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  • Publication
    Open Access
    For what and for whom? Expanding the role of research syntheses for diverse stakeholders
    (Sage, 2024) ;
    Kumar, Vinay
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    ; ;
    Johannis Auri Abdul Aziz
    Systematic reviews have witnessed significant growth across many fields, including education. In this article, we outline the background of this growth, highlight the tendency to focus on methodological considerations, and propose a framework to support education researchers in preparing systematic reviews with broad impact. We draw on our experience working with education stakeholders in Singapore and on international scholarship to propose a framework that supports education researchers in clarifying and specifying their aims and audiences and crafting syntheses of appropriate types. Our aim is that this framework, which includes examples illustrating four categories of reviews, acts as a reflective tool which researchers can use to maximize the utility, value, and potential impact of education research.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    A 1940-2020 spatiotemporal analysis of thermal discomfort days in Southeast Asian countries
    (IOP Publishing, 2024)
    Wong, Meei Chyi
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    Zhi, Xiefei
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    Dong, Luojie
    The high temperature and humidity make Southeast Asia (SEA) one of the regions most susceptible to the occurrence of thermal discomfort days (TDDs) in the world. In the context of global warming, SEA's rapid population growth and urban expansion further exacerbated the region's exposure to TDD, posing greater risks in public health. However, there exists a significant knowledge gap in the understanding of the long-term spatiotemporal evolution of TDD, as well as its projection in the future. By utilizing the newly released ERA5 datasets of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), this study presented the 81-year analysis of TDDs in SEA countries, spanning from 1940 to 2020, with projections extending to 2100. While the mean increase in UTCI was relatively modest, the corresponding rise in TDD likelihood was disproportionately larger, indicating a heightened risk of exposure. A distinct contrast was observed between continental and maritime regions, with maritime countries showing smaller absolute rises in both indices but larger trends in TDD frequency due to oceanic moderating effects. Seasonal analyses highlighted the dominant influence of the East Asia monsoon over SEA, and spatial analyses revealed a negative correlation between TDD occurrence and elevation, with low-lying areas being hotspots. Projections for 2050 suggest continued warming. These findings underscore the urgency of proactive measures to address climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable maritime and low-lying areas, providing valuable insights for enhancing climate resilience and adaptation in SEA. Our findings reveal critical insights into the trends and future scenarios of thermal discomfort in the region, underscoring the urgent need for effective climate adaptation strategies.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Towards inclusive sports engineering research: Considerations of research methods
    (Springer, 2024)
    Mears, Aimee C.
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    Williams, Elisabeth M. P.
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    Wood, Paul
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    Brubacher, Kristina
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    Allen, Tom
    Understanding and addressing the needs of diverse demographics is critical for creating sports products or technologies that can enhance the enjoyment, safety, or performance for more inclusive populations. This perspective article has identified opportunities for innovative sports engineering research by considering factors such as sex, socioeconomic background, culture, religion, age, ethnicity, or neurodiversity when developing research studies. The importance of considering diverse study populations, appropriate data collection methods, and ethical considerations to avoid biases is addressed and supported by research.
  • Publication
    Embargo
    Singlish in focus: A personal view from Downstairs
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
    The status of Singlish in Singapore media is a site of conflict between the government and the populace. Linguistic control in Singapore, as a strategy for managing national identity and cohesion, is not new. However, understanding the regulation of Singlish in television and cinema elucidates the media’s role in Singapore’s language policy. Singlish validates the lived experience of Singaporeans in media representations, yet the government discourages its use. This paper examines the language use in the first two seasons of the adult animated series Downstairs (Han) to explore Singlish’s role in local media as a conduit of cohesion, division and transgression. Brief comparisons are made to three prominent movies released in the same period: A Land Imagined (Yeo), A Long Long Time Ago 3: Diam Diam Era and A Long Long Time Ago 4: Diam Diam Era 2 (Neo). Singlish neutralizes identity markers like ethnicity, culture and nationality but emphasizes boundaries of class, education and perceived success. Singlish, as a language of disempowerment and marginalization, symbolizes anti-establishment attitudes and solidarity against English-speaking status. Downstairs demonstrates how language differentiates class, expresses cultural values and addresses social issues, empowering its satire in interrogating the typical Singapore experience.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Development and testing of the Sleep Health and Wellness Questionnaire (SHAWQ) in adolescents and university students: Composite SHAWQ scores are associated with sleep problems, depression symptoms, and academic performance
    (Frontiers, 2023)
    Loke, Yng Miin
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    Lim, Samantha
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    Rukmini, A. V.
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    Chen, Patricia
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    Gooley, Joshua J.

