Critical Questions Research Articles

Effectiveness of Integrated Interactive Problem Based Learning E-Modules in Improving Critical Thinking Abilities

This study aims to analyze the improvement of students' critical thinking skills by using interactive modules integrated with problem-based learning on the excretory system material. The research method used pra experimental research design with a One-Shot Case Study. The data collection instrument was critical thinking ability test questions analyzed using SPSS version 27 software. The results showed a significant value for the T-test of 0.000 (<0.05), with an average N-gain score of 0.63, meaning there was a significant difference. The results of critical thinking abilities before and after using the PBL integrated interactive e-module with a significant increase of 0.63 (medium). So it is concluded that the PBL integrated interactive e-module is feasible, practical, and effective for improving students' critical thinking skills in studying biology on excretory system material.

Comparative Analysis of Human and Artificial Intelligence Planning in Production Processes

Artificial intelligence (AI) has found applications in enterprises′ production planning processes. However, a critical question remains: could AI replace human planners? We conducted a comparative analysis to evaluate the main task of planners in an intermittent process: planning the duration of production orders. Specifically, we analysed the results of a human planner using master data and those of an AI algorithm compared to the actual realisation. The case study was conducted in a large production company using a sample of production products and machines. We were able to confirm two of the three research questions (RQ1 and RQ3), while the results of the third question (RQ2) did not meet our expectations. The AI algorithms demonstrated significant improvement with each iteration. Despite this progress, it is still difficult to determine the exact threshold at which AI outperforms human planners due to the unpredictability of unexpected events. Even though AI significantly improves prediction accuracy, the inherent variability and incomplete input data pose a major challenge. As progress is made, robust data collection and management strategies need to be integrated to bridge the gap between the potential of AI and its practical application, fostering the symbiosis between human expertise and AI capabilities in production planning.

Enhancing Printability Through Design Feature Analysis for 3D Food Printing Process Optimization

We present a novel, systematic method for evaluating design printability in 3D food printing using a scoring system based on the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) guidelines. This study addresses a gap in the current literature by proposing a structured approach to assess and enhance the printability of 3D food designs. Our framework consists of a set of nine critical questions derived from the multi-level DfAM guidelines, focusing on key printability factors including unsupported features, geometric accuracy, and surface finish. The evaluation process converts qualitative assessments into numerical values, resulting in a comprehensive printability score that categorizes designs into high, moderate, or low printability levels. To validate the effectiveness of this method, we conducted a case study involving five different designs. The scoring system successfully explores the design space and maximizes the printability of 3D food products. This method alleviates the challenges in design evaluation compared with traditional trial-and-error approaches. The results demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of our framework’s output. The proposed methodology provides a structured approach to design evaluation, offering practical insights and a valuable tool for improving the success rate of 3D printed food products. This research contributes to the field by offering a systematic framework for assessing and enhancing the printability of 3D food designs, potentially accelerating the adoption and effectiveness of 3D food printing technology in various applications.

ChatGPT in Pharmacy Practice: Disruptive or Destructive Innovation? A Scoping Review

ChatGPT has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing clinical practice. However, its implementation raises critical questions about its impact on this field. In this scoping review, we explored the utility of ChatGPT in pharmacy practice. A search was conducted in five databases up to 23 May 2024. Studies analyzing the use of ChatGPT with direct or potential applications in pharmacy practice were included. A total of 839 records were identified, of which 14 studies were included: six tested ChatGPT version 3.5, three tested version 4.0, three tested both versions, one used version 3.0, and one did not specify the version. Only half of the studies evaluated ChatGPT in real-world scenarios. A reasonable number of papers analyzed the use of ChatGPT in pharmacy practice, highlighting both benefits and limitations. The studies indicated that ChatGPT is not fully prepared for use in pharmacy practice due to significant limitations. However, there is great potential for its application in this context in the near future, following further improvements to the tool. Further exploration of its use in pharmacy practice is required, along with proposing its conscious and appropriate utilization.

