bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing Resilience to Disinformation: A Game-Based Method for Future Communicators
Authors: Cernicova-Buca Mariana , Ciurel Daniel
Published: May 2022

This paper analyzes the outcomes of a game-based educational process aiming to strengthen resilience to fake news. An innovative approach that considers linguistic choices as bases for manipulating information is used in an online classroom environment, students in communication being invited to understand, explain and reflect upon framing and information credibility, using as a topic of inquiry the refugee crisis of 2021 in Romania. Cognitive learning outcomes as well as learning dynamics were assessed using pre- and end-of game surveys. The results of the game are discussed in relation with the instructional goal to facilitate the understanding of communicative social actions, learning about disinformation that is deliberately misleading, as well as finding ways to break the disinformation code. The debriefing discussions after each stage of the game encouraged students to reflect upon their newly gained insights and increase their critical thinking capacity, in the effort to ensure a sustainable education in communication studies. The paper has the potential to enrich the educational strategies with innovative methods helping future professionals navigate the complex world of media messages.
The Roles of Cassava in Marginal Semi-Arid Farming in East Nusa Tenggara—Indonesia
Authors: Ngongo Yohanis , Basuki Tony , deRosari Bernard , Mau Yosep Seran , Noerwijati Kartika , daSilva Helena , Sitorus Alfonso , Kotta Noldy R. E. , Utomo Wani Hadi , Wisnubroto Erwin Ismu
Published: May 2022

Risk and uncertainty in grain crop production are common in marginal semi-arid environments, such as East Nusa Tenggara province. Growing root and tuber crops in a mixed-cropping system is one of the strategies developed by smallholder farmers to substitute food grains and minimize risk. Nevertheless, root and tuber crops are not prioritized for food production systems since food crops in Indonesia are based more on grain and wetland rice production systems. This paper reviews cassava crops, which are widely cultivated by smallholder farmers. This paper contributes to understanding the roles of cassava for smallholder farmers, the diversity of the cassava germ plasm, the progress made to increase cassava productivity, and the potency of cassava crops to improve farmers’ incomes. This paper highlights that, in the low and erratic rainfall of dominant semi-arid regions, the development of cassava is pivotal to secure the harvest of food crops or food availability and income generation for marginal farmers.
Spatial and Temporal Evolution of the Chinese Artificial Intelligence Innovation Network
Authors: Tu Menger , Dall'erba Sandy , Ye Mingque
Published: May 2022

Sustainable development has become a concern of all countries globally, and Artificial Intelligence technology emerges at this historic moment. However, few researchers have studied the innovation activities of the Artificial Intelligence industry from the macro-level. This paper focuses on the topological structure and the spatial pattern of the AI patent citation network in China over from 2000–2016. Our main research results are as follows: The network has experienced a striking growth in terms of the size and the number of linkages since 2000, but it has also developed unequally across regions. In the later stages, the network has formed a scale-free network that exhibits small-world property. The network nodes have shown an assortative trait property while weighted preferential attachment has not been significant. In addition, the high values of centrality and numerous linkages between nodes concentrate in the eastern part of China, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Bohai Rim. Our results suggest that the AI innovation policies should expand the targets of technological exchange and cultivate more nodes as intermediaries of local knowledge transmission necessary to expand the network and develop the AI industry.
Diversifying Indigenous Vulnerability and Adaptation: An Intersectional Reading of Māori Women’s Experiences of Health, Wellbeing, and Climate Change
Authors: Johnson Danielle Emma , Fisher Karen , Parsons Meg
Published: May 2022

Despite evidence that Indigenous peoples’ multiple subjectivities engender diverse lived experiences both between and within Indigenous groups, the influence of multiple subjectivities on Indigenous peoples’ vulnerability and adaptation to climate change is largely un-explored. Drawing on ethnographic research with Indigenous Māori women in Aotearoa New Zealand, this paper provides empirical evidence that subjectivity-mediated power dynamics operating within Indigenous societies (at the individual and household scale) are important determinants of vulnerability and adaptation which should be considered in both scholarship and policy. Using an intersectional framework, I demonstrate how different Māori women and their whānau (families) live, cope with, and adapt to the embodied physical and emotional health effects of climate change in radically different ways because of their subject positionings, even though they belong to the same community, hapū (sub-tribe), or iwi (tribe). In underlining these heterogenous experiences, I provide an avenue for reconsidering how climate adaptation scholarship, policies, and practices might better engage with the complex, amorphous realities within Māori and other Indigenous communities. I argue it is possible to develop more inclusive, tailored, and sustainable adaptation that considers divergent vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities within Indigenous communities, groups, and societies and supports customised vulnerability-reduction strategies.
Sex and Affective Education at University: Evaluation of the Training of Students
Authors: García-Rojas Antonio Daniel , Hernando-Gómez Ángel , Aguaded Gómez José Ignacio , García-Prieto Francisco Javier
Published: May 2022

