bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF SMALL RIVERS OF THE BALKHASH BASIN (CENTRAL ASIA, REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN)
Authors: Mamilov N. , Sharakhmetov S. , Amirbekova F. , Lopatin O. , Magda I. , Kegenova G. , Sapargalieva N. , Urgenishbaeva Zh. , Tursynali M.
Published: April 2023

The fall of fish catches is observed worldwide during last decades. The amount of fish caught lags behind the needs of the population. 2012–2021 we made an investigation of diversity of fish in catches in 14 small rivers of the Balkhash basin. The variety of fish caught was studied in connection with the remoteness of the rivers from large cities, the degree of protection, the maximum water temperature in summer, the content of ammonium ions and nitrates. The diversity of native fish in catches increases with distance from cities and the presence of protected sections of rivers.The main fish species caught were native naked osman Gymnodiptychus dybowskii, scaly osman Diptychus maculatus, Balkhash marinka Schizothorax argentatus and alien rainbow trout Oncorchynchus mykiss. Native Balkhash perch Perca schrenkii and spotted thicklip loachTriplophysa strauchii can also be caught by recreational fishermen. As a result of the negative anthropogenic impact, the Balkhash perch disappeared from most of the studied rivers, and the range of the Balkhash marinka was significantly reduced.For the sustainable existence of populations of fish caught by amateur fishermen, it is necessary to have sections of rivers protected from human impact. To organize effective management of fish resources in small rivers, further study of the regularities of their functioning is necessary.
PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONALLY BANNED PESTICIDES IN DOMESTIC PERUVIAN QUINOA DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Higuchi Angie , Maehara Rocío , Merino Roger , Ibáñez Franklin , Schwalb María Matilde
Published: April 2023

The global showcase for the promotion of the Andean grain quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) resulted in a rapid increase in international demand, which has had a direct impact on Peruvian food safety. The excessive use of pesticides results in high levels of pesticide residues in food, causing both environmental and health problems in the population. The objective of this article was to analyze if residues of internationally banned pesticides were present in the quinoa consumed by Peruvians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-seven different brands of packed white quinoa (10 sold as organically certified and 17 sold as conventional) were purchased in various supermarkets and bio-shops across metropolitan Lima on January 26, 2021. The pesticide residues in the samples were determined in a laboratory. The study found that Peruvian quinoa not only contained residues of internationally banned pesticides, but also had levels that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. For consumer safety, it is important that the government make the proposed regulations regarding hazardous pesticides clear to the public.
Analysis Application of Social Media Communication Effectiveness in Maritime English
Authors: Natsir Muhammad , Saragih Bahagia
Published: April 2023

The wonder of the nearness of social media and mass media may be a result of the exceptional improvement of data and communication innovation. With a assortment of administrations that can be utilized, social media has changed the way we communicate in society. The nearness of social media indeed has an affect on the way we communicate in all areas, such as showcasing communication, political communication, and communication in learning frameworks. This is certainly interesting to study by analyzing the effectiveness of social media in maritime English. Through data collection techniques through literal studies (library studies). The literature study was conducted by collecting secondary data related to topics and problems related to the use of Analysis of the Application of Effectiveness of Social Media Communication in Maritime English. By analyzing data sources regarding social media, the use of social and mass media as a means of developing communication in maritime English. With the aim of looking at the effectiveness of social and mass media in maritime English communication.
Analysis of Instagram Social Media as Journalistic Activity in the @Kompascom Account
Authors: Saragih Bahagia , Natsir Muhammad
Published: April 2023

In this digital era, the development of new media has given rise to a new form of journalism, namely digital journalism. Social media is used as a source of information. Journalist products are able to present information from journalists' coverage to be disseminated as news products to the public. This study discusses the use of social media Instagram as a means of spreading mass media news. The research aims to find out how Instagram is used as a means of disseminating news by media companies and how to implement practices in digital journalism on Instagram. The method used is descriptive qualitative with the @kompascom Instagram account object. The research findings show that Instagram is a means of publishing journalistic works that contain photos, captions, videos and news narratives.
The Role of Educational Leadership and Practices to School System and Discipline
Authors:   Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Department of English, University of Benghazi, Libya, Laurel, Phd Regilito D.
Published: April 2023

The study investigates the role of educational leadership and practices to school system and discipline. Specifically, it focuses on the goals and expectation, resolution and alignment, quality teaching support, learning and development, safe and orderly learning atmosphere of the school setting. Results show that the role of educational leadership and practices implements to reform in the school leaders in compliance of improvement and substantive practice, contribute in the understanding of insights on resolution and alignment to enact instructional leadership, provide attributes in understanding the quality of teaching to bring school leaders for a positive change, identify the learning quality and development opportunities in the factors addressed to success of teaching and learning process, and support the goals for an effective learning atmosphere in the school system, strong leadership process, clear vision in the learning process, and creates a climate for better learning. Findings show that there is a significant correlation on the roles of educational leadership and practices as observed by the respondents.
Giant Floater (Pyganodon Grandis) as Feed Ingredient in Broiler Production
Authors:   .................................................., Garma Lennie Mae G.
Published: April 2023

