bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Fowlpox Virus Vector Vaccine Expressing VP2 and Chicken Interleukin-18 in the Protection against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus
Authors: Eldaghayes Ibrahim , Rothwell Lisa , Skinner Michael , Dayhum Abdunaser , Kaiser Pete
Published: November 2023

In mammals, the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the immune response is to drive inflammatory and, normally therefore, anti-viral responses. IL-18 also shows promise as a vaccine adjuvant in mammals. Chicken IL-18 (chIL-18) has been cloned. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of chIL-18 to act as a vaccine adjuvant in the context of a live recombinant Fowlpox virus vaccine (fpIBD1) against Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). fpIBD1 protects against mortality, but not against damage to the bursa of Fabricius caused by IBDV infection. The Fowlpox virus genome itself contains several candidate immunomodulatory genes, including potential IL-18 binding proteins (IL-18bp). We knocked out (Δ) the potential IL-18bp genes in fpIBD1 and inserted (::) the cDNA encoding chIL-18 into fpIBD1 in the non-essential ORF030, generating five new viral constructs –fpIBD1::chIL-18, fpIBD1ΔORF073, fpIBD1ΔORF073::chIL-18, fpIBD1ΔORF214, and fpIBD1ΔORF214::chIL-18. The subsequent protection from challenge with virulent IBDV, as measured by viral load and bursal damage, given by these altered fpIBD1 strains, was compared to that given by the original fpIBD1. Complete protection was provided following challenge with IBDV in chicken groups vaccinated with either fpIBDIΔ073::IL-18 or fpIBD1Δ214::IL-18, as no bursal damage nor IBDV was detected in the bursae of the birds. The results show that chIL-18 can act as an effective vaccine adjuvant by improving the fpIBD1 vaccine and providing complete protection against IBDV challenge.
Immunotherapeutic Agents for Intratumoral Immunotherapy
Authors: Shyr Chih-Rong , Liu Lang-Chi , Chien Hui-Shan , Huang Chi-Ping
Published: November 2023

Immunotherapy using systemic immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has revolutionized cancer treatment, but it only benefits a subset of patients. Systemic immunotherapies cause severe autoimmune toxicities and cytokine storms. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) plus the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) have been linked to the inefficacy of systemic immunotherapy. Intratumoral immunotherapy that increases immunotherapeutic agent bioavailability inside tumors could enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies and reduce systemic toxicities. In preclinical and clinical studies, intratumoral administration of immunostimulatory agents from small molecules to xenogeneic cells has demonstrated antitumor effects not only on the injected tumors but also against noninjected lesions. Herein, we review and discuss the results of these approaches in preclinical models and clinical trials to build the landscape of intratumoral immunotherapeutic agents and we describe how they stimulate the body’s immune system to trigger antitumor immunity as well as the challenges in clinical practice. Systemic and intratumoral combination immunotherapy would make the best use of the body’s immune system to treat cancers. Combining precision medicine and immunotherapy in cancer treatment would treat both the mutated targets in tumors and the weakened body’s immune system simultaneously, exerting maximum effects of the medical intervention.
The Water–Energy Nexus of Leakages in Water Distribution Systems
Authors: Souza Rui Gabriel , Barbosa Alan , Meirelles Gustavo
Published: November 2023

Leakages in water distribution systems (WDSs) profoundly affect their operations, elevating water production demand and treatment and pumping costs. Moreover, they strain the energy system by increasing power requirements at pumping stations. In regions heavily reliant on hydropower, such as Brazil, there is a nuanced implication: diminishing reservoir water levels due to increased WDS flow withdrawal. This not only immediately affects hydropower generation by reducing available head but, over time, may lead to interruptions in hydropower generation. This paper investigates the water–energy nexus, specifically focusing on WDS leakages in Brazil. It begins with an overview of the current situation and future outlook, considering evolving policies to enhance WDS efficiency and also the evaluation of different climate change scenarios. A more in-depth case study explores a reservoir utilized for both energy and water production. In this context, leakage management assumes critical importance, given the various water uses within the reservoir that impact the available energy and water resources. Overall, this study offers a comprehensive perspective on the water–energy nexus within WDSs, underscoring the critical importance of leakage control and its direct and indirect consequences, particularly on energy generation capacity, the environment, and the economy.
Accumulation and Origin of Phosphorus and Heavy Metals in Citrus Orchard Soils in Jeju Island, South Korea: Potential Ecological Risks and Bioavailability
Authors: Kang Tae-Woo , Yang Hae Jong , Lee Won-Seok , Koo Bon-Jun , Park Won-Pyo
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the accumulation of total phosphorus (TP) and heavy metals (HMs; Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Ni) in citrus orchard soils in Jeju Island, Korea, identifying potential soil pollution sources using statistical analysis. Anthropogenic HM pollution was evaluated using the geoaccumulation index and enrichment factors, whereas HM bioavailability was assessed via single extraction. TP, Zn, Cu, and Cr concentrations in citrus orchard topsoil were significantly higher than those in forestland soils, indicating their accumulation in the surface layer. Statistical analyses confirmed that elements with high concentrations were closely related to potential pollution sources accumulated on the surface layer of citrus orchards owing to agricultural activities. Particularly, Zn and Cu accumulation was confirmed to originate from intensive compost and pesticide use in citrus orchards. Cu showed the highest contamination and enrichment of all HMs. However, Zn and Cu fractions, determined via an availability assessment, were dominated by acid or complex compounds, indicating that labile Zn and Cu have potential bioavailability for plants. Nevertheless, their fractions accounted for a small proportion (mean < 15%). Therefore, despite the high pollution levels of Zn and Cu, their availabilities were extremely low, indicating a negligible bioavailability in crops and no impact on aquatic ecosystems.
Cometabolism of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds and 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater
Authors: Clark Catherine , Rhea Lee K.
Published: November 2023

