bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro assessments of nanoplexes of polyethylenimine-coated graphene oxide-plasmid through various cancer cell lines and primary mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Maleki Parichehr , Dinari Ali , Jahangiri Babak , Raheb Jamshid
Published: December 2023

Efficient gene therapy relies on an efficient gene delivery system. Viral gene delivery approaches excel in transferring and expressing external genes; however, their immunogenicity and difficulty in large-scale production limit their clinical applications. In contrast, nanoparticle-based gene delivery systems have gained increasing attention due to less immunogenicity and more convenience for large-scale production. Nevertheless, their poor transfection efficiency compared to viral systems remains a significant obstacle. In the present study, we investigated the transfection efficiency of our PEI-coated graphene oxides in HEK293T, Calu-3, Calu-6 cell lines, and primary human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). The high surface ratio and good biocompatibility of graphene oxide make it an appealing tool for gene delivery systems. However, the low dispersity of graphene oxide in aqueous environments is the first barrier that needs to be conquered. For this, we enhanced the dispersity and stability of graphene oxide in water by sonicating it for at least 5 hours at a pH of 7. Then, graphene oxide was conjugated with branched PEI (25 kDa) to have a positive charge, enabling it to condense nucleic acids with a naturally negative potential. The physio-chemical characteristics of our synthesized nano-carriers (GO-PEI) were determined by DLS, FT-IR, and AFM. The utilized plasmid in polyplexes contained a GFP gene, allowing us to verify transfection efficiency through fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. While GO-PEI carriers were highly efficient in transfecting HEK293T cells, the transfection efficiency in MSCs and Calu-3 cells was notably low. We suppose that the main reason for the low transfection efficiency of GO-PEI in these cells is due to its higher toxicity. Despite this, considering the various advantages of graphene oxide in drug delivery as well as its optical and electrical applications in biomedicine, we propose to functionalize graphene oxide with more biocompatible materials to enhance its potential as a successful gene carrier in these cell types.
A universal protocol for high-quality DNA and RNA isolation from diverse plant species
Authors: Masoomi-Aladizgeh Farhad , Jabbari Leila , Khayam Nekouei Reza , Aalami Ali , Atwell Brian J. , Haynes Paul A.
Published: December 2023

Next-generation sequencing demands high-quality nucleic acid, yet isolating DNA and RNA is often challenging, particularly from plant tissues. Despite advances in developing various kits and reagents, these products are tailored to isolation of nucleic acid from model plant tissues. Here we introduce a universal lysis buffer to separate nucleic acid from various plant species, including recalcitrant plants, to facilitate molecular analyses, such as quantitative PCR (qPCR), transcriptomics, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The protocol is a modification of the original CTAB methods, which leads to nucleic acid isolation from many plant species, including monocots and eudicots. The lysis buffer consists of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium chloride (NaCl), Tris base, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and β-mercaptoethanol (βME). The modified CTAB method enables the isolation of nucleic acid from small amounts of plant tissues (e.g., 15–100 mg) in a timely manner, which is well-suited for a large number of samples and also when adequate sample collection is a limiting factor. The protocol isolates not only DNA from various plant species but also RNA. This makes it highly effective for molecular analyses compared to previously described CTAB methods optimised for DNA isolation. The appropriate concentration of the components enables high-quality DNA and RNA isolation from plant tissues simultaneously. Additionally, this protocol is compatible with commercially available columns. For DNA and RNA to be qualified for next-generation sequencing platforms, the protocol is supplemented with columns to purify either DNA or RNA from the same tissue to meet high standards for sequencing analyses. This protocol provides an ideal approach to overcome potential obstacles in isolating high-quality DNA or RNA from a wide range of plant species for downstream molecular analysis.
Material biologikoen integrazioa teknologian: biosentsoreak
Authors: García-Hernando Maite , Rojo Naiara , Barona Astrid , Basabe-Desmonts Lurdes , Benito-Lopez Fernando
Published: December 2023

Biosentsoreak xx. mendeko azken hamarkadetan garatzen hasi ziren gailu analitikoak dira eta derrigorrezko osagai bi dituzte: biohartzailea eta transduktorea. Haien ezaugarri nagusia material biologiko bat (entzima, proteina...) plataforma egokiarekin konbinatzean datza, analitoak sortutako efektua seinale neurgarri bihurtzeko. Analisi kualitatiboa, erdikuantitatiboa edo kuantitatiboa burutu daiteke biosentsoreak erabiliz. Gehien ezagutzen direnak diabetesa kontrolatzekoa eta haurdunaldia detektatzekoa diren arren, sektore askotan hedatzen ari dira eta, medikuntzarako aplikazioez gain, askotariko aplikazioak dituzte elikagaien industrian, nekazaritzan eta beste hainbat eremutan. Mundu mailan, oso baikorra da gailu hauen erabileraren eta salmentaren etorkizuna, eta merkatuaren urteko hazkuntza-tasa konposatua % 7-8 ingurukoa izango dela aurreikusi da 2023-2032 tartean. Nahiz eta biosentsoreak eskala industrialean fabrikatzeko erronka handiak gainditu behar diren, protagonismo gero eta handiagoa dute gure bizitzan, eta tresna baliagarriak dira premiazko erabakiak hartzeko. Beraz, artikulu honen helburua biosentsoreen mundu zabala irakurlegoari hurbiltzea da eta, horretarako, gailu horien osagaiak eta funtzioa deskribatzeaz gain, ezaugarri analitikoak eta sailkapena azalduko dira, erabilerako adibide ugariz hornituta.
Eskari agregatuaren biderkatzaileak eta IS-LM funtzioa ekonomia islamikoan
Authors: Ruiz Beneitez Gontzal , Astorkitza Ikazuriaga Kepa
Published: December 2023