There is currently a scarcity of training proposals at university related with sex and affective education. The present work analyzes the impact on university students of an intervention in sex education implemented through training programs, in both virtual and in-person formats. A study was conducted with 143 participants enrolled in different university degrees, following a quasi-experimental (pre–post) method with three groups, through the administration of a questionnaire composed by 138 items organized into five scales and was collected at three different times of measurement (previous evaluation, evaluation after the training period, and a final evaluation three months after the training). The results indicate that the students experienced a significant improvement on their knowledge about sexuality, with a ceiling effect detected in the scores of concepts such as attitude towards sex education, gender-based violence, intercultural sentimental relationships, and self-esteem. The conclusions revealed the need to introduce sex and affective education training in the teaching and learning processes in university contexts, through the official curricula of the undergraduate and post-graduate degrees that focus on human groups.
Characterization and Planning of Household Waste Management: A Case Study from the MENA Region
Authors: Kebaili Feriel Kheira , Baziz-Berkani Amel , Aouissi Hani Amir , Mihai Florin-Constantin , Houda Moustafa , Ababsa Mostefa , Azab Marc , Petrisor Alexandru-Ionut , Fürst Christine
Published: May 2022

Solid waste management is one of the most important environmental issues worldwide, particularly in MENA countries. The present study was carried out in the city of Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. This urban area is marked by an increase in waste flow combined with a demographic surge. In order to investigate waste production and its drivers, we used both multiple regression and correlation analyses to test this dependence. Geospatial analysis was performed using principal component analysis integrated with GIS in order to look at the spatial distribution of waste management and potential drivers of waste production. The results indicate that household waste management is influenced by drivers related to the size of the settlement and the characteristics of waste management companies (p ≤ 0.05). The findings also show that none of the sociodemographic variables were found to significantly influence waste production. However, the spatial distribution is influenced by the geographic and sociodemographic characteristics of Algeria at all territorial levels. Algiers is still a landfill-based city in the MENA region, where mixed waste collection prevails in all districts. This study reinforces the importance of expanding source-separated waste collection schemes in order to increase the household waste diversion from landfills and, more importantly, shows how modern tools such as GIS, principal component analysis, and spatial analysis urban planning are useful for monitoring household waste, in line with circular economy principles.
Influence of Climatic Factors on Lightning Fires in the Primeval Forest Region of the Northern Daxing’an Mountains, China
Authors: Shu Yang , Shi Chunming , Yi Bole , Zhao Pengwu , Guan Lijuan , Zhou Mei
Published: May 2022

Forest fires lead to permafrost degradation and localized drought, and regional droughts increase the probability of forest fires, leading to a positive feedback loop between climate change and fires. However, the relationship between fire occurrence and climatic factors change is unclear for boreal forests, which represent the largest land-based biome and stock of carbon. Here, we analyzed the relationship between lightning fire occurrence and meteorological and topographic factors based on the fire frequency, burned area, and meteorological data from the primeval forest region of the northern Daxing’an Mountains in China. We found that lightning fires occurred most frequently at an altitude of 600 to 700 m. From 1999 to 2019, the frequency of lightning fires showed an overall upward trend, whereas the affected area had no obvious change. It can be attributed to fire suppression efforts and greatly increased investment in fire prevention in China. Snow cover had a strong regulatory effect on the start and end dates of lightning fires for seasonal cycle. The frequency of lightning fires was positively correlated with the average temperature, maximum temperature, and surface evaporation and negatively correlated with precipitation and surface soil moisture (0–10 cm). The result will be useful in the spatially assessment of fire risk, the planning and coordination of regional efforts to identify areas at greatest risk, and in designing long-term lightning fires management strategies.
Satisfaction, Assessment and Adaptation to a Virtual Environment of the University Mentoring Programme GuíaMe-AC-UMA for Gifted High School Students
Authors: Castro-Zamudio Serafina , Viguera Enrique , Cortés-Ramos Antonio , Castilla-Mesa María Teresa , Valbuena-Díaz Daniel , Moreno-Madrid Isabel
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyse the satisfaction levels of participants (mentees, mentors, and technical-research team) of a university mentoring programme. The GuíaMe-AC-UMA is aimed at gifted high school students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IX edition was carried out in an online format. The results were compared to those of the in-person edition (VII edition) to assess whether there were differences between the editions. For this purpose, three versions (one for each participant type) of a Likert-type questionnaire were distributed among the participants of the 22 workshops offered by the GuíaMe-AC-UMA Programme. A total of 224 responses were received: 21 from the mentors, 181 from the mentees and 22 from the technical-research team. The results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the development of the workshops by all participants. While the mentees preferred the in-person edition, the rest of the participants showed no difference in satisfaction levels between editions. A similar result was observed when correcting for the subject area of the workshop. The in-person edition was valued higher than the online version by all. The overall level of satisfaction shown by all participants and the support for continuation of the programme suggest that this type of educational offer is beneficial and satisfactory for all involved, in accordance with previous research on mentoring programmes. These results indicate that programmes focused on young pre-university students with high abilities are valued; these results encourage us to continue the programme.
The Role of Universities in Shaping Talents—The Case of the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine
Authors: Howaniec Honorata , Karyy Oleh , Pawliczek Adam
Published: May 2022

