bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Rasch measurement theory in language assessment: Using measurement to enhance language assessment research and practice
Authors:   University of Melbourne, Fan Jason , Knoch Ute ,   University of Melbourne, Bond Trevor ,   James Cook University
Published: May 2023

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At the intersection of language assessment and academic advising: Communicating results of a large-scale diagnostic academic English writing assessment to students and other stakeholders
Authors:   University of Melbourne, Knoch Ute
Published: May 2023

Many tertiary institutions administer diagnostic academic English assessments to incoming undergraduate students following the large rise in international students. This is often done to ensure students with difficulties in academic English are diagnosed early and referred to appropriate support programs on campus. This paper presents the findings of a series of interviews with the aim of establishing the type of feedback stakeholders favor following such a writing assessment and how the results could best be communicated to students. The findings highlight the integral importance of the role of academic advisors to the success of this large-scale diagnostic writing assessment. A tentative model of diagnostic writing assessment in a tertiary setting is presented.
Pragmatic variables in role-play design for the context validity of assessing interactional competence
Authors:   Daegu National University of Education, Youn Soo Jung
Published: May 2023

Assessment task design influences the elicitation of targeted linguistic and communicative demands by creating the conditions under which the task is performed. Through the task design, plausible language use contexts are also created. In this study, I examined the role of pragmatic variables in role-play design to ensure the context validity of assessment of interactional competence. Using conversation analysis (CA), I qualitatively analyzed high-level L2 English learners’ performances elicited from five role-plays that measure pragmatic abilities in interaction. I examined how the learners oriented to the pragmatic variables embedded in the role-plays. The elicited role-play performances shared action sequences (e.g., opening) and generic interactional features. However, the learners utilized sequential organizations and grammatical resources differently to accomplish context-specific actions. For example, the length of turns tended to be longer and sequential organizations were more extended when the learners were engaged in the role-plays of formal pragmatic functions with an interlocutor with more social distance. The learners utilized diverse grammatical formats in a non-uniform manner specific to sequential positions of pragmatic actions. I discuss the importance of assessment task design for context validity and eliciting evidence of interactional competence. Further, I argue how CA’s analytical attention to real-time details of interaction captures the evidence of interactional competence.
Where Conversation Analysis meets Language Assessment: Toward expanding epistemologies and validity evidence
Authors:   Daegu National University of Education, Youn Soo Jung , Burch Alfred Rue ,   Kobe University
Published: May 2023

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The face of communication breakdown: Multimodal repair in L2 oral proficiency interviews
Authors:   Michigan State University, Burton J. Dylan
Published: May 2023

All communication entails moments of breakdown and repair. Research has shown that test-takers in oral proficiency interviews use both verbal and nonverbal behaviors to navigate these breakdowns, which may occur more often in online speaking tests than face-to-face settings. While individuals are often idiosyncratic in their baseline nonverbal behavior, it is unknown to what extent speakers resemble or differ from each other during moments of repair. To date, a research agenda including a broader range of embodied behavior in the context of language tests is lacking. In this study, four Zoom-based video recordings of second language tests were used to investigate seven categories of behavior and their alignment with speech during moments of other-initiated repair., This contribution uses multimodal conversation analysis to analyze differences in behavior amongst the participants and how those patterns align with the turn-by-turn nature of repair. The analysis shows that participants varied substantially in both the frequency and duration of each type of behavior during repair, and furthermore differed in how they combined these during their interaction with the examiner. The study highlights the need for more research in how individuals demonstrate their interactional competence both verbally and nonverbally for greater construct representation in second language speaking tests.
D. P. Barnwell. A History of Foreign Language Testing in the United States from its beginnings to the present
Authors:   University of Edinburgh, Davies Alan
Published: May 2023

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Using an English self-assessment tool to validate an English Placement Test
Authors:   Iowa State University, Li Zhi
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to develop and use a contextualized self-assessment of English proficiency as a tool to validate an English Placement Test (MEPT) at a large Midwestern university in the U.S. More specifically, the self-assessment tool was expected to provide evidence for the extrapolation inference within an argument-based validity framework. 217 English as a second language (ESL) students participated in this study in the 2014 spring semester and 181 of them provided valid responses to the self-assessment. The results of a Rasch model-based item analysis indicated that the self-assessment items exhibited acceptable reliabilities and good item discrimination. There were no misfitting items in the self-assessment and the Likert scale used in the self-assessment functioned well. The results from confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a hypothesized correlated four-factor model fitted the self-assessment data. However, the multitrait-multimethod analyses revealed weak to moderate correlation coefficients between participants’ self-assessment and their performances on both the MEPT and the TOEFL iBT. Possible factors contributing to this relationship were discussed. Nonetheless, given the acceptable psychometric quality and a clear factor structure of the self-assessment, this could be a promising tool in providing evidence for the extrapolation inference of the placement test score interpretation and use.
Development of a test of speaking proficiency in multiple languages
Authors:   Michigan State University, Plough India
Published: May 2023

