bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osnovna pedološka karta 1:50 000 desetljećima poslije – za suvremene potrebe dopuniti i završiti projekt
Authors: Bašić Ferdo
Published: October 2024

Početkom šezdesetih prošlog stoljeća pokrenut je projekt izrade Osnovne pedološke karte bivše države Južnih Slavena. Za tu svrhu kadrovi vodećih instituta – Instituta za pedologiju i tehnologiju tla u Zagrebu i Zavoda za agropedologiju u Sarajevu izdaju priručnik: Kovačević, P., Jakšić V.: Priručnik za terenska pedološka istraživanja, Sarajevo, 1964. godine. Tako se otvara put projektu Osnovna pedološka karta (OPK) Jugoslavije 1:50 000. Metodika je utvrdila izradu karte s prikazom kontura kartografskih jedinica na u ono doba raspoloživoj topografskoj osnovi – “specijalki” mjerila 1:50 000 po Parizu. Mi, danas na zalasku, u ono doba na početku karijere, pamtimo kontroverze akademskog kruga zajedničke Yu-države. Poslije starta projekta OPK, usklađenim pritiskom akademski krugovi sa sveučilišta/univerziteta, koji su se osjetili zaobiđenim, upućuju kritike svih vrsta… traže i iznuđuju iscrpljujuću raspravu o klasifikaciji. Poslije promjena Ustava 1974. god. i decentralizacije kao procesa iznuđenih gibanjima k demokratizaciji, projekt se nastavlja za interes i o trošku republika. U opticaj se nameću još dvije promjene i dopune klasifikacije istih autora (Škorić, Filipovski, Ćirić). Kako su pojedinačne sekcije tiskane svake godine, na kraju projekta dobivena je bogata dokumentacija, ali s nekoliko promjena u nazivu istog tla, što od početka otežava primjenu, osim uskom krugu specijalista – prije nego je zaživjela u krugu korisnika, OPK postaje nekovrsni “mrtvi kapital”, a monografije tala izdaju se… na engleskom jeziku!!! U Hrvatskoj je projekt zbrzano okončan poslije 22 godine rada 1986. g. kao Osnovna pedološka karta Hrvatske mjerila 1:50 000. Nova znanja rasvijetlila su položaj tla u ekosustavu i radikalno promijenila paradigmu o tlu čija je uloga daleko šira od proizvodnje hrane i drvne mase. Učinci i uloge (krivo nazvane – funkcije) tla su: proizvodne (poljoprivreda, šumarstvo); ekološko-regulacijske (emisija plinova staklenika, hidrološki ciklus); prostorne (gospodarske, urbane, prometnice, zbrinjavanje otpada…); kulturne (krajobraz i domoljublje/patriotizam), teološke… U tom svjetlu održivo gospodarenje tlom i zaštita tla postaje pitanje koje prerasta okvire poljoprivrede i šumarstva gdje su se znanja o tlu prikupljala i vidi mjesto u primijenjenim životnim znanostima (applied life sciences). Sveučilišta Europe BOKU i Prag već su preimenovana u sveučilišta primijenjenih životnih znanosti – universities of applied life sciences. Svijet se mijenja, a naši prostori zaokupljeni starim pitanjima. Svim posebnostima država nastalih iz Yu-države usprkos, u nastalim okolnostima smatram nužnim sačuvati dragocjenu bazu podataka prikupljenih u projektu OPK 1:50 000. Valja dovršiti projekt, u njemu izvršiti neophodne inovacije, kako bi se dobila nova baza podataka o tlima, iz koje će se suvremenim računalnim tehnikama izrađivati karte odgovarajućeg mjerila za potrebe različitih korisnika u matičnim državama, Europi i globalno.
Uzgojne mjere u funkciji preventivne zaštite šuma u uslovima otopljavanja klimata
Authors: Govedar Zoran
Published: October 2024

Uzgojne mjere obnavljanja i njege šuma povećavaju otpornost šumskih ekosistema na negativne uticaje faktora biotičke i abiotičke prirode. Otopljavanje klimata uzrokuje opadanje vitalnosti i stabilnosti šuma te povećava mogućnost pojave bolesti i štetočina. U cilju unapređenja zdravstvenog stanja šuma razvijen je koncept integralne zaštite šuma koji podrazumijeva jedinstvo uzgojnih i zaštitnih mjera koje mogu biti dugoročne (preventivne) i kratkoročne (represivne). Dugoročni i stalni monitoring pojedinih vrsta i sastojina omogućava preduzimanje mjera gajenja šuma kojima se preventivno smanjuju ili anuliraju potrebe za primjenom represivnih mjera zaštite šuma. To se u uslovima klimatskih promjena postiže modifikacijom uzgojnotehničkih mjera u praksi, selektivnim uklanjanjem visokorizičnih sastojina, prilagođavanjem bioekoloških osobina vrsta uslovima staništa, odnosno gajenjem drveća i njihovih varijeteta ili formi otpornih na otopljavanje klimata. Kao posljedica uzgojnih mjera nastaju strukturni oblici sastojina sa različitim stepenom prilagođenosti klimatskim promjenama. Tokom realizacije odgovarajućih sistema gazdovanja raznodobne, odnosno prebirne šume fluktuiraju u povoljnijem rasponu strukture nego jednodobne sastojine, što predstavlja veće potencijalne ekološke koristi od raznodobnih šuma. Zbog toga je savremeni koncept adaptivnog gazdovanja šumama u cilju realizacije željenih efekata upravljanja oslonjen na prirodi blisko gajenje šuma kojim se u uslovima ugrožavajućih faktora, rizika i neizvjesnosti nastoje obezbijediti strukturno raznodobne sastojine, prirodna regeneracija i mješoviti sastav sa autohtonim vrstama drveća.
Babin do u Ski-centru Bjelašnica – devastacija prirodnog ambijenta u Dinaridima
Authors: Beus Vladimir
Published: October 2024