The focus of the research was to determine how giant floater (Pyganodon grandis) worked as a feed ingredient in broiler production. A total of 120 one-day-old Cobbs 500 were reared for 42 days, regardless of sex. The chicks were weighed and brooded for 14 days. The chicks were weighed and distributed at random on the fourteenth day for four treatments with three replications, each containing ten chicks. They were given varied proportions of giant floater meal as a feed ingredient. Treatment 1 was simply home mixed; treatment 2 had a 3% addition of giant floater meal; treatment 3 had a 6% inclusion of giant floater meal; and treatment 4 had a 9% inclusion. The supplementation of giant floater meal as a feed ingredient for broilers had a significant effect on the broilers' weekly body weight gain. Broiler-fed diets containing a higher percentage of inclusion gained the most weight as compared to broiler-fed diets containing a lower percentage of giant floater meal or diets containing no giant floater meal. In terms of broiler feed consumption, the results showed that broilers fed with 9% (T4) and 6% (T3) giant floater meal had higher feed intake than broilers fed with 3% (T2) giant floater meal, and the least feed intake was found in the control group. The result of this study shows that using giant floater meat as a feed ingredient for broilers improves their development and production performance in terms of body weight gain and that it can be used as a replacement and/or supplementary source of protein in broiler feeds.
Investment Banking Activities In Nigeria: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Problems and Prospects
Authors:   Royal Agricultural University, School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Stroud Rd, Cirencester GL7 6JS, Owoeye (PhD) Ayodeji B.
Published: April 2023

The investment bank's performance was researched and critically analysed, and how such performance might contribute to economic growth notably in Nigeria. Using the Nigerian financial industry, this study assessed the issues of investment banks in a growing nation. This study spanned the years 1960 through 2023. The period was marked by a credit boom, a financial recession, a rebound, and strong economic expansion. In this study piece, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed, and the research revealed crucial challenges of Investment Banks in an emerging economy. Among the difficulties cited are: regulatory compliance, technology management, cyber risk, cost pressure as inferior ROE hits, the development of Fintech businesses, ring-fencing, and so on. The research identified the following important roles of investment banks: initial public offering activities, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, research, derivatives, merchant banking, and investment management. According to the research, in order for the performance of investment banks in Nigeria to significantly improve, the following should be pursued aggressively: a cost-cutting strategy, cultural transformation, a customer-centric approach to business, technological development, financial depth development, and the development of a sustainable investment bank framework. This study believes that if the recommendations are adopted, the profit of investment banks would improve, allowing them to execute their core functions and contribute to the growth of the economy, particularly in a rising economy like Nigeria.
Accounting for Financial Investment Activities in Vietnam Life Insurance Enterprises
Authors:   Accounting Department, University of Labour and Social Affairs, Tram Le Thi Huong , Thuy Tran Thi Thanh ,   Accounting Department, University of Labour and Social Affairs, Vu Thi The ,   Accounting Department, University of Labour and Social Affairs
Published: April 2023

This article provides an overview of the financial investment activities of life insurance companies in Vietnam, based on the legal basis for investment activities and the specific accounting regulations for life insurance companies. The article also discusses the changes in accounting regulations according to Circular 200/2014/TT-BTC on accounting regimes for enterprises issued by the Ministry of Finance and provides some notes on accounting practices for financial investment activities in Vietnam’s life insurance enterprises.
Composición corporal, fuerza explosiva y agilidad en jugadores de baloncesto profesional (Body composition, explosive strength, and agility in professional basketball players)
Authors: Corredor-Serrano Luisa Fernanda , Garcia-Chaves Diego Camilo , Davila Bernal Allison , Lay villay Wan su
Published: April 2023