Talents are seen as unique strategic resources that are essential to achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Organizations use TM to source and maintain a high quality and quantity of talents. Despite numerous research and development of practice in this area, insufficient skills of the staff are still underlined, and an unexplored area in this regard is the support for talent development, prior to the employment of employees (i.e., at the stage of their education). There are numerous studies on TM in universities, but they cover all aspects of TM aimed at university staff. There is no research on supporting the talents of students as future employees. Meanwhile, universities “shape” the future staff and from this place employees identified as talented or with great potential are recruited. In connection with the identified gap, the question was asked whether and to what extent universities and educational entities should be involved in discovering and developing talents for the future needs of the economy. The aim of the article was to check how students perceive their future (i.e., their vision of life), how much of it is related to their future job, and how they see universities as an environment to support their talents. The study used the questionnaire-based survey-CAWI (computer assisted web interview) technique. The research was conducted in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine. The results of the research show that the support of talent development by universities is not sufficient, and the majority of students (despite the fact that the research was conducted in the last semesters of studies) do not have clearly defined goals and methods of achieving them.
Density Functional Theory Calculations of the Effect of Oxygenated Functionals on Activated Carbon towards Cresol Adsorption
Authors: Supong Aola , Sinha Upasana Bora , Sinha Dipak
Published: May 2022

The mechanism of adsorption of p-cresol over activated carbon adsorbent and the specific role of oxygen functional groups on cresol adsorption were studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All the energy calculations and geometry optimization pertaining to DFT calculations were done using the B3LYP hybrid functional at basis set 6-31g level of theory in a dielectric medium of ε = 80 (corresponding to water). The interaction of cresol with different activated carbon models, namely pristine activated carbon, hydroxyl functionalized activated carbon, carbonyl functionalized activated carbon, and carboxyl functionalized activated carbon, were considered, and their adsorption energies corresponded to −416.47 kJ/mol, −54.73 kJ/mol, −49.99 kJ/mol, and −63.62 kJ/mol, respectively. The high adsorption energies suggested the chemisorptive nature of the cresol-activated carbon adsorption process. Among the oxygen functional groups, the carboxyl group tended to influence the adsorption process more than the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, attributing to the formation of two types of hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl activated carbon and the cresol simultaneously. The outcomes of this study may provide valuable insights for future directions to design activated carbon with improved performance towards cresol adsorption.
Le puzzle de la situation dans la mer de chine méridionale : un défi pour la sécurité régionale et mondiale ?
Authors: Bastid Burdeau Geneviève
Published: May 2022

Résumé : La situation de la mer de Chine méridionale s’est considérablement complexifiée au fil des ans dans un contexte dans lequel s’affirme la nouvelle grande puissance du XXIe siècle. La solution des innombrables différends latents ou présents devient de plus en plus difficile à envisager. Le but de cet article est de mettre en évidence, sans proposer de solutions qui ne peuvent être que politiques, les différents éléments de ce véritable puzzle, à la lumière des règles de droit international actuel qui aboutissent à un paysage d’affirmations de souveraineté concurrentes qui ne trouvent pas de traductions concrètes lorsqu’elles se heurtent au fait accompli par d’autres notamment à l’ambition de l’État dominant d’imposer sa prééminence globale dans la région avec des formes juridiques qui restent non précisées. Pour contrebalancer ce déséquilibre une ambition de coopération régionale a été affichée mais qui peine à se concrétiser, laissant le champ aux incidents multiples et à l’insécurité.
L’accord sur le Nucléaire iranien du 14 juillet 2015, solution négociée pour un retour au régime multilatéral de non-prolifération
Authors: Drobysz Sonia
Published: May 2022

Visant à mettre un terme à l’une des plus graves crises menaçant la crédibilité et l’efficacité du régime de non-prolifération nucléaire, l’accord sur le nucléaire iranien compose un ensemble complexe comprenant notamment le «Plan d’action global commun » conclu par le groupe «E3/ UE+ 3 » et l’Iran le 14 juillet 2015, la résolution 2231 adoptée le 20 juillet 2015 par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies, ainsi que les instruments liant l’Iran et l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique. Les engagements réciproques de l’Iran et des E3/ UE+ 3 définis dans la solution négociée et taillée sur mesure que l’accord consacre devront permettre de rétablir la confiance dans le caractère exclusivement pacifique du programme nucléaire iranien et le retour au fonctionnement normal du régime multilatéral de non-prolifération.
La destruction ciblée des monuments et des sites archéologiques en marge d’un conflit armé et la dimension culturelle de la paix internationale
Authors: Kolliopoulos Alexandros
Published: May 2022

