My main goal is to focus on the importance of multilingual education through translanguaging pedagogies in Telangana schools especially in the areas of minority linguistic communities. India is remarkably well-known for cultural and linguistic diversity. In such a context, it is difficult to implement the right medium of instruction in which the students’ home language is different from the school language. Though there are many factors involved in delivering quality education, language plays a significant role in teaching and learning across the world. The majority of the schools encourage dominant language(s) in teaching and learning in Indian states. As a result, students of non-dominant language(s) are totally out of the classroom conversations and they slowly come to know that their languages are less prestigious and not used in schools. This leads them to show less interest in learning. Non-dominant language(s) are pushed out of important domains and such languages are impoverished with limited functions in India. In this paper, I discuss the complexity which lies in providing the right media of instruction to heterogeneous students in Indian classrooms and also explores the students’ language(s) proficiency levels in two target languages. Finally, I explain some ways to develop students’ linguistic and cognitive skills in such a multilingual environment. Two schools were, for this study, visited to understand the language(s) scenario in the Telangana region. The data was collected from 15 students who were in the IX class.Apart from this, we interacted with teachers to get their opinions on various topics in relation to students’ language skills as well as multilingual education. Extensive individual interviews and long conversations were conducted from classroom teachers in relation to students’ language skills in three languages. The data was collected through a variety of sources in order to illuminate multilingual education in Telangana schools. Oral and written samples were collected from the participants in two languages L2 & L3. In the process of data collection, each student performed spoken as well as written tasks. Oral tasks consist of discussions, role-plays, and one storytelling task based on the provided pictures. Written tasks consist of reading, listening, and writing (vocabulary, grammar, and sentence meaning). The result of the collected data reveals the proficiency levels of students in L2 & L3. The empirical data, interviews, and conversations revealed the significance of LI in schools at the right time.

Worldwide, an increase in cases and severity of domestic violence (DV) has been reported as a result of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. As one’s language can provide insight in one’s mental health, this study analyzed word use in a DV online support group, aiming to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DV victims. Words reflecting social support and leisure activities were investigated as protective factors against linguistic indicators of depression. 5856 posts were collected from the r/domesticviolence subreddit and two neutral comparison subreddits (r/changemyview & r/femalefashionadvice). In the DV support group, the average number of daily posts increased significantly by 22% from pre-pandemic to mid-pandemic. Confirmatory analysis was conducted following a registered pre-analysis plan. DV victims used significantly more linguistic indicators of depression than individuals in the comparison groups. These linguistic indicators did not change with the onset of COVID-19. The use of negative emotion words was negatively related to the use of social support words (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient [rho] = -.110) and words referring to leisure activities (rho = -.137). Pre-occupation with COVID-19 was associated with the use of negative emotion words (rho = .148).We conclude that language of DV victims is characterized by indicators of depression and this characteristic is stable over time. Concerns with COVID-19 could contribute to negative emotions, whereas social support and leisure activities could function to some degree as protective factors. A potential weakness of this study could be the limited ability of word count methods to assess the impact of stressors such as COVID-19. Future studies could make use of natural language processing and other advanced methods of linguistic analysis to learn about the mental health of DV victims.

Devaluation is the reduction in the value of the money of one country when it is exchanged for the money of another country. Devaluation of currency is an attractive option for nation in recession like Nigeria. This study looks at the effects and the possible solution of naira devaluation. The study adopts the use of secondary data of the Nigeria exchange rate spanning from 1972 to 2020. The study then recommends that the Nigeria government should diversify the economy and that devaluation of currency should be the last resort to the economic imbalance.

Traditional notions of intelligence are crippling the field of Gifted Education and often, whether explicitly or implicitly, perpetuate inequity and disproportionality throughout the field in both theory and practice (Cross, 2021; Owens et al., 2018). A particular reason for this issue takes root in narrow, monocultural conceptualizations of intelligence, “casting it in singular rather than interactive disciplines and ways of representation” (Eisner as interviewed by Buescher, 1986, p. 7). As we seek to reform Gifted Education, “we will need to release ourselves from the grips of traditional stereotypes about what schools should be, how teaching is to proceed, what appropriate curriculum content entails, and how evaluation should occur” (Eisner, p. 89). Drawing from Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD), particularly notions pertaining to the five Overexcitabilities and Development Potential, as well as Eisner’s ideas concerning knowledge acquisition through diverse forms of representation and ways of knowing, I present various ideas and implications for the field of Gifted Education. These ideas and implications inform many K-12 teaching and learning practices as well. @font-face {font-family:“Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:“”; margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:“Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:“Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:“Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:“Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

This study describes the development and validation process of a computational thinking (CT) test for adults. The team designed a set of items and explored a subset of those through a couple of qualitative pilots. Then, in order to provide validity evidence based on the test content, a team of 11 subject-matter experts coded the initial pool of items using two different systems of categories based on CT components and contents. Then the items were piloted on a sample of 289 participants, 137 experts in CT and 152 novices. After a series of confirmatory factor analyses, a unidimensional model that represents algorithmic thinking was adopted. After analyzing the psychometric quality of the 27 items, 20 of them with excellent reliability indices were finally selected for the test. Thus, this study provides a tool to evaluate adults’ CT: the Algorithmic Thinking Test for Adults (ATTA), which was developed according to psychometric standards. This article also reflects on the nature of CT as a construct.