Razvoj Ski-centra Bjelašnica kontinuirano prati devastacija prirodnog ambijenta Babinog dola i okolnog područja, sječa šuma, enormna gradnja neprilagođena prirodnom ambijentu. Na površinama posječenih šuma izgrađeni su i grade se apartmani, hoteli i mnogobrojni razni prateći objekti. Potpuno je izmijenjen prirodni ambijent ovog prostora, a negativni uticaji i posljedice na okolne šumske ekosisteme i izvorišta voda, posebno izvorište Vrelo Bosne, mnogobrojne su i dalekosežne. U radu su analizirane prirodne karakteristike okolnog prostora planina Bjelašnice i Igmana, uticaji i posljedice ovakvog “razvoja” na širi okolni prirodni ambijent i šumske ekosisteme kraškog prostora planina Igmana i Bjelašnice.
Gljive kao indikatori stabilnosti šumskih ekosistema
Authors: Treštić Tarik , Jukić Nedim , Omerović Nihad
Published: October 2024

Gljive u šumskim ekosistemima igraju ključnu ulogu u očuvanju biodiverziteta, regulaciji klimatskih promjena i osiguravanju resursa. Ovaj rad fokusira se na analizu uloge gljiva kao pokazatelja ekoloških faktora u šumama, koristeći rezultate novijih istraživanja. Općenito, gljive koriste raspoloživu organsku materiju, bilo da je u živom ili mrtvom obliku. Pri tome se one sukcesivno smjenjuju i zajedno s drugim organizmima sudjeluju u potpunoj razgradnji organske materije. S obzirom na to, gljive pripadaju različitim grupama u pogledu ishrane. Mikorizne gljive uspostavljaju simbiotske veze s drvećem, grmljem i drugim biljkama kojima tako pomažu u bržem razvoju i jačoj otpornosti prema štetnim uticajima. Posredujući između korijena biljaka i supstrata u kojem se on nalazi, gljive direktno utiču na rast biljaka i općenito pospješuju proizvodnju biomase. Tako na primjer, Cenococcum geophilum Fr., Russula ochroleuca Pers., Imleria badia (Fr.) Vizzini i neke druge vrste gljiva potiču brži rast drveća i pomažu im u stresnim situacijama. Velika grupa gljiva koriste i mrtvu organsku materiju, čime sprječavaju njeno nagomilavanje u ekosistemima, a u krajnjem, vraćaju je u mineralni oblik ponovo dostupan autotrofnim, prvenstveno biljnim organizmima. Iz ove grupe gljiva, Hericium coralloides (Scop.) Pers. je pokazatelj dobrog i nenarušenog stanja šuma bukve i hrasta, dok gljiva Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze ukazuje na pogoršano zdravstveno stanje u ovim šumama. Zbog ovih uloga, zastupljenost mikoriznih i saprotrofnih gljiva u šumskim ekosistemima može se koristiti kao indikator njihove opće stabilnosti, a pojedini predstavnici iz obje navedene grupe kao specifični indikatori kvalitativnih promjena u njima. Međutim, pojavljivanje pojedinih vrsta gljiva u šumskim ekosistemima teško je predvidjeti zbog njihove ovisnosti o brojnim faktorima (klima, stanište, gazdovanje šumama, fenologija i uzrast drveća, čovjek i dr.), zbog čega postoje brojne nedoumice u njihovoj primjeni kao pokazatelja kvaliteta staništa, vitalnosti i zdravstvenog stanja drveća i šuma. U radu se pojašnjava ekološka uloga indikatorskih gljiva s obzirom na podršku rastu i vitalnosti drveća, zdravlju šuma i drveća općenito te kruženju hranljivih materija u šumskom ekosistemu. Posebno se naglašava kako prisustvo ili odsutnost indikatorskih gljiva može signalizirati specifične uslove u šumi. Cilj rada je da pruži uvid u značaj indikatorskih gljiva u šumskim ekosistemima, ističući njihovu važnost u očuvanju potencijala i zdravlja šuma u održivom upravljanju šumama.
Prilog biodiverzitetu i dinamici pojavljivanja jesenskog aspekta gljiva (Macromycetes) u hrastovo-grabovoj šumi
Authors: Hasanbegović Anis , Pintarić Dario
Published: October 2024

