bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reasons behind Students' Silence to Teacher's Directive Utterances: A Case Study on A Lower Secondary School in Yogyakarta
Authors: Azizah Alfi , Suparno  , Supriyadi Slamet
Published: March 2024

Classroom interaction is identified to engage students in responding and interacting with teachers and other students. However, one problem that usually interferes with teacher-student interaction is unpredictable students’ reactions in interpreting the teacher’s utterances. The present research investigated several reasons for students’ responses to teachers’ directive utterances. To reach the objective, a case study was applied. Three eighth-grade students in a Yogyakarta lower secondary school were selected to participate in this study. The data were collected through observation and interviews. Meanwhile, the data analysis was based on Miles’ interactive model. The results of this study show that internal and external variables affect the students’ responses during English classes. A lack of vocabulary and needing extra time to guess are the internal variables to understanding the teacher’s intention. Meanwhile, unfavorable classroom atmospheres resulting from noisy students, noisy next-door classes, and noisy vehicles outside are the external variables that disturb the students’ attention and understanding of the teacher’s directive utterances. The results of this research reveal significant implications for students’ attitudes, as they rarely develop their interaction due to internal and external factors. Thus, the condition requires the teacher’s role as an active language user.
EFL College Students' Reading Strategies for Comprehending Reading Texts
Authors: Noviabahari Jannatul Laily , Palupi Dian , Wulandari Rizka Maulina
Published: March 2024

This qualitative study attempts to look into reading strategies employed by college students to comprehend the texts they are reading. Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted to obtain verbal and nonverbal data regarding reading strategies. The findings revealed that six participants of English students used all types of reading strategies developed by Mokhtari et al.: global reading strategies, problem-solving reading strategies, and support reading strategies. Support reading strategies and problem-solving reading strategies were the most frequent reading strategies the students used, and they seldom applied global reading strategies while reading. However, although they are equally high achiever students, they still need to be better readers; their reading comprehension skills differ.
Unveiling the Secrets of Brain Tumors: A Fuzzy C-Means and U-Net Convolution Approach for Enhanced Segmentation
Authors: Pearline Sheba J. , Ezhilarasi P. , Rajesh Kannan S.
Published: March 2024

The urge to unveil the secrets of digital visual enhancement has always been a dream for mankind. It has always been an expanding realm of research that has never failed to surprise humanity. In this paper, we have proposed a modified Clustering technique in Fuzzy C-Means named Narrow Fuzzy C-Means Clustering. This clustering method is implemented and fused with U-Net Convolution. The proposed segmentation algorithm uses this unique technique which assists in providing elevated and enhanced outcomes. The suggested approach helps to precisely segment the area of interest from the provided input images. The novel proposal provides an accuracy of 96.5% with a Dice Similarity Co-Efficient (DSC) of 0.94 which tends to determine the exact segmentation of the area of interest with a low false positive rate.
Application of multi-attribute decision-making method based on fuzzy influence diagram in green supplier selection
Authors: Peng Xinyong , Zhao Yue , Cai Yaojun , Su Xin
Published: March 2024

The external business environment exhibits many uncertainties with the continuing changes in technological progress, political environment, and consumption behavior. This has made companies recognize the significance of addressing environmental issues to remain competitive in the modern global market. Thus, much attention is given to the supply chain to ensure environmental factors are considered during supplier selection. However, the process of selecting the right suppliers to enable green supply chain management is proving difficult. This paper presents a novel approach using fuzzy influence diagrams to identify key green supplier selection criteria, combined with multi-criteria decision making to evaluate alternatives. The fuzzy influence diagram derives priority supplier capabilities by modeling interrelationships and uncertainties. The multi-criteria technique then ranks suppliers based on prospect values. A case study of furniture manufacturer supplier selection validates the proposed method. Compared to existing models, this integrated approach reduces subjective weight bias and improves handling of complex criteria dependencies and uncertainties. The results demonstrate state-of-the-art performance in identifying ideal green suppliers. This technique can enhance sustainability efforts across supply chains.
Research on Medical Image Segmentation Method Based on Improved U-Net3+
Authors: Wang Chaoying , Li Jianxin , Zheng Huijun , Li Jiajun , Huang Hongxing , Jiang Lai
Published: March 2024

