bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
dark diaspora in dub, Patches, Princess Pocahontas and the Blue Spots, Sisters
Authors: Mandiela Ahdri Zhina , More Robert , Mojica Monique , Lill Wendy , Bennett Susan
Published: June 2023

These four plays might all be called “women-centred”, evidence that contemporary Canadian theatre is, indeed, offering more strong roles for women actors. Yet each occupies a very different place on a “women-centred” trajectory and their different assumptions about the possibilities of theatrical production and reception reveal much about the diversity of our stages. Although all four were published in 1991, the dates of first production run from 1988 to 1991, the earliest of these being More’s Patches (staged by The Smile Theatre Company in Toronto).
The Desire to Crunch Bone: Daniel David Moses and the “True Real Indian”
Authors: Appleford Rob
Published: June 2023

When there was talk in 1970 of adding the name of Chief Dan George to the list of Oscar nominees for his performance in the film Little Big Man, the idea was quashed by a Los Angeles movie critic who, with what seemed like breathtaking logic at the time, pointed out that “it would be ridiculous to give an Academy Award to an Indian for playing an Indian” (Lucas 75). This remark, while asinine, does point to a recurring and difficult problem in the critical analysis of Native theatre, namely, the issue of “Indianness” and how it affects both how Native performance is received by an audience and what Native playwrights choose to dramatize. Is a Native playtext or an individual Native actor’s performance more “Indian” if it is perceived by an audience to tell the “truth” about Native identity? And what determines the boundaries of the perception of truth in these cases? By centring on the work of the Delaware First Nations playwright Daniel David Moses, I hope to suggest some ways in which Native playwrights like Moses hold funhouse mirrors up to our own desires for “real Indians” in Canadian theatre.
“Playing With Tension” What ‘voice’ does popular theatre speak?
Authors: Salverson Julie
Published: June 2023

Popular theatre makes strange bedfellows: artists and activists, cultural workers and community organizers, theatre and social action. I found myself in this world by accident in 1982, writing a play about people who were handicapped. They ended up making their own play, with me acting more as dramaturge than playwright, and I became excited by the notion of ordinary people telling their stories. I left the so-called mainstream theatre, started a community arts company in Toronto1 and began putting my theatre friends together with community workers I was meeting to see what would happen. I learned about popular education. I wandered into a community legal clinic to encorporate the company, and met activist and dub poet Lillian Allen who was working there at the time. When I told her what I was up to, she said, “Oh, you do popular theatre.” “What’s that?” I asked.
Journeys Without Maps: Dramaturgy of the Post-modern
Authors: Flaherty Kathleen , Hurford Deborah
Published: June 2023

Deb: November 20, 1995.9:00 Monday morning. I’m driving to the CBC Radio studios in Edmonton to shadow Kathleen while she produces a radio version of Blake Brooker’s The Land, The Animals. We have met several times to discuss the drafts Blake sent. After moving beyond the paralysing fear that dramaturgy of the post-modern is a contradiction in terms, we venture forth: how are we going to edit this sixty-minute, post-modern play to forty-five minutes, and maintain the integrity of the piece in an aural medium?
Robert Lepage: Quelques zones de liberté
Authors: Charest Rémy , Fothergill Robert
Published: June 2023

As I write (late April, 1996), Robert Lepage’s stock seems to have dropped several points, at least on the Toronto market. By the time you read this it may well have risen to its former levels or beyond, but just now people who had bought heavily into Lepage are worried that they may have overextended themselves and are hurrying to cover their positions. The reason is, quite simply, Elsinore (Du Maurier World Theatre Festival). After last year’s enthusiasm for The Seven Streams of the River Ota, Toronto audiences are afraid, not so much that the emperor after all has no clothes, but that he may not have much else. The trappings and the suits of woe were certainly dazzling – eat your heart out, Doug Henning! – but the signs of that within which passeth show were a bit scanty. And of course it didn’t help that on one night of the run, the elaborate contraption on which Elsinore entirely depended crashed on take-off, leaving frustrated passengers to make other plans. But that’s part of the Lepage mystique, and helps to generate that “espèce de trac ultime [ultimate stage-fright] provoqué par l’espace vierge dans lequel nous naviguons.” And he adds that “Pour moi, si on ne cherche pas à tout réinventer du théâtre, ce n’est pas intéressant” (124).
Reviews
Authors: Knowles Richard Paul
Published: June 2023

