of permanence.keywords:metacognitive awareness, primary school, slowmation, social studies attitude
The Relationship Between Faculty Members’ Organizational Support Perceptions and Personal Growth Initiative Levels, The Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy
Authors: Coşkun Başak , Katıtaş Sevda , Karadaş Halil
Published: November 2023

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between organizational support perceptions and personal growth initiative levels of the faculty members working in Turkey and to examine the effect of self-efficacy perceptions in this relationship. The study was designed as a relational survey model. 346 faculty members from public universities in Turkey comprised the participants. The data was collected with General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Perceived Organizational Support Scale (POSS), Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II). Descriptive analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the structural relations among the variables. It was observed that faculty members’ organizational support perceptions had a significant direct effect on their personal growth initiative levels; organizational support perceptions had a significant effect on general self-efficacy beliefs; and the effect of general self-efficacy beliefs on personal growth initiative levels was significant. It was evidenced that faculty members’ self-efficacy beliefs fully mediated the relationship between perceived organizational support and personal growth initiative levels. These results are in line with the principles of Organizational Support Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. More research explaining the effect of organizational factors on self-efficacy and personal growth initiative is needed.
Literacy in Indian Akshara Languages and Other Transparent Orthographic Languages - Teacher Education Considerations
Authors: Chakravarthi Srimani , Poovaiah Gowramma Ittira
Published: November 2023

Alphabet-based languages are more often researched in literacy acquisition and education than akshara languages. Languages that use alphasyllabaries including symbols, called aksharas, represent a large portion of the world languages, including the languages in the second most populous country, India. This conceptual research paper addresses teacher education in literacy related to akshara languages. Using theory and research base of existing alphabet and akshara acquisition, with teacher education standards for literacy in alphabet languages, this paper presents a model for teacher education in literacy for akshara languages. This framework provides teacher education standards and other considerations such as evaluation of teacher education curriculum and performance to enable data-based decision making in literacy instruction. The premise of this paper is to approach the problem of dismal literacy rates by drawing into the robust research in alphabetic language literacy education by using a systematic approach to target the source – pre-service teacher education. While the paper addresses examples of languages in India, other transparent orthographies that use symbols or aksharas can draw from this to inform their teacher education in literacy
Molecular fingerprints and health risks of smoke from home-use incense burning
Authors: Song Kai , Tang Rongzhi , Zhang Jingshun , Wan Zichao , Zhang Yuan , Hu Kun , Gong Yuanzheng , Lv Daqi , Lu Sihua , Tan Yu , Zhang Ruifeng , Li Ang , Yan Shuyuan , Yan Shichao , Fan Baoming , Zhu Wenfei , Chan Chak K. , Yao Maosheng , Guo Song
Published: November 2023

Abstract. The burning of incense for home use is a widespread practice that has been shown to have significant negative impacts on human health and air quality. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding its emission profiles and associated health risks. To address this knowledge gap, we utilized a state-of-the-art thermal-desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (TD-GC × GC-MS) to (semi-)quantify the emission factors (EFs) of 317 volatile compounds and thoroughly investigate the organic profiles of smoke from incense burning across a full-volatility range. Results showed that toluene (70.8±35.7 µg g−1) is the most abundant compound in smoke from incensing burning, followed by benzene, furfural, and phenol. Phenol, toluene, furfural, 2-furanmethanol, benzene, and benzyl alcohol are the main contributors to ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) estimation. Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) accounted for 19.2 % of the total EFs but 40.0 % of the estimated SOA. Additionally, a novel pixel-based method, combined with aroma analysis, revealed that furfural can act as a key tracer of incense burning and is responsible for the distinctive aroma of incense smoke. High-bioaccumulation-potential (BAP) assessment using pixel-based partition coefficient estimation revealed that acenaphthylene, dibenzofuran, and phthalate esters (PAEs) are chemicals of high-risk concern and warrant further control. Our results highlight the critical importance of investigating home-use incense burning and provide new insights into the health impacts of smoke from incense burning using novel approaches.
Using metal oxide gas sensors for the estimate of methane controlled releases: reconstruction of the methane mole fraction time-series and quantification of the release rates and locations
Authors: Rivera Martinez Rodrigo Andres , Kumar Pramod , Laurent Olivier , Broquet Grégoire , Caldow Christopher , Cropley Ford , Santaren Diego , Shah Adil , Mallet Cécile , Ramonet Michel , Rivier Leonard , Juery Catherine , Duclaux Olivier , Bouchet Caroline , Allegrini Elisa , Utard Hervé , Ciais Philippe
Published: November 2023