Computer assisted diagnostic technology has been widely used in clinical practice, specifically focusing on medical image segmentation. Its purpose is to segment targets with certain special meanings in medical images and extract relevant features, providing reliable basis for subsequent clinical diagnosis and research. However, because of different shapes and complex structures of segmentation targets in different medical images, some imaging techniques have similar characteristics, such as intensity, color, or texture, for imaging different organs and tissues. The localization and segmentation of targets in medical images remains an urgent technical challenge to be solved. As such, an improved full scale skip connection network structure for the CT liver image segmentation task is proposed. This structure includes a biomimetic attention module between the shallow encoder and the deep decoder, and the feature fusion proportion coefficient between the two is learned to enhance the attention of the overall network to the segmented target area. In addition, based on the traditional point sampling mechanism, an improved point sampling strategy is proposed for characterizing medical images to further enhance the edge segmentation effect of CT liver targets. The experimental results on the commonly used combined (CT-MR) health absolute organ segmentation (CHAOS) dataset show that the average dice similarity coefficient (DSC) can reach 0.9467, the average intersection over union (IOU) can reach 0.9623, and the average F1 score can reach 0.9351. This indicates that the model can effectively learn image detail features and global structural features, leading to improved segmentation of liver images.
ENHANCEMENT EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR POOL BOILING ENHANCEMENT STRUCTURES IN ELECTRONICS COOLING: CHF ENHANCEMENT RATIO (ER-CHF) AND ENHANCEMENT INDEX (EI)
Authors: Shukla Maharshi Y. , Kandlikar Satish G.
Published: March 2024

Extensive research shows the necessity of efficient cooling systems to enable electronic components to operate at high performance levels for a sustained period. While conventional methods have served the cooling needs so far, rising computational power, energy efficiency, and sustainability requirements call for improved techniques. The literature shows the effectiveness of two-phase systems in cooling electronic components like microprocessors. The literature further describes various enhancement mechanisms to elevate the critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) in these systems. While a high CHF is desired, having a high HTC is equally important to keep the operating temperatures below a permissible limit. The present article summarizes enhancement structures found in the literature suitable for electronic cooling to provide this dual enhancement in CHF and HTC. New enhancement evaluation criteria that also consider the surface temperature limit imposed by the electronic components are introduced. The CHF enhancement ratio (ERCHF) represents the ratio of CHF for enhancement structures to the CHF for a plain surface, and the enhancement index (EI) represents the ratio of wall superheat at CHF with the enhanced structures to the wall superheat at its respective CHF condition for a plain surface. It is desirable to have a high value of ERCHF coupled with a low value of EI (lower the better), preferably below 1.0.
AN APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK TOWARD THE MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF MHD TANGENT HYPERBOLIC NANOFLUID ACROSS A VERTICAL STRETCHING SURFACE
Authors: Ali Bilal , Liu Shengjun , Liu Hongjuan
Published: March 2024

The Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) back propagation (BP) artificial neural networks (ANNs) (LM-BP-ANNs)
procedure is used in this analysis to show the computational strategy of neural networks for the simulation
of magnetohydrodynamics tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow comprised of motile microorganism across a
vertical slender stretching surface. The fluid flow were examined under the significance of chemical reaction,
magnetic field, activation energy, and heat source. The modeled equations were simplified to the ordinary system
of differential equations using similarity variables substitution. The Lobatto IIIA formula based on the finite
difference method was employed for the nano-liquid flow problem with an accuracy up to five decimal points.
The robustness of Lobatto IIIA is its straightforward execution of very nonlinear coupled differential equations.
Several operations involving testing, authentication, and training were carried out by developing a scheme for
different fluid problem elements using reference datasets. The accuracy of LM-BP-ANNs was tested through
mean-square error, error histogram, curve fitting figures, and regression plot. Moreover, the examination of flow
model factors for concentration, mass, and momentum outlines are expressed through graphs. It was perceived
that the velocity field declines with the flourishing influence of the magnetic field and lessens with the upshot of Weissenberg number and power law index.
Verfassungsrechtliche Grundlagen der Völkerrechtsfreundlichkeit in Deutschland
Authors: Payandeh Mehrdad
Published: March 2024

The provisions of the Basic Law with references to international law form the foundation of the constitutional principle of friendliness towards international law. They are the basis for its content as well as for its limits. However, the content of the individual provisions of the Basic Law on the domestic effects of international law is rather unclear. The widely agreed restriction of Article 25 of the Basic Law to unwritten international law does not find sufficient support in its drafting history. And Article 59 (2) of the Basic Law does not offer any clear indication that international treaties are only accorded the status of statutory law within the domestic legal order. These two basic constitutional assumptions furthermore lead to inconsistencies and contradictions and do not do justice to the changes of the international legal order since the entry into force of the Basic Law. Against this background, the provisions of the Basic Law do not bar the acknowledgement of a constitutional requirement to observe international law, which also extends to the legislature and to international treaties.
Völkerrechtsfreundlichkeit im schweizerischen Recht: Das Beispiel der unmittelbaren Anwendbarkeit von Völkerrecht
Authors: Stemmler Maria
Published: March 2024

