bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symposium 2: Performing Blended Learning as a Product and a Service
Authors: O'Keeffe Cormac , Parchoma Gale
Published: October 2024

Blended and networked learning discourses tend to focus on relations among learners, tutor/professor/teachers, peers, and material learning resources. While in higher educational contexts there is logic to this discursive practice, the roles of non-educator and technological actants in blended learning networks are often neglected or relegated to marginal positions. Non-educators’ contributions to commercial assemblages of blended learning networks can be perceived as out-sider performances, in which values are more aligned to neo-liberal, managerial practices. The roles of technological actants across contexts remain under theorised. We trace interactions among sales and service staff, technological actors, and learners in a commercial blended learning assemblage and problematise a commodified performance of blended learning in relation to blended and networked learning theorised practices. Using Callon’s notion of socio-technical capacities and assemblages, we redeploy attributes of a blended-learning network where interactions among sales and service staff, learners, technological artefacts and actants are described. The roles sales and service staff and technological agents in a second language enterprise perform blended learning as an assemblage that binds companies, human personnel, and learners. Using this approach, informed by material-semiotics, we follow the sequence of transformations that are involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of blended learning. Non-educator and non-human actants in sales, service, and administrative roles actively work to strengthen blended learning assemblages, making them more - or less - durable over time, while having little or nothing to do with supporting cooperative or collaborative learning activities central to theorised blended and network learning practices. Yet these actants perform key roles in performing blended learning as a product and a service in commercial settings that connect theories of blended learning.
Symposium 3: Building Co-design Strategies in Higher Education Using Technology-Enhanced Learning Scenarios
Authors: Gros Begoña , Garcia Iolanda
Published: October 2024

Networked learning is “learning in which information and communications is used to promote connections: between one learner and other learners, between learners and tutors; between a learning community and its learning resources.” (Goodyear et al. 2004:2). This definition of networked learning goes beyond merely denoting ‘online learning’ or ‘e-learning’, as it encompasses theoretical assumptions about learning and how to design for learning. The idea of networked learning suggests that learning is not confined to the individual mind or the individual learner, it is located in the connections and interactions between learners, teachers and resources. As such, “networked learning theory seems to encompass an understanding of learning as a social, relational phenomenon, and a view of knowledge and identity as constructed through interaction and dialogue” (Rybertm Buus, Georgsen, 2012: 44).
Symposium 3: The 7Cs of Learning Design – a new approach to rethinking design practice
Authors: Conole Gráinne
Published: October 2024

Designing for learning is arguably the key challenge facing education today; new technologies offer a plethora of ways in which learners can interact with rich multimedia, communicate and collaborate. Despite this teachers lack the necessary digital literacy skills to make effective design decisions that are pedagogically informed and make appropriate use of technologies. Learning Design has emerged in the last ten years as a means of addressing this, by providing teachers with guidance and support for their design practices. Learning Design is predicated on three aspects: guidance, visualisation and sharing. The paper will describe the development and evaluation of a new framework for Learning Design, the 7Cs of Learning Design. The framework consists of the following elements:Conceptualise (i.e. what are you designing and why, who are you designing for?),Capture (in terms of capturing resources to be used and activities around Learner Generated Content), Communicate (mechanisms to foster communication), Collaborate (mechanisms to foster collaboration), Consider (activities to promote reflection and enable assessment), Combine (combining the activities to give a holistic overview of the design and associated learning pathways), and Consolidate (in terms of running the design in a real learning context, evaluating, refining and sharing the design). The paper will describe the framework and how it can be used, along with an evaluation of its application in practice. It will conclude by contextualising this work within recent broader developments in the field. The framework can be used by individual teacher or with groups of teachers co-designing learning interventions. The latter has been effectively delivered in a series of workshops we have run over the past year.
Symposium 4: Disrupting the illusion of sameness
Authors: Sheail Philippa , Ross Jen
Published: October 2024

This article challenges what the authors consider to be the potential for ‘illusions of sameness’ in online learning in higher education. Drawing on the work of Dall’Alba and Barnacle (2005) and Sidhu and Dall’Alba (2012) on disembodied education, and on work by Ross et al (2013) on ‘making distance visible’, the authors consider strategies for ‘bringing the outside in’ in digital education. If we accept that the local context of the student is important, and recognise the significance of bodies and embodied knowing, particularly in relation to professional practice, in online learning environments, the authors ask what strategies educators might adopt in terms of recognising and communicating bodies and locales in digital spaces. How might the illusion of sameness be disrupted? Two examples of disruption from the MSc in Digital Education at the University of Edinburgh are outlined: the participant map, and the digital postcard.
Rekabet ve Stratejik Yönetim Konularını İçeren Gastronomi Tezlerin Bibliyometrik Analizi
Authors: Uzut İsmail , Ulema Şevki
Published: October 2024

