Addressing School Bullying Since the Onset of COVID-19: A MERC Research and Policy Brief

Among the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic is a shift in the nature and intensity of school bullying, perhaps symptomatic of the rapid changes and stressors that PK-12 students have endured since 2020. In this MERC research and policy brief, we explore how school bullying has changed since the onset of COVID-19 as well as research-based strategies for how educators and division leaders can best respond to it. The brief answers the following questions: 1) What is the nature of school bullying since the onset of COVID-19? 2) Which students have been particularly impacted by bullying since the pandemic? 3) What are recommended strategies for preventing school bullying since the onset of COVID-19? 4) What are current policies in Virginia and MERC school divisions related to addressing bullying? 5) What are the key takeaways and enduring questions about addressing school bullying since the onset of COVID-19

Robust Multimodal Cognitive Load Measurement

This book explores robust multimodal cognitive load measurement with physiological and behavioural modalities, which involve the eye, Galvanic Skin Response, speech, language, pen input, mouse movement and multimodality fusions

Integrated Management of Non-conventional Water Resources in Anhydrous Islands

Summarization: Anhydrous islands are dependent either on non-conventional water resources, such as desalinated seawater or reclaimed water from wastewater, or on water importation from the mainland. The latter option is often expensive and non-sustainable. Desalinated water can be used for potable and non-potable water applications, while reclaimed water can be used for non-potable water applications. Thus all water needs can be satisfied by an optimal blend of desalinated and reclaimed water. It is important to calculate the optimal capacities and locations of seawater desalination plants, wastewater treatment plants and water reclamation plants, and to estimate the water/wastewater conveyance system, in order to minimise water production and distribution costs. Mathematical modelling and optimisation techniques can be employed for calculating the optimum scenario: the satisfaction of all water needs at minimum cost. In this article, we have estimated the water demands taking into account water quality for the anhydrous Greek island of Syros, in the Aegean Sea. Syros has been subdivided into 6 regions, taking into account geographical and population distribution criteria. All water needs are to be satisfied by desalinated seawater and reclaimed water. A mixed-integer linear programming algorithm is used here to calculate the optimal scenario (location and capacities of desalination plants and wastewater treatment and water reclamation plants, as well as the desalinated water, reclaimed water and wastewater conveyance infrastructure needed) by minimising the annualised total cost including capital and operating costs.Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Water Resources Managemen