bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working in International and Multicultural Schools
Authors: Schembri Antoinette
Published: April 2024

The term super-diverse is being used to describe contemporary society. Super-diversity, coined by Steven Vertovec in 2007, was intended to describe the different ethnic groups existing in society in general. Ontologically, this term takes into account the movement of people from one country to another and celebrates the fact that all people are different and unique and can contribute in different ways to society. In the past twenty years, the movement of people in the world increased, and this had led to a situation where we are now speaking more in terms of mobility, rather than in terms of migration when people move from one place to another.
Investigating Myths and Misconceptions Within the Maltese Primary School Setting
Authors: Muscat Loredana
Published: April 2024

Educational myths occur when evidence-based research does not confirm common beliefs about learning and teaching methodology. On the other hand, educational misconceptions are beliefs which have been debunked by research but are still being used in a classroom setting. This research aims to investigate the beliefs of Maltese primary school educators concerning the main educational myths and misconceptions. The researcher seeks to provide a perspective of the local educators in relation to common educational myths and how these beliefs could infiltrate the Maltese educational system. A quantitative explorative design was utilised to evaluate the beliefs of Maltese primary school educators concerning four areas: Learning Styles, Bilingualism, Digital Learners and Homework. One hundred and seventy-nine educators responded to an online questionnaire. The researcher used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data. Results indicate that primary school educators believe in myths related to learning styles the most, followed by misconceptions about homework provision. Chi-square analysis revealed that myths were widespread throughout different cohorts, where no difference between educators’ roles and level of education could be identified; however, some differences between sectors could be identified.
Cross-Curricular Teaching Within the Learning Outcomes Framework: The Experiences of Primary Teachers in Two State Schools in Malta
Authors: Xerri Hili Charlene , Schembri Heathcliff
Published: April 2024

This study looks at the potential use, as well as the benefits and challenges, of a cross-curricular teaching approach embedded within the Learning Outcomes Framework in Malta. Since the inception of the National Curriculum Framework and its advocacy for student-centred approaches, the authors believe that teachers in Malta have been given more flexibility to tailor-make lessons around their students’ needs. Then it follows that the use of the Learning Outcomes Framework should also facilitate the implementation of a cross-curricular approach and aid teachers in moving away from segregated teaching (and learning). Despite such claims, teaching in primary state schools in Malta is predominantly segregated by subject, with rare occasions of cross-curricular teaching. This qualitative study explores the experiences of six teachers who teach in Year 3 or Year 4 in two state primary schools. The aim is to understand what teachers perceive as barriers and enablers to the use of cross-curricular teaching as a connection-making device that integrates much needed skills anticipated for the 21st century alongside content. Findings reveal that there is a pronounced need for more guidelines and policies that are clear and practical to implement a cross-curricular approach. Teachers also remarked that there is too much prescribed material, including textbooks and timetables, which compromises their autonomy and flexibility.
‘Our Students’ Versus ‘My Students’? Experiences of Subject Teaching by Maltese Primary Church School Teachers
Authors: Schembri Fiona , Schembri Heathcliff
Published: April 2024

Focusing on Year 5 and Year 6, this qualitative study encompasses a sample of six teachers who have employed the subject teaching approach in recent scholastic years in church schools in Malta. This study addresses these teachers’ experiences with the subject teaching approach, while also exploring associated benefits and challenges. The research delves into the perceptions of the teachers and the implications of subject teaching, offering valuable insights into the pedagogical landscape. The study exposes the phenomenon of learning compartmentalization and highlights the possible negative impacts and beneficial outcomes resulting from this pedagogical approach. These are presented in a comprehensive table which not only encompasses the perspective of teachers but also identifies perceived benefits and challenges for learners. While acknowledging the significance of subject teaching at the primary level, the authors recognize the necessity of future research to assess the subject teaching’s comprehensive impact, particularly the psychological support teachers offer within the broader context of holistic education. This paper stands as a catalyst for informed deliberations on the viability of subject teaching, both in Malta and internationally. It may also contribute to potential policy formulation while igniting further investigations in similar domains.
Educators’ Constructions of Maltese Society
Authors: Chircop Louise
Published: April 2024

In the span of a few decades, Maltese society witnessed rapid social, cultural and political changes, transforming itself from a primarily monocultural society into a multicultural one. The introduction of progressive civil rights legislation brought forth new understandings of gender, gender identity and family constructs. The Catholic Church is slowly losing its potential to influence its followers. These changes might be seen as a threat to the moral fibre of Maltese society, or an opportunity to see beyond the insularity of an island state. The aim of this paper is to explore the yet largely uncharted waters of how Maltese educators construct Maltese society and social diversity, which ultimately influence their practices in school. The study draws on social constructionism as a theoretical framework. I argue that teachers’ constructions of, and attitudes towards social diversity in Maltese society cannot be taken out of the context in which these have been socialised, nurtured, and perhaps sustained or otherwise challenged. In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with 19 participants hailing from State, Church and Independent schools. Critical Discourse Analysis was applied to analyse the data gathered. Educators’ constructions of Maltese society and the social diversity within it reflected their location as citizens of an island nation, with some of the participants seeking to preserve their visions and traditions of an imagined community, while others looked outward and embraced change as something positive. They provided multiple constructions of Maltese society and social diversity, reflecting the geopolitics, history, religion and size of the island.
Educational Leaders’ Stress: An In-Depth Analysis of the Maltese Context
Authors: Tabone Betts Elaine
Published: April 2024

