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Open source software for tube vocal tract modeling, resonance prediction, illustration, and 3D printing

We present accessible code-free tube vocal tract modeling software. The software implements a transfer function. Applications involve exploratory speech acoustics-based basic research and education in phonetic sciences. The program has been made publicly available and presents researchers and students in speech-centric sciences with easily accessible vocal tract modelling and vowel synthesis.

scientific communication and education↗

Predisposing factors of teenage pregnancy in the Uganda Lake Victoria Island and Mountain districts

IntroductionThere is a high teenage pregnancy in Lake Victoria Island and Mountain districts of Uganda. Teenage pregnancy is highly associated with abortions, infant and maternal mortality, high rate of unemployment, school failure and drop-outs and limited future career opportunities. This paper identifies and explains the factors influencing teenage pregnancy in Uganda Lake Victoria Island shoreline area and mountain districts.\n\nMethodsThe analysis focused on 405 girls aged 15-19 years, generated from the 2016 Uganda demographic and Health Survey. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval and p-values were computed using appropriate logistic regression models to determine the presence and strength of associations between the teenage pregnancy and independent variables.\n\nResultsAge, residence, secondary or higher education level, female-headed households, marital status (married), occupation, wealth index(rich quintile), and knowledge of ovulation cycle were found to have statistically significant associations with teenage pregnancy.\n\nConclusionIncreased age, rural residence, occupation(not working), and knowledge of ovulation cycle were statistically significant predisposing factors of teenage pregnancy in Uganda Lake Victoria Island shoreline area and mountain districts. Teenagers in these study areas should be provided with sexual education as well as teenage-friendly health services at health facilities that include a wide range of options, as well as medically accurate counselling and information could mitigate teenage pregnancy.

scientific communication and education↗

A strong start for sustained success: inclusivity through a national group mentorship program for first-year graduate students

In the United States, STEM graduate programs and workforce do not represent the demographics of the population. Obstacles, including a lack of transparency, community, and accessible information in navigating academia, disproportionately affect students from underserved backgrounds. Peer mentoring networks can address these disparities. Here, we describe Cientifico Latino, Inc.s Graduate Student Engagement and Community (CL-GSEC) program, a nationwide, group-based peer mentorship program that has served first-year graduate students across the U.S., especially those from underserved backgrounds. Surveys indicate CL-GSEC positively impacts the first-year graduate experience. We highlight key program features, challenges, and insights, such as financial strains faced by first-year graduate students. We offer suggestions for how faculty and departments can better support students during this critical early stage of graduate training. We hope that reporting on CL-GSECs program structure, evaluations, and findings will guide educational leaders in expanding programming for junior graduate students.

scientific communication and education↗

Perception and Readiness Towards Inter-Professional Education Among Different Health Care Disciplines at Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Interprofessional learning (IPL) is an approach that teaches students diverse disciplines to communicate with each other about their professional knowledge in order to acquire a more complex one understanding of the current situation. According to WHO definition of IPE "its a process between two or more professionals learn about from, and with one another to permit effective association and enhance health outcome. The aim of this study was to measure perception and readiness towards IPE among different health care disciplines. A cross-sectional study was done with two hundred and eighteen post graduate Nursing, public health, physiotherapy, and basic medical sciences students from September,2020 to January,2021 at Khyber Medical University Peshawar Pakistan. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. The Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) were used to measure the readiness and perception of students regarding inter-professional leaning. The data were analyzed using software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (Version 23). The RIPLS was completed by a total of 218 participants (response rate 100%, 61 Nursing students 28%, 51 physiotherapy students 23.4%, 53 public health students 24.3%, and 53 basic medical sciences students 24.3%). As shown in Table 1.1, the majority of respondents were male (51.4%) followed by female (48.6%). Most of the respondents were aged with a mean score of 27.92 {+/-} 3.195. Moreover, majority of respondents have experience less than 5years (75.2%) and (22.8%) has experience above than 5years. Value of perception and readiness in Shapiro-Wilk is .000 which shows that the data variable is not normally distributed. correlation of students towards interprofessional learning by applying Spearman rho test. Students perception has strong positive correlation with their readiness, p value (.000). Also students readiness has strong positive correlation with their perception towards interprofessional learning. This study was to explore the readiness and perception of students towards interprofessional education in different health care students. IPL is beneficial for students to know other professionals to work together for teamwork and collaboration and it also increase communication between different health care professional and patients.

scientific communication and education↗

Training Data: How can we best prepare instructors to teach data science in undergraduate biology and environmental science courses?