“Survivors of the Ice Age” Festival

The review section of this issue is devoted to accounts of most of the productions mounted at the “Survivors of the Ice Age” festival, written by participants at the symposium. With the exception of primus Theatre’s Far Away Home, which participants at “Survivors” attended in the company of local school children, the performances at the festival were open to the public. They also formed the spine, however, of the symposium, the focus of conversation every day in sessions about the last evening’s performance, the bases of mutual trust and understanding among participants whose work was on the line, and on at least one occasion—the discussion of Grinning Dragon Theatre’s The Compleat Works of Love (not reviewed here)—the source of some contention. For me, one of the great strengths of “Survivors of Ice Age” was the opportunity to discuss seriously, not only productions that we had all seen, but performances of those productions that we had seen together. I hope some of the flavour of those discussions is captured in the following pages
Opera and National Identity: New Canadian Opera
Authors: Hutcheon Linda , Hutcheon Michael
Published: June 2023

Much has changed on the Canadian stage since 1969, when composer Barbara Pentland lamented to Musicanada that “[w]hat comes from outside the country must de facto be superior. Prime example: the opening of our multi-million-dollar ‘National’ Arts Centre with an imported French ballet company dancing to a score by a Greek composer conducted by an American born in Germany” (qtd. in Kallmann and Potvin 1033). In fact, by 1969 things were already changing – at least on the operatic stage. The centennial year 1967 had made government money available for commissions, and as a result there was an explosion of new operatic productions: Murray Adaskin’s Grant, Warden of the Plains, Kelsey Jones and Rosabelle Jones’s Sam Slick, Robert Turner and George Woodcock’s The Brideship, Raymond Pannell’s The Luck of Ginger Coffey and, perhaps the best known, Mavor Moore and Harry Somers’s Louis Riel.
Axial Injection Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Tang Z. , Masindo G.
Published: June 2023

This paper examines thermal barrier coating (TBC) structures, including traditional porous TBCs, dense vertically cracked TBCs, and columnar TBCs, produced by a high-power plasma torch with axial injection of feedstock. It is shown that suspension plasma sprayed columnar TBCs have properties similar to TBCs produced by electron-beam physical vapor deposition and may thus be considered a viable alternative.
Detrimental Effects of the HVOF Process on CoNiCrAlY
Authors: Thoma M. , Scrivani A.
Published: June 2023

MCrAlY coatings deposited by LPPS or HVOF spraying are widely used on turbine blades and vanes to mitigate the effects of oxidation and corrosion. The service life of a MCrAlY layer is dependent on the loss of aluminum, which is consumed by oxidation on the surface and by diffusion into the substrate. After long term heat treatments in air, LPPS and HVOF CoNiCrAlY coatings on IN738 and Hastelloy X substrates were examined and their interdiffusion and Al depletion layers were characterized based on the distribution of phase constituents, the amount of residual Al content, and average layer thickness. The results of the study show that differences in coating behavior with respect to Al consumption are mainly due to the oxidation of yttrium in the CoNiCrAlY powder during HVOF spraying.
A Case Study of the Potential of Wire Arc Spraying as a Cost Effective Alternative to Established Weld Overlay Processes
Authors: Nielsen P. T. , Jensen C. , Jensen C. , Bräsel P.
Published: June 2023

This work evaluates the potential of using twin wire arc (TWA) spraying as an alternative to metal active gas (MAG) overlay welding in the production of agricultural equipment. Corthal 65, a flux-cored wire electrode, was applied to different types of steel using each method. Some of the samples were tested in a lab and some were evaluated under actual use in the form of plow tips and harrow teeth. SEM and EDX analysis revealed the presence of Cr, Nb, and W carbides and Al-rich oxides in the hardfacing layer. Field-tested samples were assessed based on porosity and hardness, providing a measure of abrasive wear and impact resistance. The TWA-sprayed coatings performed as well as the MAG overlay welds, but their potential to improve productivity and reduce costs make them the more appealing option.
Numerical Modelling of Arc Dynamics in a Conventional DC Plasma Spray Torch
Authors: Alaya M. , Chazelas C. , Mariaux G. , Vardelle A.
Published: June 2023

This paper describes the development of a numerical model and explains how it is used to investigate arc-cathode interactions in a plasma arc torch. The model is based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory and couples Navier-Stokes equations for a nonisothermal fluid with Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetic fields. The equations account for the internal geometry of the torch as well as arc current and gas type and flow rate. They are solved using CFD code and relevant boundary conditions and are shown to provide insight on arc dynamics and the effect of cathode shape on arc behavior.
Laser Texturing Surface Pre-Treatment Before PTWA Process Applied to Car Engine Cylinder Bores
Authors: Costil S. , Darut G. , Mahfoud A. , Lamraoui A. , Bordes J. M.
Published: June 2023

