Formative Years Research Articles

The Role of Critical Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education to Create Pathways into STEM for Racially Minoritized Communities

This longitudinal study examines the long-term impact of critical pedagogy on the academic and social development of students from a marginalized Mexican American borderland community, with a specific focus on their trajectories in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Drawing on in-depth interviews with three students who participated in a critical pedagogical approach during their formative elementary years, this case study explores how power, agency, and curiosity were cultivated in the classroom and how these elements influenced the students’ pursuit of higher education and careers in STEM ten years later. The findings reveal that an equitable distribution of power and the fostering of student agency through critical-based pedagogies empowered students to engage critically with their learning and to challenge systemic barriers. Furthermore, this study highlights the role of early curiosity in sustaining students’ interest in STEM, despite encountering obstacles in higher education environments dominated by market-driven influences. By situating this research within the broader context of critical pedagogy and its emphasis on social justice, the study underscores the transformative potential of education in shaping the futures of minoritized students in STEM disciplines.

Climatic sensitivity and the growth prospects of Silver fir and European larch in the Carpathians in the light of observed climate changes

One consequence of climate change is the rapid extinction of spruce monocultures in the Carpathians. Therefore, the need has arisen to replace spruce with other highly productive species that ensure the stability and biodiversity of mountain forests, such as the Abies alba and Larix decidua. These co-occurring conifers show different successional and phenological characteristics: L. decidua is a light-demanding species that dominates in the early successional stages, while A. alba is a shade-tolerant tree. This study attempts to identify climatic factors that determine the tree-ring width of fir and larch in order to assess the growth prospects of these species in the context of the ongoing climate change. As a measure of the vitality of trees, tree-ring widths of 42 sub-populations of fir and 36 of larch from the area of the Western Carpathians were used. Regional growth patterns for each species were used to estimate the relationship between temperature/precipitation and radial growth. Linear correlation analyses and nonlinear Random Forest models were used. Fir growth was significantly positively influenced by the high temperature of January–March and July and the high precipitation of February and July of the year of tree-ring formation. Larch growth was positively affected by the high temperature of May and the low precipitation of April and September of the year of tracheid formation. Unlike larch, fir growth increased if May and June of the preceding year were warm. The dominant climatic factor influencing fir growth was February temperature, whereas for larch growth, it was the May temperature of the year of tree-ring formation. Most of the recently observed changes in climatic factors that are important for the growth of both species are favorable. Thus, increasing their share in the Carpathian forests seems fully justified, as this will contribute to the stability, productivity, and biodiversity of the region’s forests.

Friendships among young children: links with social behaviour

ABSTRACT Children's relationships with their peers have important associations with their behaviour. The current study examined children's friendships during the formative school years and hypotheses were made regarding associations between how well-liked children were by peers, the reciprocity of these friendships, and with whom friendships were made. Children aged 4–7 years (N = 193) were asked to identify who their friends were. Teachers and teaching assistants provided ratings of children’s behaviour; aggressive, victimized, prosocial and solitary. Results indicated differences in the number of friendship nominations children received from peers in relation to their behaviours. Reciprocity in children's friendships was also differentially associated with child behaviour. Further, there was some evidence for homophily in the behaviour of children and their friends. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of supporting children's good quality friendship relationships.

Exploring Children’s Self-Reports of Victimisation Experiences and Solitary, Prosocial, and Aggressive Behaviours

Young children’s social behaviour plays an important role in their lives. Most research makes use of reports from adults and peers, rather than speaking to young children about their own behaviour. The current study was exploratory and looked at children’s self-reports of solitary, prosocial and aggressive behaviours, and victimisation experiences, during the formative school years. Children aged between four and seven years (n = 193) were recruited from three primary schools. Using an innovative method with stick-figure animations, they were asked to provide frequency ratings of 16 of their own behaviours. Class teachers were also asked to provide ratings for the participating children’s behaviours. Key findings showed that children offer unique insight into their behaviour and experiences. Specifically, children’s self-reports of victimisation experiences are more complex than their teachers; and teachers were found to under-report solitary behaviour in boys in comparison to self-reports. Self-reports of prosocial and aggressive behaviour showed some possible social desirability amongst 6–7-year-olds, but there are also potential situational and gender biases in reports from their teachers. These findings show the importance of including young children’s self-reports in the study of their behaviour.

