bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Employee Coaching Practices on Universities’ Performance in Tanzania
Authors: Buberwa Erick , Nzulwa Joyce , Kamaara Mary
Published: April 2024

This study assessed the effect of employee coaching practices on the performance of universities in Tanzania. It was guided by one alternative hypothesis; there is a significant positive linear relationship between employee coaching practices and performance of universities in Tanzania. The Human Capital Theory (HCT) anchored the study. It was underpinned by positivism philosophy. The study was a census and the design was descriptive. 379 academic staff from Tanzanian Universities constituted the study’s respondents. This study used a quantitative approach that made use of survey questionnaires in data collection. Data were collected from academicians in Tanzanian Universities (Mainland and Islands, Zanzibar) and analysed by using descriptive and inferential techniques. The study found that employee coaching practices had a significant positive effect on performance of Universities in Tanzania at r=0.834, and p<0.001, respectively. Universities should consider designing and implementing coaching programmes to help them perform better. To make this more effective, the need to show commitment to coaching practices should also be considered.
Exploring drought hazard, vulnerability, and related impacts to agriculture in Brandenburg
Authors: Brill Fabio , Alencar Pedro Henrique Lima , Zhang Huihui , Boeing Friedrich , Hüttel Silke , Lakes Tobia
Published: April 2024

Abstract. Adaptation to an increasingly dry regional climate requires spatially explicit information about current and future risks. Existing drought risk studies often rely on expert-weighted composite indicators, while empirical evidence on impact-relevant factors is still scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate to what extent hazard and vulnerability indicators can explain observed agricultural drought impacts via data-driven methods. We focus on the German federal state of Brandenburg, 2013–2022, including several consecutive drought years. As impact indicators we use thermal-spectral anomalies (LST/NDVI) on field level, and empirical yield gaps from reported statistics on county level. Empirical associations to the impact indicators on both spatial levels are compared. Non-linear models explain up to about 60 % variance in the yield gap data, with lumped models for all crops being more stable than models for individual crops, and models for the drought years performing better than for the pre-drought years. Meteorological drought in June and soil quality are selected as strongest impact-relevant factors. Rye is found less vulnerable than wheat, despite growing on poorer soils. LST/NDVI only weakly relates to our empirical yield gaps. We recommend comparing different impact indicators on multiple scales to proceed with the development of empirically grounded risk maps.
Comparison of finite element analysis results with strain gauge measurements of a front axle housing
Authors: Gür Yılmaz , Cen Gökhan
Published: April 2024

Abstract. The strength of the front axle of tractors used on rough terrain is crucial in countries in which agriculture is widespread. Rough agricultural fields, rugged village roads, and ground irregularities cause unexpected reaction forces on the axles. Thus, it is important to analyze the front axle of a tractor with respect to stress, which eventually leads to cracks and premature failure. In this study, ANSYS 13.0 finite element analysis (FEA) software (ANSYS, 2010) was used to predict the strength of a design under loading conditions. ANSYS 13.0 allows products to be tested in a virtual environment and helps to prevent problems that may arise later and accordingly improve them. This study aims to investigate the stresses that occur on the housing of the front axle of a tractor. The reaction forces acting on the front axle housing can cause cracks near the middle of the housing. The study applies a static load of 30 000 N to both hubs at the end of the front axle housing and uses the FEA method to predict and evaluate the maximum stress areas on the housing. Strain gauges are bonded to these locations to measure the real-life stresses on the axle housing in these areas. The results of the FEA and strain gauge measurements were compared, and a correlation was found with 98 % accuracy.
Influence of data spatial resolution in water resources management for oak-savanna distinctive vegetation patches
Authors: Andreu Ana , Carpintero Elisabet , Muñoz-Gomez María J. , Blázquez-Carrasco Ángel , González-Dugo María P.
Published: April 2024