This study explores how Maltese Heads of College NetworksHCN), Heads of Schools (HoS), Assistant Heads of Schools (AH), and Heads of Departments (HoD), collectively referred to as Educational Leaders (ELs), define stress and what they consider as professional stressors. Qualitative one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted, and it was concluded that ELs feel distress when they cannot control a situation and eustress when they feel driven to work harder. ELs explained that stressors they faced came from within and outside the school and from factors like learners, staff members, parents/guardians, unions, curriculum, the Education Department, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes shed light on the fact that ELs need more support and training in their profession and the opportunity to talk about what they are going through to minimise stress.
Introduction
Authors: Fenech Christine
Published: April 2024

It is the Institute for Education’s mission to promote quality education for all educators and educational leaders, foster learning communities and contribute to equity and social justice. One way of achieving this is by gathering and sharing latest research on education. Establishing an annual symposium and giving an opportunity to postgraduate and doctoral students and researchers to share their research in education with the community of educators and educational leaders, as well as with parents and policy makers in Malta is the Institute’s contribution to this end. Through this journal, this research is being made available and easily accessible to the learning community beyond the symposium itself. As such, it is meant to serve as a resource and source of inspiration to educators, educational leaders, policy makers, parents and the interested public alike.
A variation of the network flow algorithm to optimize the diversity of project
groups
Authors: Mauch Holger
Published: April 2024

Research has shown that the amount of diversity within project groups has an
effect on how well groups perform. In particular, groups that are balanced with respect
to gender, race, national origin, and social background tend to be more creative, more
productive, and perform better on average than non-diversified groups (Hunt 2015, Hunt
2018). Therefore the assignment of employees to project groups must also take into
account the sub-goal of diversification during the decision making process (in addition
to hard constraints such as suitable skill level of an employee to even qualify for
membership in a group.) The additional constraints this imposes on the optimization
problem of finding the best group composition can be a considerable challenge for
management. In this paper, we present a new variation of a classical network flow
algorithm to solve this problem optimally. We show the results of an application area
where optimal groups have been formed that work together. The results have been obtained
by the software implementation of our algorithm called "NF Group
Diversity".
Application of group control charts for multiple parts manufacturing
Authors: Abdulaziz Abdulaziz G. , Ribas Clovis S. , Weheba Gamal S.
Published: April 2024

In many manufacturing processes, multiple identical parts are made in parallel
during a single run. Different inspectors may inspect similar parts, and several
assembly lines may produce similar products. These scenarios involve multiple stream
processes, where a different set of control charts is traditionally required to monitor
the performance of each stream over time. As the number of streams increases,
applications become unrealistic. Group control charts offer a more viable alternative.
This paper presents a review of group charting techniques and highlights recent
developments. The paper presents a case study to demonstrate the steps to be followed in
selecting among alternative charting techniques. It is hoped that this work guides
future applications and encourages quality professionals to select charts better suited
to their needs.
Optimal stormwater runoff path by identifying gravitational potential energy
function with the least energy path
Authors: Zwawi Mohammed , Algarni Mohammed
Published: April 2024

This study identifies a stormwater runoff path that has the least energy value,
which is proposed to be defined from the principle of the potential energy function. The
runoff path is one of the most important issues for underdeveloped and new cities. Due
to the dangerous impact associated with global warming increasing the number of rain
flood incidents around the globe, this study proposes a model to predict the stormwater
runoff path based on the least energy principle. Previously, researchers have used many
techniques and models in designing the stormwater runoff path, yet many of those
existing techniques and models are not sufficient with the enormous environmental
warming changes. This study investigates the optimal stormwater runoff path by using the
principle of potential energy function for a grid mapping in a city. The grid has three
coordinates (longitude, latitude, and elevation) that simulate the city's natural
terrain. The proposed model uses the three coordinates in the potential energy function
to calculate the energy value of the stormwater runoff path. It is based on the
gravitational potential energy of each elevation of a city terrain grid. Moreover, the
study used an optimization method (Dijkstra's algorithm) to find the path that has the
least energy value among the infinite number of paths between two points of different
altitudes and longitude. The least energy path, the path between the two distinct
starting and ending points, was gained as a result of this study. The path can be
generated for predicting or designing the stormwater runoff path for any city. The
results and performance of the proposed design have been tested and reported.
Mobile device espionage
Authors: Carstens Deborah , Mahlman John , Miller Jeffrey , Shaffer Matthew
Published: April 2024

