Science Program Research Articles

Linked patterns of symptoms and cognitive covariation with functional brain controllability in major depressive disorder

Controllability analysis is an approach developed for evaluating the ability of a brain region to modulate function in other regions, which has been found to be altered in major depressive disorder (MDD). Both depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments are prominent features of MDD, but the case-control differences of controllability between MDD and controls can not fully interpret the contribution of both clinical symptoms and cognition to brain controllability and linked patterns among them in MDD. Sparse canonical correlation analysis was used to investigate the associations between resting-state functional brain controllability at the network level and clinical symptoms and cognition in 99 first-episode medication-naïve patients with MDD. Average controllability was significantly correlated with clinical features. The average controllability of the dorsal attention network (DAN) and visual network had the highest correlations with clinical variables. Among clinical variables, depressed mood, suicidal ideation and behaviour, impaired work and activities, and gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly negatively associated with average controllability, and reduced cognitive flexibility was associated with reduced average controllability. These findings highlight the importance of brain regions in modulating activity across brain networks in MDD, given their associations with symptoms and cognitive impairments observed in our study. Disrupted control of brain reconfiguration of DAN and visual network during their state transitions may represent a core brain mechanism for the behavioural impairments observed in MDD. National Natural Science Foundation of China (82001795 and 82027808), National Key R&D Program (2022YFC2009900), and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2024NSFSC0653).

Fostering STEM Education in Primary Schools: A Review of strategies for enhancing science skills, design thinking, and inquiry-based learning

This systematic literature review investigates strategies and findings to enhance science process skills, design thinking, and inquiry-based learning in primary education. By analyzing 9 Web of Science and Scopus databases articles, the review identifies successful pedagogical approaches, the role of technology-rich environments and scaffolding strategies, and the impact of individual differences in developing these skills. The results highlight the effectiveness of innovative pedagogy, technology-rich environments, scaffolding, and differentiated instruction. However, the review also reveals research gaps, such as the need for long-term studies, exploring the effectiveness of technology-rich environments and scaffolding strategies in the leading science program, and assessing differentiated teaching and guidance strategies.

Missing the Link: Stakeholders’ Perception Towards Agriculture Academic Institutions Contribution to Integrate Research Extension and Education Institutions in Nepal

Currently, thirty Agriculture Academic Institutions (AAI) in two broad categories: constituent campuses and affiliated colleges under six universities are executing agriculture and veterinary science programs nationwide. All these universities have different course curricula, faculties, academic resources, and research & outreach capacities. Literature show that Nepalese AAIs have minimal activities to engage their graduates in communities and service learning. In this sense, AAIs are missing the opportunities to connect farming communities, enterprises and industries. Similarly, faculties of AAIs are mostly confined to classroom teaching and their competencies of engagement in the policy arena are under-utilized. Further, faculties and researchers because of their limited participation in policy engagement are missing the opportunities to share their evidence, expertise and experiences in the (Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education) AREE network. On this ground, a study was designed to capture the AREE stakeholders’ opinion that ‘Should academic institutions be a part of agriculture research, dissemination of technologies and policy engagement along with the teaching-learning activities?’ A cross-sectional perceptual survey was conducted (n=250) using a five-point Likert scale. Cross-tab analysis and one-way ANOVA were conducted to assess the difference in the stakeholders’ opinions. The reliability coefficient (0.633) was calculated using Cronbach alpha reliability methods. The findings showed that stakeholders perceived AAI should not be confined merely to teaching-learning activities. It means the stakeholders desire to review the existing mandates of education institutions and expand their roles in the tripartite functions of research extension and education. The stakeholders are not in favor of establishing an arrangement for the apex agency to integrate all of these institutions. To connect and strengthen linkage and integration between AREE institutions, classroom components should be connected with farming & business communities, and industries through service learning in community multi-stakeholder platforms.

