bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Landscape of System Thinking Modeling Tools Use in Software Engineering
Authors: Borges Júlia de Souza , Lahass Thiago Felippe Neitzke , Apolinário Amanda Brito , Santos Júnior Paulo Sérgio dos , Barcellos Monalessa P.
Published: October 2024

Context: Software organizations involve several processes, people, practices, culture, and other factors that affect their behavior. Understanding the organizational environment is crucial for improving processes and products. System Thinking (ST) provides several tools that help in this matter. ST views an organization as a system, comprising elements and interconnections coherently organized in a structure that produces a characteristic set of behaviors. Objective: Given ST’s successful application in different areas of industry and academia, and its potential to address Software Engineering (SE) problems, we decided to investigate how ST modeling tools have been used in SE. Our goal is to provide a panorama of the use of such tools in SE, identify gaps, and shine a light on research opportunities. Method: We carried out a systematic literature mapping, analyzing 700 publications. From these, we identified 10 publications addressing the use of ST modeling tools in SE and conducted an in-depth analysis by investigating the tools that have been used in SE, the ways of and purposes for using these tools, the SE processes that have been supported by them, and the difficulties and benefits that have been perceived when using such tools. Results: ST modeling tools have been employed to tackle SE issues in organizational contexts and to model and analyze the results of SE studies. Project Management and Requirements Engineering have been the most common processes in which these tools have been applied. ST modeling tools have helped get a holistic understanding of complex systems and identify strategies to address problematic behaviors that affect SE outcomes. Causal loop diagrams have been the predominant tool. The lack of necessary knowledge has been a challenge for using the tools. Conclusion: Using ST tools in SE holds promise. Nevertheless, they also suggest that ST modeling tools have been under-explored in this context. Hence, further investigation into their potential for enhancing SE products and processes is warranted.
How do Agile Organizations Manage Risks: An Analysis of the State of Practice in Brazil
Authors: Garcia Fernando Vedoin , Hauck Jean Carlo Rossa , Borgatto Adriano
Published: October 2024

The use of agile methods tends to keep risks under control in software projects, due to their inherent characteristics of small increments, work visibility and expectation management. Thus, explicit risk management in agile projects has often been neglected, as the use of agile methods, with a focus on rapid value delivery, tends to lead to implicit risk management. However, software projects that use agile methods also can fail and implicit risk management may often not be sufficient for certain contexts. This has sparked research interest in the possible need for explicit risk management in software organizations that use agile methods. Motivated by the lack of information about risk management in agile software development contexts, in this work a comprehensive survey is carried out to understand how software development organizations that use agile methods are managing risk. We conducted an online survey with a statistically significant sample of 273 agile professionals in Brazil. Our findings indicate that although most organizations engage in some form of explicit risk management, a significant proportion consider agile methods insufficient for comprehensive risk mitigation. We also observed a set of 15 explicit risk management practices in agile contexts, with some agile ceremonies, notably daily and sprint planning meetings, emerging as conducive to the integration of explicit risk management practices. We also verified a statistically relevant association between these agile ceremonies and risk management processes.
Iterative Deepening URL-Based Search: Enhancing GUI Testing for Web Applications
Authors: Moura Thiago Santos de , Felipe Regina Letícia Santos , Alves Everton L. G. , Gregório Pedro Henrique S. C. , Baptista Cláudio de Souza , Figueirêdo Hugo Feitosa de
Published: October 2024

Automated GUI testing has become prevalent in web applications due to its efficiency in detecting visible failures. In this context, scriptless testing can systematically explore the application GUI. To achieve this, a GUI tree can be employed to generate test cases. Algorithms such as IDS can iteratively discover the GUI tree of an application while generating the test suite. However, the resulting suite in such scenarios is often redundant, leading to long execution times. This paper introduces the IDUBS algorithm, an optimized version of IDS that aims to reduce redundancies in state access by identifying URL changes during system exploration. It utilizes this information to streamline path discovery for automatic GUI testing. By employing IDUBS, repetitive actions can be replaced with direct URL visits, resulting in faster retrieval of previous GUI states in subsequent iterations and consequently reducing test costs for test suite execution while maintaining performance. We evaluated the performance of IDUBS in two empirical studies involving twenty industrial and four open-source web applications, comparing it with the baseline strategy (IDS). Our results showed that IDUBS achieved a general reduction in execution time and test case redundancy by 43.41% and 49.30%, respectively, while maintaining code coverage. Additionally, IDUBS suites detected more faults, demonstrating improved performance.
How does Technical Debt Evolve within Pull Requests? An Empirical Study with Apache Projects
Authors: Calixto Felipe E. de O. , Araújo Eliane C. , Alves Everton L. G.
Published: October 2024