Ekonomia islamikoa arau islamikoak betetzen dituen sistema ekonomikoa da. Arau horien betekizunak sistema ekonomiko bereizgarri baten existentzia ondorioztatzen du. Ezaugarri nagusiak hauek dira: interes-tasen gabezia, zakat zerga etikoaren existentzia, eta infaq borondatezko ordainketa. Interes-tasak debekatuta daude Koran liburuan. Ezaugarri berezi horiek ekonomian dituzten eraginak aztertzen dira lan honetan. Hasteko, zakat eta infaq biderkatzaile keynestarrak indartsuago bihurtzen dituzte. Beraz, diru-transferentzia mota horiek eskari agregatuaren barnean dauden aldagaietariko baten aldakuntzak errentan eragin handiagoa izatea ondorioztatuko du. Gainera, interes-tasen debekuaren ondorioz, gaur egun erabiltzen diren eredu makroekonomikoak goitik behera aldatzen dira. Lan honetan, ekonomia islamikoaren printzipioetan oinarritzen den IS-LM eredu bat proposatu da, geroago IS-LM-DA eredu orokorraren funtzionamendua azaltzeko.
Empleo, modelos y reformas. El caso de los servicios residenciales para la tercera edad públicos y privados.
Authors: Meseguer Chanzá Dolores
Published: December 2023

El presente trabajo analiza el empleo en los servicios residenciales para la tercera edad públicos y privados, teniendo en cuenta además los diferentes modelos existentes de titularidad y gestión. A tal fin, se estudian las dimensiones más significativas por su destacada presencia en el mercado de trabajo español: el empleo temporal y el empleo a tiempo parcial, en una actividad por otra parte fuertemente feminizada como es sabido. El estudio se aborda, en primer término, desde la perspectiva cuantitativa, para complementarlo posteriormente con la perspectiva cualitativa a través de los testimonios de las direcciones de los centros y de la representación legal del personal. La investigación abarca el ámbito de la Comunidad Valenciana en el año 2019 (año previo a la pandemia por COVID-19). Los resultados muestran diferencias según dimensión del empleo y modelo, sobresaliendo la elevada presencia del empleo temporal en el modelo de centros de titularidad y gestión pública, y del empleo a tiempo parcial en el modelo de centros privados. Como reflexiones finales, se relacionan los resultados obtenidos con las reformas del Real Decreto-ley 32/2021 y de la Ley 20/2021 según modelo.
¿Es posible enriquecer las funciones laborales cuando se implementan diferentes prácticas de flexibilidad laboral? Sugerencias para una gestión de RRHH que viabilice el diagnóstico
Authors: Broveglio Gerardo Dario , Genoud Maria Andrea , Ramos María del Pilar
Published: December 2023

El presente trabajo buscó describir cómo experimentan los trabajadores la flexibilidad laboral (FL), con énfasis en determinar cuáles son las dimensiones y prácticas de la FL que más utilizaron las empresas argentinas, e identificar qué variables del diseño de las funciones laborales deberían enriquecerse para propiciar ambientes laborales más efectivos. La investigación fue descriptiva, longitudinal y el enfoque cuantitativo; la herramienta de recolección fue una encuesta. El muestreo no probabilístico alcanzó a 353 sujetos voluntarios, en Caba, y GBA en Argentina, durante los años 2019, 2020 y 2021. Las prácticas de FL demandan cambios estratégicos y culturales en la gestión empresarial; las empresas evidenciaron la importancia del trabajo en equipo, materializando la flexibilidad de la organización del trabajo; el análisis de la realidad laboral pandémica, reveló que se agudizó la utilización de prácticas de flexibilidad del mercado laboral interno cuantitativa horaria, introduciendo los horarios flexibles en el
2019, virando hacia otros indicadores de este tipo de flexibilidad, como lo son el teletrabajo y el trabajo de equipos virtuales, en 2020 y 2021.
Multidimensional analysis of losses in the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the maintenance of economic security
Authors: Kozicki Bartosz , Skrabacz Aleksandra , Gałek Beata , Lorek Marlena
Published: December 2023

In the study, the authors conducted a multidimensional data analysis on the decrease in the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany caused by the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020-2022. Forecasts of the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany obtained after applying the Holt-Winters exponential smoothing method from January 2020 to December 2022 were compared with actual data. The research showed that in the case of Germany, in 2020 there was a decrease of 174 628 873 people, and in 2022, it was 90 620 354 people. In Poland, the decrease in 2020 amounted to 40 257 520 people; in 2022, it was already 21 083 066 passengers.
Geospatial analysis of telecommunication and travel behaviour of households: Lessons from a developing city in Nigeria
Authors: Aderibigbe Oluwayemi-Oniya , Gumbo Trynos
Published: December 2023