Modeling global travel restrictions and number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 we have shown that effective regulatory actions such as global travel restrictions could reduce the number of deaths per million from this pandemic. We have controlled for country specific demographic and geographic variables such as average temperature, number of populations, alcohol intake per day, test in per million to find out the ceteris paribus effect of global travel restrictions on the number of deaths from COVID-19 in countries around the world. By classifying countries across three layers of global travel restrictions status, based on their regulatory actions, against COVID- 19 our model reveals that global travel restriction could have saved many lives. The findings from this paper can be considered in future for any further spike of COVID-19 along with any other pandemic in future.

This pre-print-version reports the results of survey-data (n = 374). Information regarding methodology can be found in the document. Abstract:

For my research I used peer-review journals, think tank institutes, intergovernmental organizations and government agencies to gather substantial information.

The core claim of the paper is that public rational expextations of inflation is a more mystic than science. The main evidence is That article, which has been written by Nobel laureate, Thomas Sargent and prof. Joseph Zeira, was based on fake facts, which showed that the rational expectations theory is refutable as confronted with economic reality and facts.

The author shares his understanding of the confrontations between East and West during the Cold War in the dangerous phase of the first half of the 1980s, from his unique vantage point of life in the two German states, first as a Norwegian Visiting Lecturer in Communist East Germany at the University of Greifswald 1980 – 81, then as an official of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1981 – 84, which brought him as diplomat to Bonn, the capital of West Germany, 1984-87. These experiences from Germany in the 1980s he will then analyze critically from the vantage point of a succession of encounters with former East German officials, starting 2016 until he in October of 2019 was a Visiting Research Fellow, Gastwissenschaftler, at the German Institute for Contemporary History, Department for the Cold War in Berlin. The methodology of this article works with the standard procedure in diplomatic fact-finding and analyses, abductive reasoning from confidential conversations.The article follows the standard procedure for drawing on confidential conversations, Chatham House Rule, abbreviated CHR. What someone says may be quoted, but the identity of sources and their affiliated institutions remain confidential. The author denotes this methodology exploratory conversation, inferring by active listening. By this methodology, the researcher may gain insights into the set of assumptions, the underlying mental models that determine the perceptions of options. In mental models, language constructs the shared sense of social reality and serve as repository of vast accumulations of meaning and experience.

This paper discusses the ideological differences between the Islamic State (IS) and Al Qaeda (AQ) and their differential media strategies that were existing from 2014 to 2017. This paper emphasises the interpretation of Qutbism and the unification of Ummah which led to the divide and disintegration of AQ of Iraq later becoming IS. This ideological difference emanates from practice and theological understanding of Salafism by IS and AQ and perception of the near and far enemy by both the terrorist organizations. Both terrorist organizations’ ideological doctrines are also influenced by the use of information and communication technologies catering to their respective audience. Considering the ideological differences and differences in IS and AQ media strategies, this paper proposes counter-terrorism strategies to fight IS and AQ online propaganda.

This study empirically investigated the major determinative factors regarding customer satisfaction in local government offices in Japan, comparing them with the results of similar surveys conducted by the author in 2020. The surveys comprise three categories of questions, referring to (1) customer satisfaction research in various countries, especially the expectancy disconfirmation model; (2) the SERVQUAL model; and (3) subsequent methods that emphasize the customer’s direct experience. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were distributed over four weekdays at the City Hall. As of September 27, 2021, there were 537 respondents (response rate: 53.7%). The regression analysis showed that the independent variables of group C (service delivery) were most influential, followed by those of groups B (human-related factors) and A (office hardware) (adjusted R2 value: .58). This is consistent with the results of the author’s Internet survey of users of Osaka City Government’s ward offices.

In China the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects are adopted to achieve the strategic goals of governments and to ensure the sustainable operation of local government finances. However, rigorous empirical research on the determinants of social capital’s participation in PPP is sparse. This study investigates the effects of government behaviors on the participation of social capital in the PPP projects by focusing on the role of government credit risks. We construct a dynamic game and adopt an empirical analysis using panel data of Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2018. Our findings reveal a significant inverse relationship between the government credit risk and the social capital participation in PPP. It provides policy-makers and researchers with useful information about using the PPP to promote investment on infrastructures while ensuring a sustainable local fiscal system.