    Introduction:
    Sleep problems frequently arise during adolescence and early adulthood and may contribute to the onset of depression. However, few sleep health instruments have been developed for use in student populations. Here, we developed a brief sleep health questionnaire for identifying adolescents and university students with sleep problems who may be at risk of depression.

    Methods:
    In Study 1, sleep survey data in adolescents (n = 1,733) were analyzed by best-subsets regression to identify the strongest predictors of self-reported depression symptoms: sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, self-rated health, frequency of staying up until 3:00 am, school day sleep latency, and gender. A 6-item Sleep Health And Wellness Questionnaire (SHAWQ) was developed using these items. Students were categorized into good, fair, and bad sleep health groups based on their composite SHAWQ scores. In Study 2, the SHAWQ was tested in adolescents (n = 1,777) for associations with depression symptoms and excessive daytime sleepiness. In Study 3, the SHAWQ was tested in university students (n = 2,040) for convergent validity with instruments for measuring sleep quality and insomnia severity, and for associations with major depressive disorder symptoms and anxiety disorder symptoms. Test-retest reliability was determined in a subset of 407 students who re-took the SHAWQ several weeks later. In Study 4, we tested whether SHAWQ scores in university freshmen (cohort 1, n = 1,529; cohort 2, n = 1,488) were prospectively associated with grade point average (GPA) over their first year.

    Results:
    Across studies, SHAWQ scores were associated with higher depression and anxiety scores, excessive daytime sleepiness, lower sleep quality scores, and higher insomnia severity scores, demonstrating good convergent validity. Associations of SHAWQ scores with depression symptoms were stronger compared with anxiety symptoms. SHAWQ scores showed moderate test-retest reliability. Large effect sizes were observed for bad vs. good sleep health for all sleep and mental health variables. In both cohorts of university freshmen, students with bad sleep health had lower academic performance based on their GPA and percentile rank.

    Conclusion:
    Our findings suggest that the SHAWQ could be used to screen for students in their teens and twenties with bad sleep health who would benefit from counseling for sleep and mental health.