This study evaluates the effect of laser texturing on the bonding strength of cylinder bore coatings deposited by plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) spraying. Experiments were carried out on an AlSi9Cu3 engine block sectioned along a plane through the length of the bores. Cylinder surfaces were laser textured on one side and degreased and grit blasted on the other. Laser power, beam angle, and pulse count were varied to determine their effect on hole morphology and coating adhesion. After surface treatment, the engine block sections were rejoined and the cylinder bores were PTWA sprayed with high carbon steel. Coating samples were examined by SEM and cross-sectional analysis and adhesion tests were conducted. The bonding strength of the coatings on the laser textured portion of the cylinder bore was significantly higher than that of the coatings on grit-blasted surfaces and is shown to vary with laser power, beam angle, and total pulses or impacts per hole.
Influence of Binder Phase Content on the Microstructure and Properties of TiB2-Ni Coatings Sprayed by HVOF
Authors: Chen X. , Wang H. T. , Ji G. C. , Bai X. B. , Dong Z. X.
Published: June 2023

In this study, TiB2-40Ni and TiB2-50Ni powders are deposited on mild steel substrates by HVOF spraying in order to investigate the influence of Ni on coating hardness and corrosion, wear, and thermal shock resistance. The surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure of the ball-milled powders and composite coatings are examined, and various tests are conducted to measure properties of interest. The findings are presented and discussed in the paper.
Demands and Economic Aspects of Thermal Spraying with Suspensions – an Overview
Authors: Toma F.-L. , Berger L.-M. , Potthoff A. , Langner S.
Published: June 2023

Thermal spray coatings produced from suspensions can be precisely tuned in terms of thickness, surface morphology, microstructure, and properties. This paper discusses the benefits of using suspensions as feedstocks for atmospheric plasma and HVOF spraying, the equipment required, and the technological challenges that remain to be solved.
Preparation and Characterization of WC/Co-W-C Cermet Coatings with Molten Zinc Corrosion Resistance by HVOF Spraying of Bimodal-Structured WC/Co Powder
Authors: Xu J.-M. , Tan X.-H. , Wang Q. , Li Q. , Yang G.-J. , Wang Y.-Y. , Li C.-X. , Li C.-J.
Published: June 2023

In this study, WC-CoWC coatings were produced by HVOF spraying using bimodal-structured WC-Co powder with both micro- and nano-sized WC particles. Due to the melting characteristics of the powder during spraying, the microsized particles are retained in the deposit, but the nanosized particles dissolve into the Co matrix, forming a Co-W-C ternary phase. Compared to coatings sprayed from conventional WC-CoWC powder, the bimodal coatings are more resistant to corrosion and wear and are comparable in microhardness.
Influence of Cold, Warm and Plasma Sprayed Layers on High-Cycle Fatigue Properties of Steel Specimens
Authors: Cizek J. , Matejkova M. , Dlouhy I. , Kay C. M , Karthikeyan J. , Kuroda S. , Kovarik O. , Siegl J. , Khor K. A.
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the development of fatigue failure in steel specimens coated by various spraying methods with and without grit blasting. Commercial titanium powder was deposited on structural steel substrates by low-pressure and portable cold spray as well as plasma and warm spray. Coating samples were subjected to strain-controlled cyclic bending, while monitoring resonant frequency as a measure of accumulated damage. A change in frequency of 4 Hz was chosen as the test-stop with the corresponding cycle count serving as the main indicator of fatigue life. Test results are presented in the paper along with explanations of fatigue mechanisms and process-related factors.
Investigation of Oxide Formation on Sliding Interfaces of WC-CoCr in Relation to Friction and Wear
Authors: Wesmann J. A. , Johnsen R. , Espallargas N. , Herland J. , Twist D. , Araki H. , Watanabe M. , Kuroda S.
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the effects of operating environment and temperature on the friction behavior of self-mated WC-CoCr coatings in sliding contact. Nickel superalloy substrates were coated with 86WC-10Co-4Cr powder using a warm spray gun. Coating cross-sections and surfaces were examined by SEM, XRD, EDX, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Tribological tests were conducted on a high-load tribometer at various temperatures in air, nitrogen gas, and distilled water. Test samples were examined by SEM and XPS, revealing wear patterns and elemental compositions while providing insights on oxide formation.
Investigation of Crack Propagation Behavior of Thermal Barrier Coatings Fabricated by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying in the Process of Uniaxial Tension Using Acoustic Emission Technique
Authors: Wang L. , Zhong X. H. , Zhao Y. X. , Zhao H.Y. , Yang J. S. , Tao S. Y. , Wang Y.
Published: June 2023

In this study, acoustic emission sensing is used to monitor interfacial cracking in thermal barrier coatings during uniaxial tensile adhesion testing. The TBCs consist of a ZrO2 topcoat and a NiCrAl bond coat, both of which are applied by atmospheric plasma spraying. Tensile testing was performed to failure and the resulting fracture surfaces were examined by SEM and XRD analysis. Experimental results show that cracks usually initiate in the ceramic layer then propagate toward the metallic-ceramic interface where failure occurs. Finite element simulations were also conducted, confirming the experimental findings.
Examination of the Characteristics of Residual Pores in High Temperature Sintered Plasma-Sprayed La2Zr2O7 Coatings
Authors: Liu T. , Chen X. , Yang G.-J. , Li C.-X. , Li C.-J.
Published: June 2023