The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) at Michigan State University has a foreign language proficiency graduation requirement. The RCAH has found it necessary to revise its language proficiency program and to develop a local test of language proficiency in lieu of using existing, internationally-recognised assessments of speaking proficiency. Situated within Critical Language Testing (Shohamy, 2001a, 2001b), the paper presents motivations for this decision reached after a yearlong program review. Treating the processes of teaching, learning, and assessment as interdependent, the RCAH’s new Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum program and the new performance-based proficiency test are built on the same methodological principles. Grounded in a social interactional theory of second language acquisition and assessment, the RCAH Test employs a paired format and is intended to assess intermediate speaking proficiency in the more commonly taught and the less commonly taught languages. Initial trials have been conducted with native speakers of English, and native and non-native speakers of French, German, and Spanish. Using discourse analytic methods, preliminary analyses highlight the potential influence of sociocultural context and bring into question the importance of syntactic complexity in the conceptualisation of speaking proficiency.
Resolving interactional troubles and maintaining progressivity in paired speaking assessment in an EFL context
Authors:   Middle East Technical University, Çoban Merve Hırçın , Sert Olcay ,   Mälardalen University
Published: May 2023

Any form of talk-in-interaction is organized in relation to progressivity (Schegloff, 2007; Hosoda & Aline, 2013). Progressivity of interaction may involve resolving interactional troubles and producing subsequent talk, and it is endemic to the organisation of conversation at the level of turn construction (Schegloff, 1979). In testing speaking skills, as progressivity of talk between peers is central for teachers to be able to assess students’ performances, troubles that halt progressivity and the resolution of such troubles by the students deserve close analyses. Against this background, this paper focuses on how paired L2 (i.e., English) speaking assessment interactions unfold in a Turkish higher education context. Using multimodal conversation analysis, we investigated the interactional resources that are deployed to maintain progressivity when there is a halt in the unfolding interaction, an under-researched phenomenon in L2 speaking assessment contexts. We used transcriptions of 100 video-recorded paired test interactions, each of which were approximately four minutes long. We identified and described the ways interactional trouble was flagged, paying close attention to how embodied resources, such as hand and other gestures, gaze direction, posture and body orientation, and facial expressions (Nevile, 2015), are used by the interactants. Based on 100 paired assessment interactions our findings reveal that in moments of interactional trouble participants make transitions to a sub-topic, formulate understandings, and engage in collaborative completions to maintain progressivity, using a variety of interactional resources as part of their interactional repertoires. The ways such troubles unfold in interaction and how they are resolved by L2 users to maintain progressivity of test-talk have potential to inform research on the assessment of Interactional Competence.
Implications of training university teachers in developing local writing rating scales
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kvasova Olga , Hnapovska Lyudmyla ,   Sumy State University, Kalinichenko Vira ,   Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Budas Luliia ,   Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University
Published: May 2023

Language assessment literacy is currently in search of new, modern conceptualisations in which contextual factors have a growing significance and impact (Tsagari, 2020). This article presents an initiative to promote writing assessment literacy in a culture-specific educational context. Assessment of writing belongs to the under-researched areas in Ukrainian higher education, wherein teachers have to act as raters and as rating scale developers without being properly trained in language assessment. The gaps in writing assessment literacy prompted research into the strengths and weaknesses of using a local rating scale developed by university teachers. It was conducted within an Erasmus + Staff mobility project in 2016-2019 and followed up by dissemination events held in several universities in Ukraine. The сurrent study aims to explore the impact of training in writing assessment on the processes and outcomes of university teachers’ development and use of analytic rating scales. The paper analyses how three teams of teachers from different universities coped with the task, and whether the training they underwent enabled them to design well-performing rating scales. The nine participants in the study developed three local context-specific analytic rating scales following the intuitive method of scale design, detailed in the guidelines prepared by the trainer. Given the same context (ESP) and the same CEFR level (B1 ->B2), we managed to compare the three local rating scales. The study testifies to a positive impact of the training on teachers’ literacy in writing assessment.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY TEACHER EDUCATION (JCTE)
Authors: Editor JCTE
Published: May 2023

Journal of Contemporary Teacher Education is an annual publication ofSecondary Teacher Education Department, Faculty of Education, AllamaIqbal Open University, Islamabad. Articles published in the journal areselected on the basis of quality. Views expressed in the journal are thoseof authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Journal ofContemporary Teacher Education
Regime Change Operation in Pakistan: Examining Yield as a Behavioral Pattern of Microblogging rumors during the Political-Obsessed Period
Authors: Saleemi Jawad
Published: May 2023