A streamlined and adaptive approach for accrediting a French education system program by ABET-EAC

IntroductionIn recent times, there has been a notable increase in the demand for accreditations, driven by their essential role in recognizing diplomas, elevating the quality of higher education, facilitating student mobility, enabling the pursuit of multiple degrees, and influencing university rankings. This surge in demand reflects the evolving landscape of higher education in a world that is becoming progressively interconnected and competitive.MethodsThis paper presents a comprehensive methodology for accrediting study programs in French higher education institutions worldwide that are seeking the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation. ABET accreditation is a globally recognized organism of quality for education programs in engineering, computer science, and related fields. The methodology proposed in this paper focuses on aligning ABET’s requirements and standards with the specific context of the French Education System (FES). It provides clear guidelines and practical steps for higher education institutions to effectively navigate the accreditation process. The methodology covers the verification of existing study programs, identification of areas for improvement, implementation of corrective actions, and continuous progress monitoring. It emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and aligning programs with the Program Educational Objectives (POEs). Concrete examples and best practices are shared to illustrate successful implementation of the methodology developed based on the example of the engineering college programs at our university.Results and discussionThe results obtained in this case study demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of this approach within a specific educational context. The approach presented in this contribution can serve as a model for other countries seeking to adapt ABET accreditation requirements to their own higher education systems, further promoting diversity and openness. This reinforces the credibility of the methodology and paves the way for its use in other institutions and programs that operate within similar systems.

Perancangan Modifikasi Alat Antropometri sebagai Solusi Ketepatan Pengukuran Berbasis Sensor Ultrasonik

This research aims to create a modification of a baby anthropometric measuring tool including sensor-based measurements of the baby's length and weight as well as a head circumference measuring tool contained in one tool. 4 students from the Nursing Science and Electrical Engineering study programs participated in the development of this anthropometric tool with a sample of toddlers at the Integrated Service Post as a trial of the tool. This research uses a Research and Development (R&D) method approach. The tool used uses an electronic circuit based on an ultrasonic sensor and an Arduino nano microcontroller. This tool works automatically by connecting it to a power source then pressing the start button located outside the box marked by the monitor screen saying MODAS Baby as a sign that the test will start. When the sample is in the MODAS Baby box according to the procedure, this tool will automatically calculate the baby's length and weight. While waiting for the results to come out, you can measure the head circumference which is right under the baby's head. The results of the baby's body length and weight measurements are displayed on the LCD located on the surface of the box

Identifying factors influencing program selection in health sciences by underrepresented minority students—a scoping review

There is a critical need to diversify health professionals to better serve the growing minority population in North America. Unfortunately, minority groups remain underrepresented in health professions. Despite recruitment efforts by government and academic institutions, fewer underrepresented minority (URM) students choose careers in healthcare. Identifying the key factors influencing URM students’ decisions to pursue health sciences programs could enhance diversity in these programs through targeted admissions strategies, ultimately leading to a more diverse future healthcare workforce. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Five electronic databases and gray literature were searched to identify North American papers published between 1942 and 2022. Identified studies focused on URM students’ perceptions of facilitators and barriers to matriculate into a health science degree. Twenty-one articles were analyzed. Following content analysis, the facilitators and barriers identified comprised personal, socio-cultural, institutional, and financial. The most frequent facilitators reported were scholarships, family support, and the presence of role models. Common barriers included high tuition fees, pre-admission criteria, lack of awareness about the health profession, availability of financial aid, and the admission process. The findings of this review will facilitate the development and implementation of customized, comprehensive strategies to recruit more URM students to health science programs in the future, thereby improving efforts toward creating a diverse healthcare workforce.