In this study, La2Zr2O7 coatings produced by atmospheric plasma spraying were heated to 1300°C for up to 100 h. Residual pores in the coatings were characterized by SEM. Porosity was found to decrease with increasing sintering duration, although large pores still existed after 100 h. The relationship between the opening of residual pores and sintering time was closely analyzed and is described in detail. The results presented in the paper can inform the design of pores that endow TBCs with higher sintering resistance.
The Analysis of Possible Application of Different Working Gases in Cold Gas Spray Method: Dynamics and Temperatures of Particles
Authors: Małachowska A. , Ambroziak A. , Pateyron B. , Pawłowski L.
Published: June 2023

The paper analyzes different working gases and their mixtures for possible application in cold gas spraying (CGS). The gases considered include Ar, CO2, and steam, alone and in combination. Typical pressures and temperatures were used, along with CFD simulation software, to calculate gas velocity profiles along the axis of a convergent-divergent nozzle. The profiles are compared with that of nitrogen, the standard gas for cold spray, flowing under the same conditions. Velocity and temperature profiles were also calculated for copper particles in the various gas flows as well as nitrogen. Differences in temperature and velocity are explained based on sonic velocities, viscosities, and thermal conductivities of the respective gases.
Solid Abrasive Wear Behavior of Cr3C2-20(NiCr) Deposited by HVOF
Authors: Altuncu E. , Ustel F.
Published: June 2023

This study assesses the abrasive wear resistance of Cr3C2-NiCr coatings produced by HVOF spraying. Abrasion tests were conducted in a three-body solid-particle rubber-wheel test rig using silica and alumina grits under different loads. The results indicate that abrasion performance is controlled by cohesion between splats, which can be further improved. The removal of carbide particles was the main wear mechanism and is controlled by the content and size of the Cr3C2 particles. It is shown that the abrasive wear resistance of carbide-based cermet coatings is significantly higher than that of mild steel.
On the issue of forced relocations (deportations) to the territory of Central Kazakhstan
Authors:   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, V.V. Kozina , D.A. Dzhumabekov ,   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, A.Z. Zhumanova
Published: June 2023

Central Kazakhstan, as a region rich in natural resources, became a link in the strategy of forced industrialization of the USSR during large-scale modernization processes. The practice of forced relocation, forced labor became the basis for the development of the territory. Based on a wide range of sources, mostly archival documents, facts are presented that indicate three stages of forced relocations (deportations) to the territory of Central Kazakhstan: 1930s; 1941–1945; 1946–1953. They were representatives of various nationalities from all over the Soviet Union. Fragmentary data on the number of arrivals in the region, imperfect methods of accounting for the population, or its absence at all do not allow us to establish the exact number of arrivals to the territory. Mass deportations have changed the demographic picture of the region, almost all aspects of economic, social, and cultural life.
Formation of the concept of international security and its essence: theoretical aspect
Authors:   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, S.B. Stambulov , T.K. Sakabay ,   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, A. Serdkhan ,   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, Zh.M. Kenzhegali
Published: June 2023

Currently, attempts are being made in scientific and academic circles to systematize the concept of international security, as well as to find new approaches to this concept. The purpose of the article is to systematize the main approaches to the concept of international security. Therefore, this article is devoted to the analysis of theoretical approaches to the definition of international security, as well as a comprehensive analysis of institutional theories. The authors consider various theoretical approaches to the study of international security
Urban issues in Kazakhstan and foreign historiography (historiographical overview)
Authors:   M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University, G. Sultangazy , L. Mukataeva
Published: June 2023

Modern Kazakh historiography is in the paradigm of mastering the results of foreign urban history. The article presents a historiographical review of urban issues. The study of the city as a complex organism has become one of the most relevant areas recently. Since the middle of the twentieth century, American and European historical urban studies have considered the city in its entirety, the interaction of the city and citizens, as an environment and subjects that create urban space. To date, Kazakh historiography is represented by separate studies on the history of the city, in the context of local lore, the history of urban architecture. There are few works considering the population of Kazakhstan and the city as a single complex organism in permanent interaction and mutual influence, focusing on the history of everyday life. The historical and genetic methods allow us to consider the problems in its development and identify patterns. The application of the historical-comparative method reveals differences in the development of Kazakh historiography. A comprehensive study of the urban environment in the historical context allows us to understand the nature of the changes in which society and the state were, as well as the motives and aspirations of social groups. As a result, it is identified that there are common patterns in Soviet and Kazakh historiography, as the city and society, being objects of research, were not considered in close connection and mutual influence. The indicated problems have not received proper attention from the researchers of both the Soviet and modern periods
The history of collective peasant farmers in 1945–1953: realities and problems
Authors:   Karaganda University of the name of academician E.A. Buketov, K.K. Abdrakhmanova
Published: June 2023