Based on the Swiss reading of the concept of Völkerrechtsfreundlichkeit (friendliness towards international law), this article examines Swiss legal practice with regard to the direct applicability of international law and concludes that it can be described as friendly to international law. To this end, it clarifies the meaning of the concept of Völkerrechtsfreundlichkeit in Swiss legal discourse and discusses two fundamental aspects of the topic: the applicable legal regime and the Swiss separation of powers. The analysis focuses on the jurisprudence of the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland on the direct applicability of treaty law, international customary law and general principles of law. Finally, with the use of soft law to determine the direct applicability of international law, the articles discusses a promising option for Swiss legal practice that is also friendly to international law.
Völkerrechtskonforme Auslegung aus schweizerischer Sicht: Ein Randphänomen?
Authors: Schmid Evelyne
Published: March 2024

This article discusses the scope and limits of consistent interpretation in Switzerland and discusses the extent to which construing national law in conformity with public international law is indicative of the ‘friendliness towards international law’ of a constitution. I argue, first, that consistent interpretation in Switzerland has certainly served the cause of friendliness towards international law, but that three conditions must be met before it can come into play. Second, the article concludes that consistent interpretation is, nevertheless, of limited use in ‘measuring’ the international law friendliness of the Swiss legal system because consistent interpretation does not come into play in numerous constellations and narrows the view to a modest number of court cases. In relation to the sum of challenges related to the implementation of international law domestically, consistent interpretation is a marginal phenomenon.
Die schweizerische Bundesversammlung und das Völkerrecht – Spurensuche zwischen Verfassungsrecht und politischer Praxis
Authors: Wyss Martin
Published: March 2024

The constitutional role of parliament in foreign policy in general and in the further development of international law relevant to Switzerland cannot be reduced to a simple denominator. In the small state of Switzerland, the parliament’s understanding of its role oscillates back and forth between fears of commitment, worries about isolation and the desire for active co-responsibility. The Federal Constitution formulates only very sparingly what the Federal Assembly as parliament has to do in the field of foreign policy. Political practice has given new contours to parliamentary self-understanding: The question of the right relationship with Europe, the position and significance of soft law, and the concretisation of the law of neutrality have been in the foreground. Parliament is trying to actively develop the instruments that the federal constitution and parliamentary law place at its disposal: Extensive use is made of consultation rights, and the approval of treaties demonstrates a willingness to play an active role.
Survival and multidisciplinary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic care at a United States Veterans Affairs medical center
Authors: Rostad Stephen , Wendt Linder , Poleksic Mia , Hutchinson-Reuss Bryan , Bingham Heather , Fattal Deema
Published: March 2024

Introduction/Aims: The purpose of this work was to investigate survival outcomes in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at our Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center multidisciplinary ALS clinic and compare this to relevant data from several European studies.

Methods: Our sample consisted of 56 total Veterans (n=56; 54 males, 2 females) that had been seen between June 24, 2013 and February 1, 2021 at our multidisciplinary ALS clinic.

Results: The median survival time of our Veterans from symptom onset was 40.96 months (95% CI of 32.17, 76.07), and the median survival time from diagnosis was 23.77 months (95% CI of 18.64, 38.58). This was consistent with the literature. Further consistent with the literature is that multidisciplinary clinics, including ours, have survival advantage over general neurology clinics. Analyzing factors that contributed to this survival, we found significant protective effect on survival from Edaravone use (HR = 0.32, p = 0.036). Otherwise, there was no significant effect on survival noted from use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), non-invasive ventilation (NIV), or Riluzole.

Conclusion: We found no significant difference in survival rates between our U.S. Veterans in our multidisciplinary ALS clinic and European multidisciplinary ALS clinics, and both are better than general neurology clinics. We also found that Edaravone use may provide some benefit to survival in this patient population.
Systemic Interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols: Creeping Fragmentation of State Responsibility
Authors: Kolupaeva Anna , Polshakova Victoria , Santalova Anastasia , Ulanova Daria
Published: March 2024

The article discusses how the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter — ECtHR, the Court) influences the way the European Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter — ECHR, the Convention) is systematically interpreted in the context of state responsibility. The article highlights that interpretation of the Convention and general principles of state responsibility is crucial for holding states accountable, ensuring justice for victims, and upholding the credibility and coherence of international law. For this reason, it is essential for the Court to carefully interpret the ECHR within the broader context of international law. The authors believe that one of the most practical strategies to analyse this issue is through determining the consistency of the European Court of Human Rights’ approach to state responsibility issues, elaborated through its case-law, with general customary rules of international law. It can be effectively performed through the lens of three fundamental problems: jurisdiction and attribution interaction problem; issues of state responsibility for the acts of international organisations, paying special attention to peace-keeping operations; and third-state responsibility problem. The analysis shows that the Court creates its own criteria, often conflicting with each other, by ignoring established general rules of international law on state responsibility. Lastly, the authors show that while the Court often acts as a lawmaker, it should create the law in a unified way to apply it fair and equally for the purposes of human rights protection. It is not the states and their particular interests that should govern the application of law by the Court. In the end, the authors come to the conclusion that the policy behind the Court’s decisions is not only predominantly inconsistent with the general customary rules of international law and the object and purpose of the Convention, but also results in the creeping fragmentation of the international law on state responsibility.
Attack Analysis on Hybrid-SIMON-SPECKey Lightweight Cryptographic Algorithm for IoT Applications
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Information Technology, Thakur College of Engineering and Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Neve Rahul P , Bansode Rajesh
Published: March 2024