Turizm alanında rekabetçilik konusu bir destinasyonun geneline ilişkin olarak değerlendirilebilirken alternatif turizm türleri açısından da ayrıca değerlendirilebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda alternatif turizm türlerinden biri olan gastronomi turizmi ile rekabet ve strateji konuları arasında yakın bir ilişki olduğu söylenebilir. Çalışma kapsamında ulusal literatürde görece az incelenen gastronomi turizmi ile rekabet ve strateji konularını bir arada ele alan lisansüstü tezlerin kapsamlarının incelenmesi ve mevcut durumu hakkında değerlendirme yapılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda Ulusal Tez Merkezi üzerinden yapılan taramada araştırma kapsamı içerisine giren 34 lisansüstü tez incelenmiş ve konu kapsamına giren ilk tez çalışmasının görece yakın bir tarih olan 2009 yılında tamamlandığı görülmüştür. Ancak yıllar içerisinde bu çalışmaların sayısında düzenli denilebilecek bir artışta görülmüştür. İncelenen tez çalışmalarında ele alınan başlıca konular ise gastronominin çeşitlendirme ve farklılaştırma aracı olması, markalaşmaya katkısı, unutulmaz deneyim sağlama, tekrar ziyaret niyetine etkisi, kaynak olarak gastronominin önemi, gastronomik kimlik vb. şeklinde özetlenebilir. Bununla birlikte incelenen tezlerin yaklaşık olarak % 66’sının turizm işletmeciliği gibi ana bilim dallarında tamamlandığı görülürken yaklaşık olarak % 18’inin ise gastronomi ve mutfak sanatları ile ilişkili ana bilim dallarında tamamlandığı görülmüştür
Navigating the Academic Gap: A Phenomenological Inquiry on the Experiences of Teachers in DepEd’s Catch-Up Fridays
Authors: Raymunde Jr. Pedro P , Lapuz Johnmark B , Morre Jr. Michael C , Uyangoren Janet R , Gomez Joecel Jan M , Villamil Jehu A
Published: October 2024

This research examines the implementation of DepEd Catch-Up Friday, a strategic initiative introduced by the Department of Education in the Philippines to address academic disruptions caused by the pandemic. The study investigates how this initiative has affected teachers’ practices, workload, and overall well-being. A qualitative study, particularly phenomenological inquiry, was used. Through purposive sampling, 22 secondary public-school teachers served as participants in this phenomenological study. The results yielded three themes with regard to the experiences in Catch-Up Friday: challenges in the preparation, gaps in educational resources, and barriers in student motivation. Regarding the coping mechanisms of teachers in Catch-Up Fridays, four themes emerged: strategic intervention, diverse expertise, systematic evaluation, and technology-enhanced instruction. Moreover, three themes emerged as the insights of teachers in the implementation of Catch-Up Fridays: an inclusive learning environment, addressing struggling learners, and requiring tailored instructional approaches. Recommendations include strengthening support structures for teachers, promoting student-centered approaches, and implementing structured feedback mechanisms to continuously improve the initiative. The research underscores the need for ongoing evaluation and adjustments to ensure that DepEd Catch-Up Friday effectively supports students and educators, fostering a more resilient and adaptive educational environment.
To improve the efficiency of the color adjustment function of the photo editing app A Comparative Analysis Study on UI Design: Focusing on VSCO, Hypic, Lightroom, and Snapseed
Authors:   Korea Society of Public Design, Ding Xue , Song Ji-Sung
Published: October 2024

With the development of smartphones, there are more and more kinds of functions, among which the most used by users is the camera.In fact, Some smartphones even use the photo function as the main means of promotion. As smartphone cameras advance, so does their popularity. A key feature in photo editing apps is color adjustment, which lets users tweak the mood and style of their images. A well-crafted UI is crucial for making this feature efficient, affecting how easily users can find and use it, and their overall visual and interactive experience. This study zeroes in on the UI design of color adjustment in four top photo editing apps: VSCO, Hypic, Lightroom, and Snapseed. The findings are straightforward: First, there's a clear variation in how these apps navigate, design icons, and lay them out. Second, each app excels in organizing content and has its own distinct flair. Third, by examining their weaknesses and conducting market research, the study offers suggestions to enhance UI efficiency for color adjustment. Finally, it is hoped that this will be helpful to mobile platforms that want to create an overall user experience that allows users to quickly and accurately use the features they need and are accustomed to.
УПЛИВ ІНСТРУМЕНТІВ ШТУЧНОГО ІНТЕЛЕКТУ НА ПРОФЕСІЙНИЙ РОЗВИТОК ПЕДАГОГІВ
Authors: Захар Ольга
Published: October 2024

