bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Way to Treat Kidney Diseases with Plants in Humans
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Shankari , Chinnappan Jayaprakash
Published: November 2024

Traditional medical systems are evolving through technological
advancements, with numerous scientific experiments in genomics, proteomics,
transcriptomics, and pathway analysis driving discoveries in health-related issues. The
primary physiological role of the kidney is the elimination of metabolic waste products
and the regulation of homeostasis within the body. Renal dysfunction, characterized by
the impairment of these vital functions, precipitates severe complications. Dialysis
serves as a therapeutic intervention to ameliorate renal failure by effectively extricating
waste products and surplus fluids from the bloodstream. Though dialysis helps in
treating renal failure, it cannot cure it completely. Although synthetic drugs are not
fully successful, the old medicinal system offers new paths for scientific investigations.
The herbs Aerva lanata and Aerva javanica have a plethora of information about
folkloric traditions and traditional characteristics of therapeutically relevant
medications. The genes responsible for kidney failure are collected from NCBI and
GEO databases. The network is constructed using STRING, and hub genes are
identified from Cytoscape. These hub genes show valid interaction with compounds of
A. lanata and A. javanica herbs than the synthetic compounds that are used in treating
kidney failure. Further, the gene expression, survival and pathways are analyzed, and
experiments are carried out for clinical trials. There are still numerous opportunities for
researchers, practitioners, and professionals in this sector to preserve conventional
healthcare systems and contribute to their future growth.
Communicating COVID-19: Accountability and ‘British Common Sense’
Authors: Burke Shani , Demasi Mirko A.
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we conduct a discursive psychological analysis of coronavirus briefings where the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, mentions ‘common sense’ as means to instruct British people how to behave during the pandemic. We look at five instances where the Prime Minister constructs the idea of using ‘common sense’ as guidance for fighting COVID-19 and examine how the function and use of ‘common sense’ varied at different stages of the pandemic. The findings show that ‘common sense’ began as something that was ‘normal’ to utilise, and eventually was constructed as a weapon, alongside emphasising the ‘common sense’ of British people and drawing upon nationalist tropes which excludes non-British residents of the UK. The findings are discussed in light of how ‘common sense’ is used to hold British people accountable for lowering infection rates whilst at the same time, presenting politicians as acting in solidarity with the public.
‘Men are by Nature Dogs’: Metaphors in a Newspaper’s Cartoon on the Sexual Abuse of an Underage Girl and in the Readers’ Facebook Comments
Authors: Phili Chipo
Published: November 2024

Feminist studies in Botswana have so far focused on various aspects of women’s lives and lived experiences but there is scarcity of research on how they are represented in cartoons, specifically how they are conceptualised via misogynistic metaphors. Gender relations are relations of power and conceptual metaphors help us understand how women are talked and thought about and the roles they occupy in heterosexual sex. Drawing on feminist critical discourse analysis and conceptual metaphor theory, this study reports on the findings of one cartoon on the sexual abuse of an underage girl in The Voice newspaper’s cartoon column and in the readers’ Facebook comments on the cartoon. The results show that the readers not only use a lot more sex metaphors than can be found in the cartoon text but varied and dysphemistic ones as well, which dehumanise and objectify the targets. While food metaphors exclusively refer to the sexually abused girl, the male perpetrator and men in general, are metaphorised as ‘dogs’, while women in general, are ‘bitches’. The results show that female readers’ resistance to patriarchal and heteronormative ideologies inadvertently reproduces gender power imbalances and beliefs about women’s sexual availability and men’s sexual insatiability.
Discipline vs Vulnerability: A Biopolitical Look at COVID-19 Crisis Response
Authors: Marling Raili
Published: November 2024

Biopolitics has been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, to call attention to the discipline and control imposed to safeguard public health and the resultant normalization of states of exception. This limited reading of biopolitics, however, stands on a narrow understanding of politics and results in what Rancière (2004) has called disagreement (mésentente), a failure to hear or to understand. This essay explores the possibilities of reconfiguring the political and biopolitical, embracing affirmative potentials inherent in the work of Foucault (1978, 2003) and Butler (2022). It will, above all, touch on notions of vulnerability, interdependency, and care, as developed by feminist thinkers. The potential of vulnerability to reconfigure the political is also subjected to a critical lens, as it has also been successfully exploited by conservative movements (e.g., in the contexts of masculinity, marriage equality, immigration and race) to cement the power of dominant groups (Oliviero, 2018). Yet, despite this potential for cooptation, critical awareness of the recognition of the shared vulnerability as a source of agentive capacity has the potential to overcome the political impasses revealed by the COVID-19 policy response.
“The asylum system is completely broken”: An analysis of justifications and resistance for the UK Government’s Rwanda policy in parliamentary debates
Authors: Parker Samuel , Cornell Josephine
Published: November 2024