La pratique des destructions ciblées de monuments et sites archéologiques en Irak et en Syrie perpétrée en marge des opérations militaires, notamment par l’EIIL, constitue une violation aussi bien de la Convention de La Haye de 1954 que des principes du droit international humanitaire applicables en cas de conflit armé non international. Elle porte également atteinte au droit de chacun de participer à la vie culturelle ainsi qu’à la diversité culturelle, étant donné que le patrimoine culturel est un élément important de l’identité culturelle. La destruction du patrimoine culturel peut affecter de différentes façons la paix et la sécurité internationales. Face à cette situation, le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a adopté quelques mesures relatives à la protection des biens culturels tandis que l’UNESCO a mis en place des schémas novateurs de coopération et d’assistance.
L’arrêt de la CIJ du 3 février 2015 dans l’affaire du Génocide (Croatie c. Serbie)
Authors: Hamann Andréa
Published: May 2022

L’affaire du Génocide entre la Croatie et la Serbie est close. Le 3 février 2015 la CIJ a rendu l’ultime jugement, dont l’issue sur le fond était entièrement prévisible. Il met en évidence une nouvelle fois que, lorsque de pressantes raisons politiques appellent une décision sur les allégations au fond, et même lorsque la demande principale ne peut qu’être rejetée, la Cour se frayera un chemin jusqu’à elles, en construisant au besoin de toutes parts sa compétence. L’objet particulièrement sensible de l’affaire en témoigne : certains litiges, sans égard pour les obstacles à la compétence de la Cour, exigent d’être réglés au fond ; la construction de la compétence, quelque discutable qu’elle soit, en devient alors en elle-même un exercice de raffinement rhétorique.
Notes cursives sur la Cour de justice de l’Afrique de l’Est
Authors: Derlin Kemfouet Émile
Published: May 2022

Parmi la multitude des juridictions sous régionales qui pullulent sur le continent africain, figure la Cour de justice d’Afrique de l’Est qui est l’organe judiciaire institué au sein de la Communauté de l’Afrique de l’Est. La présente note s’intéresse à cette institution inaugurée le 30 novembre 2001, dresse une esquisse de son bilan jurisprudentiel avec une insistance particulière sur les contentieux dominants, avant de s’achever sur un survol des difficultés auxquelles la juridiction fait face ou pourrait être confrontée.
L’Accord de Paris sur les changements climatiques du 12 décembre 2015
Authors: Maljean-Dubois Sandrine , Rajamani Lavanya
Published: May 2022

Définir le régime international du climat post-2020 était tout l’enjeu du cycle de négociations lancé à Durban en 2011. Les Parties à la Convention-cadre de 1992 étaient convenues d’ «élaborer au titre de la Convention un protocole, un autre instrument juridique ou un texte convenu d’un commun accord ayant valeur juridique, applicable à toutes les Parties » , qui soit au fondement du régime international du climat à partir de 2020. La 21e Conférence des Parties à la Convention-cadre de 1992 (dite «COP 21 » ), qui s’est tenue à Paris du 30 novembre au 13 décembre 2015, avait pour mission d’adopter cet accord. Deux semaines d’âpres négociations ont effectivement abouti à l’adoption d’un nouveau traité, l’Accord de Paris. Salué comme historique, c’est un accord bien plus ambitieux que ce que des négociations patinant depuis plusieurs années ne laissaient imaginer. L’Accord imprime une orientation plus ambitieuse au régime international du climat, qu’il vient compléter en posant de nouvelles obligations pour les États, y compris des obligations de comportement détaillées en matière d’atténuation des changements climatiques. Il établit aussi un mécanisme de surveillance rigoureux et obligatoire. Cette contribution revient sur la préparation et l’organisation de la COP 21, avant d’analyser la forme juridique et le contenu du nouvel «Accord de Paris ».
Quand la mer domine la terre : la sentence arbitrale du 18 mars 2015 en l’affaire de l’Aire marine protégée des Chagos (République de Maurice c. Royaume-Uni)
Authors: Cassella Sarah
Published: May 2022

La sentence arbitrale du 18 mars 2015 met fin au différend entre Maurice et le Royaume-Uni concernant la création par ce dernier d’une aire marine protégée autour de l’archipel des Chagos. Prenant position sur le système complexe de juridiction obligatoire de la convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer, le tribunal rejette en revanche sa compétence au regard des aspects de cette affaire qui concernent le différend plus ancien entre ces deux États relatif à la souveraineté territoriale sur l’archipel. Le principal intérêt de la sentence est que ce refus, en l’absence d’un lien de connexité suffisant avec la convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer, n’empêche pas le tribunal de reconnaître plusieurs droits à Maurice, renforçant ainsi nettement la position de cet État dans le contentieux territorial. Il s’agit en particulier de son droit au transfert de la souveraineté sur les îles Chagos dès que celles-ci ne seront plus affectées à des activités de défense.
Les mesures conservatoires dans l’affaire du Différend relatif à la délimitation de la frontière maritime entre le Ghana et la Côte d’Ivoire. TIDM (Chambre spéciale), ordonnance du 25 avril 2015
Authors: Boré-Eveno Valérie
Published: May 2022