The advent of telecommunications and other advanced technologies rapidly increases activity accessibility. Consequently, this study examined the impact of telecommunication on the mobility pattern of households in Nigeria. The multi-stage procedure was adopted for the study, and a systematic sampling technique was employed to select 10% of the registered building for questionnaire administration. Thus, 512 respondents were sampled. The stepwise regression analysis revealed that age, income of respondents, call duration, and subscription cost were significant factors influencing telecommunication usage. We found that telecommunication replaces in-store shopping, with 40% of the respondents substituting their shopping trips with telecommunication. We, therefore, proposed that people should be enlightened on the culture of the use of telecommunication and that its usage extends beyond call linkages, as other benefits should be explored.
Addressing Environmental Migration in the European Union Discourse
Authors: Wirthová Lucia
Published: December 2023

For decades, the European Union (EU) has been addressing issues related to climate change and ecological degradation as a self-proclaimed pro-environmental and human rights-oriented actor. Correspondingly, the topic of environmentally driven migration entered the EU discourse at the dawn of the new millennium. As such, environmental migrants around the world find themselves in an existential crisis and are in need of support whether it comes to questions of compensations, relocation, protection of cultural heritage etc. Thus, considering the EU’s interest in the human rights and environmental/climate issue areas, I argue it is important to ask what the Union’s approach to this matter has been. Consequently, this article assesses the European Union discourse related to the topic of environmental migration over a twenty-year period. Through the theoretical lens of the Copenhagen School of Security Studies and the normative power EU conception, this paper critically analyzes the EU’s securitization of climate change in relation to environmental migrants who are experiencing an existential threat to their lives. Based on a qualitative discourse analysis, the preliminary results imply that the topic has been receding into the background of the EU agenda. In line, environmental migrants have been pushed aside by a multiplicity of other subjects threatened by climate change, and their problems were thus not reflected in either the EU climate change or migration management policies. Overall, the findings show a shift from an alarmist discourse to pragmatism on the EU’s behalf. Thereupon, this article questions the normative standard the EU sets for itself when it comes to the case of environmental migrant protection.
Vernacular cinema, self-concept and the perceptual–conceptual shift: exploring conversations between film education and developmental psychology
Authors: Chambers Jamie , Munro Robert , Ross Josephine , Wimmer Marina
Published: December 2023

Co-authored by film education practitioners and developmental psychologists, this article seeks to establish an interdisciplinary dialogue between the emergent discourses of film education and developmental psychology. In particular, it explores the possible implications for our understandings of film education of recent psychological research into: (1) the cognitive and social consequences for young people of developing a sense of self; and (2) understandings of children’s development of visual cognition. Seeking areas of commonality and mutual resonance between different disciplinary vocabularies and methodologies, ultimately we present a series of proposals for how film education may benefit from further interface with developmental psychology.
Don’t teach: exploring the irreducibilities of film education through Japan’s Children Meet Cinema project in conversation with Etsuko Dohi
Authors: Chambers Jamie
Published: December 2023

This article presents a case study of the innovative Japanese film education project Children Meet Cinema, through aspects of an interview with its founder Etsuko Dohi, placed within a wider discussion of the project’s pedagogical approaches. In particular, the article details the innovative manner in which Children Meet Cinema has invited some of Japan’s leading film-makers – among them, Nobuhiro Suwa, Hirokazu Koreeda and Naomi Kawase – to engage with children making films for the first time.
The impact of out-of-school science activities for primary school children on science knowledge, interest and later academic choices: an evaluation study
Authors: McDonald Stephanie , Beer Samantha , Cragg Lucy
Published: December 2023

Although a growing number of young people are choosing to undertake non-compulsory education, there is concern that not enough are electing to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. Research has suggested that out-of-school science activities, research participation and a child’s family interest can increase both knowledge of and interest in science, resulting in a higher likelihood of studying a science, technology, engineering and mathematics subject at an advanced level. However, the majority of research to date has been conducted with secondary school-age students. This study investigated the impact of Summer Scientist Week, an annual out-of-school science engagement event for 4–11-year-olds and their families held at the University of Nottingham, UK. This event introduces primary school-age children to psychology-related research and activities about the mind and brain. Findings from interviews conducted with children and parents at the event, as well as survey data from previous attendees aged 14–17 years, indicated an increase in knowledge and interest in science that was maintained over several years, influencing choices in A-level subjects. This is the first study to demonstrate the positive impact of out-of-school science activities in primary school-age children, and its sustained influence on later academic choices in secondary school.
Atividades de leitura de gráficos estatístico-matemáticos em aulas de Língua Portuguesa a partir das concepções sociocognitiva e de gêneros discursivos
Authors: Santos Felipe Alves dos
Published: December 2023