What else do we Train when we Teach Medical Students? Medical Humanities in the Encores

Medical education is known for its competitive and highly demanding environment. Medical students are required a solid set of hard skills on the one hand, but they are also expected to proficiently master soft skills. This article focuses on the 21st century skills, narrowing down the perspective to communication and creativity in the current medical education field. Empathy as a key concept in patient-centred medical communication has proven to be difficult to define, difficult to assess, and challenging to achieve, especially since studies show a decrease of empathy in medical students in their clinical years of formation. Investigation of appliable solution has been included in terms of curriculum disciplines and extra curriculum programs that could highly contribute to enhancing the required 21st century skills in the case of medical students.

Rocking Under Orion’s Belt: The Rise and Fall of Seibu Kōdō as International Concert Venue

ABSTRACT An edifice resembling a temple hall and located on the outskirts of the Kyoto University campus, Seibu Kōdō, rose to national prominence in the early 1970s as a hub for the city’s burgeoning performing arts and rock music scene. Its reputation and legend quickly grew after hosting the MOJO WEST series, inaugurated in 1971, that included concerts by iconic Japanese bands such as Flower Travellin’ Band, Murahachibu, and Zunō keisatsu. Towards the end of the decade, Seibu Kōdō began attracting international performers, spearheaded by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in 1976. However, an incident during a concert by The Police in 1980 led to a permanent suspension of welcoming foreign acts. This article explores Seibu Kōdō’s formative years as a concert venue and the way its connections to the radical student movement, symbolised by the constellation of three red stars painted on its roof, informed its peculiar self-management model. This facilitated the venue’s use as a space for unrestricted artistic expression, but at the same time hindered its development beyond local significance.

Intersecting impacts: urban noise pollution on sleep quality and mental health outcomes

This study probes the intricate dynamics between urban noise pollution, sleep quality, and mental health, centering on Generation Z-those in their formative years and early adulthood. It aims to illuminate the particular impacts of environmental noise on the well-being of these younger urban dwellers. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the research assesses how persistent urban noise exposure perturbs sleep-a critical factor in psychological health-and fosters stress, anxiety, and depression in this demographic. By integrating objective acoustical measurements with Gen Z's subjective health reports, the methodology quantifies urban noise's influence on sleep and its ripple effects on mental health. Additionally, it evaluates noise mitigation strategies like soundproofing and urban greenery, for their potential to mitigate these adverse outcomes. Mapping the nexus between environmental noise, sleep disturbance, and mental health concerns among Generation Z, the study seeks to enrich understanding and guide interventions for improved urban habitats, better sleep, and enhanced mental well-being, addressing a significant public health issue.

Political party building in populist style

This article assesses the local organisation of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in its first participation in South Africa’s local government elections in 2016. Drawing on original interviews with local party activists, it explains how the EFF’s brand of populism mobilised at the grassroots level during its formative years. The study argues that the party’s populist style was effective because it helped appropriate existing diverse networks of political activists by positioning itself as the voice of ‘ordinary black people’ against business and government ‘elites’. This orientation of the EFF appealed to youth, activists, and mineworkers who felt excluded from the African National Congress (ANC); while the protests and regalia of its populist style nurtured feelings of collective identity and efficacy among local party organisers. The article indicates how a populist style can be effective in exploiting generational cleavages to build a viable opposition party within the constraints of a dominant party system.

The American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners: The First Years.