Malware and hacking activities are growing among today's most popular mobile
devices. These security risks are prompting companies, federal facilities, and other
institutions to enact policies aimed at mitigating the amount of espionage and illegal
events that can transpire on a cell phone or other mobile device. With all of the new
devices and applications, publicly available, new security-related vulnerabilities
continue to arise. These devices and applications are targets for attacks from malicious
outside sources. Each day provides a new potential threat aimed at taking advantage of
some security exploit in cell phones and mobile devices. Security analysts and experts
are at a disadvantage in this war against threats because they are fighting a war
without clear rules. The focus of this literature review is on cell phone and electronic
device vulnerabilities, espionage in the workplace, and security solutions. This will
provide an understanding of risks, threats and solutions that exist in the modern era of
cell phones and mobile devices.
Examining airline ground operation incidents by airport size
Authors: Wheeler Brooke , Gomez-Womack Jahleel L. , White David C.
Published: April 2024

Evaluating ground operations incidents is a critical step for airlines from both a
management and safety perspective. Analysis of incidents is useful in both safety
management and in planning for training and recurrent training of airline employees.
De-identified data was provided by a major U.S. airline for all reported ground
operations incidents from 2010-2017. This ex post facto research examined the rate of
ground operations incidents by airport size for this airline, using both the National
Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) classification and the airline's
classification of airport size, based on its operations at each airport. NPIAS
recognizes all commercial, reliever, and public airports in the national airport system,
and the airports in this study were all classified as small/non-hub, or large/medium
hub. The airline's size classification was based on its operations at a given airport
and assigned airports as small, medium, large, or mega stations. The analysis of ground
operations showed that the rate of incidents per operations did not differ with airport
size for either the NPIAS size categories or the airline's size classification.
Applications of additive manufacturing in construction industry: A literature review
Authors: Al Turk Abdelhakim , Weheba Gamal
Published: April 2024

Additive manufacturing is the process where three-dimensional parts are constructed layer-by-layer based on their computer-aided design (CAD) models. AM has gained a strong reputation in the aerospace and medical industries, and its use is now considered revolutionary. In the past few years, the utilization of AM technology has been expanded and is now leading to breakthroughs in the construction industry. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of the use, advantages, and limitations of AM in the construction industry. The review sheds light on the different AM techniques used and highlights contemporary projects and achievements in the construction industry.
Application of Markov Models for decision making under uncertainty in the electric utility industry
Authors: Tettey Anyama , Hensley Kim , Gholston Sampson
Published: April 2024

Planning in the Power Systems distribution involves a formal decision-making process of identifying and prioritizing network improvement projects such as the construction of substations, interconnecting feeder links and general upgrade works, with the aim is of providing an efficient service to the customer without damage to the utility's equipment and customer's property or personnel. This task is plagued with uncertainties associated with load growth and demand due to changing weather conditions and other unforeseen developments, which affects the ability to maximize efficiency and utilization. This paper proposes the use of Markov Models as a more effective technique by utility planners and managers for their decision-making efforts under such uncertainties. The authors develop a load flow modeling approach that takes into consideration the stochastic nature of customer demand and uses the distribution network profiles as fitness values to be optimized. A ranking of the criteria of interest based on the decision makers preferences is the result of the optimization algorithm. This provides a formal process for decision making by the management of utility companies.
Proceedings of the Society Multivariate Experimental Psychology (SMEP), European Branch
Authors: Sarris Viktor
Published: April 2024

Proceedings editor introduction and abstracts of papers presented at the 6th conference of the European branch of the Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology held in Germany on September 12-13, 1974.
Achievement of India in the field of Bio-Technology
Authors: Panchal Neera
Published: April 2024

