bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
French Economic and Monetary Policies in Francophone Africa:
Authors: DZEKASHU WILLIAM
Published: November 2021

Since granting independence to her former colonies (especially the countries in the West and Central Africa subregions), France has maintained tight economic, political, and to a great extent, social control over their internal and external affairs. These continued ties with France have become the subject of contentious debates (previously considered taboo) among scholars in recent times, evidenced in the development of activism in Africa and continental Europe where the former has been sensitized or radicalized about France’s exploitative approach to economic partnership. The economies of these African nations have suffered stagnation and retrogression in contrast to their non-French-influenced neighbors. This essay employs a literature review to assess the impact of French hegemony over these former colonies, therefore providing a cogent argument for the abolition of the monetary agreement in favor of a local currency, and cessation of political dependencies that also carry a negative stigma. Intellectuals and politicians have argued that the continued use of the CFA franc currency (a relic of colonialism with a different twist) is exploitative; recognized even by French politicians who have appealed to their government to employ moral and ethical considerations to desist from the persistent exploitation of Africa. Social movements have developed today in demanding that African nations still using this currency should withdraw from the agreements due to the severe negative effects on economic development.
Expanding the Theoretical Framework in Student Debt Research by Connecting Public Policy Theories to the Student Debt Literature
Authors: Mbah Ruth Endam
Published: November 2021

Current changes in the economic atmosphere have severely impacted the higher education sector worldwide. Policymakers worldwide are facing the challenge of adjusting tuition and financial aid programs in response to these changing economic times. The shift from federal grants to loans has caused student loans to be a popular means of funding higher education for most low and medium-income families. A result of this, is the increase in student loan default as most college students graduate with unmanageable debts, thus, a rising concern for policymakers. The purpose of this paper is to link four public policy theories (Social Contract Theory, Utilitarian Theory, Theory of Neoliberalism, and Three-Policy Stream Theory) to student loan literature. This is to expand the limited database of public policy theories in student loan debt literature. This theoretical linkage points out the role of policymakers in (1) ensuring the security of lives and the preservation of the property of those who voted them into power (Social Contract Theory); (2) establishing educational policies that ensure the ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number’ (Utilitarian Theory); (3) upholding social welfare or a ‘welfare state’ through fiscal and monetary policies to ensure high employment rates for graduates, low inflation and the provision of public goods (Theory of Neoliberalism), and (4) the risk of undermining the growing power of an informal interest group that is made up of millennials saddled with student loan debt (Three-Policy Stream). These theories reiterate the principal role of policymakers in enhancing human capital through affordable education.
HAND IN HAND WITH TIMOR EXCHANGE
Authors: Anabela Anabela Moura
Published: November 2021

Hand in hand with Timor (De mãos dadas com Timor) is a project that explores cultural competencies, social interaction through the Arts and Communication which has promoted  cognitive development and a systematic contact between participants from very diverse cultural contexts (Portuguese students in two classes of the 1st year Basic Education Teacher Training BA Degree at the Higher School of Education of Viana do Castelo Polytechnic [ESEVC-IPVC], attending the subject entitled Theories and Practices of Visual and Performing Arts, and Timor children, teachers and educators working in the Pre-School level of Education at the Portuguese School of Dili - CELP - Ruy Cinatti, Timor). This international exchange arose from contacts made between the teacher of Visual Arts at ESEVC-IPVC and Flor Gomes, former student of ESEVC-IPVC, with a BA degree in Visual and Technological Education and a Master in Art Education at ESEVC-IPVC, teacher in statutory mobility, currently working in Timor between 2020 and 2022. This article, written by two researchers from the Art Education area, addresses a Portuguese project which emphasised an action-research underpinned in an interdisciplinary approach, using comics as teaching strategy in developing cultural competencies of eighty Portuguese students (nº=80) of a Basic Education Course. The findings of such collaboration using video as the communication support for this international exchange, show the positive effects of such Project that promoted the overall cultural and artistic competencies of students involved, either in Portugal or in Timor. It is concluded that such curricular experiment had on students, on their motivation and awareness of how illustration and video can work together with popular literature, staging and illustrating it. It also highlights how imagination, creativity, dialogue and cultural competencies of children can promote a deeply collaborative work at local, regional, national and international levels, despite the fact that we are living in a period of pandemic and confinement.
Investment Pattern, Preferences and Financial Mangement Practices of Wesleyan University-Philippines Employees
Authors: Castillo Manuel P. , Mamaclay Ali G. , Rivera Kevin M.
Published: November 2021

This study determined the investment pattern, preferences, and practices of Wesleyan University-Philippines employees with the used of descriptive correlational methods of research, and the data were collected using a researcher-made survey questionnaire. Respondents of the study were the 305 employees chosen purposively.