This article provides an overview of the bioremediation of groundwater plumes containing admixtures of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) and 1,4-dioxane. The remediation of these plumes has historically focused on the reductive dechlorination of the CVOCs. Many of the remaining plumes are relatively large, and contaminant concentrations are diluted below the concentrations that can sustain reductive dechlorination. Cometabolic processes can decrease contaminant concentrations below the thresholds needed to support direct metabolism but typically require the addition of a substrate, such as high-purity propane. Relatively intensive site characterization and monitoring is necessary to implement bioremediation.
Evaluation of Empirical Equations and Machine Learning Models for Daily Reference Evapotranspiration Prediction Using Public Weather Forecasts
Authors: Liang Yunfeng , Feng Dongpu , Sun Zhaojun , Zhu Yongning
Published: November 2023

Although the studies on model prediction of daily ETo based on public weather forecasts have been widely used, these studies lack the comparative evaluation of different types of models and do not evaluate the seasonal variation in model prediction of daily ETo performance; this may result in the selected model not being the best model. In this study, to select the best daily ETo forecast model for the irrigation season at three stations (Yinchuan, Tongxin, and Guyuan) in different climatic regions in Ningxia, China, the daily ETos of the three sites calculated using FAO Penman–Monteith equations were used as the reference values. Three empirical equations (temperature Penman–Monteith (PMT) equation, Penman–Monteith forecast (PMF) equation, and Hargreaves–Samani (HS) equation) were calibrated and validated, and four machine learning models (multilayer perceptron (MLP), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and gradient boosting with categorical features support (CatBoost)) were trained and validated against daily observed meteorological data (1995–2015 and 2016–2019). Based on public weather forecasts and daily observed meteorological data (2020–2021), the three empirical equations (PMT, PMF, and HS) and four machine learning models (MLP, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost) were compared in terms of their daily ETo prediction performance. The results showed that the daily ETo performance of the seven models in the irrigation season with a lead time of 1–7 days predicted by the three research sites decreased in the order of spring, autumn, and summer. PMT was the best model for the irrigation seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) at station YC; PMT and CatBoost with C3 (Tmax, Tmin, and Wspd) as the inputs were the best models for the spring, autumn irrigation seasons, and summer irrigation seasons at station TX, respectively. PMF, CatBoost with C4 (Tmax, Tmin) as input, and PMT are the best models for the spring irrigation season, summer irrigation season, and autumn irrigation season at the GY station, respectively. In addition, wind speed (converted from the wind level of the public weather forecast) and sunshine hours (converted from the weather type of the public weather forecast) from the public weather forecast were the main sources of error in predicting the daily ETo by the models at stations YC and TX(GY), respectively. Empirical equations and machine learning models were used for the prediction of daily ETo in different climatic zones and evaluated according to the irrigation season to obtain the best ETo prediction model for the irrigation season at the study stations. This provides a new idea and theoretical basis for realizing water-saving irrigation during crop fertility in other arid and water-scarce climatic zones in China.
Impact Assessment of Livestock Production on Water Scarcity in a Watershed in Southern Brazil
Authors: Carra Sofia Helena Zanella , Drastig Katrin , Palhares Julio Cesar Pascale , Bortolin Taison Anderson , Koch Hagen , Schneider Vania Elisabete
Published: November 2023