Biodivezitet gljiva je vrlo slabo istražen u Bosni i Hercegovini. Također, kvalitativno-kvantitativni sastav te dinamika pojavljivanja gljiva još su slabije istraženi. Samim tim, cilj rada je da prezentuje nove podatke o kvalitativno-kvantitativnom sastavu i dinamici gljiva (Macromyceta) u jesenskom aspektu hrastovo-grabove šume na lokalitetu Donji Miševići kod Rakovice. Na ovom području je izabrano 5 lokacija gdje je istraživan biodiverzitet gljiva. Praćen je jesenski dio sezonskog diverziteta pojavljivanja gljiva. Istraživanje je počelo 10. X, a završilo 9. XII 2023. godine
Evaluating the Performance of Ensemble Machine Learning Algorithms Over Traditional Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Fire Resistance in FRP Strengthened Concrete Beams
Authors: Kumarawadu Helani , Weerasinghe Pasindu , Perera Jude Shalitha
Published: October 2024

In recent years, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have emerged as a highly effective solution for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures. However, accurately assessing the fire resistance of FRP-strengthened members remains a significant challenge due to the limited guidance available in current building codes, often leading to conservative and cost-intensive evaluations. Experimental testing and numerical analysis required for such assessments are resource-demanding, highlighting the need for more efficient methods. This study investigates the application of machine learning (ML) techniques to predict the fire resistance of FRP-strengthened RC beams. Twelve ML models, including eight ensemble methods and four traditional approaches, were employed. The models were trained using a comprehensive dataset comprising over 21,000 data points obtained from numerical simulations and experimental tests. The dataset captured variations in geometric configurations, insulation strategies, loading conditions, and material properties. To enhance predictive accuracy, Bayesian optimization and k-fold cross-validation were applied for model tuning, while the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method was utilized to assess the relative importance of features influencing fire resistance. Among the models tested, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost), Light Gradient Boosting (LGBoost), and Gradient Boosting (GRB) demonstrated superior performance, achieving accuracy rates exceeding 92%. Key factors identified as significantly affecting fire resistance included loading ratio, area of tensile reinforcement, insulation depth, concrete cover thickness, and FRP area. The findings underscore the potential of ensemble ML techniques over traditional methods for accurately predicting the fire resistance of FRP-strengthened RC beams, offering critical insights for optimizing design practices and enhancing structural fire safety.
SENTENCE REPRESENTATION USING LSTM FOR FINDING QUESTION
Authors:   University of Information and Communication Technology, Thai Nguyen University, Vietnam, Khanh Linh DINH , Quang Huy TRAN ,   University of Information and Communication Technology, Thai Nguyen University, Vietnam
Published: October 2024

Learning sentence representation with the full semantics of a document is a challenge in natural language processing problems because if the semantic representation vector of the sentence is suitable, it will increase the performance of finding similar question problems. In this paper, we propose implementing a series of LSTM models with different ways of extracting sentence representations and applying them to question retrieval to exploit the hidden semantics of sentences. These methods give sentence representation from hidden layers of the LSTM model. The results show that the technique using a combination of both Max Pooling and Mean Pooling gives the highest results on the 2017 SemEval dataset for the problem of finding similarity questions. Keywords: LSTM; Deep Learning; NLP; QA; learning sentence representation; CQA.
Test anxiety and achievement in mathematics of higher secondary students in Bengali Medium Schools
Authors: Ahmed Golam Yasdani  , Kazi Masud Hossain  , Patra Anujit
Published: October 2024

This study intended to look at the connection between students' achievement in mathematics and their test anxiety at higher secondary level. Data were collected from 205 students in six schools located in Gazole Block, Malda district, West Bengal, using a descriptive survey method. For selected participants, a multistage method of sampling was employed. Data were gathered using the Anxiety Test Scale for Students, developed and standardized by Asamoah (2018) guaranteeing validity and reliability. For data analysis, the mean, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient techniques were applied. The results showed that there were notable differences in test anxiety between urban and rural students, as well as between male and female at the higher secondary level. However, there was no discernible difference in math proficiency between males and females or between rural and urban students. A negative correlation was observed between test anxiety and achievement in mathematics, suggesting that higher levels of test anxiety correspond to lower mathematics achievement scores. Conversely, addressing test anxiety among higher secondary students may contribute to enhance their performance in mathematics.
Field Study Experiences of Pre-service Teachers in the Philippines
Authors: Comia Mayka , Labine Bae Mae , Carolino Camela , Torno Ella Mariz , Valenton Kizel , De Guzman Lindsay , Dela Fuente Shannen Kyla , Rivera Kimberly
Published: October 2024