L’ordonnance en prescription de mesures conservatoires rendue le 25 avril 2015 s’inscrit dans le cadre du différend qui oppose le Ghana et la Côte d’Ivoire au sujet de la délimitation de leur frontière maritime, avec pour toile de fond les enjeux économiques et environnementaux liés aux opérations pétrolières menées par le Ghana dans la zone litigieuse. C’est avec l’objectif d’obtenir la suspension de ces dernières que la Côte d’Ivoire avait engagé une procédure d’urgence devant la Chambre spéciale du tribunal international du droit de la mer constituée pour juger cette affaire. Tout en donnant partiellement satisfaction au demandeur, celle-ci apporte dans son ordonnance quelques éclairages intéressants s’agissant notamment des conditions d’octroi des mesures conservatoires. Si quelques zones d’ombre subsistent, elle fait aussi preuve d’une certaine souplesse dans la mise en oeuvre de ces critères et surtout d’un esprit de conciliation dans le choix des mesures adoptées, en prenant en considération les différents intérêts en présence.
La transparence en droit international : réflexions sur une exigence encore incertaine
Authors: Nanteuil Arnaud de
Published: May 2022

La transparence est assurément devenue une exigence fondamentale de nos sociétés et trouve donc comme telle une traduction en droit international. Une double question se pose néanmoins à son sujet : d’abord, celle de savoir ce que recouvre exactement cette exigence sur le plan juridique ; ensuite, déterminer quelle est sa force juridique exacte. A la première question, il est possible de répondre que la transparence impose, quel que soit le contexte dans lequel elle s’applique, le libre accès aux documents, la publicité des procédures de décision et la qualité des délibérations. A la seconde, il ne peut être répondu que de manière provisoire : il semble que la transparence ne soit pas encore opposable aux États, Organisations internationales ou juridictions internationales si elle n’est pas rappelée par un texte. Mais elle s’impose peu à peu dans le droit international général si bien que sa consécration comme principe du droit coutumier est sans doute inéluctable à moyen terme.
À propos de la théorie des ‘mains propres’. Observations sur la sentence arbitrale Yukos de la Cour permanente d’arbitrage du 18 juillet 2014
Authors: Ancelin Julien
Published: May 2022

Régulièrement soulevé à l’occasion d’arbitrages transnationaux d’investissements, l’argument des mains propres connait de nombreuses variations. S’appuyant sur les sentences arbitrales rendues par la Cour permanente d’arbitrage en juillet 2014 dans l’affaire opposant la Fédération de Russie aux actionnaires de la société Yukos, la présente étude analyse la façon dont le juge international reçoit cette théorie à l’étape préliminaire et la mobilise à l’étape du fond afin de faire varier le montant de la réparation allouée. Si le principe de bonne foi ne peut être étendu afin de conférer à la théorie des mains propres le caractère de condition de recevabilité de l’action introduite par l’investisseur, le comportement blâmable de ce dernier demeure tout de même radiographié par la juridiction. La Cour permanente d’arbitrage établit ainsi que la réparation allouée à l’investisseur en raison des faits internationalement illicites subis doit être réduite en proportion de sa contribution à ces faits. L’approche retenue par le juge permet de nous interroger sur l’articulation de la «théorie des mains propres » avec le principe général de bonne foi et de questionner son autonomie dans le cadre des arbitrages transnationaux d’investissements.
De l'énaction à l'émersion : la voie du corps vivant. Introduction au dossier
Authors: Hanneton Sylvain , Andrieu Bernard
Published: May 2022

From Enaction to Emersion: the Way of Living Body. Body ecology explores the direct relationship of the living body and its nervous system with their environment, especially during immersion in natural, artificial or virtual environments. The activation of the body is the activation of the nervous and sensitive part of the living body under the effect of ecologization. Emersiology proposes to analyze the emersion of the living body in the consciousness of the lived body. Emersion is the involuntary movement in our body of networks, moods and images about which our consciousness knows only the emerged part of. In this issue of Intellectica, we question the modalities of the activation of the living part of our body whose knowledge is not immediately accessible to us. Some authors question here this ecological and unconscious treatment of neurobiological signals (emotions, gestures, movements), so that subjects learn from their living body; while others would like to transform the awareness of experience or cognition by what will have been awakened by the activity of the living (by technologies, emerging logic, attention focusing, neuro-imagery etc.). Indeed, certain activities, often made possible by recent technical developments, are able to participate in the activation of the living body and to produce enabling effects on neural networks. The concepts proposed by emersiology are obviously related to others belonging to different disciplines or theoretical currents such as the neurobiological phenomenology of action, enactivism, embodied cognition, neurosciences and psychology of emotions, of attention and awareness. This issue therefore brings together contributions of a theoretical and/or experimental nature which are concerned with philosophical, psychological and neuro-scientific aspects concerning practices involving the activation of the living body, in particular by the use of hybridization devices or technical remedies.
A Research Study on the Differences of Chinese Pragmatics and Pragmatic Failures in Intercultural Communication
Authors: Jayasundara J.A.A.K.W.
Published: May 2022