International Legal Guiding Principles for State Activity in Cyberspace

The rapid development of information technologies and the emergence of cyberspace as a new domain of state activity raises critical questions regarding the regulation of state actions within this space under international law. It is evident that international law applies to cyberspace; any contrary approach would create a legal vacuum, implying that states lack international legal obligations related to cyberspace and undermining state sovereignty in this new realm. Given that states are the primary subjects of international law, denying their applicability to cyberspace is existentially untenable. Despite the clear applicability of international legal principles to cyberspace, international law, like law in general, is often rigid and fails to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. Consequently, a key challenge in the international legal regulation of cyberspace is the specific application of international law in these contexts. This leads to several fundamental questions: How do the fundamental principles of international law apply to cyberspace? What is the effect of sovereignty in cyberspace? How are cyber operations attributed to the state? How is cyber-armed conflict regulated? This article addresses these fundamental issues of international legal regulation in cyberspace. Based on the findings of this research, draft guiding principles for state activity in cyberspace were proposed, which could serve as the foundation for an international methodological document, offering an alternative to the unrepresentative Tallinn Manual and potentially paving the way for a future universal international treaty in this area.

The Optimal Placement of the Head in the Noun Phrase. The Case of Demonstrative, Numeral, Adjective and Noun

ABSTRACT The word order of a sentence is shaped by multiple principles. The principle of syntactic dependency distance minimization is in conflict with the principle of surprisal minimization (or predictability maximization) in single head syntactic dependency structures: while the former predicts that the head should be placed at the centre of the linear arrangement, the latter predicts that the head should be placed at one of the ends (either first or last). A critical question is when surprisal minimization (or predictability maximization) should surpass syntactic dependency distance minimization. In the context of single head structures, it has been predicted that this is more likely to happen when two conditions are met, i.e. (a) fewer words are involved and (b) words are shorter. Here, we test the prediction on the noun phrase when it is composed of demonstrative, numeral, adjective, and noun. We find that, across preferred orders in languages, the noun tends to be placed at one of the ends, confirming the theoretical prediction. We also show evidence of anti-locality effects: syntactic dependency distances in preferred orders are longer than expected by chance.

Warm Arctic-Cold Eurasia pattern helps predict spring wildfire burned area in West Siberia.

Extreme wildfires have devastating impacts on multiple fronts, and associated carbon greatly heats the earth's climate. Whether and how to predict wildfires becomes a critical question. In this study, we find that the preceding-winter "warm Arctic-cold Eurasia" (WACE) pattern significantly enlarges the spring burned area in West Siberia. The winter WACE and accompanying snow reduction result in dryness and vegetationexposure in West Siberia in spring, increasing fire risks. A multiple linear regression model is constructed that successfully predicts the spring burned area in West Siberia one season in advance (R-squared coefficient=0.64). The same predictors also well predict the corresponding fire carbon emissions. Independent predictions for spring burned area in 2019 and 2020 are very close to observations, with a mean absolute percentage error of only 3.0%. The findings of this study provide a possibility for guarding humans against extreme wildfires and predicting sharp rises in carbon emissions.

The growing creative challenge for advertising engagement: An analysis of Super Bowl Ad Meter likeability scores from 2013 to 2024

ABSTRACT In the world of advertising, creativity is king. For at least fifty years, the Super Bowl has reigned as the industry’s annual showcase of creative commercials. This study explores consumer perceptions of television advertising creativity as reflected in the popular Super Bowl Ad Meter likeability scores. Specifically, are there any trends or patterns evident in likeability scores that shed light on emerging audience attitudes toward creativity? Analysis of likeability scores from 2013–2024 indicates that average ratings remain relatively constant. However, an intriguing trend appears with consistently decreasing variance among likeability scores year-on-year. This indicates growing homogeneity in advertising as the distinction between standout creativity and conformity grows more challenging to distinguish. Thus, a critical question for brands is: How can advertisers cut through and engage audiences? Recent Super Bowl favorites indicate potential formulas for success – humor, heartwarming narratives, and celebrity identities. As the advertising landscape evolves, future research should explore emerging opportunities to engage audiences and distinguish brands from a sea of sameness.