Abstract. In Mediterranean oak-savannas (known as dehesas in Spain), it is important to better understand the interactions between vegetation structure and local climate regulation at scales relevant to farm management and the dominant hydrological regime. This study evaluated the water use patterns of dehesa vegetation patches (open grasslands, lowland grasslands with high soil moisture, tree + grass, and riparian vegetation), estimating actual evapotranspiration (ET). We used different models, previously validated in the area, that integrate remotely sensed data. They apply (a) a soil water balance (Kc-FAO56), (b) a surface energy balance (ALEXI/DisALEXI, and SEBS), and (c) a sharpening algorithm (STARFM), obtaining products at multiple spatial resolutions (30 m, 1 km, 5 km). The conceptual and operational differences between the methodologies reinforce the idea of a combined application of models. We demonstrated the need for high spatial and temporal resolution for on-farm livestock management due to the importance of the grasslands layer. This scale is crucial to determine the grass's emergence/drying cycle, which is key for livestock feeding planning. In humid/denser areas that provide essential ecosystem services (e.g., refuge, pasture rotation), transpiration rates are higher throughout the year and were underestimated when coarser spatial scale data was used. Over the typical system (grass with dispersed trees), the ET maps at low spatial resolution reflected the water use trends, and all models correlated well. Higher differences were found when comparing the models' performance over open grasslands.
Assessing the Accuracy of Multiple Classification Algorithms Combining Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 for the Citrus Crop Classification and spatialization of the Actual Evapotranspiration Obtained from Flux Tower Eddy Covariance: Case Study of Cap Bon, Tunisia
Authors: Chakhar Amal , Zitouna-Chebbi Rim , Hernández-López David , Ballesteros Rocío , Mahjoub Imen , Moreno Miguel A.
Published: April 2024

Abstract. Land use and water resources are closely linked. Every single type of land use has a different influence on the hydrologic cycle, consequently impacting the people and the natural resources. The use of advanced technologies, for example monitoring the agricultural resources with remote sensing, offers the possibility to assess the water demand, to know the total cultivated area with the precise distribution of crops and enables the regularly acquisition of data distributed in space and time. The citrus sub-sector is of paramount importance in the Tunisian agricultural sector. The Cap Bon region has the main production area with 75 % of the total citrus area. The possibility of classifying citrus crops is important for water resource management at regional scale and for economic stability. Given the socio-economic importance of the citrus sector in the Cap Bon region, it is very important to have accurate estimation of the total area of citrus plots in this region. Therefore, the main objectives of this current work are: To integrate multitemporal synthetic aperture radar SAR data, Sentinel-1, and optical data Sentinel-2, together to determine the best machine learning algorithm that allowed obtaining the most accurate citrus crop classification in the region. To study and analyze the temporal signatures of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the classified crops, mainly the citrus, with the purpose to provide the maximum amount of information that allow the differentiation between the crops. To study the potential relation between NDVI and Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa) fluxes measured with the eddy covariance method for a citrus orchard to extrapolate the eddy tower measurements to greater scales. To achieve these objectives, we evaluated the performance of 22 nonparametric classifiers during the period September 2020–June 2021. Additionally, ET measured by the eddy covariance method was available for the same period, so we tried to find the potential relation between NDVI and Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa). The results revealed that the best performing classifier is the Support Vector Machine SVM with an accuracy around 91 %. Consequently, our results provided a significant contribution to the citrus classification in the Cap Bon region but can be further improved. Also, the obtained results highlighted the potential to extrapolate accurate ET estimation to larger scales using the vegetation index obtained from Sentinel-2 data.
Designing and Developing Dynamic Decision Support Information for Disaster Response
Authors: Hanashima Makoto , Sano Hiroaki , Usuda Yuichiro
Published: April 2024

Abstract. Recently, Japan has been struck by extremely heavy rains and serious floods. To plan for disaster response, it is needed to consider various information such as precipitation, water level of rivers, weather forecasts, and so on. However, it requires high skill to integrate this information to utilize. Our study aims to provide the decision support information for both the national and the local governments by dynamic risk analysis to enforce disaster resilience. To demonstrate the effectiveness of disaster dynamics analysis, we have developed the “Dynamic Decision Support System for Disaster Response (DDS4D)”. DDS4D synthesizes natural observation data, social observation data, and geospatial data to provide decision support information that fits decision maker's the situational awareness in real time. Verifying several information products generated by DDS4D in the actual flood in Japan, we confirmed that they could support decision making of government.
Investigation of transition signals from single cell to multicell thunderstorms in the Kinki region, Japan by using vertical vorticity and multi-parameter radar analysis
Authors: Ahmad Fauziana , Yamaguchi Kosei , Nakakita Eiichi , Ushiyama Tomoki
Published: April 2024