Este artigo é parte da dissertação de Mestrado em Linguística Aplicada, defendida em 2022, junto à Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Tem como objetivo propor atividades de leitura e intepretação de gráficos estatístico-matemáticos dos tipos linhas, colunas, barras e setores como elemento composicional de textos ou como texto em Língua Portuguesa, para os Ensinos Fundamental e Médio. Para tanto, recorre-se à fundamentação teórica baseada em Bakhtin (2003), Lopes-Rossi (2011), Solé (1998), Marcuschi (1996, 2008), Koch (2005) entre outros autores que defendem a concepção Bakhtiniana de linguagem e a concepção sociocognitiva de leitura e de gêneros discursivos, além de Cazorla (2002), Morais (2010), Oliveira e Macedo (2018) e Martins (2018) sobre gráficos estatístico-matemáticos. É uma pesquisa bibliográfica, de caráter qualitativo e que apresenta inicialmente, como motivação, a insuficiência na abordagem desse gênero nas aulas de Língua Portuguesa. Como resultado, sugere-se uma estratégia de trabalho pedagógico para leitura de gráficos estatístico-matemáticos, em aulas de Língua Portuguesa, a partir de etapas para desenvolvimento de atividades de leitura e três exemplos para aplicação e comprovação da exequibilidade dessas etapas a fim da progressão na proficiência leitora de gráficos estatístico-matemáticos, que compõem gêneros discursivos ou que se caracterizam como exemplar de um gênero discursivo autossuficiente no trabalho pedagógico de professores de Língua Portuguesa.
SUSTENTABILIDADE DO SOLO POR MEIO DE SISTEMA AGROFLORESTAL NO NORDESTE PERNAMBUCANO
Authors: Crespo Cristiane Maria Gonçalves , Piscoya Victor Casimiro , Araujo Filho Renisson Neponuceno de , Oliveira Patrick Peres , Moraes Alex Souza , Cunha Filho Moacyr
Published: December 2023

O Brasil é líder mundial na produção e exportação de café, cultivados em diferentes sistemas de manejo. Sabe-se pouco sobre os efeitos ambientais desses sistemas, assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi utilizar parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos do solo como indicadores nas mudanças no sistema agroflorestal em Taquaritinga do Norte, Pernambuco, Brasil. As amostras foram coletadas em três posições do relevo: terço superior - TS, terço médio - TM e terço inferior - TI da encosta. Foram avaliados os atributos físicos (granulometria, porosidade, densidade e textura), químicos (pH, acidez trocável, soma de base, saturação por bases, saturação por alumínio, capacidade de troca catiônica efetiva e potencial, macro e microelementos  do solo, oriundos da matéria orgânica) e microbiológicos (respiração basal, carbono da biomassa microbiana, quociente metabólico e quociente microbiano). Comparado à MN, o SAF apresentou comportamentos satisfatórios, principalmente em TS, onde obteve os melhores índices de nitrogênio (N), potássio (K), cálcio (Ca), manganês (Mn) e magnésio (Mg), soma de bases, CTC efetiva e pH, o que proporciona considerável fertilidade do solo. O TI do SAF demonstrou bons resultados quanto à deposição de carbono e metabolização por microrganismos, demonstrando potencial na redução de impactos, em função da matéria orgânica (MO) e relevo.
Investigação-Ação-Participativa como metodologia para o estudo dos processos que (re)definem a identidade de gênero de mulheres haitianas nos espaços de migração no Oeste de Santa Catarina
Authors: Iop Elizandra
Published: December 2023

O tema deste artigo consiste na Investigação-Ação-Participativa (IAP), como metodologia para o estudo dos processos que (re)definem a identidade de gênero de mulheres haitianas nos espaços de migração no Oeste de Santa Catarina (SC). O objetivo foi elaborar uma proposta metodológica orientada pela IAP para investigar quais processos que (re)definem a identidade de gênero de mulheres haitianas nos espaços de migração no Oeste de SC. A metodologia adotada para a elaboração deste artigo consistiu na pesquisa Bibliográfica fundamentada no pensamento Latino-americano orientado pela perspectiva teórica decolonial. O resultado foi a elaboração de uma proposta metodológica de investigação participativa em que nela consta o método e a metodologia, o campo de investigação, sujeitos da pesquisa, mensuração e análise dos dados. Conclui-se o artigo trazendo considerações a respeito da metodologia IAP para o estudo de populações que passaram e passam por um processo de marginalização social.
Educação, direitos humanos e Movimento de Trabalhadoras Sexuais
Authors: Silva Fernanda Priscila Alves da
Published: December 2023

O presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir acerca da educação relacionada aos direitos humanos, tendo como referência a experiência do Movimento de Trabalhadoras Sexuais no Brasil. Em termos metodológicos e epistemológicos, trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa, que tem como ponto de partida as reflexões e tessituras construídas a partir de estudos sobre prostituição, trabalho sexual e movimento de trabalhadoras sexuais. Desse modo, foram realizadas buscas, levantamentos de estudos e revisões de obras acerca da temática abordada com o intuito de contribuir na fundamentação teórica deste estudo. Além disso, fez parte da metodologia considerar as narrativas e vozes das interlocutoras do presente estudo como parte fundamental da análise de dados. A discussão apresentada pretende problematizar as discussões, perguntas e reflexões acerca da educação, dos direitos humanos e do Movimento de Trabalhadoras Sexuais, apontando que esse Movimento se configura também como movimento social, construindo outros modos de fazer educação, um que fazer histórico que propõe uma práxis político-educativa desde a batalha. Assim, legitima-se que os saberes construídos no interior do Movimento de Trabalhadoras Sexuais lançam luzes e apontam inédito-viáveis para a construção de um mundo mais diverso.
Characterization of Microbubbles Generated in a Venturi Tube via Image Processing: Effect of Operating Parameters
Authors: Mera-Campo Jhonnatan Stiven , Muñoz-Alegría Jeimmy Adriana , Flórez-Marulanda Juan Fernando , Muñoz-España Elena
Published: December 2023

Context: This research developed a dissolved air flotation system using a Venturi tube to produce microbubbles. The Venturi tube replaces the saturation tank and the pressure-reducing valve of conventional systems.
Method: The system has both suction and injection air inlets, regulates the recirculation flow of the liquid to the tank, and provides a high hydraulic load in a reduced size. Counting and measuring the microbubbles produced via digital image processing helps to characterize the system's performance.
Results: The system with air suction produces smaller bubbles than that with air injection. A higher liquid recirculation pressure produces more bubbles and reduces their size in the case of air suction.
Conclusions: In air injection, the change in flow rate influences the size of the microbubbles. Air injection and recirculation pressure do not influence the number of bubbles generated.
Construction of Formability Limit Curves for Low-Carbon Steels Used in the Manufacture of Pressure Cylinders
Authors: Barbosa Jaimes Jhon Erikson , García-Paez Ismael Humberto , Casadiego-Peralta Claudia Liliana
Published: December 2023

Context: The aim of this study is to determine the formability of SG295 (2,2 mm thick) and SG325 (2,3 mm thick) steel sheets, as well as their relationship with the sheets’ behavior in deep drawing and stretching operations. To this effect, chemical, metallographic, and mechanical analyses of the sheets were carried out.
Method: The chemical analysis was carried out via optical emission spectrometry, and the metallographic structure was analyzed using the ASTM E3 standard. The intrinsic properties related to the formability of materials such as the elongation to fracture for a 50 mm gauge length, the conventional yield limit at 0,2% elongation, the ultimate strength, the strain hardening exponent, and the anisotropy coefficient at 15% elongation were determined through tensile tests according to ASTM E8M, ASTM E646, and ASTM 517. Forming limit curves were determined under ASTM E2218, for which a device was designed, built, and attached to a universal testing machine.
Results: The results for the SG295 and SG325 steel sheets were as follows: tensile strength; 450 and 520 MPa; elongation at fracture: 24,9 and 17,2%; strain hardening exponent: 0,24 and 0,19; normal anisotropy: 1,64 and 1,29; planar anisotropy: 0,23 and -0,02. The FLD0 determined from the formality limit curves (FLCs) for the two steel sheets showed ε1 values of 0,281 and 0,336, respectively.
Conclusions: Although the intrinsic properties (such as A50, n, and rm) of the SG295 steel sheet show values related to a greater formability, the FLCs show that SG325 steel performs slightly better due to its greater thickness.
Comparative Analysis between Singular Spectral Analysis and Empirical Mode Decomposition for Structural Damage Detection
Authors: González Elisa C. , Salcedo Gladys E. , Cano Leonardo
Published: December 2023

Context: In recent years, thanks to technological advances in instrumentation and digital signal processing, noninvasive methods to detect structural damage have become increasingly important. Vibration-based structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques allow detecting the presence and location of damage from permanent changes in the fundamental frequencies of signals. A successfully employed method for damage detection is empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Another method, less used in this field of study, is singular spectral analysis (SSA). This paper describes both methods and presents a simulation study aimed at comparing them and identifying which one is more effective in detecting structural damage.
Method: The methods of a reference study known as benchmark SHM were applied to facilitate the comparison. To evaluate the effectiveness of both methods, Monte Carlo simulation was employed. To control the random noise and other factors inherent to the simulation, the procedure was repeated 1.000 times for each type of damage.
Results: In the case of severe damage, both methods showed a good performance. However, when the damage was slight, the changes in the fundamental frequency were not apparent. However, a significant change in the amplitude level was observed. In this case, SSA obtained the best results.
Conclusions: The EMD and SSA methods, together with high-pass filtering, detected severe damage when the acceleration records had low or no noise. When the acceleration records were contaminated with noise, the likelihood of EMD detecting the damage decreased dramatically. One of the advantages of SSA over EMD is that, for moderate or mild damage patterns, the former does not require filters or the use of the Hilbert-Huang transform to detect damage. In general, it was found that SSA was more effective in detecting damage.
Availability of Modern E-Banking Services and its Impact on Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Ibrahim Omar H.
Published: December 2023