Field study courses are part of the university’s curriculum, which pre-service teachers are required to take. These courses allow them to apply what they have learned from their chosen programs and gain real-world experience in the teaching profession. The journey in field study is an excellent way to learn about the responsibilities of a teacher and to develop one’s growth in professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes. This study described the challenges and opportunities encountered, as well as the coping mechanisms used, by pre-service teachers during their field study journey. Seven pre-service teachers from a Philippine state university, enrolled in the Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English during the academic year 2023-2024, were purposely chosen as participants of the study. A qualitative narrative inquiry research design and validated researcher-made, open-ended interview questions were used. The findings revealed that the student teachers were most challenged in adjusting to a new environment, lesson planning, adjusting to their role as practicing teachers, dealing with personal struggles, and managing personal expenses. Meanwhile, the study revealed that the pre-service teachers encountered opportunities primarily through learning from resource teachers, trying out the teacher's role, handling students, adapting to various teaching-learning environments, using technology in teaching, and learning from students. The coping strategies they used included personal motivation or willingness to learn, effective time management, balancing personal struggles as student teachers, applying learning theories, applying previous learning and life experiences, and personal ingenuity. These findings may provide educational institutions with opportunities to intensify and improve their practice teaching curriculum.
Practices of Bsed English Students in Dealing With English Language Anxiety
Authors: Bolivar Rheza Mae , Bayno Maribel , Suarez Aris Pet Angeli , Naparan Genesis
Published: October 2024

This qualitative study investigates the practices of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) English majors in dealing with English language anxiety. Through interviews with the eleven research participants, peers, and classmates, the study identifies triggers, manifestations, and coping strategies associated with language anxiety among BSED English students. Findings reveal that past negative experiences, fear of criticism, lack of confidence, and performance pressure contribute to language anxiety, manifested in various physical and emotional symptoms. Coping mechanisms include self-talk, self-acceptance, breathing techniques, and preparation, which highlight the importance of psychological and practical approaches in managing anxiety. The study concludes that language anxiety poses significant challenges for BSED English students but can be effectively managed through targeted interventions and support strategies. Recommendations include integrating anxiety-reduction techniques into teaching practices, providing opportunities for practice and feedback, fostering a supportive classroom atmosphere, offering mindfulness workshops, and conducting further research on effective interventions. Implementation of these recommendations can enhance students' academic performance and well-being, creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for English language learners.
Integrating Life Skills in Secondary Education: Teachers’ Perspectives and Challenges
Authors: Jamil Muhammad , Zahra Hina , Fida Farah
Published: October 2024

The current study aims to find out the perspectives of secondary school teachers on the incorporation of life skills into their teaching. Selecting purposively, the present study participants include ten teachers from public secondary schools in a district of Punjab, Pakistan. The study used a phenomenological research design to get teachers’ perceptions and experiences on the integration of life skills. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data was analysed through qualitative content analysis with the help of NVivo 14 software. The results of the study showed that teachers, in general, value life skills in education. From the participants’ perspective, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication were the most focused skills. However, several constraints, including limited time, increased class size, and limited textbook support, limit the efficiency of implementation. Teachers were of the view that students responded positively to life skills-focused teaching and activities but the means of assessing the progress in teaching these skills were lacking. It also revealed insufficient knowledge identification in learning life skills integration and better resources and curricula adaptability requirements. These results suggest prospective future work at curricular, methodological, and teachers’ professional development for better integration of life skills into secondary education. Pakistan’s educational policymakers and curriculum developers will find the study useful in improving the integration of life skills in secondary education.
Humanitarian Crisis in Indian Jammu and Kashmir: An Analysis
Authors: Tasadduq Ammara , Ishtiaq Muhammad Zain , Munir Hafiz Muhammad Amjad , Mustafa Ghulam
Published: October 2024

Human rights violations in the part of Kashmir ruled by India are the subject of this article. The part of Kashmir under Indian administration suffers from the ongoing violation of human rights. Their daily lives now involve everything from political repression and the oppressive conditions of free speech to mass murders, forced disappearances, torture, rape, and sexual abuse. Extremist organizations, border guards, and the Indian Central Reserve Police Force have all been charged with and found guilty of serious violations of human rights against Kashmiri civilians. The rebels in Kashmir believe that the part of the country that is ruled by India is a part of Pakistan. Thus, the only people who are allowed to live on that area are Pakistanis. However, the question of how far it is acceptable to create one's existence at the expense of ending the lives of people who are completely innocent and have no fault of their own other than the fact that they were born on that property emerges. Numerous questions have been raised by this upheaval, all of which deserve our serious attention and prompt resolution.
PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM DARI KESEWENANG-WENANGAN PEMERINTAH DALAM PENGALIHAN HAK ATAS TANAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN UMUM
Authors: Akmal Diya Ul , Pratiwi Eka
Published: October 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perlindungan hukum bagi masyarakat dalam pengalihan hak atas tanah untuk kepentingan umum, serta batas kewenangan pemerintah dalam pelaksanaan pembangunan tersebut. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah yuridis normatif, dengan pendekatan studi kepustakaan yang memanfaatkan data sekunder berupa literatur dan dokumen hukum yang relevan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aturan hukum yang ada sebenarnya telah memberikan jaminan perlindungan hukum terhadap kepemilikan tanah masyarakat, sebagaimana diatur dalam perundang-undangan yang berlaku. Namun, realitas di lapangan menunjukkan bahwa pemerintah sering kali mengabaikan aturan hukum tersebut, terutama dalam kasus pembebasan tanah di Bukit Duri, Jakarta. Pada kasus ini, pemerintah tidak hanya mengabaikan aturan hukum dan putusan pengadilan yang sudah ada, tetapi juga bertindak melebihi batas kewenangan yang seharusnya mereka miliki berdasarkan hukum yang berlaku. Tindakan pemerintah tersebut telah menciptakan ketidakpastian hukum, serta mengakibatkan pelanggaran hak-hak masyarakat, khususnya terkait hak atas kepemilikan tanah. Dengan demikian, diperlukan adanya komitmen yang lebih kuat dari pihak pemerintah untuk menjadikan hukum sebagai landasan utama dalam setiap kebijakan yang diambil. Pemerintah perlu memperhatikan dan menghormati hak-hak masyarakat secara lebih serius guna memastikan bahwa tidak ada pelanggaran atau pengabaian hak-hak tersebut dalam proses pengalihan tanah untuk kepentingan umum. Kepastian hukum bagi masyarakat harus menjadi prioritas dalam setiap langkah pemerintah.
Redes sociales utilizadas en el mundo
Authors: Leon-Melendez Danuska Juana , Prada-Huamani Ruth Karina , Mamani-Vilca Ecler
Published: October 2024

