The Value of Support: STEM Intervention Programs Impact Student Persistence and Belonging.

In response to unwaveringly high attrition from STEM pathways, STEM Intervention Programs (SIPs) support STEM students in effort to increase retention. Using mixed methods (survey and focus groups), we studied students at one university who were either supported or unsupported by SIPs to understand how students may differ in experiences believed to contribute to STEM persistence. We evaluated: sense of belonging, scientific self-efficacy, scientific community values, scientific identity, and STEM involvement. The enrollment status of students two and a half years postsurvey was also tracked. SIP students reported significantly higher science identity and sense of belonging and were more involved in STEM-related activities than counterparts unsupported by SIPs. Differences in these measures were correlated with race/ethnicity, college generation status, and age. Notably, SIP students had higher odds of persisting in STEM than students not supported by SIPs. Focus group data provide additional meaning to the measured survey constructs and revealed nuanced qualitative differences between SIP and non-SIP student experiences. Overall, being involved in a SIP at our institution trends positively with theoretical models that explain STEM student persistence. SIPs have the potential to provide and/or facilitate meaningful and critical support, and students without those intentional supports may be left behind.

Social Justice, Community Engagement, and Undergraduate STEM Education: Participatory Science as a Teaching Tool.

Social justice is increasingly being seen as relevant to the science curriculum. We examine the intersection of participatory science, social justice, and higher education in the United States to investigate how instructors can teach about social justice and enhance collaborations to work toward enacting social justice. Participatory science approaches, like those that collect data over large geographic areas, can be particularly useful for teaching students about social justice. Conversely, local-scale approaches that integrate students into community efforts can create powerful collaborations to help facilitate social justice. We suggest a variety of large-scale databases, platforms, and portals that could be used as starting points to address a set of learning objectives about social justice. We also describe local-scale participatory science approaches with a social justice focus, developed through academic and community partnerships. Considerations for implementing participatory science with undergraduates are discussed, including cautions about the necessary time investment, cultural competence, and institutional support. These approaches are not always appropriate but can provide compelling learning experiences in the correct circumstances.

Seeds, Dams, and Khipus: Latin America's Eclectic Recent History of Technology.

Scholarship on Latin America's history of technology has expanded significantly in recent years. By reviewing articles in English- and Spanish-language journals from 2012 to the first half of 2023, we illustrate the emerging themes, geographies, and methodologies in this literature. The four main themes we identify are industrialization, institutions and policies, infrastructure, and moving beyond technological adaptation. We also highlight two emerging themes: Indigenous technologies and the circulation of knowledge. We conclude that the scholarship has generally moved in three directions: the study of technologies associated with traditional economic activities in the region (e.g., monocrop agriculture), national industrialization and modernization processes, and cases that demonstrate alternative ways of knowing the world and how communities use these types of knowledge. We suggest that deepening the connections between these three lines of research could be fruitful for future work.

Technology Use Among Older Adults and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: Informal caregivers are called upon to provide substantial care, but more needs to be known about technology use among older adult and caregiver dyads. Objective: This study described technology use among older adults and their caregivers, explored potential correlates of technology use, and highlighted implications for practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among unpaid caregivers of older adults (n=486). Primary outcomes were self-reported technology (devices and functions) use among caregivers and their oldest care recipient. The concordance of technology use among caregivers and care recipients was also examined. Multivariable regression models were conducted separately for caregivers and care recipients. Results: Greater proportions of caregivers used all examined technologies, except for the medication alerts or tracking function, than care recipients. Caregivers used an average of 3.4 devices and 4.2 functions, compared to 1.8 devices and 1.6 functions used by their care recipients. Among caregivers, younger age, higher income, and higher education were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Among care recipients, younger age, not having cognitive dysfunction, and caregiver's technology use were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Conclusions: Understanding technology use patterns and device adoption across diverse caregiver and care recipient populations is increasingly important for enhancing geriatric care. Findings can guide recommendations about appropriate technology interventions and help providers communicate and share information more effectively with patients and their caregivers.

Between Technological Utopia and Dystopia: Online Expression of Compulsory Use of Surveillance Technology.