In April 2022, the UK government announced the signing of a ‘partnership agreement’ with the Government of Rwanda in which some asylum seekers who enter the UK would be transported to Rwanda where their cases would be decided. This ‘Rwanda policy’ has been met with strong resistance from opposition politicians. This paper examines how the UK Government has sought to justify this ‘offshore processing’ policy and the ways in which the policy is resisted by politicians from the Opposition. We present a discursive analysis of the transcript of the Home Office’s statement to the House of Commons on the “Global Migration Challenge” and the subsequent debate among Members of Parliament about the statement. We identified three discursive repertoires that politicians on opposing sides used to both justify and resist the Rwanda policy, specifically repertoires focussing on the safety of Rwanda, the need to deter people smugglers and be in line with ‘what the people want’. Despite political polarisation in the debate on this policy, we argue that the use of similar discursive devices to both justify and resist this policy creates problems for supporters of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in carving out a clear discursive space for their arguments.
The Development of Operational Model Integrating Digital Technologies into Public Mental Healthcare Services in Nigeria
Authors: Fashoto Olubunmi Yemisi , Nokuthula Sibiya Maureen , Olanrewaju Oladimeji
Published: November 2024

The availability and utilization of digital technologies can leverage the challenges of the sharp-depleting workforce due to the consistent migration of healthcare professionals (HCPs), the alarming ratio of the number of patients to HCPs, discretional use of digital technologies among HCPs in providing effective therapeutic interventions and mental healthcare services. This study aimed to develop an operational model that integrates digital technologies in mental healthcare service delivery for public facilities in Nigeria. The practice-oriented theory guides the development of the model. A qualitative method assessed the digital technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique that employed the snowball method was used in selecting the sixteen (16) HCPs from four (4) neuropsychiatric hospitals in South-West Nigeria. Thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data. Findings from the qualitative analysis revealed several challenges in providing adequate and efficient services in public mental healthcare facilities in Nigeria, such as human resource challenges, brain drain, lack of infrastructure, and strains on HCPs. Findings from this study indicated that digital technologies are sparingly utilized in public mental healthcare service delivery due to a lack of policy and framework. HCPs perceive digital technologies to be beneficial to themselves and their clients. The highlighted benefits to patients are reduced stigmatization levels, decreased financial burden, enhanced accessibility to therapists, strengthened adherence, mitigated relapse incidences and improved intervention. The transition from the traditional/conventional space of mental healthcare service delivery to digital space requires a collaborative approach with Computer scientists (software developers, database administrators), Data scientists, investors, stakeholders and mental HCPs. The proposed model serves as a contemporary framework that the Government, policymakers in the Ministry of Health and management of mental health facilities in Nigeria can adopt, providing the needed awareness of the benefit of technological intervention.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: DiCaro Michael Vincent , Yee Brianna , Lei KaChon , Batra Kavita , Dawn Buddhadeb
Published: November 2024

Background

Medical therapy and interventional approaches have improved outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, these strategies are inadequate for replacing cells lost during tissue ischemia, thereby leaving behind noncontractile scar tissue. The anti-inflammatory and immune modulating properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may prove useful in inducing functional cardiac regeneration following acute MI.

Objective

This is a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis that will aggregate and synthesize high-level clinical data on the effects of MSC therapy for acute MI. The findings of this study may serve as evidence for clinicians and researchers in guiding the use of MSC therapy as an adjunct to reperfusion and optimal medical therapy in patients with acute MI.

Methods

The proposed systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews). A systematic search of bibliographical databases, including Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane was conducted from inception to June 2023 to identify English-language human studies with adult patients receiving MSC therapy and optimal medical therapy for acute MI in comparison with respective controls. Article screening was performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Data on functional cardiac outcomes and major adverse cardiac events were extracted and analyzed as primary outcomes.

Results

Literature search and article screening commenced in June 2023. Data extraction and analysis will be completed by October 2024. The findings will be synthesized and reported by the end of November 2024.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis will summarize the best available updated evidence from published randomized controlled trials on the effects of MSC therapy for the treatment of acute MI. The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis may shed light on the efficacy of MSC therapy in improving cardiac functional and structural parameters and reducing adverse cardiac events following acute MI.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42024522398; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=522398

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/60591
Internet-Based Social Activities and Cognitive Functioning 2 Years Later Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Jeon Sangha , Charles Susan Turk
Published: November 2024

Background

A number of studies document the benefits of face-to-face social interactions for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults. Social activities in virtual worlds may confer similar if not enhanced cognitive benefits as face-to-face social activities, given that virtual interactions require the additional cognitive tasks of learning and navigating communicative tools and technology platforms. Yet, few studies have examined whether social activities in internet-based settings may have synergistic effects on cognitive functioning beyond those of face-to-face interactions.