Este estudio identifica las redes sociales más utilizadas en diferentes regiones del mundo. Se realizó un análisis comparativo de las plataformas más populares en Asia, África, Europa, América del Norte, América del Sur y Oceanía, utilizando datos confiables. Los resultados muestran que Facebook lidera en todos los continentes, seguido por YouTube, WhatsApp e Instagram. Sin embargo, existen diferencias significativas en la preferencia por otras plataformas en cada continente. En Asia, WeChat lidera con 44,7% de usuarios, seguido por Facebook, YouTube y WhatsApp. En África, Facebook predomina con 62,1%, seguido por YouTube, WhatsApp e Instagram. En Europa, las principales plataformas son Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp e Instagram. En América del Norte, las más usadas son Facebook, Instagram y Twitter. En América del Sur, Facebook lidera con 73,1%, seguido por WhatsApp e Instagram. En Oceanía, Facebook, YouTube e Instagram son las más populares. En conclusión, Facebook lidera globalmente, pero YouTube, Instagram y WhatsApp también tienen presencia relevante, reflejando diferencias regionales en preferencias y hábitos de uso. La investigación destaca la importancia de adaptar estrategias de marketing digital a las plataformas preferidas en cada región.
Categorizing IoT Software Systems Security Vulnerabilities Through Literature Studies
Authors: Pessoa Clinton Hudson Moreira , Travassos Guilherme Horta
Published: October 2024

Despite the popularity of IoT software systems and the enormous variety of intelligent devices, there are still security challenges, considering the lack of descriptions of practices that can support the mitigation of security risks, augmenting the uncertainties on the weaknesses encompassing such systems. Therefore, this paper presents the results of two literature studies (ad-hoc and structured) that can contribute to the decision-making regarding mitigating risks associated with security vulnerabilities in IoT software systems. The ad-hoc literature study identified 27 coarse-grained security vulnerabilities from software organizations. The structured literature study identified 69 fine-grained security vulnerabilities from the technical literature, which allowed identifying and categorizing these vulnerabilities into four categories (application, network, device, and Peopleware) for better organization and understanding. The results comparison highlighted a set of 30 most impactful security vulnerabilities that should be considered by software engineers when mitigating the risks regarding the lack of security in IoT software systems.
Integrating STPA with Safety Requirements Modeling
Authors: Ribeiro Moniky , Castro Jaelson , Argenton Ricardo
Published: October 2024

Context: Requirements modeling is essential for Safety-Critical Systems because accidents are often due to inaccurate, incomplete or inconsistent requirements. The main reason of bad requirements is poor communication between safety engineers and requirements engineers. Objective: Our goal is to propose an approach that enable safety requirements to reflect the findings of the initial safety analysis phase. Method: We integrate two techniques 1) iStar4Safety, a goal-oriented requirements modeling language tailored for safety requirements and 2) STPA (System Theoretic Process Analysis), a well-recognized and accepted safety analysis technique. Results: Through this integration, our framework promises a more systematic and comprehensive approach to modeling early safety requirements. It supports the elicitation and analysis of safety concerns, fosters stakeholder communication, and underpins the development of inherently safer and more reliable critical systems. Conclusions: A real project, related to development of a low-cost Insulin Infusion Pump System - IIP, serves as example to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Preliminary results indicates that the approach contributes to improving the visualization of the safety related information generated in the safety analysis such as the accidents, system level hazards, hazard causes, hazard mitigations, and safety requirements.
Teaching Software Engineering with Project-Based Learning: A Four Years Experience Report
Authors: Garcés Lina , Oliveira Brauner
Published: October 2024

