Search Results (41)

Defects arising from the 3D printing process of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites primarily hinder their overall performance. These defects particularly include twisting, folding, and breakage of the fiber bundle, which are induced by printing trajectory errors. This study presents a follow-up theory assumption to address such issues, elucidates the formation mechanism of printing trajectory errors, and examines the impact of key geometric parameters—trace curvature, nozzle diameter, and fiber bundle diameter—on these errors. An error model for printing trajectory is established, accompanied by the proposal of a trajectory error compensation method premised on maximum printable curvature. The presented case study uses CCFRF/PA as an exemplar; here, the printing layer height is 0.1~0.3 mm, the fiber bundle radius is 0.2 mm, and the printing speed is 600 mm/min. The maximum printing curvature, gauged by the printing trajectory of a clothoid, is found to be 0.416 mm⁻¹. Experimental results demonstrate that the error model provides accurate predictions of the printed trajectory error, particularly when the printed trajectory forms an obtuse angle. The average prediction deviations for line profile, deviation kurtosis, and deviation area ratio are 36.029%, 47.238%, and 2.045%, respectively. The error compensation effectively mitigates the defects of fiber bundle folding and twisting, while maintaining the printing trajectory error within minimal range. These results indicate that the proposed method substantially enhances the internal defects of 3D printed components and may potentially be applied to other continuous fiber printing types. Full article

This experimental study models an approach for de-westernizing communication theory by exploring exemplification within a Global South context. Incorporating local knowledge from Nigerian journalists on their motivations for using exemplars in poverty reporting and their anticipated audience outcomes, the study identifies and tests constructs that align with previous experimental studies on exemplification—such as perception of issue significance, awareness of social responsibility to address a social issue, and emotional connection with exemplified group—and those that diverge from previous scholarship—such as trust in media and trust in government. The study also identifies the mediating influence of identification, true to Nigerian journalists’ expectations. By grounding theoretical explanations for exemplification effects on local knowledge from this context, this study challenges the assumption of the universality of exemplification theory, enriches the theory by making it more cumulative, and advances an argument for a more inclusive and just theorizing of exemplification phenomena. Full article

Scientific disinformation has emerged as a critical challenge at the interface of science and society. This paper examines how false or misleading scientific content proliferates across both social media and traditional media and evaluates strategies to counteract its spread. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of research on scientific misinformation across disciplines and regions, with particular focus on climate change and public health as exemplars. Our findings indicate that social media algorithms and user dynamics can amplify false scientific claims, as seen in case studies of viral misinformation campaigns on vaccines and climate change. Traditional media, meanwhile, are not immune to spreading inaccuracies—journalistic practices such as sensationalism or “false balance” in reporting have at times distorted scientific facts, impacting public understanding. We review efforts to fight disinformation, including technological tools for detection, the application of inoculation theory and prebunking techniques, and collaborative approaches that bridge scientists and journalists. To empower individuals, we propose practical guidelines for critically evaluating scientific information sources and emphasize the importance of digital and scientific literacy. Finally, we discuss methods to quantify the prevalence and impact of scientific disinformation—ranging from social network analysis to surveys of public belief—and compare trends across regions and scientific domains. Our results underscore that combating scientific disinformation requires an interdisciplinary, multi-pronged approach, combining improvements in science communication, education, and policy. We conducted a scoping review of 85 open-access studies focused on climate-related misinformation and disinformation, selected through a systematic screening process based on PRISMA criteria. This approach was chosen to address the lack of comprehensive mappings that synthesize key themes and identify research gaps in this fast-growing field. The analysis classified the literature into 17 thematic clusters, highlighting key trends, gaps, and emerging challenges in the field. Our results reveal a strong dominance of studies centered on social media amplification, political denialism, and cognitive inoculation strategies, while underlining a lack of research on fact-checking mechanisms and non-Western contexts. We conclude with recommendations for strengthening the resilience of both the public and information ecosystems against the spread of false scientific claims. Full article