Abstract. Floods and landslides caused by extreme weather events, such as localized excessive rainfall in Japan, cause enormous devastation. Multicell clouds, on the other hand, have a common duration of over an hour and greater aerial coverage than single-cell clouds. For flood warning systems to function properly, the hazardous cloud must be detected quickly. Using pseudo and dual-Doppler vorticity approaches, the vertical vorticity estimate was extended from single-cell to multicell transitions case. According to the research, the single cells attained the peak of maximum vorticity of 0.08 and 0.01 s−1 for pseudo-vorticity and dual-Doppler vorticity, respectively. The maximum column of specific differential phase (Kdp) column above the melting layer indicated that the transition with 1 km depth as compared to differential reflectivity (Zdr) column was not observed after the cell merging. However, it was identified 5 min after the cell merged. In contrast, the Kdp column was always identified after the cell merging, and the column showed an increase in intensity 5 min after the cells merged. Vertical vorticity and multi-parameter radar analysis provided an insight into the transition from single-cell to multicell formation.
Uncertainty in simulated streamflow using runoff driven by the outputs of a high-resolution regional climate model
Authors: Tinumbang Aulia Febianda Anwar , Yorozu Kazuaki , Tachikawa Yasuto , Ichikawa Yutaka , Sasaki Hidetaka , Nakaegawa Tosiyuki
Published: April 2024

Abstract. Estimating river discharge using climate model output can aid in analyzing the potential impacts of climate change on water-related disasters. This study aimed to explore the uncertainty in simulated streamflow using the non-hydrostatic regional climate model (NHRCM) outputs in Thailand. The NHRCM was simulated at 5- and 2 km resolutions. To estimate runoff, two land surface models (LSMs) were employed: the Meteorological Research Institute–Simple Biosphere Model (MRI-SiB) in NHRCM and the Simple Biosphere including Urban Canopy (SiBUC). The NHRCM rainfalls captured the seasonal pattern of rainfall in the upper Ping River Basin, although they were underestimated. The 2 km NHRCM had less rainfall, but it captured the local topography better than the 5 km model. This difference in rainfall affected the simulated streamflow. Furthermore, the uncertainty of the simulated streamflow was influenced by the different runoff schemes used by the LSMs. For instance, MRI-SiB incorporates a direct infiltration structure from the surface to the second soil layer and estimates subsurface runoff using hydraulic diffusion and gravitational flow, while SiBUC uses a gravitational-only subsurface runoff approach. These variations led to significant disparities in surface and subsurface runoff. Future work should enhance the accuracy of rainfall from climate models and runoff from LSMs for assessing the potential impacts of climate change on water-related disasters.
Conirmatory	Factor	Analysis	of	Depression,	Anxiety	and	Stress	21	(DASS	21)
scale	in	a	study	on	Occupational	Health	Psychology	in	Health	Care
Professionals	from	Anand,	Gujarat
Authors: Sharma Deepak	B , Sharma Himanshu
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is a statistical technique to verify the factor structure of a set of observed variables. Objective: The study was conducted with an objective to study the psychometric properties of DASS 21 scale by Confirmatory factor analysis Method: This study used a Multi Method Design (Multiple approach Design), one was a cross sectional study of 228 participants and the other was a Solomon 4 group Design with total 64 participants. Four groups of health care professionals viz Allopathic doctors, Physiotherapists, Nursing professionals and Community Health Officers (CHOs) were chosen for the study. Convenience sampling was done at two stages. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the construct validity of DASS 21 scale. The model was overidentified as the estimated parameters were less than the number of observed variances and covariances. CMIN/DF(Chi square (minimum discrepancy function) /Degree of freedom) value was 2.021 which was < 5. Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) value (0.892) was near to .9. Root Mean square Residuals (RMR) and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) value were 0.031 and 0.063 respectively which were less than 0.08. Average variance extracted (AVE) for the three constructs were less than the squared interconstruct correlation. Conclusion: DASS-21 scale demonstrated a good convergent validity, but in this study, discriminant validity was found to be poor as determined by average variance extracted in comparison to squared Interconstruct correlation.
Treatment Seeking Behavior and Psycho Socioeconomic Impact of Infertility Affected Couples Residing in the Catchment Area of an Urban Health Training Centre, Ahmadabad City: Mixed Method Study
Authors: Patel Parita , Sharma Rashmi , Bakshi , Harsh , Patel Brijesh , Dave Roshni , Bapat Nirav
Published: April 2024