There is a clear and concrete need for greater quantitative literacy in the biological and environmental sciences. Data science training for students in higher education necessitates well-equipped and confident instructors across curricula. However, not all instructors are versed in data science skills or research-based teaching practices. Our study sought to survey the state of data science education across institutions of higher learning, identify instructor needs, and illuminate barriers to teaching data science in the classroom. We distributed a survey to instructors around the world, focused on the United States, and received 106 complete responses. Our results indicate that instructors across institutions use, teach, and view data management, analysis, and visualization as important for students to learn. Code, modeling, and reproducibility were less valued by instructors, although there were differences by institution type (doctoral, masters, or baccalaureate), and career stage (time since terminal degree). While there were a variety of barriers highlighted by respondents, instructor background, student background, and space in the curriculum were the greatest barriers of note. Interestingly, instructors were most interested in receiving training for how to teach code and data analysis in the undergraduate classroom. Our study provides an important window into how data science is taught in higher education as well as suggestions for how we can best move forward with empowering instructors across disciplines.

scientific communication and education↗

Dental emergency: scoping review

Part of the oral health care in the care network encompasses users in cases of emergency. This study proposed to map the determinants of the use of dental care services within the health care network to address dental emergencies of the Brazilian Unified Health System (UHS) and to verify the main gaps in the research in this area. This is a scoping review that took place in 2018 using Andersens behavioral model as a reference. A total of 16 studies, out of 3786 original articles identified, were included and reviewed. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection process and the decision was consensually taken. The mapping of the determinants revealed a greater number of enabling factors and a larger gap in results. Greater use of the emergency service was registered by people in pain, women, adults, from an urban area, with a lower income, and less education. In future studies, primary surveys are recommended, which include all ages, analyzing different groups of needs and users that take into account the countrys northern region and the different subjects pointed out in this review.

scientific communication and education↗

Beyond student outcomes: How creating Open Educational Resources benefits authors in a research coordination network

Open educational resources (OERs) contain authentic materials that benefit students, but few studies have focused on the benefits to authors of OERs. This gap needs attention considering the challenges that OER authors face, given their commitments to multiple professional activities while also being motivated to take part in OER development. It is critical to understand what benefits authors receive, to help in the continued development of these valuable educational tools. To this end, we investigated what benefits a specific group of researcher-educators perceived from investing their limited time and energy to design, create, and share authentic OERs in the OCELOTS (Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems) Research Coordination Network in Undergraduate Biology Education. Our study was based on conceptual frameworks for teaching and learning, communities of practice, and self-determination theory. We used qualitative data from a survey specifically designed to address the question of benefits perceived by OER authors, complemented with quantitative and qualitative data from existing internal evaluations of this network. In a content-analysis framework, we analyzed the open-ended responses to identify broader themes emerging about author benefits. OER authors reported improved pedagogical practice, increased visibility of research and outreach efforts, professional rewards, and increased collaborations. Authors reported gains in pedagogical knowledge and personal fulfillment as benefits that they received, along with satisfaction from contributing to their discipline and society in general. While benefits around improving pedagogical practice was the richest theme, creation of modules also generated new collaborations and helped strengthen and broaden authors professional networks. In particular, the sense of belonging to and building the community was a significant benefit, providing implications for how to support future OER development and the critical role of peer networks. We discuss connections across these themes and compare our results with related previous studies. These results indicate that sustained investment in intentionally designed, interdisciplinary networks can generate substantial and diverse benefits for the educators and researchers who create these resources. Open Research StatementThe de-identified data associated with this manuscript will be permanently archived in Zenodo, upon the acceptance of the manuscript.