In the behavioral domain, this study discloses the pattern between microblogging-opinionated information and yields on the investment. This phenomenon is particularly related to the political instability in the Pakistan’s economy through the multivariate techniques. Pre-political crisis, the pessimistic sentiments were priced in yields on the investment. In environments of political instability, the intensity of decline in yields was more responsive against an incline in the negative opinions. Meanwhile, the intensity of increase in returns was less responsive against an incline in the positive opinions. The findings were further supported by the Bayesian approach. Before the political instability takes place in the Pakistan’s economy, the occurrence of yields was noted in response to the bearish market period. Post-political instability, there was a higher posterior probability for occurrence of returns against the bearish market period. Conversely, a higher posterior likelihood was noted for occurrence of investment’s yields in response to the bullish market period, but this relevance was not completely probable. From the impulse response analysis, the response of returns was reported against the standard deviation shocks in the microblogging sentiment indicators. The analysis may have potential implications in terms of disclosing the investors’ behavior from a political perspective.
An Examination of Ramsey's Critique: The Lack of Support in Dismissing Keynes's Logical Theory of Probability
Authors: Emmett Brady Michael
Published: May 2023

In his 1922 review for Cambridge Magazine of Keynes's A Treatise on Probability, and again in his 1926 review "Truth and Probability" (published in 1931 and republished in Kyburg and Smokler's 1980 edition), Ramsey provided examples critiquing Keynes's logical theory of probability. However, these examples do not disprove Keynes's theory as all of them are flawed. The flaws arise because all the pairs of propositions that Ramsey used to substantiate his criticisms are irrelevant to each other. Such irrelevant propositions are explicitly excluded from Keynes's theory in pages 4-6 of his A Treatise on Probability. This paper highlights that Ramsey's examples, which involve irrelevant propositions, do not disprove Keynes's Boolean, relational logic. The only other defense of Keynes's theory, put forth by Watt in 1989, was found to be deficient by Brady in 2022.
ADAM SMITH’İN AHLAK KURAMINDA HAYAL GÜCÜNÜN ROLÜ
Authors: AVCI Nil
Published: May 2023

Öz
Adam Smith’in Ahlak Kuramında Hayal Gücünün Rolü
Bu makale Adam Smith’in ahlak kuramında hayal gücüne atfettiği temel rolü görünür kılmayı amaçlamaktadır. Makalenin temel iddiası hayal gücünün yaratıcı, yönelimsel ve anlatısal etkinliği olmadan ahlaki öznelliğin kurulamayacağı, ahlaki yaşantının var olamayacağı ve dolayısıyla ahlaki belirlenimlerin gerçekleşemeyeceğidir. İddia Smith’in Ahlakı Duygular Kuramı isimli eserinde sunduğu ahlak kuramı ile sınırlandırılmıştır. Makalenin giriş bölümünde Ahlaki Duygular Kuramı’nda Smith’in ahlaki onay ilkesini akıl, çıkar ya da duyguda temellendiren diğer kuramcılara karşı yönelttiği eleştirilerine yer verilecektir. Takip eden bölümde ahlaki değerlendirme süreci olarak ortaya koyduğu duygudaşlık (sympathy) fikri incelenecek ve duygudaşlığın hayal gücünün etkinliği olduğu gösterilecektir. Bu bölümde adalet talebinin de, ahlaki boyutunda, bir duygu sonucu ortaya çıktığı ve duygunun kaynağının kurgusal yer değiştirme olduğu vurgulanacaktır. Son olarak çözümlenecek kavram ise ahlaki failin kendi edimlerini, duygu ve davranışlarını onaylarken başvurmak için yarattığı tarafsız gözlemci (impartial spectator) kavramıdır. Smith tarafsız gözlemci kavramını tartışırken edimlerimizi gözetleyen bir seyirci kurgusunun ahlaki yaşantımızın merkezinde durduğunu vurgular. Smith’e göre ahlaki öznellik hem seyreden hem eyleyen olarak ikiye bölünmüş bir benlikte sürer. Bu son bölümde, ikili benliğin izleyen kısmını oluşturan ve değerlendirme mercii olarak atanan tarafsız gözlemcinin hayal gücünün bir kurgusu olduğu gösterilecek ve böylece ahlaki seyirle birlikte mümkün kılınan tüm ahlak dünyasının hayal gücünün ürünü olduğu açıklık kazanacaktır.
Job Satisfaction and OrganisationalCommitment of Academic Staff inKyambogo University, Uganda
Authors:   Department of Educational Planning and Management, School of Education, Kyambogo University, KIMATA KATO JOSHUA , MUGIZI WILSON ,   Department of Educational Planning and Management, School of Education, Kyambogo University, WILSON KASULE GEORGE ,   Department of Educational Planning and Management, School of Education, Kyambogo University
Published: May 2023