"Language" is the main tool of communication between people, and it’s an important mechanism to express people's way of thinking and cultural connotation. “Pragmatics” mainly considers in what context, when, and what to say something and to whom to say it. The language expressions used by people from different cultural backgrounds are quite different. Insufficient understanding of pragmatics will cause language misunderstanding and pragmatic failures. Based on theories on language pragmatics, this article mainly discusses the differences of Chinese pragmatics and pragmatic failures in cross-cultural communication, the influence of different cultures on Chinese pragmatics, the main factors that cause Chinese pragmatic failures in cross-cultural communication, and the ways to avoid such pragmatic failures and misunderstandings.
Multiculturalism in Bharati Mukherjee’s Novel Jasmine
Authors: Bharathi S , Anitha Joseph Binu
Published: May 2022

In the postmodern era, when identities are paradoxically diminished and expanded, terms like globalisation and multiculturalism have evolved to characterise the new world order. While the globe continues to shrink into a global village in which differences become indistinguishable from similarities, civilizations and groups outside the prevailing ideology find methods to assert their uniqueness. The purpose of this Paper is to examine the identity problem that has resulted from Indian migration to the United States of America, as well as the nostalgia that has accompanied immigration and other difficulties. Additionally, the cross-cultural struggle is discussed extensively, with allusions to Mukherjee’s Jasmine from multicultural and feminist viewpoints. On the other side, such misunderstanding about the subject results in identity crisis, which may be defined as the inability to establish a definite position for oneself.
Struggle in Ethnic Existence: A Diasporic Study of Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake
Authors: Bibilin Godsmathy P , Anish S Georshia G
Published: May 2022

Ethnic study has become an expression in the English Literature. Originally it stood for the Jews who dispersed from Israel/Palestine to all kinds of places in the world. Those people carried with them a profound attachment to their last place of residence. Tracing the various processes which Indian communities went through in different regions of the world as they dropped anchor in new lands and adjusted to their new surroundings, it is startling to see how they hold on to their identities as ethnic Indians while remaining loyal to their adopted cultures. Language and cultures are transformed as they come into contact with other languages and cultures. It becomes important to question the nature of one’s relationship with the culture of their origin and to examine the different strategies they adopt in order to negotiate the cultural space of the countries of their adoption. Expatriate occupies a significant position between cultures and countries. Cultures take root or get dislocated. Cultural theory is today being created by people who live on the margins. An important question is how does one define the margin? Do the margins experipheral areas further divide themselves and the centre remains the same, indifferent to what is happening around it. The migrant worker/scholar, who moves from one culture to another, needs to relocate himself/herself in relation to the centre. Sometimes it will even put the migrant in a schizophrenic situation, with regard to crossing from one culture to another. A good amount of instability is also involved at this point.
An Analysis of Rohinton Mistry’s Such a Long Journey
Authors: Kumara Balaji R , Vimala V
Published: May 2022

The novel manages brilliantly to portray Indian culture and family life, setting against the backdrop of the subcontinent’s volatile postcolonial politics. The microcosmic family dimension of the story line is not only played upon a political background: quite the contrary, the story shows to which degree political and personal realities are intertwined and how much the microcosm echoes the macrocosm, since the lives of the characters are deeply affected by local corruption and the government inadequacy. The novel itself is a manifestation of the Indian politics on the domestic life of Gustad Noble, thus Mistry mingles public with the private. This novel is a journey of Gustad through the path of sorrow, death, betrayal, disillusion and disappointment. Above all, Mistry’s novels are focused on community differences. Mistry has unfolded the postcolonial condition that affects the community’s identity. Apart from religious identity, historical awareness forms the collective identity of the community
Determinants of Job Satisfaction: A Study of Haryana Power Sector
Authors: Sunita Ms
Published: May 2022

The Hawthorne studies were the first research plan to attempt to enumerate employee’s attitudes and correlate attitude with overall work competencies. In the mid-1930, two years after the Hawthorne studies were accomplished; Hoppock (1935) published the first rigorous study about job satisfaction. This critical study addressed job satisfaction from a much more complex. The main objective of this study is to identify the determinants of job satisfaction among the employees in the Haryana power sector and compare the level of job satisfaction between the employees of DHBVNL (Dakshin Haryana Bijali Vitran Nigam Limited) and HVPNL (Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited). The data is collected from 50 employees working in the Haryana Power Sector with the help of a questionnaire developed on 7 points Likert scale via email as well as office visits. The data is analyzed by employing Descriptive Statistics and an Independent Sample T-test. This paper finds out the major determinants contributing to the higher level of job satisfaction and also the least satisfying determinants. This study also reveals a considerable difference in the level of job satisfaction amongst employees of HVPNL and DHBVNLonly towards two variables out of a total of 30 studied variables and towards the remaining variables, there is no significant difference in the level of job satisfaction among the employees of DHBVNL and HVPNL.
Increasing Profits of Ready-Mix Concrete by Using Cutting-Edge New Additive
Authors: Kowshika V R , Vijaya Bhaskaran Dr , Ram Kumar Nata Rajan Dr
Published: May 2022