Knowledge towards the health impacts of climate change and associated factors among undergraduate health sciences students in Amhara region: a multi-centered study

BackgroundIncreased knowledge about the health impacts of climate change would motivate health students and health professionals to adopt sustainable healthcare practices, design climate-centered health programs, help build climate-resilient health systems, and ultimately contribute to the global effort of mitigating climate change.MethodAn Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Universities in the Amhara region. A total of 616 undergraduate health science students were included from three Universities. A validated, self-administered structured questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using STATA™ version 14.0. A Logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with the health impacts of climate change. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.ResultOnly 48.5% (95% CI: 44.6, 52.4) of students had good knowledge regarding the health impacts of climate change. Sex of the student—male (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.032, 2.023), University (AOR = 0.534, 95% CI: 0.360, 0.792), and Department—comprehensive Nursing, (AOR = 0.264, 95% CI: 0.117, 0.592), Midwifery (AOR = 0.201, 95% CI: 0.085, 0.476), and Medical Laboratory (AOR = 0.151, 95% CI: 0.055, 0.413) were significantly associated factors.ConclusionThe knowledge of the health impacts of climate change among health science students was low. Sex, University, and Department were the associated factors. Hence, undergraduate health science programs should incorporate at least the fundamental details of climate change. Universities should also develop and use a harmonized curriculum.

Rural Elementary Teachers’ Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy Through Community-Based Citizen Science

ABSTRACT While both citizen science engagements and computational thinking practices can mutually support student ownership in the science classroom, both face similar challenges to adoption in that they require teachers to openly position themselves as learners alongside their students. This dual role—as a teacher and as a learner—poses self-efficacy challenges that may preclude teachers from exploring these important pedagogical tools and perspectives in their classrooms. We present a cross-case analysis of three experienced teachers in rural elementary and middle schools as they integrate computational thinking in a year-long, student-led community-based citizen science project. Drawing from interview data, we illustrate how teachers’ capacity to embrace their role of co-learners alongside their students redefined “mastery experiences” of teaching self-efficacy. Specifically, the case teachers evaluated their successful use of computational thinking within the community-based citizen science program in ways that valued student curiosity and discovery over mastery of content. In this way, their self-efficacy for using computational thinking developed when they saw and shared these activities in themselves and their students. We further illustrate how contextual contributors of the professional development program and their rural schools and districts contributed to their comfort in experimenting with new instructional approaches, which helped them to build the mastery experiences that fueled further exploration of computational thinking within their classroom’s community-based citizen science investigations.

From a citizen science programme to a coastline monitoring system: Achievements and lessons learnt from the Spanish CoastSnap network

Citizen science-based monitoring projects have emerged as powerful tools for understanding morphodynamic changes in beaches and fostering the democratization of coastal research and management. The CoastSnap initiative exemplifies this approach. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the background and evolution of the CoastSnap initiative in Spain, analyzing its performance during its first five operational years in the country (2018–2022) and its success in engaging diverse participants and stakeholders. The Spanish CoastSnap network effectively harnessed community involvement leading to significant data collection to enhance scientific understanding of shoreline dynamics. The analysis of community participation statistics demonstrates the influence of local customs on CoastSnap use, with variable engagement trends related to geographic factors and different beach users’ preferences. Challenges in maintaining project momentum and ensuring data accuracy underscore the need for continuous support and resources to sustain citizen science initiatives, while also encouraging the integration of local knowledge and expertise. This study provides insights for similar citizen science projects, highlighting the potential of collaborative efforts in addressing the complex monitoring of coastal ecosystems. The organization, achievements, impacts, and challenges of the Spanish CoastSnap network offer valuable guidance for further applications of the CoastSnap approach, future research directions, and enhance knowledge exchange to establish international best practices.

Graduate Student Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Individual Development Plans

Individual development plans (IDPs) are increasingly being used in higher education to provide personalized guidance to students that can foster a more purposeful and productive education experience. In this study, we document the graduate student’s perspective on the effectiveness of the IDP based on responses from students in course- and thesis-based masters and doctoral programs in science and social science. Informational interviews and mentor meetings were seen as the most useful components of the IDP. Students also felt that the IDP had helped them with many career development activities, but they also highlighted several challenges. Findings from a content and thematic analysis provide insight for those interested in implementing the IDP at their own institution.

How do we prepare our youth for a world of big data?