The banking sector is one of the most important pillars of any economy around the world, as it is the main source of financing and facilitating daily financial transactions. In Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, commercial and Islamic banks are progressing slowly. Since technology is a destiny rather than a choice, banks have to facilitate their services and reach customers faster and easier through e-banking practices. This study is attempting to shed light on the impact of these services combined (E-banking) on customer satisfaction in its five dimensions: security, privacy, cutting costs, simplicity & speed, and convenience. In addition, it intends to find out whether the commercial banks in Duhok provide up-to-date electronic services. To conduct this, questionnaires were used to gather responses from customers and managers of three commercial banks in Duhok. The statistical program (SPSS) is used to analyze (132) questionnaires. Results showed that there are modern e-banking practices performed by all three banks. Moreover, it demonstrated that customers are satisfied with these services, yet, on different levels. This study included some recommendations such as security considerations, improving marketing techniques, mobile banking is a core element in e-banking. In addition, customers should be more connected to up-to-date e-services as an international request.
Evaluating the Communicative Competence of EFL Students in Iraqi Universities
Authors: Bdaiwi Sahima A. , Sayer Inaad M.
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Recent teaching methods have made communication competence (CC) a central component, and the enhancement of EFL students' communicative competence has been given a great deal of attention in recent years. Within this context, this study was designed to assess the CC of Iraqi students majoring in English Language and literature at the tertiary level. In order to achieve this objective, the researchers aimed to collect responses from 509 Iraqi EFL students who are affiliated to six universities in different geographical regions of Iraq. The questionnaire used for this purpose consisted of 36 items which addressed six themes, namely General Competence, Behavioral Flexibility, Empathy, Affiliation/Support, Social Relaxation, and Interaction Management. The study addressed five research questions. The quantitative analyses of the collected data showed that Iraqi EFL students have, generally speaking, a moderate level of CC, and that their CC was significantly affected by their age. However, the gender and affiliation of the participants did not have any statistically significant impact on their CC. In addition, the results showed that there is a positive correlation between the five facets of CC. Based on the study results, it can be concluded that the CC of Iraqi EFL students is not well-developed and need to be improved. Therefore, the study suggested some pedagogical implications to improve their communicative competence.
The Effects of English File Coursebook on Enhancing Listening Comprehension Skills in the IELTS Proficiency Test
Authors: Ahmed Kanar S. , Hamasaeed Dekan J. , Ahmed Atta A. , Ahmed Daban B.
Published: December 2023

This research investigates the intricate realm of language learning, with a specific focus on the challenging domain of listening skills for Kurdish EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners. Listening, an essential component of language learning alongside speaking, reading, and writing, poses a significant cognitive challenge for individuals acquiring a second language, particularly English. Using a pre-experimental one-group study design, this study aims to uncover the impact of English course books on the enhancement of listening skills among Kurdish EFL learners. In pursuit of this objective, a group of 24 first-year university students, comprising 14 females and 10 males, engaged in both pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate their listening proficiency, and conducting the survey questionnaire. Employing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis, the research utilized various statistical tests to explore the effects of supplementary materials and the perspectives of learners on the English File course book. Furthermore, a Paired Samples T-Test was employed to measure the degree of change between the pre-test and post-test scores. Remarkably, the findings from this analysis suggest that the use of English File course books led to improved listening skills among Kurdish EFL learners. These improvements are vital, emphasizing the significance of considering individual learning journey. Notably, gender-based differences in perceptions were explored, and the results revealed a surprising consistency in the perceptions of male and female EFL learners within the Kurdish context. These insights contribute to our understanding of language acquisition and underscore the importance of tailored instructional interventions in enhancing listening skills.
The Epistemology of Religion
Authors: Ibrahim Salim M.
Published: December 2023

Entertaining a proposition normally exposes our mind to a range of psychic states, ranging from involuntary to voluntary states, depending on the irresistibility of the proposition in question. There are some propositions which are too certain to entertain without believing them, and some too vague, too suspicious to hold without some degree of doubt. Normally, we relate to any matter we consider in one of these three different propositional attitudes: (dis)belief, acceptance (or rejection) or suspension of judgment. Though religion cannot be confined solely to acceptance of or a belief in the theistic God, as religions like Buddhism and Hinduism demonstrate, it is commonplace in ordinary language to think of religion in terms of having a belief in a transcendent being, a deity, at least in the Christian, Jewish or Muslim cultures. Most religions assert themselves as an account of the universe, human condition or their nature. Some people believe its explanations, some merely accept them. That is, religion can be a belief-system about the universe. But it may lack such belief-system, and could be a matter of mere acceptance. There are people who do not believe religious explanations about the origin of life or the universe, but they still accept them as a way of life. In this article, I aim to analyze the psychological bridge, in the way of belief and mere acceptance, between us and the idea there is a God in light of the existing evidence for and against the existence of God, assuming that we are dealing with rational agency.
PENGENDALIAN "TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY" DALAM MENJAGA KESEHATAN MENTAL PADA MAHASISWA UNIVERSITAS NEGERI JAKARTA DI MASA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Ramadhina Camilla , Safitri Dini , Annisa Fahriza , Fadilah Qynantha
Published: December 2023