This study presents the assessment of water scarcity associated with livestock production in a watershed in Southern Brazil where 115 farms (poultry, pig, and milk) are located. The methods, AWARE—available water remaining, and BWSI—blue water scarcity index, were applied monthly for the year 2018, and the characterization factors (CF) were regionalized into five scenarios evaluated by varying water availability and environmental water requirements. Livestock water consumption accounted for 94.1% of the total water consumed. Low water scarcity was observed in all scenarios (BWSI < 0). The highest CFAWARE was observed in scenario 3, ranging from 2.15 to 9.70 m3 world eq.m3, with higher water scarcity in summer. In the same scenario, pig production presented the highest annual average water scarcity footprint (WSF) of 90.3 m3 world eq./t carcass weight. Among milk production systems, pasture-based systems presented the highest annual average WSF of 52.7 m3 world eq./t fat protein corrected milk, surpassing semi-confined and confined systems by 12.4% and 3.5%, respectively. In scenario 3, poultry production presented an annual average WSF of 49.3 m3 world eq./t carcass weight. This study contributes knowledge to the livestock sector to perform the assessment of water scarcity.
Impact Evaluation Using Nonstationary Parameters for Historical and Projected Extreme Precipitation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Usman , Ijaz Muhammad Wajid , Iqbal Mudassar , Aziz Rizwan , Masood Muhammad , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman
Published: November 2023

Recent improvements in time series studies of hydro-climatological variables have led to the belief that the effects of nonstationarity are substantial enough to call the idea of traditional stationary approaches into doubt. The mean and variability of annual and seasonal rainfall in Pakistan are changing due to anthropogenic climate change. With the use of stationary and nonstationary frequency analysis techniques, this study set out to assess the impacts of nonstationarity in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, over the historical period of 1970–2015 and the future periods of 2020–2060 and 2060–2100. Four frequency distributions, namely Generalized Extreme Value (GEV), Gumbel, normal, and lognormal, were used. The findings of the nonstationarity impact across Southern Punjab showed different kinds of impacts, such as an increase or reduction in the return level of extreme precipitation. In comparison to other distributions, GEV provided the finest fit. In Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and DG. Khan, the annual nonstationarity impacts for the 100-year return level were increased up to 15.2%, 8.7%, 58.3%, 18.7%, and 20%, respectively. Moreover, extreme precipitation was found to be increasing during the historical and projected periods, which may increase floods, while less water availability appeared at a seasonal scale (summer) during 2061–2100. The increased nonstationarity effects emphasized adapting these nonstationarities induced by climate change into the design of water resource structures.
Effect of Salinity on Performance and Microbial Community during Granulation Process in a Sequencing Batch Reactor
Authors: Wang Mengfei , He Junguo , Dong Xiangke , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2023

This study focused on the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), reactor nutrient removal performance and the microbial community under varying concentrations of NaCl (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/L) during a granulation process in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The microorganisms tended to secrete higher levels of protein (PN) and polysaccharide (PS) as a protective mechanism under saline conditions, with tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) playing a crucial role in stabilizing granules. An overall high removal rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) throughout operation was observed. However, the removal rate of total nitrogen (TN) progressively decreased with the stepwise increase in salinity from 85.59% at 10 g/L to 64.18% at 40 g/L. The low total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency during the operation process is due to the loss of sludge biomass and inhibition of phosphorus-accumulating bacteria activity. Moreover, salinity caused the changes in microbial community structure. Paracoccus, Thauera and unclassified_f_Rhodobacteraceae were dominant genera at 10 g, 20 g/L and 30 g/L salinity, respectively, while Azoarcus, Halomonas, unclassified_f_Flavobacteriaceaeand Vibrio replaced them at 40 g/L salinity.
Türk Akademik Yazınına Yeni Bir Soluk: Başka Bir Tarih Hayal Etmek: Türk Edebiyatında Ükronya
Authors: KIZIL Fatmagül
Published: November 2023

Karşıolgusal düşünce biçiminin izleri Antik Çağ’dan itibaren izleri takip edilebilmektedir. Türk düşünce sisteminde ise Türklerin ilk metinleri olan Türk Bengü Taşları’ndan beri kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Zamanla tür, edebî formu olan karşıolgusal tarihî kurmaca ya da ükronyaya dönüşmüştür. Bu çalışmada söz konusu, Türk akademisine ve edebiyatına tanıtılmasını içeren Murat Gür’ün Başka Bir Tarih Hayal Etmek: Türk Edebiyatında Ükronya adlı çalışması değerlendirilmektedir. Bu doğrultuda öncelikle eserin ana başlıkları ayrı ayrı ele alınıp incelenerek çalışma hakkında bilgiler verilmiştir. Böylece bu çalışmada, eserin literatürde hangi eksiklikleri doldurduğu ve bunu nasıl yaptığı ortaya koyulmaya çalışılmıştır.
Após dez anos da lei de cotas: uma observação sobre sua eficácia - 2022 dez anos da implantação de lei de cotas nº12.711/2012
Authors: Sousa Sirlene Alves de Oliveira , Reis Júnior Reinaldo de Lima
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo é um desdobramento que faz parte do processo de elaboração de uma dissertação desenvolvido a partir realizar um estudo sistemático sobre a democratização das condições de acesso às impossibilidades de permanência de estudantes ingressantes por cotas raciais no Instituto Federal Goiano, tendo como foco um olhar para as políticas/ações institucionais. Desta forma, esta política pública tem   auxiliado na diminuição das desigualdades sofridas pela população negra no campo educacional garantindo o direito de acesso ao ensino médio e superior. Porém apenas garantir o acesso por meio da implementação não é suficiente, pois é necessário que haja um acompanhamento desses estudantes cotistas para isso é fundamental ter conhecimento dos dados institucionais desses alunos para se verificar a eficiência dessa política pública.
Processo construtivo de edifício-garagem - estudo de caso - Condomínio Estilo Ponta Negra
Authors: Nogueira Regiana Lopes , Pinheiro Érika Cristina Nogueira Marques , Coelho Ilsa Maria Honório de Valois
Published: November 2023