У науковій статті досліджено вплив інструментів штучного інтелекту (ШІ) на професійний розвиток педагогів у системі післядипломної освіти. Проаналізовано підходи до визначення поняття «штучний інтелект», розглянуто наявні технології ШІ, які можна застосовувати в освітньому процесі: адаптивні системи навчання, інструменти для автоматизованого оцінювання, аналітики освітніх даних, генерації навчального контенту тощо. На основі огляду наукових джерел й опитування педагогів закладів освіти Миколаївської області щодо їхнього використання інструментів ШІ визначено переваги – індивідуалізація та персоналізація навчання, гнучкість і зручність, економія часу й автоматизація рутинних завдань, підвищення мотивації та залученості до навчання, також ризики – потреба в значних технічни ресурсах, етичність і безпечність використання ШІ, залежність від технологій, зниження рівня критичного мислення, особистісного спілкування та відповідальності. Уперше представлено результати вибору педагогів Миколаївської області щодо використання інструментів штучного інтелекту. З’ясовано, що впровадження штучного інтелекту в систему післядипломної освіти відкриває нові можливості для професійного розвитку педагогів, проте потребує ретельного планування, методичної та належної технічної підтримки.
ПРОБЛЕМА ЕМОЦІЙНО-ПСИХОЛОГІЧНОГО СТАНУ ОСІБ З ІНВАЛІДНІСТЮ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ НА МИКОЛАЇВЩИНІ
Authors: Степаненко Ольга , Дробишева Марина
Published: October 2024

Стаття присвячена вивченню емоційно-психологічного стану осіб з інвалідністю під час воєнної кризи. Досліджено негативний уплив наслідків війни на психологію вразливої категорії населення. Проаналізовано зміни емоційного стану людей з інвалідністю нині порівняно з «довоєнним» періодом. У роботі подано авторське тлумачення поняття «особа з інвалідністю». Схарактеризовано головні техніки та практики роботи при емоційних порушеннях, пов’язаних із воєнною кризою. У розвідці подано стислу характеристику основних програм соціального спрямування, які діють на території Миколаївської області та пов’язані з соціальною та психологічною адаптацією та розвитком осіб з інвалідністю.
Coil Embolization of a Ruptured Anterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Associated with Spinal Cord Arteriovenous Malformation
Authors: Ioannidis Ioannis , Kalogeras Adamantios , Tasiou Anastasia , Vlychou Marianna , Fountas Kostas Nikolaos
Published: October 2024

The present report describes a patient with spinal cord arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and an associated anterior spinal artery aneurysm presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Diagnostic spinal angiography revealed an intramedullary AVM, located at the T10–T11 level, and a prenidal saccular aneurysm at the junction of the radiculomedullary artery and the anterior spinal axis, fed by the right T8 segmental artery. The patient underwent successful selective coil embolization of the aneurysm. Follow-up angiography 3 months postoperatively showed no recurrence of the aneurysm.
O CATÁLOGO DOS DIZERES EM ADÉLIA PRADO
Authors: Oliveira Rosineide de Aquino
Published: October 2024

Este artigo, parte integrante da pesquisa de dissertação de mestrado em Ciências da Religião, explora a fortuna crítica em torno da poética da escritora mineira Adélia Prado. A relevância da obra de Prado é indiscutível no cenário literário brasileiro, especialmente em sua capacidade de entrelaçar religiosidade e cotidiano através de uma linguagem poética singular. Nesse contexto, o estudo se justifica pela necessidade de apresentar a compreensão e a recepção de sua linguagem poética, destacando a importância dessa autora nas discussões no campo artístico literário e religiosas contemporâneas.O objetivo central deste trabalho é identificar e analisar as principais contribuições e debates críticos suscitados pela obra de Adélia Prado. Para isso, a pesquisa utiliza uma metodologia hermenêutica qualitativa, ancorada na revisão bibliográfica e na análise crítica. A abordagem hermenêutica permite uma interpretação profunda dos textos e das interpretações acadêmicas que surgiram ao longo do tempo sobre sua obra. A pesquisa toma como base teórica os apontamentos de Queiroz (1994) e Oliveira (2020), buscando entender de que forma as ideias da autora foram recebidas e transformadas em debate crítico.A conclusão do estudo evidencia a relevância contínua da obra de Adélia Prado no contexto das Ciências da Religião e da Literatura, destacando sua capacidade de provocar reflexões profundas sobre a condição humana, a religiosidade e o cotidiano, ampliando assim as fronteiras do diálogo entre religião e literatura.
Melanoma Skin Cancer Detection Using Deep learning, Neural Network and Classical Machine Learning Techniques
Authors:   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad, Cirigiri Sri Varsh , Sai Inturu Chaithanya ,   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Anurag University, Hyderabad, Sankar Hemanth ,   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
Published: October 2024

Melanoma is one of the deadliest types of skin cancer and requires an early check-up for survival. Though earlier diagnosis was primarily dependent on dermatological checks and histopathological reports, automation of the same may be highly time-efficient. With that interest, in the following paper, we propose a hybrid approach which attempts to utilize deep learning with some classical machine learning methods to automate melanoma detection. The feature extraction and classification were done using CNN because it is the most efficient in processing image data. Besides, SVM and KNN were used as comparative models. A very well-preprocessed dataset of images was used to see how well models could work in terms of accuracy, precision, and recall. We observe strong over-performance by CNNs compared to the more traditional methods and an ensemble of models that yield a higher confidence of diagnostics. The technique has much promise for supporting clinicians with quicker and more precise diagnosing of melanoma, thus enabling better patient care. Keywords: Melanoma detection, dermatological, Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs).
Vestibulectomía con láser de diodo, tratamiento de la vulvodinia localizada
Authors: Bastidas Lizcano Belkys Gabriela , Salazar Mora Ronald Alberto , Ramírez Montero Catalina
Published: October 2024

