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Five-day supplementation with an isotonic beetroot juice drink improves sprint interval exercise and muscle oxygenation in physically active individuals: A randomized crossover trial
No full textThis study investigated whether the addition of nitrate (from beetroot) to an isotonic drink provided over 5 days would affect sprint interval exercise (SIE) performance and muscle oxygenation. Twenty (seven female) physically active participants (mean ± SD; age 28 ± 6 years, BMI 22.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2) completed a double-blind, randomized, crossover study where they consumed 570 mL of either isotonic drink (ISO-C) or isotonic beetroot juice drink (ISO-BR) for 5 days before performing SIE (six 10 s maximal effort, interspersed with 50 s active recovery) on a cycle ergometer. Both drinks contained equal osmolality (290 mOsm/kg) but differed in the nutrients from beetroot extract, particularly the nitrate content (ISO-C: 0 mmol, ISO-BR: 12.9 mmol). ISO-BR significantly reduced the average time to peak power (ISO-C: 2.0 ± 0.18 s vs. ISO-BR: 1.6 ± 0.37 s; main effect of drink, p = 0.003, partial η2 = 0.04) and increased muscle deoxygenation (ΔHHb) (main effect of drink, p = 0.002, partial η2 = 0.021) compared to ISO-C. Five-day supplementation with ISO-BR improved the time to peak power but not the peak or mean power output for SIE compared with ISO-C.Published versio
Aquinas, Anwesen arche-tecture and the attunement to the Ur-Theologe: Camera, photographs and holy pictures after Ur-Heidegger
No full textLeveraging on Richard Capobianco’s current studies of the theological hints in the thought of the later Martin Heidegger, this paper retrieves Heidegger’s account of anwesen (presenc-ing) by employing conceptual resources in Thomas Aquinas and challenging Heidegger’s caricature of the latter, suggesting that Thomistic scholastic categories properly understood and retrieved may well capture the features of anwesen, and that anwesen is a participation of that primordial Divine Intentionality, whom Edith Stein calls the “Ur-Theologe”. This is followed by a discussion of anwesen arche-tecture, which considers how we can shape our environments (arche) or accompanying (arche) lifestyles or practices in relation to anwesen. Such arche-tectural considerations focus not on the engineering of buildings but on bildung, that is, on anwesen’s formative effects for ethical development. Here, photography, the camera and the photograph are mused for their arche-tectural affordances. This paper also draws heavily on John Deely’s (and John of St Thomas OP’s) semiotics and pays special attention to how in various ways photographs can sign anwesen by way of a virtual or participated semiosis, functioning as a kind of beneficial virtual fieldwork
Generative AI and literacy development in the language classroom: A systematic review of literature
No full textThe past few decades have seen major advancements in educational technology due to rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in education has gained significant interest amongst educators and several research publications. This dissertation reviews the nascent research on the integration of GenAI in language classrooms to present the current state of the art as well as inform future research on the topic. This paper reports on a systematic review of literature on the use of GenAI for literacy development in the language classrooms. Literacy development includes both language learning outcomes, such as writing and vocabulary learning, as well as multiliteracies outcomes, including engagement with multimodal texts and digital literacies (The New London Group 1996). The systematic review critically examines how GenAI tools are employed by students and educators and their views regarding the integration of these tools in language classrooms. Students’ and educators’ perceptions on the utilisation of GenAI are important, as their attitudes directly influence the integration and effectiveness of these technologies in language classrooms (Hieu and Thao 2024). The methodology of this review involves sourcing studies from databases such as EBSCOhost and Scopus based on tailored inclusion and exclusion criteria aimed at addressing the research questions regarding the impact of GenAI tools on literacy development, multiliteracies outcomes, student and teacher perceptions regarding the use of GenAI tools and the challenges faced due to its integration in language classrooms as reported in the reviewed literature. By reporting these insights, the review aims to inform the development of future technologies which can enhance language teaching and learning experiences and student learning outcomes
Quantifying performance in racket sports: The need for greater context