Este artigo aborda o método construtivo do edifício-garagem do Condomínio Estilo Ponta Negra, para o que foram feitos vários levantamentos e acompanhamento in loco. Foi descrito o passo a passo da construção e inclusive os materiais utilizados  ao longo do processo de construção dos pavimentos, sanando ou minimizando os problemas. Um pequeno histórico sobre a origem dos edifícios-garagem bem como a importância dos mesmos para a mobilidade urbana são temas abordados ao mesmo tempo que se ressalta a dificuldade de se construir uma cidade sustentável. Trata-se de um estudo de caso em que são demonstradas imagens ilustrativas e atuais do andamento da obra. O objetivo do artigo foi demonstrar o processo construtivo do edifício-garagem na expectativa de que ele reflita no bom funcionamento do mesmo, atraindo os condutores pela segurança e rapidez no acesso e guarda do veiculo. Conclui-se que uma vez concluída a obra, o empreendimento desempenhará um papel importante na redução do congestionamento do tráfego e na melhoria da mobilidade urbana e área do condomínio, proporcionando aos motoristas uma opção conveniente para estacionar seus veículos.
Method of creation a digital twin of a vibration protection process
Authors: Oleksii Atamaniuk , Viktor Legeza
Published: November 2023

Various approaches to building digital twins are considered. The data-based approach has a big disadvantage due to need of the huge amount of information. The system-based ap-proach can not be used in some cases due to the lack of a mathematically justified method. One of such cases is a ball vibration absorber but they can be really useful for the vibration protection of high-rise flexible objects. The purpose of the research is to develop an algorithmic method of creating digital twins of the vibration protection process, which will provide the possibility of determining the optimal control parameters of the ball vibration absorber. The paper examines small steady oscillations of the dynamic system "supporting body - ball vibration absorber". Under the condition of small forced oscillations, the equation of the amplitude-frequency characteristic of the linear anti-vibration system was obtained. In view of the use in construction, the input and output parameters of the method of building a digital twin of a flexible structure were described and analyzed, as well as the methods of obtaining them. As a result of the evaluation of the speed of the method, a modification of the search way for the optimal parameters of the digital twin was proposed. The comparative analysis showed the high efficiency of the proposed anti-vibration sys-tem with optimally adjusted parameters of the digital twin. The proposed method allows to reduce the maximum value of the amplitude by approximately four times. Modifications of the method made it possible to speed it up by an average of three times, reduce the load on the processor and handle cases when finding the optimal parameters of a digital twin is a rather difficult analytical problem. The input and output parameters of the method and ways of obtaining them were de-scribed and analyzed. A comparative numerical analysis showed the high efficiency of the functioning of such a vibration protection system with optimally adjusted parameters of the ball vibration absorber.
Increasing Task Administration Efficiency by Means of a Customizable ICT Solution
Authors: Musil Marek , Smrčka František
Published: November 2023

In production companies, managers frequently deal with inefficiencies caused by employees learning about new tasks with a considerable delay. The paper focuses on solving the lack of real-time interaction in currently used task administration systems by means of an ICT solution. The main causes of the inefficiencies consist in insufficient real-time information on the sides of both workers and managers. Employees view updates in the information system randomly, thus increasing unnecessary periods of idle time, while their superiors are not fully informed about the status of tasks in progress and about current workload of individual workers. The presented ICT solution was developed for production companies and implemented for the purpose of administering production line failure records. The solution is based on informing employees about a new maintenance task online in real time, using a combination of the designed information system with a mobile phone. The presented system utilizes advanced information technologies – cloud messaging, mobile applications, and web applications. The employee will be equipped with a smartphone with a specially designed application. By a notification sent to the mobile phone, the employee will be immediately informed about the task assigned. As regards task administering, employees enter information about the phases of task execution and managers are informed about the status of executed tasks. Another key feature of the system is providing managers with managerial overviews and compiling reports in order to monitor a number of key indicators. The Unified Process (UP) methodology was used to design the information system. The system accelerates the process of receiving tasks by individual maintenance workers after a failure has been reported, an online overview of the status of work on failures, including a managerial overview of the work of individual workers and the total time spent on solving the task (e.g. a production line defect removal). The system is designed to be universally applicable in other workplaces.
Maturity or gender? An abductive approach to study workplace meeting effectiveness
Authors: Šimáček Petr , Králová Věra , Mňuk Tereza , Král Pavel
Published: November 2023