Technical Debt (TD) refers to the cost to rectify the quality issues affecting a software system. A pull request (PR) represents a discrete unit of work that must adhere to particular quality standards to be integrated into the main codebase. They can serve as a means to gauge how developers address TD and how codebase quality may decay over time. In this work, we present an empirical study on 12 Apache Java repositories, analyzing 2,035 PRs to examine how TD evolves within them. Using the SonarQube tool, we evaluated (i) how TD changes within PRs and (ii) which types of TD issue are most frequently overlooked and resolved. Our results suggest that TD issues are prevalent in PRs, with a tendency to follow a ratio of 1:2:1 (reduced: unchanged: increased). Furthermore, across all issues, we found that the most frequently overlooked are related to code duplication and cognitive complexity, while the most resolved ones include code duplication and obsolete code. These insights can help practitioners become more aware and might inspire the creation of new tools that make managing TD during PRs easier.
Exploring the Role of Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance: A Study on the Mental Health Among Software Engineers
Authors: Aires Maria Eulália , Migge Lucas , Gama Kiev , Lacerda Aline
Published: October 2024

Depression, anxiety and stress behaviors increasingly affect more people in different work contexts. These behaviors have significant impacts on personal and professional life, affecting quality of life and work performance. This research project aims to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, in software engineering, and explore the organizational management of these activities in relation to employee well-being. The research used a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, including questionnaires and individual interviews. The sample was made up of 190 software engineering professionals, considering different workloads, lengths of experience, genders and companies. It revealed that 48.5% of participants presented moderate to very severe anxiety symptoms, 55.3% of depression for the same severity range and 53.8% of stress symptoms also for the same severity. Further linear regression analyses demonstrated that feeling valued, being able to cope with workload, and balancing professional and personal life were predictors for the emergence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Finally, no significant differences were identified in the levels of anxiety, depression, stress and job satisfaction in relation to the loads held by the participants, but significant differences were noticed in relation to the variables listed above when comparing groups of different age ranges, severity of symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. Groups with higher levels of symptoms demonstrated less balance between professional and personal life and a lower feeling of appreciation for the team, while for the group with fewer symptoms the result was the opposite.
Detecting Code Smells in JavaScript: An Annotated Dataset for Software Quality Analysis
Authors: Sarafim Diego S. , Delgado Karina V. , Cordeiro Daniel
Published: October 2024

The source code quality level attained during the development phase is an important factor in increasing costs in later stages of software development. Among the most detrimental quality problems are code smells, which are violations of both programming principles and good practices that negatively affect the maintainability and evolution of computer programs. Much effort has been put into creating tools for code smell detection over the last decades. A promising approach relies on machine learning (ML) algorithms for automated smell detection. Those algorithms usually need datasets with labeled instances pointing to the presence/absence of smells in programming constructs such as classes and methods. Despite a good number of studies using ML for code smell detection, there is a lack of studies adopting this approach for programming languages other than Java. Even widely popular languages like JavaScript have few or no studies covering the usage of ML models for smell detection despite lexical, structural, and paradigm differences when compared to Java. A symptom of the lack of such studies in JavaScript is the absence of standard code smell datasets for this language in the literature. This work presents a new dataset for code smell detection in JavaScript software focused on detecting God Class and Long Method, two of the most prevalent and harmful code smells. We describe the strategy used for the dataset construction, its characteristics, and a few preliminary experiments using our dataset, along with ML models for code smell detection.
On the Employment of Machine Learning for Recommending Refactorings: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Armijo Guisella Angulo , Santibañez Daniel San Martín , Durelli Rafael , Camargo Valter Vieira de
Published: October 2024

Context and Motivation: Refactoring is a widely recognized technique aimed at enhancing the comprehensibility and maintainability of source code while preserving its external behavior. The widespread adoption of refactorings as a systematic practice is still very dependent on individual expertise and inclination of software engineers. To address this challenge, various approaches have emerged with the objective of automatically suggesting refactorings, thereby alleviating engineers from the manual burden of identifying such opportunities. Objective: This study aims to analyze the current landscape of approaches utilizing Machine Learning (ML) for recommending refactorings and discuss their usage. Method: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted, spanning five scientific databases from 2015 to December 2023. Initially, 177 papers were identified, from which a final set of 27 papers was reached. Results: The findings encompass: i) an exploration of the most and least investigated refactorings and ML techniques; ii) an analysis of the datasets used; iii) an examination of the evaluation methodologies employed; and iv) an assessment of recommendation completeness and quality. Conclusion: This study has significant potential for further research, as numerous refactorings remain unexplored by existing studies. Furthermore, it highlights that many ML-based approaches fall short in delivering comprehensive recommendations, thus emphasizing the imperative for ongoing investigation and enhancement in this field. All artifacts produced from our research are available on the replication package [1].
Agile Minds, Innovative Solutions, and Industry-Academia Collaboration: Lean R&D Meets Problem-Based Learning in Software Engineering Education
Authors: Romao Lucas , Kalinowski Marcos , Barbosa Clarissa , Araújo Allysson Allex , Barbosa Simone D. J. , Lopes Helio
Published: October 2024

