Bridging the gap? The impact of a media literacy educational intervention on news media literacy, political knowledge, political efficacy among lower-educated youth

Scholars generally agree that there is a gap between lower- and higher-educated citizens on civic competence, which solidifies during adolescence. This two-wave panel study examines how an educational intervention focused on media literacy influences civic competence among lower-educated youth (age 16 to 26). Additionally, the level of civic involvement among participants is tested on three measures of civic competence: news media literacy, political efficacy and political knowledge. The findings suggest that the educational program has influenced the level of political efficacy and news media literacy. Furthermore, participants with the most active involvement in the program, i.e. co-created the educational video material, also showed the strongest improvements of political efficacy and political knowledge

Loss Factor Estimation Using the Impulse Response Decay Method on a Stiffened Structure

High-frequency vibroacoustic modeling is typically performed using energy-based techniques such as Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA). Energy models require an estimate of the internal damping loss factor. Unfortunately, the loss factor is difficult to estimate analytically, and experimental methods such as the power injection method can require extensive measurements over the structure of interest. This paper discusses the implications of estimating damping loss factors using the impulse response decay method (IRDM) from a limited set of response measurements. An automated procedure for implementing IRDM is described and then evaluated using data from a finite element model of a stiffened, curved panel. Estimated loss factors are compared with loss factors computed using a power injection method and a manual curve fit. The paper discusses the sensitivity of the IRDM loss factor estimates to damping of connected subsystems and the number and location of points in the measurement ensemble

A molecular phylogeny of Southeast Asian Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) supports an emerging paradigm for Malesian plant biogeography

The islands of Southeast Asia comprise one of the most geologically and biogeographically complex areas in the world and are a centre of exceptional floristic diversity, harbouring 45,000 species of flowering plants. Cyrtandra, with over 800 species of herbs and shrubs, is the largest genus in the family Gesneriaceae and is one of the most emblematic and species-rich genera of the Malesian rainforest understorey. The high number of species and tendency to narrow endemism make Cyrtandra an ideal genus for examining biogeographic patterns. We sampled 128 Cyrtandra taxa from key localities across Southeast Asia to evaluate the geo-temporal patterns and evolutionary dynamics of this clade. One nuclear and four chloroplast regions were used for phylogenetic reconstruction, molecular dating, and ancestral range estimation. Results from the dating analysis suggest that the great diversity of Cyrtandra seen in the Malesian region results from a recent radiation, with most speciation taking place in the last five million years. Borneo was recovered as the most likely ancestral range of the genus, with the current distribution of species resulting from a west to east migration across Malesia that corresponds with island emergence and mountain building. Lastly, our investigation into the biogeographic history of the genus indicates high levels of floristic exchange between the islands on the Sunda shelf and the important role of the Philippines as a stepping stone to Wallacea and New Guinea. These patterns underlie much of the plant diversity in the region and form an emerging paradigm in Southeast Asian plant biogeography

Shining a Light on Mental Health

Each profession faces unique situations when it comes to serving those needing support with mental health, and it is important as Christians that we come together with a holistic approach. Posting about care for individuals with mental health crises in the various professions from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation. https://inallthings.org/shining-a-light-on-mental-health

Automata Learning with an Incomplete Teacher (Artifact)

We provide an implementation of the automata learning software described in the associated ECOOP article. In particular, the artifact is a Docker image with the source code for nerode and nerode-learn, along with the scripts and benchmark inputs needed to reproduce the experiments described in the paper

Pleiotropic effects of HIF-1 blockade on tumor radiosensitivity

SummaryWe have previously shown that radiation increases HIF-1 activity in tumors, causing significant radioprotection of the tumor vasculature. The impact that HIF-1 activation has on overall tumor radiosensitivity, however, is unknown. We reveal here that HIF-1 plays an important role in determining tumor radioresponsiveness through regulating four distinct processes. By promoting ATP metabolism, proliferation, and p53 activation, HIF-1 has a radiosensitizing effect on tumors. Through stimulating endothelial cell survival, HIF-1 promotes tumor radioresistance. As a result, the net effect of HIF-1 blockade on tumor radioresponsiveness is highly dependent on treatment sequencing, with “radiation first” strategies being significantly more effective than the alternative. These data provide a strong rationale for pursuing sequence-specific combinations of HIF-1 blockade and conventional therapeutics

Violin Master Class with Marilyn McDonald

Marilyn McDonald, a founding member of the Smithson Quartet and the Castle Trio, currently plays in the Axelrod Quartet in residence at the Smithsonian Institution and so named in honor of the donor of the decorated Stradivarius instruments on which the quartet performs.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1097/thumbnail.jp