This journal was created with the aim that students can avoid an unhealthy productivity. Especially when knowing the bad impact on the mental health of each individual. Restrictions on social life that are being lived bring about certain responses that affect the comfort of human life, such as the emergence of fear and worry, feeling lonely, "distant" from the environment, to the emergence of feelings of anxiety that interfere and cause stress. The research used is qualitative where the researcher uses the interview technique process with 4 student informants from the State University of Jakarta who have core management positions in an organization. One of the things we can take is to persevere for the task which is something positive, but not to forget the real basic human needs. The solution to avoid a toxic productivity is to determine your achievements and know your limits. So that in doing something, each individual does not force himself to do an activity.
Cognitively Congruent Color Palettes for Mapping Spatial Emotional Data. Matching Colors to Emotions.
Authors: Kushkin Andrei , Giordano Alberto , Griffin Amy , Savelyev Alexander
Published: December 2023

Emotions are touchstones of humans’ everyday life experiences. Maps of emotions inform a variety of research from urban planning and disaster response to marketing studies. Emotions are most often shown on maps with colors. Previous research suggests that humans have subjective associations between colors and emotions that impact objective task performance. Thus, a mismatch between the emotion associated with a color and the emotion it represents may bias the viewer’s attention, perception, and understanding of the map. There are no guidelines that can help cartographers and designers choose matching colors to display spatial emotional data. This study aimed to address this gap by suggesting cognitively congruent color palettes—color sets matched to emotions in a way that is aligned with color-emotion associations.
To obtain the set of candidate congruent colors and identify appropriate color-to-emotion assignments, two user experiments were conducted with participants in the United States. In the first, participants picked a representative color for 23 discrete emotions. In the second experiment, for each candidate color from a set derived from the results of the first experiment, participants selected the best-matching emotions. The probability of the emotion being selected served as a measure of how representative the color is of that emotion. Due to the many-to-many nature of associations between colors and emotions, suitable color choices were incorporated into a dynamic palette generation tool. This tool solves the color assignment problem and produces a suitable color palette depending on the combination of selected emotions.
What Do Judges Want? How to Model Judicial Preferences
Authors: Cameron Charles M. , Kornhauser Lewis A.
Published: December 2023

We discuss a central question in the study of courts: What do judges want? We suggest three different domains that might serve as the basic preferences of a judge: case dispositions and rules, caseloads and case mixes, and social consequences. We emphasize preferences over dispositions on the grounds of plausibility and tractability. We then identify desireable properties of dispositional utility functions and the relationship between dispositional utility and expected utility for rules. We examine the impact on expected rule utility from case distributions that are sensitive to the enforced rule. We illustrate how to combine dipositional utility with efforts costs and time constraints. We provide examples of case spaces, dispositional utility functions, and expected utility functions for enforced rules. This essay is an early draft of a chapter of a book-in-progress on the positive political theory of courts.
The Lushanmao site and the formation of the Xitu type architectural tradition
Authors: Wang Tianyi
Published: December 2023

Large courtyard complexes in the pre-Qin times can be divided into two systems: the Xitu (northwest China) type and the Central Plains type. The former is characterized by the rammed earth construction and prevailed in the Loess Plateau; by contrast, the latter was well-known for the wattle-and-daub technology and widespread in the Central Plains and surrounding regions. The archaeological discoveries at Lushanmao suggest that the Xitu-type courtyard complexes were in use no later than the late Longshan period and lasted for nearly two thousand years. Both the two systems may have their origin in the late Yangshao period. The Xitu type indicates the influence of South China while the Central Plains type was formed due to a combination of the changes in climate, environment, and resources. Courtyard complexes underwent two major shifts during the early and late Western Zhou, suggesting the major changes in political strategies employed by the Zhou people to maintain their cultural traditions.
Modified paddy husk carbon with linked fibrils of FeHO2 using aluminium as the surface regulator for enhanced As (III) removal in fixed bed system
Authors: Ahmad Samreen , Gautam Shashi Bala , Sawood Ghazi Mohd , Dixit Shobhit , Mishra Ashutosh
Published: December 2023

The As (III) uptake capacity of Fe-impregnated AC greatly depends on the availability of active surface sites of iron oxide. In this context, utilizing aluminium as a surface regulator, we proposed a process to attach linked fibrils of FeHO2 to develop an adsorbent with enhanced As (III) adsorption capacity. The procedure was based on the hydrothermal process using paddy husk-based activated carbon, and both Iron and aluminium ions in the test hydrolysis solution. The exhaust time was observed to rise with increasing dose, falling flow rate, and influent concentration. The CCD optimization result showed that the FeAlPBC was an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent with a maximum response of 1681 min when the independent parameters were retained at 15.0 g FeAlPBC dose, 500 μg/L influent concentrations, 2.0 mL/min flow rate, and a desirability value of 0.986. The experimental results and Thomas and advection-diffusion models were in good agreement. The FeAlPBC samples can be recycled for four cycles with little to no reduction in adsorption capacity. Also, the TCLP test demonstrated that the used FeAlPBC were inert and could be put into landfills without risk. In conclusion, FeAlPBC is a strong contender for removing As (III) from potable water and has a wide range of potential future applications.
Distance-invoked difficulty as a trigger for errors in Chinese and Japanese EFL learners’ English writings
Authors: Jiang Qianqian , Jiang Jingyang , Liu Haitao
Published: December 2023