ntroduction: Infertility is a serious public health issue and addressing this, is in centre to not only to attain SDG 3 and SDG 5, but also to ensure human rights to everyone. Objective: To document the treatment seeking behavior and psycho social impact on infertility affected couple residing in the catchment area of urban health training centre, Ahmadabad city. Method: A community based, cross sectional, mixed method study was conducted in the areas under the Urban Health Training Canter (UHTC) of GMERS Medical College, Sola, Ahmadabad. Survey covered 689 married women of reproductive age group for infertility (based on WHO field based definition). A total 51 women from infertile couples were interviewed in-depth and were also assessed for anxiety and depression using GAD 7 and PHQ 9 respectively. Results: Out of 51 affected women, 36 (70.6%) took treatment; mostly (88.9%) from Gynaecologists who were invariably from private sector. Out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) for treatment varied highly, from INR 200 to INR 1200000. Out of 51 women, 8 (16%) had anxiety and 10 (19.6 %) had depression. A total 7 (13.7%) of them were blamed by husband or in-laws while 6 of them (11.8%) stated that issue of infertility has affected their sexual life as well. Conclusion: Couples affected with infertility had varied out of pocket expenses and were also prone to anxiety and depression. Due to the social and psychological implications and huge OOPE, management of infertility should be covered under various governmental health insurance schemes.
Perception towards Biomedical Research among Undergraduate Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Institute of Kolkata: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Chakrabarti Sreetama , Kerketta Prince , Basu Mausami , Pattanayak Shalini , Naskar Somanath , Goswami Dipendra Narayan
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Biomedical research at undergraduate level is a novel and important concept. It is believed to effectively foster research-oriented thinking among the students, thereby encouraging them to undertake further research activities in future. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to find out the level of perception of undergraduate medical students towards biomedical research, to explore the facilitators and barriers to biomedical research and to identify any associated background information of the students with their perception. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022-February 2023, among 298 students belonging to Phase III of MBBS (Part I and Part II) of a Tertiary Care Institute of Kolkata. Complete enumeration method was employed. Perception was assessed using a 5-point Likert Scale. Association of background information of participants with their perception was assessed using Multinomial Logistic Regression. Results: Among the students, around 53% had favourable perception (27% highly favourable and 26% moderately favourable) towards biomedical research. Self-interest and improved academics were identified as facilitators while lack of dedicated research time, lack of interest, and lack of assistance from faculties were found to be the barriers. Statistically significant higher odds of ‘highly favourable’ and ‘moderately favourable’ perception towards research were found among students from English-medium schools as compared to those who had other languages as medium of instruction in their schools; Part I students had statistically significant higher odds of ‘moderately favourable’ perception as compared to Part II students. Conclusion: Nearly one-third of the participants had highly favourable perception towards biomedical research. Personal interest and lack of dedicated research time were the major factors influencing research
A Biological Caste System? An Investigation of Epigenetics and Socioeconomic Status in Western Society
Authors: Ruel Dalton
Published: April 2024

Epigenetic research has revealed that socioeconomic status (SES) affects people’s lives much more than previously thought. Studies have previously found links between SES and health outcomes that could not be explained by factors classically attributed to the phenomenon of health disparities between the rich and the poor. Further research suggests that epigenetic markers that correlate with SES can have physiologic effects on the individual carrying them, including risk for cardiovascular disease and depression. These markers modulate gene expression without altering the genetic code and are typically regulated by the environment in which an individual or their ancestors lived.  Current findings highlight the importance of putting medical care in the context of patient experience, but this research only scratches the surface of the association between SES-related changes in the epigenome and social mobility. Future studies can further investigate if stressors related to low SES are driving epigenetic changes that affect health outcomes. This relationship may have societal consequences and could shape the future of medicine by influencing policy making and personalized patient care.
RANCANG BANGUN MESIN PEMOTONG TULISAN DENGAN BAHAN STYROFOAM
Authors: Fashiha Ilman Abdillah
Published: April 2024

Saat ini perkembangan teknologi meningkat begitu pesat, hal ini menyebabkan sektor home industry maupun industry skala besar harus bisa mengikutinya, seperti halnya  industri kreatif harus bisa mengikuti berkembangan teknologi tersebut. Oleh karena itu didalam sektor perkembangan home industri kreatif seperti halnya pengrajin pembuataan karangan bunga dengan bahan styrofoam membutuhkan teknologi tepat guna untuk  mengahasilkan hasil yang efektif dan efisien yang dapat dilihat dari kualitas maupun kuantitas hasil produksi. Alat pemotong untuk tulisan pada karangan bunga dengan bahan styrofoam adalah suatu alat yang dapat memotong styrofoam dengan otomatis yang dapat berguna bagi pengrajin pembuatan papan karangan bunga. Dengan adanya alat ini diharapkan bisa meningkatkan hasil produksi dari pengrajin.