  • Publication
    Metadata only
    From colonialism to self-determination: A historical study of language testing and institutional policy
    (Oxford University Press, 2024)
    Azrifah Zakaria
    ;
    This study examines the development of institutional policies on language testing, taking the case of a former British colony, Singapore. Using historical narrative inquiry to analyse the Ministry of Education’s archived documents, we investigate how institutions form part of the assessment ecosystem that continues to function in the present day. We identified two main themes in the development of English language testing in Singapore. The first theme From Free Enterprise to Governance describes the trajectory of language testing from the colonial era to independence, with a fragmented assessment landscape gradually moving towards centralized planning. The second theme Individual Agency and Institutional Change illustrates how the needs of the individual interact with the institution. Responses by the ministry and examination board provide important insights into the processes of test development from a micro perspective and how consequences for the individual intersect with macro issues. We highlight the necessity of taking a historical perspective to provide a more holistic picture of how we currently practice language testing.
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Severe decline in extent and seasonality of the Mekong Plume after 2000
    (Elsevier, 2024)
    Feng, Yikang
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    ; ;
    Feng, Lian
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    Tran, Dung Duc
    The Mekong plume, which sustains the geomorphology and rich biodiversity along the coastal zone of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), has been under intensifying threats from dams, riverbed mining and sea level rise. However, our understanding of how much the intensifying stressors have altered the long-term spatiotemporal dynamics of the plume remains limited. In this paper, we investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the Mekong plume over 1988–2022 based on remote sensing, in-situ hydrological data, and continuous wavelet transform. Specifically, we analyze (1) the variability of the long-term average seasonal plume extent, (2) the interannual trends of the seasonal suspended sediment discharge and alongshore drift, and (3) changes in the long-term exposure of coastal mangroves to suspended sediment. Field suspended sediment concentration (SSC) data from five major gauging stations representing the upstream, midstream, and downstream sections of the VMD between 2010–2021 were used to calibrate 101 Landsat surface reflectance observations to estimate SSC. The top-performing algorithm with band combination (NIR SWIR2) * (G / R) was selected for SSC retrieval (R2 = 0.72, SE = 40.6 mg L−1). Our results reveal a 63 % decline in plume extent in the dry season (Dec–May) and an 83 % decline in the wet season (Jun–Nov) between 1988–1999 and 2000–2022. The seasonal variation in suspended sediment discharge (SSD) remained relatively constant until 2014 but significantly weakened thereafter. Despite the decline in the plume, the surface SSC at the alongshore drift began to rise in 2008, marking a reversal in the trend after two decades of descent. The upswing in the surface SSC is associated with rising SSD in the dry season, which we attribute mainly to the release of water from dams upstream of the VMD. However, if the post-2014 decline of wet season SSD persists in the long term, it would deplete sediment deposition around the estuary and starve the alongshore drift. Along the coastline of the Mekong Delta, the annual exposure to suspended sediments declined by 37–54 % between 1988–1999 and 2000–2022, corresponding to a maximum annual mangrove loss of 15 % by coastal erosion. The decrease in plume and coastal exposure is primarily attributed to reduced terrestrial sediment flux, largely influenced by the construction and operation of transnational dams. To restore the Mekong plume, it is imperative to advocate for cross-border governance of dam operations.
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Automated multi-class seizure-type classification system using EEG signals and machine learning algorithms
    (IEEE, 2024)
    Abirami, S.
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    Tikaram
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    Kathiravan, M.
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    Menon, Ramshekhar N.
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    Thomas, John
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    Karthick, P. A.
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    Amalin Prince, A.
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    Agastinose Ronickom, Jac Fredo
    Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The treatment for epilepsy is influenced by the types of seizures. Therefore, developing a reliable, explainable, and automated system to identify seizure types is necessary. This study aims to automate the process of classification of five seizure types: focal non-specific, generalized, complex partial, absence, and tonic-clonic using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and machine learning algorithms. The EEG signals of 2933 seizures from 327 patients were obtained from the publicly available Temple University Hospital dataset. Initially, the signals were preprocessed using a standard pipeline, and 110 features from the time, frequency, and time-frequency domain were computed from each seizure. Further, the features were ranked using the statistical test and extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to identify the significant features. We built binary and multiclass seizure-type classification systems using the identified features and machine learning algorithms. Our study revealed that the EEG band power between 11–13 Hz, 27–29 Hz, intrinsic mode function (IMF) band power 19–21 Hz, and delta band (1-4 Hz) played a crucial role in discriminating the seizures. We achieved an average accuracy of 88.21% and 69.43% for the binary and multiclass seizure-type classification, respectively, using the XGBoost classifier. We also found that the combination of features performed well compared to any single domain. This automated system has the potential to aid neurologists in making diagnosis of epileptic seizure types. The proposed methodology can be applied alongside the established clinical approach of visual evaluation for the classification of seizure-types.