Objective

This study examined whether internet-based social activity participation is associated with concurrent and later cognitive functioning, after adjusting for face-to-face social activity participation and sociodemographic covariates.

Methods

For cross-sectional analyses, we included 3650 adults aged 50 years and older who completed questions in the 2020 Health and Retirement Study about social activity participation, including specific internet-based social activities such as emailing or accessing social networks. Cognitive functioning was measured using the standardized cognitive tasks assessing working memory, episodic memory, and attention and processing speed. The longitudinal analyses included the 2034 participants who also completed follow-up cognitive assessments in 2022.

Results

Our results revealed that those with higher levels of internet-based social activity participation had higher levels of concurrent cognitive functioning than those with low levels of internet-based social activity participation, after adjusting for demographic and health-related factors and face-to-face social activity participation (b=0.44, SE 0.07; P<.001). More internet-based social activity participation also predicted better cognitive functioning 2 years later, even when adjusting for baseline cognitive functioning and other covariates (b=0.35, SE 0.09; P<.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that greater engagement in internet-based social activities is associated with higher levels of concurrent cognitive functioning and slower cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults.
The Moderating Effect of Atypical Events on the Relationship between Heart Rate and Stress in Medical Residents working in an ICU: Exploratory Study (Preprint)
Authors: Li Ruibei , Pasupulety Ujjwal , Chang Wellington , Frank Adam C
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND

Residency is a critical period in a physician’s training, characterized by significant physical, cognitive, and emotional demands that make residents highly susceptible to stress and associated negative health outcomes. While physiological signals like heart rate have been explored as potential biomarkers of stress, their predictive utility in high-stress environments such as the intensive care unit (ICU) remains inconclusive, especially when factoring in atypical events that can further exacerbate resident stress levels.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between daily average heart rate (AHR) and perceived stress among ICU residents and to examine the moderating effect of atypical events on this relationship.

METHODS

The TILES-2019 dataset collected longitudinal data from 44 ICU residents who provided daily self-reported stress ratings and wore a Fitbit device to track physiological data over a 3-week period. The main predictor variables were AHR and the occurrence of atypical events (both work/life related and daily hassles). The primary outcome was the level of perceived stress, measured on a 7-point Likert scale. Linear mixed models (LMM) were used to analyze the relationship between AHR and stress, accounting for within-subject and between-subject variance. Interaction effects between AHR and atypical events were also examined.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed a significant positive association between AHR and perceived stress (β = 0.032, P = .04). However, this relationship was attenuated by the presence of atypical events (β = -0.076, P = .20). We further analyzed whether the severity of atypical events had an additional moderating effect but found no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

AHR is a potential physiological marker for perceived stress in ICU residents but its effect is moderated by atypical events. Future research should replicate these findings in more diverse cohorts, assess their generalizability to broader populations, and control for additional confounding variables. Incorporating atypical events in stress assessment could lead to more accurate and context-sensitive interpretations of physiological data.
Assessment of absorbed dose in the hematopoietic stem cell layer of the bone marrow, assuming non-uniform distribution around the vascular endothelium of the bone marrow (Preprint)
Authors: Kobayashi Noriko
Published: November 2024

UNSTRUCTURED

Recent studies have shown that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are concentrated around the endothelium of the sinusoidal capillaries. However, the current International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dosimetry model does not take into account the heterogeneity of the bone marrow tissue and stem cell distribution. In this study, the absorbed doses to the stem cell layer in the perivascular HSC layer in the bone marrow from radionuclides inhaled into the body were estimated for the major beta- and alpha-nuclides and noble gases and compared with the absorbed dose based on the ICRP 60 and ICRP 103 recommendations. The absorbed doses to the bone marrow obtained from the model calculations were not significantly different from ICRP60 and ICRP103 for beta-nuclides but were much lower than previously estimated for alpha-nuclides, and the contribution of red bone marrow and blood sources was greater than that of trabecular bone for alpha-nuclides. Noble gases in the red bone marrow may also affect the bone marrow stem cell layer. The bone marrow dose assessment for alpha nuclides and noble gases should be re-examined using a precise model based on CT images from the perspective of occupational and public radiation protection.
EVALUATION OF SERUM PERIOSTIN AND PIIINP AS BIOMARKERS OF RENAL FIBROSIS AND FUNCTION DECLINE IN RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS
Authors: Stanković Sanja , Mitić Branka , Jovanović Andriana , Stoiljković Vladana , Stefanović Nikola , Nikolic Valentina N.
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of serum periostin and N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) as biomarkers for predicting renal fibrosis and functional decline in renal transplant patients. We conducted a two-visit observational study among 86 renal allograft patients, reduced to 35 at the two-year follow-up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood samples were collected at baseline and follow-up, while urine samples were collected only at follow-up. Serum levels of PIIINP and periostin were measured using ELISA kits, and various renal function parameters were assessed. Serum PIIINP levels showed a significant decrease over two years (p<0.001, Wilcoxon test), while periostin levels significantly increased (p<0.001, Wilcoxon test). These changes correlated with declines in renal function, as indicated by decreased serum albumin and creatinine clearance levels, and increased serum creatinine levels. Significant correlations were found between changes in PIIINP and creatinine clearance (Spearman coefficient = 0.352, p<0.05), as well as between changes in periostin and creatinine clearance (Spearman coefficient = 0.626, p<0.001). Our findings suggest that serum periostin and PIIINP levels are valuable biomarkers for assessing renal fibrosis and functional decline in renal transplant patients. These biomarkers may provide insights into disease progression and guide therapeutic interventions.
Overview of Anomaly Detection Techniques across Different Domains: A Systematic Review
Authors: Venkatraman Umbalacheri Ramasamy
Published: November 2024