La composición corporal permite develar las características de un atleta de acuerdo a las exigencias competitivas, por lo tanto, su relación con la fuerza explosiva (FE) y la agilidad en el baloncesto es relevante debido a las acciones propias de este tipo de deporte. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre la composición corporal, la FE y la agilidad en jugadores de baloncesto profesional. La muestra fue de 18 jugadores (edad 23.9 ± 3.3 años, peso de 87.9 ±11.7 kg, talla 188.8 ±9.9 cm, masa muscular 46.5 ±4.8 kg, masa ósea 13.2 ±1.8 kg, porcentaje de grasa 14.1±3.6%), en los cuales se evaluó la composición corporal, la FE a través de la altura y la potencia del salto “squat jump” (SJ) como también del salto en contra movimiento (CMJ). Por su parte, la agilidad fue medida a través del test de Illinois. Se encontró relación significativa entre el porcentaje de grasa y la altura del CMJ (r = -.58; p, <.05), así como entre la masa muscular y potencia del SJ (r = .87; p, <.01), como también con el CMJ (r = .79; p, <.01). Además, se encontró una relación entre el test de Illinois y la potencia del SJ (r = .64; p, <.05). En conclusión, existe una relación entre la composición corporal, FE y la agilidad, lo cual debe ser considerado para su control y entrenamiento en el baloncesto a nivel profesional.
Palabras clave: Baloncesto, masa muscular, porcentaje de grasa, rendimiento deportivo, competencia profesional.
Abstract. Body composition allows for revealing the characteristics of an athlete according to competitive demands. Therefore, its relationship with explosive strength (ES) and agility in basketball is relevant due to the actions of this type of sport. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between body composition, ES, and agility in professional basketball players. The sample consisted of 18 players (age 23.9 ± 3.3 years old, weight 87.9 ± 11.7 kg, height 188.8 ± 9.9 cm, muscle mass 46.5 ± 4.8 kg, bone mass 13.2 ± 1.8 kg, fat percentage 14.1 ± 3.6%), in which body composition, the ES through the height, and the power of the jump “squat jump” (SJ), as well as the countermovement jump (CMJ) were evaluated. For its part, agility was measured through the Illinois test. A significant relationship was found between fat percentage and CMJ height (r = -.58; p, <.05). Similarly, a relationship was found between muscle mass and power of the SJ (r = .87; p, <.01), as well as with the CMJ (r = .79; p, <.01). Additionally, a relationship was found between the Illinois test and the power of the SJ (r = .64; p, <.05). In conclusion, there is a relationship between body composition, ES, and agility, which must be taken into account for its control and training in basketball at a professional level.
Keywords: Basketball, muscle mass, fat percentage, sports performance, professional competition.
Efeito residual de herbicidas aplicados na pré-emergência em três solos e controle da Galinsoga parviflora com oxyfluorfen, flumioxazin e linuron
Authors:   , Paula Dilma Francisca de
Published: April 2023

A utilização de herbicidas posicionados em pré-emergência das plantas daninhas é importante, contudo, existem poucos estudos relacionados ao efeito residual do oxyfluorfen e linuron, herbicidas utilizados na cultura do alho. Além disso, faltam informações referentes ao controle da Galinsoga parviflora. O objetivo com este estudo foi avaliar o efeito residual do oxyfluorfen e linuron em três solos com diferentes atributos físico-químicos e a eficiência de controle sobre diferentes doses dos herbicidas linuron, oxyfluorfen e flumioxazin na Galinsoga parviflora. A eficiência dos herbicidas foi avaliada sobre as doses: linuron (0, 30, 40, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 e 2430 gi.a. ha'?), flumioxazin (0, 2, 4, 6,8, 15,30, 40,60e 120 gi.a. ha!) e oxyfluorfen (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, 384 e 768 g iia ha”!) afim de determinar a dose dos herbicidas que causam 80% de injúria (Cso) aos 7, 14 e 21 dias após a emergência (DAE). Além disso, foi determinada a dose que causa 80% de redução do acúmulo da biomassa seca (GRso). O efeito residual do linuron e oxyfluorfen, foi avaliado em Latossolos, Argissolos e Cambissolos. Vasos de 0,35 dm? foram preenchidos e em seguida, os herbicidas foram aplicados nas doses: linuron 810 g i.a. ha! e oxyfluorfen 180 gi.a. ha! em diferentes épocas: 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 e 200 dias e as espécies bioindicadoras foram semeadas. As avaliações por meio da nota de nível de injúria dos herbicidas aos 7, 14 e 21 DAE foram realizadas, e determinado o tempo de meia-vida do residual do herbicida (RLso). Após a última avaliação, foi avaliada também a dose do herbicida que proporciona redução de 50% da produção de matéria seca da parte aérea (GRso). Os três herbicidas foram eficientes no controle de G. parviflora, com Cso a 21 DAE em Argissolo de 81,82, 4,59 e 141,26 gi.a. ha'!,e GRso de 61,8,3e 151,3 gi.a. ha! de oxyfluorfen, flumioxazin e linuron, respectivamente. No Latossolo (menor teor de argila e matéria orgânica), as doses foram menores, com Cso aos 21 DAE de 20,85, 3,50 e 118 gi.a. ha!, e GRao de 54, 4,03 e 101,23 gica. ha!, respectivamente. No estudo de efeito residual com aplicação de oxyfluorfen, a RLso aos 21 DAE foi de 59,57 e 51 dias e a GRso foi de 49, 47 e 31 dias para Argissolo, Latossolo e Cambissolo. A RLs0 com o linuron foi de 75, 92 e 149 dias e GRso de 52, 48 e 120 dias. O maior teor de matéria orgânica e argila do Argissolo em comparação com o Latossolo e Cambissolo, resultou em menor efeito residual do linuron. No oxyfluorfen houve pouca diferença entre o tipo de solo e o efeito residual na espécie,o que pode estar relacionado às características físico-químicas da molécula. O controle da G. parviflora pode ser alcançado com doses menores que a recomendada na bula, o que contribui para o controle sustentável de plantas daninhas. Palavras-chave: Teor de argila. Matéria-orgânica. Dose-resposta. Plantas daninhas.
The family dynamics of COVID-19 survivors: the perspectives of parents and their children
Authors: Qur'aniati Nuzul , Ilya Krisnana  , Erina Putri Dwi Adven , Handasari Mutiara
Published: April 2023

