An Ecosystemic Approach to Preventing Bullying in School. Risk Factors Associated with School

Previous research has shown that teachers play an important role in preventing bullying in school. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in understanding the risk factors associated with school such as the teachers’ perception of the severity of bullying and their response to bullies and victims. This paper presents risk factors associated with bullying and teachers’ perceptions within Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) classic ecological theory.According to this paradigm, changes are required in the environments with which children interact as they develop (family, school, community and society). By exposing the factors that trigger and maintain bullying, we aim to highlight the importance of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model in designing bullying prevention strategies. We will focus on the risk factors associated with school, chief among which is the, teachers' perceptions of bullying in school. Not only does this view contribute to optimizing the understanding of the importance of ecosystem theory for effectiveness prevention, but it also suggests that both research and prevention should focus on individual risk factors that influence teachers' reactivity to bullying behaviors.

3D CITYGML BUILDING MODELS DEVELOPMENT WITH CROSS-SCALE QUERY DATABASE

CityGML model-based is now a norm for smart city or digital twin city development for better planning, management, risk-related modelling and other applications. CityGML comes with five levels of details (LoD, in version 2.0) of buildings. The LoDs are also known as pre-defined multi-scale models requiring a large storage-memory-graphic consumption than a single scale model. LoD CityGML models are primarily constructed using point cloud measurements and images of multiple systems, resulting in a range of accuracies and detailed model representations. Additionally, it entails several software, procedures, and formats for the construction of the respective LoDs prior to the final result in the CityGML schema. Thus, this paper discusses several issues of accuracy and consistency, proposing several quality controls (QC) for multiple data acquisition systems (e.g. airborne laser systems and mobile laser systems), model construction techniques (e.g. LoD1, LoD2, and LoD3), software (interchange formats), and migration to a PostgreSQL database. Additionally, the paper recommends the importance of minimising implementation errors. A scale-specific unique identifier is introduced to link all associated LoDs, enabling cross-LoD information queries within a database. Proper model construction, accuracy control, and format interchange of LoD models in accordance with national and international standards will undoubtedly encourage and expedite data sharing among data owners, agencies, stakeholders, and public users. A summary of the work and accomplishments is included, as well as a plan for future research on this subject.

An open systems model of successful school leadership

PurposeThrough description and consideration of 12 models developed as part of the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP), a new model of successful school leadership is developed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is necessarily descriptive in nature. For the first time, 12 ISSPP models are described together, and these descriptions are then used inductively to create a new successful school leadership model.FindingsThe open systems approach adopted depicts schools as a continuous cycle of input-transformation-output with feedback loops that inform each stage of the cycle. The inputs are the variables that lead to transformation. The transformation stage is the actions or processes that individuals, groups and organisations engage in because of the inputs, and these lead to a range of student and school outcomes. Feedback loops connect the stages, and the whole model is open to the influence of five contextual forces: economic, political, socio-cultural, technological and system, institutional and educational.Originality/valueModels are an important way to make sense of complex phenomena. A new model of successful school leadership, with an open systems approach, provides a different frame to consider the findings of the ISSPP and potentially allows the ISSPP research to inform practice and connect with other school leadership views in new ways.

An Ecological Study of Identity in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Light of the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity

Influenced by the growing urge of investigating the combined nature of teacher identity with the dynamic teacher professional learning processes in recent years, the present study aimed to cast an ecological look at identity role construction and change in L2 teaching. To this aim, Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (DSMRI) meta-theoretical framework was employed with the centrality of social–cultural roles in framing an EFL teacher’s experiences and guiding actions. In a single-case study, a Chinese EFL teacher’s dynamic construction of identity (as a single-case design) was traced in three phases: before a practicum (teacher professional development program), during the practicum, and during the first year of teaching. A triangulation of data was used to ensure the adequacy and representativeness of the required data. The data were analyzed qualitatively to find traces of change and development in the teacher’s ontological beliefs, goals, self-perceptions, and action possibilities. The DSMRI-oriented analysis of pre-, mid-, and post-practicum data emphasized the traces of role identities of the teacher trainee in her professional development process, that also created both emerging patterns and emerging challenges in her role, fostering a more negotiated, adaptive and realistic teacher role identity. This study substantiated the usefulness of the DSMRI for viewing language teachers’ professional development and the dynamic identity development processes as several temporal and situated factors contribute to the alignment or misalignment of a teacher’s ontological beliefs, goals, self-perceptions, and action possibilities.