The study of the problems of collective peasant farmers in the post-war decade in modern national historiography has become one of the relevant aspects. Agriculture was the main source of replenishment of material and human sources. Thus agriculture occupied a special place in the Soviet economy, but the state did not pay due attention at all. The authorities showed “concern” about improving rural life, but in reality, they drove the village (aul) under the pressure of various high taxes and fees. Unfortunately, the agrarian policy of the postwar period was far from reality and had an exclusively political orientation. The rural population was actively involved by the party and political leadership of the country in the implementation of essentially unprepared large-scale economic measures. As a result, it faced a lot of problems that are covered in this article.
Бухгалтерлік есепті цифрландыру
Authors: Купенова Ж.К. , Баймуханова С.Б. , Жунисова Г.Е. , Жүнісова Ж.Т.
Published: June 2023

Мақсаты: Бухгалтерлік есепті цифрландыру процесінде туындайтын мәселелерді анықтау, цифрлық трансформацияны жүзеге асыру жолдарын қарастыру, кәсіпорынның есеп аппаратының сапасы мен тиімділігін арттыру жолдарын ұсыну.
Әдісі: бухгалтерлік есеп саласына цифрландыруды енгізу қажеттілігін негіздеу, негізгі цифрлық технологияларды және трансформацияның проблемалары мен артықшылықтарын айқындау. Зерттеу цифрлық трансформацияны жоспарлау және осы салада білікті қызметкерлердің жетіспеушілігі сияқты өзекті мәселелерді шешу жолдарын ұсынады.
Қорытынды: Кәсіпорынның бухгалтериясына цифрлық технологияларды енгізудің алғышарттарын жасау керек. Зерттеу нәтижесінде цифрлық технологиялар бойынша құзыреттерді жинақтау және цифрландыруды бухгалтерлік есепке енгізу қажеттілігі анықталды.
Тұжырымдама: Компанияның қаржылық жағдайы туралы сенімді деректерді қалыптастыру үшін бухгалтерлік есеп аспектісін цифрландыру қажет.
Statistical assessment of the development prospects of the primary residential real estate market in Kazakhstan
Authors: Denissova О.K. , Kabdulsharipova A.M. , Samussenko Y.A.
Published: June 2023

Object: The use of mathematically sound methods to identify the main and secondary reasons for the rise in prices in the primary market of residential real estate in Kazakhstan is one of the topical areas of macroeconomic analysis, which provides a higher quality of information about socio-economic processes in the country and more correct understanding of their essence. Methods: The use of mathematically sound methods to identify the main and secondary reasons for the rise in prices in the primary market of residential real estate in Kazakhstan is one of the topical areas of macroeconomic analysis, which provides a higher quality of information about socio-economic processes in the country and a more correct understanding of their essence. Findings: Against the background of the seeming stability of the situation in the primary market of residential real estate in Kazakhstan, negative trends were identified and an approach was proposed to resolve the existing contradictions in this market, however, the trends under consideration require further more detailed study. Conclusions: The study of trends in the primary market of residential real estate in Kazakhstan made it possible to identify the prevailing contradictions and problems associated with the pricing of new housing and with the mechanisms for monitoring the quality of housing objects. In this regard, it is necessary to develop an economic mechanism for monitoring the quality of housing objects, the main idea of which is that it is unprofitable for developers to build low-quality housing.
Overview and advantages of Machine Learning (ML) in Statistics
Authors: Ilyassov D.K. , Kitapova K. , Kenc T.
Published: June 2023

Object: The main purpose of this study is to provide insight into why machine learning is the future of statistics. The virtual world generated a vast amount of data bringing together intelligent machines and networked processes. Machine learning as the emerging field of data science leads to new implications for statistics in terms of the big data era. Nowadays Machine Learning (ML) application is becoming broader including psychology, artificial intelligence, control theory, information theory, neuroscience, philosophy, Bayesian method, computational complexity theory etc. The recent use of ML in medicine, agriculture or trading is evidence of its future development in the coming years.

Methods: This study is based on the literature review of Machine learning (ML) models, paradigms, algorithms, and their advantages versa classical statistics. As obvious of ML application, the number of articles on Machine Learning and Data Science vs Classical Statistics in Wikipedia reflected in Python.

Findings: The main results of this study are listing the main Machine Learning Algorithms and applications. In addition, this paper identifies the main advantages and disadvantages of Machine Learning versa classical statistics.