Resumen El estudio tuvo como finalidad evaluar la eficacia de la vestibulectomía con láser diodo en el manejo de la vulvodinia localizada durante el período enero – junio 2017, en la localidad de San José de Costa Rica. Fue fundamentado en la teoría de la aplicación de tratamiento con láser diodo de 980 nw basadas en Dorros (1991), centrado a su vez dentro de la teoría clásica de Einstein (1917); y en su ponencia moderna de Bastidas Salazar (2017) sobre el uso del láser en cirugías del área ginecológica como la cesárea. Dicho estudio específicamente cubrió áreas de diseño, planificación y control de la metodología para el desarrollo de la técnica con el fin de cumplir con el objetivo principal de la investigación. La metodología ubicó la investigación como un estudio de tipo descriptivo explicativo retrospectivo con nivel cuasiexperimental mediante diseño de campo con apoyo documental, manejando una población y muestra intencional no probabilística de 110 pacientes diagnosticadas con la patología específica de vulvodinia localizada. El criterio de inclusión fue pacientes diagnosticadas con recomendación quirúrgica; no se demostraron antecedentes epidemiológicos de predisposición. El instrumento de recolección de datos que se utilizó fue el pretest y postest de 11 ítemes con preguntas cerradas de tipo policotómicas con 5 alternativas de respuesta, a la cual se llegó después de comprobar su validez, obteniendo un 0.70 de confiabilidad, siendo altamente confiable. Se concluye que existe la necesidad y se percibe como altamente positiva la posibilidad de tratamiento de la vulvodinia a través de la vestibulectomía con láser de diodo de 980 nw, siendo una de las recomendaciones el uso de la técnica como una alternativa novedosa, de bajo costo, nivel de recuperación óptimo en tiempo corto y de amplios beneficios para el entorno de la paciente. Por lo que se evalúa como una opción factible y ampliamente beneficiosa.
RANCANG BANGUN MODERASI BERAGAMA MAHASISWA INSTITUT AGAMA ISLAM HASANUDIN PARE DI PONDOK PESANTREN AL IMAM AL-TIRMIDZI KEDIRI
Authors: Arianto
Published: October 2024

Indonesia's wealth in the form of diversity makes us proud. Proud in the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia which is not broken even though it consists of various ethnicities, cultures, languages, religions. For decades, Indonesia has often been hit by issues of radicalism. Movements acting on behalf of certain groups are growing day by day and openly voicing their ideology. Religious diversity is the strongest in shaping radicalism in Indonesia. the motives that shape their movement can be sensitivity to religious life, the influence of extreme streams and political influence. Real religious moderation is the realization of the most basic truth and does not eliminate each other's identity. The attitude of moderation does not defame the truth, each of them has a clear attitude on an issue, about truth, about the law of an issue, but in the corridor of religious moderation. The attitude of moderation is more about an attitude of openness between citizens who have the same rights in the framework of nationalism. As a sovereign society, each has beliefs that respect each other with full awareness within the frame of religious moderation. The attitude of religious moderation has been implemented by IAI Hasanudin Pare students in the field enrichment practice program (PPL) which was held at the al Imam al-Trimidzi Islamic boarding school, Kediri. The form of religious moderation appears in the social, cultural and environmental fields. In the religious field, IAI Hasanuddin Pare students made a special study on how to counteract terrorist movements in Indonesia by inviting competent resource persons.
Praktik "Teaching English" Mahasiswa Program Studi Tadris Bahasa Inggris Melalui Program Praktik Lapangan di MA AL Fatah Badas
Authors: Novi Rina Dewi  , Yasminto Muhammad
Published: October 2024

PPL is a practical program that aims to develop professional students by applying their knowledge, attitudes, and skills. This program requires students to integrate their previous learning experiences into teaching activities and other tasks in order to gain practical experience in managing an educational institution. Through this program, students have the opportunity to directly engage with the conditions of an educational institution and gain new experiences that complement their theoretical knowledge. The goal of this teaching practice program can give some advantages for the students, the MA Al-Fatah institutions, and the Islamic Institute of Hasanuddin Pare. This research is conducted through a field study by using a qualitative descriptive method, which involves describing research of the data through word explanations. The data is collected through observations and teaching activities carried out by students of the English Tadris study program. The practical Field Experience of Islamic Institue of Hasanuddin Pare 2022-2023 is done on December 6th 2022 – February 4th 2023 at Islamic Senior High School Al –fatah Badas Pare.
Geomorphic History Determined by a New Glacial History Paradigm and Topographic Map Interpretation, Towanda Creek Drainage Basin, PA (USA)
Authors: Clausen Eric
Published: October 2024

Pennsylvania’s Towanda Creek drainage basin geomorphic history is determined by using a recently proposed geology and glacial history paradigm (which predicts massive and prolonged southwest oriented continental ice sheet meltwater floods flowed across Pennsylvania) when interpreting previously unexplained topographic map drainage system and erosional landform evidence. The new paradigm explains most of the region’s erosional landforms including barbed tributaries, drainage divides, through valleys (valleys crossing drainage divides), water and wind gaps, valley orientations, entrenched meanders, through valley and gap floor elevations, regional ridge crest elevations, upland area elevations, and intervening lowland elevations.