scientific communication and education↗

Knowledge of Chagas disease in Latin American migrant population living in Japan and factors associated with knowledge level

BackgroundChagas disease (CD), typically confined to the Latin America (LA) region, is emerging as a global health problem. In Japan, as in the rest of world, the under-diagnose rate of CD is alarmingly high. Various studies have highlighted the importance of informed knowledge in the seeking behavior. Educational integrative activities, with consideration for socio-cultural factors, can help increase the knowledge of the participants. There has been no studies that analyze the difference in knowledge, before and after these educational activities. This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the knowledge, behavior and attitude toward CD among LA migrants in Japan and to evaluate the effectiveness of the community educational activity in increasing knowledge of CD.\n\nMethodologyThis cross-sectional study involved two questionnaires to analyze the knowledge of the LA migrant participants before and after the community activity (CA) in four cities in Japan (Oizumi, Suzuka, Hadano, and Nagoya).\n\nPrincipal FindingsA total of 75 participants were enrolled, predominantly Bolivians from hyperendemic areas. The baseline knowledge of CD was low. However, most of them were familiar with the disease although less than 10% of them had been tested for CD before. Living in Japan for more than 10 years and previously being tested for CD were the factors associated with better knowledge. The conducted CA significantly improved the knowledge of the participants. They associated the term \"Chagas\" mostly with fear and concern. In contrast to other studies, the level of stigmatization was low. The barriers in care seeking behavior were language, migration process and difficulties to access to the healthcare system.\n\nConclusionEducational activities with integrative approach are useful to increase knowledge of CD. The activity brings the possibility to explore not only the level of knowledge, but also to reveal the experience and to understand the needs of the people at risk.\n\nAuthor SummaryThough the incident rate of Chagas disease (CD) has fallen, more than 7 million people are affected worldwide. The CD prevalence is under-estimated because just 1% of these affected people can access to the diagnosis and treatment. This situation is maintaining mainly for the lack of implication of socio-cultural factors in the interventions to decrease the burden of the disease. Educational activities with integral approach are useful to increase the knowledge of the people at risk. People that have being tested for CD before or living in Japan for more than 10 years have better knowledge about the disease, suggesting the importance of knowledge in the seeking behavior. The authors recommend the implementation of educational activities with integral approach as a strategy to improves the knowledge of Chagas disease among Latin America migrants in Japan.

scientific communication and education↗

The CURE for Culturing Fastidious Microbes

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) expand the scientific educational benefits of research to large groups of students in a course setting. As part of an ongoing effort to integrate CUREs into first-year biology labs, we developed a microbiology CURE (mCURE) that uses a modified dilution-to-extinction high throughput culturing protocol for isolating abundant yet fastidious aquatic bacterioplankton during one semester. Students learn common molecular biology techniques like nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and molecular characterization; read and evaluate scientific literature; and receive training in scientific communication through written and oral exercises that incorporate social media elements. In the first three semesters, the mCUREs achieved similar cultivability success as implementation of the protocol in a standard laboratory setting. Our modular framework facilitates customization of the curriculum for use in multiple settings and we provide classroom exercises, assignments, assessment tools, and examples of student output to assist with implementation.

scientific communication and education↗

Challenges in Undergraduate Synthetic Biology Training: Insights from a Canadian iGEM Student Perspective

The last two decades have seen vigorous activity in synthetic biology research and ever-increasing applications of synthetic biology technologies. However, pedagogical research on synthetic biology is scarce, especially when compared to some scientific and engineering disciplines. Within Canada, there are only three universities that formally teach synthetic biology programs; two of which are at the undergraduate level. Many Canadian undergraduate students are instead introduced to synthetic biology through participation in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition where they work in design teams to conceive of and execute a synthetic biology project that they present at an international jamboree. We surveyed the Canadian landscape of synthetic biology education through the experience of students from the Canadian iGEM teams of 2019. Using a thematic codebook analysis, we gathered insights to generate recommendations that could empower future iGEM team operations and inform educators about best practices in teaching undergraduate synthetic biology.

