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Picture Reading and Scaffolding Strategies on Reading Fluency of Children with Dyslexia
No full textThe experimental study investigated the effects of picture reading and scaffolding strategies on the reading fluency of children with dyslexia in the Ogoja Education Zone of Cross River State. A factorial matrix pretest-posttest control experimental design was used in the study. A sample of thirty children who exhibited signs of dyslexia in the study area were purposively selected and assigned to control and experimental groups. Four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Picture Reading (PR) and Scaffolding strategies were used as treatment packages. The duration of the study was six consecutive weeks. Pre-test and post-test data were collected using the Reading Proficiency of Children with Dyslexia Package (RPCDP). Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to determine the effect of the treatment on the experimental group. Findings revealed that children exposed to picture reading and scaffolding strategies performed better, and their reading fluency was improved. The study also revealed that gender has no effect on the reading fluency of children with dyslexia. It was concluded and recommended that the use of pictures and images should be encouraged in the process of teaching reading, as children learn fast and better with what they see and are allowed to practice on their own
Judicial Justice and the European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence
Get PDFThe study has identified several difficulties in effectively implementing artificial inteligence (AI) techniques in judicial proceedings. The approval of regulations, such as Spain's Royal Decree-Law 6/2023, is insufficient for Judges and legal professionals to use these technologies effectively. Several reasons for these challenges are highlighted. Firstly, judicial proceedings and the resulting sentences must be approved by all participants, including the parties involved, Lawyers, Prosecutors, and Judges. The focus should be on the specific conflict and relevant legal texts or precedents, not on AI-generated models based on past data, which may be biased.Secondly, AI technologies are not designed to assist in the specific tasks required by Judges and other officials responsible for processing judicial proceedings. Judicial processes are governed by strict constitutional, procedural, and substantive norms that AI systems are not equipped to handle without significant human oversight.The study also references critical experiences in other countries and opinions from the General Council of the Judiciary in Spain, which point out the lack of precision in the Spanish regulation regarding the use of AI in judicial activities. This indicates that the existing legal framework has not adequately considered the complexities of integrating information and communication technologies into judicial processes. Therefore, promoting AI technologies in judicial applications requires not only regulatory approval but also comprehensive reforms to existing norms and the creation of precise complementary regulations. These measures must align with the legal system and, especially, with the AI Regulation approved by the European Parliament and Council
Different Types of Milk Flow Curves and Factors Affecting Milkability in Buffalo Species
Get PDFBuffaloes are characterized by longer teats and teat canals and stronger muscular resistance of the teat wall than cattle; it is necessary to have a high vacuum level to open the teat canal and begin milk ejection. In buffalo milking management, milk yield, and flow profiles are essential parameters to record and evaluate. The milking machine is a critical point, and the characteristics of the milking vacuum and the pulsation rate are closely related to milk flow observations. In Italy, the most used vacuum levels are 44-46 kPa (range 40-53 kPa). The data on the milkability traits of the Mediterranean Italian breed made it possible to classify eight different types of milk flow curves due to anatomical, physiological, and management differences. This study aims to evaluate the main factors influencing milkability in dairy buffaloes. The results suggest the detachment of the milking cluster to reduce the decreasing and blind phases with the following advantages: reduction of the total milking time and consequently of the worker's time, improvement of the farmer's profitability and milk quality through decreasing the incidence of mastitis. Milk ability is influenced by physiological, sanitary, management, and genetic factors. In Mediterranean Italian buffaloes milked with the Automatic Milking System (AMS), a considerable variation in milk ejection and, consequently, in the milk flow curve was found compared to the conventional one, with better pre-stimulation, independent milk ejection for each teat, optimal milking of all quarters.