India has made remarkable achievements in the field of biotechnology, spanning healthcare, agriculture, industrial bioprocessing, and environmental sustainability. In healthcare, the country has emerged as a global leader in producing affordable biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, addressing critical healthcare challenges. In agriculture, India’s expertise in genetically modified crops, crop improvement, and seed technology has revolutionized farming practices, enhancing productivity and sustainability. Industrial biotechnology has witnessed significant growth, with Indian companies excelling in enzyme production, biofuels, and waste management solutions. Additionally, India has made notable strides in environmental biotechnology, employing innovative methods for wastewater treatment, biogas production, and bioremediation. Despite challenges, India’s biotechnology sector is poised for further growth, driven by advancements in emerging technologies and collaborative efforts among stakeholders. These achievements underscore India’s potential to contribute significantly to global biotechnological innovation and address pressing societal and environmental challenges. Biotechnology refers to all those techniques which use biological processes to produce substances which can be used as medicines and in industries. It also includes all those methods (and their study) by which a species of living beings (especially human species) can be made superior. For example, making vaccines to prevent diseases, making/using bio-fertilizers, making/using biopesticides, making superior species of plants through bio-engineering, protecting the environment and biodiversity, development of DNA figure printing technology, cloning etc. all come under biotechnology. Modern biotechnological processes have their origins in the techniques used in ancient times, such as making vinegar byfermenting sugarcane juice, obtaining curd by coagulating milk, making cheese, etc. Similarly, in the field of agriculture, new varieties of seeds are prepared by hybridizing different types of plants, etc.
GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN DAN MOTIVASI DITINJAU DARI KINERJA PEGAWAI PADA AKADEMI PELAYARAN NASIONAL SURAKARATA
Authors: Astuti Sri Dweni
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuktikan : (1) Adanya Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta. (2) Adanya Pengaruh Motivasi Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta. (3) Adanya Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Motivasi Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta.Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif dengan menggunakan eksperimen, yaitu untuk mencari tingkatan pengaruh dan hubungan dari masing masing variable. Populasi berjumlah 30 orang yaitu 21 Dosen dan 9 karyawan. Alat pengumpul data menggunakan angket. Sebelum angket digunakan maka di lakukan uji coba terlebih dulu, Dari hasil uji coba untuk data Gaya Kepemimpinan yang tidak palid 3 butir data Motivasi 1 butir dan Kinerja Pegawai 1 butir dan ketiganya juga Reliabel. Pengujian hipotesis menggunakan Regresi Ganda Dua Prediktor. Sebelumnya dilakukan uji persyaratan terlebih dulu yaitu uji normalitas. Dari uji normalitas menggunakan Chi Kuadrat untuk ketiga data yaitu: 1). Gaya Kepemimpinan, 2). Motivasi Kerja, 3). Kinerja Pegawai dari ketiga data tersebut semuanya Berdistribusi Normal.Dari hasil perhitungan menggunakan regresi ganda dua prekditor diperoleh persamaan Y = 48,9 + 0,6138 X1 – 0,0543 X2 , ini berarti Kinerja Pegawai akan naik bila motivasi ditingkatkan, dan akan turun jika Gaya Kepemimpinan ditngkatkan. Jadi jika Gaya kepemimpinan dan Motivasi ditingkatkan sampai nilai tertentu (misal 10) maka kinerja pegawai akan menjadi 54, 495. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan: (1) Ada pengaruh signifikan antara Gaya Kepemimpinan terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta, (2) Ada pengaruh signifikan antara motivasi dengan Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta. (3) Ada pengaruh interaksi antara Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Motivasi terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Akademi Pelayaran Nasional Surakarta.
WORD OF MOUTH, HARGA, KUALITAS PELAYANAN DAN DAMPAKNYA PADA KEPUTUSAN PENGGUNA JASA TRANSPORTASI GOJEK DI KOTA SURAKARTA
Authors: Mulyanto Dody
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh word of mouth, harga, dan kualitas pelayanan terhadap keputusan pengguna jasa transportasi Gojek di Surakarta baik secara parsial maupun simultan. Hipotesis penelitian adalah word of mouth, harga, dan kualitas pelayanan berpengaruh diduga berpengaruh positif terhadap keputusan pengguna jasa transportasi Gojek di Surakarta baik secara parsial maupun simultan baik parsial maupun simultan. Data penelitian adalah data primer berupa kuesioner yang disebar kepada 100 orang responden. Metode analisis data adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian adalah word of mouth, harga, dan kualitas pelayanan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap keputusan pengguna jasa transportasi Gojek di Surakarta baik secara parsial maupun simultan. Hasil penelitian ini menyimpulkan tiga hipotesis diterima.
PERAN PELATIHAN DAN DISIPLIN PADA TURNOVER INTENTION PADA KARYAWAN PT X DI KOTA SEMARANG
Authors: Fifaldyovan Muhammad Ikhsan , Supriyanta Sipriyanta
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan menguji secara empiris pengaruh pelatihan dan disiplin terhadap turnover intention. Sampel sebanyak 110 orang karyawan PT X di kota Semarang, yang diperoleh secara incidental sampling. Metode analisis data menggunakan analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian adalah pelatihan dan disiplin berpengaruh terhadap turnover intention, baik secara parsial maupun simultan. Kata kunci: pelatihan, disiplin, turnover intention, karyawan
ANALISIS PENGARUH KUALITAS SDM, SARANA FISIK DAN KOMUNIKASI TERHADAP KEPUASAN PENGGUNA LAYANAN (Studi Pada Kantor Kecamatan Mojolaban Kabupaten Sukoharjo)
Authors: Triyanto Triyanto , Sudarmadi Sudarmadi
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan menguji secara empiris pengaruh Kualitas SDM, Komunikasi dan Sarana Fisik terhadap Kepuasan Pengguna Layanan Pada kantor Kecamatan Mojolaban. Sampel adalah 100 orang yang menggunakan jasa layanan di Kantor Kecamatan Mojolaban yang diperoleh secara proporsional sampling. Metode analisis data menggunakan analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian adalah kualitas SDM, sarana fisik dan komunikasi berpengaruh positif dan signifikan signifikan terhadap kepuasan pengguna layanan di Kantor Kecamatan Mojolaban. Kata kunci: kualitas SDM, komunikasi, sarana fisik, kepuasan konsumen
PENGARUH KOMPENSASI TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN MELALUI KEPUASAN KERJA PADA KARYAWAN PT SAMUDERA INDAH PERKASA
Authors: Fifaldyovan Muhammad Ikhsan , Nalurita Wening
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisis pengaruh kompensasi terhadap kepuasan kerja dan kinerja karyawan, serta pengaruh kepuasan kerja dalam memediasi hubungan kompensasi dengan kinerja karyawan. Subjek adalah seluruh karyawan PT Samudera Indah Perkasa sebanyak 80 orang yang diperoleh secara studi populasi. Data diperoleh menggunakan kuesioner yang kemudian dianalisis menggunakan analisis regresi dan sobel test. Hasil penelitian adalah kompensasi berpengaruh positif terhadap kepuasan kerja dan kinerja karyawan, serta kepuasan kerja memiliki efek mediasi terhadap hubungan kompensasi dengan kinerja karyawan.
ENGARUH KUALITAS PELAYANAN TERHADAP KEPUASAN DAN LOYALITAS PELANGGAN DI SPBU LEMAH BANG SRAGEN
Authors: Prastica Shinta Bella , Marsudi Hidup
Published: April 2024

