Diverse Contexts Research Articles

3D genomic features across >50 diverse cell types reveal insights into the genomic architecture of childhood obesity.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, along with the associated common comorbidities of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Motivated by evidence for a strong genetic component, our prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) efforts for childhood obesity revealed 19 independent signals for the trait; however, the mechanism of action of these loci remains to be elucidated. To molecularly characterize these childhood obesity loci we sought to determine the underlying causal variants and the corresponding effector genes within diverse cellular contexts. Integrating childhood obesity GWAS summary statistics with our existing 3D genomic datasets for 57 human cell types, consisting of high-resolution promoter-focused Capture-C/Hi-C, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq, we applied stratified LD score regression and calculated the proportion of genome-wide SNP heritability attributable to cell type-specific features, revealing pancreatic alpha cell enrichment as the most statistically significant. Subsequent chromatin contact-based fine-mapping was carried out for genome-wide significant childhood obesity loci and their linkage disequilibrium proxies to implicate effector genes, yielded the most abundant number of candidate variants and target genes at the BDNF, ADCY3, TMEM18 and FTO loci in skeletal muscle myotubes and the pancreatic beta-cell line, EndoC-BH1. One novel implicated effector gene, ALKAL2 - an inflammation-responsive gene in nerve nociceptors - was observed at the key TMEM18 locus across multiple immune cell types. Interestingly, this observation was also supported through colocalization analysis using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) derived from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) dataset, supporting an inflammatory and neurologic component to the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. Our comprehensive appraisal of 3D genomic datasets generated in a myriad of different cell types provides genomic insights into pediatric obesity pathogenesis.

Bilaterally Normalized Scale-Consistent Sinkhorn Distance for Few-Shot Image Classification.

Few-shot image classification aims at exploring transferable features from base classes to recognize images of the unseen novel classes with only a few labeled images. Existing methods usually compare the support features and query features, which are implemented by either matching the global feature vectors or matching the local feature maps at the same position. However, few labeled images fail to capture all the diverse context and intraclass variations, leading to mismatch issues for existing methods. On one hand, due to the misaligned position and cluttered background, existing methods suffer from the object mismatch issue. On the other hand, due to the scale inconsistency between images, existing methods suffer from the scale mismatch issue. In this article, we propose the bilaterally normalized scale-consistent Sinkhorn distance (BSSD) to solve these issues. First, instead of same-position matching, we use the Sinkhorn distance to find an optimal matching between images, mitigating the object mismatch caused by misaligned position. Meanwhile, we propose the intraimage and interimage attentions as the bilateral normalization on the Sinkhorn distance to suppress the object mismatch caused by background clutter. Second, local feature maps are enhanced with the multiscale pooling strategy, making the Sinkhorn distance possible to find a consistent matching scale between images. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and we achieve the state-of-the-art on three few-shot benchmarks.

Image-Driven Harmonious Color Palette Generation for Diverse Information Visualization.

Color has been widely used to encode data in all types of visualizations. Effective color palettes contain discriminable and harmonious colors, which allow information from visualizations to be accurately and aesthetically conveyed. However, predefined color palettes not only lack the flexibility of custom color palette generation but also ignore the context in which the visualizations are used. Designing an effective color palette is a time-consuming and challenging process for users, even experts. In this work, we propose the generation of an image-based visualization color palette to exploit the human perception of visually appealing images while considering visualization cognition. By analyzing color palette constraints, including harmony, discrimination, and context, we propose an image-driven color generation method. We design a color clustering method in the saliency-hue plane based on visual importance detection and then select the palette based on the visualization color constraints. In addition, we design two color optimization and assignment strategies for visualizations of different data types. Evaluations through numeric indicators and user experiments demonstrate that the palettes predicted by our method are visually related to the original images and are aesthetically pleasing, supporting diverse visualization contexts and data types in practical applications.