The new paradigm suggests the present-day northeast-oriented Towanda Creek drainage basin formed as immense and prolonged southwest-oriented floods first lowered a low relief surface (now preserved if preserved at all by the region’s highest elevations) in the area between the present-day northeast-trending Blossburg and Barclay synclinal uplands and also to the south of the Barclay synclinal upland. Those floodwaters after flowing across the present-day northeast-oriented Towanda Creek drainage basin flowed in a southwest direction through the now southwest-oriented Lycoming and Loyalsock Creek drainage basins and then to and along a now northeast oriented West Branch Susquehanna River valley segment before continuing in a southwest direction along what is now the Allegheny Front. Headward erosion of today’s southeast-oriented North Branch Susquehanna River valley segment between Pittston and Athens, Pennsylvania captured and reversed the beheaded southwest-oriented floodwaters to create the northeast-oriented Towanda Creek drainage system seen today.
Design of an Objective Magnetic Lens and Study of its Magnetic and Optical Properties in the Scanning Electron Microscope
Authors: Mohammed Nabaa Burhan Ali , Hussein Mohammed Abdullah
Published: October 2024

The study's objective is to investigate the optical properties of the objective magnetic lens, which is considered as the most crucial part of the electron microscope. Three models of objective lenses (Snorkel, Pinhole, Gemini), equal in geometric dimensions were taken, and their optical properties, as well as their magnetic properties. It was found that the lens (P) achieved the best results, which were studied at a continuous excitation (NI=2000 A-t) and different acceleration voltages ranging from (8-16 kV), in addition to different values for the aperture angle (α). Then, we conducted an improvement on the selected lens by changing the width of the air gap between the poles (S) and studying the properties of the lens. We obtained better results for spherical (Cs=1.62 mm) and chromatic (Cc=1.84 mm) aberrations, focal length (fₒ=2.92 mm), as well as the highest value of the magnetic field (Bz=0.38 T) at an acceleration voltage (Vr=10000 V), excitation (NI=2000 A-t), and air gap width (S=5 mm), and the diameter of the electron probe (dp=11.25 nm) at an aperture angle (α=2 mrad).
Artificial Intelligence Enabled Loan Processing – A Boon for Micro Entrepreneurs
Authors: Salman Mr. Syed , R Dr. Chaya.
Published: October 2024

Microbusiness entrepreneurs encounter substantial difficulties in obtaining timely and effective financing to grow their companies in the rapidly changing financial landscape. Traditional loan processes are frequently laborious and time-consuming, which limits small businesses' potential for expansion. This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise the loan environment for microbusiness owners. AI streamlines loan processing to provide a quicker, more efficient, and fairer method, empowering entrepreneurs to take opportunities and succeed. The study shows how processing gets quicker, more accurate, and inclusive loan by using secondary data sources. Diverse pieces of literature highlight the benefits of AI for credit risk assessment and transparency. Despite difficulties like implementation expenses, AI provides unmatched advantages including less paperwork, greater access, and enhanced fraud detection. Human monitoring ensures moral AI implementation, finding a balance that changes the financial environment for microentrepreneurs.
Extended Representation Learning Based Neural Network Model for Outlier Detection
Authors: Muntaha Sidratul , Jahan Sohana , Bhuiyan Md. Anwarul Islam
Published: October 2024

Outlier detection problems have drawn much attention in recent times for their variety of applications. An outlier is a data point that is different from the rest of the data and can be detected based on some measure. In recent years, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have been used extensively for finding outliers more efficiently. This method is highly competitive with other methods currently in use such as similarity searches, density-based approaches, clustering, distance-based approaches, linear methods, etc. In this paper, we have proposed an extended representation learning based neural network. This model follows a symmetric structure like an autoencoder where the dimensions of the data are initially increased from their original dimensions and then reduced. Root mean square error is used to compute the outlier score. Reconstructed error is calculated and analyzed to detect the possible outliers. The experimental findings are documented by applying it to two distinct datasets. The performance of the proposed model is compared to several state-of-art approaches such as Rand Net, Hawkins, LOF, HiCS, and Spectral. Numerical results show that the proposed method outperforms all of these methods in terms of 5 validation scores, Accuracy (AC), Precision (P), Recall, F1 Score, AUC score.
Comparison of Cobb-Douglas Production Function with Deep Learning Models to Estimate the Productivity of Organised Manufacturing Sector - Indian Perspective
Authors: Preethi P. , rani S. A. Jyothi , Haragopal V.V.
Published: October 2024