Objective: To explore the family dynamics of coronavirus disease-2019 survivors from the perspective of parents and children.
Method: The descriptive, qualitative study was conducted from May 27 to December 7, 2021, in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, and comprised parents and children of individuals who survived a coronavirus disease-2019 infection. Data was collected through in-depth interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Of the 18 subjects, 10(55.5%) were parents and 8(44.5%) were children of the survivors. Among the parents, 4(40%) were aged 30-40 years and 6(60%) were aged >40 years, while among the children, 6(75%) were aged 7-12 years and 2(25%) were aged 12-18 years. The three themes identified were factors shaping family response, response and problem-solving, and requiring care and social support.
Conclusion: Coronavirus disease-2019 patients, in addition to medical support need psychosocial support for better health outcomes.
Keywords: Psychosocial, COVID-19, Adaptation, Psychological, Social problems, Health.
Parents' behaviour in individual-level prevention in children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Surabaya
Authors: Arief Yuni Sufyanti , Kurnia Iqlima Dwi , Nurkholida Siti
Published: April 2023

Objective: To assess parental preventive behaviour related to children related to the coronavirus disease-2019.
Method: The descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2021 in Kalirungkut, Surabaya, Indonesia, after approval from the ethics review committee of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya. The sample comprised parents of children aged <5. Data was collected using the Indonesian version of the Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale questionnaire.
Results: Of the 125 subjects, 57(45.6%) were mothers and 68(54.4%) were fathers. Majority 63(50.3%) were aged 26-35 years, 82(85.6%) had completed senior high school, and 64(51.2%) had 2 children. Perceived susceptibility (p=0.044, rho=0.181), perceived severity (p=0.000, rho=0.363), perceived benefits (p=0.036, rho = 0.188), cues to action (p=0.018, rho=0.211) and self-efficacy (p=0.000, rho=0.345) were significantly related to parental behaviour, while perceived barrier was not significantly related (p=0.094, rho=-0.150).
Conclusion: All factors in the Health Belief Model were found to be related to parental preventive behaviour except perceived barriers.
Keywords: COVID-19, Children, Parental behaviour, Prevention.
Using a digital escape room to engage first year pre-registration nursing students in evidence-based practice learning: a case study
Authors: Donaghy Pamela , Gillies Chris , McCann Niall
Published: April 2023

If health professionals are to deliver care which reflects the best evidence available, they need to develop an understanding of how to find, appraise and use research to inform their clinical practice.

A digital escape room activity was designed for a first-year undergraduate module, to develop nursing students’ skills in the first three stages of evidence-based practice: developing a question, searching and appraising the literature. The escape room was hosted on the university’s virtual learning environment.

The evaluation of the activity is based on the feedback from a digital survey used with three consecutive first year undergraduate cohorts (n = 83) and the staff involved in the design and delivery of the activity.

Over 99% of students found the activity fun, with over 90% declaring that it was more engaging and motivating than other group learning activities. Almost 90% of students were looking forward to completing another DER type activity.