No full textIn racket sports, the alternating action sequences offer players equal opportunities to impose their strategy, dictate the flow, and outmanoeuvre the opponent in a relentless ‘push-and-pull’ battle. The complexity of these interactions gives rise to a vast array of behavioural patterns, reflecting the nuanced dynamics of the sport. Existing literature has primarily focused on describing behavioural differences between expertise groups, often overlooking the broader circumstances that shape these patterns. These circumstances, or “context”, encompass factors such as match conditions (i.e., phases of plays) and players’ tendencies (i.e., preferred patterns of plays). This review examines the integration of contextual information in performance analysis within racket sports, focusing on the methodologies employed, data collection strategies, and analytical approaches. Through a systematic search of 105 studies, the predominant reliance on action-related data (93.3%) and traditional observational methods were identified. Only 10.5% of the studies incorporated contextual elements, such as match conditions and player tendencies, in their analysis. This review highlights the significant gap in contextual considerations, which are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of performance. Our findings suggest that a shift towards a contextually rich, data-driven approach is essential to fully understand these dynamic patterns. To address this, this review further advocates for a paradigm shift toward non-linear analytical approaches grounded in ecological dynamics, emphasising functional variability as an essential metric for performance. This approach could revolutionise performance analysis by providing deeper insights into the tactical nuances that drive success in racket sports, thus advancing both research methodologies and coaching practices.Accepted versio
Being and Bildung: Appropriating Heidegger and Aquinas
No full textContinental philosophy has been unfriendly to metaphysics in part because Martin Heidegger, who exerts a great influence, has been characterized as wanting to “overcome” (all) metaphysics, and Thomas Aquinas’ metaphysics has also often been the standard target of that “overcoming”. For instance, Jean Luc Marion’s (1991) God Without Being seeks to usher in ways to engage in religious or theological discourse without deploying traditional Thomistic metaphysical categories (notwithstanding his later retractions of his criticisms of Aquinas’ metaphysics in the Revue Thomiste in 1995). Yet contemporary, cutting-edge scholarship on Martin Heidegger suggests that this standard picture needs to be further nuanced, and that not all metaphysics needs to be rejected by Heideggerian or Continental thought. At the same time, recent scholarship on Aquinas’ metaphysics suggests that his vision of reality is less “onto-theological” than might have been initially imagined. This paper unpacks these updated accounts of Heidegger and Aquinas, identifies possible rapprochements in the light of these new readings, while pointing out persisting divergences, and explores the manifold implications for education (Bildung), and considers these questions particularly in the context of ethical formation. Educational topics discussed include (Romantic) poetry’s relevance, experiences of Being-physis (nature), joy and wonder in learning, astonishment at mystery and the way it opens us to an attention to the ethically significant, ways to think about science and liberal arts education, and the possibilities of managing technology, as well as ways to interrogate leadership. This essay takes the form of a written interview, with Richard Capobianco responding to (commentarial) questions posed by Jude Chua
Exploring interactions between learners and ChatGPT from a learner agency perspective: A multiple case study on historical inquiry
No full textA noticeable surge in students’ widespread adoption of ChatGPT in the past year brought attention to the need for a deeper understanding of their interactions with this new technology. While attempts at theorising learner-ChatGPT interactions have been made, few studies offer empirical accounts of the interactions between learners and ChatGPT. This study aims to address this gap by utilising Emirbayer and Mische’s Choral Triad of Agency as an analytical framework to investigate secondary school students’ self-initiated interactions with ChatGPT in the context of historical inquiry. Through an in-depth examination of three cases, we unpacked three distinct types of learner-ChatGPT interactions—ChatGPT-as-historical source, ChatGPT-as-feedback, and principled non-use. Although students presented unique interaction patterns with ChatGPT, each case was found to have limited routined interactions with ChatGPT. Our analysis revealed that the students held static agentic orientations in their use of ChatGPT due to their limited experiences with ChatGPT and inadequate ideation for alternative ways of utilising it. Implications of this study propose the need for deliberate interventions to encourage students to have more diverse and meaningful interactions with ChatGPT.Accepted versio
Electric cavity-enhanced catalytic membranes for micropollutant removal in wastewater