The production function defines the output of a firm, industry, or economy based on various combinations of inputs. This study focuses on estimating the production function of India's manufacturing sector and determining the relationship between its inputs and outputs. To predict the output, measured as Gross Value Added (GVA), the study applies the Cobb Douglas Production Function (CDPF) along with several deep learning techniques, including Feedforward, Recurrent, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Bidirectional LSTM networks. Model performance is evaluated using metrics like Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The results indicate that the Cobb Douglas Production Function outperforms the deep learning models in predicting GVA for the organized manufacturing sector in India.
Gendered Authorship of the Female Identity: A Gynocritical Comparative Study between Norwegian Wood and the God of Small Things
Authors: Shahadat Nahreen Saleha
Published: October 2024

The paper seeks to elucidate the differences in the representation of women in male- and female-authored texts, specifically analyzing Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. Numerous critics over the years have noted that male and female authors often portray femininity in markedly different ways. While male authors tend to perpetuate prejudiced or stereotypical views of women, female authors, drawing from their direct experiences of womanhood, provide more authentic depictions that foster female empowerment. Theoretically identifying this marked difference is thus the primary aim of this paper and hence this study employs a qualitative textual analysis, utilizing theoretical frameworks such as Michel Foucault’s discourses of sexuality, Elaine Showalter’s gynocriticism, Hélène Cixous’s écriture féminine, Judith Butler’s gender performativity, and Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of gender stereotypes. The findings reveal a significant divergence in the way that male- and female-authored texts characterize female figures. Murakami, in his portrayal of Naoko and Midori, has often associated reductive and stereotypical attributes that in essence undermine their agencies and voices; their attributes and mannerisms were shown to be limited to emotional and/or sexual contexts that conflate the female experience and undermine gender fluidity. In contrast, Roy depicted Ammu and Rahel in accordance to feminist sensibilities as they can be seen to portray androgyny as well as employ their sexualities to challenge and subvert social norms and stereotypes. The study therefore concludes that women-authored narratives provide more nuanced and authentic representations of female experiences, whereas male-authored texts frequently reinforce patriarchal frameworks and stereotypical assumptions of one-dimensional gender linearity.
Evaluation of antimalarial compounds in Prosopis africana stem bark fractions against Plasmodium berghei
Authors: ABUBAKAR Fatimah A. , OLOYEDE Hussain O.B. , SALAWU Musa O.
Published: October 2024

Prosopis africana, a traditional medicinal plant for malaria treatment, requires further scientific evidence. This study aimed to assess the antimalarial potential of Prosopis africana stem bark fractions in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and identify the responsible compounds. The aqueous extract underwent partitioning with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol, followed by antimalarial evaluation. F5 was the most potent fraction based on its antimalarial potential. The study pooled 36 chromatographic separation sub-fractions into five using TLC analysis Rf values. In Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, fraction F5 at 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg body weight (bw) was tested for antimalarial activity. Compound analysis of F5 utilized ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupolar mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis employed Analysis of Variance and Duncan's multiple range tests (p < 0.05). The methanol, n-hexane, and ethylacetate extracts displayed suppression of P. berghei by 90%, 72.2%, and 73.6%, respectively. Methanol, n-hexane, and ethylacetate extracts suppressed P. berghei by 90%, 72.2%, and 73.6% respectively. F5 showed significantly higher chemo-suppression (67.21%) than F1 (63.94%), F2 (6.99%), F3 (2.81%), and F4 (37.3%). At 12.5 mg/kg bw, F5 suppressed P. berghei by 91.09%, surpassing chloroquine (87.79%), and restored altered hematological indices and CD4+ counts. Compounds identified in F5 included caffeate, linalool, terpinene-4-ol, quinovic acid, quercetin, prosopinine, catechin, and apigeninin. In conclusion, the fraction F5 of P. africana stem bark exhibited higher antimalarial activity than chloroquine and the identified compound might likely contribute to its activity.
The seasonal variation of the inhibitory effect of bioactive extracts of a marine algae (Corallina officinalis) collected from the Algerian west coast
Authors: KHERRAZ-CHEMLAL Djazia , KHELIL Fatima , MAZOUZI Meriem , MATALLAH-BOUTIBA Amaria , BOUDERBALA Mohammed
Published: October 2024