The result shows that most of the respondents belonged within the age range of 19 – 28 years old, married, a college graduate with 1 – 6 years in service, permanent, had a monthly income of 10000-21000 and had other sources of income from their husband/wife income.

Likewise, most of the respondents had a saving for an emergency and unforeseen circumstances, had an investment and invested 1 – 5 percent of their income. Most of them had a saving account, intended to invest the money to more than five years in which the principal amount is secured, invested in the private sector, and expected to grow steadily.

Similarly, this study found out that the respondents sometimes practice the five indicators of financial management practices used in the study.

Moreover, profile variables were significantly correlated with financial management practices. Age, number of years in service, employment status, monthly income, and other sources of income were significantly associated with money management practices. Similarly, a number of years in service were correlated considerably with savings management practices. Finally, age, employment status, and other sources of income were significantly associated with investment management practices.

Further, there is a significant difference in the respondents' assessment in all indicator of financial management practices.
Sufism, subjectivity and parapsychology: refashioning the dirbāsha ritual among Sufis in modern Iraq
Authors: Jordan David
Published: November 2021

This paper explores the ritual of the dirbāsha as an extraordinary miracle performance and its role as a bodily practice in the formation of modern Muslim subjectivities among the Qādiriyya-Kasnazāniyya Sufi communities in Iraq. During the climax of collective dhikr gatherings, male Sufi novices perform extraordinary and dangerous acts, perforating parts of their bodies with swords or long skewers without seriously injuring themselves. From the Sufi perspective, this ritual is, first of all, interpreted as the miracle of a Sufi shaykh and not of the performing Sufi novice since it is seen as an expression and proof of God’s power as transmitted through the shaykh. Moreover, it has been argued that the ritual is constitutive for the formation of the religious subjectivity of the performing Sufi novice since it allows the embodiment of mystical concepts as emotional, sensorial and existential realities. For the individual ritual experience to work, the social construction and constant reframing of these “miracles” needs to be taken into account as well, namely the ordinary ethics of the extraordinary which allow the miracles to be perceived as such. The present case of the Kasnazāniyya will show how Sufis combined their pious with a modern, critical and self-reflexive subjectivity and successfully managed to reframe this highly controversial practice – which is criticised by religious reformists and secularists alike – beyond its traditional ritual context with the modern science of parapsychology.
Kūn’s ‘body’: the many appearances and meanings of the pure even-numbered trigram in the early Yìjīng and related texts
Authors: Schwartz Adam Craig
Published: November 2021

One of the main reasons why words (i.e., ‘images’) in the Yìjīng and Guīcáng might appear so enigmatic is because they have become detached from the ‘pictures’ (guàhuà 卦畫) or ‘bodies’ (guàtǐ 卦體), as divination results, in which diviners first recognized them. This paper has two objectives. The first, as part of a larger database project, uses early Chinese excavated materials to reconstruct and reimage the many configurations and appearances of trigram Kūn’s ‘body’ (Kūn tǐ 坤體). Seeing and thinking about the pure even-numbered, yīn trigram in its original configurations leads us toward a deeper appreciation and understanding of the complexity of this early system of divination, and doing so is integral to investigating, as a thought experiment, complex relationships between divination results (i.e., trigrams and hexagrams) and numbers, numbers and images, and images and predictions. Users of the Changes should no longer visualize Kūn’s ‘body’ as one-dimensional ☷ and . The second, examines images of trigram Kūn in the Yìjīng, with a starting point being the images in the canonical commentaries, and the Shuō guà commentary in particular, by using hermeneutic principles in the ‘numbers and images’ tradition. The Shuō guà presents images either found in or to be extrapolated from the base text within a structured and highly interpretive system that creates ‘image programs’ for each of the eight trigrams. I argue the Shuō guà’s image programs have a defined architecture, and its images are not random lists of words collected without an agenda and devoid of relationships and mutual interaction with others.
Semantic function module pipeline generation
Authors: Schoch Nicolai , Hoernicke Mario , Stark Katharina
Published: November 2021