Objective: To perform attack analysis on new developed hybrid-SIMON-SPECKey lightweight cryptographic algorithms and compare its strength with existing SIMON and SPECK Lightweight cryptographic algorithm. Methods: A hybrid-SIMON-SPECKey algorithm is the combination of round function of SIMON and key scheduling of SPECK algorithm. Both SIOMN & SPECK algorithm are used for securing resource constrained devices. In this research work, avalanche effect method is used to analyze attack resistance property of algorithm. Findings: Newly developed Hybrid algorithm shows better results in terms of execution time and memory consumption. As compared to SIMON, hybrid version of algorithm consumes 50% less time and 20% less memory, which makes it efficient. Strict Avalanche criteria for SIMON is 89%, that of SPECK is 90% and in case of hybrid algorithm, it is 90% at start position but when the character is flipped or changed at the end position of plain text then SAC is more (87%) in case of hybrid algorithm as compared as SIMON and SPECK algorithms. Hence, newly developed algorithm showed improved results with equally resistance to the attack as compared to SIMON & SPECK. Novelty and applications: The novelty lies in the creation of a hybrid lightweight cryptographic algorithm that combines the feistel structure of SIMON with the key scheduling function of SPECK. This hybrid approach aims to leverage the strengths of both algorithms, potentially providing a more robust and efficient solution for resource-constrained IoT devices. In section 3.1 comparative analysis is done which show that hybrid algorithm outperforms in term of time and memory consumption as well a strength of newly developed hybrid algorithm is evaluated using avalanche effect which shows that it is at par with base algorithms. Keywords: Attack Analysis, Cipher Code, Decryption, Encryption, Lightweight Cryptography, Iot Devices, And Resource Constraint Devices
Impact of Behavioral Biases on Investors’ Stock Trading Decisions: A Comprehensive Quantitative Analysis
Authors:   Assistant Professor, School of Management, Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Shukla Anurag , Dadhich Manish , Vaya Dipesh , Goel Anuj
Published: March 2024

Objective: This paper aims to investigate the impact of specified behavioral biases on investors' stock trading decisions in North India. It has been observed that most of the research works are based on financial theories, which affect investment decisions. But besides the theories nowadays, behavioral biases also play an important role in investment decisions, which was less focused in the previous literature. Methods: The study used primary data collected from a sample from North Indian States (Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab) through a structured questionnaire to analyze the impact of specified behavioral biases on investors' stock trading decisions. We used structural equation modelling to find out the significant impact of behavioral biases on stock trading and investment decisions. Findings: The investigation determined that the majority of the designated cognitive biases, such as the Overconfidence Bias, the Representativeness Bias, and the Herding Bias, exert a significant influence on the decisions about stock trading and investment made by investors. Novelty: The ample research in this domain has primarily occurred in various countries, with only a limited number of studies conducted specifically at the Indian level. Nevertheless, based on the literature review, it is evident that this study is groundbreaking in North India. The objective of this research is to enhance the effectiveness of financial advisors by gaining a deeper understanding of the psychological aspects of clients. This, in turn, will aid in developing portfolios tailored to individual behavior, aligning with client preferences. Recognizing and addressing behavioral biases is crucial for individual investors as they strive to make informed and successful financial decisions. Keywords: Behavioral Biases, Overconfidence (OC) bias, Representativeness Bias (RB), Herding Bias (HB), Structural Equation Modelling
Numerical Investigation of Three-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Flow of Ag 􀀀 H2O Nanofluid Over an Oscillating Surface in a Rotating Porous Medium
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Career Point University, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India, Devi Rekha , Sood Shilpa
Published: March 2024