[Context] Software Engineering (SE) education constantly seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry demands, with active learning methods like Problem-Based Learning (PBL) gaining prominence. Despite these efforts, recent graduates struggle to align skills with industry needs. Recognizing the relevance of Industry–Academia Collaboration (IAC), Lean R&D has emerged as a successful agile-based research and development approach, emphasizing business and software development synergy. [Goal] This paper aims to extend Lean R&D with PBL principles, evaluating its application in an educational program designed by ExACTa PUCRio for Americanas S.A., a large Brazilian retail company. [Method] The educational program engaged 40 part-time students receiving lectures and mentoring while working on real problems, coordinators and mentors, and company stakeholders in industry projects. Empirical evaluation, through a case study approach, utilized structured questionnaires based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). [Results] Stakeholders were satisfied with Lean R&D PBL for problem-solving. Students reported increased knowledge proficiency and perceived working on real problems as contributing the most to their learning. [Conclusion] This research contributes to academia by sharing Lean R&D PBL as an educational IAC approach. For industry, we discuss the implementation of this proposal in an IAC program that promotes workforce skill development and innovative solutions.
PoP-ARE: A Tool for Extracting Systems-of-Systems Non-Functional Requirements from Processes-of-Business Processes
Authors: Costa Murilo Gustavo N. , Molina Sidny de Almeida , Paiva Débora Maria Barroso , Cagnin Maria Istela
Published: October 2024

Context: Assuring the interoperability between distinct software systems, which form Systems-of-Systems (SoS), aiming to reach business objectives of alliances of organizations (i.e., fusion, acquisition or partnership) is challenging. One reason is the managerial and operational independence of these systems. Information obtained from the business level of alliances can help SoS requirements engineers to better understand the interoperability and fault tolerance requirements throughout the interoperability to achieve the SoS stability. Objective: We present PoP-ARE, a guideline-based tool for extracting and specifying SoS interoperability and fault tolerance requirements from models of complex and dynamic business processes of alliances of organizations called Processes-of-Business Processes (PoP). Method: To observe the ease of use and usefulness of PoP-ARE, we conducted a study with four SoS engineers of two SoS using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Results: The results indicate that all of the participants agreed with the ease of tool use, and 75% stated its usefulness. Also, they intend to use PoP-ARE in SoS evolution. Conclusion: As PoP-ARE supports the extraction and specification of SoS interoperability and fault tolerance requirements aligned to the business, its outcomes can positively contribute to the SoS stability and the achievement of the business objectives of alliances of organizations.
It’s not all about gender: A Multi-dimensional Course Perspective on Diversity and Inclusion in Software Engineering Education
Authors: Gama Kiev , Santos Reydne
Published: October 2024

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are topics that are increasingly being recognized as important in CS education. There are a few guidelines on approaching D&I in CS education courses. When narrowing down to Software Engineering (SE), the literature on approaching D&I in SE education is scarce. There has been recent growth in the SE field in the literature covering this topic, mostly around software teams. Still, most publications are not focused on education and are typically centered around gender. However, there are other important dimensions of diversity that remain underexplored, such as race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, and age. This experience report details how we approached those diversity dimensions in a graduate school course – attended by both MSc and PhD students – on Diversity and Inclusion in Software Engineering. We explored two perspectives: users and teams, which relate to the subdomains of Software Requirements and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, respectively. In this course, classes were held remotely, using Google Meet, Discord, and Google Classroom as communication tools, and took place twice a week, with each meeting lasting 2 hours. Assessments were conducted using a formative approach, observing student participation and engagement throughout the semester. According to student feedback, creating a safe space was important for creating a sense of belonging and an ambiance for learning and sharing their experiences. We provide details on how we structured and conducted this course. In addition, we share lessons learned throughout this process.
Fostering Collaboration through Design Thinking: A Study among Software Engineering Students
Authors: Abich Dariane , Parizi Rafael , Marczak Sabrina
Published: October 2024

