Comparative evaluation of learning technologies using a randomized controlled trial: Virtual reality, augmented reality, online video platforms, and traditional classroom learning

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled the use of technology in education through platforms such as YouTube and immersive technologies (e.g., virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)). Despite their potential to improve equity, access, engagement, and cognitive achievement, studies comparing their impacts on learning outcomes are scarce. This study investigated the effects of educational technologies such as YouTube, AR, and VR on student learning outcomes compared to conventional classroom learning. It specifically focused on the lower cognitive levels in Bloom’s taxonomy, namely knowledge, understanding, and application. A sample of 139 higher education institution students was randomly assigned to one of four groups: classroom (control), YouTube, AR, and VR. Results from a two-way ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise comparison revealed that contrary to the existing literature, VR did not significantly outperform other learning environments. In addition, no significant differences were observed between YouTube and VR. Among the three cognitive levels of learning, learning in AR had the highest impact on the cognitive level of understanding compared to other learning environments. These findings imply that AR can serve as a mobile-friendly supplement to traditional methods, whereas VR might require further pedagogical enhancement to realize its full potential in learning. Future research should examine how familiarity with these technologies’ influences both immediate and long-term learning outcomes.Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled the use of technology in education through platforms such as YouTube and immersive technologies (e.g., virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)). Despite their potential to improve equity, access, engagement, and cognitive achievement, studies comparing their impacts on learning outcomes are scarce. This study investigated the effects of educational technologies such as YouTube, AR, and VR on student learning outcomes compared to conventional classroom learning. It specifically focused on the lower cognitive levels in Bloom’s taxonomy, namely knowledge, understanding, and application. A sample of 139 higher education institution students was randomly assigned to one of four groups: classroom (control), YouTube, AR, and VR. Results from a two-way ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise comparison revealed that contrary to the existing literature, VR did not significantly outperform other learning environments. In addition, no significant differences were observed between YouTube and VR. Among the three cognitive levels of learning, learning in AR had the highest impact on the cognitive level of understanding compared to other learning environments. These findings imply that AR can serve as a mobile-friendly supplement to traditional methods, whereas VR might require further pedagogical enhancement to realize its full potential in learning. Future research should examine how familiarity with these technologies’ influences both immediate and long-term learning outcomes

The responses of oribatid mites to grazer exclusion in a boreal forest over different time scales

Abstract Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) represent an especially abundant and species-rich group of soil fauna in northern boreal forests. They contribute significantly to the complexity of soil food webs, nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Thus, their role in ecosystem functioning may be pronounced, and consequently, understanding their responses to environmental changes is important. Northern boreal forests often have patchy ground vegetation – i.e., the dominance of lichens vs mosses and dwarf shrubs varies – and are affected by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) that can impact the abiotic and biotic environment via eating plants, fertilization, and trampling. Here, we studied how differences in reindeer grazing affect oribatid mite community composition, feeding guilds, and life traits and whether the responses of Oribatida depend on the habitat type. We did this by comparing reindeer grazed areas with short-term and long-term ungrazed areas in sunlit, lichen-dominated and in shaded, moss and dwarf shrub-dominated habitats of an oligotrophic Scots pine forest in NE Finland. Grazing treatments affected oribatid mite species composition and these effects depended on the habitat. For example, in the sunlit habitats, the short-term ungrazed treatment benefitted Chamobates pusillus, while the long-term ungrazed treatment benefitted Carabodes labyrinthicus. On the contrary, grazing treatments did not induce any significant differences in the abundances of feeding guilds and life traits. To conclude, we propose that the cessation of reindeer grazing can affect the species composition of oribatid mites over different time spans by impacting the abundance of less common oribatid species, while ecological functions associated with different ecological and life traits of oribatid mites may remain stable under changing reindeer grazing.Abstract Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) represent an especially abundant and species-rich group of soil fauna in northern boreal forests. They contribute significantly to the complexity of soil food webs, nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Thus, their role in ecosystem functioning may be pronounced, and consequently, understanding their responses to environmental changes is important. Northern boreal forests often have patchy ground vegetation – i.e., the dominance of lichens vs mosses and dwarf shrubs varies – and are affected by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) that can impact the abiotic and biotic environment via eating plants, fertilization, and trampling. Here, we studied how differences in reindeer grazing affect oribatid mite community composition, feeding guilds, and life traits and whether the responses of Oribatida depend on the habitat type. We did this by comparing reindeer grazed areas with short-term and long-term ungrazed areas in sunlit, lichen-dominated and in shaded, moss and dwarf shrub-dominated habitats of an oligotrophic Scots pine forest in NE Finland. Grazing treatments affected oribatid mite species composition and these effects depended on the habitat. For example, in the sunlit habitats, the short-term ungrazed treatment benefitted Chamobates pusillus, while the long-term ungrazed treatment benefitted Carabodes labyrinthicus. On the contrary, grazing treatments did not induce any significant differences in the abundances of feeding guilds and life traits. To conclude, we propose that the cessation of reindeer grazing can affect the species composition of oribatid mites over different time spans by impacting the abundance of less common oribatid species, while ecological functions associated with different ecological and life traits of oribatid mites may remain stable under changing reindeer grazing