The feedback indicates that both staff and students were motivated by the digital learning experience, with a positive impact on group engagement and students’ perception of learning.
On ChatGPT: what promise remains for multiple choice assessment?
Authors: Gonsalves Chahna
Published: April 2023

Multiple-choice quizzes (MCQs) are a popular form of assessment. A rapid shift to online assessment during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, drove the uptake of MCQs, yet limited invigilation and wide access to material on the internet allow students to solve the questions via internet search. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) agent trained on a large language model, exacerbates this challenge as it responds to information retrieval questions with speed and a good level of accuracy. In this opinion piece, I contend that while the place of MCQ in summative assessment may be uncertain, current shortcomings of ChatGPT offer opportunities for continued formative use. I outline how ChatGPT’s limitations can inform effective question design. I provide tips for effective multiple-choice question design and outline implications for both academics and learning developers. This piece contributes to emerging debate on the impact of artificial intelligence on assessment in higher education. Its purpose is threefold: to (1) enhance academics’ understanding of effective MCQ design, (2) promote shared understanding and inform dialogue between academics and learning developers about MCQ assessment, and (3) highlight the potential implications on learning support.
Inclusive assessment in higher education: what does the literature tells us on how to define and design inclusive assessments?
Authors: Bain Katrin
Published: April 2023

In recent decades the diversity of university students has increased, and it has been observed that degree results vary between student groups. This degree awarding gap is particularly high between White students on the one hand and Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority students on the other. Assessments are a key aspect of closing the degree awarding gap. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore ‘What makes higher education assessments inclusive?’ and ‘How to design inclusive assessments in higher education?’. 14 articles were qualitatively analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Four dominant themes were found in the literature: defining ‘inclusive’, assessment, wider context, and student perspectives. In the literature a clear response to the first research question was found, defining inclusive assessment as the provision of assessments that allow all students to do well without receiving alternative or adapted assessments. The second question proved more difficult to answer. While some aspects of inclusive assessments could be identified, others are still unanswered. The results showed that assessments cannot be planned in isolation but need to be integrated within the wider course design. Only one of the articles included data on student grades and progression. The existing qualitative findings could be enhanced by parallel quantitative data to understand the impact of inclusive assessments on grades and their potential in closing the degree awarding gap. Ultimately, this paper will argue that the current literature concerning inclusive assessment is limited by the lack of data on student attainment.
Writing Circles: developing learner self-efficacy and agency through peer review activities
Authors: Busby David , Malone Cathy
Published: April 2023

This paper outlines evaluation of practitioner research into a writing development intervention used with a group of international students studying at Masters level in a UK university. The research was motivated by our understanding that academic writing provokes significant anxiety for students. Our methodology was informed by evidence in the literature pointing to the utility of group learning and giving and receiving peer feedback. We aimed to explore the extent to which structured writing analysis and facilitated group feedback activities (conducted through writing circles) influenced student perceptions of confidence in academic writing. Our thesis was that instruction in identifying and noticing elements of effective disciplinary writing combined with writing circles cycles of review and redrafting would lead to an improvement in measures of confidence in academic writing. We examined the impact on students through interviews in addition to pre- and post-intervention questionnaires which assessed self-confidence, anxiety and self-efficacy. This paper presents a clear, practical solution to the difficult problem of increasing students’ confidence in undertaking academic writing. Our results indicate a positive impact on overall confidence in academic writing, increased perception of agency and a decrease in anxiety. The findings align with a large body of research which indicate the positive impact on students on being given opportunity to give and receive feedback on their work. This case study demonstrates the value of writing circles as a  practical activity that acts as a generative frame for student activity. It affirms value of interdisciplinary practice sharing.
Assessing the benefits of online formative assessments on student performance
Authors: King Daniel
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates the impact of online formative assessments on students’ performance in an introductory accounting module. The online formative assessments were objective tests and a regression model was developed to test the relationship between formative assessment usage and exam performance. The statistical analysis shows a statistically significant correlation between formative assessment usage and examination performance while controlling for different variables. These findings lead to the conclusion that formative assessments are useful tools that can support students’ learning. Implications and recommendations for further research are covered.
The Centre for Learning and Teaching Associates Scheme: building a learning community for collaboration and impact
Authors: Smith Susan Virginia , Pickford Ruth , Sinclair Georgi , Ettenfield Laura
Published: April 2023

This paper presents the outcomes of a small research project that sought to explore the value of a Staff Associate scheme linked to the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) in a post-92 university. The Associates are a group of academic and professional service staff seconded from their Schools and services for one day a week, usually for a year, to work collaboratively with the core full time Centre for Learning and Teaching team on projects of interest which relate to learning development and align with the strategic aims of the university’s Education Plan. This paper reflects on the findings from narratives provided from autoethnographic Associate reflective diaries and survey responses that sought to explore the participants’ practice experiences, learning journeys, and perceptions of the value of their membership of the Associate scheme. The discussion is widened by the consideration of findings from the participants, which contributed to the iterative development and enhancement of the scheme. Findings showed a positive impact of the scheme on the Associate participants and their practice. They viewed the scheme as beneficial to their collaborative skills, the building of unusual synergies, and in the supporting of innovation and impact as cross-university learning developers. The paper concludes by drawing together themes from the research, lessons learnt, transferability of findings to other universities, and consideration of the requirements for a successful future scheme.
Choice matters: an investigation of students’ experiences selecting dissertation projects
Authors: Winder Isabelle
Published: April 2023