This study investigated people's ethical concerns of surveillance technology. By adopting the spectrum of technological utopian and dystopian narratives, how people perceive a society constructed through the compulsory use of surveillance technology was explored. This study empirically examined the anonymous online expression of attitudes toward the society-wide, compulsory adoption of a contact tracing app that affected almost every aspect of all people's everyday lives at a societal level. By applying the structural topic modeling approach to analyze comments on four Hong Kong anonymous discussion forums, topics concerning the technological utopian, dystopian, and pragmatic views on the surveillance app were discovered. The findings showed that people with a technological utopian view on this app believed that the implementation of compulsory app use can facilitate social good and maintain social order. In contrast, individuals who had a technological dystopian view expressed privacy concerns and distrust of this surveillance technology. Techno-pragmatists took a balanced approach and evaluated its implementation practically.

An Anticipatory Approach to Ethico-Legal Implications of Future Neurotechnology.

This paper provides a justificatory rationale for recommending the inclusion of imagined future use cases in neurotechnology development processes, specifically for legal and policy ends. Including detailed imaginative engagement with future applications of neurotechnology can serve to connect ethical, legal, and policy issues potentially arising from the translation of brain stimulation research to the public consumer domain. Futurist scholars have for some time recommended approaches that merge creative arts with scientific development in order to theorise possible futures toward which current trends in technology development might be steered. Taking a creative, imaginative approach like this in the neurotechnology context can help move development processes beyond considerations of device functioning, safety, and compliance with existing regulation, and into an active engagement with potential future dynamics brought about by the emergence of the neurotechnology itself. Imagined scenarios can engage with potential consumer uses of devices that might come to challenge legal or policy contexts. An anticipatory, creative approach can imagine what such uses might consist in, and what they might imply. Justifying this approach also prompts a co-responsibility perspective for policymaking in technology contexts. Overall, this furnishes a mode of neurotechnology's emergence that can avoid crises of confidence in terms of ethico-legal issues, and promote policy responses balanced between knowledge, values, protected innovation potential, and regulatory safeguards.

Natural resources-environmental technology-ecological footprint nexus: Does natural resources rents diversification make a difference?

Researchers have shown a growing interest in investigating the environmental consequences of energy exploitation and green technologies, particularly in light of the escalating severity of climate change issues in recent times. However, these researches remain incomplete in terms of the various elements and mechanisms of impact. By assessing the novel facet of resource diversification, this study has assessed the direct and indirect effects of this feature on environmental quality. This study used the Moment quantile Regression technique to examine data from 31 OECD nations spanning the time frame of 2009-2019. The findings indicate that resource diversification has an adverse effect on environmental quality, however this effect is not homogeneously observed across all countries. Countries with favorable environmental conditions will encounter a more pronounced influence from the diversification of natural resources extraction. This study further demonstrates that expanding the variety of natural resource exploitation will amplify the negative effects of resource exploitation on environmental quality. Furthermore, the degree of environmental technology exerts a beneficial impact on environmental quality across various degrees of environmental quality. Our findings offer several insightful policies for natural resources management in the context of the ongoing industrial revolution.

Electronic knowledge books (eK-Books) as a medium to capitalise on and transfer scientific, engineering, operational, technological and craft knowledge.

The capitalisation on and transfer of technological, engineering and scientific knowledge associated with empirical know-how is an important issue for the sustainability and development of manufacturing. Indeed, certain sectors of industry are facing the increasing ageing of the labour force, recruitment difficulties and high staff turnover, leading to a loss of knowledge and know-how. In a context of numerical and digital transition and the migration of processes to industry 4.0, one of major challenges manufacturers face today is their capacity to build intelligent platforms for acquiring, storing and transferring their know-how and knowledge. It is crucial to create new media and tools for staff training and development capable of capturing knowledge and reusing it to create a project history through expertise and data collection. This paper presents the methodology and guidelines for implementing electronic knowledge books (eK-Books), along with their uses. The eK-Book is a semantic web-based hypertext medium (channel) allowing stakeholders to capitalise on, structure and transfer knowledge by using concept maps, process maps, influence graphs, downloadable documents, web pages and hypermedia knowledge sheets. They are intended for engineers, expert or novice technicians, manufacturers, sector coordinators and plant managers, as well as trainers and learners. They are usable and manageable in all types of environments and with different levels of accessibility. This paper highlights (1) the transfer knowledge capacity of eK-Books and (2) their usability in two agri-food sectors namely (1) the cheese sector with protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI), and (2) the butchery and cold meat sectors.