How do we prepare our youth for a world of big data? Nancy Butler Songer, Associate Provost of STEM Education at the University of Utah, considers the importance of developing primary and secondary school programs in STEM fields that support students in developing the competencies with big data. We all know something about Big Data. This term describes massive volumes of structured and unstructured data that influence nearly every decision in our lives. A recent report by the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine stated, ‘We live in a world where nearly every interaction—both personal and professional—is mediated through data’. (1) As dedicated scientists and educators, it is our crucial responsibility to develop and evaluate primary and secondary school programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) that can identify and guide students in developing the competencies with data that students need to navigate the Big Data world of the present and future. But what are these competencies?

Incorporating WhatsApp to Increase Writing Skills of the Tenth Graders

This study reviews the effect of incorporating WhatsApp to develop self-introduction writing skills of tenth graders. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a positive effect on students’ writing skills. This research design used an embedded mixed method design the main research design is a nonrandomized control group, posttest-only design, and supported with descriptive qualitative. This study was implemented on twenty-four students of one public senior high school in Sidoarjo majoring in Science Program. Furthermore, the post-test was used to determine the learning outcome of the experimental and control groups. The test has already been validated. The technique of data analysis applied t-test by the prerequisite normality and homogeneity test. The result of this study shows that (1) there is a positive effect on students’ skill in self-introduction by incorporating WA. The Analysis of the t-test is 6.6751 at 0.05 level significance with 22 degrees of freedom is higher than which is 2.074. As the t-test value was higher than the t-table, HO was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis (Ha) was accepted. (2) The aspects of writing in the experimental group of four (content, organization, vocabulary, and language use) were “Excellent”. But the mechanic aspect obtained “Good”. And the aspects of writing in the control group of two (content and organization) were “Excellent”. Vocabulary, language use, and mechanics are “Good”.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement of an Undergraduate Data Science Program

In recent years, there has been an explosion in the growth of undergraduate statistics and data science programs across the US. Simultaneously, there has been clear guidance written on curriculum development for both data science (De Veaux et al.) and statistics (Carver et al.) programs. While this was occurring, ABET (now simply an acronym, but previously standing for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), in coordination with organizations such as the American Statistical Association, developed accreditation criteria for Data Science programs. In this article, we discuss our journey through ABET accreditation and discuss how adopting ABET processes for continuous improvement strengthens a program’s assessment process. We share best practices for working across multiple departments to collect data not only on individual courses, but also on the program as a whole. While the framework presented was initially established to support ABET accreditation, we argue that a properly executed program assessment should occur regardless of whether or not an institution is seeking ABET accreditation for their data science program. Throughout this article, we also discuss the extent to which ABET requirements naturally fit within our program’s existing goals, including an assessment of how ABET requirements align with major ideas in the field of data science education.

Academic performance of boarder and commuter students in Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology board programs: Informing the development of an academic tracking program

Academic performance of boarder and commuter students in Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology board programs: Informing the development of an academic tracking program

Advancing Cataloging and Classification Education in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Analysis of LIS Curriculum Evolution and Curriculum Coverage

This study examines the state of cataloging and classification (C&C) education in Bangladesh’s Library and Information Science (LIS) programs. Employing content analysis of course syllabi and surveys, it identifies aims, objectives, curriculum content, and challenges. Findings reveal comprehensive coverage of C&C theory and practical skills, though average credit hours are low at 1.12% of total programs. Variations exist among universities in credit allocation and curricular emphasis. Recommendations include increasing credit hours, integrating emerging technologies, enhancing practical training, updating curricula, and investing in faculty development. Implementing these strategies will improve C&C education, producing skilled professionals in the information management field.

Evaluating Citizen Science: Moving beyond Output Measures to Learner Behaviors, Interests, and Motivations

With the rising popularity of citizen science, there’s a growing focus on effective assessment methods for participant outcomes. Unlike many biodiversity programs, which typically emphasize programmatic outcomes, this study examined how Blue Thumb, an Oklahoma water quality citizen science program, influences volunteer behaviors, interests, and motivations using an explanatory survey based on Phillips et al.’s (2018) evaluation framework. Although there were no significant differences in behaviors and interests between new and experienced volunteers (N = 74), motivations varied significantly, distinguishing between intrinsic and extrinsic reasoning. Blue Thumb volunteers already displayed pro-environmentalism and strong scientific interests before joining, and these traits persisted rather than being cultivated through participation. The study’s insights informed Blue Thumb’s future volunteer recruiting and retention strategies. While contributing to research utilizing a common framework, future studies should incorporate qualitative methods to provide context for a deeper understanding of the quantitative findings.