Project-Based Learning (PjBL) is an educational design methodology embraced by instructors within engineering programs and, recently, in software engineering courses. PjBL enables students to confront real-world scenarios and apply their knowledge to create practical and meaningful software products, all while enhancing essential soft skills required in the software industry. This study draws upon the authors’ firsthand experiences implementing PjBL across four software engineering courses. It outlines the challenges encountered during each course iteration, emphasizing areas ripe for improvement in future offerings. Insights gathered from four years of teaching with PjBL are shared, detailing the positive and negative outcomes of employing various strategies to address challenges identified in prior course runs. The experience reported herein gives fellow software engineering educators valuable insights, enabling them to avoid ineffective approaches and integrate successful ones into their teaching endeavors.
Empowering Undergraduates in Empirical Research Methods: an Experience Report
Authors: Vilela Jéssyka , Silva Carla
Published: October 2024

Context: Undergraduate students often struggle with research methods and methodologies crucial for their development. Effective training is essential to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Objective: This course aimed to empower students with a solid understanding of scientific research, enhance their research planning skills and proficiency in empirical methods, and improve their scientific writing and presentation skills. Method: An in-person Empirical Software Engineering course was conducted for 17 undergraduates over 60 hours in a semester. It included theoretical classes, practical activities, seminars, evaluations of empirical articles, and peer evaluations of research projects. Results: Students reported high satisfaction with the course, particularly in topic approach, content references, and achieving objectives. Areas for improvement included clarity of course objectives and developing critical thinking skills. Most activities were found useful, though some were challenging. Conclusions: The course successfully developed research skills among students. Improving clarity of objectives and support for complex activities can further enhance the learning experience. This report provides insights into empirical research education in software engineering, highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
A Prompt Engineering-based Process to Build Proto-personas during Lean Inception
Authors: Leão Raul , Ayach Fernando , Lameirão Vitor , Fontão Awdren
Published: October 2024

Product discovery approaches such as Lean Inception (LI) typically span five days (40 working hours). During LI, the participants create and refine proto-personas during four working hours to understand user needs. Proto-personas are preliminary, assumption-based representations of ideal users that guide initial design discussions. The accuracy of proto-personas generated in this context has been counterintuitive due to limited time for idea exploration and refinement, for example. There are approaches to building personas (e.g. data-driven, LLMs). However, there is a gap in exploring the use of prompt engineering and proto-persona strategies to support the Product Discovery approaches. Our research investigates the application of a prompt engineering-based approach to building protopersonas during LI. We report an exploratory case study where six participants used our approach to generate proto-personas in a given scenario. The impact of our approach positively influenced the outcome. Most proto-personas developed by our process better represented the target audience than those from LI, despite some inconsistencies. Our process was well accepted by participants and suggestions were made to improve the process. Our approach used an average of 11 minutes of working hours (SD 2.24 minutes), traditionally this time in LI is four hours.
Exception Miner: Multi-language Static Analysis Tool to Identify Exception Handling Anti-Patterns
Authors: Souza Jairo , Alves Tales , Oliveira Robson , Teixeira Leopoldo , Fonseca Baldoino
Published: October 2024

Exception handling is a technique used to manage errors or exceptional events that occur during program execution and disrupt the standard flow of the program. Although this method is beneficial, developers often neglect proper exception handling. Misuse of exception handling mechanisms can lead to exception handling anti-patterns in the source code, negatively impacting software quality. Additionally, many projects nowadays are built using multiple languages, which increases the complexity of identifying these anti-patterns and the workload involved in configuring various linters or detection tools. To address this gap, we developed a tool that identifies exception handling anti-patterns in three popular languages: Java, TypeScript, and Python. To evaluate our tool, we conducted an empirical study on 11 multi-language projects to investigate the occurrence of exception handling patterns across different languages. Our results demonstrated that the occurrence of exception handling anti-patterns is similar between Python and TypeScript. However, in Java, exception handling anti-patterns occur up to four times more frequently in the analyzed projects. The tool is available on GitHub1, along with a video2 demonstrating its use.
xib2swift: do legado Interface Builder para Swift
Authors: Caputo Vinicius , Terra Ricardo
Published: October 2024

Apple has traditionally advocated for the utilization of Interface Builder, a tool designed to structure user interface components within XIB files. However, it has become apparent that Interface Builder is associated with significant drawbacks, such as conflicts in code versioning systems and prolonged project compilation times, which have rendered the approach increasingly unsustainable. Given the ongoing shift by numerous IT companies towards Swift, this paper introduces xib2swift—a tool specifically designed to facilitate the transition from Interface Builder to Swift for iOS development projects. This research evaluates xib2swift through a dual approach: firstly, implementing the tool in a major financial corporation’s project resulted in a nearly 83% reduction in build time. Secondly, feedback gathered via a questionnaire from developers across different teams corroborates the view that while manual conversion is feasible, it tends to be tedious and susceptible to errors. Significantly, all developers concurred that the tool proved beneficial and effective for conversion purposes and expressed intentions to utilize it in future projects. Demo: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25948927
METEOR: A Tool for Monitoring Behavior Preservation in Test Code Refactorings
Authors: Teixeira Tiago Samuel Rodrigues , Silveira Fábio Fagundes , Guerra Eduardo Martins
Published: October 2024