Character education is deemed as an essential aspect to be disseminated to the students in enabling them to be prepared to face real-world society. It can be incorporated into formal education with the support of school staff, teachers, and parents. Hence, this study investigates the relationship between teachers’ efficacy, knowledge, and professional development in implementing character education. Using a quantitative correlational approach, data was obtained from 384 secondary school teachers on character education efficacy belief, character education knowledge, belief and practice instrument, and character education professional development. The data was analysed using multiple linear regression analysis scales. The findings postulated that teacher’s professional development and knowledge were able to predict the implementation of character education while efficacy was deemed an insignificant variable. Therefore, understanding the relationships between the factors is essential to train future teachers for character education. In conclusion, the findings from this study are expected to benefit the Ministry of Education, school administrations, teachers, and the community in identifying ways to enhance the implementation of character education.

Introduction: Youth living with HIV (YLWH) experience higher rates of mental illness than their peers. Holistic care for YLWH may involve adopting mental health screening programs into comprehensive HIV care to help identify and address mental health concerns in young people. We explored various contexts, procedures, and safety measures throughout the integration and maintenance of a mental health screening program for adolescents attending an HIV referral clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. Methods: Implementation goals included a safety goal of 100% appropriate referral rate for emergency cases, and a screening goal of 70% of the approximately 1100 adolescent and young adults who were clients of the clinic at least once in the one year review period. Frequent meetings with the behavioral health team and relevant clinic staff were conducted to determine when, where and how to screen the clients. Referral procedures and an emergency protocol for certain “red flag” behaviors was developed to facilitate a warm handing off to trained mental health professionals along with a backup for non-mental health clinicians to assist in the absence of the PSS team. Every other week severe score case reports were produced by the screening team to prevent loss to follow up of suicidal ideation, hallucination or very high scores. Mild to moderate cases were referred to clinicians trained in brief intervention therapy. Results: Of the 846 clients screened, 191 (19.2%) had severe scores. Eight (4.1%) of these 191 severe case scores were either not immediately reported, or were inappropriately referred. Two of those eight had suicidal ideation and were not immediately referred but were appropriately followed up after being identified during bimonthly implementation team meetings. Identifying a specific trained person tasked with facilitating the screening was found to be most helpful. As was training the clinicians in methods to respond to mild to moderate results, particularly during unavailability of PSS team members. A clear and detailed protocol for severe cases was also noted as a key element in keeping the screening program safe. Conclusions: Establishing a universal screening program in an LMIC is possible with the consideration of various contextual factors.

Generally, the world has enjoyed relative peace and stability after the Cold War in 1991, but never the end to insecurity, conflicts, and wars (interstate and intrastate). One outcome of these insecurities is conflictinduced internal displacement. Though not new, its prevalence in recent times has become a hurdle that countries and the international community must reckon with. In fact, conflict-IDPs globally has received about 215 percent hikes in the last two decades, while in Africa, the increase is about 135 percent. However, the Horn of Africa is the hardest hit. As such, the paper provides an overview of conflict displacement and explores the conditions that sustains it, using Ethiopia as a unit of analysis. The paper found several conditions: constitutional, socio-psycho-cultural, political, economic, and human rights abuse as critical to conflict-IDPs deepening. The article further shows the trends of IDPs and its security implications for Ethiopia. Pragmatic solutions have been recommended accordingly.

The indirect investigation of psychological constructs has become prominent in social sciences thanks to the so-called implicit measures. Different implicit measures can be administered concurrently to the same respondents for obtaining detailed and multifaceted information on the constructs of interest. In this study, a Rasch analysis of accuracy and time responses of two commonly used implicit measures is presented. The focus in on the concurrent administration of the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald et al., 1998) and the Single Category IAT (SC-IAT; Karpinski & Steinman, 2006). Linear Mixed-Effects Models are used to address the within– and between–measures sources of variability and to obtain a Rasch parametrization of the data. By disentangling the respondent’s contribution from the stimulus contribution to the observed responses, these models allow for delving deeper on the functioning of the IAT and the SC-IAT, as well as for grasping a better understanding of the processes driving a behavioral decision. Implications of the results for social sciences and future research directions are discussed.

A novel technique of detecting DIF in items using z-score based on IRT model. A simple technique based on z-score is proposed and derived for Rasch Model and also compared with traditional DIF detection methods. The data set used for application is the State Level Achievement Survey data set from West Bengal, India. Binary responses on 40-item tests of 12518 examinees are taken.