A new revolutionary patented additive for concrete was used in series of trials to check for its suitability to Ready-mix Concrete industry. Commercial production of Concrete was also taken up to check the fresh and hardened properties of additive incorporated concrete. The study showed that additive (commercially known as ICRETE) showed impressive results in concretes as it demonstrated comparable strengths even at reduced Cement contents. In addition the striking feature of the product is to improve the profits forReady-mix Concrete producer, without affecting the quality & durability.
Expansion of E-Learning Market in India Due to Global Pandemic
Authors: Sharma Nancy , Raja Sankaran Dr
Published: May 2022

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that are responsible for the expansion of e-learning market in India due to global pandemic. For this study, four factors, namely, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Habit and Trust were used to determine the behavioral intention of the students using e-learning platforms.Methodology/Approach: An online survey was conducted to collect data from 180 students using e-learning platforms in India after global pandemic. IBM SPSS was used in order to test the conceptual model and to validate and statistically analyze the results.Findings: The factor Perceived Usefulness was found to be significant on Behavioral Intention, whereas Perceived Ease of Use, Habit and Trust were found to be not significant.Implications: Educational technology organizations and various other e-learning platforms can use the results from the research study in order to improvise their existing strategy and to attract a greater number of schools or college institutions to adopt e-learning as a part of their curriculum in India.
A Prescriptive Analytics Model for Early Detection of Diabetes Propensity
Authors: Desai Rajendra , V V Sirichandana
Published: May 2022

Many Prescriptive analytics applications in healthcare use patient data to enable early detection of the propensity of a patient developing serious diseases like diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease. This study aims to build an analytics model utilizing readily available data to explore the possibility of early detection of a person’s propensity to develop diabetes. Changes in parameters in the blood and urine test reports of patients were used as predictors in the model. While experienced Doctors would see this trend immediately if these records are stored and made available at the time of consultation, a model can serve as an early warning system as the data is being entered or shared with the customer.We utilized data with a diagnostic laboratory on patients on an annual health plan with the laboratory. The data consisted of 1200 records and tracked the following variables Age, Hemoglobin, Glucose (Fasting) - FBS, Glucose (PP-2 hours), Urea, Creatinine, Cholesterol Total, Triglycerides (TGL), HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, VLDL Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio, LDL/HDL Ratio, over a period of 2 years. Some of these patients tested positive for diabetes at various points in their visits to the clinic. Our data consisted of 70% men, 30% women with members in the age group of 25 – 55. The reported ranges of values of the selected predictor variables did not have gender variations.We created multiple models using standard analytics techniques K-NN and Naïve Bayes similar to (Sing, 2014). Naïve Bayes model was more useful as the probabilities of the person developing diabetes were generated by the model and could connect to the end user needs. The system we are creating is basically a warning system which helps in shortlisting records that have higher probability of developing diabetes for further assessment. The results from our initial models had a high precision on out of sample data with a false positive ratio of 12%. It will be useful when patient volumes are high to identify the ones that require further investigation immediately. These models are currently under testing on live data inside the organization.
Regulatory Challenges in Cryptocurrency: An India Perspective
Authors: Rangapriya S , Madhavi Lokhande Dr
Published: May 2022

Cryptocurrencies are emerging as a prominent investment avenue among investors, they have been in the limelight in recent times due to ongoing debate on the regulation of these assets. Governing bodies across the world are facing the dilemma of acknowledging and regulating these instruments. This paper traces the current regulatory framework across the world and identifies the India specific challenges in regulating cryptocurrency. Some of the key challenges that the regulatory authorities face concerning crypto assets are: classifying cryptos as a mere asset class due to their complex features and intended purpose of creating an alternate means for barter, financial transactions and investments; decentralised nature of the assets which complicates levying of laws; money laundering, terrorist financing is rampant with digital currencies; cryptocurrency has been able to radically democratize the ability of start-ups to raise funds, regulation should continue to empower small businesses to borrow from a wide variety of funding community but monitor and curb activities which are not conducive for the business ecosystem. This paper ascertains the key challenges in regulating cryptocurrency by studying various documents, reports, journals across nations, aligning the challenges with an Indian context and tracing the changes in regulatory norms concerning crypto assets over the past decade, to assess the future of cryptocurrencies in India. This study is particularly important due to the lower rate of financial literacy, the constraints within which regulatory authorities continue to operate and the unique financial ecosystem of India. This bird’s eye view of regulatory norms and the existing challenges will enable regulators to build a framework that is conducive for growth and aligns with the existing financial ecosystem.
Understanding the Success of Global Non-Profit Organisations
Authors: Chatterjee Arijit , Raja Sankaran Dr
Published: May 2022