The Elephant(s) in the Newsroom: A Mixed Methods Study on the Use of News Agency Material

ABSTRACT News agencies remain one of the most important sources of journalistic reporting. It is all the more astonishing that, with a few exceptions, they still represent a major blind spot in journalism research. Using a mixed method approach of quantitative content analysis and qualitative interviews with practitioners from media outlets and news agencies, this study investigates how and how much online media outlets of different media types located in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia use material from different news agencies. The study also examines the differences in subject areas and geographical reference areas and explores the rationale behind how and how much news agency material is used. The study confirms the very high and, partially, even increasing relevance of news agencies in media markets in the present and the foreseeable future. It also asks critical questions about the implications for journalism and democratic societies as a whole.

UK Khat Prohibition and the Making of a Harmful Drug

This article delves into the complex dynamics of khat (Catha edulis) prohibition in the UK, with a particular focus on a Somali community in north-west London. Despite the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs finding no substantial evidence of khat causing societal or medical harms and recommending public health interventions instead of prohibition, the UK Home Office classified khat as a Class C drug in June 2014. This decision raises critical questions about what constitutes a harmful drug. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted during the peak of prohibition discourse in 2013–14, the article explores how notions of harm operate across moral, political, and epistemological registers as people grapple with framing khat’s drug status and the effects of its use. It illustrates how prohibition discourse not only amplified perceptions of khat’s harmfulness but also sidelined the more nuanced concerns of Somali community members over persistent socioeconomic integration issues, mental health, and social marginalisation. Thus, the harm of khat may not lie in its potency as a psychoactive substance but as an object of prohibition that overshadows interventions to address the adverse conditions associated with its use among certain individuals.

Reanimating Hobbes’s Materialism: Afterthoughts on Samantha Frost’s Lessons from a Materialist Thinker

Abstract This contribution to a symposium on Samantha Frost’s Lessons from a Materialist Thinker considers Frost’s interpretation of Hobbesian Man and the connection between man and the Commonwealth. Particular attention is paid to Frost’s interpretation of man as an interdependent and intersubjective living creature and the relationship between living embodiment and agency. Through this focused examination, this contribution aims to elucidate the critical questions raised by Lessons and identify promising avenues for future Hobbes scholarship by highlighting the key insights that reshape our understanding of his enduring influence on modern political thought.

Give Credit Where It’s Due: The Ethical Imperatives of Authorship Attribution in Collaborative Research

This article proposes practical steps for those new to collaborative research or those seeking to improve the nature of collaborative research partnerships. Questioning academia’s exaltation of publications and authorship as coveted assets, the authors critically analyze the often complex, contentious, and ambiguous environment of collaborative research and negotiating authorship. With respect to academic publishing and ethics of authorship, this article grapples with two critical questions: (1) What factors create ethical dilemmas in authorship in academia? (2) How can academics and researchers better navigate the complexities of collaborative research to sustain ethical authorship practices? A seven-phase process model is proposed to guide the collaborative research process to mitigate ambiguities that reside in the black box. The seven phases encompass problem settings and pre-negotiations, direction setting: action planning, social capital, re-negotiations, equity and inclusivity, implementation- the submission-revision cycle, and reflexivity. This theoretical analysis aims to offer a useful resource to promote enhanced collaborative practices, and the authors take an explicit advocacy and visionary perspective to promote transparency, accountability, and reciprocal trust, to shatter overarching issues such as oppressive, deceitful, and exploitative norms in academic authorship practices.

Exploring the Association between Parenting Stress and a Child’s Exposure to Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)

AbstractHigh levels of parenting stress, defined as a caregiver or parent feeling stress or aggravation from parenting, has been previously shown to be associated with an increased likelihood of neglect, child maltreatment, and household dysfunction: adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Despite the potential mitigation of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on ACEs, prior studies on the increased likelihood of a child experiencing ACEs due to parenting stress have left a critical question unanswered: whether high parenting stress may decrease a child’s likelihood of experiencing PCEs. We analyzed the 2019–2020 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine whether higher levels of parenting stress are associated with the lower likelihood of experiencing PCEs among children. Children with caregivers experiencing high parenting stress had a lower odds of experiencing many types of PCEs, including after school activities (aOR 0.48; 95% CI 0.38–0.57), community volunteer (aOR 0.63; 95% CI 0.52–0.77), and guiding mentor (aOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.50–0.85). Lowering parenting stress through economic supports and parenting programs/interventions could increase the likelihood that a child experiences PCEs.