The success of test refactoring, particularly in the removal of test smells, relies on a post-refactoring evaluation to ensure that the refactored test maintains its behavior, meaning its defect detection capability. Test smells are indicative of issues within test code. While various approaches in the literature propose strategies for evaluating test behavior, they lack tool support for practical industry application. Therefore, this study introduces MeteoR, a tool model that employs a mutation testing approach to assess refactored test behavior. MeteoR is implemented as a plugin for the Eclipse IDE and is integrated with PITclipse, streamlining the collection and analysis of mutation test data for effective evaluation of test refactoring. This paper provides a detailed description of the MeteoR implementation, discusses encountered challenges and findings, and includes illustrative examples demonstrating its efficacy through a preliminary evaluation, which shows promising initial results. The video presentation of MeteoR is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25954045.
Helius: A Design Thinking Techniques Recommendation System in Software Development
Authors: Parizi Rafael , Hanauer Lucas , Marczak Sabrina , Conte Tayana
Published: October 2024

This paper demonstrates Helius, a collaborative Design Thinking (DT) techniques recommendation system. We proposed Helius to support DT practitioners in selecting DT techniques for use in software development, as literature has shown that selecting a set of DT techniques can be a complex decision-making problem. To develop Helius, we followed a Design Science Research framework, starting with a deep understanding of the problem and followed by three iterations of design and validation activities. In total, 40 professionals participated in the validation activities for Helius. The results show that Helius effectively supports the selection of DT techniques and is considered by DT practitioners to be a useful and easy-to-use recommendation system. Helius Tool’s video: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11398135
How Did We Get Here? Race and Ethnicity in Dewey Decimal Classification
Authors: Thornton Lisa
Published: October 2024

There is burgeoning interest in decolonizing the library catalog to recognize and remove longstanding bias. This article takes a step back and examines how theories about human classification from antiquity informed 18th and 19th century ideas of race and ethnicity and how these ideas became embedded in Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). It explores the evolution of DDC with respect to these subjects across four editions and over the course of 130 years, reflecting on DDC’s presentation of changing dominant societal views. Finally, the article acknowledges the role librarians play in tending to the values of knowledge organization and our need to continually evaluate the impact of our work on the production, organization, and distribution of knowledge.
Analysis of Two Thesauri Specializing in Women’s and Gender Studies
Authors: Vital Luciane Paula , Pinho Fabio Assis
Published: October 2024

In developing and using knowledge organization systems (KOSs), it is important not to perpetuate historically privileged views that reproduce a representation and organization guided by a dominant logic. This study aimed to analyze terms in two thesauri specializing in women’s and gender studies used to represent the content of articles with the topics of women and gender. The research has a qualitative nature and used a descriptive methodological approach and bibliographic research procedures. It analyzed keywords from scientific articles of the Revista de Estudos Feministas-REF (Journal of Feminist Studies) and the corresponding terms in two thesauri: Tesauro para estudos de gênero e sobre mulheres (Thesaurus for studies on gender and women) and the Tesauro de género: lenguaje con equidad (Gender thesaurus: language with equity). The methodological approach is descriptive using bibliographical research procedures. The keywords analyzed were taken from scientific articles published in the ‘Articles’ section of the three volumes of the REF for the year 2022, available online. The limitation of the analysis period (2022) is justified as a sampling of keywords used to represent current themes on gender and women. Regarding the number of terms per article (one to three), the rationale was that they needed to have literary and usage warrants; moreover, limiting the terms allowed for adequate time quality for analysis and focusing on qualitative aspects through sample analysis. Significant incompatibilities were found between the keywords and the terms in the analyzed thesauri. It was concluded that for the representation and organization of knowledge to be relevant and legitimate, they must be aligned with the economic, political, and social context in which they are inserted. Thesauri, like all KOSs (systems of concepts), need their terms and semantic relationships to be continuously discussed and negotiated as a developmental step, in a spiral-like fashion. If updating is fundamental, the adoption of KOSs in scientific journals is also highly recommended for quality in the process of representation and retrieval of the scientific knowledge produced.
Anglo-American Library Cataloging
Authors: Dobreski Brian
Published: October 2024

This article details the Anglo-American library cataloging tradition. Cataloging is a knowledge organization process through which resources are represented in the context of a catalog. Emerging from the work of individual libraries in the United Kingdom and United States in the mid-nineteenth century, modern Anglo-American cataloging practices have undergone continuing development over the course of almost two centuries, largely through a succession of widely implemented descriptive standards. They have come to represent a distinct, coherent tradition that has grown in influence beyond English-speaking settings to exert a global impact on contemporary knowledge organization. While standardization and internationalization have both played a part in establishing the influence of the Anglo-American cataloging tradition, other trends have carried significant impact as well, including technological development and increasing cooperation among libraries. This article explores the meaning, development, and implications of Anglo-American library cataloging through an examination of its historical, practical, and theoretical foundations, along with a consideration of current and emerging developments related to this tradition.
Influence of Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction on Employees’ Intention to Provide eWOM: The Moderating Role of Perceived Company Reputation
Authors: Anastasiei Bogdan , Neculăesei Angelica-Nicoleta , Ionescu Alina Măriuca
Published: October 2024