Meetings are an integral part of organisational life, and their effectiveness is essential both for organisations and their employees. Meeting literature provides a rich overview of various factors impacting meeting effectiveness; however, the content of meetings is neglected as an important factor of meeting effectiveness. The content of the meeting can be assessed through related tasks, which form the central tenets of stratified systems theory. Stratified systems theory posits that a specific job position category is associated with a particular time horizon and characteristic tasks. Therefore, we used stratified systems theory as an appropriate framing for the research to test how the fit between the meeting content (characteristic tasks) and the employee's time horizon contributes to perceived meeting effectiveness. The study draws on a quantitative research design. Data were collected via a survey of seven organisations in different industries in the Czech Republic (n=96). Regression models and ANOVA were used as methods for data analysis. The findings reveal that neither an employee's time horizon per se nor the fit between meeting content (characteristic tasks) and the employee's time horizon influence perceived meeting effectiveness, which does not support the main hypothesis. However, the data revealed three other interesting findings, which we elaborated on using an abductive approach. First, by controlling all possible discriminating factors (such as job position category, education, age, and characteristic tasks), we found that women operate within a shorter time horizon. Second, women perceive meetings as more effective. Third, while we found a fit between the employee's time horizon and job position category, we did not find a fit between the employee's time horizon and meeting content (characteristic tasks) nor a fit between the job position category and meeting content (characteristic tasks), which challenges stratified systems theory. The research results contribute to meeting effectiveness literature by challenging the role of job position categories and meeting content. However, in the first place, the results open up a space for a fruitful research inquiry into gender studies and stratified systems theory.
Diversity and sustainability as a new base for leadership
Authors: Takacs Emoke , Abcouwer Toon
Published: November 2023

Current developments in contemporary society require a fundamental re-discussion of some commonly accepted “truth”. This paper highlights some critics of economic, societal and environmental aspects relevant to sustainability. Analysing these three aspects affecting individuals and society makes us consider the different beneficiaries, their knowledge sources and management. Our paper discusses a new type of leadership in our uncertain world by shifting the focus from economic, societal and environmental aspects to regarding the beneficiaries as well: the individuals (Me), the organisations (We) and the society (All). Experiences built under changing circumstances require less and less focus on knowledge transfer and more on knowledge exchange. Basing ourselves only on knowledge sources (from scientific (trustworthy?) sources) is questionable and needs reconsideration. The importance of exchanging experiences among managers and leaders shows the need for life-long learning. The use of information/knowledge is becoming more relevant than its ownership. Moving the focus to use and interpreting knowledge is a differentiating factor that forms the basis for creating value. In cooperation, where decision-makers share ownership and communicate their interpretations, we explore a new role for the “we” (the organisational value), compared to the traditional orientation where organisations only fulfil individual (shareholder) value or alike. Our finding lead to new forms of equity, where the chances for success are equal, regardless of educational level, gender or cultural background. A sustainable society for everyone requires a broader view of reality than only for the privileged ones. It is also a different approach to striving for diversity. For sustainability, as the world’s ability to host our successors, managers and leaders should not limit themselves to traditional certainties, like intellectual property, value and ownership.
Social responsibility leadership in the banking sector in times of pandemic
Authors: Mayuri-Ramos Elizabeth , Villanueva-Vasquez Pamela Liset , Conde-Beltran Yuri Vanessa , Cordova-Buiza Franklin
Published: November 2023

The present work is a research on social responsibility in the financial sector, considering that social responsibility has achieved great notoriety since the end of the last century, both in the business, academic and social fields, basically due to the Internet, the globalization of the economy and policies increasingly focused on the interests of individuals involved with the companies, considering that the banking sector had to implement and reinforce fundamental aspects to survive the pandemic. The objective of this study is to determine the corporate social responsibility initiatives within the financial sector, to analyse the strategies implemented to provide timely responses to the economic reactivation in the face of the pandemic and to determine the main strategies and approaches of the financial system in the scientific literature between 2020-2023. The methodology applied is the research of scientific articles in recognized databases such as ScienceDirect, Scopus and Web of Science, where we found 25 research studies included for this systematic review of which we will see the 14 countries where the information was collected. In all the countries the economies suffered significant devastation and during this period they tried to adapt to new experiences to survive the pandemic and have profitability, as part of the affectation was the economic growth, unemployment, the closing of several companies, the economic activities slowed down, the expenses in elements of health services and protection increased, among others, besides the greater collaboration was sought between the governments and the banking institutions to put in practice measures of economic support, then it is concluded that financial institutions managed to change consumer priorities by adapting to digital technology ensuring that transactions are safe and reliable in order to avoid contagions and crowds, digitized financial services have the benefit of reaching millions of people and businesses, most research recommended that the financial system keep constant track of the prospects for improvement of economic activity and monitor the evolution of its customers and partners.
Unveiling the Mediating Nexus of Digital Transformation on Digital Leadership and Enterprise Performance in Manufacturing Firms.
Authors: Takyi Kwabena Nsiah , Gavurova Beata
Published: November 2023