In 2014, Dr. Elda Ramirez, alongside Dr. Arlo Weltge and Dr. Kyle Kincaid, founded the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP) to support nurse practitioners working in emergency care. With initial support from 39 dedicated individuals, AAENP was incorporated in Texas and received pro bono management from an association management company. Over the years, AAENP has focused on defining the emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) role, developing a board certification examination, and creating standardized curricula for ENP programs. Strong collaborations with organizations such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) have been pivotal. AAENP has grown significantly, now boasting over 1100 members, and has produced numerous evidence-based position statements and publications. This article highlights AAENP's achievements, and the challenges faced in its formative years, showcasing its commitment to advancing the ENP profession and ensuring quality care in emergency settings.

Transmission, Imitation and the Question of Early American Literary Nationalism

Transmission, Imitation and the Question of Early American Literary Nationalism. This article seeks to revalue early American literature and concurrently to clarify to what extent one can talk about American literary nationalism during the formative post-revolutionary years. Although many anthologies of American literature as well as critical studies devoted to American literary historiography have underlined the national unity of American literature as a whole, they have consistently ignored this particular period in which the transmission and imitation of English models and their alteration or transformation by American booksellers and publishers, corroborated with generic instability and the absence of central publishing hubs, fail to attest to a homogenous—and, implicitly, wholly national—development of literature. In doing so, special attention will be paid to the early American novel as a site for probing the ideals of the early Republic, for appraising its historical accomplishments, and, ultimately, for lambasting its democratic failure. At the same time, despite the misleading name of “novel” attributed to various literary genres, and its hybrid form, the early American novel was instrumental in reflecting transnational concerns and cultural exchanges that were highly suggestive of the unstable cultural identity of America at the time. Keywords: the early American Republic, transatlantic exchanges, English imitations, generic instability, common property, the early American novel

An Emancipatory Paradigm for Participatory Research on Wartime Childhood. War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo Case Study

Abstract: The article addresses the issue of using the emancipatory-participatory paradigm in the process of reconstructing the experience of wartime childhood, that is, experiencing formative years in the circumstances of armed conflict. Adopting the specific idiographic case of the Museum of Wartime Childhood in Sarajevo, the author analyzes the local socio-cultural context, methodological assumptions, as well as forms of realization of the mission of the Museum of Wartime Childhood in Sarajevo, which is to legitimize the narratives of those whose voices remain marginalized in the generalized memetic discourse. Such oriented research and educational activities are part of the characteristics of emancipatory and advocacy approaches to participatory research, the specificity of which is also the subject of the analyses of these reflections.

Barriers to Type 1 Diabetes Adherence in Adolescents.

Background: Adolescence is a particularly crucial period of physical, emotional, and social development and adaptation, rendering these formative years rather challenging for individuals with chronic conditions like type 1 diabetes (T1D). Despite rapid improvement in diabetes therapies, adolescents with T1D are characterized by poorer adherence to treatment regimens compared with other pediatric age groups. Insufficient adherence is strongly related to low diabetes control, increasing morbidity, and risk for premature mortality. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of adolescents' most common barriers to T1D adherence, stressing the need for a deep and comprehensive understanding of these barriers. The complexity of these barriers is underscored by the diverse factors contributing to poor T1D adherence in adolescents. Methods: A narrative review was conducted, surveying four databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science) for full-text articles in the English language published up to June 2024. All studies related to barriers to T1D adherence in adolescents were considered. The literature was selected using selection and exclusion criteria and extracted and organized using Mendeley. Exclusion criteria included studies with insufficient data and non-peer-reviewed articles. This review revealed that adolescents face numerous obstacles to T1D adherence related to psychological factors, flux in family dynamics, perceived social pressures, therapy-related factors, transitioning responsibility, risk-taking behaviors, and pubertal changes. Conclusions: Navigating the adaptations to the different aspects of T1D, from treatment to complications and adolescents' personal growth, effectively requires a thorough understanding of the barriers of a treatment regimen that patients at this critical age face.