commitment of full-time academic staff of Kyambogo University, Uganda. Specifically, the study examined the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction on organisational commitment of full-time academic staff. Basing on the conceptualisation by Allen and Meyer (1990), organisational commitment was studied in terms of affective, continuance and normative commitment. Using the quantitative approach for inferential analysis, the study adopted the cross-sectional research design on a sample of 175 fulltime academic staff. The researcher used a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. Data analysis involved carrying out structural equation modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS. The results indicated that while intrinsic job satisfaction positively and significantly influenced organisational commitment among full-time academic staff, extrinsic job satisfaction had a negative and insignificant influence on their organisational commitment. The study concluded that while intrinsic job satisfaction is imperative for organisational commitment of academic staff, extrinsic job satisfaction did not. Therefore, it was recommended that to boost academic staff members’ organisational commitment, university managers should promote their intrinsic satisfaction more than extrinsic job satisfaction.
PENGARUH MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN SPARKOL VIDEOSCRIBE DALAM MENINGKATKAN HASIL PADAMATA PELAJARAN SISTEM KOMPUTER
Authors: Triansyah M. Agri , Rahma Dewi Safitri Indri
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Sparkol VideoScribe learning media in improving student learning outcomes in computer systems subjects with number systemmaterial. The research method used is the survey method. The population used in this study were students of class X Multimedia 

1 SMK Manba'ul 'Ulum Cirebon with a sample of 40 students. The sampling technique used in this research is purposive sampling, in which a sampling technique is used with certain considerations. The data collection techniques used by the researcher are research (survey and observation), literature/documentation studies, questionnaires/questionnaires, and interviews. The results of the study show: 1) The application of sparkol videoscribe learning media in teaching and learning activities in the classroom, students who are assisted with learning media have a much more significant increase compared to conventional methods. That way, with sparkol videoscribe media, the material presented will be much more concrete and interesting which will produce outputs, one of which is increased learning outcomes; 2) Sparkol VideoScribe learning media has an effect on improving student learning outcomes. With that, there is a positive and significant relationship between the sparkol videoscribe learning media and student learning outcomes, where the value of R = 0.356 and R Square is 0.287 (0.536 x 0.536 = 0.287) which means that the contribution of Sparkol VideoScribe (X) on Student Learning Outcomes (Y) is 28.8%.
Early Integrated Baseball in Missouri
Authors:   Fort Hays State University, Eberle Mark
Published: May 2023

Beginning in the years before the US Civil War, African Americans fled or emigrated from the South to northern and western states and territories. Descendants of these emigrants occasionally had the opportunity to play baseball for predominantly white town teams and minor league clubs prior to 1946 under circumstances documented in states such as Kansas and California. Those same opportunities were virtually nonexistent in states where slavery had been legal at the outset of the Civil War. A few instances of integrated baseball teams involved in intercity competition in Missouri, a border state that remained in the Union, have been documented between 1886 to 1901. All of the teams identified so far represented cities and towns in northwestern Missouri, near the borders of Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. The stories of these teams and Black ballplayers are described from available information published in contemporary newspapers.
CONSENSUAL DEMOCRACY IN NORTH MACEDONIA, ACCORDING TO ARBËN XHAFERI
Authors: Bexheti Flakron
Published: May 2023

In this study, focused on the political thought of Arbën Xhaferi, this politician, diplomat and philosopher, known among Albanians and beyond, his views on solving inter-ethnic problems within multi-ethnic states, which can lead to possible conflicts, are discussed. The unresolved issue of not only the rights of minorities in many countries can become the cause of inter-ethnic conflicts, which has been proven in history, from the oldest to the most recent one. Considering all these possible social crises, which according to Xhaferi can be resolved through the good will of the two parties in conflict, as an intellectual, politician and as a party leader, he took this issue seriously, even in the form of his practical action and engagement in solving problems of this nature, by being one of the participants in the Ohrid Framework Agreement, whose primary goal was to end the 2001 conflict in Macedonia, which erupted just because of the non-applicability of the rights of a large portion of Macedonian citizens at the time, such as the Albanians. In the study, in addition to Xhaferi's views on the issue of consensual decision-making, we also talk about the views of other personalities related to the phenomenon of consensual resolution of conflicts, such as Max Weber, Kavanagh, Maurice, Lijphart and others.

Keywords: politics, conflict, consensus, majoritarianism, over voting, equality, binational.
تعليم المرأة اليمنية وأثره في التنمية
Authors: الفقيه أ.د وهيبة غالب فارع
Published: May 2023

الهدف: تحليل دور المرأة العربية في التنمية، وتحديد التحديات التي تواجهها، ووضع توصيات لتحسين مشاركتها.
المنهجية: مراجعة الأدبيات المتعلقة بدور المرأة العربية في التنمية، مع التركيز على المؤتمرات والندوات التي ناقشت هذا الموضوع.
النتائج:

المرأة العربية شريكة أساسية في التنمية، وتواجه تحديات في ظل سعي المجتمعات العربية لإثبات وجودها وتحقيق التقدم.
أهمية مشاركة المرأة في التنمية مع الحفاظ على الأصالة.
التحديات: تطبيق مشاركة المرأة الفعلية يختلف عن النظريات، ووجود فجوة بين التشريع والتطبيق، وعلى المرأة تصحيح الإجابات حول كيفية مشاركتها.
فوائد مشاركة المرأة: شعورها بقيمتها كفرد نافع، واستفادة المجتمع من طاقتها البشرية.
جهود سابقة: ناقشت مؤتمرات خلال السبعينيات أهمية دور المرأة، وتم إنشاء إدارة متخصصة للتنمية الاجتماعية في جامعة الدول العربية.
التوصيات: الاتفاق على مبادئ توفر بيئة مناسبة للمساواة، واتخاذ إجراءات تكفل مشاركة المرأة إيجابياً في التنمية.