This study investigates how distance-invoked difficulty, proficiency level and cross-linguistic similarity affect error occurrences by analysing 240 English compositions from Chinese and Japanese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Dependency distance was used as a metric to measure distance-invoked difficulty and four major types of dependency relations were investigated. The findings reveal that low- and middle-level Chinese and Japanese EFL learners have higher error rates with long-distance dependency relations, but high-level learners can overcome the distance-invoked difficulty and make fewer errors. Chinese and Japanese EFL learners make more errors in long-distance adverbial and relative clauses than in short-distance ones, which are L1-dissimilar dependency relations. They make fewer errors in L1-similar relations, i.e., long-distance subject-predicate dependency relations. Japanese EFL learners, however, showed no significant differences in error rates between long- and short-distance predicate-object dependency relations. The results indicate the complex interaction between the EFL learners’ cognition, proficiency and L1.
Instrumental Tort Law: Moral Technology or the Promise of a More Advanced Normative Underpinning?
Authors: Schwitters Rob
Published: December 2023

In recent decades, tort law, and the theory on which it is based, have been the subject of intense debate. These debates focus on the underlying rationale of tort law and reflect tensions between instrumental and non-instrumental perspectives. Instrumental perspectives cover a wide variety of approaches in which tort law is seen as a tool to realise social aims. It can be recognised in the theories of legal economists, such as Posner, who emphasise deterrence, but also in the theories of those who consider it to be an instrument to realise compensation or to contribute to distributive justice. The non-instrumental perspective reflects the concerns of those who consider tort law to be based on individual autonomy and liberty. Some advocates of this perspective adopt a straightforward anti-instrumental position. Weinrib and Beever for instance, object to tort law being used as an instrument to realise collective aims. An instrumental approach would make individuals – either the injurers or the victims – the servants of collective aims, whereas tort law should instead protect individual freedom in the face of community needs.These non-instrumental theories and their individualistic interpretation of liability are unrealistic in a society where people are embedded in wide networks of interdependency, in which risks are often anticipated and deliberately accepted as socially desirable, and in which insurance and its accompanying rationale of actuarial justice play a prominent role.Nevertheless, the issue I seek to address in this paper is whether the principle of corrective justice might not embody some important values that can be used to counter some problematic aspects of an instrumental approach. Based on an awareness that the concept of corrective justice as a whole is no longer realistic in today’s society and building on Habermas’ theory of communicative action, I will sketch the contours of an alternative underpinning for tort law that better reflects current social realities, while at the same time taking some normative reservations held by advocates of corrective justice against instrumentalism into account.
Turkish Product Liability Law from the Perspective of European Law
Authors: Karaşahin Yasin Alperen
Published: December 2023

Product liability has been, and continues to be, a problematic area in Turkish law. Prior to legislative attempts to introduce strict product liability, producers could only be held liable based on their fault. Although liability based on fault cannot provide appropriate solutions to all product liability problems, the Turkish Court of Cassation was in the process of establishing case law that was suitable to most product liability issues. However, this development was interrupted by problematic legislative attempts to introduce strict product liability, which became the focus of academic literature on product liability. The final of these legislation attempts is the Product Safety and Technical Regulations Act of 2020. In this Act, product liability and product safety rules are intertwined with each other. This is problematic for product liability provisions, since concepts and rules that should remain in product safety law are transferred to product liability law. The Act claims to be in line with the Product Liability Directive of 1985. However, this is far from accurate. The Act fails to harmonise Turkish law with the Product Liability Directive of 1985, let alone offer solutions to problems that have become apparent since 1985. This article attempts to highlight the product liability issues caused by the Act and interpret its provisions in a manner that is as compatible with European law as possible.
Performance analysis of 160 Gbps-60 GHz OFDM-MIMO RoFSO transmission with WDM-PDM dual multiplexing
Authors: Sood Ankur , Kaushik Rahul
Published: December 2023

An orthogonal frequency division multiplexed-radio over free space optics (OFDM-RoFSO) communication system with dual multiplexing is proposed. Eight input data streams are transmitted simultaneously by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) at level 1 and polarization division multiplexing (PDM) at level 2. Input data streams 1–4 and 5–8 are assigned with same set of carrier frequencies i.e. 193.1 THz, 193.3 THz, 193.5 THz and 193.7 THz and separate polarization levels (X and Y polarized) before transmitting through RoFSO link. A total data rate of 160 Gbps (4 × 2 × 20 Gbps) is achieved in this design. With proposed system, channel performance is evaluated under the influence of atmospheric attenuation and turbulence conditions while measuring system BER, Q-factor, SNR and received power etc. The effect of channel crosstalk is analysed for WDM-PDM dual multiplexed design while considering single input single output (SISO) and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) FSO configurations. The overall analysis predicts that a higher transmission rate and improved capacity levels can easily be achieved with dual multiplexed system.