Trzy dekady etyki biznesu w Polsce

The origins of Polish business ethics were closely linked to the democratisation of the Polish political system and the economic transformation of the 1990s. These were formative years for Polish business ethics. The moral aspects of this transformation inevitably became the topic of the day, but also, especially within academic reflection, ethical analyses of the very nature of the market economy and more general questions about morality of capitalism began to emerge. This article recounts three decades of Polish business ethics, covering the 1990s and the first two decades of the 21st century. This story is primarily about people who were actively involved in promoting the new discipline and about institutions they created. However at the end of this period they may have been surprised to witness the political turmoil associated with the rise of populist and anti-liberal tendencies in Polish politics. The question of whether ethical business can exist in a non-democratic environment therefore recurs. However, the answer seems simple: without liberal democracy and the rule of law, ethical business standards will remain an impossible ideal.

The Early Formation of the Moscow School of Landscape Painting. Landscape Class of the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture (MUZHV), 1844–1857

The article delves into the formative years of the landscape class at the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture (MUZHV), whose growth parallels the advancement of the landscape genre in Russia during the latter half of the 1 9th century. It explores the pioneering efforts of Karl Ivanovich Rabus, the inaugural head of the class, and evaluates his instructional techniques in landscape painting. His methods introduced academic traditions of landscape painting to the School, thereby laying the groundwork for its future development. Additionally, the article delineates the challenges encountered by the nascent landscape painting tradition, attributable to a range of internal and external factors.Drawing from archival records and periodical sources, the author endeavors to reconstruct a detailed portrayal of the class's early years (1844-1857), emphasizing the pivotal role of students in the evolution of artistic life and the formation of the art market in Moscow. The research enhances scholarly knowledge by bringing into focus the identities of the class's students, most of whom are lesser-known artists, alongside their artistic creations, enriching our comprehension of Russian landscape painting during the late 1800s.

Making Sense of Complexity in Refugee Family Systems: Second-Generation Somali and Hmong Refugee Adults’ Reflections on Their Relationships with Their First-Generation Refugee Parents

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to understand the relationships of 2nd generation (2G) refugees during their formative years with their 1st generation (1G) parents. We used a phenomenological approach to conduct individual interviews with six 2G refugees (three Hmong-Americans and three Somali-Americans) in the U.S. who fit the study’s inclusion criterion of being affected by their parents’ migration trauma. Themes emerging from participants’ narratives describe 1) 2G Refugee Relationship Quality with 1G Refugee Parents; 2) Integrating All Dimensions of 2G Intersectional Identities; 3) 2G Resiliency Resources; and 4) Moving Forward. The current study’s findings suggest ways that intergenerational trauma affected 2G refugees’ relationships with their parents and added layers of complexity to the normative challenges of adolescent development. Researchers are encouraged to employ a family system lens to consider the effects of migration trauma across generations when examining relationship dynamics in refugee families. It is important for clinicians to consider the systemic impacts of refugee stress and trauma when working with refugee adolescents and their families.

The Greatest Rock and Soul Band in the World? The Rolling Stones, genre and race

Abstract The Rolling Stones played a core role in establishing the generic conventions of rock. A key ideological element of this was the band's reverential dedication to the blues and the importance of the blues to their musical development. However, what is much less recognised is the influence of soul on the band's sound. By looking at the band's repertoire, composition and performing style, this paper explores the influence that soul, particularly Southern soul, had on the band's formative years and argues that, in many ways, they have adopted the aesthetic conventions of soul, rather than rock, for the majority of their career. Rethinking The Stones’ style in this way may help us better understand their position in the rock canon, while also encouraging careful interrogation of the racialised division of rock and soul that emerged in the late 1960s.