الاستنتاج:

مشاركة المرأة العربية في التنمية ضرورية لتحقيق التقدم والازدهار في المنطقة العربية.
يجب على الدول العربية اتخاذ خطوات ملموسة لتعزيز مشاركة المرأة في جميع المجالات.
A study of college students’ attitudes toward a paid news content system
Authors: Sang Yoonmo
Published: May 2023

This study investigated college students’ attitudes toward a paid news content system. It sought to identify factors that may predict such attitudes. To deepen our understanding of news copyright issues, this study also analyzed responses to open-ended questions and identified patterns in such responses. Among the predictor variables, perceiving news as a commodity was the only significant predictor of college students’ attitudes toward a paid news model. The results suggest that respondents’ perception that news is free and easily available from the Internet may be the biggest barrier to implementing a paid news model. Relatively few respondents considered news to be a commodity, though most respondents thought that news is a kind of public service that informs the public and benefits our society. Policy implications, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research were discussed in the context of news copyright and online news economics.
Equity of Claims for Antiretroviral Therapy, Vaccination and Chemotherapy in Public Facilities among Migrants in Thailand
Authors: Khampang Roongnapa , Bussabawalai Thanaporn , Santi Maneechotirat , Chinnacom Danai , Permpolsuk Suppawat , Sinam Pigunkaew , Suphanchaimat Rapeepong
Published: May 2023

Despite remarkable efforts from the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to promote access to health services among migrants, there remains an important gap about equity in utilizing health services among migrants residing in different economic status areas. This study aims to explore the equity in health service utilizations of migrants registered with Health Insurance Card Scheme. A cross-sectional quantitative design using provincial-level data was employed. Claim data of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and high-cost outpatient services, namely, vaccination and chemotherapy, in 2015 and 2016, and Gross Provincial Product per capita were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation and concentration index (CI). Significant negative Cis were found in the claims for ART in both years, which indicates that migrants residing in poor provinces access to ART more than migrants in rich provinces. However, the distribution of claims for children’s vaccinations across provincial income was relatively equal showing that access to vaccination is quite equal across different geographical location as vaccinations were provided regardless of children's nationality. While the claims for chemotherapy had positive significant CIs in both years indicating better access to chemotherapy was observed in richer provinces because resources needed are relatively pooled in urbanized cities. This study suggests that access to health care services are not equal among migrants residing in rich and poor provinces. The most concern was on access to chemotherapy which is heavily concentrated among the economically well-off provinces. Thus, it is worth exploring whether and to what extent there are hindrances against access to care for such services, especially in the economically deprived areas. The non-reported claims for children’s vaccinations in half of the provinces should also be explored. If there was a case of low coverage, a strategy to support and promote vaccinations to migrants is recommended.
Evaluation of the National Tuberculosis Database System, “Tuberculosis Case Management (TBCM)”, for its Surveillance Function at Mae Sot Hospital, Thailand
Authors: Alikhan Mohammad Fathi , Swaddiwudhipong Witaya , Xu Farong , Nugroho Dhony Kartika , Oo Lynn Htut , Darnal Jit Bahadur , Din Intan Azura Binti Mhd , Aung Yu Nandar , Htike Ni Win , Thet Ba Soe , Thaung Yamin , Ung Sophanith , Thiptara Anyarat , Thitichai Phanthanee , Taweewigyakarn Pantila , Rattanathumsakul Thanit , Pisitpayat Nichakul , Tantirat Panupong , Sreathapranai Vanlaya , Suphanchaimat Rapeepong
Published: May 2023

Thailand is classified by the World Health Organization as one of a few countries in the world with the highest tuberculosis (TB) burden. The Thai Ministry of Public Health has implemented the ‘Tuberculosis Case Management’ (TBCM) as the main database for the national TB surveillance. TBCM is designed for case registration and management as well as case reporting and notification. This study thus aimed to evaluate TBCM for its surveillance function. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to review the surveillance function of TBCM during 1 Jan to 30 Jun 2017 at Mae Sot Hospital, Thailand. The study team reviewed the protocols and guidelines of TBCM. The practice of health personnel at the TB clinic was observed to determine the data flow of TBCM. Qualitative and quantitative study methods were employed in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance Systems. We found that TBCM reporting system at Mae Sot Hospital was acceptable, stable and useful in achieving the objectives of TB control program. Sensitivity and positive predictive value of TBCM accounted for 80.8% and 99.4% respectively. The most common reason of miss-reporting was a loss to follow-up after admission or after health exam, particularly amongst non-Thai patients. Timeliness and data quality were concerned attributes that required improvement. TBCM and the in-house medical recording system should be harmonized to mitigate the risk of erroneous coding.
Disparity between the Reimbursement and Unit Cost for HIV/AIDS Antiretroviral Treatment for Migrant Patients Insured in the ‘Health Insurance Card Scheme’, Thailand, 2015-2017
Authors: Prasitsiriphon Orawan , Wongsin Utoomporn , Naka Poontavika , Julchoo Sataporn , Suphanchaimat Rapeepong
Published: May 2023

