It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Saturday, September 28, 2024
A recent doctoral thesis shows that learning is also something that needs to be learned and taught
Estonian Research Council
In his thesis, entitled "Teachers' and students' knowledge of learning strategies and how to teach them in the classroom", Granström investigated the methods used in Estonian schools to make learning more effective and the extent of their use. "Teachers were found to employ a variety of learning strategies and to value deeper learning strategies more than superficial ones, but their knowledge of them is sometimes incomplete,” he summarises the findings of his study. “There is also a lack of knowledge of how to teach and link learning strategies to learning.”
At the same time, his research shows that students value strategies that support shallow rather than deep learning, which can be difficult to understand, as immediate results are harder to perceive and teachers tend not to explain the advantages of one method or another. "In order for students to move towards the use of more sophisticated learning strategies that support deep learning, teachers should consciously support the development of students' knowledge of learning strategies and encourage their independent use,” Granström finds.
The more rapidly the world around us changes, the more topical this issue becomes, because knowing how to plan learning more effectively and to learn independently is important not only in school, but also later in life. "In a society where flexibility of knowledge is of great importance, and adaptation and the independent acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong process, poor knowledge of learning can become an obstacle to adapting to change," the researcher notes.
"If a teacher can adequately explain and demonstrate to their students the advantages of different learning strategies and how to use them independently, as well as guiding the students to use them, this will have a positive impact on students' motivation to learn."
In order to ensure that teachers are able to use learning strategies when planning lessons, and to explain them to pupils, Granström recommends that teacher training and school development programmes place more emphasis on introducing them: teachers need to be taught how to use learning strategies starting with students in Grade 1.
Mikk Granstöm defended his PhD thesis "Teachers' and students' knowledge of learning strategies and their teaching in the classroom" on 17 September. The thesis was supervised by Professors Eve Kikas and Eve Eisenschmidt of Tallinn University and opposed by Associate Professor Pirko Tõugu of the University of Tartu and Professor Markku Hannula of the University of Helsinki.
Ph.D. thesis: Media offers multiple niches to researchers
"Researchers who are driven by a more strategic goal are usually able to be more visible in the media and to guide coverage in the direction that suits them,” explains Arko Olesk, whose doctoral thesis is titled "The mediatization of researchers: process, indicators, impact”.
"One can see similarities between media communication of scientists and the processes taking place in evolution,” Olesk adds. “A researcher has to adapt in order to successfully get their message across in the media. If they are primarily interested in explaining their subject in a comprehensible way, they need different skills and techniques than if their aim is to guide a public debate. Just as species adapt to their ecological niche, scientists adapt to the media niche they wish to inhabit."
"In my work, I outline five dimensions for assessing such adaptations," explains Olesk. These include an understanding of media logic and the ability to use it to your advantage. "For a researcher who wants to present their work, it's enough to adapt to journalists' expectations to respond quickly and to explain topics simply and interestingly. However, researchers with a more strategic aim need to be able to bring issues to the press themselves, by contacting journalists and offering ideas in a way that is attractive for them.”
The work builds on, among other things, the experience of the research group that launched Estonia's first satellite, ESTCube-1. "Studying their interactions with the media allowed us to see how researchers learn the written and unwritten rules of the media, and to understand how different objectives shape patterns in media communication," notes Olesk.
The scientific literature on media relations of scientists has pointed out that if researchers become overly concerned with media visibility, the scientific quality of their work can suffer. "No similar effects were apparent from this study,” says Olesk. “But while there is a lot of talk about the need for researchers to do more public outreach, we need to be aware of the threats this can pose to the quality of media coverage of science.”
The paper also identifies the weakening of the position of the press as a potential threat. "As scientists get better and better at 'selling' their ideas, and journalists don't have the time or desire to dig deeper, it's easy for scientists to get the media coverage they want," Olesk describes. "As long as a scientist's motives are noble, nothing bad may happen, but it is easy to overblow scientific results or spread questionable claims by exploiting journalists' trust in scientists. Societies will therefore continue to need critical science journalism."