An anomaly, defined as something that deviates from what is normal, expected, or usual. It signifies abnormality or an irregularity that stands out from typical behaviours or patterns. Detecting anomalies is significant among numerous sectors due to the reasons of signal potential difficulties or opportunities. For an instance, in retail, detecting anomalies in sales data might prompt for further analysis into operational issues or customer behaviour to reduce losses and capitalize on its trends. Hence, different techniques are used for Anomaly Detection. However, anomaly detection using manual method are measured for time consuming, prone to error and can be tedious process. Therefore, different approaches have been considered for anomaly detection as AI (Artificial Intelligence) methods are efficient, faster, provides high level accuracy by effectively detecting the abnormalities. Owing to these aspects, this paper focuses on compiling different techniques and emphasizes on reviewing all anomaly detection using numerous techniques like ML (Machine Learning) and DL (Deep Learning) classifiers, statistical methods, one-class classification, clustering and density-based models which helps with identifying and comprehending the diversity of detection techniques that are applied in various domains like finance, retail, healthcare and cyber security. Various existing researches on anomaly detection are reviewed in the study. In addition to an overview, certain studies also deals with applications of detection models and future trends are reviewed in precise. Finally, the challenges are identified through the analysis of existing researchers and future recommendations are provided for overcoming the gaps that are intended to create promising work in this area.
The Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Researching and Publishing Accounting History: A Personal Journey
Authors: Macve Richard
Published: November 2024

I review how my work on accounting history has been made possible through collaboration with experts in various fields.
Markets and the Spontaneous Emergence of Double-Entry Accounting: A Short Essay
Authors: Ball Ray
Published: November 2024

SYNOPSIS

This brief essay advances the thesis that double-entry accounting is due to markets. It is the natural method of recording market transactions, which are exchanges and therefore have two sides to record: what is given up and what is received in exchange. There had been comparatively little market activity in the manorial system that prevailed in Europe during most of the Middle Ages. When peasants and serfs living on the manors had delivered money, grain, or services to their landlords, nothing had been given up coincidentally in exchange, so double-entry accounting would not have been appropriate. Consistent with the present thesis, the double-entry method did not emerge until the thirteenth century, in northern Italy, after goods and financial markets had expanded substantially and a merchant class had arisen. Double-entry accounting therefore has survived for centuries because active markets have survived for centuries.

JEL Classifications: B15; D23; D83; M40; M41.
When and Why Do Supervisors’ Evaluations Overweight Subordinates’ Performance Outcomes? Evidence from a Team Setting in the Field
Authors: Ferguson Patrick J.
Published: November 2024

To better understand supervisors’ outcome bias, I use a regression discontinuity design that compares coaches’ performance assessments of professional football players involved in narrow wins and losses. I document that supervisors over-react to negative outcomes, sharply lowering performance ratings and tripling subordinate turnover. I find that supervisors’ evaluations that subjectively incorporate information from more incomplete objective performance measures are more prone to outcome bias than those that draw on less incomplete objective measures. I also document that supervisors’ evaluations of high-performing team members are more prone to outcome bias than supervisors’ evaluations of low performers. Finally, I find that outcomes affect supervisors’ ex post information collection. My findings, consistent with predictions that I derive from the theory of cognitive reconstruction, shed light on supervisors’ outcome bias in team settings and how effectively firms’ use of objective performance measures, direct monitoring, and information gathering can mitigate this bias.