scientific communication and education↗

A survey of public attitudes towards third-party reproduction in Japan in 2014

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine public attitudes towards third-party reproduction and the disclosure of conception through third-party reproduction.\n\nMethods: We conducted the web-based survey for the public attitude towards third-party reproduction in February 2014. Twenty-five hundred people were recruited with equal segregation of age (20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s) and gender. We analyzed the association between gender, age, infertility, and ethical view using a questionnaire regarding donor sperm, donor oocyte, donor embryo, gestational surrogacy, and disclosure to offspring.\n\nResults: Of the respondents, 36.2% approved and 26.6% disapproved with gamete or embryo donation. The frequency of those who approved was the lowest in females in the 50-59 years age group, and was significantly higher in males or females with infertility. Secondly, 40.9% approved and 21.8% disapproved with gestational surrogacy. The frequency of those who approved gestational surrogacy was higher in males or females with infertility. Thirdly, 46.3% of respondents agreed and 20.4% disagreed with \"offspring have the right to know their origin\". Those who disagreed were primarily in the 50-59 age group of both genders, and disagreement was significantly higher in the infertility group compared with non-infertility group.\n\nConclusion: In this study, public attitudes were affected by gender, age, and experience of infertility. These study findings are important in understanding the attitude towards third-party reproduction and disclosure to the offspring. Respondents having indecisive attitudes were >30%, which might indicate an increased requirement for information and education to enhance the discussion on the ethical consensus on third-party reproduction in Japan.

scientific communication and education↗

Curriculum-based outdoor learning for children aged 9-11: A qualitative analysis of pupils' and teachers' views.

The relationship between child health, wellbeing and education demonstrates that healthier and happier children achieve higher educational attainment. An engaging curriculum that facilitates children in achieving their academic potential has strong implications for educational outcomes, future employment prospects and health and wellbeing during adulthood. Outdoor learning is a pedagogical approach used to enrich learning, enhance school engagement and improve pupil health and wellbeing. However, its non-traditional means of achieving curricular aims are not yet recognised beyond the early years by education inspectorates. This requires evidence into its acceptability from those at the forefront of delivery. This study aimed to explore headteachers, teachers and pupils views and experiences of an outdoor learning programme within the key stage two curriculum (ages 9-11). We examine the process of implementation to offer case study evidence through 1:1 interviews with headteachers (n=3) and teachers (n=10) and focus groups with pupils aged 9-11 (n=10) from three primary schools. Interviews and focus groups were conducted at baseline and six months into implementation. Schools introduced regular outdoor learning within the curriculum. This study found a variety of perceived benefits for pupils and schools. Pupils and teachers noticed improvements in pupils engagement with learning, concentration and behaviour, as well as positive impacts on health and wellbeing and teachers job satisfaction. Curriculum demands including testing and evidencing work were barriers to implementation, in addition to safety concerns, resources and teacher confidence. Participants supported outdoor learning as a curriculum-based programme for older primary school pupils. However, embedding outdoor learning within the curriculum requires education inspectorates to place higher value on this approach in achieving curricular aims, alongside greater acknowledgment of the wider benefits to children which current measurements do not capture.

scientific communication and education↗

Understanding the Athena SWAN award scheme for gender equality as a complex social intervention in a complex system: analysis of Silver award action plans in a comparative European perspective