"We can see that the media communication patterns of researchers can also be judged by the beneficial or detrimental impact they have on science in general, researchers themselves, the public or journalists,” says Olesk. “There are patterns that lead to problems, but there are also patterns where everyone benefits. It is precisely the skills needed to maintain and create such patterns that we need to pay more attention to when training researchers and journalists."
The defence of Arko Oleski's doctoral thesis took place on 18 September. Thesis supervisors were Barbi Pilvre and Anastassia Zabrodskaya, and the opponents Ragne Kõuts-Klemm from the University of Tartu and Mike Schäfer from the University of Zurich. The full text of the paper is available here: https://www.etera.ee/zoom/202230/view
Subject of Research
People
The survival rate for avalanche burials has increased by ten percent since 1994
An analysis of 40 years of avalanche data highlights the importance of rescues undertaken by companions
Eurac Research
Modern avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes are now standard in ski touring. Along with a rise in the uptake of avalanche courses and increasingly efficient rescue teams, quicker detection and rescue of buried victims has also improved. The result: increased survival rates in avalanche burials over the past four decades. “Up until 1990, 43.5 percent of buried victims survived; now, it’s 53.5 percent,” explains Simon Rauch, the study’s lead author and an emergency physician at Eurac Research. “We analyzed data from 1981 to 2020 and compared it with a 1994 Nature study that covered a ten-year period.”
The new analysis also shows that the survival probability for long-term burials (over 130 minutes) has increased from 2.6 percent to 7.3 percent. The average rescue time has dropped from 45 minutes to 25 minutes. Rescue time decreased from 15 to 10 minutes in cases when a companion was present, while organized rescue times fell from 153 to 90 minutes. However, the phase where survival probability exceeds 90 percent has shortened from 18 to just 10 minutes.
“In 1994, we divided the survival curve into different phases and discovered that the first phase, when survival rate is very high, lasted up to 18 minutes. This became a global reference point in mountain rescue, but it now needs to be modified,” says Hermann Brugger of Eurac Research, author of the original 1994 study and co-author of the current one.
There are only hypotheses for the drastic reduction in this time window. “It could be that due to climate change and other factors, snow density has increased. The denser the snow, the less air it contains, making it harder to breathe under the snow.” Rauch suggests. However, this theory has yet to be confirmed by data. “Time is the critical factor, and ten minutes is not long. Therefore, it’s essential to understand that the survival chances in an avalanche burial are three times higher when excursion companions are able to dig out the victims, rather than when organized rescue teams are involved.” Rauch emphasizes.
The study also highlights preventive measures such as avalanche warning services, training for ski tourers, and advancements in location and rescue techniques, along with improved emergency medical care, have significantly reduced the mortality rate for avalanche victims in recent decades.
WSL, the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research provided the data for the study, with biostatistician Markus Falk contributing a statistical analysis using a complex model.
The results of the study by Eurac Research and WSL: the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research were published in the renowned JAMA Network Open
Avalanche Survival Rates in Switzerland, 1981-2020
Article Publication Date
25-Sep-2024
Recording the cats in the hats
Canadian scientists knit little wool caps to contain electrodes that cats normally shake off when being tested for chronic pain.
University of Montreal
image:
Fée, an abandoned cat with chronic osteoarthritis, was one of 11 who wore specially knitted caps for tests at Université de Montréal's veterinary school.
In a world first, veterinary scientists at Université de Montréal have found a way to scan the brains of cats while they’re awake, using electrodes concealed under specially knitted wool caps.
When being tested for chronic pain from common conditions like osteoarthritis, awake cats tend to shake off and chew the wired electrodes placed on their heads to produce electroencephalograms (EEGs).
To prevent that, cats are normally sedated through the procedure.
In all, 11 adult cats with osteoarthritis were tested.
After assessing their stress and pain through stimuli passed through the electrodes, the scientists then went about exposing the cats to soothing stimuli such as coloured lights and comforting smells, as a way to ease their suffering.
‘New avenues opened’
The study – which is already beginning to make headlines around the world in publications such as New Scientist – “opens new avenues for investigating feline chronic pain and its potential modulation through sensory interventions,” the study concludes.
Next up: a national and international blitz to make the work even better known.
Co-author Aliénor Delsart, a Ph.D. student, recently presented preliminary results of the UdeM team’s work on several applications of the EEG assessments – in particular, pain sensitization – to the Royal Society of Medicine, in London, England.