Exploring linguistic signage in higher education: An empirical study of a linguistically diverse context

This study offers a comprehensive examination of the linguistic landscape in a nonmetropolitan university, focusing on the dominant language used in university signage. The study primarily delves into the multilingual characteristics and nature of Western Mindanao State University, situated in a linguistically-diverse environment. The study employed analytical categories, which was utilized to serve as basis in selecting and gathering data from various signages across the university, to ensure the accuracy of the data collection. The findings of the study indicated that the university contains five (5) languages that make its linguistic landscape, specifically: English (95.51%), Filipino (7.81%), Chavacano (3.07%), Tausug (1.28%), and Bisaya (0.64%). The data was analyzed using the content analysis to accurately interpret the taken photographs in the university. The study also uncovers the inequality of the number of signages, wherein majority of the signages are monolingual nature, and only limited on the bilingual and multilingual signs. The investigation also revealed a significant result that English is the dominant language used on signages despite the locale’s diverse linguistic and cultural background. The major findings of this study portray that Western Mindanao State University employs both official and non-official signages throughout the campus and in terms of linguistic diversity, local languages are not entirely prevalent and observable on the signages across the entire campus. Consequently, despite the university’s focus towards internationalization and global excellence, there is observable scarcity in multilingual signages. It is imperative to acknowledge the value of multilingual signages, not only for the purpose of communication, but for the preservation of local languages, that are crucial for cultural and ethnic representations.

Breaking Barriers and Balancing Bytes: Exploring Work-Life Balance among Female ICT Professionals in a South Telecommunications Company - A PhD Thesis Review

Research Aim: This review examines work-life balance experiences offemale Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionalsin the South African telecommunications sector from the organization,Telkom, drawing from Wiza Munyeka’s 2021 PhD thesis.Design/methodology/approach: The study, encompassing four researcharticles, employs a mixed-methods approach and is theoreticallygrounded in the Life Course perspective and Border Theory. ResearchResearch Findings:The research unveils Telkom’s proactive measures andemployee awareness regarding work-life balance policies. Telkom utilizeswork life balance policies and programmes namely the Telkom Touch(2018) and Telkom Policy on Hours of Work (Other WorkingOpportunities and Overtime) hours (2015). It emphasizes the universalchallenges faced by female ICT professionals, urging targetedinterventions.Theoretical Contribution/Originality: The study contributes significantlyby introducing the Work-Life Balance Framework, synthesizing keytheories and providing a practical guide for understanding andaddressing challenges in diverse contexts. This research review fills acritical gap in the literature, amplifies the voices of an understudieddemographic, and offers practical implications for organizational policies,interventions, and strategies to foster an inclusive and supportive workenvironment.Keywords: Work life balance; females; Information and CommunicationsTechnology; Life Course Perspective; Border Theory

Introduction to Sharia Economics and Financial Literacy for Elementary School Students

This research delves into the introduction of Sharia Economics and financial literacy among students at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. Recognizing the importance of financial education and ethical financial practices, especially in diverse educational settings, this study aims to bridge the gap in understanding Islamic finance principles and fostering financial literacy among students. The background of the problem lies in the necessity to equip students with comprehensive knowledge of Sharia Economics, aligning with the multicultural context of Kuala Lumpur. The primary objective of this research is to assess the effectiveness of integrating Sharia Economics education and financial literacy within the curriculum of an international school. Through a systematic methodology, including surveys, workshops, and curriculum analysis, the research evaluates the students' understanding and engagement with Sharia Economics principles and financial literacy concepts. The findings reveal the significance of incorporating Sharia Economics and financial literacy education in the curriculum, highlighting improved awareness and comprehension among students. The integration of real-life examples and interactive learning methods enhances students' practical understanding of ethical financial practices within the Islamic framework. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of promoting Sharia Economics education and financial literacy among students in international schools, emphasizing its role in shaping responsible financial behaviors and fostering a deeper understanding of ethical economic principles. The implications of this study extend beyond the classroom, emphasizing the broader significance of financial education in promoting economic sustainability and ethical financial practices in diverse global contexts.