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, digital transformation has become an imperative for organizations seeking to stay competitive and relevant. The relentless advancement of technology has brought about unprecedented opportunities and challenges, necessitating a shift in leadership paradigms to embrace the digital era fully. This investigation seeks to test the nexus between digital leadership, digital transformation, and enterprise performance. Empirically, the Smart PLS approach was employed to test the affiliation between digital leadership and enterprise performance, through the mediating effect of digital transformation. We collected data on manufacturing firms consisting of 471 managers across the various regions of Ghana. The finding indicates that digital leadership and digital transformation exhibit a positive affiliation with enterprise performance. Finally, digital transformation had a favorable mediating effect on the nexus between digital leadership and enterprise performance. Practitioners and firms would be motivated to seize the advantages of digital transformation as an opportunity to improve firm performance. Again, manufacturing firms that want to be leaders in the digital space have to acquire the services of a digital leader as part of their management portfolio team. This study contributes to the literature by providing new theoretical explanations for the inconsistent affiliation between digital leadership, digital transformation, and enterprise performance. This investigation also assists enterprises in reevaluating their digital strategies.
Assessing the impacts of a firm’s reputation on the financial performance of SMEs- Evidence from selected Literature.
Authors: Afful Charles Randy
Published: November 2023

Financial performance has been the beckon of growth of most SMEs worldwide as such there is a growing need to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) reputation to gain more financially and to be highly competitive. For this reason, this study reviewed 25 articles referenced in Web of Science and Scopus journals using a systematic literature review to explain the impacts of reputation on SME firms’ financial performance. The author identified differences in theoretical models in the articles and conceptualize them summarily based on the outcome. Articles were selected from 2018 to 2022. The resultant effect of this review asserts that business reputation significantly influences SMEs’ financial performance, and it is mediated by leadership. However, profitability reduces if SME leaders concentrate more on investment in reputation as acclaimed by some CEOs. This research will leverage more studies in the field of SME performance and reputational management factors. It will give guidance to future researchers thematically.

Keywords: Corporate reputation, financial performance, SMEs, leadership, Corporate social responsibility, intangible Asset Management, management, and systematic review
Experiences of Pre-Service Teachers’ on Skill-Based Problem Solving Oriented Lesson Study
Authors: Kanbolat Oben
Published: November 2023

This study aims to present the experiences of pre-service mathematics teachers’ on skill-based problem solving-oriented lesson study. In the study, the activities related to the learning environments designed by the lesson study groups before and after the research lesson with a focus on problem solving are investigated. In this way, the study aims to reveal how lesson study affects pre-service mathematics teachers’ awareness of teaching problem solving. In the study, 31 pre-service mathematics teachers first received a comprehensive training on teaching problem solving in mathematics for six weeks. Then, the pre-service teachers received a one-week training on the lesson study professional development model. In the last stage, they carried out problemsolving-focused lesson study processes under the guidance of the researcher with ten lesson study groups that they formed on the basis of volunteerism. Finally, the lesson study groups shared their experiences with the other pre-service teachers participating in the study by presenting the bulletins they prepared. The data were obtained through planning and evaluation meeting minutes, observation notes of research lesson practitioners and observers, initial and final lesson plans and documents. The data obtained in the study, in which the case study design of the qualitative research approach was preferred, were subjected to descriptive analysis using Polya’s (1957) problem solving process steps framework. During the lesson study process that they experienced within the scope of the research, pre-service teachers shared their knowledge and experiences about the problem solving process and teaching with each other, as well as activities such as collaborative work in groups, designing and implementing teaching materials such as lesson plans and worksheets. According to the results obtained in the study, it was seen that the activities in the problem solving-oriented learning environments of the pre-service teachers varied thanks to the collaborative structure of the lesson study. In addition, it was seen that the pre-service teachers had the opportunity to experience the steps of the problem solving process and the instructions they could use in these steps on the students through the research lesson and then make the necessary rearrangements through evaluation meetings. Considering the opportunities offered by the collaborative and school-based structure of lesson study, it is thought that lesson study can be a functional model for pre-service teachers to use theory and practice together in courses on problem solving instruction.
Investigation of Sportsmanship Orientations of Students Studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences
Authors: Yılmaz Tugay
Published: November 2023