“We now plan to obtain NSERC - Alliance funding, in partnership with private companies, to enable us to establish a genuine EEG signature for chronic pain, and many other applications that will enable us to automate chronic pain detection in the future,” said Troncy.
One example: a collaboration with UdeM computational psychiatry professor and CHU Sainte-Justine researcher Guillaume Dumas to test the synchronicity of cerebral waves between cats (and also dogs) and their owners.
Non-invasive electroencephalography in awake cats: Feasibility and application to sensory processing in chronic pain
New continuous reaction process can help turn plant waste into sustainable aviation fuel
Washington State University
image:
Joshua Heyne, director of the WSU Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory, and research assistant Conor Faulhaber, examine swelling results from a material compatibility test related to sustainable fuels.
RICHLAND, Wash. —Washington State University scientists successfully tested a new way to produce sustainable jet fuel from lignin-based agricultural waste.
Published in the journal Fuel Processing Technology, the team’s research demonstrated a continuous process that directly converts lignin polymers, one of the chief components of plant cells, into a form of jet fuel that could help improve performance of sustainably produced aviation fuels.
“Our achievement takes this technology one step closer to real-world use by providing data that lets us better gauge its feasibility for commercial aviation,” said lead scientist Bin Yang, professor in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
A class of structural molecules that make plants tough and woody, lignin is derived from corn stover—the stalks, cobs and leaves left after harvest—and other agricultural byproducts.
The team developed a process called “simultaneous depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation,” which breaks down the lignin polymer and at the same time removes oxygen to create lignin-based jet fuel. At their Richland facility, the scientists introduced dissolved lignin polymer into a continuous hydrotreating reactor to produce the fuel.
Global consumption of aviation fuel reached an all-time high of nearly 100 billion gallons in 2019, and demand is expected to increase in the coming decades. Sustainable aviation fuels derived from plant-based biomass could help minimize aviation’s carbon footprint, reduce contrails and meet international carbon neutrality goals.
Lignin-based jet fuel could make sustainable fuels cleaner and more easily usable in jet engines. Thanks to their density, efficiency, and seal-swelling characteristics, hydrocarbons catalyzed from lignin could effectively replace fossil fuel-derived compounds called aromatics. Associated with contrails and climate impacts, aromatics remain in use because they enhance fuel density and help swell O-rings in metal-to-metal joints.
This research marked the team’s first successful test of a continuous process, which is more feasible for commercial production. The project also used a less processed, less expensive form of lignin derived from corn stover, dubbed “technical lignin,” contrasting similar research using extracted lignin bio-oil.
The team’s findings suggest lignin is a promising source of aromatic-replacing cycloalkanes and other useful fuel compounds.
“The aviation enterprise is looking to generate 100% renewable aviation fuel,” said Josh Heyne, research team member and co-director of the WSU-PNNL Bioproducts Institute. “Lignin-based jet fuel complements existing technologies by, for example, increasing the density of fuel blends.”
Offering reduced emissions, lignin-based fuel could ultimately make sustainable aviation fuels fully “drop-in” capable, meaning they can be used with all existing engines, infrastructure and aircraft like existing fossil-derived aviation fuel.
“We’re working to create an effective, commercially relevant technology for a complementary blend component that can achieve the 100% drop-in goal,” Heyne said.
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Advanced Refining Technologies LLC.
The team is now working to refine their process for better efficiency and reduced costs.
A simultaneous depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation process to produce lignin-based jet fuel in continuous flow reactor
Article Publication Date
26-Sep-2024
Chinese NGOs’ engagement in trans-boundary renewable energy technology transfer
Tsinghua University Press
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The roles of NGOs in the cross-border transfer of renewable energy have been ordered according to their level of involvement, ranging from weaker to stronger, and the complexity of their tasks, ranging from easier to more execution-oriented.
Credit: Energy and Climate Management, Tsinghua University Press
Effective adoption of renewable energy technologies (RETs) is essential for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. As a leader in RETs, China has been pivotal in advancing trans-boundary technology transfer. Since launching the Green Belt and Road Initiative in 2017, China has expanded its renewable energy network to the global South by increasing climate finance and accelerating technology transfer. However, numerous challenges remain, including political, financial, legal, environmental, and cultural barriers.