Objective: To investigate the three-dimensional flow of a nanofluid (Ag-water) over a stretchable vertical oscillatory sheet. This study involves considering fluctuating temperatures on the sheet and comparing them to the free stream temperature. The formulation of the unsteady boundary layer equations leading to the flow of nanofluid also takes into consideration the occurrence of the heterogeneous-homogeneous chemical reaction and thermal radiation. Method: The governing equations and the boundary conditions have been derived in a dimensionless form by using the appropriate transformations, and they are then solved using an EFDS (Explicit Finite Difference Scheme) in Matlab software. The Von-Neumann stability analysis is used to determine the method’s stability requirements for constant sizes of the grid. Findings: The physical factors impact on the concentration fields, temperature distribution, and velocity distribution were obtained and are studied by graphs and described in extensive detail. Convergence and stability requirements are attained in order to achieve accurate solutions. Novelty: In this study fluctuations in the temperature and stretching velocity of sheet on three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow of Ag − H2O nanofluid over an oscillating surface through rotating porous are taken into account. Impacts of porous media permeability, velocity slip, magnetic fields, nanoparticle volume fraction, heat radiation, rotation, and homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reaction parameters had all been attempted to be determined. Keywords: Oscillatory Surface, Heat transmission, Nonlinear PDE, Explicit Finite Difference Scheme, Nanoparticle
Solving Neutral Delay Differential Equations Using Galerkin Weighted Residual Method Based on Successive Integration Technique and its Residual Error Correction
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, Bishop Heber College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 017, Tamilnadu, India, Kayelvizhi C , Pushpam A Emimal Kanaga
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The main objectives of this work are to solve Neutral Delay Differential Equations (NDDEs) using Galerkin weighted residual method based on successive integration technique and to obtain the Estimation of Error using Residual function. Methods: The Galerkin weighted residual method based on successive integration technique is proposed to obtain approximate solutions of the NDDEs. In this study, the most widely used classical orthogonal polynomials, namely, the Bernoulli polynomials, the Chebyshev polynomials, the Hermite polynomials, and the Fibonacci polynomials are considered. Findings: Numerical examples of linear and nonlinear NDDEs have been considered to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the method. Approximate solutions obtained by the proposed method are well comparable with exact solutions. Novelty: From the results it is observed that the accuracy of the numerical solutions by the proposed method increases as N increases. The proposed method is very effective, simple, and suitable for solving the linear and nonlinear NDDEs in real-world problems. Keywords: Galerkin Weighted Residual method, Polynomials, Hermite, Bernoulli, Chebyshev, Fibonacci, Successive integration technique, Neutral Delay Differential Equations
Preventive Detection of Driver Drowsiness from EEG Signals using Fuzzy Expert Systems
Authors:   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Almiron Rony , Castillo Bruno Adolfo ,   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Montoya Angulo Andrés ,   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Supo Elvis ,   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Talavera Jesús José Fortunato ,   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Yanyachi Aco Cardenas Daniel Domingo ,   Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa
Published: March 2024

Currently, the percentage of traffic accidents has increased, and according to statistics, this percentage will continue to increase every year, so it is necessary to develop new technologies to prevent this kind of accidents. This paper presents a drowsiness detection system based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals using a pair of channels (Fp1 and Fp2) applied to drivers before entering their vehicles. First, this model detects the relationship between the area under the curve (AUC) of alpha brain waves, an effective parameter for detecting drowsiness. Then, the extracted information is passed to a fuzzy expert system (FES) that classifies the subject's state as "alert" or "sleepy"; the criterion used was a threshold and training with subjective levels. The proposed system was compared with neural network models, such as support vector machine (SVM), K nearest neighbors (KNN), and random forest (RF). Measurements of one hundred and twenty minutes were performed on each of the ten drivers for two days to test the system. The tests confirm that this system is suitable for preventive measures and that the fuzzy system is superior to traditional neural network methods.
Concentration and nucleic acid extraction of viruses from wastewater influent v2
Authors: N Machtinger Ari , S Hershey Olivia , J Bradshaw William , P Rice Daniel , R McLaren Michael
Published: March 2024

This protocol details our workflow for performing concentration and total nucleic acid extraction from wastewater influent for the purposes of untargeted RNA and DNA sequencing of viruses present in wastewater. Protocol overview: 200 mL of raw influent wastewater is concentrated to a final volume of 400 uL using the InnovaPrep Concentrating Pipette Select. Prior to concentration, the wastewater sample is treated with Tween 20 and sonicated to dissociate viral particles from solids in the wastewater matrix. The sample is then centrifuged to pellet larger solids. The pellet is discarded, and the supernatant is filtered with a 0.45 um PES 75 mm filtration unit to remove remaining suspended solids and bacteria. This filtrate is then concentrated with the Concentrating Pipette, using Ultra CPT tips and recommended device settings for the InnovaPrep modified wastewater processing protocol. Nucleic acids are extracted from the concentrated product using the Zymo quick-DNA/RNA Viral kit using the manufacturer protocol with a few modifications that we have found to be helpful.
The Effects of Form-Focused Communicative Grammar Instruction on Students’ Speaking Fluency and Their Attitudes Toward Speaking Lessons
Authors: Woymo Temesgen Heliso , Bachore Mebratu Mulatu , Jobo Meshesha Make
Published: March 2024