Conclusions: There are many advantages of Machine Learning (ML), which highlight the future of Machine learning methods in statistics. The increase in data and innovations make a long and broad way of Machine Learning (ML) development.
Global Politics of Knowledge Production: The Challenges of Islamization of Knowledge in The Light of Tradition Vs Secular Modernity Debate
Authors: Chande Abdin
Published: June 2023

This paper argues that the main objective of the ‘Islamization of knowledge’ project is to assert Muslim ownership over their institutions by developing an alternative system of learning/knowledge production that serves as a foundation for re-inventing/renewing the Islamic traditions to cope with the multitude of challenges that Muslims face today. These challenges stem from a number of intertwining factors that influence this process, including the modern advances that accompanied the colonial and post-colonial developments that shaped and reshaped the intellectual culture and institutions of Muslim and non-Muslim societies precisely by allowing Western methodological approaches to set the agenda and the objectives of the schools. Accordingly, proponents of the Islamization of knowledge such as Naquib al-Atas, Ismail al-Faruqi, Taha Jaber al-Alwani, and others have developed their own different approaches to the production of knowledge and in so doing have generated a philosophical discourse that offers a critique of modern/Western knowledge and its epistemological and methodological assumptions. What, therefore, has been the outcome of the Islamization of knowledge project in terms of producing, for instance, Islamic social sciences, broadly defined, in the areas of, say, economics, sociology, political science, and so on? How have normative teachings of Islam, its ethical concerns, and Muslim efforts to come to terms with modernity (an ideology that carries the values and ideas of triumphant capitalism and secularism) been incorporated into these disciplines to counter or respond to Western hegemony and Eurocentric and orientalist order of knowledge? Finally, have Muslims succeeded in bringing together scholars of the text (fuqaha) and scholars of the context (experts in different fields of knowledge from social sciences to sciences) to deal with pressing modern problems that require new interpretations? This paper will attempt to answer some of these questions.
Revitalizing education through the integration of cloud technologies
Authors: Bykov Valerii Yu.
Published: June 2023

Objective: This research aims to identify the strategic direction for modernizing the education system in Ukraine through the integration of cloud computing technology.Methods: The study utilizes analysis and forecasting to examine the current trends in education system modernization and the role of information and communication technologies. It focuses on identifying strategic areas for implementing cloud computing technology in Ukrainian education.Research focus: The research explores the theoretical and methodological foundations of using cloud computing technology as a means to modernize the education system in Ukraine.Results: The analysis reveals that the successful implementation of a modern educational paradigm, based on the principles of open education, requires comprehensive informatization of the national education system. The study highlights key tools of open education that significantly enhance teaching effectiveness. It also examines the evolution of information and communication technology networks in education, emphasizing the potential for radical improvement in content and technology through ICT integration. The role of cloud computing technology and ICT outsourcing in educational organization is discussed, along with strategic areas for education informatization in Ukraine.Conclusions and recommendations: Technological and organizational solutions are crucial for addressing important societal challenges and fostering progressive development. Practical application of these solutions will accelerate scientific and technological progress and contribute to the transition towards a knowledge-based society, advancing humanity's future.
Success indicators of enterprises anchored on an [African] Indigenous Apprenticeship Model of Entrepreneurship
Authors: Obaeko Iwara Ishmael , Adeola Ogechi
Published: June 2023

Abstract Recent calls to integrate indigenous entrepreneurship models, such as Igba-boi of the South-eastern Igbos of Nigeria into contemporary entrepreneurial space have drawn attention to an important but under-researched question: Does the model have sufficient documentation regarding its functionality? This exploratory study provides indicators that can be used to measure the success of enterprises anchored on the Igba-boi model. A mixed research design was utilised; in the qualitative phase, peer-to-peer interviews were conducted with 21 Igba-boi mentors who were selected using snowball and purposive sampling techniques, in three markets of South-eastern Nigeria. Using Atlas-ti v8 software open coding system for qualitative data analysis, five themes emerged which informed the questionnaire for quantitative data collection with 317 participants (mentors). Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation performed on the quantitative data structure revealed that - capacity of established apprentices, enterprise expansion, improved standard of living, enterprise survival and scale of business networks are indicators for examining success of enterprises anchored on the Igba-boi apprenticeship model of entrepreneurship. Among the five indicators, capacity of established apprentices, enterprise expansion and improved standard of living were found to have a stronger effect on the success of enterprise anchored on the model. It is worth emphasising that these indicators are unique and should be considered in policy decision related to indigenous entrepreneurship.
The Determinants of Retirement Planning Behaviour: Evidence from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration in Namibia
Authors: Mbute Kanime Magano , Kechia Mukong Alfred , Kaulihowa Teresia
Published: June 2023