Implementation of Construction Management Approach for Improving the Productivity of RMC Plants

Our has been traditionally labor oriented. The pace of mechanization in the past has been very slow due to the availability of cheap labor in abundance, lack of capital investment and the highly fragmented nature of the construction industry. The degree of mechanization is still around 25%-30% while it is well above 70% in most of the developed countries The liberalization of Indian economy from 1991 onwards paved the way for large scale investments in infrastructure, industrial, housing and agriculture sectors. The new age constructions required speed and superior quality to obtain profitable life cycle cost of the projects. The emerging scenario helped to increase the pace of mechanization and facilitated the establishment of RMC plants on commercial scale to synchronies with the overall development strategy. RMC in India on commercial scale started in 1993 at Pune with only one plant. It has achieved nearly 15% share of the total concrete produced in the country. In some major cities, like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai the share of RMC has reached as high as 50% to 60%. The growth prospects of RMC in India are enormous, provided requisite support is provided by the regulatory authorities, consumers and decision makers during its formative years. In this project the critical factor causing improving productivity will indentify.

Business and Politics of Eastern Africa

This article underscores a history of economic relations between Kenya and Uganda from 1962 to 2024. This is due to the fact that Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, Zaire, Somalia, Burundi, and Ethiopia are the most important business partners for Kenyan exports. The article reviews various literatures and a major gap has been identified. Theoretically, it adopts a bureaucratic theory, as was propounded by Max Weber in 1921. Methodologically, the article embraces a historical research design, as it helps in evaluating and relating the past occurrences in order to establish the causes, effects or trends of those occurrences with the aim of utilising the data to understand and explain the past, present and future anticipated events. In its findings, four eras of Kenya presidents are discussed. These includes: Jomo Kenyatta era, Daniel Arap Moi era, Mwai Kibaki era and finally Uhuru Kenyatta era. Based on the aforementioned eras, the article found out that; first the promise of democracy, a good life, and freedom was punctuated throughout the pronouncements that marked the formative years of the Kenyatta state. Secondly, this article discovered that, in 1990, when Moi was in power, the rhetoric of the KANU party suggested that African traditions were particularly well-suited to a one-party democracy environment. One of the traditions that were mentioned was the practice of making decisions through consensus rather than through competition. Lastly, during Kibaki era, Informal trade thrived due to bureaucratic hurdles and corruption at border points between Uganda and Kenya. In Conclusion, the rise of informal cross-border trade, particularly during times of political instability, has significantly influenced economic interactions between the two countries.

Health policies and guidelines to promote, protect and support early childhood development: A narrative review.

This comprehensive review examines the pivotal role of health policies and guidelines in promoting, protecting, and supporting early childhood development (ECD). Recognizing the multifaceted nature of ECD, the study explores key elements commonly found in policies that span health, education, social services, and community support. The focus is on creating an integrated approach that ensures the optimal well-being and growth of children during their formative years. The review highlights the significance of maternal and child health care, emphasizing contact toward prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women and newborns. Nutritional policies center around supporting breastfeeding and ensuring access to nutritious food, laying the foundation for a healthy start in life. Early childhood education programs and parental education initiatives are crucial components, emphasizing cognitive, social, and emotional development from the earliest stages. The review underscores the importance of a holistic perspective, urging the integration of services across sectors to provide a comprehensive framework for ECD. Research-based policies, continuous monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms ensure evidence-driven decision-making and ongoing refinement of strategies. Additionally, the role of legislation and advocacy is highlighted in protecting the rights and well-being of children and advocating for ECD at various levels. In the end, this review highlights the importance of ECD guidelines and health policies as investments that not only help individual children but also enhance societal productivity and general well-being. By prioritizing the early years, policymakers can lay a strong foundation for future health, learning, and success.

A Black American Nutrition Scholar and Advocate: My Journey.

I started my journey as a nutrition scholar in 1974 when I began PhD studies at Cornell University. My journey has been rich with opportunity. I engaged in research on diet-related risks for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, partly motivated by my strong commitment to addressing health disparities affecting Black Americans. Obesity became my major focus and would eventually involve both US and global lenses. This focus was also linked to other dietary intake issues and health disparities and drew on knowledge I had gained in my prior study and practice of social work. I positioned myself as a bridge builder across nutrition, epidemiology, and public health, advocating for certain new ways of thinking and acting in these spheres and in the academy itself. Life skills honed during my formative years living within racially segregated contexts have been critical to any successes I have achieved.