Exploring place attachment: Insights from post-Gorkha earthquake resettlement planning in Nepal

This study investigates the relationship between place attachment and resettlement planning in Nepal post the Gorkha Earthquake of 2015. Focusing on functional place dependence, it analyses place attachment within the Panipokhari Integrated Settlement, designed for the Thami community in Dolakha district. Using "residential satisfaction" as a parameter to measure the influencing factors of place dependence, data were collected through a Likert scale survey, interviews, and observations. The analysis encompassed Cronbach's Alpha for reliability (α = 0.825), mean satisfaction scores for evaluation, and Spearman’s rank correlation to explore relationships between residential satisfaction parameters and place dependence factors. The study revealed significant correlations, highlighting varied influences on place attachment. Notably, social connectivity, represented by nearness to relatives (r = 0.720, p = 0.000), exhibited a strong positive correlation. Similarly, infrastructure amenities like electricity (r = 0.532, p = 0.000) displayed a relatively strong positive correlation, while access to health facilities (r = 0.447, p = 0.002) demonstrated a moderate positive correlation. Moreover, settlement planning components—kitchen gardens (r = 0.623, p = 0.000), open spaces (r = 0.578, p = 0.000), settlement layout (r = 0.549, p = 0.000), and cattle sheds (r = 0.574, p = 0.000)—significantly correlated with increased attachment. Additionally, housing design factors like immediate exterior spaces (r = 0.730, p = 0.000), spaces for life cycle rituals (r = 0.771, p = 0.000), and social events (r = 0.663, p = 0.000) and building performance factor winter thermal comfort (r = 0.606, p = 0.000)displayed substantial positive correlations. Acknowledging study limitations, it offers insights for planners and policymakers, stressing holistic approaches for sustainable resettlement. Future research should explore diverse factors and contexts, emphasizing the dynamic nature of place dependence. Ultimately, the study underscores the intricate relationship between satisfaction parameters and place attachment, urging comprehensive resettlement strategies.

Environment-driven evolution analysis of a product: A case study of braking system evolution

In response to evolving societal and technical demands, this research explores the dynamic landscape of product evolution, focusing on the case study of braking systems. Acknowledging the critical role of product evolution analysis in design phases, the study introduces the Environment-Based Design (EBD) methodology. EBD emphasizes environmental analysis before delving into product specifics, employing tools like Recursive Object Model (ROM) diagrams and questioning-and-answering analyses. The paper systematically unfolds with a literature review highlighting various design methodologies, followed by the EBD application in a braking system evolution analysis. Trends in environment components are dissected, emphasizing the increasing influence of the human environment. The discussion underlines the significance of analyzing environment components in product evolution and asserts EBD’s applicability. Despite limitations, such as the exclusive focus on braking systems, the study contributes to understanding product evolution dynamics and advocates for the continued exploration of EBD across diverse products and cultural contexts.

Dekadensi Kesantunan Berbahasa Mahasiswa Lintas Budaya di Universitas Tribhuwana Tunggadewi Malang: Kajian Antropososiopragmatik

This research examines the phenomenon of the decadence of language politeness by focusing on changes in politeness values ​​and the decline in communication ethics. This research is based on Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness which pays attention to the factors of social distance, social power, and threat ratings in communication, as well as anthroposociopragmatic theory to understand the influence of culture and social structure on language use. The method used is descriptive qualitative, with data collection through direct observation and analysis of student digital communication documents, especially via WhatsApp. Data analysis shows that there is a decline in politeness in language which is characterized by the use of less polite speech, both in daily communication between students and with lecturers. The research results show that the decadence of language politeness among cross-cultural students at Universitas Tribhuwana Tunggadewi Malang is influenced by various factors, including environmental influences, social media, and a lack of understanding of language politeness norms in diverse socio-cultural contexts. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding intercultural communication, cultural identity, and social interaction in overcoming the decadence of language politeness, as well as the need to integrate material on language politeness in higher education to develop effective and polite student communicative competence.