In conclusion, continuous milkability monitoring will help optimize milking practices by reducing labor time and increasing farmers’ income through better milk quality. In addition, the identification of buffaloes with desirable types of milk flow curves could be helpful for buffalo breeders’ associations to address farmer management and to define potential new breeding objectives
Overcrowding, Drugs Abuse and Violence vs. Rehabilitation Interviews and Perceptions of a Sample of Prisoners
Get PDFBased on the interviews collected and conducted during the data gathering process for the documentary "11 days: within the prison walls”, some inmates from the prison of Nerio Fischione based in Brescia (Italy) decide to share their stories to a microphone and storytellers. The voices provide a sincere look, suitable for investigating the subjective perceptions that inmates have regarding the prison environment, exploring the complexities of their experiences. What emerges from the stories is a place that is far away from the rehabilitation purpose that it should have. The enormous issue of overcrowding, drug pills treatment abuse, and, above all, the pervasive violence within the corridors of the facility.
The punitive function seems to prevail and is doubly enacted: firstly, through the nature of the prison itself, and secondly, through the prison conditions that prevent from any possibility to start a positive path. This article aims to contribute to the existing academic debate providing an insight from the prisoners’ perception about their personal experience, focusing on the issues that most frequently emerge from their testimonies: the lack of significance that they experience on a daily basis
Recent Progress in Hydrogel-Based Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting: A Patent Landscape Analysis and Technology Updates
Get PDFHydrogel-based bioinks have emerged as a critical component in the field of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, with numerous polymers being explored and utilized for this purpose. The high volume of patent applications reflects a competitive and dynamic research environment, where various entities are actively developing new formulations and applications for hydrogel-based bioinks. As this field continues to evolve, tracking these trends is essential for understanding the future direction of the technology and identifying key innovations and players in the industry. This study reveals substantial growth in the patent landscape for hydrogel-based bioinks in 3D bioprinting, with 173 patent documents published between 2013 and 2024. The marked increase in patent filings, particularly from 2018 onwards, underscores the growing recognition of the technologys potential in diverse applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although patent applications have outpaced granted patents, the steady rise in granted patents indicates the fields maturation and the transition of innovations from concept to legally protected technologies. The leading patent applicants in this domain include both industry leaders and academic institutions. Companies such as Organovo INC and Cellink AB are driving innovation through extensive patent activity, while academic institutions and foundations also make significant contributions, highlighting a robust ecosystem where industrial and academic research propel the technology forward. The global distribution of intellectual property filings in this field is broad, with significant activity in the United States, Europe, and Asia. This diversity in patenting jurisdictions reflects the global interest in advancing bioprinting technologies, particularly for healthcare applications. Patent classifications for hydrogel-based bioinks in 3D bioprinting illustrate the convergence of materials science, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. These classifications highlight the diverse applications of bioinks, ranging from tissue regeneration and stem cell therapy to the development of medical devices and multifunctional bioactive materials based on polymers
Defining Developmental Regression in Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorders of Genetic Etiology: A Scoping Review
Get PDFBackground: Some genetic neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are linked to a loss of acquired abilities. No universal term or severity measure exists for this phenomenon. This scoping review aims further to define developmental regression in NDDs of genetic etiology.
Method: We used the PRISMA checklist and searched PubMed, medRxiv, and Google Scholar for developmental regression literature. After data extraction, qualitative (e.g., assessment methods) and quantitative (e.g., mentioned NDDs) data were analyzed.
Results: A total of 59 relevant articles from 2074 unique records were identified, associating 18 NDDs of genetic etiology with developmental regression. Multiple terms (e.g., loss of skills, deterioration) and definitions were used across syndromes.