With modular automation, modular industrial plants use a functional engineering approach, and modules enable plug & produce plant engineering. However, plant configuration is still a largely manual process and often not optimized with respect to the available information. In this contribution, we propose a system and algorithm to support the automation engineer in the process of joining together modules into process pipelines and in their optimization. Our solution is built upon an abstract semantic data model that facilitates the automated matching of pre- and post-condition of modules and of the things that are processed by these modules. The pipeline generation engine is further extended by means of an optimization and ranking algorithm, and thus enables automated inter-module pipeline generation and plant optimization. We evaluate our system by means of a simple fictional use case scenario and prove feasibility, applicability as well as the huge potential for time and cost savings.
Digital Twin conceptual framework for improving critical infrastructure resilience
Authors: Brucherseifer Eva , Winter Hanno , Mentges Andrea , Mühlhäuser Max , Hellmann Martin
Published: November 2021

Critical infrastructures are the backbone of our societies with increasingly complex and networked characteristics and high availability demands. This makes them vulnerable to a wide range of threats that can lead to major incidents. Resilience is a concept that describes a system’s ability to absorb and respond to disturbances, as well as to learn from the past and anticipate new threats.

In this article, we apply the Digital Twin concept to the infrastructure domain to improve the system’s resilience capabilities. We conduct a comprehensive requirements analysis related to infrastructure characteristics, crisis management and resilience measures. As a result, we propose a Digital Twin Conceptual Framework for critical infrastructures. We conclude that the Digital Twin paradigm is well suited to enhance critical infrastructure resilience.
Discovery-Systeme: Eine Analyse ihrer Geschichte und Gegenwart mit dem Hype-Zyklus
Authors: Christensen Anne , Finck Matthias
Published: November 2021

Der Beitrag analysiert die Entstehungsgeschichte von bibliothekarischen Discovery-Systemen in Wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken, mit einem Fokus auf Bibliotheken in Deutschland. Hierfür dient der Hype-Zyklus als Rahmen, um vor allem auch auf die Erwartungen und Rezeption der Systeme in bibliothekarischen Kreisen einzugehen und diese zu diskutieren. Der Beitrag liefert außerdem einen Ausblick auf künftige Potenziale von Discovery-Systemen, auch im Kontext von forschungsnahen Dienstleistungen.
Fragmente – Fragmentkunde – Fragmentforschung
Authors: Sojer Claudia
Published: November 2021

Ausgehend von der Geschichte des Begriffs Fragment und seiner buch- und archivgeschichtlichen Definition bespricht dieser Aufsatz verschiedene Prozesse, die der Fragmentierung zugrunde liegen und klassifiziert die daraus resultierenden Arten handschriftlicher Fragmente. Weiters zeigt er den aktuellen Stand der Fragmentforschung und die Potenziale von Fragmenten für Forschung und Lehre, ihre international standardisierten digitalen Bild- und Metadatenformate vor allem im internationalen Portal Fragmentarium und benennt die Eigenarten von Fragmenten, die Bearbeitende beim Signieren der Originalobjekte sowie der Benennung digitaler Abbildungen vor besondere Herausforderungen stellen. Ein Überblick über die wichtigsten Plattformen für Fragmente und die neueste Literatur runden den Aufsatz ab.
Roadmap zum systematischen Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement
Authors: Altenhöner Reinhard , Czolkoß-Hettwer Michael
Published: November 2021

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt und kontextualisiert das Projekt „Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie“ an der Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. Das Ziel dieses Projekts, das zugleich als methodenorientierter Beitrag zur Frage der Partizipation der Beschäftigten angelegt war, bestand in der Erarbeitung erster Grundlagen für die Implementierung einer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie. Der Fokus lag dabei auf der ökologischen Dimension von Nachhaltigkeit im Sinne der Sustainable Development Goals. Perspektivisch sollen die Aktivitäten in ein systematisches Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement münden. Ein zentrales Thema – für die Staatsbibliothek wie auch für Wissenschaftliche Bibliotheken insgesamt – ist dabei das Zusammenwirken mit der Trägerinstitution, im vorliegenden Fall der Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz.
Stadtbücherei Tübingen – das Konzept „Grüne Bibliothek“
Authors: Fridrich Monika
Published: November 2021