Crisis Management in Education: Strategies for Resilience and Adaptation in Diverse Cultural Contexts


 
 
 Crisis management in education is a critical aspect of ensuring the resilience and adaptation of educational systems, particularly in diverse cultural contexts. This article explores various strategies employed to address crises in education and examines their effectiveness across different cultural settings. Through qualitative methods, literature reviews, and library research, this study investigates how educational institutions respond to and recover from crises while considering the cultural nuances that influence these processes. In conclusion, crisis management in education requires a multifaceted approach that integrates proactive planning, resilience-building efforts, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication strategies. By adopting these strategies, educational institutions can enhance their capacity to respond to crises and promote resilience and adaptation in diverse cultural contexts. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of cultural considerations in crisis management and providing insights into best practices for ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff in times of crisis.
 
 

Phase separation in the presence of fractal aggregates.

Liquid-liquid phase separation in diverse manufacturing and biological contexts often occurs in the presence of aggregated particles or complex-shaped structures that do not actively participate in the phase separation process, but these "background" structures can serve to direct the macroscale phase separation morphology by their local symmetry-breaking presence. We perform Cahn-Hilliard phase-field simulations in two dimensions to investigate the morphological evolution, wetting, and domain growth phenomena during the phase separation of a binary mixture in contact with model fractal aggregates. Our simulations reveal that phase separation initially accelerates around the fractal due to the driving force of wetting, leading to the formation of the target composition patterns about the fractals, as previously observed for circular particles. After the formation of a wetting layer on the fractal, however, we observe a dramatic slowing-down in the kinetics of phase separation, and the characteristic domain size eventually "pins" to a finite value or approaches an asymptotic scaling regime as an ordinary phase if the phase separation loses memory of the aggregates when the scale of phase separation becomes much larger than the aggregate. Furthermore, we perform simulations to examine the effects of compositional interference between fractals with a view to elucidating interesting novel morphological features in the phase-separating mixture. Our findings should be helpful in understanding the qualitative aspects of the phase separation processes in mixtures containing particle aggregates relevant for coating, catalyst, adhesive, and electronic applications as well as in diverse biological contexts, where phase separation occurs in the presence of irregular heterogeneities.

Hypergraph of Functional Connectivity Based on Event-Related Coherence: Magnetoencephalography Data Analysis

We construct hypergraphs to analyze functional brain connectivity, leveraging event-related coherence in magnetoencephalography (MEG) data during the visual perception of a flickering image. Principal network characteristics are computed for the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency ranges. Employing a coherence measure, a statistical estimate of correlation between signal pairs across frequencies, we generate an edge time series, depicting how an edge evolves over time. This forms the basis for constructing an edge-to-edge functional connectivity network. We emphasize hyperedges as connected components in an absolute-valued functional connectivity network. Our coherence-based hypergraph construction specifically addresses functional connectivity among four brain lobes in both hemispheres: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. This approach enables a nuanced exploration of individual differences within diverse frequency bands, providing insights into the dynamic nature of brain connectivity during visual perception tasks. The results furnish compelling evidence supporting the hypothesis of cortico–cortical interactions occurring across varying scales. The derived hypergraph illustrates robust activation patterns in specific brain regions, indicative of their engagement across diverse cognitive contexts and different frequency bands. Our findings suggest potential integration or multifunctionality within the examined lobes, contributing valuable perspectives to our understanding of brain dynamics during visual perception.

Internalised deficit perspectives: positionality in culturally responsive pedagogical frameworks

ABSTRACT By showing that deficit thinking can manifest in an internalised sense among historically minoritised students, this paper examines the significance of ‘positionality’ in (re)conceptualising culturally responsive pedagogies (CRPs). Drawing from a study that explored the lived experiences of students participating in a culturally and linguistically diverse context, I demonstrate that whilst some students’ dispositions towards their home cultures and languages align with the anti-deficit and anti-racist agendas of CRPs, some dispositions present a counter-narrative and can be supportive of the status quo. I refer to these dispositions as ‘internalised deficit thinking or perspectives’. To capture this concept and, in a more general sense, the diverse subjectivities students used to navigate Westernised schooling arrangements, this paper advances the notion of positionality. Bringing ‘positionality’ into conversation with CRPs means confronting the relations of power, embodied by students of diverse backgrounds, in fostering socially just educational experiences.