Integrating form-focused instruction (FFI) in the communicative language classroom is the most recently used instructional approach today. To draw learners’ attention to grammatical structures, this approach implements different integrative corrective feedback techniques. The current study investigates the effects of FFI integrated with communicative grammar activities on the speaking fluency of students and their attitudes toward speaking lessons. To carry out the study, participants included 11th-grade students divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Four English teachers from Adilo High School also participated in this study - one of whom intervened and three who had scored the students’ speaking fluency based on the given scoring rubrics. The cognitive and behavioral attitudes of the students were examined through before and after questionnaires. Additionally, the study utilized a quasi-experimental research design with pre- and post-tests to examine students speaking fluency. The finding revealed that FFI integrated with communicative grammar instruction enhanced students’ speaking fluency and their cognitive and behavioral attitudes toward speaking lessons. This suggests that High School students benefit from FFI techniques used in combination with information, opinion, and reasoning-gap communicative grammar activities thus it helped them to improve speaking fluency and change their cognitive and behavioral attitude towards speaking lessons.
Readiness and Challenges of Prishtina University Students for ESP Classes
Authors: Tërnava-Osmani Sadete , Brestovci Meliha
Published: March 2024

Learning and teaching a language for specific purposes, in our case English language, is quite a new approach at the Public University of Prishtina, which was established only in 1970. Considering this fact, English language teaching in Kosovo has been around ever since. It was initially taught as General English (GE) in the schools of the capital city and later, namely from the 1980s to date throughout the country. Nevertheless, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is one of the most recent courses that have started to attract the attention of the domestic teaching authorities, mainly at the university level, while it continues to be absent in secondary schools.  Despite this, the reason for the absence of ESP in secondary education relates to the lack of planning, extracurricular teaching materials or specific textbooks. In this paper, we will review the current state of GE at the University of Prishtina by assessing the English language first-term exam results for two groups of students in the first year in the Departments of History and Political Sciences, with the aim of finding out whether they are ready to attend ESP courses in the second semester. Research has taken place amongst male and female students, aged 18-19, who attended the A1 and B2+GE level as per the CEFR requirements. The students who pass the exam may be qualified to attend the ESP classes in the second semester, whereas students who did not should continue with GE classes.
The Evolution of Female Characters From Antiquity to Modernity: An Examination of Marinna Carr's and Carol Lashof's Adaptations of Classical Mythology
Authors: Hassan Zena D. Mohammed , Nayel Dheyaa K.
Published: March 2024

Literature relies heavily on mythology. Myths are stories of deities, monsters or immortals which are transformed from one generation to the other. In addition to documenting the religious and cultural experiences of a specific community, myths also outline the consequent literary, artistic and dramatic customs. Some Greek myths have survived for thousands of years because they accurately depict historical events, cultural values, and trends. Among the most famous classical myths are the myths of Medusa and Medea. As for the myth of Medusa, the earliest known record was found in Theogony (700BC) by Hesiod (8 th-7th century BC). A later version of the Medusa myth was made by the Roman poet Ovid (43BC –17/18AD), in his “Metamorphoses” (3-8 AD). Then again, Medea is a tragedy produced in 431 BC by the Greek playwright Euripides(480–406BC) based on the myth of Jason and Medea. Both Medusa and Medea are among the most fascinating and complex female protagonists in Greek mythology which have captivated many writers and playwrights for ages. In the twentieth century, there were many adaptations of both mythological figures; among these adaptations were those made by contemporary American and Irish women playwrights like Carol Lashof (1956-) and Marinna Carr (1964-). This paper examines the myths of Medusa and Medea and analyses the ways these myths are borrowed, refashioned and exploited in Lashof’s Medusa’s Tale (1991) and Carr’s By the Bog of Cats (1998). Both playwrights explore hidden dimensions of the traditional myths, combining elements from the old and modern worlds.
Digital Short Story Literacy and the Character of Environmentally Concerned Students
Authors: Juanda Juanda , Afandi Iswan , Yunus Andi Fatimah
Published: March 2024

The research aims to explore the influence of digital short story literacy on environmental care character through moderation of reading interest. It is a quantitative study that measures the influence of digital short story literacy on environmental care character. The study involved 270 participants as a sample using a purposive sampling technique. The data collection technique for this research was a Google Forms questionnaire. Data analysis used the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 27. The results show that digital short story literacy has a significant influence on environmental care character. The effect of digital short story literacy on environmental care character is significant in statistics. However, reading interest does not present a moderately successful influence of digital short story literacy on the environmental care character. This research contributes to designing curriculum education with special attention paid to the inclusive aspects of digital literacy and environmental short stories to create a conscious and responsible generation’s answer to environmental preservation.  More studies need to be conducted about this subject including the additional amount of higher education needed in the regions where natural disasters happen more frequently, as well as more engagement originating from participants who are studying social sciences. In the industrial sector, it is recommended to collaborate with students to make documentaries from digital short stories to promote environmental preservation.
An Analysis of Life Skills in the Content of English Language Text Books
Authors: Alghazo Abeer
Published: March 2024