Conclusions: A uniform definition of developmental regression was formulated based on literature diversity and NDD heterogeneity. The study also offers guidance on identifying and monitoring developmental regression and its underlying causes
Urban Planning Across Europe: Insights into Planning Cultures of Switzerland, Greece, and Serbia
Get PDFThe research explores the planning cultures in three distinct European contexts: Solothurn (Switzerland), Patras (Greece), and Belgrade (Serbia). Grounded in the conceptual framework of planning culture, which posits that spatial planning practices are deeply influenced by societal, institutional, and professional contexts, the analysis examines three key dimensions: social setting, planning process, and planning environment. The multiple case study methodological approach employed in this research illuminates both the diversity and commonalities in planning cultures, highlighting the importance of cultivating context-sensitive planning practices. The Solothurn case exemplifies a decentralised, consensus-based planning culture rooted in Swiss direct democracy, where collaborative processes and independent expertise are pivotal in shaping innovative spatial solutions. In contrast, the Patras and Belgrade cases reveal the challenges of centralised decision-making, administrative fragmentation, and the marginalisation of planning professionals and public participation in Greece and Serbia, respectively. On the one hand, these findings underscore the profound influence of political, economic, and cultural factors on the conceptualisation, implementation, and experience of spatial planning across diverse European contexts. On the other hand, the analysis suggests that effective spatial planning must be tailored to local cultural environments rather than applying universal models. The research ultimately contributes to the broader discourse on the cultural embeddedness of planning and offers insights for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars seeking to develop more nuanced, adaptive approaches to addressing contemporary urban challenges
A Double Truncated Binomial Model to Assess Psychiatric Health through Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: When is Intervention Useful?
Get PDFA double truncated binomial distribution model with ‘u’ classes truncated on left and ‘v’ classes truncated on right is introduced. Its characteristics, namely, generating functions; and the measures of skewness and kurtosis have been obtained. The unknown parameter has been estimated using the method of maximum likelihood and the method of moments. The confidence interval of the estimate has been obtained through Fisher’s information matrix.
The model is applied on cross sectional data obtained through Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) administered on a group of school going adolescent students; and the above-mentioned characteristics have been evaluated. An expert, on the basis of the BPRS score values, suggested an intervention program. The BPRS scores of the students who could be administered the intervention program lied in a range (which was above the lowest and below the highest possible values) suggested by the expert. Whereas the complete data suggested the average number of problem areas is four (which was not in consonance with the observations given by the expert), the double truncated model suggested the number of such areas as five which was consistent with the observations made by the expert. This establishes the usefulness of double truncated models in such scenarios
Bestiality in the West: Geraldus of Wales’s Fantasies about the Irish Borderlands: A Medieval Colonialist’s Worldview
Get PDFMedieval legal, theological, and scientific discourse was highly interested in the monstrous element both out of simple curiosity and because it represented ‘the other’ in epistemological terms. Monsters, however, were normally far-removed, and did not create real fear because they were the products of human fantasy. Bestiality, on the other hand, constituted a direct threat to the well-being of human society, breaching the boundary between humans and animals in a dangerous fashion. This article examines the discourse on bestiality in Geraldus of Wales’s Topographia Hibernica (1187) through which he succeeded to erect a cultural barrier between the Irish on the one hand and the British on the other and to project them as uncivilized, backwards, and as a people that would need to be colonized. Geraldus thus emerges as a stalwart ‘imperialist’ avant la letter. A critical reading of his treatise allows us to apply this ‘anachronistic’ term to this influential medieval writer, which in turn makes it possible to extent our modern anti-colonialist discourse to the high Middle Ages, and perhaps also vice-versa
On the way to the Kingdom of Reason: Irrational Rationality of the Early Soviet Period
Get PDFThe authors take a deep dive into the correlation between rational and irrational in both Enlightenment philosophy and classical Marxism, which is embodied in Russia in the form of Marxism-Leninism. The cult of Rationalism prevailed during the first years of Soviet power, which was expressed in V.I. Lenin’s academic works and was implemented into political practice. However, the established rationality resulted in the Mythology of Reason and mystification of science, which, like magic, “is capable of everything”. This kind of rationalism penetrated deeply into different forms of mass consciousness and gave birth to the irrational Kingdom of Reason, based on which all spheres of life within Soviet society were supposed to be transformed