Kata Kunci: Mikrokontroller, G-code, Hot Cutting Pen, Motor Stepper.
Moderating Influence of Corruption on the Relationship between Aggregate Tax Revenue and Economic Development in Nigeria and Ghana
Authors: O. O. Uche
Published: April 2024

The study examines the moderating influence of corruption on the relationship between aggregate tax revenue and economic development in Nigeria and Ghana. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study where country specific data extracted from the annual publications of OECD database on tax revenue in Africa, Central Bank of Nigeria and Transparency International (TI) for the periods 1981 to 2022 were used. The dependent variable was economic development measured with Gross Domestic Product at 2015 Constant price while the independent variable was Aggregate tax revenue. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables was moderated by the presence of corruption measured by Corruption perception index for Nigeria and Ghana. Different econometric techniques were applied in the study while the data was analyzed by means of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model using E views Version 10. The findings showed that in Nigeria and Ghana, aggregate tax revenue had a positive and significant influence on economic development both short and long run whereas corruption had a negative but significant influence on the relationship between tax revenue and gross domestic product of Nigeria and Ghana. The study therefore recommends among others that the respective governments of Nigeria and Ghana should put in place adequate fiscal measures to ensure that revenue generated from taxes are effectively utilized to develop their economies. They should also see the need to tackle corruption in the process of executing projects by ensuring that activities of bad and corrupt leaders are closely monitored through further strengthening the hands of the anti Graft Agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC to have the political will to persecute corrupt leaders and managers of public funds.
STARRING ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIAL IMPAIRMENT IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEUROPATHOLOGY
Authors: Yousaf Ayesha , Deeba Farah , Younis Sidra , Iqbal Nadia , Aslam Farheen
Published: April 2024

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading predominant demyelinating and degenerative ailment, described by the loss of cognitive function because of advanced neuronal loss in the brain. There are two pathological hallmarks in the brains of AD sufferers. One is the buildup of abnormal Tau proteins in neurons and the other is the formation of amyloid plaques. Although we still don’t know the comprehensive mechanism that is involved in AD pathophysiology; there are enormous studies that suggested thatmalfunctioning of mitochondria plays a substantial function in the pathology of AD. As we know that mitochondria are very dynamic organelles and the powerhouse of the cell (generate ATP). And it is said that a healthy pool of mitochondria is very essential because it provides energy to the neurons to perform the most important functions and it also protects the neurons by reducing the oxidative damage related to mitochondria. These organelles also play many important cellular functions such asregulation of intracellular calcium ions, bioenergetics processes, a scavenging system for free radicals, and stimulation of cell death that is mediated by caspases. But these functions can be adversely affected by amyloid beta-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. In this article, I recapitulated the current advancement that highlights the starring role of mitochondrial impairment in AD pathology and summarize how different types of mechanisms are involved in mitochondrial impairment in thepathophysiology of AD.
Collaborative Augmented Reality: A Proposed Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Meng Chun Lam , Nur Fazidah Elias , Nazatul Aini Abd Majid Nur Asylah Suwadi
Published: April 2024

A collaborative augmented reality (CAR) system allows multiple users to communicate with each other in a shared 3D environment. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is a well-known method for predicting user acceptance of new technology, it also has the two strongest dimensions of acceptance: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. However, it can be further developed with external dimensions to investigate acceptance more comprehensively for the CAR system, with its 3D characteristics and collaborative ability, requires additional dimensions for measurement. This study aims to analyze and identify a suitable external dimension to be incorporated in TAM for CAR. We acquired the previous using the Web of Science database, which included keywords such as 'augmented reality,' 'virtual reality,' and 'technology acceptance model.' We analyzed eighteen high quality papers from a pool of ninety-seven papers, including journals and conferences. Resultantly, thirty-two external dimensions have been identified from previous TAM studies. After thorough analysis, a foundation TAM for the CAR system is proposed, along with suggestions for external dimensions for different CAR domain applications. The developed TAM includes perceived enjoyment, aesthetic quality, system quality, social presence, satisfaction, information quality, interactivity, collaboration quality and embodiment quality in the CAR context. Other factors, such as social norms, mobility, and others, are applicable to different CAR domain applications. The identified acceptance factors will assist researchers in enhancing their collaborative experience and conducting further analysis in the field of CAR.
Perception of Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Companies about the Management of Research, Technological Development and Innovation of the Agro-Industrial Technological Innovation Center Ica - Peru
Authors: Martin M. Soto-Cordova Raquel M. Sotomayor-Parian ,
Published: April 2024

The Centers for Productive Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITE) promote innovation and drive the use of new technologies among producers, companies, associations and cooperatives in each productive chain (i.e., agro-industrial, leather and footwear, fishing and aquaculture, wood and forestry, and so on). The objective of this article is to analyze the level of perception of the management of research, development and innovation (R&D&i) of the CITEagroindustrial Ica in agricultural and agro-industrial companies in Peru. The study is based on a quantitative approach, the data were collected from 304 responses from surveyed agricultural and agroindustrial companies that received some technological service at CITEagroindustrial Ica. The results show the level of R&D&i management of the CITEagroindustrial that allows identifying opportunities for improvement to energize the agro-industrial value chains of export products in Peru, which is relevant for developing countries. Likewise, it can be replicated in other CITEs.
Computational Thinking in Geometric Concept Construction Using Geogebra Software
Authors: Angel Salvatierra Melgar
Published: April 2024