This present paper aims at analyzing the six main domains of life skills: Effective Communication, Problem-solving, Decision-making, Creative/Critical thinking, Personal/ social life skills, and Leadership life skills / Self-awareness. The unit of analysis used in this study is the activities that show or indicate the specific life skill. The criteria of this paper are the extent of the inclusion of life skills activities that enhance interactive learning and meaningful communication in the pupils’ book of Action Pack10. The researcher adopted the analytical descriptive approach. Frequencies and percentages are measured to verify the results of the questions of the study. The findings showed variation in the frequencies of the six main domains and each domain as well. This means that these kinds of activities are represented in the first semester.
Jamal Mahjoub’s The Fugitives and Hala Alyan’s The Arsonists’ City: A Panoramic View of the Occident
Authors: Shalabi Ahmed , Amrieh Yousef Abu
Published: March 2024

Contemporary Anglophone diasporic Arab writers have initiated an “Occidentalist discourse” through which they depict a complete image of the Occident. Their narratives are not meant to distort or misrepresent the “other”, but to provide the reader with nuanced accounts about what an Arab immigrant/ refugee may experience in the “West”. These narratives are deemed consistent because contemporary Anglophone diasporic Arab writers have become part of their host countries’ sociocultural tapestry since they are, in most cases, part of European countries’ population. By applying Zahia Salhi’s definition of Occidentalism to Arab-British novelist Jamal Mahjoub’s The Fugitives (2021) and Arab-American novelist Hala Alyan’s The Arsonists’ City (2021), this paper aims to illustrate how both writers paint a three-dimensional panoramic picture of the Occident by exploring triumphant as well as depressing journeys of Arab individuals in America. This study is also an attempt to demonstrate, by using these two novels as examples, that Occidentalism cannot be defined as “Orientalism in reverse” since Occidentalist literature, as Salhi proposes, represents Western life and culture with a great sense of impartiality.
Happy Images in Vietnamese Perception Through Idioms of Happiness: A Cultural Approach
Authors: Giang Dang Nguyen , Trung Ho Ngoc , Minh Hoang Tuyet
Published: March 2024

Idioms illustrate special linguistic units since they reflect human wisdom in the perception of the world (Giang, 2023b). They have intertwined and transformed into archives of a community's culture in the past. Idioms also play a significant role in the linguistic ontologization of emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, etc. Semantically, idioms in Vietnamese are all perceptively associated with typical images (Hanh, 2008), and idioms of happiness have their own happy images. The paper aims to investigate the happy images Vietnamese people perceive through idioms of happiness from a cultural perspective. This is a descriptive study that presents the theoretical background of Vietnamese idioms in general and the findings and discussion of happy images behind the idioms of happiness in particular. To gather the data, a hand search of Giang’s (2018) collection of Vietnamese idioms was conducted to provide a corpus of 32 entries, from which three groups of happy images were identified. Results from this study show that happy images in Vietnamese perception through idioms of happiness derive from (i) animals, (ii) human body parts, and (iii) events and festivals.
Defining the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving English Writing Skills Among Indonesian Students
Authors: Kaharuddin  , Ahmad Djuwairiah , Mardiana  , Latif Ismail , Arafah Burhanuddin , Suryadi Ray
Published: March 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technological product in the form of an application usable in education. The implementation of AI, specifically in the teaching and learning process in Higher Education, not only broadens students' scientific knowledge academically but also facilitates awareness about current technological developments. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the improvement of English writing skills through the integration of AI into reading practices and provision of adequate feedback for skills enhancement. Also, students' attitude toward the use of AI in the teaching and learning process served as the intervening variables. This study was conducted at Higher Schools in Makassar City, Indonesia, and data were collected from 80 students through questionnaires and subsequently analyzed using path analysis. The results showed that (1) Students' attitude toward the use of AI played a mediating role in explaining the effect of reading and feedback on writing skills, (2) Reading had an indirect effect through attitude on writing skills improvement, and (3) Lecturers feedback had an indirect effect through attitude on writing skills.
King Khalid University EFL Students’ Perspectives on Teaching Professional Ethics: A New Ethical Pedagogical Review
Authors: Alwadai Mesfer Ahmed Mesfer , Alhaj Ali Albashir Mohammed
Published: March 2024