Hidden traumas of coloniality of a South African child who received an academic scholarship

Background: Cultural dissonance and exclusion in schools persevere because of a lack of response to diversity. In South Africa, coloniality manifests itself in teaching and learning practices through promoting and privileging selective cultural norms in schools, often to the detriment of poor black children.Aim: Despite the availability of educational scholarships for poor children as a way to promote economic success, these opportunities are often laden with cultural and hegemonic expectations making them challenging to navigate, often rendering the experiences as traumatic rather than developmental.Setting: The article reflects on children’s schooling experiences in South Africa.Methods: This qualitative exposition presents insights from a primary school teacher about her own childhood experiences of exclusion, alienation, and cultural dissonance in South African schools.Results: It reveals the pervasiveness of coloniality and how social justice has still not fully permeated schools. The interplay between race and class remains salient.Conclusion: Schools should intensify efforts to promote inclusion by recognising diversity and avoiding normalising singular narratives in diverse contexts. Educational opportunities given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds should be accompanied by psycho-social support to ease the culture shock and alienation they feel when learning in new contexts that differ from their norm.Contribution: The article demonstrates that culture is more powerful than politics because, despite the democratic political context, the ‘cultural bomb’ of decoloniality is all-encompassing.

Concept of Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE) to Facilitate Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Prospects and Challenges

In the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), developing countries with limited resources face significant hurdles. Traditional top-down approaches, spearheaded by governments, often entail lengthy planning periods and substantial costs to reach underserved communities. This paper proposes a bottom-up, cost-effective, and preventive approach aimed at empowering local human resources and using advanced technology. We call it the Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE) model. The MHE model comprises four primary components: (1) utilization of local human resources, (2) disruptive healthcare technology, (3) continuous training, and (4) available funds. Extensive testing of the digital health and social business elements across diverse contexts underscores their efficacy. Furthermore, the viability of social business funds has been established. To solicit feedback and refine the MHE concept, three workshops, conducted in phases, engaged 60 community healthcare service providers. This paper elucidates both the potential advantages and the challenges inherent in implementing the MHE model. By shifting the paradigm toward grassroots empowerment and leveraging existing community assets, this approach offers promise in advancing healthcare accessibility and sustainability in resource-constrained settings to achieve UHC.

Framework for adaptive serious games

AbstractProfessional training presents a significant challenge for organizations, particularly in captivating and engaging employees in these learning initiatives. With the ever‐evolving landscape of workplace education, various learning modes have emerged within organizations, and e‐learning stands out as a prominent choice. This increasingly cost‐effective and adaptable solution has revolutionized training by facilitating numerous learning activities, including the seamless integration of educational games driven by cutting‐edge technologies. However, incorporating serious games into educational and professional settings introduces its own set of challenges, particularly in quantifying their tangible impact on learning and assessing their adaptability across diverse contexts. Organizations require a consistent framework to guide best practices in implementing e‐learning combined with serious games in professional training. The primary objective of this research is to bridge this gap. Rooted in the methodology of Design Science Research, it aims to provide a comprehensive framework for creating and assessing adaptive serious games that achieve desired learning and engagement outcomes. The overarching goal is to enhance the teaching–learning process in professional training, ultimately elevating student engagement and boosting learning outcomes to new heights. The proposal is grounded in a review of literature, expert insights, and user experiences with Serious Games in professional training, considering learning outcomes and forms of adaptation as essential characteristics for developing or evaluating Serious Games. The result is a framework designed to guide learners toward improved learning outcomes and increased engagement. The proposal underwent evaluation through triangulation, involving focus groups and expert interviews. Additionally, it was utilized in the development and assessment of a Serious Game, offering new insights and application suggestions. This experiment provided an evaluation of the framework based on real courses. In summary, this investigation contributes to the development of evidence‐based approaches for the effective use of Serious Games in professional training.