Can new urbanization pilot policies promote green technology innovation in cities: Empirical evidence from China.

The development of urbanization has brought new challenges to the ecological environment, and the promotion of green technology innovation and development is widely recognized as an essential method to achieve cities' economic benefits and environmental protection. This paper examines whether the new urbanization pilot policies (NUP) increase green technology innovation (GTI) from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. This paper examines the impact of new urbanization on GTI by analyzing data from 285 cities in China between 2010 and 2021, using the multi-period DID model with the implementation of NUP as an exogenous policy shock. The study results indicate that NUP significantly affects GTI, and the conclusion still holds after the parallel trend test, placebo test, and other robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the NUP significantly enhances GTI in low environmental pollution, non-resource-based, Medium-sized, and Central Region cities. The test of moderating effect shows that NUP has a "linkage effect" with the government's environmental attention, financial investment in innovation, and regional talent pooling. The findings of this paper provide empirical evidence and decision-making reference for promoting NUP and sustainable development of cities.

Evaluating the impact of smart technology on academic eagerness, academic seriousness, and academic performance in elementary english language learners as a foreign language.

The proliferation of smart devices in educational settings has prompted a need to investigate their influence on learners' attitudes and language learning outcomes. Recent advancements in smart technology (ST) have ignited curiosity regarding their impact on academic eagerness (AE), (AS), and academic performance (AP) among elementary English language learners. Despite this, there remains a dearth of comprehensive discussion in this area. This study encompasses all primary language students from the academic year 2023 as its sample. A multistage sampling method was employed for sample selection. The study introduced ST as an intervention over eight 45-minute sessions spanning two months. Data collection instruments included AE assessments adapted from Fredericks et al., an AS questionnaire developed by the researchers, and an AP questionnaire designed by Pham and Taylor. Data analysis incorporated statistical tests such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Levene test, and univariate analysis of covariance. The findings yield valuable insights into the impact of ST on AE, AS, and AP, shedding light on its potential advantages and limitations in language learning. Notably, the experimental group (EG) outperformed the control group (CG). These results contribute to the growing body of knowledge concerning ST integration in education and its consequences on AP and learner attitudes. Ultimately, this research aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing language learning outcomes and experiences among elementary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in the digital education era.

Aplicabilidade das tecnologias na assistência de enfermagem com foco na segurança do paciente / The technology applicability in the aid of nursing focusing on the patient's safety / Aplicabilidad de tecnologias en la asistencia de enfermeria con enfoque en la seguridad del paciente

Objetivo: Conhecer a percepção dos enfermeiros em ambiente hospitalar sobre a implementação das tecnologias na assistência de enfermagem com foco na segurança do paciente. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, qualitativo, realizado com oito enfermeiros, responsáveis pelo gerenciamento de riscos em hospitais. Utilizou-se a técnica Snowball para eleger os participantes e a plataforma Skype para as entrevistas, realizadas no período de março a abril de 2021. Resultados: Apontou-se a utilização da tecnologia por meio do prontuário eletrônico, com a inserção de programa como o Tasy, o qual avançou para comunicação em rede, com vistas a facilitar checagens, auditorias, indicadores, gerenciamento e análise dos eventos. Desvelou-se também para a utilização do código de barras na identificação do paciente e no controle de dispensação e recebimento de medicamentos. No entanto, foram apresentadas limitações na implementação como dificuldade no manuseio das ferramentas digitais por profissionais antigos, caracterizada como resistência. Conclusão: A aplicabilidade das tecnologias na práxis da enfermagem contribui para a segurança do paciente face a favorecer o controle de eventos e o gerenciamento de riscos. Remete para a importância de capacitação e treinamentos dos profissionais para desenvolvimento de habilidades na utilização das ferramentas digitais. (AU)