Algae are increasingly becoming the center for interest due to researchers for their composition of various important bioactive molecules. The objective of this study is to investigate the seasonal variations in the concentrations of flavonoids, polyphenols, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids, as well as the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts from the red alga Corallina officinalis collected from western Algeria. The results of the biochemical assays show that the best polyphenol contents are recorded by the summer extract with a concentration of 33.29 μgEqAG/mg. The recorded flavonoid contents are 967.33; 869; 239.66 and 156 µgEQ/mg for summer, autumn, spring and winter respectively. For chlorophyll a and b the winter extract recorded the highest values. The best results of antibacterial tests were noted for the summer season with diameters of 14.33 mm against the two-bacteria E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (SARM). The autumn extract gave low activity against E. coli, Pseudomonas, SARM and Klebsiella. For the winter extract we noted resistance against B. cereus, Pseudomonas and B. subtilis while E. coli, SARM, Klebsiella and the yeast Candida albicans recorded low activity. For the spring extract, resistance was observed against all the bacteria tested except for the E. coli and Klebsiella strains. The extracts obtained can be used as an antibacterial due to their rich content of bioactive molecules. The best results of antibacterial tests are noted for the summer season.
The importance of application of medicinal plants and natural products in poultry health management
Authors: SHAHRAJABIAN Mohamad H. , SUN Wenli
Published: October 2024

Application of herbs and natural medicines have shown to have no negative side effects, with high effectiveness to improve productivity. Usage of medicinal plants can increase gut function, improve hepatic function, inhibition of prooxidant enzymes, enhance antioxidant content, improve shelf life, enhance sensorial value, better nutritive value, improve both health and consumers preference, enhance calcium and other minerals, increase vitamin B and folate, and enhance immunity. The most important medicinal plants with antiparasitic activities are green tea, guar bean, pine bark, grape seed, barberry root bark, Rangoon creeper, olive tree, and wormwood. Some other important medicinal plants in poultry industry are black pepper, nettle, shrubby sophora, Aleppo oak, garlic, red cedar, ginger, mint, tobacco, turmeric, aloe vera, etc. The application of herbal medicines can be considered as an important alternative to treating parasitic infections. In organic broiler production with application of medicinal plants, decreasing hormones, growth promoters and antibiotics should be considered as well as paying more attention to selection of appropriate organic feed management with considering higher production. This article aims to survey on the importance of application of natural products and medicinal plants in poultry industry by considering secondary metabolites such as triterpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids due to their anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and astringent properties.
Analysis of chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities of pomegranate fruit thick and green tea leaf extracts
Authors: MASLOV Olexander , KOMISARENKO Mykola , PLIS Dmytro , PONOMARENKO Svitlana , OSOLODCHENKO Tetiana , KOLISNYK Sergii
Published: October 2024

Infection diseases is a worldwide important problem for medicine and pharmacy. The purpose of this work was to study and compare phytochemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant potential of pomegranate fruit thick and green tea leaf liquid extracts. The quantification of biologically active substances (BAS) was performed using spectrophotometric, titrimetric, and HPLC analysis methods. Antioxidant activity was measured through a potentiometric method, while antimicrobial and antifungal effects were assessed using the well method and determining the minimum inhibition concentration. The total content of phenolic compounds was 0.40 and 10.10%, organic acids – 5.80 and 1.60% for pomegranate fruit thick and green tea leaf extract. The total content of catechins in the green tea leaf extract was 10500.0 mg/100 g, where epicatechin-3-O-gallate was dominated (3730.0±2.00 mg/100 g). The total content of anthocyanins in the pomegranate fruit thick extract was 107.10 mg/100 g, where cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was dominated (41.74 ± 0.10 mg/100 g), whereas delphinidin-3-O-glucoside had a lowest content (4.99 ± 0.10 mg/100 g). Both extracts possessed a high antioxidant potential, and effective antimicrobial effects. The antioxidant, antimicrobial activity of pomegranate fruit extract was higher than green tea leaf extract. In addition, we assumed that anthocyanins had higher antioxidant, antimicrobial properties than catechins. These findings would promote application of pomegranate fruits extract as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
Exogenous nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide as biotechnological tools for enhancing plant adaptation to cold
Authors: KOLUPAEV Yuriy E. , RYABCHUN Nataliya I. , RELINA Liana I. , YASTREB Tetiana O. , YEGOROVA Nataliya Yu. , KOLOMATSKA Valeriia P.
Published: October 2024

The challenge of increasing plant tolerance to low temperatures is still relevant despite the upward trend in the average temperatures on Earth. Sharp temperature fluctuations during growing periods and cultivation of thermophilic crops in more northern latitudes increase the likelihood of plants being damaged by cold. Physiologically active substances, primarily hormones and signalling molecules, are considered to be effective for increasing plant tolerance to extreme temperatures. In the last decade, among such compounds, researchers' and practitioners' considerable attention has been paid to gasotransmitters – gaseous substances that are synthesized by living organisms and perform signalling functions. The review analyses the molecular mechanisms of stress protective effects of two major gasotransmitters – nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). In particular, the physiological effects of gasotransmitters that are attributed to their ability to cause post-translational modifications of numerous target proteins as well as those related to their functional interactions with other signaling intermediaries, primarily ROS and calcium ions, are discussed. The available data on the actions of donors of these gasotransmitters on thermophilic and cold-tolerant plants are summarized. Particular attention is paid to the influence of exogenous NO and H2S on the antioxidant system in plants, their ability to accumulate osmolytes and other low-molecular compounds with multifunctional stress protective effects. Data on the influence of gasotransmitters on fruits during low-temperature storage are analysed separately. It is emphasized that increased storability of fruits under the influence of NO and H2S donors is largely controlled by the ability of both gasotransmitters to inhibit ethylene synthesis. It was concluded that exogenous nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide could be effective tools for increasing tolerance of different plant taxon’s to low temperatures and used in crop production and storage technologies for fruits and vegetables.
Effect of natural plant-derived agents on the survival of the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes in marinated chicken liver meat
Authors: HARRABI Sara , OSAILI Tareq , KARAM Layal , DHANASEKARAN Dinesh K. , SAVVAIDIS Ioannis N.
Published: October 2024