This study was carried out to discover King Khalid University EFL students' perspectives on teaching professional ethics from an ethical and pedagogical perspective. To attain the three objectives of the study, the two authors adopted the descriptive survey method because of its suitability. For collecting data, a 15-item questionnaire was distributed to a purposive, randomly selected sample containing 100 male and female EFL students from various colleges of King Khalid University during the first semester of 2023. The findings of this study showed that both male and female participants had a higher number of positive responses concerning teaching professional ethics for teaching and learning. Moreover, the majority of participating EFL students at King Khalid University had a positive perspective on teaching professional ethics in education. It was also apparent that, in the areas of teaching, training and learning, there are various fields of teaching professional ethics. This is due to the significant impact of academic settings of universities in general and King Khalid University in particular on the future of their university students. Moreover, it is both the fundamental role and primary responsibility of universities to offer education that will make communities more urbane. The results of the present study also indicated that the character of EFL staff members which includes self-esteem, presence of mind, intelligence, and level-headedness, adapting based on the ability to adapt lesson plans based on students’ interests, needs, and preferences are the underlying factors that influenced the participants’ perspectives on teaching professional ethics at King Khalid University.
Power Relations in Institutional Discourse: A Conversation Analytic Approach
Authors: Alsahafi Morad
Published: March 2024

Language is one of the dominant channels through which power can be exercised and struggled over during social interaction. In institutional discourse, power can interactionally be achieved and negotiated through the use of a variety of discursive resources at the disposal of discourse participants. This study employs a conversation analytic approach (CA) to data collection and analysis. The main objective of the study is to find out how power and control are exercised throughout the course of news interviews. Data analysis of a substantial extract from a BBC news interview with former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, revealed four discursive features of particular significance in terms of the management of power and control: questioning, interruption, topic-controlling, and formulation. These discursive control devices enable the interviewer to exercise power and control over the interviewee. The use of each of these discursive features is examined and the implications of the analysis for language teaching and learning are discussed.
Vowel Epenthesis in the Pronunciation of English Consonant Clusters by Kuwaiti EFL Learners
Authors: Al-Abdullah Seham , Almutairi Mohammad A.
Published: March 2024

This study investigated pronunciation errors made by Kuwaiti Arabic (KA) learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) in their production of English consonant clusters. The participants consisted of 25 Kuwaiti EFL learners who were asked to read English words embedded in short sentences. Target words constituted initial, medial, and final-consonant clusters. Data were transcribed by the researchers in addition to three phoneticians for reliability and were further verified through Praat software. Results indicated that pronunciation errors made by these learners of English were restricted to initial and medial consonant clusters that violated the syllable structure requirements of their native dialect. When a conflict occurred between the syllable structure of their first language (L1) and that of the English language, the participants adopted two phonological repair strategies to resolve the conflict: vowel epenthesis and re-syllabification. These phonological repair strategies appeared to be a process of phonological rule transfer from the L1 to the second language (L2) and served to bring the underlying forms of the English words into conformity with restrictions on possible surface syllable structures of the Kuwaiti dialect. These findings highlight the need to develop materials and reading exercises in the classroom to raise students’ awareness of the differences between the syllable structure of their L1 and that of English and its role in successful communication.
Thermal and Mechanical Shock Testing of a Brick Wall and A Polystyrene Wall
Authors: Khechekhouche Abderrahmane , Karima Bassou , Eddine Khatraoui Seif , Sara Labidi
Published: March 2024

Polystyrene is one of the many novel materials being developed today. The goal of our research is to demonstrate that polystyrene is a good construction material in the El Oued region of Southeast Algeria. It can also be a strong rival for other building materials like brick. The results of our research, particularly in thermal testing, are very promising. Polystyrene is a better insulator than brick; the temperature of the polystyrene chamber varies between 26 and 27°C, whereas the temperature of the brick chamber varies between 36 and 37 °C. Polystyrene has a 5 times mechanical impact compared to brick. Despite its lack of availability in the region's markets, polystyrene is a strong rival to other materials such as brick.
Electro-Magnetism in Battery Pot Plants with Heating Chambers for Heat Energy Transduction
Authors: Strömberg Lena J-T
Published: March 2024

Electro-magnetism for components and pot plants in interaction are studied with experiments and analysis. Experiments were done using a chamber for heat energy transduction in arrangements with battery electrodes in a pot. The process required heat to produce current and electric power together with the battery. This study also considered the performance in terms of more current and voltage. The largest device produced 0.16 mW. The function of the chamber is considered chamber amplification. This study also analyzed with Hamiltonian mechanics. An application outdoor was also presented to replace and understand the summer energy sources with electricity. By using this procedure, this study found that if a plant adapts, it develops durability of cold outside