Abstract. Fugitive methane (CH4) emission occur in the whole chain of oil and gas production, from the extraction, transportation, storage and distribution. The detection and quantification of such emissions are conducted usually from surveys as close as possible to the source location. However, these surveys are labor intensive, costly and they do not provide continuous monitoring of the emissions. The deployment of permanent networks of sensors in the vicinity of industrial facilities would overcome the limitations of surveys by providing accurate estimates thanks to continuous sampling of the plumes. High precision instruments are too costly to deploy in such networks. Low-cost sensors like Metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) are presented as a cheap alternative for such deployments due to its compact dimensions and to its sensitivity to CH4. In this study we test the ability of two types of MOS sensors from the manufacturer Figaro® (TGS 2611-C00 and TGS 2611-E00) deployed in six chambers to reconstruct an actual signal from a source in open air corresponding to a series of controlled CH4 releases and we assess the accuracy of the emission estimates computed from reconstructed CH4 mole fractions from voltages measurements of these sensors. A baseline correction of the voltage linked to background variations is presented based on an iterative comparison of neighboring observations. Two reconstruction models were compared, multilayer perceptron (MLP) and 2nd degree polynomial, providing similar performances meeting our target requirement on all the chambers when the input variable is the TGS 2611-C00 sensor. The emission estimates were then computed using an inversion approach based on the adjoint of a Gaussian dispersion model obtaining promising results with an emission rate error of 25 % and a location error of 9.5 m.
Reconstructing 15 000 years of southern France temperatures from coupled pollen and molecular (branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether) markers (Canroute, Massif Central)
Authors: d'Oliveira Léa , Dugerdil Lucas , Ménot Guillemette , Evin Allowen , Muller Serge D. , Ansanay-Alex Salomé , Azuara Julien , Bonnet Colline , Bremond Laurent , Shah Mehmet , Peyron Odile
Published: November 2023

Abstract. Climatic changes in southern Europe during the Holocene are characterized by a strong spatial and temporal heterogeneity whose patterns are still poorly understood, notably the presence or not of a Holocene thermal maximum (HTM; 10 000–6000 cal BP). The climatic patterns also differ according to the proxies used (e.g. pollen, chironomid) and the latitude of the record. Here, a multi-proxy approach combining pollen and lipid biomarkers (branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers, brGDGTs) is applied to the Canroute sedimentological sequence (Massif Central, France) to reconstruct the climatic variation over the last 15 000 years in southern Europe. This area is poorly documented in terms of vegetation and climate change. To provide reliable climate reconstructions, we have (1) performed a multi-method approach applied to pollen (modern analogue technique, MAT; weighted averaging partial least squares regression, WA-PLS; boosted regression trees, BRT; and random forest, RF) and molecular biomarkers brGDGTs (five calibrations) and (2) investigated the role of modern databases and calibrations in climate reconstructions. Three different databases were tested for pollen data: one global database based on a Eurasian pollen database and two regional databases corresponding to Mediterranean–Temperate Europe and Temperate Europe–Scandinavian databases respectively. Five global calibrations were tested for lipid biomarkers including four for soil and one for peat. Results show that the use of different modern databases highlights the importance of considering environmental and ecological constraints when using transfer functions on pollen sequences. Pollen- and brGDGT-inferred climate trends are consistent, notably for the Late Glacial and the Early and Late Holocene. However, the reconstructions notably differ concerning the presence of a Holocene thermal maximum with the MAT pollen-based method, but no difference is apparent with the BRT pollen method nor brGDGT. The temperature reconstructions estimated from the two independent pollen and lipid proxies are then compared to regional climate signals (chironomids, pollen, molecular biomarkers) to better understand global regional climatic patterns in southern Europe. Altogether, our results from the Canroute sequence and those already available in southern Europe reveal that for the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, the regional climate trends are consistent between sites and proxies, supporting the reliability of their reconstructions despite some discrepancies. During the Holocene, the temperature signal of Canroute does not indicate the clear presence of a pronounced HTM, but rather stable temperatures.
Assessment of the Spectral MIsaLignment Effect (SMILE) on EarthCARE’s Multi-Spectral Imager aerosol and cloud property retrievals
Authors: Docter Nicole , Hünerbein Anja , Donovan David Patrick , Preusker Rene , Fischer Jürgen , Meirink Jan Fokke , Stammes Piet , Eisinger Michael
Published: November 2023