Die Stadtbücherei Tübingen bietet als Ort der Integration, Inklusion und Diversität freien Zugang zu Wissen und Information. Als Akteur im Bereich Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung vermittelt sie Kompetenz und Bewusstsein für ökologische und globale Themen. Ihre eigenen Arbeitsabläufe gestaltet sie so nachhaltig wie möglich. Damit folgt sie sowohl den Nachhaltigkeitszielen der UN Agenda 2030 als auch den Zielen des Klimaschutzprogramms der Stadt Tübingen.
Käptn Knitterbart und der Seeungeheuer-Zungenschleim
Authors: Meurer Claudia
Published: November 2021

Der Bericht gibt einen Einblick in die Kooperation der Stadtbücherei Trier mit dem „Haus der kleinen Forscher/Netzwerk Trier“, insbesondere dessen „Kleine-Forscher-Raum“. Diese Zusammenarbeit basiert auf dem gemeinsamen Ziel der Verfolgung der 17 Nachhaltigkeitsziele der Agenda 2030 und ist fruchtbringend für beide Kooperationspartner. Neben Entstehung und Entwicklung der Zusammenarbeit werden einige Beispiele aus der Praxis genannt, die so oder in ähnlicher Weise von anderen Bibliotheken übernommen werden können.
Nachhaltigkeit als Programm
Authors: Nekolová Kateřina
Published: November 2021

Im Jahr 2019 bildete sich in Tschechien eine Gruppe aus Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekaren, die sich dem Thema Nachhaltigkeit zu widmen begannen. Im Jahr 2021 ist Nachhaltigkeit das offizielle Thema des tschechischen Bibliotheksverbands. Es findet eine Reihe von Veranstaltungen statt, von denen die wichtigste der ganzjährige Bildungszyklus ist.
Von anderen lernen. Bibliothekarische Verbandsinitiativen zur Erreichung der UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele im deutschsprachigen Raum
Authors: Portugal Katharina
Published: November 2021

Die vier deutschsprachigen Bibliotheksverbände initiierten gemeinsam die Plattform biblio2030. Diese macht Projekte deutschsprachiger Bibliotheken, die sich im Sinne der Agenda 2030 der Vereinten Nationen für nachhaltige Entwicklung einsetzen, sichtbar. In diesem Beitrag werden die gemeinsamen sowie nationalen Initiativen der vier Bibliotheksverbände zur Umsetzung und Bekanntmachung der 17 globalen nachhaltigen Entwicklungsziele sowie als verbandsunabhängige Initiative das „Netzwerk Grüne Bibliothek“ vorgestellt.
Implementierung von Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in Schul- und Gemeindebibliotheken
Authors: Sartori Monika
Published: November 2021

Mit der Verabschiedung der Agenda 2030 durch die Vereinten Nationen hat sich die Weltgemeinschaft für eine nachhaltige und zukunftsfähige Entwicklung verpflichtet. Auch die IFLA hat die Bedeutung der Bibliotheken hinsichtlich Zielerfüllung erkannt und fordert die Bibliotheken als Bildungsinstitutionen, ihren Beitrag dazu zu leisten. Ein wichtiger Schlüssel zur Erreichung dieser Ziele ist die Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE). Der vorliegende Beitrag fokussiert auf die Implementierung von BNE in Schul- und Gemeindebibliotheken von deutschsprachigen Ländern.
Zwischen kulturellem Erbe und digitaler Herausforderung
Authors: Schrempp Maria , Depping Ralf , Piesche Claudia , Schoel Hildegard
Published: November 2021

Als eine der größten Wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken Deutschlands sehen wir uns in der Verantwortung Wissen zu vermitteln, Bildung zu fördern und eine zuverlässige Informationsversorgung zu realisieren. Mit vielen unserer Kernaufgaben leisten wir einen Beitrag zu Nachhaltigkeitszielen, was uns zu einem relevanten Akteur bei der Umsetzung der UN-Agenda-Ziele macht. Neben unserem eigenen Engagement ist es uns ein Anliegen, ein Bewusstsein bei unserer Nutzerschaft für das Thema zu schaffen. Das passiert schon jetzt auf vielfältigen Wegen: Im Bereich Open Access fördern wir den ungehinderten Zugang zu wissenschaftlicher Information, wir digitalisieren und bewahren kulturelles Erbe für künftige Generationen und ermöglichen den Zugriff auf mehr als acht Millionen Titel. Diese Bemühungen um Nachhaltigkeit, die sich unmittelbar aus unserer Arbeit ergeben, möchten wir in einer Strategie zum Thema bündeln. Dazu zählt eine Vision für die Zukunft genauso wie eine realistische Einschätzung der Grenzen einer Strategie, beispielsweise im Rahmen der CO₂-Bilanz der Gebäude.
Wieviel CO2 erzeugt eine Stadtbibliothek?
Authors: Schumann Tim
Published: November 2021