Objective: Getting to know the perceptions from nurses on hospital environment about the technology implantation in the aid of patient's safety focused nursing. Methods: Descriptive, qualitative study made with eight nurses, responsible for risk management in hospitals. The Snowball technique was used to select the participants and the Skype platform used in the interviews, from March to April 2021. Results: The technology use was detected on the patient's electronic records through the Tasy program, which advanced to a net communication to facilitate checking, audits, pointers, management and event analysis. It was also detected by the use of bar codes in the identification of patients and control of medication dispensation and receiving. However, some limitations were found in the technology implementation, like elderly people having trouble using the digital tools, which is characterized by resistance. Conclusion: The technology applicability in the nursing practice contributes to the patient's safety to favor event control and risk management. It points to the importance of staff training and qualification to promote the ability of using digital tools. (AU)

Objetivo: Conocer las percepciones de las enfermeras del entorno hospitalario sobre la implementación de tecnologias enfocado en la seguridad del paciente. Métodos: Fue realizado un estudio descripctivo, cualitativo, con ocho enfermeras responsables de la gestión de riesgos en los hospitales. Se utilizó la tecnica snowball para elegir a los participantes y la plataforma skype para las entrevistas realizadas de marzo a abril de 2021. Resultados: Con el desarrollo de la tecnologia a través de historias clínicas eletrónicas, la inserción de un programa como Tasy, que avanzó a la comunicación em red, con el objetivo de facilitar verificaciones como auditorias, gestión y análisis en cualquier eventualidad. Tambien se dio a conocer para el uso de códigos de barras en la identificación de pacientes y en el control de la dispensación y recepción de medicamentos. Sin embargo, se presentaron limitaciones en la implementación, como la dificultad en el manejo de herramientas digitales por parte de algunos profesionales. Conclusión: La aplicabilidad de tecnologias en la enfermeria contribuye a la seguridad del paciente favoreciendo en el control de riesgos. Se refiere a la importancia de la calificación y formación de los profesionales, para desarrollar habilidades en el uso de herramientas digitales. (AU)

Hipodermóclise como tecnologia integrativa ao processo infusional em crianças / Hypodermoclysis as an integrative technology for the infusion process in children / Hipodermoclisis como tecnología integradora para el proceso de infusión en niños

Objetivo: Identificar as evidências científicas acerca da efetividade e da segurança da hipodermóclise em comparação à via intravenosa, no processo de infusão de fluidos, para reidratação de crianças até 10 de idade, com leve a moderada desidratação, nos contextos hospitalares e domiciliares. Métodos: Revisão sistemática conduzida conforme as recomendações do Instituto Joanna Briggs®, com protocolo publicado e registrado. A busca foi realizada em cinco recursos informacionais diferentes (bases de dados, literatura cinzenta, referências dos estudos). Todo o processo de seleção foi conduzido por revisores independentes. Resultados: Foram identificados 1410 estudos e dois foram incluídos na análise. Devido a heterogeneidade dos estudos não foi possível a realização da meta-análise. Os desfechos analisados foram volume total de líquido infundido, alteração da desidratação conforme escala de Gorelick e peso, número de tentativas para inserção do cateter, e eventos adversos. Conclusão: Demonstra-se benefícios do uso da hipodermóclise como prática integrativa ao processo de infusão de fluidos em crianças, porém com baixo nível de evidência. Novas pesquisas com alta qualidade metodológica serão promissoras para sua implementação no cuidado ao paciente pediátrico. (AU)