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Toddler disorganized attachment in relation to cortical thickness and socioemotional problems in late childhood
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
    Arya, Bhavya
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    Patrick, Madeline
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    Pei, Huang
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    Law, Evelyn
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    Broekman, Birit F. P.
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    Chen, Helen
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    Chan, Madeline Hiu Gwan
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    Yap, Fabian
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    Lee, Yung Seng
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    Tan, Kok Hian
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    Chong, Yap Seng
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    Qiu, Anqi
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    Fortier, Marielle V.
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    Gluckman, Peter D.
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    Meaney, Michael J.
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    Tan, Ai Peng
    ;
    Disorganized attachment is a risk for mental health problems, with increasing work focused on understanding biological mechanisms. Examining late childhood brain morphology may be informative – this stage coincides with the onset of many mental health problems. Past late childhood research reveals promising candidates, including frontal lobe cortical thickness and hippocampal volume. However, work has been limited to Western samples and has not investigated mediation or moderation by brain morphology. Furthermore, past cortical thickness research included only 33 participants. The current study utilized data from 166 children from the GUSTO Asian cohort, who participated in strange situations at 18 months and MRI brain imaging at 10.5 years, with 124 administered the Child Behaviour Checklist at 10.5 years. Results demonstrated disorganization liked to internalizing problems, but no mediation or moderation by brain morphology. The association to internalizing (but not externalizing) problems is discussed with reference to the comparatively higher prevalence of internalizing problems in Singapore.
  • Publication
    Embargo
    Variation in VOT in English child-directed speech of English-Mandarin and English-Malay early bilinguals in Singapore
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
    Variability has been observed in the phonetic/phonological properties of child-directed speech from late-second language bilingual caregivers, but less is known about input variation among early bilinguals in multi-dialectal/multilingual contexts. This study examined English stop voicing contrasts in the adult-directed and child-directed speech of 30 Singaporean early bilingual mothers who differed in their other language (Mandarin/Malay) and language dominance. Results showed that, while Malay and Chinese mothers used similar voice onset time (VOT) for voicing contrast, they differed in where on the VOT continuum these contrasts were made, regardless of speech style and dominance. Compared to their English-dominant peers, Malay/Mandarin-dominant mothers also produced smaller contrasts overall. These patterns could be attributed to cross-linguistic influence, as well as effects of long-term language contact and the mothers’ linguistic experiences. Sub-phonemic variation adds complexity to child bilingual phonological acquisition, emphasising the need to consider input properties in sociolinguistically complex contexts.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Effects of an isotonic beetroot drink on power output during sprint exercise and jump performance in physically active individuals: A randomized crossover trial
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
    Wong, Tak Hiong
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    Sim, Rachelle Yahn Yee
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    Sim, Alexiaa
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    Exogenous nitrate ingestion can improve exercise performance. This study investigated whether an isotonic beetroot drink could improve jump and sprint performance in active individuals. Twenty-three physically active participants (17 males, 6 females) (mean ± SD; age: 26 ± 4 years; body mass index: 22.4 ± 1.9 kg/m2) completed a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study where they consumed 570mL of either beetroot juice drink (BR) or isotonic beetroot juice drink (ISO-BR) three hours before performing countermovement (CMJ) and standing broad jump (SBJ) tests and a 30-second all-out sprint on a cycle ergometer. Both drinks contained equal nitrate (12.9 mmol) and carbohydrate (6.1g per 100mL) content but differed in osmolality (BR: 420 mOsm/kg vs. ISO-BR: 315 mOsm/kg). Salivary total nitrate and nitrite concentrations (NOx) 3 hours post-ingestion were significantly higher after consuming ISO-BR than BR. ISO-BR significantly improved peak power output compared to BR by 3.9% (ISO-BR: 11.4 ± 2.5 W/kg vs. BR: 11.0 ± 2.3 W/kg, p = .04) but not time to peak power (ISO-BR: 2.8 ± 1.7 s vs. BR: 2.9 ± 1.6 s, p = .62) or mean power output (ISO-BR: 7.3 ± 1.5 W/kg vs. BR: 7.3 ± 1.5 W/kg, p = .37). There were no significant differences in CMJ or SBJ between trials (p > .05). Sensory evaluation indicated that ISO-BR was preferred by 91% (n = 21) of participants compared with BR (average score; ISO-BR: 5.52 vs. BR: 3.52, p < .05). An ISO-BR drink improved peak power output during sprint cycling but not jump performance compared with BR alone, potentially via increased NOx.
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    A scoping review on parental/caregiver challenges in maintaining oral hygiene among children with autism spectrum disorder
    (Wiley, 2024)
    Mahabala, Karuna Yarmunja
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    Shenoy, Ramya
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    Lee, Yingmin
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    Thimmaiah, Charisma
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    Bhat, Sham
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    Nayak, Anupama
    ;
    Rao, Ashwin