Der Bericht beschreibt, wie die Stadtbibliothek Pankow, im Rahmen eines Pilotprojektes der Kulturstiftung des Bundes, den eigenen CO2-Abdruck für die Jahre 2018 und 2019 ermittelte. Die Stadtbibliothek konnte errechnen, in welchen Bereichen sie die meisten CO2-Gase produziert, welche „blinden Flecken“ noch offen blieben und welche Handlungsoptionen sich ergeben, klimafreundlicher zu agieren. Zudem konnten erste Erfahrungen gemacht werden, auf welchen Gebieten Widerstände und Schwierigkeiten bei der Ermittlung der eigenen CO2-Bilanz entstehen.
A compact simple microstrip lowpass filter based on elliptical analyzed resonator
Authors: Hayati Mohsen , Lotfi Saeedeh , Siahkamari Hesam , Blecha Tomas , Linhart Richard , Jamshidi Mohammad (Behdad)
Published: November 2021

In this article, a compact microstrip lowpass filter (LPF) using elliptical shaped resonators with ultra-wide stopband is rendered. In this respect, LC equal structures of the elliptical shaped resonators are calculated based on the formula of circumference. In addition, to calculate transmission zeros of the presented elliptical shaped resonator, the LC equal structure and its output to input ratio are employed. The proposed LPF has a −3 dB cut-off frequency at 1.50 GHz and the stopband bandwidth of the designed filter is about 13fc, which refers to its ultra-wide stopband. The occupied circuit size of the presented filter is 0.151λ

g
 × 0.044λ

g
(λ

g
is the guided wavelength at 1.50 GHz). The designed filter is fabricated on RT/Duroid 5880 substrate. The results of the fabricated and designed filter have clearly demonstrated that not only has the proposed LPF shown a suitable agreement between measured and simulated S-parameters, but also an appropriate stopband bandwidth.
Gamification Reloaded
Authors: Mazarakis Athanasios
Published: November 2021

Gamification can help to increase motivation for various activities. As a fundamental concept in HCI, gamification has connections with various fields involving mixed reality, health care, or education. This article presents the expertise of 106 gamification specialists who participated in four workshops called “Gam-R — Gamification Reloaded.” The extraction of current and future trends in gamification is the result of this. Four general topics, four in-depth topics, and seven emerging fields of application for gamification are depicted and enriched with the current state of research to support interested academic scholars and practitioners. Technical and less technical areas, which are the fields of work and research in gamification, are demonstrated. Some areas are already trending, while others are just beginning to show a future trend.
Changing Things so (Almost) Everything Stays the Same
Authors: Dolata Mateusz , Schubiger Simon , Agotai Doris , Schwabe Gerhard
Published: November 2021

The deployment of mixed reality systems in professional settings demands adaptation of the physical environment and practices. However, technology-driven changes to the environment are problematic in some contexts. Specifically, face-to-face advisory services rely on scripted material routines using specific tools. This manuscript explores challenges encountered during the development of LivePaper, a mixed-reality system for supporting financial advisory services. First, the article presents a range of design requirements derived from existing literature and multiple years of research experience concerning advisory services and physical collaborative environments. Second, it discusses technical and design challenges that emerged when building LivePaper along with those requirements. Third, the article describes a range of technical solutions and new design ideas implemented in a working system to mitigate the encountered problems. It explores potential alternative solutions and delivers empirical or conceptual arguments for the choices made. The manuscript concludes with implications for the advisory services, the systems used to support such encounters, and specific technical guidance for the developers of mixed reality solutions in institutional settings. Overall, the article advances the discourse on the application of technology in advisory services, the use of mixed-reality systems in professional environments, and the physical nature of collaboration.
Education in the Digital Age: A Driving Force or a Lost Place
Authors: Herczeg Michael
Published: November 2021