Objective: To identify scientific evidence about the effectiveness and safety of hypodermoclysis compared to the intravenous route, in the fluid infusion process, for rehydration of children up to 10 years of age, with mild to moderate dehydration, in hospital and home settings. Methods: Systematic review conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs® Institute, with a published and registered protocol. The search was performed in six databases, five gray literature databases, and references of the included studies. The entire selection process was conducted by independent reviewers. Results: 1410 studies were identified and two were included in the analysis. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, it was not possible to carry out the meta-analysis. The outcomes analyzed were total volume of fluid infused, change in dehydration according to the Gorelick scale and weight, number of attempts to insert the catheter, and adverse events. Conclusion: Benefits of the use of hypodermoclysis as an integrative practice in the fluid infusion process in children are demonstrated, but with a low level of evidence. New research with high methodological quality will be promising for its implementation in pediatric patient care. (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar evidencia científica sobre la efectividad y seguridad de la hipodermoclisis en comparación con la vía intravenosa, en el proceso de infusión de líquidos, para la rehidratación de niños hasta los 10 años de edad, con deshidratación leve a moderada, en el ámbito hospitalario y domiciliario. Métodos: Revisión sistemática realizada de acuerdo con las recomendaciones del Instituto Joanna Briggs®, con protocolo publicado y registrado. La búsqueda se realizó en seis bases de datos, cinco bases de datos de literatura gris y referencias de los estudios incluidos. Todo el proceso de selección fue realizado por revisores independientes. Resultados: Se identificaron 1410 estudios y se incluyeron dos en el análisis. Debido a la heterogeneidad de los estudios, no fue posible realizar el metanálisis. Los resultados analizados fueron el volumen total de líquido infundido, el cambio en la deshidratación según la escala y el peso de Gorelick, el número de intentos de insertar el catéter y los eventos adversos. Conclusión: Se demuestran los beneficios del uso de la hipodermoclisis como práctica integradora en el proceso de infusión de líquidos en niños, pero con un bajo nivel de evidencia. Nuevas investigaciones con alta calidad metodológica serán prometedoras para su implementación en la atención del paciente pediátrico. (AU)

Particle separator with vortex claw: an efficient and new technology.

Despite facing many challenges, the exploration of using natural forces and mechanisms besides gravity to enhance particle settling has never ceased. A novel particle separator design, which utilizes multiple vortexes to enhance particle settling, was proposed in this study. The basic principle is using the fluid's energy to generate small swirling currents in a specially designed vortex claw generator. These currents bring suspended particles from the rapid and turbulent inflow to relatively quiet water regions, separating them from the main flows and reducing their travel distance to the wall. To verify the new separator design's performance, comparison studies were carried out in the laboratory using physical models. The results showed that the new design had much higher particle capture rates for the same inflow rates and tested particle sizes. Most importantly, it was able to effectively remove small particles, and particle capture rates were much less affected by fluctuations in inflow rates. Since most existing particle separators failed to perform well under large inflow rates, these characteristics make the new design stand out from other separators. Due to its special structure, its treatment capacity can also be easily increased without changing its horizontal separator size.

Protein click chemistry and its potential for medical applications.

A revolution in chemical biology occurred with the introduction of click chemistry. Click chemistry plays an important role in protein chemistry modifications, providing specific, sensitive, rapid, and easy-to-handle methods. Under physiological conditions, click chemistry often overlaps with bioorthogonal chemistry, defined as reactions that occur rapidly and selectively without interfering with biological processes. Click chemistry is used for the posttranslational modification of proteins based on covalent bond formations. With the contribution of click reactions, selective modification of proteins would be developed, representing an alternative to other technologies in preparing new proteins or enzymes for studying specific protein functions in different biological processes. Click-modified proteins have potential in diverse applications such as imaging, labeling, sensing, drug design, and enzyme technology. Due to the promising role of proteins in disease diagnosis and therapy, this review aims to highlight the growing applications of click strategies in protein chemistry over the last two decades, with a special emphasis on medicinal applications.

Perceived usefulness of medical teachers towards online learning using technology acceptance model.

Objective: To determine medical teachers' acceptance of and attitude towards online learning, and to gather their recommendations about how it can be incorporated in the educational system. METHODS: The mixed method study was conducted at Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala, Pakistan, from August 2021 to January 2022, and comprised medical teachers involved in online teaching during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Quantitative data was gathered using an online questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model. The qualitative component was explored through 2 focussed group discussions. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. RESULTS: Of the 50 teachers, 31(62%) were males and 19(38%) were females. The overall mean age was 42.9±7.9 years, and the mean teaching experience was 10.9±7.9 years. Mean perceived usefulness score was 3.2±0.9 and the mean perceived ease of use score was 3.6±0.6. The mean scores were 3.3±0.9 for intention to use and 3.5±0.7 for attitude towards computer use. There was a strong positive correlation of perceived usefulness with intention to use and attitude towards computer use (p<0.05), while perceived ease of use and intention to use had a strong correlation with attitude towards computer use (p<0.05). There were total 12 participants in focussed group discussions; 2(16.7%) females and 10(83.3%) males with mean age 44.34±5.23 years. A total of 4 major themes were identified. Conclusion: Majority of medical teachers strongly agreed with the acceptance of e-learning, and agreed with its perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use for online learning.