Supplementing a blend of magnesium oxide to feedlot cattle: effects on ruminal, physiological, and productive responses

This experiment evaluated ruminal, physiological, and productive responses of feedlot cattle consuming a corn-based finishing diet that included different levels of a magnesium oxide (MG) blend. Yearling cattle (58 heifers and 62 steers) were ranked by sex and initial body weight (BW; 407 ± 3.1 kg), and allocated to 4 groups of 30 animals each. Groups were housed in 1 of 4 drylot pens (30 × 12 m) equipped with GrowSafe automated feeding systems (Model 6000E, 4 bunks/pen) during the experiment (d -14 to 117). On d 0, groups were randomly assigned to receive a total-mixed ration without (CON; n = 30) or with the inclusion (as-fed basis) of MG at 0.25% (MG25; n = 30), 0.50% (MG50; n = 30), or 0.75% (MG75; n = 30) until slaughter on d 118. Individual feed intake was recorded daily, and BW were recorded every 14 d and prior to slaughter (d 117). Blood samples were collected on d 0, 28, 56, 84 and 112, and hair samples were collected on d 0, 56 and 112 from the tail-switch. On d 42, 8 rumen-cannulated steers (BW = 492 ± 8.0 kg) were housed with yearling cattle (1 pair/pen). Pairs rotated among groups every 14 d, resulting in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (n = 8/treatment; d 42 to 98). Rumen pH was measured on d 7 and 14 of each period (0800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 h). Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine if inclusion of MG (0, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75% of the diet) yielded linear or quadratic effects, and to explore overall effect of MG supplementation (CON vs. MG25 + MG50 + MG75). No treatment differences were noted (P ≥ 0.31) for BW gain, feed intake, or feed efficiency. Cattle supplemented with MG tended have less carcass marbling (P = 0.07) compared with CON. Inclusion of MG linearly increased (P < 0.01) mean plasma concentrations of magnesium, and tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.09) mean plasma concentrations of haptoglobin. Cattle supplemented with MG had greater (P < 0.01) mean plasma concentrations of cortisol compared with CON. Hair cortisol concentration did not differ between treatments on d 56 (P ≥ 0.25), and linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with MG inclusion on d 112 (treatment × day; P = 0.02). Inclusion of MG linearly increased (P = 0.03) mean rumen pH, but these outcomes were mostly noted during the last two sampling of the day (treatment × hour; P = 0.02). Collectively, supplemental MG was effective in controlling rumen pH in cattle receiving a corn-based finishing diet, but without improvements in feedlot performance and carcass merit.

The Contribution of Social Representations Theory for a Social Psychology of Communication Laboratory

This chapter describes the mission and research of the Social Psychology of Communication and Cognition Laboratory (Laboratório de Psicologia Social da Comunicação e Cognição) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (LACCOS–UFSC). After explaining how the lab was set up, the authors illustrate the communication systems model from the social representations perspective. This goes beyond previous communication paradigms that use metaphors like the machine, the organism, or Frankenstein and toward a contextualized conception of social communication. Studies conducted by the Lab exemplify how change and continuity might be experimentally explored. Some of them concern scientific knowledge on HIV/AIDS and show how to tackle the dialogical knowledge generated by the ternary Ego-Alter-Object view proposed by means of experimental designs in the social representation domain. The chapter closes with some considerations on the COVID-19 pandemic and the dynamics of social representations.

A Theory of Family Health: A Neuman’s Systems Perspective

Understanding the social contexts of health and healthcare delivery from a multilevel thinking perspective offers nurses an opportunity to prioritize research and interventions that address communicable and noncommunicable diseases across the care continuum. The content of this paper explains the development of a multilevel theory of family health for Sub-Saharan families affected by the burden of breast cancer guided by Neuman’s Systems Model. Implications for knowledge development in family nursing practice and research in the region are discussed.