The final year dissertation is an important part of an undergraduate degree which delivers a wide range of subject-specific and transferable skills. It plays a significant part in students’ learning development and overall experience of university. Finding the right project is emotionally important to students and may underpin their subsequent motivation and engagement. Little is known, however, about how students make this important choice. This study aimed to learn more about students’ experiences of choosing a dissertation, how their choice processes varied and whether their choices worked out well for them. It surveyed 150 undergraduates in natural sciences at a UK university, asking a mix of qualitative and quantitative questions. Findings indicate that students value a range of factors when choosing their dissertation, most prominently interest in the subject and approach but also their existing familiarity with the area, the perceived benefits and demands of the work and staff support. Multivariate analysis suggests a variety of choice processes are in operation, with some students valuing content factors and others trading these off against relational ones. With hindsight, 91 respondents (60.7%) felt their choice process had worked well and 87 (58%) would choose the same way again. A subset, however, had felt unprepared to choose, and some of these were particularly unhappy with the outcome. The implication for learning development is that helping students learn to make conscious and informed choices and making dissertation modules student-centric is likely to significantly improve engagement and learning, especially for the less confident.
On Academia, Critical Pedagogy and ‘Coming Out’ as a Third Space Practitioner
Authors: Pollard Eileen
Published: April 2023

This opinion piece situates the practice of an experimental module I taught as an academic – Chester Retold: Unspoken Stories, Put into Words – within some theories of ‘community learning’.[1] Community learning is understood here to articulate and enact a combination of concepts taken from critical pedagogy (Freire, 2018; hooks, 1994), experiential learning (Kolb, 2015; Gibbs, 1988) and learning development (Webster, 2017). It is also informed, like all teaching, by the author’s own personal life and learning experiences within and without ‘communities’. The practice of Chester Retold made a contribution to all these theoretical fields, but in particular perhaps a conscious intervention into critical pedagogy and an unconscious one into the third space (Whitchurch, 2013; Lisewski, 2021), beginning with learning development.
 
[1] As its creator and module leader, I ran Chester Retold twice at the University of Chester (2018-2019).
Using an online escape room as a formative assessment tool during a lecture on HIV: a case study.
Authors: Licchelli Stefano , Barnett Laura
Published: April 2023

Escape rooms are becoming prevalent in their use as a form of playful learning and gamification in higher education, often used for a multitude of purposes to enhance students’ higher education learning experiences. Whilst studies have reported their valuable uses in a range of contexts, they have often focussed on undergraduates and fewer have explored their use in formative assessment practices. This case study seeks to address this gap by exploring the perceptions of postgraduate students in completing an online escape room activity as a form of formative assessment during an MSc lecture. Postgraduate students from the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey were invited to complete an online escape room as a form of formative assessment and took part in a follow-up qualitative survey to explore their perceptions of the activity not traditionally used in their course. The results from the case study showed that (1) the escape room was viewed positively by students as a novel and creative formative assessment practice, (2) the role of peers was important in the design of the assessment approach, and (3) students welcomed challenge and mastery of the learning outcomes and activity. This case study demonstrates initial positive findings about the use of escape rooms for formative assessment and advocates for further research to be conducted in this area. We also encourage HE teachers to think about how such practices could enhance students’ learning experiences in their own teaching contexts.
The Effect of Cats and Dogs on Bird Distribution
Authors: Aslanidis Orestis
Published: April 2023

Cats and dogs are very common pets in Greece and especially cats, are commonly allowed to roam freely and even become feral. This was thought to have detrimental effects on wildlife, especially birds. I evaluated whether cats and dogs affect the distribution of birds in the north-eastern provinces of Athens. Different areas were sampled and analyzed to determine if areas with different densities of dogs and cats have different densities of birds. Dogs, showed to not impact any bird species apart from Blackbirds which were surprisingly positively correlated with dogs. On the other hand, cats seem to impact Sardinian warblers and blackbirds negatively. Areas with more cats seemed to have a lower number of these two avian species. These findings support that cats can impact wild bird populations and that owners need to be responsible, while it shows no evidence to support that dogs can do the same. However, in this study there were not enough samples to statistically analyze the impact of these two animals on all bird species, while there were also no samples from different natural habitats other than dry Mediterranean bushland with few trees such as pine trees, olive trees and deciduous trees found in gardens.
INTEGRAL mission - Automation of Transponder Swaps Scheduling and Schedule Validation
Authors: Pavlíček Václav , De Padova Stefano
Published: April 2023