Current common prodrug delivery methods and biochemical property

Prodrugs are pivotal in overcoming drug delivery and absorption challenges. These bioreversible derivatives are strategically designed to address medicines poor bioavailability and administration constraints. Prodrugs offer versatile solutions for various delivery methods, including oral, dermal, nasal, and central nervous system (CNS) routes and tumor targeting. This literature review aims to summarize several prodrugs delivery methods. The report also focuses on the common concepts of prodrug design. The utilization of prodrugs also includes innovative strategies, such as receptor-mediated internalization and responsive drug release, demonstrating promising outcomes for cancer therapy. The application of prodrug methods is comprehensive. Prodrugs emerged as a universal approach to improve drug administration and absorption, with their applications spanning diverse medical contexts. By tailoring prodrugs to specific delivery routes and addressing unique challenges, researchers open avenues for more effective and targeted therapies. Further exploration and optimization of prodrug strategies hold the potential to revolutionize drug delivery in clinical settings. Although prodrugs have many advantages, there are still many possible future improvements. Many diseases or target organs still need help applying prodrugs even though the current drug design needs this technology for administration. Future research should focus on the lack of chemical stability, including considering the balance between aqueous solubility and lipophilicity. Also, the elimination of the formation of degradation by-products or the design of acceptable metabolism pathways is another aspect that should be considered.

Digital multimodal composing pedagogy in a university writing course

Abstract Digital multimodal composing (DMC) allows students to mobilize a wide range of multimodal resources to make meaning. While studies in DMC tended to focus on language-learning contexts, few of them examine its use in content-based courses whereby students are proficient L2 users expected to demonstrate understanding of abstract concepts using DMC. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with English-major students who attended a writing course in an English-medium instruction university in Hong Kong, the study investigated how the students’ view of DMC was transformed after exposure to DMC pedagogy. The study findings suggest that students developed an increased awareness of the affordances and constraints of (new media) writing, and they strategically bring in and bridge ‘in-class’ and ‘out-of-class’ digital practices. Students also reported on the opportunities and challenges of DMC pedagogy through reflecting on their DMC experiences. The study proposes suggestions for implementing DMC in diverse teaching and learning contexts.

Recent Advances in Tactile Sensory Systems: Mechanisms, Fabrication, and Applications.

Flexible electronics is a cutting-edge field that has paved the way for artificial tactile systems that mimic biological functions of sensing mechanical stimuli. These systems have an immense potential to enhance human-machine interactions (HMIs). However, tactile sensing still faces formidable challenges in delivering precise and nuanced feedback, such as achieving a high sensitivity to emulate human touch, coping with environmental variability, and devising algorithms that can effectively interpret tactile data for meaningful interactions in diverse contexts. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of tactile sensory systems, such as piezoresistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and triboelectric tactile sensors. We also review the state-of-the-art fabrication techniques for artificial tactile sensors. Next, we focus on the potential applications of HMIs, such as intelligent robotics, wearable devices, prosthetics, and medical healthcare. Finally, we conclude with the challenges and future development trends of tactile sensors.

Comparing AlUla and The Red Sea Saudi Arabia’s Giga Projects on Tourism towards a Sustainable Change in Destination Development

This paper examines architecture for tourism, focusing on destination design. In the past forty years, tourism destinations and their impact have been affected and transformed by emerging topics such as the impact of social media and the necessity of sustainable indicators in the tourism industry. In the global panorama of ongoing tourism transformations, Saudi Arabia has recently established new governmental opening regulations that started in 2019 for visitors and tourist visa entry. The country is facing a rapidly transforming economy, and new destinations for tourism will impact the country’s growth in the coming years as part of the Sustainable Destination Program in alignment with the ambitious targets of the Saudi National Vision 2030. The adopted methodology of the study compares selected parameters of two significant Saudi Arabian case studies, AlUla and The Red Sea Project (TRSP), for the ongoing sustainable tourism destination development of planned tourist giga projects. According to the findings, AlUla and TRSP demonstrated an intense commitment to sustainable tourism through their efforts concerning protected areas, environmentally friendly transport, and significant rewilding and reforestation. The research’s conclusion emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s commitment to innovative thinking, long-term growth, and sustainable tourism. The study’s implication is primarily suited for destination design; it suggests potential applicability even in smaller-scale tourism development projects or additional comparisons in sustainability design approaches in diverse contexts, particularly in the MENA region.