The Health Insurance Card Scheme (HICS), a national insurance scheme for cross-border migrants in Thailand, provides a vast range of benefit packages, including antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to assess and compare the reimbursement claimed by the HICS for ART beneficiaries per person against the actual ART unit cost at district, provincial, and regional hospitals. Data were retrospectively collected from two main datasets. The first dataset was used for the calculation for ART reimbursement between 2015 and 2017. There were 148 public hospitals included in the reimbursement analysis. The second dataset was used for calculating the actual ART unit cost. Eight public hospitals were selected for unit-cost calculation. Findings showed that the average ART reimbursement amount per person per year varied between US$ 191.9 and US$ 235.1 while the actual ART unit cost ranged from average US$ 135.8 to US$ 421.0. Though the overall difference demonstrated non-statistical significance by Student t-test, this difference at provincial hospitals exhibited statistical significance (p=0.03) by Mann-Whitney U test. The Ministry of Public Health should update the fee schedule for ART reimbursement to better reflect the providers’ actual unit cost and allow the ART reimbursement rate varying by facility types instead of applying the flat-rate system as per the status quo.
Impact of ICRMP on the Socio-economic Status and Participation of Fishing Households in Mati, Davao Oriental
Authors: Oracion Enrique , Marcia Dave , Alzate Jessie , Dalagan Roland
Published: May 2023

Employing quota sampling technique, 240 fishing households were interviewed in six sites along Mayo Bay (Dahican), Pujada Bay (Tamisan, Lawigan), and Balete Bay (Dawan, Mamali, Macambol) all in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental. These areas have established, or yet to be delineated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Poverty incidence among households in all sites was high since their income fell below Php 7,000.00 per month. More men (64%) were engaged in agricultural enterprise than women. They had low (15.42%) participation in organizations which were engaged in coastal resources management. They participated in decision-making processes that were relevant to coastal resource management but majority (59.96%) had less influence especially in policy making. Social facilities and services the households availed of included pre-school, elementary and high schools. Only few (10%) had collegiate education. Health centers were present in almost (92.92%) all sites. Safe sources of water were available in the form of communal faucets and public deep wells. Few (38.75%) availed of productive loans and financial assistance (25.42%) respectively. The distance of the respondents' house from ICRMP interventions and enforcement landmarks were not significantly related to household income. Only household income and distance of fishing from MPA was significantly related. This means that those who fished near the MPAs were catching more due to "spill over" effects (i.e., mature fish get out of the MPA and caught later by fishers). Thus, it was the direct utilization of fishery and marine resources that posed impact rather than the distance of their domicile.
Village Crop Productions Implemented under Micro financing Program through Cooperative Development in Davao Oriental
Authors: Alzate Jessie
Published: May 2023

This study was conducted to find out the impact of micro-financing hybrid rice, hybrid com, bitter gourd (Ampalaya), and eggplant productions on the income of 40 beneficiaries (10 per crop) in the City of Mati and towns of San Isidro and Lupon in Davao Oriental. It also determined the beneficiaries' level of knowledge on the policies in availing of micro-financing, and adopting crop production technologies. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics using frequency counts, percentages, means and inferential analysis using Chi-square. The respondents of hybrid rice, hybrid corn, and eggplant production were more knowledgeable in terms of the policies implemented in availing of micro-financing than the respondents of Ampalaya production. The micro financing program increased the beneficiaries' annual average income, income per cropping season, and amount spent for food by 55 %, 43 %, 45%, respectively. Likewise, their crop productivity improved with 29.4% increase in their yield per cropping cycle. Policies imposed in availing of micro-financing catalyzed the respondents' adoption of technologies in producing hybrid rice, hybrid corn and eggplant. However, these policies did not influence the respondents' adoption of Ampalaya production technologies.
Possibility of Using Sewage Sludge in Agriculture
Authors:   Politehnica University Timişoara, Grecu Eugenia , Mâșu Smaranda ,   National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology- ECOIND
Published: May 2023

The use of sewage sludge through its use in agriculture is considered to be a good practical option for the environment, being promoted and encouraged by the European and national legislation in force. The use of sewage sludge in agriculture has created some concerns about their possible harmful effect. Studies have shown that these fears are unjustified. Although the results obtained so far are more than encouraging, the actual interest in using sludge in agriculture is still quite low. The involvement of public administration in this process could favor this activity
Water Governance and Its Effectiveness
Authors:   Prefect Insitution Timis County, Boran Mihaela
Published: May 2023