Human-made satellites allow to broaden the knowledge of the world by discovering new stars, and exoplanets, observing Earth, performing X-ray measurements and more. All satellites need to be controlled from Earth by the Flight Control Team (FCT) consisting of experts from a wide range of fields. The satellite INTEGRAL is controlled from the astronomy control room in the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) together with XMM-Newton and Gaia. Automation allows a single person to control three spacecrafts simultaneously and helps to reduce operational costs. This paper describes the automation of transponder swaps scheduling and mission schedule validation using tools developed in the programming language Python. Both tools were carefully tested in the defined verification process and marked as ready to be used. The developed tools allow faster mission planning for the INTEGRAL satellite thus saving the human resources of the FCT.
The Iran Contra Affair: Reagan's Greatest Failure
Authors: Whalen Connor
Published: April 2023

The paper is focused on the individuals who were involved in the affair directly and those who investigated the under the table dealings of the Reagan administration, as well as Reagan's part in the affair.  It also looks at how the affair came to light, and how the whole affair was swept under the rug within a few years due to popular U.S. Cold War beliefs and the fear of communism spreading. Even those appointed to investigate Reagan could not do much, since he was so popular, and would remain so after what he had done came to light. He was essentially slapped on the wrist for having a "lax managerial style", and was not removed from office. In the end, those convicted for their roles in the arms dealing were pardoned, even as late as 1991, by president HW Bush, who was Reagans vice president.
Generative Adversarial Networks: A Brief History and Overview
Authors: Gunasekaran Akhil
Published: April 2023

Over the past decade, research in the field of Deep Learning has brought about novel improvements in image generation and feature learning; one such example being a Generative Adversarial Network. However, these improvements have been coupled with an increasing demand on mathematical literacy and previous knowledge in the field. Therefore, in this literature review, I seek to introduce Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to a broader audience by explaining their background and intuition at a more foundational level. I begin by discussing the mathematical background of this architecture, specifically topics in linear algebra and probability theory. I then proceed to introduce GANs in a more theoretical framework, along with some of the literature on GANs, including their architectural improvements and image-generation capabilities. Finally, I cover state-of-the-art image generation through style-based methods, as well as their implications on society.
Oral Health and Nutrition in Children of Haiti
Authors: Jong Lucas , Kim Sage
Published: April 2023

One’s well-being cannot exclude physical health, particularly oral health. Good oral health in adulthood typically stems from childhood, hence the importance of children’s oral health in any country. However, in developing countries, with many burdens of development, oral health for children is often overlooked. Haiti, for example, is one such country where the number of orphans is overwhelmingly large, and what is available for their oral health care is haphazard at best. Haitian children, especially in orphanages, lack proper nutrition and readily available dental care. Diets high in refined carbohydrates, low in protein, little to no vitamins, minerals, fluoridated potable water, and limited access to quality dental care all contribute to the problem at hand, as well as the difficulty in distributing any foreign aid properly and prudently. This paper will review and discuss current data, including the population of orphans in Cite Soleil, the local availability of resources and personnel for delivery of proper dental care to the said population, what foreign aid can be sustainably brought into the locality and distributed properly, to improve the oral health for these children. A well-established local model from Cite Soleil may be used to scale up to the national level and beyond, perhaps to other developing nations.
The Effect of Antipyretics on Antibody Production in Pediatric Patients Post-Vaccination
Authors: Vora Aashi
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent vaccine administration renewed the question of the potential effect that antipyretics have on antibody levels post-vaccination in pediatric patients. Many patients take antipyretics to reduce side effects and fevers as they have anti-inflammatory properties. We reviewed the literature for studies examining the question of whether the consumption of antipyretics reduced post-vaccination antibody titers. We found that there is a correlation between antipyretics decreasing antibody production in the pediatric population when given prophylactically. However, to confirm these results more in depth studies are required. Our PICO question allowed us to narrow our focus into the pediatric population, antipyretic intervention, and antibody levels. Our results reflect a significant decrease in antibody levels, but antipyretics do not affect clinical efficiency of the vaccines. Our world relies on vaccine technology and it has allowed us to survive pandemics like the COVID 19 outbreak. In order to keep using these innovations safely, more trials must be conducted.
Potential Multiple Myeloma Therapeutic Strategies through Targeting Macrophages and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Hu William
Published: April 2023