    Background Dental practitioners must develop feasible and evidence-based strategies to help parents/caregivers successfully implement daily oral hygiene measures among their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

    Aim
    This scoping review aimed to explore challenges faced by parents/caregivers while performing routine oral hygiene care among their children with ASD.

    Design
    A methodological framework recommended by Arksey and O'Malley and reporting guidelines prescribed by PRISMA-ScR were adopted. A database search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and ClinicalKey, to identify articles that addressed challenges faced by parents/caregivers while performing routine oral hygiene care for their children with ASD.

    Results
    The search yielded 4934 articles. Following the inclusion/exclusion criteria, nine articles were included in this scoping review. A qualitative analysis of included articles following the PICOS coding criteria revealed major themes. These consisted of various home oral hygiene practices followed by parents/caregivers, and challenges faced by them during home oral hygiene care owing to underlying sensory, behavioral, physical, and/or functional problems experienced by their children with ASD.

    Conclusion
    Challenges experienced by parents/caregivers of children with ASD were numerous, which resulted in deviations from routine oral hygiene practices from recommended guidelines for the prevention of dental caries.

  • Publication
    Embargo
    A novel approach to chiral separation: Thermo-sensitive hydrogel membranes
    (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024)
    Huang, Ziyi
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    Shen, Xinjie
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    Wei, Yuxuan
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    Chew, Jia Wei
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    Pan, Meilan
    The application of membrane technology for separating chiral compounds is hindered due to the restricted availability of chiral recognition sites on the membrane surface. In this study, we propose a novel approach for chiral separation through a selector (bovine serum albumin, BSA) mediated thermo-sensitive membrane system. A thermo-sensitive hydrogel-coated membrane (termed PDTAN) was developed by anchoring poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) onto a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane through an adhesive and hydrophilic dopamine hydrochloride (PDA)/tannic acid (TA)/chitosan (Chi) intermediate layer. The results demonstrate outstanding chiral separation efficiency, achieving αL/D = 3.30 for D-phenylalanine (D-Phe) rejection at 40 °C on a BSA-mediated PDTAN membrane system, with significant stability and minimal fouling, surpassing previous findings. Moreover, the PDTAN membrane altered the selective properties of recognition sites in BSA, transitioning from rejecting L-Phe to rejecting D-Phe. Analysis using fourth-order derivative UV-vis, circular dichroism (CD), and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques revealed a transition in the secondary structure of BSA from α-helix to β-sheet as the temperature increased. This transition, facilitated by hydrogen bonding between BSA and PNIPAm, enabled selective recognition of D-Phe, demonstrating a distinct shift in chiral recognition properties. Importantly, with D-Phe adsorbed onto β-sheet structures of BSA, hydrogen-bond interactions between BSA and the PDTAN membrane were significantly reduced, thereby minimizing membrane fouling and achieving the durability of membrane-based chiral separation.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Feasibility of a novel movement preference approach to classify case complexity for adults with non-specific chronic low back pain
    (MDPI, 2024)
    Kwok, Boon Chong
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    Lim, Justin Xuan Li
    ;