Mesoporous nanocomposite polydopamine-coated graphene oxide/maghemite for high-efficient adsorption of diclofenac sodium in batch mode: synthesis, characterization, RSM modeling and optimization

Abstract To address significant health issues and ecological damage associated with drug pollutions in wastewater, a novel mesoporous nanocomposite, polydopamine-coated graphene oxide/maghemite (PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3), was synthesized and utilized for removing diclofenac sodium (DCF) from aqueous solution in batch mode. This study proposed an efficient method for synthesizing PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 nanocomposites, emphasizing the eco-friendly attributes of the modified GO (PDA-GO) and maghemite nanoparticles (ɣ-Fe2O3). The adsorbent structure was characterized using XRD, BET analysis, FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDX. BET measurements showed that the adsorbent’s mean pore diameter was approximately 7.5 nm, confirming its mesoporous structure. The EDX spectrum displayed peaks corresponding to oxygen, carbon, iron, and nitrogen in the composition of the PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 nanocomposite. FTIR analysis showed the presence of various functional groups, including hydroxyl, carboxylate, and carbonyl groups, on the surface of the PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 composite. The R2 values obtained from the quadratic models using RSM-CCD for the composite adsorbent were 0.988 and 0.998 for removal efficiency and adsorption capacity, respectively. The optimal operating parameters to reach the maximum adsorption capacity of 151.9 mg/g and removal efficiency of 93.12% were determined at an initial DCF concentration of 32.5 mg/L, a temperature of 25 °C, a contact time of 40 min, and a pH of 3, using the CCD-RSM methodology. The kinetics of adsorption were well described by the Fickian diffusion model. By performing four repeated cycles of DCF adsorption/desorption using NaOH solution as an eluent at pH 8, reductions in removal efficiency of 2 and 10% were observed during first three cycles and fourth cycle, respectively.Abstract To address significant health issues and ecological damage associated with drug pollutions in wastewater, a novel mesoporous nanocomposite, polydopamine-coated graphene oxide/maghemite (PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3), was synthesized and utilized for removing diclofenac sodium (DCF) from aqueous solution in batch mode. This study proposed an efficient method for synthesizing PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 nanocomposites, emphasizing the eco-friendly attributes of the modified GO (PDA-GO) and maghemite nanoparticles (ɣ-Fe2O3). The adsorbent structure was characterized using XRD, BET analysis, FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDX. BET measurements showed that the adsorbent’s mean pore diameter was approximately 7.5 nm, confirming its mesoporous structure. The EDX spectrum displayed peaks corresponding to oxygen, carbon, iron, and nitrogen in the composition of the PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 nanocomposite. FTIR analysis showed the presence of various functional groups, including hydroxyl, carboxylate, and carbonyl groups, on the surface of the PDA-GO/ɣ-Fe2O3 composite. The R2 values obtained from the quadratic models using RSM-CCD for the composite adsorbent were 0.988 and 0.998 for removal efficiency and adsorption capacity, respectively. The optimal operating parameters to reach the maximum adsorption capacity of 151.9 mg/g and removal efficiency of 93.12% were determined at an initial DCF concentration of 32.5 mg/L, a temperature of 25 °C, a contact time of 40 min, and a pH of 3, using the CCD-RSM methodology. The kinetics of adsorption were well described by the Fickian diffusion model. By performing four repeated cycles of DCF adsorption/desorption using NaOH solution as an eluent at pH 8, reductions in removal efficiency of 2 and 10% were observed during first three cycles and fourth cycle, respectively

Quantitative recurrence problem on some Bedford-McMullen carpets

Abstract In this paper, we study the Hausdorff dimension of the quantitative recurrent set of the canonical endomorphism on the Bedford–McMullen carpets whose Hausdorff dimension and box dimension are equal.Abstract In this paper, we study the Hausdorff dimension of the quantitative recurrent set of the canonical endomorphism on the Bedford–McMullen carpets whose Hausdorff dimension and box dimension are equal

Ethnic Identity as Social Curse: Intergenerational Transmission of Historical Trauma