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kualitas pelanggan terhadap kepuasan pelanggan, pengaruh kualitas pelayanan terhadap loyalitas pelanggan, pengaruh kepuasan terhadap loyalitas pelanggan, dan pengaruh kualitas pelayanan terhadap loyalitas pelanggan melalui kepuasan pelanggan. Sampel sebanyak 100 orang konsumen SPBU Lemah Bang Sragen yang diperoleh secara incidental sampling. Data diperoleh menggunakan kuesioner dan dianalisis menggunakan analisis jalur dan sobel. Hasil penelitian adalah kualitas pelayanan berpengarh positif terhadap loyalitas pelanggan, kualitas pelanggan berpengaruh positif terhadap kepuasan pelanggan, kepuasan berpengaruh positif terhadap loyalitas pelanggan, dan kualitas pelayanan berpengaruh terhadap loyalitas pelanggan melalui kepuasan pelanggan.
PERKEMBANGAN TEORI MANAJEMEN
Authors: Nalurita Wening , Kartika Sari Ririn Dwi Astuti
Published: April 2024

Perkembangan ilmu manajemen seiring dengan perkembangan teori manajemen. Perkembangan teori muncul karena adanya keterbatasan dari teori-teori sebelumnya sehingga belum bisa memberikan pemahaman yang utuh mengenai praktik manajemen. Hingga saat ini terdapat empat aliran/teori manajemen, yaitu manajemen klasik/ilmiah, teori organisasi klasik, hubungan manusiawi dan manajemen modern.
China’s Africa Policy during the Xi Jinping Era (2012-2022)
Authors: Devecioglu Kaan , Akçomak Duygu
Published: April 2024

This study examines China's Africa policy during the Xi Jinping era, in the context of political, economic, security, and socio-cultural aspects. Africa is one of the regions of strategic importance, especially in terms of meeting the energy and raw material demands of global and regional actors, despite the significant lack of accumulated capital. In this regard, China has notably intensified its relations with African countries, particularly since the 1990s. China's approach to Africa began with collaborations based on economic interests, progressed to consolidating political relations through soft power elements, and the establishment of reliable relations in this process has also paved the way for China to become a security actor in the region. In the study, these aspects are considered as turning points and are examined through the process tracing method. Consequently, the main objective of this study is to analyze China's Africa policy during the Xi Jinping era specifically using the process tracing method.
Climate change and its effect on food security in Southern Africa
Authors: Alfiado Evanilde Rofina
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the term "climate change" has been widely utilized worldwide. Almost everyone knows or bears an idea of the definition of the phrase in mind. Climate change has become part of the global agenda, being the topic of discussion in the realm of numerous international conferences. Climate change poses a threat to global security as it poses a danger to various aspects of human life. For instance, lives are occasionally lost due to weather events triggered by changing weather conditions, and food scarcity caused by these changing conditions that can limit people's access to food in many ways. One manifestation of climate change is the occurrence of extreme weather events, characterized by a rise in global temperatures, increased frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts. The objective of this research is to understand what SADC countries are doing at the regional level to mitigate the effects of climate change on food security. While developing the research, documentary and bibliographic techniques are applied. However, secondary sources including the analysis of works carried out by other researchers have allowed a better understanding into the problem and broadened the scope through the provision of answers to the problem scrutinized by the research.
Identifying Important Areas for the Release of Five Endemic Species in a Mountainous Landscape: Inference from Spatial Modeling Techniques
Authors:   Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Dramaga Campus IPB, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia 16680, Rahman D A , Giri M S , Munawir A , Sunderland-Groves J L
Published: April 2024