This experimental study followed the survival (after inoculation of the bacteria) on non-marinated and marinated chicken liver meat (CLM) samples, with or without added antimicrobials (carvacrol; CA, garlic: G), stored at 4 and 10 °C for 14 days. A pomegranate pomace-based marinade (PPM) alone, or in combination with CA or G was used to monitor the survival/growth of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes counts on CLM. A declining trend was recorded for both Salmonella spp. (4.1-4.4 and 3.8-4.3 log CFU/g) and Listeria monocytogenes (3.6-4.6 and 3.3-4.5 log CFU/g) populations in both marinated (absence of antimicrobials) and marinated (with antimicrobials) CLM samples, respectively, at 4 and 10 °C, on day 14 (final storage day). At 10°C, marination and antimicrobial treatments resulted in lower Salmonella spp and Listeria monocytogenes counts on CLM, compared to 4 °C (3.4-3.9 and 1.5-3.7 logs) in both marinated (absence of antimicrobials) and marinated (with antimicrobials) CLM samples, respectively, at 4 and 10 °C, on final day-14. Marination and combinations reduced the total plate count (TPC) by 0.3-0.9 and 0.2-0.6 log CFU/g, as compared to the control (non-marinated) in CLM samples (absence of inoculated bacteria) on final day-14. Concluding, it can be stated that a microbiological shelf-life extension of 9 and 11 days, as compared to the control’s shelf-life, was achieved at 4 and 10 oC, respectively. The initial pH values of the control (non-marinated) and marinated CLM samples at 4 and 10 oC, were 6.62 and 3.12, respectively. During the storage period, pH values for the control CLM were found to be higher, as compared to the marinated samples, and irrespective of storage temperature.
Zooming Out: Circular Economy Development in the European Union and its Implications on the Economy and Society
Authors: von Kolpinski Charleen , Kratzer Jan
Published: October 2024

The concept of the circular economy has emerged as a response to the challenges posed by resource constraints, waste accumulation, and pollution, threatening both social welfare and business profitability. The circular economy aims for sustainable development, encompassing environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social equity across current and future generations. Despite its recognition as a pivotal solution, there needs to be more comprehensive understanding regarding its development and its economic and social impacts. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the progress of circular economy sectors in the European Union to get an overview of the circular economy advancements and discuss geographical economic and social effects. The focus is on the indicators of gross value added, private investments, and full-time employment within recycling, repair, and reuse sectors because these sectors provide good proxies for the circular economy activities in the European economy. Results suggest a linear growth of circular economy sectors across the European Union, albeit with variations among member states. The paper discusses the implications of circular economy transition on the economy and society, particularly on the labour market, skill demands, and technology integration, emphasising the need for a critical academic discourse. It questions assumptions about job creation and local employment, especially considering technological advancements that may reduce manual labour in recycling plants. Future research is invited to focus on these macro-level implications and critically reflect on the societal implications of a circular economy transition to shape a more fair and socially inclusive economy.
AUDIT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Authors: Амангалиевна Мадина , Cерикова Гулзира , Максимов Денис
Published: October 2024

The article focuses on the disparities between regions that slow down economic growth. The article emphasizes that, despite the state creating regulatory and legal conditions to eliminate uneven development, practice shows the ineffectiveness of current approaches in achieving the goals of eliminating regional differences. In this regard, there is a need to modernize policies based on new principles and approaches, especially at the regional level, in order to cope with existing challenges. The main goal of the study is to develop proposals for improving mechanisms for the implementation of territorial programs that could contribute to a more balanced and effective development of all regions. The study uses various methodologies, including clarification and abstraction to define key terms, retrospective analysis to study historical data, comparative analysis to evaluate implementation of programs, a descriptive method for studying international and local experience, as well as documentary analysis for the development of regulations. At the same time, statistical methods are used to systematize data and scientific analysis to study the relationships between different levels of planning. Moreover, the article notes the need to improve performance assessment as a tool for optimizing and adjusting programs and plans for territorial development, methods and approaches to conducting audits, based on the analysis of current strategic documents and statistical data. It is recommended to improve the planning and development of territorial programs through economic diversification, increasing tax potential, the level of human capital and reducing bureaucratic processes. Special attention is paid to optimizing the selection of indicators for a more accurate and timely presentation of results. These proposals are aimed at creating a more balanced and targeted approach to regional development, ensuring more efficient use of resources and improving the quality of life of the population.