Abstract High ethnic identification is known to support well-being. In the context of historical trauma, however, a sense of belonging to a persecuted community can contribute to social curse processes. This study explores the relationship between ethnic identity and mental distress among second- and third-generation Ingrian women with a family history of displacement and ethnic persecution. It analyses the intergenerational transmission of historical trauma by investigating whether mothers' stronger ethnic identities contribute to daughters' greater mental distress, and whether this relationship is more pronounced in mother-daughter pairs where a mother knows more than her daughter about the family's traumatic past. We analyse dyadic data from 94 mothers (i.e., second generation, Mage = 64.9 years, SD = 9.8) and 94 daughters (i.e., third generation, Mage = 36.8 years, SD = 12.2) using the actor-partner interdependence model and the structural equation modelling framework. We find a positive relationship between a mother's ethnic identity and both her own mental distress and that of her daughter, a relationship intensified when a mother knows more than her daughter about the family's traumatic past. Our findings demonstrate the intergenerational carryover of collective victimisation. They also suggest that knowledge of past events can hinder intergenerational social curse processes and the transmission of historical trauma.Abstract High ethnic identification is known to support well-being. In the context of historical trauma, however, a sense of belonging to a persecuted community can contribute to social curse processes. This study explores the relationship between ethnic identity and mental distress among second- and third-generation Ingrian women with a family history of displacement and ethnic persecution. It analyses the intergenerational transmission of historical trauma by investigating whether mothers' stronger ethnic identities contribute to daughters' greater mental distress, and whether this relationship is more pronounced in mother-daughter pairs where a mother knows more than her daughter about the family's traumatic past. We analyse dyadic data from 94 mothers (i.e., second generation, Mage = 64.9 years, SD = 9.8) and 94 daughters (i.e., third generation, Mage = 36.8 years, SD = 12.2) using the actor-partner interdependence model and the structural equation modelling framework. We find a positive relationship between a mother's ethnic identity and both her own mental distress and that of her daughter, a relationship intensified when a mother knows more than her daughter about the family's traumatic past. Our findings demonstrate the intergenerational carryover of collective victimisation. They also suggest that knowledge of past events can hinder intergenerational social curse processes and the transmission of historical trauma

Importance of Pain Drawing Profiles and Their Association With Pain Intensity/Interference and Clinical TMD Diagnoses Among Tertiary Care TMD Pain Patients

Abstract Background: Body pain widespreadness may be related to biopsychosocial impact in TMD (temporomandibular disorders) pain patients. Objectives: The aim was to assess, by using pain drawings (PDs), the whole-body pain locations/widespreadness and their association with pain-related intensity/interference and clinical Axis I diagnoses among Finnish tertiary care TMD pain patients using the DC/TMD-FIN (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD-FIN). Methods: Based on PDs, 197 TMD pain patients were divided into PD profile subgroups: PD-1 (local head/face pain), PD-2 (regional head and neck/shoulder pain) and PD-3 (widespread pain). Using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale 2.0 (GCPS 2.0) assessing pain-related intensity/interference, the patients were classified into TMD subtypes (1 = uncompromised, 2 = moderately, 3 = severely compromised). Based on quantitative analysis of PDs, PD score was calculated, considering the pain widespreadness. Differences between PD profile subgroups in TMD subtypes, PD scores and Axis I diagnoses were evaluated with Independent Samples Kruskal–Wallis and chi-squared tests and pairwise comparisons with Mann–Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. PD score sum was explored by linear regression with age, sex, Axis I diagnoses and TMD subtype as independent variables. Results: Patients were evenly distributed by PD profiles. Patients with widespread PD-3 profiles were significantly more often classified into TMD subtype 3, had higher PD scores and more pain-related Axis I diagnoses as compared to local PD-1 and regional PD-2. Conclusion: Among TMD pain patients widespread pain associates with biopsychosocial impact. PD is an important adjunct tool in biopsychosocial Axis II assessment of TMD pain patients for treatment planning and personalised care.Abstract Background: Body pain widespreadness may be related to biopsychosocial impact in TMD (temporomandibular disorders) pain patients. Objectives: The aim was to assess, by using pain drawings (PDs), the whole-body pain locations/widespreadness and their association with pain-related intensity/interference and clinical Axis I diagnoses among Finnish tertiary care TMD pain patients using the DC/TMD-FIN (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD-FIN). Methods: Based on PDs, 197 TMD pain patients were divided into PD profile subgroups: PD-1 (local head/face pain), PD-2 (regional head and neck/shoulder pain) and PD-3 (widespread pain). Using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale 2.0 (GCPS 2.0) assessing pain-related intensity/interference, the patients were classified into TMD subtypes (1 = uncompromised, 2 = moderately, 3 = severely compromised). Based on quantitative analysis of PDs, PD score was calculated, considering the pain widespreadness. Differences between PD profile subgroups in TMD subtypes, PD scores and Axis I diagnoses were evaluated with Independent Samples Kruskal–Wallis and chi-squared tests and pairwise comparisons with Mann–Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. PD score sum was explored by linear regression with age, sex, Axis I diagnoses and TMD subtype as independent variables. Results: Patients were evenly distributed by PD profiles. Patients with widespread PD-3 profiles were significantly more often classified into TMD subtype 3, had higher PD scores and more pain-related Axis I diagnoses as compared to local PD-1 and regional PD-2. Conclusion: Among TMD pain patients widespread pain associates with biopsychosocial impact. PD is an important adjunct tool in biopsychosocial Axis II assessment of TMD pain patients for treatment planning and personalised care