Efforts to release animals resulting from evacuation and rehabilitation into their natural habitats are important practices in wildlife conservation. Before releasing the animals, it is important to assess the habitat suitability of the areas to support the existence of the animals in the long run. Yet, there is limited study of habitat suitability assessment on national parks as release locations for wild animals. This study aimed to assess the suitable habitat of five charismatic animal species, i.e., Panthera pardus melas, Hylobates moloch, Prinonailurus bengalensis, Nycticebus javanicus, and Nisaetus bartelsi, in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park using Maxent, and to determine potential locations for releasing animal’s species. Models for the P. p. melas show 47,619 ha and 21,391 ha, respectively, suitable as habitat and potential release location, for H. moloch, each is 57,537 ha and 33,471 ha, for P. bengalensis, each is 25,460 ha and 17.189 ha, for N. javanicus, each is 29,848 ha and 15,578 ha, and for N. bartelsi, each is 44,426 ha and 25,660 ha. Our study shows that a suitable habitat can be critical in choosing a wildlife release site. Further consideration of conflict mitigation and practicalities is required to achieve the long-term existence of released species.
Ambigüedad en el cine: desafíos de género en Harmony Korine
Authors: Martins Inés , Martins Aline
Published: April 2024

Reflexionamos sobre la fenomenología y la experiencia cinematográfica, basándonos en Bazin y Merleau-Ponty para explorar la relación del cine con la realidad, enfatizando la ambigüedad en la vivencia humana. Examinamos cómo el cine desafía las normas de género y confronta la representación convencional del cine clásico, utilizando la filmografía de Harmony Korine. En obras como Spring Breakers (2012), Korine usa el realismo para debatir la identidad juvenil estadounidense, cuestionando los sistemas de signos tradicionales, y ofreciendo una perspectiva crítica sobre género, sexualidad y violencia.
El derecho a vivir en la ciudad diseñada
Authors: Foglia Efraín
Published: April 2024

Muchas residencias emblemáticas en la historia de la arquitectura han sido encargadas por sus futuros dueños, directamente a los starchitects. Esto implica que son los dueños del terreno, que esos trozos de tierra son una garantía para su futuro. Un ejemplo emblemático de esto es la Maison à Bordeaux del arquitecto neerlandés Rem Koolhaas. Es una casa a medida de una familia con un elevado nivel económico.
The contribution of neuroscience in evaluating human-robot collaboration: a multidimensional approach
Authors: Ciminaghi Flavia
Published: April 2024

Collaborative robots (cobots) are a recent introduction in the industrial sector and are designed to work on shared tasks with humans with the aim to provide physical and cognitive support. This has led to a growing interest in the study of factors affecting human-robot collaboration (HRC) with the idea of making cobots more responsive to the human psychophysiological state. Several studies have begun to investigate dimensions such as mental workload and stress of the individual interacting with a cobot using behavioural and neurophysiological metrics, leading to a fruitful convergence between the worlds of neuroscience and robotics. It is therefore discussed the utility of a multidisciplinary and multidimensional approach in the study of HRC. Relevant physiological, neurophysiological, behavioural, and subjective measures are presented, as well as the necessity of their integration in HRC research. It is also introduced the importance of considering in HRC individual differences in terms of cognitive and emotional functioning, and factors related to individual representations and interpersonal environment.
Disruption in CYLC1 leads to acrosome detachment, sperm head deformity, and male in/subfertility in humans and mice
Authors: Jin Hui-Juan , Fan Yong , Yang Xiaoyu , Dong Yue , Zhang Xiao-Zhen , Geng Xin-Yan , Yan Zheng , Wu Ling , Ma Meng , Li Bin , Lyu Qifeng , Pan Yun , Liu Mingxi , Kuang Yanping , Chen Su-Ren
Published: April 2024

The perinuclear theca (PT) is a dense cytoplasmic web encapsulating the sperm nucleus. The physiological roles of PT in sperm biology and the clinical relevance of variants of PT proteins to male infertility are still largely unknown. We reveal that cylicin-1, a major constituent of the PT, is vital for male fertility in both mice and humans. Loss of cylicin-1 in mice leads to a high incidence of malformed sperm heads with acrosome detachment from the nucleus. Cylicin-1 interacts with itself, several other PT proteins, the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM) protein SPACA1, and the nuclear envelope (NE) protein FAM209 to form an ‘IAM–cylicins–NE’ sandwich structure, anchoring the acrosome to the nucleus. WES (whole exome sequencing) of more than 500 Chinese infertile men with sperm head deformities was performed and a CYLC1 variant was identified in 19 patients. Cylc1-mutant mice carrying this variant also exhibited sperm acrosome/head deformities and reduced fertility, indicating that this CYLC1 variant most likely affects human male reproduction. Furthermore, the outcomes of assisted reproduction were reported for patients harbouring the CYLC1 variant. Our findings demonstrate a critical role of cylicin-1 in the sperm acrosome–nucleus connection and suggest CYLC1 variants as potential risk factors for human male fertility.
Communication Ideologies and Social Interface Expertise of Public Elementary School Teachers
Authors: Ramos Aneriam U. , Baguio Josephine B.
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to determine if communication ideologies significantly influence the social interface expertise of public secondary school teachers in the Division of Panabo, Davao del Norte. It utilized a non-experimental quantitative research design employing the correlational method. The respondents included 130 teachers from public elementary schools, selected through universal sampling. Data analysis involved calculating the mean, Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and regression analysis. The findings revealed that public secondary school teachers often demonstrated high communication ideologies across dimensions such as incomparable, inspirational, consistent, ideal behaviour, good listening, and charismatic traits.
Moreover, the teachers frequently manifested the social interface expertise of public secondary school teachers, including skills in edition, goal accomplishment, assimilation, and expectancy. Furthermore, the study found a significant relationship between communication ideologies and social interface expertise among public secondary school teachers. It also indicated that the domains of communication ideologies significantly influenced the social interface expertise of these teachers. The results suggest that teachers should be adept at delivering and comprehending information quickly and accurately. Effective communication is a vital life skill that should not be underestimated. It fosters respect and encourages the willingness to consider different points of view. Facilitating open and constructive exchanges among colleagues can contribute to a more positive working environment.
Quality Assurance and In-vitro Bioequivalence Analysis of Amlodipine Besylate Tablets
Authors: Vaikosen Edebi N. , Bunu Samuel J. , Santus Samson K. , Balogun Obe D. , Nyalas-Omeire Dorcas
Published: April 2024