Design Thinking has been recognized for its potential to enhance critical thinking and collaboration skills, particularly in the initial stages of software development. However, despite its benefits, the effectiveness of Design Thinking can be reduced by insufficient engagement from professionals. Thus, it is crucial to foster an integrated practice environment that cultivates both technical competencies and interpersonal skills, such as collaboration, to better prepare students for the complexities of the field. This study investigates the role of Design Thinking in promoting collaborative skills among software engineering students through a case study involving 22 undergraduates engaged in a Design Thinking project over an 18-weeks long semester. Our analysis of interactions, project artifacts, and questionnaires using the 3C collaboration model (Communication, Coordination, Cooperation) pointed out that the iterative, user-centered process of Design Thinking fostered teamwork, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. Our findings indicate that integrating Design Thinking into computing curricula could effectively prepare future software engineers with the dual competencies—technical and collaborative skills—required in professional life. Furthermore, the study offers practical recommendations for educators on implementing Design Thinking to enhance student collaboration. These insights also have broader implications for industry and researchers, providing a framework for applying Design Thinking principles to foster teamwork and problem-solving skills in professional and academic settings. Future studies should explore the long-term impacts of Design Thinking on students’ professional performance and investigate additional strategies to enhance coordination within collaborative projects.
CRAFTPy: allowing people with visual impairments to create diagrams
Authors: Fraga Lucas Lopes , Santos Rafael Tosta , Rocha Larissa
Published: October 2024

The inclusion of students with visual impairments (SVI) in higher education has greatly advanced with the advent of newtechnologies. Despite these strides, challenges remain, particularly in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses that heavily rely on visual elements. Screen readers facilitate SVI’s access to digital content, but many educational tools are still incompatible with these readers. This incompatibility is especially problematic in tools requiring interaction with visual components, such as block-based programming, diagramming, and 3D modeling tools. This study introduces CraftPy, an accessible web tool fully compatible with screen readers. CraftPy enables SVI to create various types of diagrams using Python code, employing an object-oriented approach to design classes, actors, entities, attributes, and relationships. We also conducted a preliminary evaluation involving eight SVI participants to assess the tool’s effectiveness. Overall, participants found the tool to be highly accessible with screen readers and user-friendly. They were able to complete the experiment tasks with minimal difficulties. However, improvements are needed, particularly in enhancing screen responsiveness for low-vision users who depend on screen magnifiers. By developing CraftPy, we aim to promote equity in higher education, offering SVI enhanced opportunities to succeed in ICT courses. Link to the video: https://youtu.be/NXu4xbOH8Q4
Towards Blockchain Developer Experience (BcDEx): Exploring Dimensions of Developer Experience in Blockchain-oriented Software Engineering
Authors: Soares Pamella , Araújo Allysson Allex , Saraiva Raphael , Souza Jerffeson
Published: October 2024

The Developer Experience (DEx) in the context of blockchain and decentralized applications has to deal with new or adapted software engineering practices due to the particular characteristics of these technologies. This study proposes the idea of Blockchain Developer Experience (BcDEx) influenced by different practices of Blockchain-Oriented Software Engineering (BOSE). To achieve this purpose, we categorize and discuss critical BcDEx factors based on a well-established DEx conceptual framework covering cognitive, affective, and conation dimensions. Furthermore, we reveal new directions that can benefit both research and practice in BcDEx, encompassing practical aspects such as using technical resources and organizational considerations.
Why is my community reacting like this? Understanding reactions in open-source communities
Authors: Melgarejo Jorge Luís , Fontão Awdren de Lima , Borges Hudson Silva
Published: October 2024

In 2016, GitHub introduced the “Reactions” feature to facilitate the expression of sentiments and reduce noise in communications on its platform. Recent studies indicated that developers has been adopting the feature and was observed a reduction of noise on conversations inside the platform. However, the patterns of usage and profiles of users expressing these reactions in inside their communities remain underexplored. Identifying these patterns may help maintainers to better understand members’ behaviors in their communities, and researchers to build supporting tools focused on users’ reactions. This paper presents an initial study to (i) understand these interactions on open-source software communities, (ii) identify types of resources that receive the most reactions, (iii) analyzing seasonal factors influencing usage, and (iv) correlating the provided reactions with the roles of developers within the community. Preliminary results indicate that users primarily react to comments in Issues, with notable periods of heightened activity. Additionally, significant differences were observed between the reactions of maintainers and other members of the community.
Beyond Continuous Improvement: Unraveling the invisible challenges of implementing organizational change in a Software Industry Company
Authors: Lima Rayfran Rocha , Oran Ana Carolina , França César
Published: October 2024