Test anxiety research has been dominated by attention to theory building and examining the causes and consequences of this construct. However, recently, considerable attention has been turned toward using test anxiety as a diagnostic indicator of students who are at risk of underperforming in educational settings. This systematic review of the literature was focused on (a) describing the strategies used in the field, (b) highlighting the benefits and limitations of those approaches, and (c) offering guidance in creating a framework for appropriate methods when identifying severity levels on measures of test anxiety for university students. The results confirmed that the vast majority of studies on test anxiety have no formal “leveling” approaches (maintaining test anxiety as a continuous variable). However, when researchers do employ “leveling” strategies, the majority adopt inappropriate methods (e.g., single-sample splits). However, there are exemplars that demonstrate statistically sound procedures for identifying distinct profiles of test anxiety that may form a basis to build consensus around a classification method for elevated test anxiety. Full article

This study investigates consonant devoicing in Brazilian Portuguese (BP), in order to assess whether an ongoing sound change is taking place. We examine plural forms consisting of a stop consonant followed by a word-final sibilant, such as in redes [hedz] ~ [heds] ~ [hets] and sedes [sɛdz] ~ [sɛds] ~ [sɛts], focusing on the emergence of voiceless sibilants before word-initial vowels (e.g., redes amarelas, ‘yellow hammocks’). If sibilants remain voiceless despite a following vowel, this challenges the expected regressive voicing assimilation in BP and raises the question of the conditions under which this devoicing occurs. Data were collected through recordings of oral production from twenty Brazilian speakers, using reading and picture naming tasks. Sibilant voicing was quantified using harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR). A linear mixed-effects model—including random intercepts and slopes for both speakers and words—reveals that sibilants are significantly more voiced before a vowel than before a pause, but this voicing is substantially reduced when the sibilant is preceded by voiceless consonants. These findings indicate an ongoing devoicing process at pre-vocalic word boundaries in BP, affecting clusters [pz, tz, kz] and [bz, dz, gz] alike. Spectrographic analyses indicate that not only the sibilants but also their preceding stop may exhibit devoicing. Moreover, minimal-pair considerations suggest that speakers potentially maintain sibilant voicing in certain lexical items to preserve intelligibility (e.g., gra[dz] ‘grades’ and se[dz] ‘headquarters’ vs. grá[ts] ‘free’ and se[ts] ‘sets’). Drawing on Exemplar Theory, we propose a competition between the influence of the phonological environment and word-final devoicing: sibilants are sometimes voiced due to a following vowel (e.g., botes argentinos [bɔtz ah.ʒẽ.’tʃi.nus] ‘Argentine boats’), but they often emerge as voiceless due to consonantal devoicing (e.g., [bɔts ah.ʒẽ.’tʃi.nus]), resulting in both expected and unexpected forms. We suggest that fine phonetic detail, whether associated with allophonic or emergent sound patterns, contributes to the construction of phonological representations. Full article

This study explored Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in cross-cultural biology teaching through collaborative lesson studies involving educators from the USA and the Philippines. We employed grounded theory and examined iterative feedback processes during lesson development to refine learning exemplars. Learning exemplars validation affirmed their alignment with both NGSS and the Philippine science education frameworks, ensuring cultural relevance and educational rigor. Five key themes were identified as pivotal: retrieval of prior knowledge, fostering meaningful learning experiences, enhancing memory and retention, fostering active engagement, and cultivating critical thinking skills—integral for developing culturally responsive curricula. Moreover, students became independent learners, responsible for their learning, reflective and critical thinkers, problem solvers, inquiry-oriented, creative, collaborative communicators, modelers, data analysts, persistent, adaptable, and self-directed. Implications include enhancing educational policies to support cultural diversity and integrating cross-cultural learning exemplars to enhance global teaching practices. This study underscored the transformative potential of cross-cultural collaboration in advancing science education, fostering engaging learning environments, and preparing students for global citizenship. Full article