Aim: This research aims to examine the students studying at the faculty of sports sciences and physical education and sports colleges by different variables according to the multidimensional sportsmanship scale. Materials & Methods: The universe of the research consists of students studying at the faculty of sports sciences at 7 Aralık Üniversitesi and physical education and sports colleges. The sample of the study consists of a total of 453 students, 210 male and 243 female, who were randomly selected from among the students. A personal information form developed by the researchers was used to collect information about the independent variables. The Turkish version of the multidimensional sportsmanship orientation scale developed by Vallerand et al. (1997) was used as a data collection tool to measure students’ sportsmanship orientation the scale whose validity and reliability study was conducted by Balçıkan (2010). While evaluating the findingsobtained in the study, SPSS 25 was used for statistical analysis. While evaluating the study data, descriptive statistical methods were used. Independent sample T-Test and ANOVA Test were used in the analysis of the data. In the analyses, the level of significance was determined as p<0.05. Results: In the findings, it was determined that while there was a significant difference according to the age variable of the department and the variable of active sports involvement, there was no significant difference on the sportsmanship orientation in terms of the gender variable and the variable of the department they studied. Conclusion: When we examine the multidimensional sportsmanship orientations of the faculty of sports sciences and physical education and sports school students in terms of different variables, it has been concluded that the older students exhibitmore sportsmanship attitudes, and the students who do active sports have more sportsmanship orientations than those who do not do sports.
RECONCEPTUALISATION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION DISCIPLINE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Bragarenco Nicolae , Ciorba Constantin , Gutu Vladimir
Published: November 2023

This article presents a new approach to the discipline "physical education" and aims to include all students in higher education institutions in motor activities based on interests (individually or at academic group level), to meet the needs of movement and the orientation towards the systematic practice of a sport during the whole life. The reconceptualization of university physical education consisted in the redesign of disciplinary curriculum, taking into account modern approaches to curriculum development, where the priority role is intended for educational purposes expressed in terms of skills, but also for diversifying the forms of practicing physical education activities. The forms of organizing physical education activities proposed to students are the following: lessons - sports tests on a circle or modules/sports tests, physical education sections and motor activities/sports practised outside the educational institution. These forms of activities will intensify the focus on learner, valorizing on the principles of individualization, differentiation and personalization of the learning process.
TRAINING OF COGNITIVE SKILLS IN RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS AT THE INITIAL STAGE OF SPORTS TRAINING TO 5-6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
Authors: Reaboi Natalia
Published: November 2023

Competence defines a capacity expressed in a certain field or the ability to produce a certain conduct. The formation of cognitive skills in 5-6 year old children is one of the pillars on which the personality of the individual is built with all his skills, abilities, attitudes and skills, it is the condition that ensures the effectiveness of physical training at the initial stage of sports training.Training of artistic knowledge at the initial stage of sports training is a complex part of cognitive skills: language interpretation, the identification movements and creative application capabilities of knowledge to children 5-6 years old in rhythmic gymnastics.
THE ROLE OF CHOREGRAPHIC TRAINING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTIC SKILLS IN 7-8-YEAR-OLD FEMALE GYMNASTS
Authors: Reaboi Natalia , Buftea Victor
Published: November 2023

The role of choreographic training includes an integral system of practice based on dance elements, ensuring an increased level of muscle work in various practice forms. The foundations of this school are classical and dance exercises are used according to a specific methodology. Most of the choreographic exercises are performed at the support bar, in the centre of the room, making extensive use of the reflective surfaces of the mirrors. The exercises performed at the support bar in most cases have a preparatory character, being performed in the preliminary stage according to some principles and rules that indicate the initial, intermediate and final positions of the movements, educating the specific particularities of organization and concretization of movement actions. Choreographic training in rhythmic gymnastics also implies a series of positions and exercises, performed with all parts of the body, including the head, arms, trunk, legs, etc.
CHALLENGES DETERMINED BY THE NEW TRENDS IN HANDBALL COMMUNICATION
Authors: Chepea Bogdan Ion
Published: November 2023

The act of communication plays an important role in all aspects of social life and is an inevitable link in the normal functioning of sports organizations. Therefore, the research theme aims to explore how communication is viewed in the game of handball, highlighting the main problems encountered. The purpose of the study is to analyze communication problems within handball teams. Communication has always represented a fundamental element in the game of handball, but nowadays it is much more important, due to the fact that society is characterized by a continuous diversification of cognitive domains and the effective involvement of the act of communication in all activities carried out. Therefore, it is well known that handball is the basis of the physical and mental development of young athletes, which should be a sign created by healthy individuals, so communication within handball teams can greatly influence the achievement of these young people athletes, developing their image and sport, especially increasing the efficiency of the handball game. Thus, communication is a fundamental condition in handball, for the instructional process to be carried out under appropriate conditions, communication being what constitutes the bond that holds together the members of a handball team.
HIGHLIGHTING THE ASPECTS OF DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE TACTICS AND THE SPECIFIC TECHNIQUE OF THE FOOTBALL GAME
Authors: Guță Eduard Leonard , Orțănescu Dorina
Published: November 2023