Defining community-led monitoring and its role in programme-embedded learning: lessons from the Citizen Science Project in Malawi and South Africa.

Programme Science (PS) and community-led monitoring (CLM) intersect in unexpected and promising ways. This commentary examines a CLM initiative in Malawi and South Africa to highlight the crucial role of CLM in bolstering the PS framework. By leveraging data sources often overlooked by conventional research and evaluation approaches, CLM emerges as a pivotal element in enhancing programme effectiveness. This paper delineates the fundamental principles of CLM, presents programme outcomes derived from CLM methodologies and contextualizes these findings within the broader framework of PS. The Citizen Science Project implements CLM continuously at 33 health facilities: 14 in Malawi (eight in Kasungu District and six in Dedza District), and 19 in South Africa (all in the West Rand District), representing a total catchment area of 989,848 people. Monitoring indicators are developed in an iterative process with community groups. The indicators are unique to each country, but both focus on the uptake of health services (quantitative) and barriers to access (qualitative). Monthly clinic records surveys capture 34 indicators in Malawi and 20 in South Africa and are supplemented by qualitative interviews with care recipients and healthcare workers. Qualitative interviews provide additional granularity and help confirm and explain the more macro trends in service coverage as described in quantitative data. The resulting data analysis reveals key themes that help stakeholders and decision-makers to solve problems collaboratively. Noteworthy outcomes include a substantial increase in multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during COVID-19 (from 6% to 31%) with a subsequent recovery surpassing of HIV service benchmarks in Malawi post-pandemic. While quantifying direct impact remains challenging due to the project's design, CLM proves to be a robust methodology that generates credible data and produces impactful outcomes. Its potential extends beyond the health sector, empowering community leadership and fostering interventions aligned with community needs. As CLM continues to evolve, its integration into PS promises to improve relevance, quality and impact across diverse disciplines.

Remission to normal blood pressure in older adults with hypertension who did not receive antihypertensive medication: analysis of data from two longitudinal cohorts

How often hypertensive patients could achieve remission to normal blood pressure (BP) (i.e., <140/90mmHg) in the absence of antihypertensive drugs, which is important for the management of hypertension, remains largely unknown. This observational study aimed to investigate the change of BP in older adults with hypertension who did not take antihypertensive drugs and preliminarily examine whether the remission from hypertension to normal BP observed in this setting was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 2760 participants aged 33-99 years (median 60 years, interquartile 54-68 years) from the Health and Retirement Study (wave 2006 to wave 2018) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (wave 1998 to wave 2016), who had no major CVD, were hypertensive, and were not on antihypertensive drugs at the time of baseline BP measurement, and had at least one follow-up BP measurement before which no antihypertensive drugs were taken, were included for analysis. The main outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved remission of hypertension at the last wave of measurement. During a median follow-up of six years, 52% of the participants showed a reduction of ≥6mmHg in systolic BP and 60% a reduction of ≥3mmHg in diastolic BP. 1171 participants (42%, 95% CI: 41-44%) achieved remission at the last measurement, and by that time 67%, 43%, and 29% of them had maintained the normotensive state for around 4, 8, and 12 years, respectively. Various supplementary analyses that aimed to examine the impact of chance and bias yielded similar results. Preliminary analyses showed that being non-smokers at baseline, achieving a normal body mass index during follow-up, and quitting alcohol drinking during follow-up, among others, were associated with the remission of hypertension. Compared with the participants who remained hypertensive, those who achieved remission had a lower CVD risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47-0.92). In many of this study population, hypertension could be reversed without the intervention of drug treatment in the first few years after diagnosis. This finding may have implications for more individualized management of hypertension. Further studies to identify the factors or algorithms predictive of such hypertension remission are warranted. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (7106452; 7105959),Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (KQTD20190929172835662), Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB 38040200), National Institute on Aging(R01AG017644; NIA U01AG009740).