The proliferation of generic brands in the local pharmaceutical market makes it increasingly difficult for health professionals and patients to choose the optimal drug. The study aimed to assess the physicochemical parameters of generic amlodipine besylate tablets utilizing in-vitro testing to eliminate health hazards and maximize safety. Five brands (A, B, C, D, and E) of amlodipine besylate tablets (5 mg) were examined for six in-vitro tests; thickness, hardness, friability, uniformity of weight, disintegration, dissolution, and thin layer chromatography (TLC). The dissolution test revealed that Brand D had the highest percentage of drug release at 5 minutes (106.2%), followed by Brand E (103.2%), A (70.7%), B (64.4%), and C (61.0%), respectively. The spectrophotometric measurement was carried out at 240 nm. All five brands satisfied the British Pharmacopeia standard for uncoated tablet weight homogeneity (less than 5% variance) and disintegration within 15 minutes. Brand A has the longest disintegration time (4.37 minutes), whereas Brand B has the shortest (3.05). Brand E had the maximum hardness of 8.7 kg/cm², and Brand B had the lowest hardness of 3 kg/cm². All five brands had a friability percentage of less than 1%, with bread B having the highest (0.91%) and brand E, lowest (0.10%), all tablets crumbled after 15 minutes. All brands passed the quality assessment test. Conclusion: The Quality Assurance and in-vitro bioequivalence assay methods used in this study are dependable, simple, and inexpensive, and they can be used consistently to evaluate amlodipine tablets and other solid-dosage pharmaceutical products.
Isolation and Phenotypic Identification of some Molds Isolated from Peanut Pastes Sold in some Public Markets in the City of Daloa, Central-West, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Glokpai Ouliedibou Noellie Guy-Rolande , Zebre Constant Arthur , Eba Krou Philippe , Kouassi Kouassi Clément , Kouassi Kra Athanase , Coulibaly Ibourahema
Published: April 2024

Molds are common contaminants in peanut pastes. Their presence can have a more or less serious effect on the health of the consumer. The general objective of this work is to evaluate the diversity of filamentous fungi producing mycotoxins in peanut paste sold in public markets in the city of Daloa. A total of fifty samples were collected from five markets for carrying out the work. Isolation was carried out on Sabouraud medium with chloramphenicol. An identification of filamentous fungi was carried out through the analysis of macroscopic and microscopic morphological characters. Of the 50 samples, ten do not contain mold with a rate of 20% and 40 contain mold with a rate of 80%. Macroscopic analysis after enumeration made it possible to identify two species of mold. These are Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Microscopic examination made it possible to partially confirm its two species. The presence of these species with their mycotoxin production capacities suggests that contaminated peanut paste represents a risk to the health of consumers.
Soil Properties and Land Use in Salt Affected Soils of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India P
Authors: Subbaiah P. Venkata , Mrudhula K. Anny , Kaledhonkar M. J.
Published: April 2024

A study was conducted to assess the soil properties, land use in salt affected areas of Prakasam district,Andhra Pradesh during 2021-22. A total of 240 soil samples in salt affected mandals were collected and were analysed for different physical, physico-chemical properties. The sandy clay loam texture is predominant (35.90%) followed by sandy loam (28.21%).  pH2 of soil varied from 7.2-11.0, ECe ranged from 0.3-58.0 dSm-1 ESP ranged from 0.9-57.0, CEC ranged from 3.5-56.6 c mol (p+) kg-1.  The problem soils namely saline, saline alkali and alkali are present under various land use. A total of 460 farmers in salt affected areas and 460 farmers in non salt affected areaswere studied for livelihood options. The farmers are diversifying the livelihoods by practicing dairy, sheep and goat farming, Agroforestry, backyard poultry, orchards, products (leaf, trunk, fruits)of  trees for various other purposes like coal preparation, firewood by utilizing  predominant native vegetation in salt affected soils to secure their income for sustaining livelihoods.
Gene Action and Heterosis Studies for Yield and its Attributes in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia. L) under Temperate Ecologies
Authors: Zehra Syed Berjes , Parveen Kounsar , Nazir Gazala , Hussain K , Masoodi U. , Malik Aijaz
Published: April 2024