Multiple Myeloma (MM), a bone marrow plasma cell hematopoietic cancer, remains a critical but incurable hematological malignancy, prone to deadly relapses even after existing treatment. In this review, I describe the origins of pro-tumor myeloma-associated macrophages. I specifically outline how classically activated anti-tumor macrophages that home to the cancerous bone marrow tumor microenvironment is polarized into pro-tumor macrophages. We then explain how these myeloma-associated macrophages play an important role in supporting multiple myeloma by enabling drug resistance, improved growth, angiogenesis, and protection. We also describe several treatments in development aimed to sever the supportive link between myeloma-associated macrophages and MM by blocking signaling pathways, destroying, or repolarizing macrophages and even preventing macrophage polarization in the first place. We conclude that careful study is needed to improve the reliability of targeting myeloma-associated macrophages to reduce MM relapse and comprehensively treat this cancer.
A Study of the Centaurus Cluster of Galaxies
Authors: Liu Eleanor
Published: April 2023

Galaxy clusters are one of the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe known to scientists. By modelling how gravitational structures interact with each other, we can also understand its structure and dynamics. This paper is an in depth study about the Centaurus cluster’s galaxies’ morphology, colour, velocity distribution and redshift. The Virial Theorem is applied in order to estimate the mass of the Centaurus Cluster.
Re-Imagining The Antarctic Treaty: Goals to Mitigate Ice Melting, Reduction of Zooplankton Communities, and Imbalances In the Arctic Ecosystem
Authors: Lee Anthony
Published: April 2023

In 2022, massive ice melts in Antarctica and Greenland reflect the human-induced impacts of climate change, and the necessity of using human solutions to respond to the global climate crisis. Although the current Antarctic Treaty characterizes Antarctica as a place of scientific reserve, it does not address the direct impacts of climate change on the cryosphere. Due to the growing mortality rate of the arctic zooplankton and their essentiality within the arctic food chain, this study proposes an “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” that presents the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem as an “emergency.” To better examine the correlation between ecosystems and human systems within the context of climate change, this research project asks: 1) How does characterizing the arctic zooplankton community as a “vulnerable species” address its essentiality to the arctic food chain? 2) What is the correlation between disruptive impacts to the arctic biosphere and negative impacts on human communities? 3) What role does the “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” play in addressing the necessity of integrating emergency climate discourse into ice melt trends in the Antarctic? By targeting the ecological impacts of climate change through the arctic food chain, the proposed “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” views the changing arctic ecosystem as mirroring effects of climate change on human communities, where the reduction of the arctic zooplankton species speaks to failures of the current Antarctic Treaty to address CO2 emissions.
A Study of Chaos in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits and Applications in Game Theory
Authors: Wang William , Wang Robert
Published: April 2023

Chaos is a ubiquitous part of daily life. The weather, fractal landscapes, and the double pendulum all embody the notion of chaos. The general concepts and the key characteristics of chaos are explored and manifested in a nonlinear electronic circuit known as the Chua’s circuit. The Chua’s Circuit was built and characterized to illustrate chaos behavior in the form of Lorenz attractors. The circuit chaotic behavior was further demonstrated in a numerical model built in MATLAB. More practical chaos applications in secure communication and game theory are discussed. A case study is presented at the end to apply the chaos concept into the model of the strength of poker hands, which displays properties of a chaotic system and resembles Elementary Cellular Automata (ECA) in the chaos application.
Nuclear + Renewable Energy = The Ideal Mix?
Authors: Tricarico Nathaniel , Savoia Sofia
Published: April 2023

Not much thought is given when flicking on the lights at home, but that energy travels from somewhere. Current energy production allows for modern luxuries like lights, TVs, and travel, but is also one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Given the problems the climate is currently facing it is vital to look out for the possible ramifications of certain power production. This thought process is crucial to keep in mind when deciding which source is best to run the world’s electricity and power. Each of these sources has its own set of positive and negative aspects but the benefits must outweigh the costs. Through researching past articles and studies, a synthesized analysis of several forms of renewable energy will be produced. In addition to this, the following question will be answered: can nuclear energy’s positives outweigh the costs and will it be the missing piece for sustainable energy? Looking into the background of the subject, it is known that nuclear energy is very reliable, powerful, and can be the base load which a power grid can be built on. A deeper investigation of how public opinion is largely affecting the ability for these power plants to be built, thus preventing the expansion and integration of nuclear energy, will also be included. This is a central topic as the only way to ensure that nuclear energy will be able to expand is to inform the population of its benefits and erase the negative connotation that comes with its name.
Mathematics Behind the RSA Algorithm
Authors: Das Rayan , Goldsztein Guillermo
Published: April 2023

Our world is becoming more interconnected through technology, with some notable examples being social media and online payment services. With this higher connection comes the increased risk of information, ranging from harmless text messages to credit card information, being stolen. These risks make cryptography, the field regarding the securing of messages, vital in order to minimize the chance of these data breaches. Essentially, this field is about creating, improving, and implementing various algorithms to encrypt and decrypt messages so only the sender and receiver can see the messages. This paper reviews one such algorithm, the RSA algorithm, and the mathematical concepts behind it.