Teaching and learning using computer systems has a long tradition. This contribution will discuss major challenges and changes of the last 20 years to derive consequences and ideas for the next 20 years. The development of digital educational technologies will be outlined and the deficiencies and potentials of learning with digital systems and environments will be discussed. Finally, a media framework that enables for post-constructivist learning in the 21st century will be presented. The contribution focuses on interactive media in the context of schools, laying the foundation for digital competences for higher education and workplaces.
User Experience Is All There Is
Authors: Hassenzahl Marc , Burmester Michael , Koller Franz
Published: November 2021

Twenty years ago, we published an article in the first issue of the i-com entitled “Usability ist nicht alles” (Burmester et al., 2002), that is, “Usability isn’t everything”. This was certainly a provocative title. For most German researchers and practitioners of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) usabilitywasall there is and all that was ever needed to guarantee humane technology. Back then, we profoundly disagreed. We were convinced that there is more to the quality of interactive technology than mere effectiveness and efficiency. Now, twenty years later it seems safe to say that we had a point. Let’s take this as an opportunity to take a brief and utterly anecdotal look back, to take stock of the current perspective on designing the (user) experience, as well as to discuss some future opportunities and challenges.
Improvements in deviation settlement mechanism of Indian electricity grid system through demand response management
Authors: Koul Bharti , Singh Kanwardeep , Brar Yadwinder Singh
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes the improvements in deviation settlement mechanism of Indian electricity grid system through demand response management (DRM) with the objective to minimize real-time under-injection/over-drawl or maximize real-time over-injection/under-drawl with respect to scheduled injection/drawl such that the deviation settlement charge (DSC) is minimum, subject to the network power flow equations, transmission line capability constraints, DRM constraints and bounds on variables. The mechanism to settle the unscheduled transactions, commonly named as deviation settlement mechanism (DSM), has been implemented to achieve grid frequency stability by imposing penalties and paying incentives, also known as DSC, for over- and under-drawls from the scheduled transactions. In this paper, the improvements in DSM have been solved as an optimization problem to minimize the DSC for a time period of 96 time-blocks (each of 15 min duration). The proposed improvement in DSM has been tested on modified IEEE 9-Bus system. It has been assumed that the generators installed at bus numbers 1, 2 and 3 are the central generating stations, which are monitored and controlled by the regional load dispatch center (RLDC). The simulation results are obtained (with varying percentages of shifting and different participating patterns of prosumers) for which the remarkable benefits of the proposed improvement in DSM (in terms of DSC minimization and improvement in the voltage profile and power flow) have been presented.
Evaluating OADM network simulation and an overview based metropolitan application
Authors: Essa Essa Ibrahim , Asker Mshari A. , Sedeeq Fidan T.
Published: November 2021

Using optical add–drop multiplexer/remover multiplexer (OADM), it is possible to add or remove wavelengths and change or route them through the various nodes and networks. At this moment, key problems in add–drop multiplexer (ADM) are the bandwidth, modulation format, and reuse wavelength. In this article, the Optisystem software simulation is used as a platform to design, test, and verify the method applied to the current work; the OADM is proposed based on the metro network to get distribution between nodes over a transmission link; OADM analysis was presented with four channels (193.1, 193.2, 193.3, and 193.4 THz) at total bandwidth of 1.6 Tb/s, none-return-to-zero (NRZ), and return to zero coding types. Experiment one shows that the average output power is −17.997 dBm, the average drop power is −17.997 dBm, and the average add power is −18.338 dBm, the average gain is −0.0429 dB, the average noise figure is 0 dB, the average power input signal is 10.679 dBm, the average of power output signal is 10.633 dBm, and the average output optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) is 0 dB, However, the second experiment shows that the average output power is −24.238 dBm, the average drop power is −24.288 dBm, and the average add power is −24.753 dBm, the average gain is −0.0417 dB, the average noise figure is 0 dB, average power input signal is 7.691 dBm, average of power output signal is 7.677 dBm, and the average output OSNR 0 dB. The system supports four input channels, four add channels, four output channels, and four drop channels. The results are acceptable after three spans of Solitons fiber with 600 km length, 200 km for each span. Nonetheless, it is believed that it is well justified to adopt these schemes in the current optical network with a low cost for overall expenditure.
Self-Contradictions of the Will: Reply to Jens Timmermann
Authors: Kleingeld Pauline
Published: November 2021