Water governance refers to the political, social, economic and administrative systems in place that influence water’s use and management. Essentially, who gets what water, when and how, and who has the right to water and related services, and their benefits. It determines the equity and efficiency in water resource and services allocation and distribution, and balances water use between socio-economic activities and ecosystems. Governing water includes the formulation, establishment and implementation of water policies, legislation and institutions, and clarification of the roles and responsibilities of government, civil society and the private sector in relation water resources and services. The outcomes depend on how the stakeholders act in relation to the rules and roles that have been taken or assigned to them. The water sector is a part of broader social, political and economic developments and is thus also affected by decisions by actors outside of the water sector. New forms of governance focusing on process-oriented societal co-steering through, for example, formal and informal networks, partnerships and dialogue, have emerged within the water sector. The governance transformation is intrinsically linked to the increasing focus on the complexity of water management and the multifunctional character of water and the search for alternative forms of organisation.
The Efficiency of the Irrigation Systems Investment
Authors:   Politehnica University Timişoara, Vartolomei Mihaela
Published: May 2023

The scope of the paper is to analyze the efficiency of investment in irrigation project. Specific themes analyzed are related to the study of irrigation investments and the efficiency of their settlement. Another nowadays problem is linked by major climate change that affect agriculture sector efficiency in general. Finally, the paper aims recommendation and solutions for financial and project management and for increase public administration efficiency facing worldwide major problems regarding scarcity and resources.
European Union Policy on Climate Change Framework
Authors:   Politehnica University Timişoara, Vartolomei Mihaela
Published: May 2023

The aim of the paper is to study the European policies in the matter of climate change and water resources management, especially Common Agricultural Policy, Environmental Policy, EU Emission Trading System (ETS), climate and energy policies nexus with international agreements in climate action and world global warming, and the way these European policies are settled and applied in national countries. The paper studies the manner these policies are implemented in European Union countries, funding resources for climate action, with impact on decisionmaking level and good-governance.
Human Signature Verification System Using CNN with Tensor flow
Authors:   Computer Science and Engineering, The Kavery Engineering College, Tamilnadu, India., G ArunKumar , K Anand , P Dinesh , R Abimanyu , V Vijayakumari
Published: May 2023

One of the most popular verification biometrics is the signature. On checks, forms, letters, applications, minutes, and other documents, handwritten signatures are required. A person's handwritten signature must be individually identified because each individual's signature is unique by nature. Signature verification is a popular technique for confirming anyone's identity while they are not present. Human verification can be inaccurate and occasionally unsure. The use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for Writer-Dependent models in signature verification is examined in this research. In order to create forged signatures, random distortions were created in real photos using an auto encoder and then fed to the classifier during training. In addition to demonstrating various test outcomes for varying the number of training sets of images, the study describes all image pre-processing procedures that were applied to the image. In the Persian dataset, the system's average test accuracy is 83% after 22 real photos were used to train it. When the model was trained on nine real photos, accuracy dropped by 9.4%. Key Word: Offline Signature Verification, WD (Writer Dependent), CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), FAR (False Acceptance Ratio), FRR (False Rejection Ratio), Auto encoder
Smart Vehicle Transportation System Using Node MCU
Authors:   Department of Electrical and electronics engineering, The Kavery Engineering College, Mecheri, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India., G Paranjothi , R Mohana Priya , P Karthika Devi , S.K Kalki
Published: May 2023

In this paper, vehicle accident monitoring and tracking systems are implemented using IOT webpage acting as a medium for data transfer and visualization. The system is developed to monitor various driver help parameters like seatbelt earing, speed indication, and vehicle parameters like GPS Module, the distance between the vehicles and tracking of the live location of the Vehicle. The Ultrasonic sensoris placed in the front part of the vehicle, if any two vehicles draw near to one another then an alert message is sent to the SMS through IOT Webpage application. The seatbelt sensor is placed in the side part. When the panic button is pressed, the panic alert messageis send to SMS(IOTWEBPAGE) The developed system takes care of vehicles and s driver’s safety. Key Word: NODE MCU,IOT Webpage, GPS, Sensors.
Precision Agriculture Using Hanging Robot
Authors:   Department of Mechatronics Engineering ,Dr.Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi,  Tamilnadu, India., S Dhivyadharshini , S Shalini , C Radhakrishnan
Published: May 2023

The precision agriculture monitoring system is an emerging concept. The sensors are capable of providing information about agricultural fields and then Artificial Intelligence takes decision automatically based on the sensor values. Monitoring environmental conditions is the major factor to improve yield of the efficient crops. In this project, we present a new approach by using hanging robot with virtual assistance in the agriculture field by monitoring moisture, temperature etc.It further provides a review on the most common sensing principles that can be used for in-situ and real-time temperature and and humidity level, as well as an overview of the difficulties for deploying these sensing systems and their electronic interfaces in the harsh soil environment. It reviews existing agricultural circuits and sensing systems designed for agricultural monitoring and their limitations whilst highlighting remaining challenges in order to make automated, decision- making systems for precision agriculture, a reality. Key Word: Integrated circuit, Motor driver supply, Sinusoidal signal, Communication port, Integrated Development Environment.
COVID-19 Image Data Collection: Prospective Predictions are the Future
Authors: Cohen Joseph Paul , Morrison Paul , Dao Lan , Roth Karsten , Duong Tim , Ghassem Marzyeh
Published: May 2023