Abstract. The Multi-spectral Imager (MSI) on board the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) will provide horizontal information about aerosols and clouds. These measurements are needed to extend vertical cloud and aerosol property information, which are obtained from EarthCARE's active sensors, in order to obtain a full three dimensional view on cloud and aerosol conditions. Especially, meso-scale weather systems will be characterized. The discovery of a non-compliance of the MSI VNS camera’s visible (VIS) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR1) channels regarding a spectral central wavelength (CWVL) shift across track of up to 14 nm (VIS) and 20 nm (SWIR1), led to the need for an analysis regarding its impact on MSI Level 2A aerosol and cloud products. A significant influence of the Spectral MIsaLignment Effect (SMILE) on MSI retrievals is identified due to the spectral variation of gas absorption, surface reflectance as well as aerosol and cloud properties within the spectral ranges of these MSI bands. For example, the VIS channel is positioned in close proximity to the red edge of green vegetation and is impacted by residual absorption of water vapour and ozone. Small central wavelength variations introduce uncertainties due to the rapid change in surface reflectance for conditions with low optical thickness. The present central wavelength shift in the VIS towards shorter wavelengths than at nadir introduces a relative error in transmission of up to 3.3 % due to the increasing influence of water vapour and ozone absorption. We found relative errors in the TOA signal due to the SMILE of up to 30 % for low optical thickness over a land surface in that band. Since the magnitude of the impact strongly depends on the underlying surface and atmospheric conditions, we conclude that accounting for the SMILE in Level 2 retrievals or correcting the Level 1 signal will improve MSI aerosol and cloud product quality.
Updating the radiation infrastructure in MESSy (based on MESSy version 2.55)
Authors: Nützel Matthias , Stecher Laura , Jöckel Patrick , Winterstein Franziska , Dameris Martin , Ponater Michael , Graf Phoebe , Kunze Markus
Published: November 2023

Abstract. The calculation of the radiative transfer is a key component of global circulation models. In this manuscript we describe the most recent updates of the radiation infrastructure in the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy). These updates include the implementation of the PSrad radiation scheme within the RAD submodel. Further, the radiation-related submodels CLOUDOPT (for the calculation of cloud optical properties) and AEROPT (for the calculation of aerosol optical properties) have been updated and are now more flexible in order to deal with different sets of shortwave and longwave bands of radiation schemes. In the wake of these updates a new submodel (ALBEDO), which features solar zenith angle dependent albedos and a new satellite-based background (white-sky) albedo, was created. All of these developments are backward compatible and previous features of the MESSy radiation infrastructure remain available. Moreover, these developments mark an important step in the use of the ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model as the update of the radiation scheme was a key aspect in the development of sixth generation of the the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts – HAMburg (ECHAM6) model from ECHAM5 and they also aim towards the use of MESSy with the ICOsahedral Non-hydrostatic (ICON) model. The improved infrastructure will also aid in the implementation of additional radiation schemes once this should be needed. We have optimized the set of free parameters for two dynamical model setups for pre-industrial and present-day conditions: one with the radiation scheme that was used up to date (i.e. the radiation scheme of ECHAM5) and one with the newly implemented PSrad radiation scheme. After this parameter optimization, we performed four model simulations and evaluated the corresponding model results using reanalysis and observational data. The most apparent improvements related to the updated radiation scheme are the reduced cold biases in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and the extratropical lower stratosphere, and a strengthened polar vortex. The former is also related to improved stratospheric humidity and its variability if the new radiation scheme is employed. Using the multiple radiation call capability of MESSy, we have applied the two model configurations to calculate instantaneous and stratospheric adjusted radiative forcings related to changes in greenhouse gases. Overall, we find that for many forcing experiments the simulations with the new radiation scheme show improved radiative forcing values. This is in particular the case for methane radiative forcings, which are considerably higher when asessed with the new radiation scheme and thus in better agreement with reference values.
A multi-decadal time series of upper stratospheric temperature profiles from Odin-OSIRIS limb scattered spectra
Authors: Zawada Daniel J. , Dubé Kimberlee Robyn , Warnock Taran W. , Bourassa Adam Edward , Tegtmeier Susann , Degenstein Douglas A.
Published: November 2023