Organizational change (OC) is crucial for innovation and competitiveness in the software industry, yet companies often lack systematic processes and risk management, leading to inefficiencies and failures worsened by volunteers without OC management knowledge. This paper discusses four overlooked challenges in this area, highlighting a crucial but frequently ignored issue: the inefficiency of OC processes in the software industry. We conducted a company-wide case study to identify the familiarity and use of OC management models and practices applied by volunteers who implement large internal improvements and innovations in software development companies. The findings reveal significant challenges in OC implementation, including the lack of OC specialized knowledge, the knowledge gap about OC effective models, the dependence on exceptional individuals, and invisible or overlooked resistance. Effective OC in the software industry demands a holistic approach that harmonizes technical and managerial competencies aligned with the company’s strategic goals. Further research is needed to improve organizational change processes in the software industry, reduce resource waste, and challenge the belief that only continuous improvement ensures company survival and competitiveness.
Holter: Monitoring Continuous Integration Practices
Authors: Santos Jadson , Costa Daniel Alencar da , Kulesza Uirá
Published: October 2024

Background: Despite widespread adoption and an extensive body of research evaluating Continuous Integration (CI), there is evidence that not all CI practices are fully adopted. Aims: To help the full adoption of CI, we present in this paper Holter - a tool that automatically calculates and monitors a suite of metrics associated with CI practices. The tool enables developers to continuously access these metrics and receive alerts regarding the evolution of CI practices. Method: We illustrate the usage of our tool for monitoring CI practices and compare the Holter monitoring dashboard with those of existing CI services and third-party tools. Results: Leading CI services and complementary tools still offer basic support for monitoring CI practices. Focusing on monitoring fundamental information related to the performance of the CI pipeline, Holter provides a more comprehensive perspective of CI that cannot be found in other tools. Conclusions: Holter can be used to monitor and improve CI practices in software development projects. Additionally, it can provide an overview of a project’s CI maturity. Video link: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25880083
Understanding the Relationship of Conflict, Psychological safety, and Success in Software Development Projects
Authors: Farias Wladimir , Silva Brenda , Lencastre Maria , Fagundes Roberta
Published: October 2024

Software development involves complex socio-technical activities with common conflicts arising from human and non-human factors. However, the impact of these conflicts, particularly non-human ones, on project success still needs to be investigated. Psychological safety is a key to mitigating these conflicts. In this paper, we aim to understand how conflicts and psychological safety impact the success of software development projects—considering the categorization of conflicts into human-rooted (HRC) and non-human-rooted (NHRC) and examining organization size, team size, and psychological safety as moderating factors. To achieve our goal, we replicated an existing study in the area and included new hypotheses; we also adapted the surveys to Portuguese, used a structured survey to collect data, and applied structural equation modeling for the analysis. The results include the reception of 155 responses and show that human-rooted conflict strongly negatively impacts software project success, regardless of organization or team size. Non-human-rooted conflict positively affects project success only in corporations (> 100 employees) but negatively impacts small and medium-sized organizations (< 100 employees). While not directly correlated with project success, psychological safety appears as a crucial moderating factor.
Digitalization of Human Resource Management in Russia
Authors: Bobina Mariya , Grachev Mikhail
Published: October 2024

This article offers a generalized perspective on the integration of digital technologies in human resource management (HRM) practices in the Russian Federation. The authors discuss variations in businesses’ resource-tied readiness and organizational readiness for digitalization of HRM, emphasize the emergence of firms that serve as “role models” to others, and highlight specific government policies that impact HRM. The study is based on an analysis of government and corporate documents, review of scholarly publications, archival sources, and media reports, and informal discussions with managers. It summarizes successful digital innovations in the selection and recruitment, training and development, and work organization, as well as in the integration of HRM into enterprise-wide information systems.
stolperungen
Authors: Joisten Karen
Published: October 2024

When people are travelling physically and mentally, they can stumble. Suddenly they are irritated, astonished, horrified or delighted. Such stumbles open up the possibility of being torn out of habits for a brief moment, seeing everyday things with different eyes and perhaps even changing oneself. The book brings together philosophical-poetic miniatures that follow the traces of human stumbles in vivid descriptions of phenomena.
Illegaler Kunst- und Kulturgüterhandel
Authors: Richter-Kiewning Hanna
Published: October 2024

This work examines the legal framework and challenges of trade in art and cultural goods. The first part examines the complex interfaces between the relevant areas of law at the national and international levels. In order to develop practical solutions, the second part is devoted to exemplary cases of illegal trade. International trade is particularly problematic: Looted excavations and smuggling blur the traces of origin, and the effectiveness of national and international protective measures remains limited. This is where the argumentation comes in, showing the limits and possibilities of legal and political solutions.
Career Development Learning in Middle Childhood: Lithuania Case
Authors: Kairaitis Zigmas
Published: October 2024