The JWST Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science Program. VII. Stress Testing the NIRCam Exposure Time Calculator

We empirically assess estimates from v3.0 of the James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) using observations of resolved stars in Local Group targets taken as part of the Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science (ERS) Program. For bright stars, we find that (i) purely Poissonian estimates of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are in good agreement between the ETC and observations, but nonideal effects (e.g., flat-field uncertainties) are the current limiting factor in the photometric precision that can be achieved; (ii) source position offsets, relative to the detector pixels, have a large impact on the ETC saturation predictions and introducing subpixel dithers in the observation design can improve the saturation limits by up to ∼1 mag. For faint stars, for which the sky dominates the error budget, we find that the choice in the ETC extraction strategy (e.g., aperture size relative to point-spread function size) can affect the exposure time estimates by up to a factor of 5. We provide guidelines for configuring the ETC aperture photometry to produce SNR predictions in line with the ERS data. Finally, we quantify the effects of crowding on the SNRs over a large dynamic range in stellar density and provide guidelines for approximating the effects of crowding on SNRs predicted by the ETC.

PDRs4All

Context. Mid-infrared emission features are important probes of the properties of ionized gas and hot or warm molecular gas, which are difficult to probe at other wavelengths. The Orion Bar photodissociation region (PDR) is a bright, nearby, and frequently studied target containing large amounts of gas under these conditions. Under the “PDRs4All” Early Release Science Program for JWST, a part of the Orion Bar was observed with MIRI integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy, and these high-sensitivity IR spectroscopic images of very high angular resolution (0.2″) provide a rich observational inventory of the mid-infrared (MIR) emission lines, while resolving the H II region, the ionization front, and multiple dissociation fronts. Aims. We list, identify, and measure the most prominent gas emission lines in the Orion Bar using the new MIRI IFU data. An initial analysis summarizes the physical conditions of the gas and demonstrates the potential of these new data and future IFU observations with JWST. Methods. The MIRI IFU mosaic spatially resolves the substructure of the PDR, its footprint cutting perpendicularly across the ionization front and three dissociation fronts. We performed an up-to-date data reduction, and extracted five spectra that represent the ionized, atomic, and molecular gas layers. We identified the observed lines through a comparison with theoretical line lists derived from atomic data and simulated PDR models. The identified species and transitions are summarized in the main table of this work, with measurements of the line intensities and central wavelengths. Results. We identified around 100 lines and report an additional 18 lines that remain unidentified. The majority consists of H I recombination lines arising from the ionized gas layer bordering the PDR. The H I line ratios are well matched by emissivity coefficients from H recombination theory, but deviate by up to 10% because of contamination by He I lines. We report the observed emission lines of various ionization stages of Ne, P, S, Cl, Ar, Fe, and Ni. We show how the Ne III/Ne II, S IV/S III, and Ar III/Ar II ratios trace the conditions in the ionized layer bordering the PDR, while Fe III/Fe II and Ni III/Ni II exhibit a different behavior, as there are significant contributions to Fe II and Ni II from the neutral PDR gas. We observe the pure-rotational H2 lines in the vibrational ground state from 0–0 S(1) to 0–0 S (8), and in the first vibrationally excited state from 1–1 S (5) to 1–1 S(9). We derive H2 excitation diagrams, and for the three observed dissociation fronts, the rotational excitation can be approximated with one thermal (~700 K) component representative of an average gas temperature, and one nonthermal component (~2700 K) probing the effect of UV pumping. We compare these results to an existing model of the Orion Bar PDR, and find that the predicted excitation matches the data qualitatively, while adjustments to the parameters of the PDR model are required to reproduce the intensity of the 0–0 S (6) to S (8) lines.