JEL Classifications: M50; D91; Z20.
Tailored microstructure in laser-based powder bed fusion of IN718 through novel beam shaping technology
Authors: Mirzabeigi Narges , Holfelder-Schwalme Peter , He Yu , Wudy Katrin
Published: November 2024

Inconel 718, processed by Laser-based Powder Bed Fusion of Metals (PBF-LB/M), exhibits epitaxial dendrite growth, leading to an anisotropic columnar microstructure. While columnar microstructures offer creep resistance, equiaxed microstructures provide more balanced mechanical properties. Understanding how to tailor the as-built microstructure in the PBF-LB/M process remains a persistent challenge. Recent advancements in beam shaping offer solutions for customizing heat flow direction in the PBF-LB/M process and tailoring the as-built microstructure. This research aims to systematically study how the laser beam shape affects anisotropy in the as-built microstructure and tensile mechanical properties. By using an inverse calculated beam shape, called as chair-shaped, the texture strength represented by J-index was reduced from 4.6 (generated by a ring-shaped beam profile with the same beam intensity and laser process parameters) to 1.37. The study prioritizes high productivity, with a building rate of 16 mm3/s (80 μm layer thickness) across chosen process parameters compared to state-of-the-art with a build rate of 4.2 mm3/s (40 μm layer thickness). The findings indicate that rotational asymmetric laser beam profiles with a relative beam diameter of 400 μm significantly enhance productivity by broadening the process window. These profiles also have a profound impact on the microstructure and tensile properties compared to ring-shaped and core-ring laser beam profiles. The new microstructure features a notable reduction in grain size, elongation, and texture index, producing mechanical properties that are comparable to those of an isotropic microstructure.
A Comparative Study of CPU and GPU Power Consumption while using Open-Source and Proprietary Media Players
Authors: Ahmed Afzal , Iqbal Mohammad Tariq , Jamil Mohsin
Published: November 2024

This study presents a comparative analysis of power consumption between open-source and proprietary media players when playing open-media format videos (.webm). As media consumption grows, energy-efficient software is critical for both environmental sustainability and device performance. Using tools like HWiNFO, key metrics such as GPU and CPU power consumption, memory usage, and efficiency were evaluated for popular open-source (e.g., VLC, Kodi) and proprietary (e.g., GOM Player, KMPlayer) players. The results reveal that open-source players generally consume less GPU power but more CPU resources, while proprietary players balance CPU and GPU usage with higher memory demands. The findings suggest that careful selection of media players can lead to significant energy savings over time, offering insights for developers and users focused on energy-efficient computing.
Providing Accessibility of Quality Education in War-Affected Areas: Case of the Georgian Village Avlevi
Authors: Kordzadze Maka , Kalandadze Ekaterine , Dvali Irina , Kordzadze Eka , Kikodze Nino
Published: November 2024

Armed conflicts hurt children and youth’s access to quality education worldwide. Russian invasion and occupation of Georgian entities in 2008 resulted in thousands of internally displaced people and refugees and ruined schools and infrastructure. Georgian schools near the occupation dividing lines with Russia face unique hardships. The authors examined these schools’ educational needs and challenges using the Avlevi community schools as a case study. The findings indicate that a specialized strategy is required to guarantee continuous and quality education for the population living in these armed conflict-affected settlements. Based on an analysis of the research findings in conjunction with various academic sources, a set of recommendations has been formulated to address the critical components of such a strategy.
Stage and Type of Male Breast Cancer Presented at Mankweng Academic Hospital from 2015-2023
Authors: Makhandule Fumani Charles , Bhuiyan Mirza Mohamod Zahir Uddin
Published: November 2024

Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) is very uncommon, occurring less than 1% of all breast cancers, and has a worse survival rate compared with that of female patients. Clinical studies on male breast cancer have not been done frequently because of the rarity of the condition. The main aim of this study is to understand the profile of male breast cancer patients treated at Mankweng Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive quantitative design was adopted to analyze the profile of all patients with histologically confirmed male breast cancer from March 2015 to May 2023 in the Mankweng Breast Oncology clinic.
Results: A total of 17 patients with confirmed MBC were evaluated. Age range 23–80 years. The mean age is 62.5 years, with the majority (76%, 5%) being above the age of 50 years. Early-stage (0, I & II) comprised 6 (35%) and late-stage (III & IV) consisted of 11 (65%) patients. Invasive ductal carcinoma was 14 (82%), Colloid carcinoma 1, Papillary carcinoma 1 and Metastatic Adenocarcinoma 1. Molecular subtype: Luminal A: 7 (43.8%), Luminal B: 8 (50%) & Triple-negative: 1 (6.2%). ER Positive: 15 (93.7%), ER Negative: 1 (6.3%).
Conclusions: The majority (65%) of male breast cancer were diagnosed at an advanced stage, and 76.5% were over the age of 50 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most (82%) common histological type of breast cancer, and the majority (93%) are oestrogen receptor positive in this study. There is a gap that needs to be filled in terms of public knowledge about male breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness campaigns are also important for men to prevent delayed presentation. Men over 50 years old who notice a change in their breasts should report promptly to a health facility for further assessment.
Diversitätsorientierung und Kritische Fremdsprachendidaktik:
Authors: Gerlach David
Published: November 2024