Abstract Evidence suggests that governments in many developing countries are faced with the challenge of providing sufficient retirement benefits for their aging population and majority still live on the borderlines of poverty with pension funds unable to provide a decent lifestyle. This paper examines the determinants of retirement planning behaviour among 245 employees in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration using a probit model. The results reveal that investment and saving decisions are positive and significantly associated with the level of financial literacy, economic knowledge, educational attainment, social interaction and financial advice. Being female inversely affects investment and saving decisions. The disaggregated analysis showed that the effects of these factors are consistent across the different age groups. Thus, any policy option that can enhance the economic and financial knowledge of employees and their educational attainment will improve their retirement planning behaviour directly and indirectly through social interaction.
Pavement Condition Survey using Drone Technology
Authors:   California State University, Chico, Lane Lerose , Cheng DingXin ,   California State University, Chico
Published: June 2023

Timely repairs of pavement defects are essential in protecting both public road and highway systems. Identification of pavement distresses is necessary for planning pavement repairs. This has previously been performed by engineers surveying the roadways visually in the field. As drone usage has progressed, it has become clear that drones are a valuable tool to enhance visual documentation, improve project communication, and provide various data for processing. The use of drone technology has improved both the speed and accuracy of capturing data. Available software has allowed the data to be processed and analyzed in an office environment. This report summarizes the use of drone technology for pavement evaluation for three case studies. Results from this study can be used to deepen understanding of drone use in the process of data gathering for timely repairs for transportation infrastructure.
Evaluation of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) cake and its protein in muffins as a valuable potential functional source for obesity control
Authors: Kamandloo Farzaneh , Miran Mona , Salami Maryam
Published: June 2023

Background:Due to the use of high-calorie foods and reduced physical activity caused by the modern lifestyle, obesity is on the rise. Obesity occurs by the increase of fat accumulation in the body, causing different complications such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory disorders, blood pressure, etc., which has become a global problem. Objectives:The production of functional food that has medicinal properties for controlling or inhibiting diseases is increasingly popular. With the expanding concerns about obesity and its related diseases, it is very important to provide natural controlling or inhibiting compounds. In this study, the functional properties of black seed cake (BSC) and its protein (BSCP) were investigated for obesity control through the inhibition of pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase enzymes as well as its antioxidant properties. Methods:The textural properties and sensory evaluation of muffins, enzyme inhibition properties (inhibiting the effect of enzymes in the obesity process), and antioxidant properties (control or inhibition of side effects caused by body fat oxidation) of BSC and BSCP were investigated.Results:The highest and lowest inhibitory levels of pancreatic lipase are related to black seed (Nigella sativa)cake protein (BSCP) (59.21%) and black seed cake (BSC) (32.90%), respectively. The highest and lowest levels of α-amylase inhibition are related to BSCP (32.51%) and black seed cake in ethanol 75% (BSC-E75%) (3.62%), respectively. The highest and lowest α-glucosidase inhibitory levels are related to BSC-E30% (71%) and BSCP (10.10%), respectively. BSC and BSCP showed high antioxidant activity. The use of BSC and BSCP in the production of muffins (a widely consumed and popular product) to replace flour and oil in the formulation of muffins caused a decrease in L*, b*, but an increase in a*. Hardness, chewiness, springiness, and cohesiveness decreased with the increase of BSC and BSCP content. Samples BSM 3%, BSM 6%, PBM 1%, and PBM 2% were similar to control muffins in sensory evaluation.Conclusions :From the result of this study, it can be concluded that black seed cake and its protein can be considered a potential efficient source for the production of functional muffins and possibly other functional foods that aim to manage and control obesity, blood glucose, and blood fat. However, more research is needed to fully determine the effectiveness of black seed cake and its protein.Keywords: Obesity, Black seed cake, Muffins, Diabetes, Blood pressure, Blood fat
Eltern Stärken. Die Dialogische Haltung in Seminar und Beratung
Authors: Schopp Johannes
Published: June 2023

Das zunächst für die Elternbildung konzipierte „Dialogische Konzept“ wurde 2005 erstmalig veröffentlicht. Die sich daraus entwickelnde Kraft wirkt spürbar in die angrenzenden gesellschaftlichen Felder hinein. Zentraler Gedanke des Autors: Ob Kindertageseinrichtung, Schule, Gesundheitswesen, Behörden, Rechtswesen, Vereine – das System, in dem um Beziehung und Bildung, Gesundheit und Potenzialentfaltung gerungen wird, braucht statt der wertenden und belehrenden eine Dialogische Kultur. Eine Kultur, die es schafft, dass Erwachsene untereinander und auch Erwachsene und Kinder sich gleichwürdig begegnen, sich bedingungslos schätzen und respektieren. Eine Kultur, die Bildung als Persönlichkeitsbildung versteht.
Reducing Pastor-Dependency in the New Market Seventh-day Adventist Church Through Self-Managed Ministry Teams
Authors:   ,   Andrews University, Anderson Shane
Published: June 2023