BackgroundGiven that the complex mix of structural, cultural, and institutional factors has produced barriers for women in science, an equally complex intervention is required to understand and address them. The Athena SWAN award scheme for gender equality has become a widespread means to address barriers for womens advancement and leadership in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, the United States of America, and Canada, while he European Commission is exploring the introduction of a similar award scheme across Europe. MethodsThis study analyses the design and implementation of 16 departmental Athena SWAN Silver action plans in Medical Sciences at one of the worlds leading universities in Oxford, United Kingdom. Data pertaining to the design and implementation of gender equality interventions were extracted from the action plans, analysed thematically, coded using categories from the 2015 Athena SWAN Charter Awards Handbook, and synthesised against a typology of gender equality interventions in the European Research Area. The results were further analysed against the complexity research literature framework, where research organisations are perceived as dynamic systems that adapt, interact and co-evolve with other systems. ResultsAthena SWAN is a complex contextually-embedded system of action planning within the context of universities. It depends on a multitude of contextual variables that relate in complex, non-linear ways, and dynamically adapt to constantly moving targets and new emergent conditions. Athena SWAN Silver action plans conform to the key considerations of complexity: 1) multiple actions and areas of intervention with a focus on the complex system embedded in and the local dynamics, 2) the non-linearity of interventions and the constantly emerging conditions, 3) impact in terms of contribution to change, improved conditions to foster change, and the increased probability that change can occur. ConclusionsTo enact effective sustainable gender equality structural and cultural change, it is necessary to acknowledge and operationalize complexity as a frame of reference. Athena SWAN is the single most comprehensive and systemic gender equality scheme in Europe and can be strengthened further by promoting the integration of sex and gender analysis in research and education. Gender equality policies in the wider European Research Area can benefit from exploring Athena SWANs contextually-embedded systemic approach to dynamic action planning and inclusive focus on all genders and categories of staff and students.

scientific communication and education↗

Spurring and Siloing: Identity Navigation in Scientific Writing Among Asian Early-Career Researchers

Scientific writing and publication are critical sites where students must navigate between personal identities and presumed scientific objectivity. For non-white student researchers, particularly those stereotyped as "model minorities," this process involves complex negotiations. This qualitative study examines how Asian and Asian American students navigate ethnic and cultural identities within scientific writing processes. Using an integrated theoretical framework combining cultural community wealth, narrative identity, and border crossing, we analyzed how participants deployed cultural resources while navigating institutional expectations. Drawing on interviews with 23 student participants who engaged with the [Blinded Journal], we identified two primary approaches: "spurring," wherein ethnic and cultural backgrounds catalyze research questions, and "siloing," wherein these identities are deliberately compartmentalized during writing. Findings reveal that while participants drew upon familial capital to inform research interests, most practiced disciplinary compartmentalization and adhered to perceived scientific norms. This tension demonstrates how students negotiate cultural scripts while developing professional identities. Our findings suggest that science educators could help students recognize their cultural backgrounds as valuable epistemic resources rather than sources of bias, explicitly address the myth of value-neutral science, and provide models of how scientists integrate personal and cultural perspectives into rigorous scientific work.

scientific communication and education↗

Teaching Python for Data Science: Collaborative development of a modular & interactive curriculum

We are bioinformatics trainees at the University of Michigan who started a local chapter of Girls Who Code to provide a fun and supportive environment for high school women to learn the power of coding. Our goal was to cover basic coding topics and data science concepts through live coding and hands-on practice. However, we could not find a resource that exactly met our needs. Therefore, over the past three years, we have developed a curriculum and instructional format using Jupyter notebooks to effectively teach introductory Python for data science. This method, inspired by The Carpentries organization, uses bite-sized lessons followed by independent practice time to reinforce coding concepts, and culminates in a data science capstone project using real-world data. We believe our open curriculum is a valuable resource to the wider education community and hope that educators will use and improve our lessons, practice problems, and teaching best practices. Anyone can contribute to our educational materials on GitHub.

scientific communication and education↗

Involvement in family planning service utilization and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor Town Northwest, Ethiopia, 2017