In this article, I reply to Jens Timmermann’s critical discussion of my essay “Contradiction and Kant’s Formula of Universal Law”. I first consider Timmermann’s reasons for rejecting my interpretation of the Formula of Universal Law. I argue that the self-contradiction relevant to determining a maxim’s moral status should not be sought in the imagined world in which the maxim is a universal law. I then discuss Timmermann’s suggestion that something like a volitional self-contradiction is found within the will of the immoral agent. I deny this and clarify that the relevant contradiction is diagnosed counterfactually in moral reflection. Finally, I explain the differences between Timmermann’s account, Korsgaard’s Practical Contradiction interpretation, and my own Volitional Self-Contradiction interpretation.
Preparation and properties of an intelligent adjustable functional paper for organic cultural relics
Authors: Yang Hailiang , Zheng Hailing , Zhou Yang
Published: November 2021

Precious organic cultural relics are easily affected by temperature, humidity, and harmful gases in the environment, resulting in embrittlement, fading, mildew, moth damage and other aging forms. An energy-saving and environmentally friendly material is needed to stabilize humidity and adsorb harmful gases in the environment. In this paper, with an intelligent adjustment function, functional paper containing sepiolite and tourmaline natural minerals was successfully prepared. The component of 80 % of wingceltis and 20 % of straw in dry pulp as main raw material was conducive to the desorption of water molecules. As favorable structure inside functional paper, the adsorption point and the adsorption contact area increased by the rough surface of fiber bundles, the addition of sepiolite and the ordered molecular chains of copolymers destroyed. So, the relative humidity could be adjusted to 55 % ± 3 within 2 hours and was stable with functional paper. At the same time, 1.11 ppm sulfur dioxide and 2.98 ppm ammonia could be effectively adsorbed in 10 and 12 h, respectively, by 1 g of paper in a 5 L container. The pH of the paper was adjusted to neutral with tourmaline, even if the pH was changed by acidic or alkaline gas absorption. Therefore, for long-term organic cultural relic preservation, preparing a constant-humidity and clean environment is of great significance. This is possible through this paper.
Physiological and biochemical responses of onion plants to deficit irrigation and humic acid application
Authors: Forotaghe Zahra Amiri , Souri Mohammad Kazem , Jahromi Marzieh Ghanbari , Torkashvand Ali Mohammadi
Published: November 2021

Onion is an important crop with significant roles in human diets. The growth, yield, and quality of vegetable crops, including onions, are more vulnerable to water stress than other crops. In this study, different levels of deficit irrigation (DI) as factor A (a1: 80%, a2: 70%, and a3: 60% of soil field capacity [FC]) and humic acid (HA) as factor B (b1: without and b2: with HA application) were evaluated on onion growth characteristics in a factorial design with four replications. The results showed that the interaction of DI and HA was significant on leaf protein, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and on bulb protein and potassium (K) concentrations. The highest record of these traits was observed in a3b2 (highest DI with HA application), and their lowest was in those at first level of DI (a1). Leaf protein and, to a lesser extent, bulb protein were increased by DI and HA applications. DI at 60% but not at 70% FC significantly reduced bulb fresh weight. There was a gradual increase in leaf proline, soluble sugars, protein, catalase (CAT), POD, SOD activity, and bulb K by application of DI; however, most of bulb traits including protein, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and CAT and POD activity were increased only under highest DI level (a3: 60% FC). However, application of HA further increased the soluble sugars and protein concentration as well as the POD and SOD activities of leaves, and protein, Fe, K concentrations, and CAT activity of bulbs under DI. The results indicated that HA benefitted onion growth particularly under DI conditions.
Making Wise the Stranger: Sapiential Hospitality in Proverbs 1–9
Authors: Ho Shirley S.
Published: November 2021