To address these issues, Chinese Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have started to engage in RET transfers, collaborating with tech enterprises, recipient country governments, local communities, and other stakeholders. Researchers from Renmin University of China analyzed the roles of Chinese NGOs in this process through three case studies. Their findings were published in Energy and Climate Management on August 30, 2024.
“We aim to balance the studies on the roles of NGOs in trans-boundary technology transfer, as previous research has primarily focused on NGOs in the West. The engagement of Chinese domestic NGOs in trans-boundary renewable energy technology transfer is a recent phenomenon, accompanying the advancement of Chinese technologies and supplying capacities in this field, thus making it an emerging field of inquiry. This study is one of the early birds in this field, hopefully it will inspire future studies,” said Professor Lei Zhang, corresponding author of the paper, associate professor from the School of Ecology & Environment at Renmin University of China.
The team examined three distinct Chinese NGOs: Institution G, a comprehensive NGO that implements technology transfer pilot projects; Institution L, a think tank specializing in industry research and policy advocacy; and Institution M, a bridge organization that empowers local NGOs and fosters cooperation between social organizations and enterprises. These cases were chosen to represent different types of Chinese NGOs involved in trans-boundary RET transfers.
The team used rigorous methods to analyze the three cases, including semi-structured interviews with NGO experts and renewable energy firm representatives, supplemented by secondary data analysis from reports, articles, and documents. Researchers found that the combination of globalization, informatization, and the institutional push for green and low-carbon transformations driven by environmental and climate crises has led to a new grid-based technology transfer model involving multiple players. Within this framework, Chinese NGOs play various critical roles, such as coordinating stakeholders, offering technical assistance and policy guidance, creating technology information exchange platforms, monitoring the environmental and social responsibilities of overseas enterprises, conducting pilot projects, and providing professional advice to support renewable energy investments and financing.
Despite their growing importance, the involvement of Chinese NGOs in climate technology transfer remains limited. Their participation in trans-boundary RET transfers is still in its early stages and faces several challenges, including limited global integration, insufficient policy and institutional support, a lack of professional expertise, and inadequate funding.
The research team discovered the new roles of domestic NGOs engaged in RET transfer and expected the paper to inform policy and practice, enabling NGOs to take on a more engaged and impactful role in global environmental governance and promoting the inclusive growth of host countries. Professor Lei Zhang said, “Building on previous studies on NGOs and technology transfer, we explored how the uniqueness in terms of Chinese domestic NGOs and the policy context in which they operate would contribute to the knowledge pool. Standing between the North and the South, Chinese NGOs do play a dual role, yet face dual challenges. We trust that this study will shed light on the potentials and concerns of these NGOs through in-depth case studies.”
Other contributors include Anqi Zhu and Xu Pan from the School of Ecology & Environment, and Professor Minpeng Chen from the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, both at Renmin University of China.
This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China [2018YFA0606503].
Managing the changing climate and energy transition are two closely related scientific and policy challenges of our society. Energy and Climate Management is an open access, peer-reviewed scholarly, policy-oriented academic journal dedicated to publishing interdisciplinary scientific papers on cutting-edge research on contemporary energy and climate management analysis. The Journal is exclusively available via SciOpen and aims to incentivize a meaningful dialogue between academics, think tanks, and public authorities worldwide. Contributions are welcomed covering areas related to energy and climate management, especially policy, economics, governance, and finance. Online submission portal available at https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/jecm.
SciOpen is an open access resource of scientific and technical content published by Tsinghua University Press and its publishing partners. SciOpen provides end-to-end services across manuscript submission, peer review, content hosting, analytics, identity management, and expert advice to ensure each journal’s development. By digitalizing the publishing process, SciOpen widens the reach, deepens the impact, and accelerates the exchange of ideas.
Chinese NGOs’ engagement in trans-boundary renewable energy technology transfer
Social media used to facilitate sexual assault in children: new research
Social media offers benefits for teens but also can be used as a tool by predators online, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition
American Academy of Pediatrics
ORLANDO, Fla.— About 7% of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse at a California hospital reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition.