Language education is still in search of ways to integrate a diversity orientation into its curriculum, materials and language teacher development. This article assumes that both neurodiversity and critical foreign language didactics are characterized by their political momentum and the claim to raise awareness for criticality and diversity among learners and teachers. After discussing relevant constructs for critical foreign language didactics (critical literacy, critical pedagogy, critical discourse competence), these are put into perspective in relation to teaching that is sensitive regarding diversity. Critical language education and neurodiversity are then finally discussed in relation to the requirements (and constraints) of language teacher education and with regard to necessary future research.
Das Prinzip der Differenzierung:
Authors: Schauwecker Yela
Published: November 2024

When it comes to inclusive foreign language teaching, differentiation is a key professional competence. The university course discussed here is designed to support future foreign language teachers of French in developing this competence. Students conducted interviews regarding four illustrative types of neurodivergence, and the implications from these interviews in relation to foreign language teaching and learning were examined. Subsequently, students differentiated paradigmatic foreign language lessons and adapted them to accommodate one type of neurodivergence considered relevant to the given lesson. Findings from the empirical evaluation of the course will be presented in this contribution. While the change of the mindset of the students did not prove considerable or significant, possibly due to the small sample size, participants’ attitudes towards inclusive foreign language teaching changed considerably and significantly.
Language teachers with ADHD: self-efficacy and framings
Authors: Jones Marc , Clark Gretchen
Published: November 2024

Awareness of Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased in recent years within the field of language education, especially regarding how to support learners with the condition, yet there remains a lack of research on how ADHD affects teachers living with the condition. The current study used a questionnaire survey to investigate the experiences of language teachers (N=57) with ADHD in the workplace. Using mixed-methods, namely Bayesian correlations and frame analysis, responses were analyzed. Findings were that self-efficacy measures do not correlate with ADHD effects on teaching, preparation or assessment, but that ADHD effects on teaching, preparation and assessment had medium correlations with each other. Qualitative findings suggest that teachers are polarized regarding their perceptions of ADHD as a benefit or hindrance. Regardless, many participants expressed internalized negativity despite clear reports of self-efficacy.
Das Potential zur kommunikativ-kognitiven Aktivierung im Englischunterricht –
Authors: Wilden Eva , Porsch Raphaela , Guttke Joel , Wellmanns Larissa
Published: November 2024

Using qualitative content analysis, this article analyses 711 tasks in five primary English as a foreign language (EFL) textbooks regarding their potential for communicative-cognitive activation (PCCA). A subject-specific adaption of cognitive activation, communicative-cognitive activation includes task and teaching characteristics that are conducive to in-depth processing of the target language. To this end, an EFL-specific coding scheme for assessing the PCCA in primary EFL tasks was developed in a theory-based process with a special focus on listening and speaking. The coding scheme comprises four main dimensions: (1) Overall textbook characteristics, (2) overall task characteristics, (3) characteristics of listening tasks and (4) characteristics of speaking tasks. Results indicate rather consistent levels of PCCA across all textbooks regarding overall textbook and task characteristics. However, textbooks vary considerably regarding their PCCA in listening and speaking tasks and indicate that in both domains tasks do not fulfill their PCCA. Thus, the study highlights the crucial role of teachers in achieving communicative-cognitive activation in the primary EFL classroom.
PENINGKATAN PENGETAHUAN TENTANG PENYALAHGUNAAN DAN PENGGUNASALAHAN OBAT DI KALANGAN PELAJAR SEKOLAH MENENGAH DI YOGYAKARTA
Authors: Lestari Agatha Budi Susiana , Gani Michael Raharja , Christasani Putu Dyana
Published: November 2024

Drug abuse and misuse among teenagers have been on the rise year after year. These teenagers must have a solid knowledge of drug use. Health education is provided to Yogyakarta high school students in order to improve their understanding of drug abuse and misuse. The health education is being held at SMK Kesehatan Pelita Bangsa Yogyakarta with 92 participants. The activities begin with a pre-test, continue with a presentation about drug abuse and misuse, and conclude with a post-test. Most participants are female (82%) and in the twelfth grade (49%). The average pre-test score of 86.41 increases to 91.41 in the average post-test score, indicating an improvement in respondents' knowledge. The activity hopes to teach students how to use drugs rationally, particularly ones widely abused by teenagers.
Globalisation and the Size of the Public Sector in the Context
of the Regime Change Approach: The Case of Türkiye
Authors:   Professor, Department of Public Finance,
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences,
Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey, AYTAÇ Deniz
Published: November 2024