It has become clear in the present day that the nature of people’s work is changing radically. Children need to get access to different sources of information, the tools that can be used to access them, and to select information and knowledge according to their age, needs, and activities from a young age. Since 2012, Lithuania has been developing a unified career education system for pupils. Career development starts from early childhood (3–6 years). Methodological tools have been developed for the programme along with the “MUKIS” information system. One of the competencies of career development is the knowledge of oneself, others, and the gender education. These are the issues that are discussed in this chapter.
Collection of Foundation Assets That Disbanded Due to Bankruptcy in Company Law
Authors: Cahyo Hening Wahyu Rino
Published: October 2024

The Foundation is a legal entity to which the rights and obligations provided for by the Legislation are attached. Law Number 28 of 2004 concerning Foundations regulates the establishment of the Foundation's legal entity until the dissolution of the Foundation. One of the reasons for the dissolution of the Foundation was bankruptcy, and after the Foundation was declared bankrupt by the court, the Foundation's assets had to be liquidated by liquidators or curators. In this paper, a problem formulation is put forward, namely how to reserve the assets of a Foundation that was dissolved due to bankruptcy? The result of this research is that if a Foundation disbands, its assets will be liquidated and the remaining assets resulting from liquidation will be handed over to other Foundations that have similar activities to the disbanded Foundation. In the event that the remaining proceeds of liquidation are not handed over to another Foundation which has similar activities, the remaining assets may be handed over to another legal entity which has similarities in activities to the dissolved Foundation, and if this is regulated in the Law concerning that legal entity. And if the two options above are not exercised, the wealth will be handed over to the State and its use will be carried out in accordance with the activities of the disbanded Foundation.
Penerapan Moderasi Beragama di Indonesia: Harmonis dan Inklusif
Authors: My Esti Wijayati  , Fuad
Published: October 2024

This study explores the implementation of religious moderation as a strategic step toward realizing a more harmonious and inclusive future for Indonesia. The method used in this research is the literature review method, with a descriptive analysis approach, analyzing documents related to and implemented by programs of religious moderation in Indonesia. The research results show that the challenges faced by the government in implementing religious moderation include resistance from conservative groups and a lack of support from educational institutions. This study concludes that religious moderation is a key factor in building a harmonious and inclusive Indonesia by strengthening cooperation between the government, religious leaders, and society in promoting the values of moderation. Thus, religious moderation can become a strong foundation for the sustainability of peace and social stability in Indonesia.
Examining Teacher Willingness and the Labyrinth of Challenges in Implementing Professional Learning Communities at the Senior High School Level in Builsa South District
Authors: Suglo Enoch Kabinaa , Osei Samuel , Abass Hamidu , Anyeta Stella Asaadaare , Mahama Olivia Azuta
Published: October 2024

Aim: This study aimed to examine teacher willingness and the labyrinth of challenges in implementing Professional Learning Communities at the senior high school level in the Builsa South District.
Methods: The study was purely quantitative and employed a descriptive correlational design with a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. A census technique was used allowing for the total accessible population, 79 senior high school teachers participate in the data collection process. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a simple linear regression model.
Results: The results showed that the regression model predicting willingness to participate in Professional Learning Community (PLC) activities from attitudes was statistically significant, F(1, 77) = 66.56, p < .001, meaning that more positive attitudes are associated with greater willingness to engage in PLC activities. Additionally, challenges such as time constraints, lack of leadership support, and resistance from teachers were reported as key obstacles faced in the implementation of Professional Learning Communities.
Recommendation: The study strongly recommends that schools should prioritize providing adequate support and resources for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to address teachers' dissatisfaction in this area. This can include allocating sufficient time, funding, and administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of PLC activities. By enhancing support and resources, schools can create a more conducive environment for collaboration and professional development within PLCs.
Research Progress on Friction Nanogenerator Technology for Wave Energy Harvesting
Authors: Yang Kefan , Xie Yifan , Si Kaixi , Yang Keqi , Zeng Shengqing , Zhang Dapeng
Published: October 2024

The ubiquitous phenomenon of friction-generated energy, often considered to be of little practical value, has led to the development of a new technology known as friction nanogenerators (FNGs). This innovative technology offers significant potential for the sustained power supply and large-scale harvesting of wave energy, which can be particularly beneficial for ocean sensors. This paper presents an analysis of the current development of FNGs, a detailed description of the principles, operations, and modes of operation of FNGs for wave energy capture, and an investigation of the various FNG structures and their research progress. Additionally, it explores the current challenges and future trends of FNG technology and proposes the integration of FNG technology with other technological fields to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of its current status and potential in the field of wave energy harvesting.
Exploring predominant marketing strategies for branding higher education institutions in Tanzania
Authors:   The University of Dodoma, Matembo Vitus , Loisulie Paul ,   The University of Dodoma, Gabrieli Prosper
Published: October 2024