The retrospective study, “Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assault in Children,” found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage – 12%-- reported that social media facilitated sexual assault. The authors will present their preliminary findings during the conference at the Orlando Convention Center Sept. 27-Oct. 1.
“Adolescents are increasingly living their lives in digital spaces,” said Miguel Cano, MD, a child abuse pediatrician and author of the research. “Although there are benefits to the use of social media such as connecting with people and keeping in touch with family and friends across the globe, there are many well documented dangers as well.”
The researchers evaluated children 10 to 18 years of age who disclosed sexual abuse at Rady Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families between 2018 and 2023. They defined “social media facilitated sexual assault” as occurring when social media is used for communication between a victim and perpetrator that leads to sexual assault.
Dangers include meeting strangers online or being subjected to various forms of maltreatment including emotional abuse, cyber bullying, harassment, threats, exposure to sexual content, and being victims of online sexual abuse, according to the author.
Another emerging risk is “meeting” strangers virtually and then planning to meet face to face, which can often result in dangerous situations, and can at times unfortunately result in sexual abuse, according to the abstract.
Instagram and Snapchat were the two most commonly reported social media platforms used, however, multiple platforms were reported. The average age of patients was 13 years old, and 89% were female. The patient was related to the perpetrator 60% of the time. About 80% of perpetrators were adult men.
“With few oversights and regulations, parents, pediatricians, and anyone who cares for children need to understand this danger and need better tools and resources to help keep children safe from predators on social media,” Dr. Cano said.
Study author Dr. Cano, is scheduled to present his research, which is below, from 1:50-2pm on 10/27/24.
Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal.
# # #
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
ABSTRACT
Program Name: 2024 AAP National Conference-Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on Child Abuse and Neglect
Abstract Title: Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assaults in Children
Natalie Laub and Miguel Cano
San Diego, CA, United States
With the popularity of social media (SM) amongst children and adolescents, the dangers of online platforms are becoming more evident, including meeting sexual predators. Social media facilitated sexual assault (SMFSA) occurs when social media facilitates communication between a victim and perpetrator that leads to a sexual assault. While prior literature suggests technology can play a role in facilitating sexual assaults, there is no specific literature on the prevalence of child sexual abuse victims who report meeting their perpetrator via social media platforms such as Instagram. Thus our objectives were to 1) identify the prevalence of child sexual abuse victims who disclosed meeting their perpetrator on social media, and 2) identify which SM platforms were reported most frequently.
This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of children 10 to 18 years of age who disclosed sexual abuse at Rady Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families between 2018-2023. Data was collected in RedCAP and analyzed via Stata using descriptive statistics and Chi Squared/Fisher’s exact
Of the 1062 patients included, the mean age was 13 years (SD 1.9), 89% were female, 36% White, and 19% Hispanic. The patient was related to alleged perpetrator 60% of the time. 80% of perpetrators were adult men. In the total population 7% reported SM was used to facilitate the sexual assault. When accounting only for victims with non-related perpetrators, there was a statistically significant increase in SMFSA at 12% (P value < 0.0001). Snapchat followed by Instagram were the most common platforms used. There was no statistical significance in acquisition of sexually transmitted disease or physical injury between the two groups.
Social media platforms are being used to facilitate sexual assault in children between the ages of 10-18 years. Instagram and Snapchat are the two most common reported social media platforms. Further research is needed to understand how to keep children safe from predators on social media.
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Dangerous practice ‘chroming’ featured in videos on social media platform popular among youth
Researchers to present their analysis of TikTok videos showing inhalants use during American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition
ORLANDO, Fla.— A resurgence of youth seeking a high from “chroming” -- the act of inhaling toxic fumes from household items such as nail polish or permanent markers—could be due to videos featuring the practice on the popular social media platform, TikTok, according to new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition.
The abstract, “Chroming Crisis: An Analysis of Chroming Related Content on TikTok,” examines chroming-related content on TikTok in order to educate pediatricians on teen usage. Researchers will present their findings at the Orange County Convention Center during the AAP conference Sept. 27-Oct. 1.