Abstract. A new upper stratospheric (35–60 km) temperature data product has been produced using Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imager System (OSIRIS) limb scattered spectra that now spans over 22 years. Temperature is calculated by first estimating the Rayleigh scatter signal, and then integrating hydrostatic balance combined with the ideal gas law. Uncertainties are estimated to be 1–5 K, with a vertical resolution of 3–4 km. Correlative comparisons with the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) and the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) are consistent with these uncertainty estimates, and generally have no regions of statistically significant drift. The data product has been publicly released as part of the nominal OSIRIS v7.3 processing.
Tropospheric sulfate from Cumbre Vieja volcano at Las Palmas, transported towards Cabo Verde – lidar measurements of aerosol extinction, backscatter and depolarization at 355, 532 and 1064 nm
Authors: Gebauer Henriette , Floutsi Athena Augusta , Haarig Moritz , Radenz Martin , Engelmann Ronny , Althausen Dietrich , Skupin Annett , Ansmann Albert , Zenk Cordula , Baars Holger
Published: November 2023

Abstract. From 19 September to 13 December 2021, volcanic eruptions took place at the Cumbre Vieja ridge, Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Thereby, fine ash and volatiles, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), were emitted and transported over hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from the island. Continuous lidar observations with the multiwavelength-Raman-polarization lidar PollyXT were performed at the Ocean Science Center at Mindelo, Cabo Verde, in the framework of the Joint Aeolus-Tropical Atlantic Campaign (JATAC) 2021/2022 enabling the characterization of the atmospheric state above Mindelo during the eruption period. A special feature of the system operated at Mindelo is, that measurements of the particle extinction coefficient, the particle extinction-to-backscatter ratio (lidar ratio) and the particle linear depolarization ratio are available at all three wavelengths (355, 532 and 1064 nm). The typical aerosol conditions over Mindelo are a clean marine planetary boundary layer (PBL) up to approx. 1 km and above a Saharan dust layer (SAL, up to 6 km) during northern hemispheric summer and fall. A particle extinction coefficient smaller than 200 Mm−1, a lidar ratio smaller than 30 sr and a particle linear depolarization ratio close to 0 % have been typically observed within the planetary boundary layer, while a lidar ratio between 40 and 60 sr and a linear depolarization ratio between 20 and 30 % are characteristic for the SAL above. In contrast, during the time of the volcanic eruptions, a strongly polluted PBL was observed on specific days beginning on the 23 September 2021, whereby the particle extinction coefficient and the lidar ratio increased up to 800 Mm−1 and 80 sr (at 355 nm), respectively. On 24 September, the aerosol optical depth, determined by an AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sun photometer, was as high as 0.9 and 1.1 (daily averages at 500 and 340 nm). HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) trajectories indicate air mass transport from Canary Islands to Mindelo at heights below 2 km. The observed pollution in the PBL over Mindelo is attributed to sulfate aerosol from the volcanic eruption at Las Palmas as the particle linear depolarization ratio was low (≤ 3 %) and, thus, does not indicate non-spherical particles, such as Saharan dust or volcanic ash. We thus conclude that sulfate aerosol formed from gaseous precursors during the transport (2–3 days for a distance of 1500 km) from Las Palmas towards Cabo Verde. No indications of volcanic ash over Mindelo were found in the SAL. This finding is supported by the HYSPLIT trajectories, which show that air masses in higher altitudes originate from the African continent and not from the Canary Islands.