The knowledge era has allowed new ways of interacting with peers and socially, which allows the promotion of social skills and abilities associating the components of computer science, in order to manage the use of Technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the resolution of geometric situations in the practice of construction, elaboration and interaction with geometric prototypes detected in reality and simulated by GeoGebra software in university students. For this purpose, a non-experimental design of comparative descriptive level was applied, in which sessions with interaction of geometric contents and indicators of computational thinking were developed during seven weeks of classes. The development of the experimental activities allowed the resolution of practical situations detected in the process of: design of plans, organization of analytical components of data through abstraction, solutions of specific and complex situations through the heuristic and algorithmic method, in the challenge of creating new geometric prototypes, exploring new ways of learning geometry, creating challenging situations in producing figures through the software under the basic and fundamental principles of the software leading to the development of computational thinking of the students under observation.
Coordination of New Norms of Life Post-Pandemic Covid-19 Towards Family Well-Being
Authors: Nor ‘Adha Ab Hamid
Published: April 2024

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the whole world, the public in most countries have had to adapt to the 'new norm' and at the same time adjusted to the sudden change in their way of life. The panic effect it has, caused major changes to people's daily lives quick and suddenly. Therefore, the process of coordinating life will usually trigger various challenges from various aspects such as economic, social, emotional and health. Although the COVID-19 virus is decreasing, there are still no signs that the COVID-19 virus will be completely eradicated, when the epidemic has already changed to an endemic one. It will continue to be in the community’s immunity because of the vaccination initiative provided by the Malaysian government and pressure from the emergence of one new corona-virus variant after another. This paper observes some of the crucial steps that need to be done in the process of personal and family adjustment in a more orderly and systematic way with certain guides that are more strategic based on the trend reported by the Malaysia Family Well-Being (MyWI) Index Report. This study is a qualitative study using the method of analyzing documents, journals, and related articles. The study found that after reaching two years of post-pandemic, the country needs to re-examine the best methods as part of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). Malaysia should not delay in dealing with issues related to the new normal life because there is a need to act immediately and help the community especially those who have been severely affected by the pandemic.
Developing an ADDU Online Pedagogical Framework
Authors: Marleonie M. Bauyot
Published: April 2024

Online instruction has emerged as a popular alternative to face-to-face classroom instruction. It provides educational opportunities to individuals with geographic, time, or other constraints that make education difficult or impossible to pursue and another option to those who prefer online learning’s flexibility and instructional delivery method. One of the constraints and challenges that education institutions are confronted with is the threat brought about by COVID-19 pandemic that made physical relationship and interactions difficult for teachers and students in the usual classroom setting. This study was conducted to develop an Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) online pedagogical framework that will help guide the university’s shift to online education. Following a developmental research design with twenty (20) participants involving a founder and nineteen (19) co-founders of the ADDU Center for Educational Research and Advocacy (ACERA) and the approved minutes as the main source of data, results were established. The results included the general framework of ADDU online pedagogy or education, considerations of Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) as an overarching framework and Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate (ADDIE) model which complements with formation, and metrics for evaluation to measure ADDU’s model for instruction. In conclusion, the study identified five major themes for online education which include teachers’ competencies and strategies for teaching online, preparation of instructional materials, agency of the student, formation in an online platform of instruction, student assessment and learning outcomes; developed a framework for online education in considerations of IPP as an overarching framework and ADDIE model which complements with formation; and proposed metrics to measure and evaluate the effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of University’s platform of online instruction.
A Conceptual Stakeholder-Based Model of Malaysia Halal Food Control System
Authors: Sazelin Arif
Published: April 2024

The halal food control system is one of the critical aspects that need attention in sustaining the Malaysian halal industry. In practice, the existing halal food control system involves the roles of several stakeholders and is implemented independently according to their respective jurisdictions. No integrated control mechanism coordinates the roles of all stakeholders, thus resulting in fraud cases to easily happen in the industry. To effectively coordinate these roles, an integrated halal food control system must be developed. Therefore, this concept paper aims to discuss the roles of stakeholders involved in the halal food control system and to propose a conceptual halal food stakeholder control system model based on the objectives of the Islamic law framework. Information for this paper is gathered based on a literature review of previous studies related to the halal food control system. The conceptual model is expected to be a reference and guideline for all stakeholders involved and will serve as a theoretical foundation for future research in this area. Additionally, it can enhance consumer trust in Malaysia’s halal certification and support the country’s goal of becoming a leader in the global halal food industry.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Digital Strategies and Its Impact on Company Performance
Authors: Catherine Patinah
Published: April 2024