“What is particularly concerning about chroming is that it uses everyday household items that are easily accessible to teens,” said Keerthi Krishna, research assistant at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center and first author. “The covert nature of these items means that parents and teachers are less likely to detect the behavior, significantly increasing the risk of repeated usage and addiction among adolescents.”
Chroming, also called “huffing,” typically produces a short euphoric state which creates a high potential for repeated usage and addiction. Inhalant abuse can lead to dizziness, brain damage, and even death.
The authors analyzed 109 videos on chroming that together had gained more than 25 million views. They collected data on: 1) perceived creator gender; 2) video creator age; 3) meme information; 4) item used; 5) repeated usage. Creator age and repeated usage was either self-reported, or estimated by the coders. A meme was defined as any post that emulates a circulating audio or visual format trend.
Of the videos analyzed, permanent markers (31%, n=34) were the most common chroming item, followed by air duster (17%, n=19), nail polish (12%, n=13), paint thinner (11%, n=12), gasoline (n=12), spray deodorant (n=12), and hair spray (6%, n=7).
More than half of the videos referenced repeated usage or addiction.
The authors conclude that parents and pediatricians need to be aware of this trend and its dangers, and social media companies should do more to prevent the spread of such harmful content.
Study author Rachel Kim, is scheduled to present the research, which is below, on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 5:15-6:15 pm ET during Session H2020.
In addition, Rachel Kim will be among highlighted abstract authors who will give brief presentations and be available for interviews during a press conference from 12-1:30 pm on Saturday in the National Conference Press Room, W208 AB. During the meeting, you may reach AAP media relations staff at 407-685-5401.
Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal.
# # #
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
ABSTRACT
Program Name: 2024 AAP National Conference-Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on Adolescents and Young Adults
Abstract Title: Chroming Crisis: An Analysis of Chroming Related Content on TikTok
Shruthi Krishna
Lake Success, NY, United States
“Chroming”, also known as “huffing,” is the act of inhaling toxic fumes from household items such as nail polish remover, permanent markers, and/or aerosol deodorant. Chroming typically produces a short euphoric state which creates a high potential for repeated usage and addiction. Inhalant abuse can lead to dizziness, brain damage, and even death. While chroming isn't a new activity for adolescents, it has resurged with the help of social media apps. TikTok is one such social media platform with children aged 10-19 as its largest user demographic. This study examines chroming-related content on TikTok in order to educate pediatricians on teen usage.
The top TikTok videos labeled with #huffing and #chroming were analyzed (n=400). The following data was collected: 1) perceived creator gender; 2) video creator age; 3) meme information; 4) item used; 5) repeated usage. Creator age and repeated usage was either self-reported, or estimated by the coders. A meme was defined as any post that emulates a circulating audio or visual format trend. Descriptive analysis was conducted in R.
A total of 109 videos (25,705,679 views) met inclusion criteria. The age range of video creators were 39% (n=43) minors, 26% (n=28) college aged, 22% (n=24) young adults, and 13% (n=14) anonymous. 50% (n=54) of creators had a perceived gender of female, while 31% (n=31) were male and 19% (n=21) were anonymous. Markers (31%, n=34) were the most common chroming item, followed by air duster (17%, n=19), nail polish (12%, n=13), paint thinner (11%, n=12), gasoline (n=12), spray deodorant (n=12), and hair spray (6%, n=7) (Table 1). Of the 109 videos, 70% (n=77) were memes; common memes included the phrase “in X years when the [chroming item] catches up to me” (n=17), and a towel and deodorant visual (n=10) (Table 1). Fifty-two percent (n=57) of videos referenced repeated usage or addiction.
Our findings underscore the urgent need for increased moderation efforts from social media platforms like TikTok to stop the dissemination of chroming content. A concerning amount of video creators were minors, highlighting the vulnerability of children engaging in harmful behaviors. Chroming items are often common household items, making them readily accessible and cheap, with a high potential for addiction and severe health consequences. Further, the high prevalence of chroming memes perpetuates its normalization among youth, which may lead individuals to view chroming as a "safer" and socially acceptable alternative to traditional drugs. Thus, there is a strong need for pediatricians to discuss the dangers of chroming with caregivers and patients.