Across the world’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hot spots, the need to streamline patient diagnosis and management has become more pressing than ever. As one of the main imaging tools, chest X-rays (CXRs) are common, fast, non-invasive, relatively cheap, and potentially bedside to monitor the progression of the disease. This paper describes the first public COVID-19 image data collection as well as a preliminary exploration of possible use cases for the data. This dataset currently contains hundreds of frontal view X-rays and is the largest public resource for COVID-19 image and prognostic data, making it a necessary resource to develop and evaluate tools to aid in the treatment of COVID-19. It was manually aggregated from publication figures as well as various web based repositories into a machine learning (ML) friendly format with accompanying dataloader code. We collected frontal and lateral view imagery and metadata such as the time since first symptoms, intensive care unit (ICU) status, survival status, intubation status, or hospital location. We present multiple possible use cases for the data such as predicting the need for the ICU, predicting patient survival, and understanding a patient’s trajectory during treatment. Data can be accessed here: https://github.com/ieee8023/covid-chestxray-dataset
Gendered Economic Gap in Uganda: Education Attainment and Women’s Access to and Land Ownership in Bunyoro Sub-region
Authors:   Department of Development, Peace and Conflict Studies Kampala International University, Uganda., E. K. Barongo , J. D. Busingye ,   College of Education, Open and Distance Learning Kampala International University, Uganda., Mulegi Tom ,   Department of Public Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, G. Lubaale ,   4Department of Development, Peace and Conflict Studies. Kampala International University, Uganda
Published: May 2023

The study investigated the role of education attainment in women's ownership of land in Bunyoro sub-region, Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive research design and a qualitative approach in data collection. Accordingly, 25 key informants comprising of community leaders, educationists, CSO officials and women residents of Bunyoro subregion purposively selected by the researcher were interviewed while another 15 women from Bunyoro sub-region participated in focus group discussion (FGD). The study findings show that education plays a crucial role in women’s access to and ownership of land in Bunyoro sub-region, thus an improvement in female education will greatly empower them to own land and other productive resources. In addition, it was observed that apart from education, culture, discriminatory attitude and poverty also affect women’s’ ability to access and own land in Bunyoro sub-region and in Uganda. Keywords:Economic Gap, Education, Women, Land and Ownership.
IMPACT OF GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTANI MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Authors: Faiza Irum
Published: May 2023

Due to increase in environmental issues organizations are taking keen interest to initiate green objectives. Manufacturing sector is one of the main sectors contributing towards economically as well as major source of pollution as well. Organizations need to initiate green policies because increasing pressure from stakeholders, and customers are willing to pay more for ecofriendly products and services. Increase in pollution and environmental issues are one of the negligence of human behavior. Previously organizations overlooked importance and significance of human resource now organizations realized importance of human resources and want to hire those professionals who have awareness and knowledge of environmental issues and how to attain competitive advantage and sustainable organizational performance. Sustainable performance deals with financial matters, wellbeing of stakeholders and reducing environmental issues. Purpose of this study is to find the relationship between green human resource management practices and sustainable performance. For this purpose self-administered questionnaire was distributed. Population of the study was manufacturing sector in KP state Pakistan. Data of the study was cross-sectional. Sample was selected using snow ball technique. Correlation and regression analysis were run to test hypotheses. Results indicate GRS and green performance appraisal are positively related with sustainability while green training and development and green rewards are insignificantly related with sustainability.Managers must raise awareness about benefits of green training and development and provide rewards to employees on achieving green objectives.
ECO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT BASED ON NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SURROUNDINGS IN SEMBERIJA AND MAJEVICA AREA
Authors: Đurić Dijana , Topalić Marković Jovana
Published: May 2023

Tourism is one of the most developed industries in the world that is continuously growing. It has many different shapes and types with many different factors that affect its success. Over the years, tourism has changed. The new era of tourism is trying to put focus on present environmental problems such as the amount of waste, the use of natural resources and the pollution that it produces as a result of different activities. In this paper, the effect of natural and artificial resources on the development of three types of ecotourism is observed on the area of Semberija and Majevica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Types of tourism that were research are: cultural and heritage tourism, spa (healing) tourism and recreational tourism. All these types have a great presence on the observed area. The distribution and attendance of the three types of tourism mentioned above is largely dependent on natural elements, such as water and forest areas, which can have both a positive and a negative effect on its development. On the area of Semberija and Majevica, types of tourism largely depend from the location and its surrounding.