The Role of Spiritual Role Models in Shaping Social Entrepreneurial Intention: A Cross-Country Analysis

Abstract Building upon the theory of spiritual modelling and embracing insights from the social cognitive and situated expectancy-value theories, this study proposes that spiritual role models affect social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) directly and indirectly through risk-taking ability, spiritual motivation toward social good and attitudes toward social sustainability. The hypothesised mediation model was tested using 507 surveys from Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh using structural equation modelling. Results support the mediation model, and the findings establish and support the relevance of spiritual modelling theory in SEI by identifying several empirical links between spiritual role models and behavioural intention.Abstract Building upon the theory of spiritual modelling and embracing insights from the social cognitive and situated expectancy-value theories, this study proposes that spiritual role models affect social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) directly and indirectly through risk-taking ability, spiritual motivation toward social good and attitudes toward social sustainability. The hypothesised mediation model was tested using 507 surveys from Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh using structural equation modelling. Results support the mediation model, and the findings establish and support the relevance of spiritual modelling theory in SEI by identifying several empirical links between spiritual role models and behavioural intention

Highly effective and reusable cellulose-based amphoteric adsorbent for dye removal from single and binary system

Abstract High adsorption efficiency, synchronized removal of anionic and cationic dyes, and adsorbent recyclability are three contemporary challenges in treating wastewater generated during dyeing operations. In this study, citric acid (CA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) co-functionalized cellulose adsorbent (CS-CA/PEI) with an elevated density of amino and carboxyl functional groups were synthesized using two-step simple methods. CS-CA/PEI with double-network exhibited high electrostatic affinity for both anionic (methyl orange, MO, sunset yellow, SY) and cationic (methylene blue, MB and victoria blue B, VB) dyes over a pH range. The fitted adsorption capacities of CS-CA/PEI for MB, MO, VB and SY were 134.58 mg/g (0.42 mmol/g), 3792.59 mg/g (11.58 mmol/g), 124.53 mg/g (0.24 mmol/g) and 215.51 mg/g (0.47 mmol/g), respectively, outperforming the majority of the reported adsorbents. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model established better correlation with experimental data, representing single-layered adsorption through strong electrostatic interactions. CS-CA/PEI performed better in binary pollutants system than in single system, with binary adsorption capacity for MB, MO, VB, and SY being 56%, 7%, 128%, and 14% higher, respectively, demonstrating synergism between dyes and adsorbents. After four repeated adsorption–desorption cycles, CS-CA/PEI showed good structural stability and recyclability, with > 90% of the initial adsorption efficiency for MB and VB and > 70% for MO and SY. Therefore, CS-CA/PEI, with excellent adsorption performance in single and binary pollutant systems, high recyclability, and ease of separation, has significant application potential in treating dyeing wastewater.Abstract High adsorption efficiency, synchronized removal of anionic and cationic dyes, and adsorbent recyclability are three contemporary challenges in treating wastewater generated during dyeing operations. In this study, citric acid (CA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) co-functionalized cellulose adsorbent (CS-CA/PEI) with an elevated density of amino and carboxyl functional groups were synthesized using two-step simple methods. CS-CA/PEI with double-network exhibited high electrostatic affinity for both anionic (methyl orange, MO, sunset yellow, SY) and cationic (methylene blue, MB and victoria blue B, VB) dyes over a pH range. The fitted adsorption capacities of CS-CA/PEI for MB, MO, VB and SY were 134.58 mg/g (0.42 mmol/g), 3792.59 mg/g (11.58 mmol/g), 124.53 mg/g (0.24 mmol/g) and 215.51 mg/g (0.47 mmol/g), respectively, outperforming the majority of the reported adsorbents. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model established better correlation with experimental data, representing single-layered adsorption through strong electrostatic interactions. CS-CA/PEI performed better in binary pollutants system than in single system, with binary adsorption capacity for MB, MO, VB, and SY being 56%, 7%, 128%, and 14% higher, respectively, demonstrating synergism between dyes and adsorbents. After four repeated adsorption–desorption cycles, CS-CA/PEI showed good structural stability and recyclability, with > 90% of the initial adsorption efficiency for MB and VB and > 70% for MO and SY. Therefore, CS-CA/PEI, with excellent adsorption performance in single and binary pollutant systems, high recyclability, and ease of separation, has significant application potential in treating dyeing wastewater