Football is a complex sport of teamwork and competition, a shared space whose objective is to kick the ball into the opposite goal more times than the opposition .The fact that several players share a space, fighting over possession of the ball gives the sport one of its most defining characteristics: spontaneity and, therefore, makes it more difficult to predict events. This reality is recognised by coaches and new sport professionals who understand that training environments should resemble those that are found in a real competitive contexts. As a result, Small Sided Games (SSG) have become a widely used training tool in football. SSGs are down-sized situations where one, several, or all phases of the game can be trained in a smaller space and where there are fewer players than in a real situation.
Destandau Tekni̇ğiyle Lomber Diskektomi̇ Kısa Vadede Daha İyi Sonuçlar Veri̇yor
Authors: GÖK Halil , BAYMURAT Alim Can
Published: November 2023

Background: The long-term results of patients who underwent lumbar discectomy using the Desdandau technique (EDDT) and standard open technique (SOD) were compared.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective screening was made of patients, aged 18-70 years, who underwent single-level lumbar discectomy between 2007 and 2011. A total of 52 patients met the study criteria and were separated into 2 groups according to the surgical technique used, the EDDT group (n: 27) and the SOD group (n:25). All patients were compared using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and modified MacNab criteria.
Results. The mean follow-up period was calculated as 158.2±9.2 months in the EDDT group and 161.2±11.1 months in the SOD group. The preoperative VAS and ODI values were observed to be similar in both groups (p=0.829); p=0.120 respectively). At the early postoperative visit, VAS and ODI values were lower in the EDDT group (VAS: EDDT: 2.2±0.6; SOD: 4.1±0.8, p<0.001; ODI: EDDT: 15.4±1.6, SOD: 29.1±1.9, p<0.001, respectively), however, there was no significant difference in VAS and ODI scores between the two groups at the last control (VAS: EDDT: 2.1±0.4, SOD: 2.4±0.5, p=0.078; ODI: EDDT: 14.6±2.1, SOD: 15.1±1.2, p=0.033, respectively). According to the modified MacNab criteria, good and excellent results were obtained in 88% of the SOD group and 92% of the EDDT group.
Conclusion: The study found that the long-term results of both techniques were similar. However, the Destandau technique had better early results. The endoscopic method seems to be better in terms of early return to daily activities.
Rethinking the Prophethood of Muhammad in Christian Theology
Authors: Din Mehraj
Published: November 2023

In the modern world, there is an incessant amount of research on religions and interfaith interaction. Yet, too much of our theological activities remain shockingly intramural. Instead of allowing an inherent energy to launch us into the larger reality of global religiosity, we insist on protecting our theology from the threat of contamination. Among many points of agreement, the centrality of Muhammad’s prophethood remains key among the contentious issues between Islam and Christianity. Anna Bonta Moreland’s Reconsidering Muhammad takes us on a journey into the reception of Muhammad in Christian Theology. Engaging Islam from deep within the Christian tradition by addressing the question of the prophethood of Muhammad, Anna Bonta Moreland calls for a retrieval of Thomistic thought on prophecy. Moreland sets the stage for this inquiry through an intertextual reading of the key Vatican II documents on Islam and on Christian revelation. This review will retrace the historical reception of Muhammad in early European tradition and also how Moreland’s work is a pathbreaking introduction to one of the least talked about theological puzzles between Islam and the Christian tradition.
From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women since 9/11 (by Shakira Hussein)
Authors: Freitas de Souza Felipe
Published: November 2023

Issues involving Muslim women are recurrent in contemporary times, given that the interest in the topic reappears when events involving Muslim populations are reported. Whether they are majority or minority populations, the conditions of Muslim women are highlighted to justify narratives about Islam and its practitioners. The present work by Shakira Hussein, From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women since 9/11, offers a synthesis of recent questions about these women, covering the last years of the 1990s to the last years of the 2010s, considering events that occurred in Australia, Afghanistan, France, the United States and other locations, bringing the researcher’s experience as a Muslim woman and as an academic.
Women and Gender in the Qur’an
Authors: Bint Younus Zainab
Published: November 2023

Women and Gender in the Qur’an by Celene Ibrahim focuses on women’s voices, presence, and roles found within the Qur’an. Ibrahim situates her work as part of the tafsīr tradition by presenting herself as “the tentative mufassira” (8). Given that there are few known classical Islamic writings from female exegetes, it is intriguing to see a modern work from a female author claiming a place within the tafsīr tradition, which holds significant weight due to its role in understanding the meanings of the Qur’an. Though one may point to other authors such as Amina Wadud and Asma Barlas for their previous work on similar themes, it is important to note that the former two spend far more time asserting and defining their own Weltanschauung than engaging in close readings. To her credit, Ibrahim embodies the classical tafsīr ethos by centering Qur’anic language itself as the basis for her conclusions.