    The non-specific nature of low back pain (LBP) poses challenges in its diagnosis and clinical management. Classifying case complexity with an exercise method may help overcome these challenges. The present study proposed a movement-based classification system based on Dance Medicine Australia (DMA) Clinical Pilates for patients with non-specific chronic LBP. To test the feasibility of the proposed system, 40 adults with non-specific chronic LBP were assessed on their movement preference (i.e., movement directions that can relieve pain or are pain-free) through the DMA Clinical Pilates method. The movement preferences could be a combination of each of the following movement directions: (1) flexion or extension, (2) left or right lateral flexion and/or (3) left or right rotation. For cases that had central or bilateral pain, the number of movement preferences identified was used to guide the classification. Using the proposed system, all 40 (100%) LBP cases were successfully classified into basic (n = 8, 20%), intermediate (n = 17, 42.5%), advanced (n = 8, 20%) or expert (n = 7, 17.5%) levels of complexity. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the proposed movement-based classification system was a feasible method for classifying case complexity in adults with non-specific chronic LBP. Future clinical intervention studies are needed to confirm if this classification system can enhance therapeutic outcomes in patients.
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Unveiling the dynamic pathways of metal–organic framework crystallization and nanoparticle incorporation for Li–S batteries
    (Wiley, 2024)
    Song, Xiaohui
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    Huang, Rui
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    Zhang, Xingyu
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    Chang, Qiang
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    Kim, Semi
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    Jeong, Daeun
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    Hou, Qian
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    Kim, Juyeong
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    Su, Xiaowei
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    Feng, Xuyong
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    Xiang, Hongfa
    Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) present diverse building blocks for high-performance materials across industries, yet their crystallization mechanisms remain incompletely understood due to gaps in nucleation and growth knowledge. In this study, MOF structural evolution is probed using in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cryo-TEM, unveiling a blend of classical and nonclassical pathways involving liquid–liquid phase separation, particle attachment–coalescence, and surface layer deposition. Additionally, ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) is employed to dope ultrasmall Cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) uniformly within nitrogen-doped hard carbon nanocages confirmed by 3D electron tomography. Lithium–sulfur battery tests demonstrate the nanocage-Co NP structure's exceptional capacity and cycling stability, attributed to Co NP catalytic effects due to its small size, uniform dispersion, and nanocage confinement. The findings propose a holistic framework for MOF crystallization understanding and Co NP tunability through ultrafast sintering, promising advancements in materials science and informing future MOF synthesis strategies and applications.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    OER News Flash: September 2024
    (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (NIE NTU), Singapore, 2024-09)
    National Institute of Education (Singapore)
  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Instructional framing for guiding the construction of explanatory diagrams in a science classroom: A metafunction perspective.
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)