It is worth noting that the utilisation of marketing strategies by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) operates within a complex and unclear environment. This study, therefore, explored the predominant marketing strategies used for branding HEIs in Tanzania. The study adopted an embedded mixed methods research design. Semi-structured interviews with 12 staff members from 6 HEIs, including 6 public relations officers (PROs) and 6 registrars were utilised. An online questionnaire was also administered to 100 students through Google Forms. PROs and registrars were purposively selected, while a convenience sampling technique was applied for student participants. Qualitative data were thematically analysed, while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 27. The findings indicated no statistically significant differences in the marketing strategies employed by public and private HEIs. This suggests that both private and public-owned HEIs employ a diverse range of marketing strategies, encompassing both traditional and digital approaches to enhance their brand image. The study also identified that word-of-mouth recommendations from current students, alumni, and other influential individuals emerged as a particularly influential marketing channel for HEIs. University websites and various digital platforms were also identified as key branding tools. Traditional approaches such as print media, school visits, and radio/TV advertisements still hold relevance to some extent. The study recommends that HEIs continue to invest in and optimise their digital marketing capabilities while also calling for the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) to provide comprehensive guidance and support for the effective utilisation of both traditional and digital branding approaches.
PKM Penyuluhan tentang Pencegahan Tindakan “Bullying” terhadap Anak di SDN Sumber Duren Kecamatan Krucil Kabupaten Probolinggo
Authors: Islahuddin Muhmammad , Naufal Ahmad Wafy , Syafakhorrahman Moh , Riskiawan Putra , Ridwan Moh Bagus
Published: October 2024

Bullying is an issue that cannot be overlooked. It is a “sensitive problem” that impacts the development of children/students and is categorized as child delinquency, with cases that seem never-ending. One of the government's efforts to prevent and address juvenile delinquency is by implementing the Juvenile Criminal Justice System through Law No. 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System, which replaced Law No. 3 of 1997 on Juvenile Courts. However, the solution offered by the government, according to the author, should be avoided in addressing bullying issues, as it may affect the child's mental well-being in the long term. The method used in this study consists of several stages, including preparation, implementation, evaluation, and reflection. The program begins with delivering material, followed by training students to become anti-bullying agents, allowing the students themselves to promote and spread positive behavior to their peers, particularly in reducing bullying behavior. The results of this outreach program show that it was highly beneficial for the students, as they gained a wealth of new knowledge during the activities. This includes understanding the definition of bullying from a legal perspective in Indonesia, various forms of bullying against children, several factors causing bullying incidents, and steps or efforts to tackle bullying.
Implementasi Kegiatan Ekstrakurikuler Seni Kaligrafi dalam Mengembangkan Spatial Intellegence
Authors: Nada Muhammad Yusrun , Kinesti Rakanita Dyah Ayu
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this research is to examine the implementation of the calligraphy extracurricular activity at MI Khurriyatul Fikri Pasuruhan Lor Kudus. This study employs a descriptive qualitative research approach, and, in line with the object of study, it is a field research. The focus is on the application of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the learning process. The subjects of the research are the students participating in the calligraphy extracurricular activity and the guiding teachers involved in the program. The first step in this research is to identify the role of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the calligraphy learning process. Subsequently, field observations are conducted to directly observe the implementation of these methods, along with interviews with teachers and students to explore their perceptions of the impact of the spiritual and tafakkur methods on the creative process and character development of the students. The data collected is analyzed descriptively, focusing on the impact of both methods on students' visual-spatial intelligence, emotional intelligence, and religious character development. The research results indicate that the spiritual method applied in the calligraphy extracurricular activity helps students to perceive each artwork as a form of worship and an expression of love for Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, the tafakkur method encourages students to think deeply and reflectively, so they not only focus on the aesthetics of the artwork but also understand the religious and philosophical values embedded within. The conclusion of this research is that the implementation of spiritual and tafakkur methods in the calligraphy extracurricular activity has a positive impact on the development of students' religious character, emotional intelligence, and reflective abilities. Furthermore, this method also proves to enhance students' visual-spatial intelligence, in line with the basic principles of calligraphy art, which demand precision and deep contemplation. This study recommends that similar approaches be more widely implemented in other Islamic educational institutions to integrate art education with the spiritual development of students.
Analisis Hubungan antara Penguasaan Ushul Fiqh dan Tingkat Pemahaman Materi Fiqh di Semester VII Ma’had Aly Imam Bukhari
Authors: Ridha Achmad Rasyid , Haerullah Haerullah , Rahadi Rahmad , Saepudin Ade , Nasron Mohammad Alif , Rahmahadikusuma Raditya
Published: October 2024