BackgroundMens involvement in family planning can be either as a user of male contraceptive methods and or supportive partner of female users. It is very important to improve womens health in particular and reproductive health in general. In some developing countries, levels of communication on this issue are low for decision-making. Communication and discussion positively affect contraceptive uptake and continued use, whereas failure to communicate limits couples effective and sustained contraceptive use. Unmet need for FP suggested that unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion are the main causes of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. ObjectiveTo assess mens involvement in family planning service and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia. MethodsA community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from April to June. 2017 at Debre Tabor Town. Simple random sampling method was recruited then systematic sampling technique was used to include 382 married males. Data were collected by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered into epi. Info 7 and descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 21 statistical software package. ResultFrom three hundred eighty-two participants, 373 participants with 97.6% response rate participated in the study. The age range of the participant was from20 to 65years, the mean age was 38.6 with the standard deviation of 7.8. Majority of the participants were orthodox 358(96%). One hundred twenty-four (33.2%) were greater than secondary education and from the occupation, farmers took the least rank 4 (2.4%). The magnitude of male involvement in family planning was 254(68.1%), 370 (99 .2%) of the participants had information on different family planning methods. Adjusting all other factors for the last model, educational status AOR [95%CI] = 2.39 [1.084, 5.260], source of information information AOR [95%CI] =1.88 [1.016, 3.485], mens approval AOR [95%CI] = 0.07 [0.036, 0.134], ever used contraceptive AOR [95%CI] = 0.21[0.064, 0.705] were found to be associated with mens involvement. ConclusionThe level of male involvement was moderate, but their actual utilization is low.

scientific communication and education↗

SpaceBio Knowledge Hub: A LiteratOmics Platform for Microgravity and Space Biology Research

Space biology literature is growing exponentially. Existing infrastructure has not kept pace with organizing, synthesizing, and disseminating this knowledge. We present SpaceBio SpaceBio Knowledge Hub (www.spacebio.space), an integrated digital ecosystem that combines artificial intelligence, real-time data integration, and open-access infrastructure to advance research, education, and collaboration in microgravity, space biology and space exploration. The platform applies AI-driven approaches including natural language processing, machine learning, and automated content generation to construct a semantic atlas of the field. The atlas reveals the hierarchical thematic organization underlying microgravity-induced biological responses, space mission infrastructure, planetary science, and astrobiology. As part of this effort, SpaceBio is moving toward the construction of a LiteratOmics framework for microgravity, and space biology a systematic, AI-enabled approach to mining, integrating, and structuring the primary literature generated by omics-driven spaceflight research, treating the scientific literature itself as a navigable data layer alongside genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets. Built on a scalable, cloud-based architecture with a user-centered interface, SpaceBio supports literature exploration, data integration, and knowledge discovery for researchers, educators, students, industry partners, and citizen scientists. The platform also functions as a community-building ecosystem. It integrates hands-on research initiatives, AI-generated educational content, pilot data science projects, and social responsibility programs that broaden participation without compromising scientific rigor. AI-enabled digital environments can transform fragmented literature into a navigable knowledge landscape. SpaceBio accelerates research productivity, strengthens STEM education, and supports the global space life sciences community as human space exploration enters in the most ambitious era.

scientific communication and education↗

Assessment of research ethics education offerings of pharmacy master programs: a qualitative content analysis

The importance of research ethics (RE) training has led academic and funding institutions to require that students, trainees, and faculty obtain such training at various stages of their careers. Despite the increasing awareness of the value RE education offers, this training requirement is absent in Jordan. We aimed to assess RE education offerings of pharmacy master programs in Jordan and compare with the top-ranked pharmacy graduate programs globally. Therefore, a list of universities that offer research-based pharmacy master programs was created. Each program was evaluated for the inclusion of RE education. A qualitative content analysis approach based on inductive reasoning and latent analysis was followed to analyze the data. Results of the study showed a lack of appropriate RE education for graduate-level pharmacy programs in Jordan with only 40% of the programs partially discuss selected topics related to RE. Regarding pharmacy graduate programs globally, 10% offer a standalone RE course, 40% offer some discussions related to RE, another 10% do not offer RE education in any form, and the remaining 40% of the programs were difficult to assess due to lack of sufficient information available online. Based on the findings of this study, training in RE is tends to be lacking in pharmacy graduate programs in Jordan and globally, with a greater lack in Jordan than globally. There is a need to incorporate formal RE education into programs that do not offer this type of instruction. Programs that formally touch on some aspects of RE need to expand the scope of topics to include more RE-related themes. Integrating a standalone RE course into pharmacy graduate programs is highly encouraged.

scientific communication and education↗