    This study investigates how to guide students’ drawing diagram activities as constructing explanations in science classrooms from the metafunctions in systemic functional language (SFL). Although a drawing-to-learn approach requires sufficient support, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the pedagogical considerations for guiding students on what and how to draw during their activities. Guided by the metafunctions in SFL, I analysed a case of one teacher’s teaching practices of employing drawing-diagram activities in a general science classroom. I found that the teacher translated the objects to draw from the familiar to the targeted visual meaning for the students (ideational). To provide a clearer understanding of the roles of diagrams, she had reflective discussions with the students about how other people could interpret their diagrams and what would be important to represent iteratively through sharing the diagrams using a visualiser (interpersonal). She also often provided several examples of organising diagrams at the beginning of or during the activities to brainstorm ideas for the compositions (textual). This practical knowledge framed by the metafunctions is aimed at providing a better understanding of how teachers can deploy a drawing-to-learn approach and intervene during drawing activities to facilitate students’ science learning in general science classrooms.

  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Motivation and self-regulated learning profiles: A person-centered perspective of English learning and achievement in an Asia context
    (Elsevier, 2024) ; ;
    Xiong, Feng

    Learning English holds immense significance in 21st century education, especially for students whose mother tongue is not English. For non-native speakers, learning English is not just a linguistic challenge but also a key to unlocking global opportunities in education, career, and personal development (Cook, 2016). These students often face unique challenges, such as grappling with different phonetics, syntax, and cultural nuances that are intrinsic to English, which can significantly differ from their native languages. Extensive research underscored the crucial roles played by motivation and self-regulated learning in students' English language acquisition and academic achievement (e.g., Bai, Guo, & Wang, 2022; Bai & Guo, 2021; Bai et al., 2022b; Bai and Wang, 2023; Wang et al., 2023; Yu et al., 2019; Yuksel et al., 2023). These studies employed variable-centered approaches to examine the positive relations among motivation, self-regulated learning, and English achievement across different countries/regions (e.g., Hong Kong, China Mainland, Turkey) at various grade levels. Though the variable-centered approach aims to examine relationships between variables of interest, distinct differences inherent in individual students were overlooked (Li et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2016). In response to this limitation, a person-centered approach has been recommended (Lau & Roeser, 2008). This approach aims to identify potential subgroups of similar subjects, such as students, within a given population. Subjects are categorized into subgroups based on shared profiles (Howard & Hoffman, 2018). It is worth noting that identifying distinct profiles among students can be immensely beneficial for educators in designing tailored programs and pedagogies, facilitating effective differentiated learning (e.g., Lau & Roeser, 2008; Xie et al., 2020). Therefore, the current study aims to adopt a person-centered approach to identify profiles based on students’ motivation (e.g., self-efficacy, task value, test anxiety) and self-regulated learning (e.g., metacognitive strategies, time and environment management, effort regulation) and explore how these profiles relate to their English achievement.

  • Publication
    Metadata only
    Athletes with meditation experience counteract the detrimental effect of mental fatigue on endurance performance and neurocognitive functions
    (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
    Nien, Jui-Ti
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    Chen, Nai-Chi
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    Wu, Chih-Han
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    Ahn, Jaewoong
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    Yu
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    Chi, Lin
    ;
    Chang, Yu-Kai

    The current study examined whether meditation experience is associated with changes in endurance performance and inhibitory control-relevant neurocognitive functions caused by mental fatigue. Twenty-four athletes with meditation experience (AME) and twenty-five athletes without meditation experience (AWME) underwent a 30-min incongruent Stroop test in mental fatigue condition (MF) and a 30-min congruent Stroop test in control condition (CON) in a randomised-counterbalanced order. Inhibitory control-relevant neurocognitive functions were assessed using Flanker task and event-related potentials, followed by an endurance task using the Bruce treadmill protocol. Visual analogue scale was used to evaluate perceived mental fatigue (VAS-MF) before (T1), after Stroop test (T2) and after Flanker task (T3), and VAS for motivation (VAS-M) was used to evaluate motivation in Flanker task and endurance task. Results indicated that, compared to the CON, AWME in the MF exhibited overall lower accuracy, smaller incongruent N2 amplitude of the Flanker task (ps < .05), and shorter time to exhaustion (TTE) of the endurance task (p < .001), whereas AME did not exhibited difference in these outcomes between the conditions. Along with athletes in the MF reported lower VAS-M in endurance task. These findings suggest the benefits of meditation experience in mitigating the negative effects of mental fatigue.

  • Publication
    Metadata only
    The role of achievement emotions in team-based learning

    Team-based learning (TBL) is an alternative instructional method that has been shown to lead to positive concrete academic performance outcomes. However, whilst academic performance is important, we should also not neglect other non-tangible student outcomes such as the emotions experienced during the TBL sessions and improvements in student’s learning. Hence, in the current study, we aim to examine (1) the academic performance of TBL vs traditional lessons, (2) the differences in achievement emotions of student in TBL vs traditional lessons and (3) the perceived effectiveness of TBL lessons. A within-subjects research design was employed in which students participated in sessions using the TBL approach followed by sessions using the normal approach. Participants were 239 postgraduate students (81 men and 158 women) enrolled in the field of education. Measures used were the achievement emotions questionnaire, a perceived effectiveness of TBL questionnaire and the students performance on a quiz at the end of the module. Results indicated that students had a higher level of enjoyment and a lower level of boredom and anger in TBL lessons. From both the individual and team perspective, students had positive perceptions about the effectiveness of TBL. However, students performed better for topics that were taught via traditional methods compared to topics taught via TBL.