Technology empowerment: Digital transformation and enterprise ESG performance-Evidence from China's manufacturing sector.

In light of the long-term constraints posed by the "dual carbon" objective, can digital technology emerge as a transformative solution for enterprises to embark on a sustainable development trajectory? The existing body of research has yet to reach a consensus. In order to shed further light on the intricate relationship between digital transformation and ESG performance of enterprises, this study empirically examines the mechanisms and boundaries through which digital transformation influences ESG performance, based on observational data from A-share manufacturing listed companies in Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange spanning from 2011 to 2021. The findings demonstrate that digital transformation exerts a significant positive impact on the ESG performance of manufacturing enterprises. Mechanism analysis reveals that the enabling effect of digital transformation primarily enhances company transparency, thereby fostering continuous improvements in ESG performance among manufacturing enterprises. The performance expectation gap will give rise to the phenomenon of "stop-loss in time" and impede the promotional impact of digital transformation. Further investigation into industrial characteristics and industry competition intensity indicates that state-owned enterprises and those operating within highly competitive environments experience more pronounced effects of digital transformation on their ESG performance. This study expands the mechanism and boundary of digital transformation on ESG performance of manufacturing enterprises, and provides a new perspective for manufacturing enterprises to realize the collaborative transformation of digital and green.

Green supply chain management practices and triple bottom line performance: Insights from an emerging economy with a mediating and moderating model.

The current study explores the dynamics of business practices in Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This research focusing on how "green supply chain management" (GSCM), Industry 4.0 technologies (IND), total quality management (TQM) and sustainable performance (SP) are interconnected. The study collected data from 382 SMEs owners and managers and data analysis was conducted utilizing by SPSS and SmartPLS. The results indicate that employ GSCM pattern has constructive impact on SMEs overall performance in terms of their social and financial aspects. Interestingly IND act as intermediaries among GSCM and sustainable performance underscoring their potential to translate sustainability efforts into outcomes. Moreover, our survey reveals that TQM have a crucial function in enriching the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable performance by executing as a moderator. It further highlighting the value of adopting a quality focused approach to maximize the causal factor of advancements on sustainability output. The findings of this survey research offering insights for practitioners, SMEs, and policy makers alike by highlighting the significance of integrating practices such as GSCM, IND and effective quality management to enhance SME efficiency. These outcomes further contribute to an understanding of the mechanics at play, within SMEs while offering guidance for organizations maneuvering the changing landscape of sustainable business practices and IND.

Towards secure and efficient integration of blockchain and 6G networks.

The future of communication systems is undergoing a transformative shift towards intelligence, efficiency, and flexibility. Presently, the amalgamation of blockchain technology and the sixth-generation mobile communication network (6G) has garnered significant attention, as their fusion is poised to profoundly impact the digital economy and society at large. However, the convergence of blockchain and 6G networks poses challenges pertaining to security and performance. In this article, we propose an approach based on the design of secure mechanisms and performance optimization to delve into the key issues surrounding the integration of blockchain and 6G networks from both security and performance perspectives. Specifically, we first introduce the application scenarios of 6G networks and blockchain's empowerment of them to highlight the necessity of combining blockchain technology with 6G. Subsequently, in order to ensure the security of communication and data transmission between blockchain and 6G networks, we have investigated the design requirements for security mechanisms. Furthermore, we discuss the efficient realization of the amalgamation between blockchain and 6G networks by proposing a solution based on Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) for blockchain's asynchronous consensus protocol, alongside optimization strategies for storage and communication to meet the desired characteristics and requirements of 6G networks. Lastly, we provide valuable research directions that serve as references and guidance for the future development of the integration between blockchain and 6G networks.