Thirty crosses developed through Line x Tester mating design along with their parents were evaluated for combining ability, heterosis and gene action for yield and its attributes in bitter gourd. The experimental material was evaluated in RCBD design with three replications at three different locations viz., Vegetable Experimental Farm, Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar Srinagar (E1); Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, Sopore (E2) and KVK Malangpora, Pulwama (E3). The mean squares due to parents vs crosses were significant for all the traits, which indicated the possibility of sufficient amount of heterosis exploitation for these traits. The \(\sigma\)2sca was found to be more than \(\sigma\)2gca for all the traits under study which indicated the preponderance of non-additive gene action for the traits. Both the variances (\(\sigma\)2gca and \(\sigma\)2sca ) were significant for most of the traits which reflects the importance of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of these traits. The lines viz: NDBG-4, NDBG-1, NDBG-5, Pant Karela-1 and NDBG-7 were found to be good general combiners for most the economic traits. The extent of heterosis exhibited by crosses were estimated over standard parent (Arka Harit). The crosses viz: Pant Karela-1 × Arka Harit, NDBG-4 × Arka Harit, NDBG-1 × Arka Harit, NDBG-7 × Jounpuri, NDBG-5 × Jounpuri, NDBG-5 × Local bitter gourd, Pant Karela-1 × Jounpuri, NDBG-4 × Local bitter gourd and NDBG-4 × Local bitter gourd showed high standard heterosis for yield and yield attributes. These crosses can be exploited as desirable hybrids for yield.
Genotypic Characterization and Virulence Features of Bacteria Associated with Chicken Meat in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: L. K. Nima, , N. N. Odu, , L. O. Amadi, , S. I. Douglas, , T. Sampson,
Published: April 2024

Microbial investigation of live poultry birds were carried out in three different locations (Aluu, Elioparanwo and RSU) in Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas, Rivers State, Nigeria. In this study a total of 125 samples of muscle (25), breast (25), intestine (25), wing (25) and leg (25) of poultry birds were analysed using molecular techniques and evaluating there virulence features. The birds were processed and microbiological analysis was done using standard procedures, molecular identification of the isolates was carried out. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial count of the muscle, breast, intestine, wing and leg in the three different locations ranged from 16.6±2.3 to 25.2±3.5, 1.6±0.2 to 24.8±8.6, 0.11±0.1 to 8.9±2.7, 1.1±0.8 to 10.6±1.8 and 3.4±0.1 to 4.9±0.9 CFU/g, respectively. The mean total coliform counts of the three locations ranged from 2.1±0.3 to 2.1±0.2, 1.8±0.2 to 0.9±0.6, and 0.32±2.5 to 0.32±0.25, 2.6±0.3 to 7.7±0.9 and 2.3±0.4 to 2.9±0.3 CFU/g, respectively. Virulence features of A. caviae (CP072326, OL45594) shows proteolytic activity, catalytic DNase, motility, starch hydrolysis and biofilm formation. A. baumanii (ON606300) showed Lipolytic activity, catalytic, starch hydrolysis, capsule formation and biofilm formation. C. braakii (ON557391) was positive for Motility, catalytic and proteolytic.  JQ231164 C. freudii (motile, catalytic, proteolytic and biofilm formation. E. hormaechei (ON834331, ON834332) was positive for motility, starch hydrolysis and biofilm formation. MN733229 M. odoratiminus (Lipolytic, motile, catalytic, DNase, proteolytic, ureolytic, heomolytic, capsule formation and biofilm formation. The study revealed that microbial contamination of Chicken meat could arise from bacteria present in the environment and on birds. These findings, thus underscored the urgent need for improved biosecurity measures, enhanced hygiene practices to safeguard both poultry health and public health. There should therefore be stringent implementation of food safety measure throughout the poultry value chain from farm to table.
Predatory Capacity of the Green Lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersons) on Different Species of Aphids under Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Singh Reetesh Pratap , Singh Rajendra , Singh Bhupendra , Singh Dhruv , Kant Chandra , Pal Rajneesh
Published: April 2024

Green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersons) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is the most effective polyphagous predator of different species of aphids and is commonly known as “aphid lion.” During the study, the green lacewing adults were collected from the flowers of different crop plants in Meerut region. The experiment on feeding potential of green lacewing was studied in the Bio-control Laboratory of Department of Entomology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut from November 2019 to March 2020. The known number of predatory larvae of green lacewings were fed with known number of six different species of live aphids. The total food consumption of a single larva of C. zastrowi were found to be in order of 180.00 ± 1.24 A. craccivora, 171.33 ± 4.42 A. gossypii, 157.67 ± 1.49 B. brassicae, 142.67 ± 2.36 L. erysimi, 131.34 ± 2.19 R. maidis and 119.67 ± 2.94 M. persicae. Results revealed that the third instar were found more voracious than other two instar.