Probing Spatial Energy Flow in Plasmonic Catalysts from Charge Excitation to Heating: Nonhomogeneous Energy Distribution as a Fundamental Feature of Plasmonic Chemistry.

Plasmonic catalysts use light to drive chemical reactions. One critical question is how light energy moves at nanoscales in these complex systems, leading to chemical transformations. In this contribution, we map out this energy flow by developing approaches to measure spatial temperature distributions in heterogeneous plasmonic catalysts, consisting of three-dimensional networks of plasmonic nanoparticles anchored on an oxide support. We survey the local temperatures of molecules adsorbed on catalytically active plasmonic nanoparticles, the nanoparticles themselves, and the catalyst support, under steady-state continuous-wave illumination. We reveal the existence of large temperature gradients, in which the local temperatures of the molecules, nanoparticles, and the surrounding environment can vary greatly. We show that these temperature gradients are a natural consequence of plasmon relaxation, involving the interconversion between electromagnetic light energy, electronic excitations, and heating of various entities as these electronic excitations relax. The presence of these gradients is a fundamental and unique feature of gas-phase plasmonic catalysis.

Buonocore Memorial Lecture 2023: Longevity of Dental Restorations or Longevity of Teeth: What Matters?

This paper aims to raise a discussion from the perspective of maintaining long-term oral health, posing a critical question: What holds greater significance for maintaining oral health, the longevity of restorations or teeth? This question explores the aspects that truly matter in ensuring sustained oral health throughout an individual's life. Restoration longevity is well-researched, and evidence shows several risk factors influencing longevity. The dentist's decision-making factor may be of utmost importance, and further studies are needed to investigate its relevance. The critical risk factors for restoration longevity are active pathology (high caries risk), less prominent parafunction, and extensive defects such as endodontic treatment. However, tooth longevity and the main risk factors for tooth loss are not well-researched. The evidence shows dental caries, and its sequelae, are the principal reasons for tooth loss. Patient-related risk factors, especially those associated with lifestyle and health choices, play a major role in the longevity of restorations and, more importantly, tooth longevity. To provide personalized dental care with maximum patient benefit, clinicians should identify and record potential risk factors, promoting a healthy lifestyle to ensure tooth and dentition longevity. Moreover, the evidence suggests that decision-making frameworks based on minimal intervention principles offer the best standard for clinical practice, promoting a longstanding healthy oral environment.

‘Grand designs?’ Investigating the cultural and spatial logics of Channel 4’s media hub workspaces in Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow

This article explores the evolving spatiality of media production through an analysis of recent developments in UK broadcaster Channel 4’s move to a multi-site operating model. Historically, media buildings have served as landmarks of power and influence, embodying the aspirations and identities of media organisations and, as such, offer a fruitful lens for the specific exploration of the spaces of contemporary media production. Through a detailed analysis of Channel 4’s decision-making process, site selections and the significance of the chosen buildings within areas with an urban regeneration focus, the study investigates the complex interplay between media industry dynamics, regional development policies, and wider political and economic forces. Drawing on a range of academic literature and evidence from media, industry and policy reporting, the article highlights the strategic motivations behind Channel 4’s decentralisation efforts, positioned by the organisation as an effort to address diversity in terms of nations and regions representation but significantly shaped by political factors. However, it also raises critical questions about the long-term sustainability, economic viability and cultural impact of these relocation decisions. The article discusses how Channel 4’s regional media spaces and decentralisation reflect the impermanence and crisis facing Public Service Media, emphasising the shifting power dynamics within the media landscape and the need for adaptive strategies in an increasingly volatile industry environment. By examining the evolving investment in media buildings, this research contributes to a growing body of research seeking to understand the complex dynamics shaping contemporary media landscapes and urban environments.