Staff word-of-mouth is a largely overlooked way to increase organizational attractiveness and recruit valuable human resource through employee referrals. The purpose of this research is to assess the influence of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on the employees’ willingness to convey positive information about their company on social networks. Our findings show that job satisfaction and affective commitment directly affect electronic word-of-mouth propensity, while the influence of continuance and normative commitment is strongly moderated by the perceived company reputation. These results indicate that companies can use satisfaction and affective commitment, as well as reputation, as leverages for driving employees to generate positive staff word-of-mouth in the online environment.
Advancements in Materials Used in Air Conditioning Technologies
Authors: A. Gaber Ghalia , Z. Mohamed Lamiaa
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores recent advancements in materials driving innovation within air conditioning technologies. Traditional materials face limitations in efficiency and sustainability, prompting a shift toward novel solutions. Nanostructured materials, with their enhanced heat transfer properties, are gaining prominence, alongside advanced heat exchanger materials offering superior performance and durability. Sustainability is prioritized through the adoption of eco-friendly materials and smart technologies. Shape memory alloys and smart materials enable adaptive systems for optimized comfort and energy efficiency. While challenges persist in cost and scalability, interdisciplinary efforts are propelling the field toward a future of greener, more efficient air conditioning solutions.
Social Learning on TikTok: the Community as a Literacy Axis on Blood Donation
Authors: Martínez-Sanz Raquel , Durántez-Stolle Patricia
Published: October 2024

This research examines the creation of knowledge on social networks about blood donation, the role of virtual communities and their potential to attract donors. We applied a two-step methodology, starting by interviews with blood donation management institutions in Spain (N=21) and concluding with the analysis of comments from 61 donor testimonials on TikTok (N=1,606). This social network was chosen because of the scarce institutional presence and the predominance of Generation Z, which is necessary for generational change. The results show that blood donation in Spain is seen from a positive perspective, where complaints are rare or relativised and the community encourages the behaviour imitation thanks to the feeling of pride and gratitude to donors. Knowledge is generated both from the contributions of creators and audiences and is focused on informing about the process, conditions and consequences, supporting its voluntary and altruistic nature. Overall, social, group and collaborative learning takes place, with greater success in those contents shared by health profiles but supported by all users. We conclude that TikTok plays a relevant role in the literacy and awareness of blood donation based on the virtual community collective intelligence, which will affect the donor relay thanks to the behavioural models that obtain social recognition.

Esta investigación examina la creación de conocimientos en redes sociales sobre la donación de sangre, el papel de las comunidades virtuales y su capacidad para atraer donantes. Se aplica una metodología en dos pasos que parte de entrevistas a las instituciones gestoras de la hemodonación en España (N=21) y concluye con el análisis de los comentarios de 61 testimonios de donantes en TikTok (N=1.606), por ser la red social con menor presencia institucional y donde predomina la Generación Z, necesaria para el relevo generacional. Los resultados muestran que la donación de sangre en España se observa desde una óptica positiva donde las quejas escasean o se relativizan y la comunidad favorece la imitación del comportamiento gracias al sentimiento de orgullo y agradecimiento a donantes. El conocimiento se genera tanto de aportaciones de los creadores como de las audiencias y se enfoca a informar sobre el proceso, condiciones y consecuencias, defendiendo su carácter voluntario y altruista. En conjunto, se produce un aprendizaje social, grupal y colaborativo, con mayor éxito en aquellos contenidos compartidos por perfiles sanitarios, pero apoyado en todos los usuarios. Se concluye que TikTok ejerce un papel relevante en la alfabetización y en la concientización sobre la hemodonación a partir de la inteligencia colectiva de la comunidad virtual que repercutirá en el relevo de donantes gracias a los modelos de comportamiento que obtienen reconocimiento social en la red.
Public information dissemination and its impact on force account implementation in Kalambo district council, Tanzania
Authors:   The University of Dodoma, Jovenatus Stephen , Kissoka Gasper ,   The University of Dodoma, Mujwahuzi Leonce Stephen
Published: October 2024

The study assessed dissemination of public information and its impact on implementation of force accounts in Kalambo District Council in Tanzania. A cross-sectional design was employed in collecting data at one point in time with a mixed methods research approach which was used in an attempt to gain detailed information. A total of 145 participants which includes ward development committees, construction committees and community members were involved whereby 46 key informants were selected purposely based on their positions while simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 99 respondents from the community. The survey, interview, focus group discussion and documentary review method were used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis whereas qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The study findings revealed that information is not easily accessible to the public and a few shared information is not clear due to confidentiality and technical language. The findings also indicate that the public is unaware about the progress force account due to ineffective dissemination of information which leads to untimely completion of works and misuse of resources. The study concludes that there is inadequate information in the implementation of force account projects, thus resulting in poor support, acceleration of low value for money and lack of accountability due to poor public scrutiny. The study recommends that the government institutions should emphasise the use of authorised social and religious gathering in an attempt to raise awareness. Moreover, the selected committee must engage the public in decision making in order to improve transparency in implementation of projects.