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker would likely express that sentence, given six options, such as: “someone living in Los Angeles/SoCal who grew up in Mexico” or “a Spanish-English bilingual who grew up in Los Angeles/SoCal”. Experimental stimuli included seven different linguistic categories of stigmatization, including English contact forms. The participants tended to attribute the stigmatized forms to bilinguals who grew up in Southern California. Central Colloquial and Taboo categories were more salient and perceived as forms used by people in Mexico. In contrast, English borrowings and redundancies seemed to be recognized by the participants, particularly for simultaneous bilinguals who grew up in Southern California, as salient forms of an identified Southern California Spanish variety. The results are interpreted within Exemplar Theory, with certain stigmatized forms indexing “Mexican Spanish” exemplars, and English borrowings identified as exemplars of SoCal Spanish. We advocate for usage-based approaches to understanding language perceptions and critical approaches to interrogating academic discourses. Full article

This study investigates how social enterprises in East London drive sustainability in the fashion industry, focusing on the following two case studies: Making for Change and Stitches in Time. The research uses the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework and social capital theory to assess how these enterprises integrate TBL principles and leverage social capital to promote sustainable practices. The qualitative exploratory study generates hypotheses proposing that East London-based social enterprises employ diverse TBL strategies to advance sustainability (H1) and utilise social capital through networks and community ties to support their initiatives (H2). Data collected through interviews and focus groups confirm that these enterprises effectively address social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. However, balancing these dimensions, especially economic sustainability, remains challenging and often varies depending on organisational objectives. The study also emphasises social capital’s key role in enhancing internal cohesion and facilitating external collaborations. The research deepens our understanding of how social enterprises can drive sustainable development by providing evidence-based insights within an underrepresented context of the UK. Using social enterprises as exemplars, these insights could potentially guide the transition of the UK fashion industry towards more sustainable practices. Full article

Theories of category learning have typically focused on how the underlying category structure affects the category representations acquired by learners. However, there is limited research as to how other factors affect what representations are learned and utilized and how representations might change across the time course of learning. We used a novel “5/5” categorization task developed from the well-studied 5/4 task with the addition of one more stimulus to clarify an ambiguity in the 5/4 prototypes. We used multiple methods including computational modeling to identify whether participants categorized on the basis of exemplar or prototype representations. We found that, overall, for the stimuli we used (schematic robot-like stimuli), learning was best characterized by the use of prototypes. Most importantly, we found that relative use of prototype and exemplar strategies changed across learning, with use of exemplar representations decreasing and prototype representations increasing across blocks. Full article

In this conceptual essay, the author draws on the concept of bad faith to explore its connections to Niceness and role in sustaining the historical failures of U.S. teacher education to prepare future teachers to effectively teach learners from diverse backgrounds through culturally responsive pedagogy. Bad faith is a useful, albeit underutilized, concept in considering and challenging the patterned historical inequities maintained by Niceness in teacher preparation programs. Applying a critical race theory (CRT) methodology and analysis, the author presents and interrogates three representative exemplars of a logic of racism operationalized through bad faith, then insulated by Niceness in U.S. teacher education. These exemplars serve as conceptual case studies that are constituted as composite scenarios of patterned enactments of bad faith authorized by Niceness within U.S. teacher education; these cases demonstrate how [and why] the bad faith–Niceness interplay informs the work and [good] intentions of stakeholders most often in ways that further, rather than challenge, historical failures of U.S. teacher education for culturally responsive pedagogy. Full article

The complexity of finite element analysis for composite structures can be significantly reduced by representing the connector and adjacent concrete as a macroscopic element. Nevertheless, the prevailing macroscopic models for shear connections predominantly employ nonlinear elastic theory. This approach introduces inaccuracies in estimating structural stiffness and load-bearing capabilities, primarily due to its inability to precisely capture the cumulative effects of plastic damage. In response, this study introduces a novel macroscopic elastoplastic model grounded in plasticity theory, aimed at accurately characterizing the nonlinear behavior of stud connections subjected to concurrent shear and tensile forces. This paper meticulously delineates the implementation of the elastoplastic constitutive model using the backward Euler method for numerical integration. It further articulates the derivation of the consistent tangent stiffness, which aligns with the convergence efficiency of the Newton–Raphson iterative approach. The computation of the element stiffness matrix for a two-node element is executed via the governing equation inherent to the finite element method. An exemplar macroelement test conducted in ABAQUS affirms the implicit backward Euler scheme’s stability and consistency across varying tolerances. Validation of the elastoplastic model against empirical test outcomes corroborates its efficacy, demonstrating the model’s precision in predicting the load–displacement behavior of stud connections under the influence of shear and tensile forces. Full article