No full textAn urgent need exists for a green and energy-efficient method for ultra-rapid micropollutant removal from wastewater. Exploring the use of membrane-in-electric cavity system for pharmaceutical decomposition on seconds timescale presents a compelling yet novel approach. An effective photocatalytic membrane with interconnected inner cavities, composed of TFPT-TAPT-COF and NH2–Ti3C2Tx (NTCM), was synthesized using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane mediated self-assembly method. Theoretical analysis confirms a charge transfer number of approximately 2.7 |e| within the heterojunction, creating strong built-in electric fields within the cavity walls. In single-pass flow-through wastewater treatment, the NTCM membrane achieved up to 95.4 % removal of norfloxacin, with a disappearance rate of 2.45 × 10⁻⁴ mol m−1 s−1, within a residence time of 3.42 s under 70 mW cm−2 light irradiation and a flow rate of 1 mL min−1. This exceptional efficiency is attributed to the complete separation and swift transfer of photoinduced carriers, which significantly amplifies the likelihood of collisions with micropollutants and facilitates their removal within the confined space of the dynamic convective flow, thereby enhancing the overall pollutant degradation process. Additionally, the NTCM membrane's self-oxygenating feature allows it to effectively treat a range of wastewater substrates, including near-neutral wastewater, fulvic acid, and charged ion species. However, carbonate ions significantly inhibit norfloxacin removal. Overall, this study introduces a cost-effective, high-efficiency, and low-energy approach to micropollutant removal in wastewater treatment
Parental educational involvement among Filipino parents: Exploring motivators, facilitators, and barriers related to socioeconomic status
No full textThe benefits of parental educational involvement (PEI) are well documented in the literature, specifically on children's learning outcomes and social-emotional development. Thus, it is important to explore the factors that influence PEI. This paper is a qualitative study on the motivators, facilitators, and barriers to PEI among low-income parents in the Philippines. Through purposive sampling, 31 parents were engaged in semi-structured interviews or pakikipagkwentuhan, a data collection method informed by indigenous Filipino Psychology. Participant responses were coded and summarized using thematic analysis. Findings represent a broad range of factors that influence PEI that were categorized into three themes. Theme 1 encompasses parent-related factors, which includes parental aspirations, access to learning and financial resources, efficacy in helping the child, finding time to be involved, and perception of what other people would think. Theme 2 represents social support from spouse, other family members, and fellow parents and friends as facilitators of PEI. Theme 3 involves school-and teacher-related factors, specifically invitation to be involved from teachers and the school and unpleasant past school experiences as a barrier. Findings from this study contribute to our understanding of the factors driving PEI, particularly among vulnerable populations that remain underrepresented in the literature. Moreover, findings also have implications for acknowledging the challenges experienced by low-income parents in supporting their children's education, while also highlighting their resilience and resourcefulness in employing PEI strategies. The crucial role of teachers and school in effectively promoting PEI and supporting educational equity is also discussed.Accepted versio
Analysis of the organization of cultural items in advanced level comprehensive international Chinese language teaching materials: Take easy steps to Chinese and Chinese made easy as an example
No full text随着近些年“汉语热”的兴起，国际中文教育蓬勃发展，汉语学习者的数量越来越多，国际中文教育正面临着前所未有的机遇和挑战，需要及时调整不断创新，以满足日益增长的学习需求。教材是教学活动的基础和依据，为师生提供了明确的教学目标和内容框架，承载着文化的传承和发展任务，它不仅是学习语言的工具，更是文化传播的桥梁。《国际中文教育用中国文化和国情教学参考框架》的出台，为国际中文教育文化教学提供了全新的指导大纲，明确了文化教学在国际中文教育中的地位和作用，为教材编写者指引了明确的方向。基于此，本文选择《轻松学中文》和《轻松学汉语》两套广受海内外师生好评的教材，根据《参考框架》中文化项目的分类标准、编写原则和教学活动参考范例，对比两套教材高级阶段的总体设计，分类统计教材中包含的文化项目，发现教材中的文化项目具有多样性、整体性、跨文化性和客观性的特点，但是缺乏动态性，并且教材忽视了深层文化项目的编写。最后提出了与时俱进、单设模块、丰富体裁、增强体验等建议，为未来的高级阶段综合类教材文化项目的编写提供了新思路
Happy facial expressions and mouse pointing enhance EFL vocabulary learning from instructional videos
No full textGiven their easy accessibility and dual-channel model of content presentation, instructional videos have become a favoured tool for EFL vocabulary learning tool among many students. Teachers often use various nonverbal behaviours to elicit social reactions and guide learners' attention in instructional videos. The current study conducted three eye-tracking experiments to examine the circumstances under which a teacher's happy facial expressions are beneficial in instructional videos, with or without pointing gestures and mouse pointing. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that the combination of happy facial expressions and pointing gestures attracted learners' attention to the teacher and hindered students' learning performance, regardless of the complexity of slides. Experiment 3 showed that in instructional videos with complex slides, using happy facial expressions along with mouse pointing can enhance students' learning performance. Teachers are advised to show happy facial expressions and avoid using pointing gestures when designing instructional videos.</p