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the mastery of Ushul Fiqh and the level of understanding of Fiqh among seventh-semester students at Ma’had Aly Imam Bukhari. Ushul Fiqh is a crucial discipline in Islamic law studies, as it serves as a foundation for understanding and applying Islamic legal rulings. Therefore, the aim of this research is to determine whether mastery of Ushul Fiqh significantly contributes to a deeper understanding of Fiqh. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with several seventh-semester students studying both Fiqh and Ushul Fiqh. Thematic analysis was used to explore the relationship between mastery of Ushul Fiqh and the understanding of Fiqh. The results show a significant relationship between the mastery of Ushul Fiqh and the understanding of Fiqh. Students with a strong grasp of Ushul Fiqh were able to understand Fiqh terms more easily and had better analytical skills in evaluating various scholarly opinions. In conclusion, the mastery of Ushul Fiqh positively contributes to a better understanding of Fiqh. Thus, improving the teaching of Ushul Fiqh is expected to enhance students' comprehension of Fiqh and improve the quality of Islamic education in academic institutions.
Geo-statistical assessment of spatial variability of soil water-holding capacity for optimal irrigation under semi-arid vertisols in South India
Authors: Ramachandran J , Lalitha R , Kannan S V , Sivasubramanian K
Published: October 2024

Based on a field survey conducted in Lalgudi block, Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu, India, details about the crops grown, cropping pattern, land utilization and soil samples were collected from 20 locations under seven different soil textures of semi-arid vertisols. Using the data, efficient geostatistical models have been explored to study the spatial variation of irrigation water requirement of paddy, sugarcane and banana grown in the study area. Geostatistics was applied to identify the best interpolation method to acquire the spatial map of the available water holding capacity. Ordinary kriging and Disjunctive kriging were explored with six models viz., Circular, Spherical, Exponential, Gaussian, Penta-spherical and Sine-Hole effect models and were used for spatial prediction. The cross-validation statistics indicated that the Sine-Hole effect model with disjunctive kriging of available water holding capacity was superior for interpolation with a minimum value of RMSE and moderate spatial dependency. With the available water holding capacity map of Lalgudi block, total available water, readily available water and irrigation interval of paddy, sugarcane and banana were estimated. The irrigation interval of paddy, sugarcane and banana were found to vary between 1-2, 3-5 and 2-4 days respectively within Lalgudi block. The adoption of spatial algorithms for estimating crop water requirements would greatly help irrigation planners and water policymakers create efficient regional plans for precision irrigation under semi-arid vertisols.
Evaluation de l’entomofaune dans les habitats naturels du Dendrocygna viduata (Linnaeus, 1766), anatidé inféodé à la vallée du Fleuve Niger, zone du barrage de Kandadji
Authors: Hamani Soumaïla Hassane , Soumana Idrissa , Issiaka Youssoufa , Issoufou Abdourhimou Amadou , ALI Mahamane
Published: October 2024

Cette étude a été réalisée dans la vallée du fleuve Niger (Ayorou, Kanadji et Kokorou a pour objectif de déterminer la composition spécifique de l’entomofaune de l’habitat de la Dendrocygna viduata, une espèce aviaire présente dans la vallée du Fleuve Niger, afin de caractériser son régime alimentaire (de juin à l’août 2022). Au cours de cette étude, la méthode de la chasse à vue a été utilisée pour la collecte des données. Pour ce faire, tous les insectes observés dans les stations retenues, ont été capturés vivants ou morts, à l’aide des filets troubleau ou directement à la main. Les insectes capturés ont été placés puis conservés dans des boîtes en plastique contenant du formol à 10% ou de l’éthanol à 70° puis transportés au laboratoire d’entomologie du Centre Régional AGRHYMET où ils ont été identifiés. Les résultats obtenus montrent que la localité de Kokorou constitue le site le plus riche et le plus diversifié avec 42 espèces, suivi d’Ayorou avec 40 espèces et enfin Kandadji avec 38 espèces. L’entomofaune est essentiellement représentée par la famille des Acrididae présente sur tous les sites avec 9 espèces. Elle est suivie de la famille des Noctuidae avec 5 espèces puis de celle des Syrphidae (3 espèces) observée à Kokorou. Mots clés : Entomodiversité, habitat naturel, Dendrocygna viduata