Purpose: The study’s goal was to examine the factors influencing the success of global NPOs. In this study, five factors, namely, People, Business Model, Operations, Strategy and Culture were used to determine the sustainability of the Nonprofit Organization.Methodology/ Approach: A pilot study was conducted with a sample of 10 active members of one global non-profit, namely AIESEC, from India. IBM SPSS was used to test the reliability of the instrument. IBM SPSS will be used to test the conceptual model and to validate and statistically analyse the results.Findings: At this stage, we have done a pilot study with 10 samples to validate the instrument. Subsequently, the data collection will be done in the next three months. And the analysis will be performed in order to find the significance of the factors.Implications: Non-profit organisations are playing an important role in societal benefit, and hence their sustainability is essential. Any global NPO can use the results from the study to strategise and ensure their long term existence.
Redefining the Identity in Sea of Poppies
Authors: Nivedhaa M , Chandran MR
Published: May 2022

This article is an attempt to recount the specific concern on identity of Amitav Ghosh. Several constraints such as alienation, struggle for existence, dilemma of dual identity, sense of belonging and nostalgia that have been exemplified through the well-defined characters of his novels. Sea of Poppies is the novel selected for the study of colonial impact on identity based on culture and society. He has scrutinized the causes of the occurrence of identity crisis and the sense of being ‘othered’ by colonial society. This novel throws light on the individuals who lose their identity because of the cultural change and the constant oppression. Throughout the novel, the writer traces the lack of belongingness of the people in their own country. Considering, redefining the identity and re-establishing the self, the novel reflects on the people’s will power and ability to overcome the crisis. This article focuses on characters in Sea of Poppies belonging to different levels of the society that suffers from the personality dilemma.
Perceptions of Postgraduate Students on Accessibility of Print and Electronic Information Resources at Mahatma Gandhi Library
Authors: Njoroge Catherine Njeri , Mutwiri Caroline
Published: May 2022

The increase in research output in the 21st century has led postgraduate students to adopt new ways of information searching and this has had a bearing in the way they perceive and use information resources both print and electronic formats. This has made it critical to establish their perceptions in order to ensure that university libraries invest only in those resources that have the potential to support post graduate research. The study therefore sought to determine perceptions of post graduate students (PGS) towards accessibility of print and electronic information resources (EIRs). The study reviewed current research study findings on perceptions under the four study themes. It was based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) advanced by Albert Bandura in1986. A descriptive research design was adopted. Independent variables constituted a comparison on the extent of use, accessibility, relevance and preference towards choice of format between print and EIRs. Dependent variable was use of print and EIRs. The target population was 3159 postgraduate students enrolled for Business Administration program in the School of Business (SOB) at the university of Nairobi (UoN). Convenience sampling which is a method of non-probability sampling was applied in the study to identify a representative sample size for PGs enrolled in the Business Administration progam in the SOB. Yamane Taro (1967) mathematical formula, a sample of 97 respondents was drawn. The questionnaire was the main data collection tool. Validity was ensured through conducting a pilot study at Technical University of Kenya (TUK) using a pilot data of 10 PGs. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient value greater than 0.7 was used to test reliability of the questionnaire. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics via Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 and presented through percentages, frequencies, pie charts, tables and graphs. Logistical and ethical considerations were strictly adhered to. The profound study findings were that majority of PGs across age highly used both information formats and that these formats will continue to coexist supplementing each other meaning that libraries cannot satisfy user needs without availing both formats in their collection as none is exclusive of the other. However, divergent views of a few alluded to the fact that technology will obliterate print resources thereby pointing to emergence of paperless libraries. The study recommended that university libraries continuously acquire both formats for PG studies. It also gave key suggestions for further research especially a study on students’ perceptions towards use of both information resources in this era of university education realignment where education reforms are taking centre stage to drive competencies.
In Italia non si brontola nessuno… In Toscana qualcuno sì
Authors: Cambi Lorenzo
Published: May 2022

Alcuni lettori ci chiedono se sia corretto l’uso transitivo del verbo brontolare, “brontolare qualcuno”, nel significato di ‘rimproverare’.
Історія архітектури, містобудування, мистецтва та дизайну Стародавнього світу: методичні рекомендації для самостійної роботи для студентів 1 курсу першого (бакалаврського) рівня вищої освіти зі спеціальності 191 – Архітектура та містобудування
Authors: Крейзер Ірина
Published: May 2022

Викладено рекомендації для виконання самостійної роботи студентами першого курсу бакалаврського рівня з лекційного курсу «Історія архітектури, містобудування, мистецтва та дизайну Стародавнього світу». МЕТОДИЧНІ РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЇ для самостійної роботи з дисципліни «Історія архітектури, містобудування, мистецтва та дизайну Стародавнього світу» (для студентів 1 курсу першого (бакалаврського) рівня вищої освіти зі спеціальності 191 – Архітектура та містобудування)