USING SVR AND MRA METHODS FOR REAL ESTATE VALUATION IN THE SMART CITIES

Determination of real estate value plays a very critical role in economic development and basic needs of people. Increasing demand for real estate together with population growth is making it difficult to determine real estate value. In applications where real estate is the main subject, such as urban activities, smart cities and urbanization, urban information system and valuation systems, model-based value estimations are essential for effective land/real estate policy. The type of real estate and impact degree of features depending on the type should be known as well as value estimation. It will be beneficial to follow a method that both determines the real estate value and factor impact degree. With the studies to be carried out using such methods, both region-specific valuation models can be created and the model is established with the optimum variable. This paper aimed to determine real estate value by using Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Multi Regression Analysis (MRA) methods for effective real estate management. Besides, both methods were examined by revealing the impact degrees of features that affect the value. The methods were applied to 319 parcels in Konya. For each parcel, 31 land features and market values were collected. The parcel data collected since 2018 were included in the models. From the results, the RBF-SVR model reached the highest R2 value with 0.88, while the MRA model reached 0.86.

Grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef systems: performance, economic, and environmental trade-offs

Between increasing public concerns over climate change and heightened interest of niche market beef on social media, the demand for grass-fed beef has increased considerably. However, the demand increase for grass-fed beef has raised many producers' and consumers' concerns regarding product quality, economic viability, and environmental impacts that have thus far gone unanswered. Therefore, using a holistic approach, we investigated the performance, carcass quality, financial outcomes, and environmental impacts of four grass-fed and grain-fed beef systems currently being performed by ranchers in California. The treatments included: 1) steers stocked on pasture and feedyard finished for 128 days (CON); 2) steers grass-fed for 20 months (GF20); 3) steers grass-fed for 20 months with a 45-day grain finish (GR45); and 4) steers grass-fed for 25 months (GF25). The data were analyzed using a mixed model procedure in R with differences between treatments determined by Tukey HSD. Using carcass and performance data from these systems, a weaning-to-harvest life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed in the Scalable, Process-based, Agronomically Responsive Cropping Systems model framework, to determine global warming potential (GWP), consumable water use, energy, smog, and land occupation footprints. Final body weight varied significantly between treatments (P <0.001) with the CON cattle finishing at 632 kg, followed by GF25 at 570 kg, GR45 at 551 kg, and GF20 478 kg. Dressing percentage (DP) differed significantly between all treatments (P < 0.001). The DP was 61.8% for CON followed by GR45 at 57.5%, GF25 at 53.4%, and GF20 had the lowest DP of 50.3%. Marbling scores were significantly greater for CON compared to all other treatments (P < 0.001) with CON marbling score averaging 421 (low-choice ≥ 400). Breakeven costs with harvesting and marketing for the CON, GF20, GR45, and GF25 were $6.01, $8.98, $8.02, and $8.33 per kg hot carcass weight (HCW), respectively. The GWP for the CON, GF20, GR45, and GF25 were 4.79, 6.74, 6.65 and 8.31 CO2e/kg HCW, respectively. Water consumptive use for CON, GF20, GR45, and GF25 were 933, 465, 678 and 1250 L /kg HCW, respectively. Energy use for CON, GF20, GR45, and GF25 were 18.7, 7.65, 13.8 and 8.85 MJ /kg HCW, respectively. Our results indicated that grass-fed beef systems differ in both animal performance and carcass quality resulting in environmental and economic sustainability tradeoffs with no system having absolute superiority.

An investigation of behavioural and electrophysiological markers of integration in learning of novel names for novel concepts

The Complementary Learning Systems model of word learning proposes that newly learned words that have been integrated into semantic memory can interact with familiar words during lexical selection. The study reported here is the first to examine how behavioural markers of integration map onto electrophysiological markers of integration in a version of the semantic priming paradigm that is assumed to rely primarily on automatic semantic processing. 71 young healthy adults learned novel names for two sets of novel concepts, one set on each of two consecutive days. Learning was followed by a continuous primed lexical decision task with EEG measures.The behavioural data was analysed with Bayesian Linear Mixed Effects models, while, for the electrophysiological data, two types of analyses were conducted: Bayesian Distributional Regression models were used to analyse mean amplitude in two pre-defined spatiotemporal windows (N400 and LPC), whereas the Mass Univariate analysis was run to explore other time points and regions. We found evidence against priming effects in either spatiotemporal window or in the behavioural data. Nonetheless, there was evidence for differential processing of the novel names depending on the length of the consolidation period (0-day vs 1-day). We take these findings to indicate that neither the 0-day nor the 1-day consolidation period was sufficient for integration in our study and that, 24 hours after exposure to novel words, the system still relies on episodic memory to distinguish between these novel words (learned 24h ago), those learned more recently and those that haven’t been seen before.