Problem Between 2004 and 2015, members of the New Market Seventh-day Adventist Church independently—that is, apart from the pastoral staff—initiated only a handful of new ministries (either for in-reach or outreach) and only occasionally attempted to substantially improve existing ministries. This stunted the church’s ability to reach, baptize, and mature new members. Two professional assessments of the church indicated that this problem was caused largely by an unhealthy dependence on the pastoral staff to make the majority of substantive ministry decisions. Method Self-managed ministry teams were implemented into a significant portion of the church over a period of 18 months using a two-phase process. Their effectiveness at reducing pastor-dependency was assessed at the end of the 18 months on the basis of personal interviews, group interviews, personal observations, and the use of three evaluation instruments, the largest of which was a 61-question instrument adapted from professionally-formulated instruments used in the business world and the social sciences. Results Eighteen self-managed ministry teams were started during the 18-month period. Nine of these failed to survive more than a few weeks beyond their launch. However, the remaining nine (comprised of 58 people total) went on to establish significant ministry-oriented contact with more than 160 new people in the community who were not members of the New Market Church. The teams also recruited an additional 48 church members to assist in carrying out the teams’ various ministries. All of this activity was formulated and executed apart from the pastoral staff. Conclusions Self-managed ministry teams can dramatically reduce dependence on the pastor in making substantive ministry decisions, including the starting and execution of new ministries. Self-managed teams can thus be a viable means for church members to more closely approximate the ministry arrangement of the New Testament priesthood and the early Seventh-day Adventist Church. While the results from the surviving teams were excellent, further study is needed to understand why the other nine teams did not survive.
A Chaplaincy Training And Support Program To Equip Pastors For Ministry In The South Ghana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church
Authors:   ,   Andrews University, Odonkor Nathan
Published: June 2023

Problem There is currently no Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries capacity development plan to clinically train pastors as chaplains in the South Ghana Conference (SGC) of the Seventh-day Adventist church. This has resulted in the absence of professional chaplains within the denomination in South Ghana. Method I conducted a Chaplaincy Training and Support Program (CTSP) for 15 selected trainees at the South Ghana Church Headquarters Asoredanho-Accra. The Key area of competencies was Clinical Pastoral Education. I employed qualitative method of evaluating trainees by conducting oral and written assessments of data from trainees and ministry recipients. Results As a result of the CTSP, three trainees were identified as chaplains for the hospital, two for prisons, one for the police department, three for tertiary campuses and six for basic schools. The CTSP changed trainees’ mindset of who a chaplain is and they have become ambassadors and disciples of chaplaincy in the Adventist Church in Ghana. Conclusion The CTSP equipped pastors to be chaplains and two out of the 15 trainees have enrolled in a Master’s program in Chaplaincy at Babcock University-Nigeria, and in Guidance and Counseling at the Methodist University-Accra, respectively. The CTSP lessons learned would help fine-tune subsequent possible future chaplaincy academic/competency training at the Valley View University.
A Comprehensive Strategy For The Calgary Metropolitan Area Churches
Authors:   ,   Andrews University, Holland Christopher
Published: June 2023

Problem In my 16 years of ministry, in every location I have pastored, the church has struggled to connect with the surrounding community. In Calgary, there are 14 Seventh-day Adventist churches and companies. These churches have, on occasion, worked in unity for evangelism. However, according to several of the local pastors, that has not happened for over 10 years. If the churches in Calgary are to fulfill the Great Commission, an effective way of engaging the community is needed. Because the communities that surround churches are growing increasingly secular, comprehensive evangelistic strategies may be an effective way of reaching them. Unfortunately, over time, churches have become increasingly dependent on brochures, flyers, and social media for evangelistic outreach. This has resulted in less effectiveness in outreach because of a lack of true connection with the community. Comprehensive strategies in evangelism will increase connectivity with the community and provide opportunities for kingdom growth. Method An 18-month comprehensive evangelistic intervention was developed for the Calgary Metropolitan Area (CMA). It sought to develop effective strategies for connecting with the community. The intervention included training and active involvement of the membership of the CMA in a variety of comprehensive evangelistic outreach activities, many of which focused on health-related issues. The success of the process was evaluated by the number of members who got involved, the number of non-member contacts made, the number of contacts who attended a church-based program, the number of contacts who attended an evangelistic series based on a personal invitation, and the number of contacts baptized or accepted by profession of faith. Results Twenty-seven and one-half percent of the attending membership and 18.6% of the total membership were trained in various aspects of comprehensive outreach. Thirty-four attendees of various church outreach events transferred to an evangelistic series. Two hundred ten attendees of the evangelistic series came as a direct result of a friend’s invitation. As a direct result of the comprehensive evangelistic intervention, 134 individuals were baptized. Conclusions This study demonstrates that comprehensive evangelistic strategies that focus on the development of both clergy and laity are an effective means for reaching communities. The outcomes imply that broad-based, contextually applied, comprehensive evangelistic principles had and will have a positive impact on the mission of the church.