Designing and Learning With Pedagogical Agents: An Umbrella Review

Pedagogical agents are virtual characters that instructional designers include in learning environments to help students learn. Research in the area has flourished for thirty years, yet there are still critical questions about the efficacy of pedagogical agents for influencing learning and affect. As such, we conducted an umbrella review to synthesize the field. We located 17 systematic reviews or meta-analyses focused on the use of pedagogical agents in educational settings. We found that agents can have small positive effects on learning, motivation, and other affective variables. However, we still cannot say how one should design a pedagogical agent for any given educational context. We highlight the limitations of existing theory in the area, as well as existing reviews from a practical and methodological perspective, and highlight productive areas for future research.

Nano-based perivascular intervention sustains a nine-month long-term suppression of intimal hyperplasia in vein grafts

Open vascular reconstructions (OVR), including bypass grafts and dialysis access, are standard treatments for cardiovascular and renal diseases. Unfortunately, OVR often fail largely due to intimal hyperplasia (IH), and there are no clinical methods to prevent this complication. Perivascular drug administration during OVR presents a promising strategy for IH suppression. However, durations of drug release from carriers are generally short whereas sustained efficacy is essential for clinical success. This raises a critical question in clinical translation: can IH suppression be realistically maintained long-term (e.g., over 6 months) with short-term perivascular interventions? To address this question, we modified a rat vein-graft model to prolong IH progression. We then applied Pericelle, a nanoparticle/hydrogel hybrid system that we developed for perivascular delivery of rapamycin, an established IH-inhibitory drug. Surprisingly, despite short (∼3-month) drug release, Pericelle demonstrated IH suppression throughout 3, 6, and 9 months with IH reduced from 115.58 ± 27.89 to 40.34 ± 5.18 at 9 months (P < 0.05, n = 6 rats), as indicated by morphometric analysis. Live animal ultrasonography showed the same trend. Consistently, histone-3 lysine-27 trimethylation, an epigenetic mark associated with IH progression, was decreased at 6 months after Pericelle treatment. Moreover, Pericelle exhibited promising efficacy in mitigating IH in a porcine model of arteriovenous fistula that mimics dialysis access. These results suggest that Pericelle-mediated suppression of IH in rat vein-grafts extends much beyond drug release, offering potential solutions to longstanding translational challenges in reducing OVR failure.

Critical Questions About CSEP, in the Spirit of Dave, Yan, and Ilya

Abstract In honor of our dear departed friends Yan Kagan, Dave Jackson, and Ilya Zaliapin, we propose a selection of broad questions regarding earthquake forecasting and especially the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP) in particular and give our thoughts on their answers. This article reflects our opinions, not necessarily those of Yan Kagan, Dave Jackson, and Ilya Zaliapin, and not necessarily those of the seismological community at large. Rather than provide definitive answers, we hope to provoke the reader to think further about these important topics. We feel that Dave Jackson in particular might have liked this approach and may have seen this as an appropriate goal.

Optimal resource allocation for rapid convergence to stable healthy state in epidemic spreading models

The networked Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible (SIS) model has been widely investigated as a model for the spread of epidemics within networked systems. In networks with SIS dynamics and unstable healthy states, a critical question is how to distribute compensatory curing resources (with constrained total cost) among individuals, ensuring that the network converges to a healthy state as fast as possible. This paper introduces a novel approach to this problem by developing an algorithm for the optimal allocation of compensatory curing resources required by agents in a given network. This solution approach has been made possible by reformulating the original convergence rate optimization problem and an additional constraint guaranteeing a minimum convergence rate as a standard semidefinite programming problem. The applicability of the proposed algorithm to arbitrary undirected topologies and other variations of the SIS model, including the one with a weighted cost function, has been demonstrated. In the case of symmetry preserving curing and infection rates, it has been shown that the problem over a given network with a symmetric topology can be reduced to a smaller network with each orbit acting as a node. Additionally, for networks with one or two orbits, the problem has been addressed analytically, and several examples have been included. Based on two different scenarios inspired by the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA, it is shown that the algorithm's optimal results outperform the uniform distribution of additional curing resources. The paper also explores how optimal performance metrics change with the given upper limit on the total amount of additional curing resources.