Situated within China’s Liaoning Province, Tanghe Reservoir stands as an exemplar in the realm of reservoirs dedicated to eco-friendly fisheries development. Regrettably, frequent incidents compromising water quality and substantial reductions in reservoir fishery profits have plagued the area due to the absence of effective stocking theory guidance. However, the internal ecosystem drivers responsible for these outcomes have remained elusive. This study, leveraging an Ecopath model, delves into an exploration of the food web structure and ecosystem characteristics inherent to Tanghe Reservoir. The findings gleaned from this research demonstrate that the Tanghe Reservoir ecosystem boasts a considerable capacity for material cycling, yet it has not reached full maturity. A multitude of fish species, zoobenthos, and even zooplankton entities exhibit eco-trophic efficiencies exceeding 0.9, indicative of their rampant overexploitation. Notably, the primary cultured species, Aristichthys nobilis and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, command significant biomass levels but register lower nutritional conversion efficiencies, signifying their overstocked status. Drawing from the tenets of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) theory, we advocate for a heightened emphasis on the harvest of Aristichthys nobilis and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Full article

This paper presents a theological critique of divine command theory, a metaethical theory stating that moral wrongness is constituted by God’s command. First, I argue that this theory does not qualify as a Christian moral theory because it lacks connections to central parts of Christian theology, such as Christology. This argument does not imply that the theory is wrong nor that it is inconsistent with Christianity—only that it is not Christian as such. Second, I argue that divine command theory does not fit well with the New Testament’s vision of the moral life, in which being conformed to the image of Christ has primacy over adherence to law. This argument implies that the Christian ethicist should look elsewhere for a metaethical theory. I next argue in favour of a moral theory of imitation, in which the moral life consists of imitating God, the prime exemplar of goodness, which is made possible through an imitation of Christ. Full article

In this paper, we follow up on previous findings concerning first language (L1) perceptual attrition to examine the role of phoneme frequency in influencing variation across L1 contrasts. We hypothesized that maintenance of L1 Korean contrasts (i.e., resistance to attrition) in L1 Korean-L2 English bilinguals would be correlated with frequency, such that better-maintained contrasts would also be more frequent in the L1. To explore this hypothesis, we collected frequency data on three Korean contrasts (/n/-/l/, /t/-/t*/, /s/-/s*/) and compared these data to perceptual attrition data from a speeded sequence recall task testing the perception and phonological encoding of the target contrasts. Results only partially supported the hypothesis. On the one hand, /n/-/l/, the best-maintained contrast, was the most frequent contrast overall. On the other hand, /n/-/l/ also evinced the greatest frequency asymmetry between the two members of the contrast (meaning that it was the least important to perceive accurately); furthermore, /s/-/s*/, which was less well maintained than /t/-/t*/, was actually more frequent than /t/-/t*/. These results suggest that disparities in perceptual attrition across contrasts cannot be attributed entirely to frequency differences. We discuss the implications of the findings for future research examining frequency effects in L1 perceptual change. Full article

Greyfields are construction sites that emerge from the expansion of cities towards rural settings. They are unused structures in settlement areas that negatively impact the habitats and lead to ecologically, economically, and socially problematic zones. This study aims to examine the Greyfield problem, which emerges as one of the outcomes of urban sprawl, within the context of Transect Theory and urban resilience. We analyze the Greyfield problem in the Arapkoy rural settlement, which is located along the north coastline of Kyrenia, Cyprus. This study presents the impact of Greyfield sites on environmental, social, and economic values within the framework of Transect Theory. Thus, a road map for the redevelopment of Greyfields into public use is put forward to be used for future planning activities, which is a necessity in enabling urban resilience. Full article