Table 1: Examples of Chroming TikToks
Anti-bullying, sexual harassment resources increase in US schools but gaps remain
Researchers describe the situation as urgent
American Academy of Pediatrics
ORLANDO, Fla. — While violence prevention education has increased in U.S. schools, only 1 in 10 schools today require violence prevention discussions in class, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center.
Chloe Gao, MD/PhD Candidate and lead research author on “Implementation of Educational Programming and Policies to Prevent Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Violence in US Schools, 2008-2020,” studied data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from principals and health education teachers regarding efforts their schools made to prevent bullying, sexual harassment and violence.
“Bullying, sexual harassment, and violence can create hostile school environments that negatively impact students’ academic performance, health, and developmental outcomes,” Gao said. “Some students drop out of school in order to avoid these situations, a choice that impacts them for the rest of their lives.”
Two in 3 schools in the U.S. reported at least one violent incident from 2021-2022.
A total of 2,718 schools were included in the data where Gao found 2 out of 5 schools didn’t provide families with information on bullying and sexual harassment. Data further showed that the availability of anti-bullying and sexual harassment educational materials remained low, ranging from 56.2% in 2008 to 61.4% in 2020.
With children spending most of their time in school, the setting provides a unique chance for anti-bullying and harassment education. Despite this, Gao said gaps linger as program quality and availability varies from state to state.
Teen girls were particularly impacted with data showing the percentage of teen girls reporting sexual violence increased from 15% in 2017 to 18% in 2021.
Gao said the need is urgent for improved anti-bullying and sexual harassment measures, stating schools should be looking into how to best improve policies already in place and implementing them across the board.
“School is supposed to be a safe place for all. A place children can learn, grow, and play no matter what circumstance they come from,” Gao said. “We need to make sure that we are engaging schools in the fight against youth bullying, sexual harassment, and violence.”
Study author Chloe Gao is scheduled to present the research, which is below, from noon- 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, during a session for the Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention.
Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal.
# # #
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
ABSTRACT
Program Name: 2024 AAP National Conference-Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention
Abstract Title: Implementation of Educational Programming and Policies to Prevent Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Violence in US Schools, 2008-2020
Chloe Gao
Boston, MA, United States
Bullying, sexual harassment, and violence can create hostile school environments that negatively impact students’ learning, mental health, and well-being. However, little is known about the extent to which policies and curricula related to the prevention of bullying, sexual harassment, and violence have been implemented across middle and high schools in the US, and how this has changed over time. The overall purpose of the study was to examine trends in policies and curricula related to the prevention of bullying, sexual harassment, and violence across middle and high schools in the US from 2008 to 2020.
Data were collected from seven cycles (2008-2020) of the School Health Profiles (SHP), a national surveillance system operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey involves two self-administered questionnaires for the principal and lead health education teacher at randomly sampled schools that serve students from grades 6-12 across the US, covering 44-50 states during the study period. Initially, descriptive statistics were compiled, including percentages (%) and counts (n) of schools that had implemented various efforts to prevent bullying, sexual harassment, and violence. Data from states with a participation rate of 70% or higher for each survey year were adjusted through weighting to
accurately reflect the characteristics of schools within those states. In instances where states conducted sampling, adjustments were made to the data through weighting to compensate for the probabilities of school selection and instances of non-response. Weighted prevalence estimates were then calculated for schools with programs, policies, and curricula related to preventing bullying, sexual harassment, and violence.
A total of 2718 schools were included in the analytic sample. The inclusion of unintentional injury and violence prevention (safety) measures into assessment tools related to schools’ policies, activities, and programs remained low and unchanged (ranging from 36.6% in 2010 to 40.1% in 2020). Education materials to increase knowledge about preventing student bullying and sexual harassment, including electronic aggression, also remained relatively low (ranging from 62.7% in 2014 to 65.0% in 2020). Furthermore, the extent to which teachers received professional development related to violence prevention remained stable between 56.2% in 2008 to 61.4% in 2020.
Programs, policies, and curricula related to bullying, sexual harassment, and violence in schools remained low and stagnant between 2008 to 2020. Given the rise in school-based violence in recent years, there is an urgent need to scale up preventive interventions, while improving current monitoring practices related to program implementation and quality.