Digitalization and digital transformation have garnered sustained interest and fascination among academics and business practitioners alike. The recent surge in the adoption of digital technologies and innovations across diverse organizations has elevated these topics to the forefront of discussions surrounding strategy, organizational dynamics, and the management of digital platforms. This rapid adoption has empowered fashion companies to enhance operational efficiency while nurturing environmental consciousness. To address existing research gaps, this study extends its scope to underexplored fashion industry, encompassing companies of varying sizes, both local and multinational, and under different ownership structures. The overarching objective is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of digital strategies and their subsequent impact on company performance. This research constructs an integrated model that combines insights from strategic management and organizational capability disciplines, drawing inspiration from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Resource-Based View theory. The proposed research model aims to offer a cohesive, efficient, and structured framework that transcends fragmentation, facilitating the development of digital platforms. By embracing diverse contextual settings, this study endeavors to provide nuanced and universally relevant insights, thereby enriching the practical implications for businesses across diverse sectors. As organizations navigate the complex landscape of digital transformation, these insights hold potential for guiding effective strategy formulation and implementation.
Secondary Students’ Awareness on Renewable Energy: A Comparison Between Malaysia and Oman
Authors: Ruhizan M.Yasin
Published: April 2024

This study responds to the critical imperative of strengthening renewable energy (RE) education and fostering sustainable development awareness among secondary school students in Malaysia and Oman. It investigates the feasibility of using the mobile learning module named "MyREL" to enhance students' understanding, awareness, and interest for RE and sustainable development. The research findings underscore significant improvements in students' knowledge levels post-implementation of the "MyREL" module, with a more substantial increase observed in Oman. Developed content within "MyREL" plays a pivotal role in enhancing students' awareness of RE and climate issues, addressing the initial low levels of awareness in both countries. Notably, the study reveals a remarkable boost in students' interest in pursuing higher education and careers in the RE sector, highlighting the module's effectiveness in nurturing interest. While acknowledging study limitations, such as a small sample size and a brief intervention period, the research encourages future exploration to refine content, employ diverse teaching strategies, and conduct long-term assessments for knowledge and interest retention. Ultimately, this feasibility study underscores the significance of technology-enhanced learning, exemplified by "MyREL," in advancing RE literacy and advancing global efforts to combat climate change while facilitating the transition to cleaner energy sources
Review of the Application of Gravimetric and Electrochemical Techniques to Evaluate Corrosion Mechanisms in Metal Materials
Authors: Gin David Chura Rivera Janeth Marlene Quispe-Avilés,
Published: April 2024

Corrosion in carbon steels is a phenomenon that causes degradation of mechanical properties; iron alloys are susceptible to corrosion. Factors such as changes in temperature, pH of the medium, and humidity accelerate the corrosion process, and the oxides formed can generate irreversible changes to the material. The evaluation of surface corrosion is necessary to be able to predict in time, to be able to provide good maintenance whether by coatings, inhibitors, or anticorrosive paints, in an opportune way, and to avoid large economic and structural losses. Gravimetric techniques such as mass loss and electrochemical techniques such as Open Circuit Potential-OCP and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy-EIS, help understand the different corrosion mechanisms, simulate real conditions, and generate reproducible studies with efficiency of time and interpretation. This work shows a brief review of gravimetric and electrochemical techniques applied to the evaluation of corrosion of carbon steels.
Analysis of Elementary School Teachers' Understanding of the Nature of Science based on Gender and Teacher Certification
Authors: Widdy Sukma  Nugraha, Lutfi Asyari Siti Nurkamilah, Udin Syaefudin  Sa’ud,
Published: April 2024

This study aims to analyze the understanding of elementary school teachers regarding the Nature of Science based on Gender and Teacher Certification. The research method used is a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. This research was conducted using a research instrument in the form of questionnaires. The population of this study is elementary school teachers in Indonesia, The research sample is teachers from 65 elementary schools in Indonesia. The results showed that male teachers' understanding of the nature of science was higher than that of female teachers. Then the results of research on the understanding of elementary school teachers about the nature of science based on educator certification show that certified elementary school teachers have a higher understanding of the nature of science than elementary school teachers who have not been certified. The greatest nature of science is in the nature of the scientific method in the scientific attitude component.
Students' Perceptions of Engaging Learning: Preparation for Engaging Learning Strategies
Authors: Yuniar Purwanti
Published: April 2024