The size of the public sector in the economy is closely related to globalization. It aims to maximize welfare. There are two main hypotheses (efficiency and compensation) discussed in the literature on this relationship. Both hypotheses discuss the relationship between globalization and government size in terms of (i) the impact of globalization on public employment, (ii) the impact of globalization on public revenues, and (iii) the impact of globalization on public expenditure. Global and national economies are not static and periodically expand or contract. The main hypothesis of this study is that the validity of the efficiency and compensation hypothesis in economies varies according to expansion and contraction periods. In terms of financial and commercial globalization, this change is also differentiated. The results of this study, which is specific to Turkey, show that trade globalization has a positive effect on public employment and public expenditures within the scope of the compensation hypothesis, while the efficiency hypothesis is confirmed in the relationship between tax revenues and financial globalization. These results are exemplary for transition and developing countries in particular.
Citizens’ Free Access to Information. The Case of Local Institutions
from Rural Areas of the North-Western Region from Romania
Authors:   PhD(c), Doctoral School of Public Administration
and Public Policy, Department of Public Administration
and Management, Faculty of Political, Administrative
and Communication Sciences,
Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, BULĂU-OLARU Ioana Gabriela , RANTA Ana Elena ,   Lecturer, PhD, Department of Public Administration
and Management, Faculty of Political, Administrative
and Communication Sciences,
Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, STĂNICĂ Viorel Ion ,   Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Public Administration and Management, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences,
Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Published: November 2024

This study examines the extent to which local authorities in rural North-West Romania adhere to the requirements set forth in Law no. 544 of 2001, which mandates the ex officio public information disclosure online. The findings suggest a relatively low level of transparency, with notable discrepancies observed across communes. While larger communes exhibited slightly elevated levels of compliance, population size exerted a limited influence on transparency. Additionally, the study revealed no statistically significant correlation between the gender of mayors and transparency. This may be attributed to the limited representation of female mayors in the sample. Similarly, while the presence of businesses demonstrated some influence on transparency, it was not a robust predictor. These findings underscore the necessity for more robust enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for non-compliance, to guarantee compliance with transparency laws. Furthermore, the study highlights the necessity of considering a broader array of factors, including local governance practices, institutional capacity, and citizen engagement, when evaluating transparency outcomes. It would be beneficial for future research to expand to other regions and consider a longitudinal approach to monitor changes over time. The study underscores the pivotal role of transparency in cultivating public trust, curbing corruption, and strengthening democratic governance.
Between Adherence to Madhhab and Adaptation to Context: Fatwās on Female Leadership in Nahdlatul Ulama-Affiliated Islamic Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Hannan Nur , Huda M. Syamsul , Firdaus Mohamad Anang , Afabih Abdillah , Musthofa Yayan
Published: November 2024

The issue of women in leadership has been a longstanding topic of debate among classical Islamic jurists, eliciting diverse responses from mainstream Islamic organizations in Indonesia. This article presents a comparative analysis of fatwās (Islamic legal opinions) issued by the Forum of Bahtsul Masail (FBM) at two Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)-affiliated Islamic higher education institutions: Ma’had Aly Hasyim Asy’ari Tebuireng, which prohibits female leadership, and Ma’had Aly Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo, which permits it. Through a combination of literature-based and empirical approaches, the article highlights a significant contrast in the istinbāṭ al-aḥkām (derivation of legal rulings) employed by these two FBMs. FBM Ma’had Aly Hasyim Asy’ari Tebuireng adopts the qawlī (literal) method, adhering to the majority views of classical Islamic jurists. In contrast, FBM Ma’had Aly Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo employs a manhājī (methodological) approach, incorporating minority opinions and reinterpreting texts within the context of modern societal changes. These contrasting fatwās reflect a broader tension between taqlīd (adherence to precedent) and adaptation to evolving social contexts. Furthermore, this article argues that the educational backgrounds of the FBM actors, as well as the curricula taught in their respective pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), contribute to the differences in fatwās. These differences reflect the internal dynamics within the fatwā production process in NU.
[Isu kepemimpinan perempuan telah lama menjadi topik perdebatan di kalangan ahli hukum Islam klasik yang telah memicu beragam respons di kalangan organisasi masyarakat Islam arus utama di Indonesia. Artikel ini menganalisis secara komparatif fatwa dari Forum Bahtsul Masail (FBM) di dua ma’had aly yang berafiliasi dengan Nahdlatul Ulama (NU): Ma’had Aly Hasyim Asy’ari Tebuireng, yang melarang perempuan menjadi pemimpin, dan Ma’had Aly Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo, yang memperbolehkannya. Artikel ini, dengan mengombinasikan pendekatan kepustakaan dan empiris, menemukan bahwa kedua FBM menggunakan metode penggalian hukum (istinbāṭ al-aḥkām) yang berbeda. FBM Ma’had Aly Hasyim Asy’ari Tebuireng menerapkan metode qawlī, merujuk pada pendapat mayoritas ulama fikih, sementara FBM Ma’had Aly Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo menggunakan metode manhājī, mengadopsi pendapat ulama minoritas dan melakukan interpretasi (ulang) terhadap teks. Perbedaan fatwa tersebut dipengaruhi oleh pendekatan yang berbeda antara taklid dalam bermazhab dan adaptasi terhadap perubahan sosial. Lebih jauh, artikel ini berargumentasi bahwa latar belakang pendidikan para aktor FBM, serta kurikulum yang diajarkan di masing-masing pesantren, berkontribusi pada perbedaan fatwa yang dihasilkan. Perbedaan-perbedaan ini mencerminkan dinamika internal dalam proses produksi fatwa di kalangan NU.]
Ecotoxicological effects and pollutant adsorption properties of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi–environmental nanocomposites
Authors: Deng Haotian
Published: November 2024

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in soil ecosystems by significantly impacting their stability and functioning. This study aims to analyze the practical application of AMF by combining them with environmental nanomaterials (ENs) to create AMF–EN. This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects and pollutant adsorption properties of this material. From the biotoxicity experiments on the composite, it was determined that the growth rate of plant cells under the influence of the nanocomposite was 7.49%, notably surpassing that of titanium dioxide (TD) nanomaterials, which was estimated to be 5.58%. Additionally, the adsorption properties of AMF–ENs were examined. The results showed that the concentration of soil pollutants under the influence of AMF–TD nanocomplexes in the tested soils was 58.6 mg/g, which was significantly lower than that of TD nanomaterials. The outcomes demonstrate that the physiological toxicity and adsorption properties of environmental nanocomplexes with AMF have been optimized. Consequently, the combination of AMF and environmental nanocomplexes in the preparation can efficiently enhance the ecological effect of ENs.
Comparison of the quality of rail steel from the nineteenth century converter processes and the modern oxygen-converter process
Authors: Żak Sylwester , Ropka Tomasz
Published: November 2024

This article presents the results of comparative tests for rails produced at the end of the nineteenth century using the steel production processes used at that time in relation to currently produced rails in the standard, not heat-treated R260 steel grade, and heat-treated high-hardness R350HT steel grade. Detailed results of steel quality assessment are presented, including oxide cleanness tests and macro- and microstructure analyses for each rail. The influence of the main elements on the morphology of the microstructure of individual rails is discussed, illustrating the description with numerous photos. An analysis of the chemical composition of each steel grade is provided, analysing the differences in the chemical composition of rails from different manufacturing processes. The results of hardness measurements in the rail head as an indicator of the rails’ abrasion resistance are also presented. The article also discusses the steel production processes used since the mid- nineteenth century, taking into account their positive and negative features in relation to the currently used steel production process.
Relationship Between Age and Condensed Tannin Content in the Bark of Two Forest Species Grown in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Azevedo Tatiane Kelly Barbosa de , Campos Débora Baiocchi Princivalli , Souza Diná Garcia de , Silva Elaine Cristina Alves da , Nascimento Paula Evanyn Pessoa do , Paiva Kayo Lucas Batista de , Souza Denys Santos de , Ucella-Filho João Gilberto Meza , Pimenta Alexandre Santos
Published: November 2024

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the influence of tree age on the condensed tannins content in the bark of two forest species.
 
Theoretical Framework: Tannins are phenolic compounds present in various parts of plants and have consolidated applications in the market. This way, silvicultural studies of different species with the potential to produce are relevant.
 
Method: Barks of Azadirachta indica at 5, 6, and 7 years and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia at 6, 7, and 9 years were collected from an experimental plantation located in a forest area in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The barks were then air-dried and ground to obtain a material subjected to extraction. Total solids content, Stiasny index, and condensed tannin content were determined from the hot-water extracts.
 
Results and Discussion: The condensed tannins content in A. indica bark did not vary as tree age increased, while for M. caesalpiniaefolia, the most productive age was determined to be six years old.
 
Research Implications: The experimental approach showed that A. indica presented stable tannin content in the bark regardless of age, allowing continuous and flexible management to produce these extractives. In contrast, M. caesalpiniifolia presented condensed tannins, with their reactivity decreasing with age, indicating that younger trees are more suitable for high-quality extractions and commercial production.
Originality/Value: Tannins content in Azadirachta indica bark remains stable over time, facilitating continuous management and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia bark, the concentration of tannins is higher in younger trees.