The existence of saturation and limited learning resources are two phenomena seen in learning so far. Interesting learning is that students participate actively, concentrate and enjoy learning. This study aims to determine students' perceptions of interesting learning. The results of this study will be used as the basis for further research. This study applies a survey research method, with a quantitative descriptive approach. This research involved 193 students of the Information Technology Education Department. The data obtained were analyzed quantitatively using percentages This analysis uses indicators derived from front-end analysis from Lee Owen, namely: ) Audience analysis shows that students prefer learning with a visual style, 2) Technology analysis shows that learning using LMS gets the highest proportion and prefers using videos. 3) Critical incident analysis,  that combines online and offline learning which is very enjoyable, understanding using structured learning. 4) Media analysis show that all have their own cell phone (100%), have high internet access (95%) and have easy access to the internet around 88%. Thus it means that students want learning to be carried out by combining online and offline learning, learning using visual styles, structured learning.
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Assessment of Private Higher Educational Institutions Using Web Application Security
Authors: Ellen F. Mangaoang
Published: April 2024

The advancements in technology has led to advancements in threats and vulnerabilities as well. Academic websites are not spared from this. This study aims to evaluate the common vulnerabilities and exposures of private higher educational institution’s website using Open Web Application Security Project. Seven private higher education institutions were evaluated using Open Web Application Security Project Zed Attack Proxy and Open Web Application Security Project top 10. The top vulnerabilities the higher educational institutions were exposed to were broken access control, insecure design and software and data integrity failures. There were two higher educational institutions with high level of risks. Also, a total of thirty-two risks or vulnerabilities were identified in the study.  The identification of vulnerabilities or exposures in websites will help the private schools to become aware of possible cyberattacks to their institution’s website. This will help the institution to identify and prevent further loss or damage.
The Significant Role of Organizational Size on the Level of Non-Financial Performance Among Livestock and Poulrty Agribusiness Firms in Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Authors: Soliven Hazel E.
Published: April 2024

This study assessed the level of Non-Financial Performance among livestock and poultry agribusiness firms in Northern Mindanao, Philippines and ascertained the significant role of organizational size.  The study employed complete enumeration and used the responses of 307 farm workers in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin Island.  Descriptive-correlational research design was employed to accomplish the research objectives.  Pre-tested questionnaire with Cronbach alpha of 0.979 was used to gather the data through personal interview.  Descriptive statistics was used to describe the organizational size measured in terms of the number of employees and the level of non-financial performance among agribusiness firms.  Analysis of variance (ANOVA) plus a post hoc test was performed using the Tukey test to assess the significance in the difference of the level of non-financial performance with respect to organizational size. Results revealed that the level of non-financial performance is high.  Non-financial performance of livestock and poultry agribusiness firms significantly differs when grouped according to organizational size. It is recommended that multigroup comparison  can also be made between micro, small, medium and large firms and between other agribusiness sub-sectors (cereal crop, fruit crop and vegetable crop production and processing; cooking oil production, sugar, starch and coffee production and processing).
Wastewater Effluent from Outfalls in Kuwait Bay: A Threat to Recreational Water Quality
Authors: Adel Al-Haddad, Fatemah Dashti Ohoud Bushaibah,
Published: April 2024

The implications of wastewater discharge into marine ecosystems are gravely concerning due to their ability to trigger a chain reaction of contaminants that pose severe risks to both humans and aquatic life. Kuwait Bay is no exception, with numerous wastewater outfalls posing a threat to the marine environment on its southern coasts. This study sought to extensively evaluate the recreational water quality adjacent to wastewater outfalls at five specified sites and compare the results according to the KEPA's (Kuwait's Environmental Public Authority) guidelines. Field measurements and laboratory analyses were conducted to gauge various parameters associated with water quality, such as nutrients, heavy metals, fecal bacterial indicators (FBI), and pharmaceutical compounds. The results of field measurements indicated that two locations had insufficient DO levels with values < 4 mg/l below KEPA standards and brackish to saline water concerning Electrical conductivity (EC) measurements.  However, the heavy metal results demonstrated mercury (Hg) pollution at all locations, whereas the nutrient data revealed significant PO4-P concentrations. Furthermore, EPA requirements were considerably exceeded for bacterial indicator counts (fecal coliforms, E. coli, and fecal streptococci), suggesting serious biological pollution at these locations and elevated concentrations of paracetamol and ranitidine have been detected in pharmaceutical compound analysis, particularly in location OC5. The study's findings emphasized the significance of periodic surveillance to ensure the ongoing improvement of water quality and public health in Kuwait's coastal zones and highlighted the dire need to address the extensive contamination by implementing measures to mitigate the dump of unprocessed wastewater into the sea.