Jayme Reaves uses Genesis 19:1–14; Joshua 2:1–22; Judges 19:14–27; and the cities of refuge texts in Deuteronomy 4:41–3 and 19:1–10 as biblical sources to conceptualize a so-called “protective hospitality.” This article utilizes the book of Proverbs to argue that it reflects the same protective motivations regarding hospitality, with a sapiential twist. Specifically, Proverbs 1–9 depicts two forms of hospitality: sapiential hospitality and pseudo hospitality. Sapiential hospitality protects the stranger from fraudulent hospitality. It is a form of absolute hospitality, meant to avert strangers from falling into the trap of false hospitality offered by organized crime syndicates. Although Lady Wisdom is vulnerable to attack from villainous strangers, she is also resilient enough to make strangers wise and thrive.
Ni as the introductory particle for expressions of negation in three dialectal variants of Spanish
Authors: Lage Anais Holgado
Published: November 2021

When looking at expressions of negation/rejection in Spanish, the conjunction ni is one of the most prolific words. However, the extent of locutions employing ni has not been widely analyzed. For this reason, we conducted a comparative descriptive examination of discourse markers of rejection and refusal for three different dialectal variants of Spanish: those of Spain, Colombia and Mexico. The participants completed a survey to evaluate their familiarity with some of these pragmatic expressions and to provide new ones. Results show that speakers of these dialectal variants all use the most common markers that start with ni, but also other phrases not recorded in many of the available sources. This paper aims to broaden the horizon of work on phraseological units of negation, which are often difficult to gather and study in depth because of their dialectal variability, colloquial use, and, in some cases, short lifespan.
Kommunikative und expressive Formeln des Deutschen in Internettexten: ein diskursorientierter Ansatz
Authors: Hordii Oksana
Published: November 2021

This paper deals with the functioning of expressive and communicative formulas of modern German in computer-mediated discourse. The set phrases analysed are pre-formed sentence-value word combinations that serve as a means of expression of various speech intentions and emotions. These linguistic units are known to evade a uniform classification scheme, with boundaries between different groups being indistinct. The set phrases considered in this work are viewed as a functional-semantic field which includes communicative and expressive formulas and some mixed types. By discussing their cultural specificity – provided by units containing symbolic components, as well as by entities in various areas of national life, and fixed phrases of obscure literary origin – I attempt to explore their intertextual potential for further contribution to studies in intercultural communication.

Expressivity, intertextuality, multimedia impact and interactivity have been defined as constitutive characteristics of computer-mediated discourse. The units discussed keep the tone of asynchronous online communication humorous and help to establish communicative closeness. In online media, the language game comes to the fore: a common phenomenon is semantic transformation often performed as simultaneous actualisation (ambiguity) of literal and idiomatic meaning, causing additional communicative effects. In combination with the informative part of a headline, these units act as emotional and evaluative indicators of media texts.

Due to its technological features, internet communication allows easy combination of visual and verbal channels of information, and so there is frequent play between language images and digital images, especially in photo and video hosting services.

My analysis of different online genres has shown that in internet communication, the core of the functional-semantic field (i.e. the most frequently used units) acquires added discursive value. The universal nature of their creative use, appeal, entertainment and community-building functions was also ascertained.
Phrasal verb vs. Simplex pairs in legal-lay discourse: the Late Modern English period in focus
Authors: Leone Ljubica
Published: November 2021

The present paper attempts to describe the divergences between nearly synonymous phrasal verb/simplex pairs from court trials dating back to the Late Modern English period (LModE). The intention was to evaluate the effects that each verb form might exert in discourse, interpreting the lexical choice as functionally linked to the contents of the legal-lay discourse, that is the discourse between lay people and professionals in the courtroom (Heffer 2005: xv).

Research to date has highlighted how the choice of one form or another needs to be explained in terms of register and degree of expressiveness (Bolinger 1971: 172; McArthur 1989: 40; Hiltunen 1999: 161; Claridge 2000: 221). However, no studies have yet evaluated the difference between phrasal verbs and simplexes from a phraseological perspective, or reflected on how their use is functionally linked to the communicative needs in courtroom settings.

The study was conducted on the Late Modern English-Old Bailey Corpus (LModE-OBC), a self-compiled corpus that covers the century 1750–1850 and that includes a selection of trials drawn from The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court.
A Haar wavelet-based scheme for finding the control parameter in nonlinear inverse heat conduction equation
Authors: Ahsan Muhammad , Lin Shanwei , Ahmad Masood , Nisar Muhammad , Ahmad Imtiaz , Ahmed Hijaz , Liu Xuan
Published: November 2021

In this article, a hybrid Haar wavelet collocation method (HWCM) is proposed for the ill-posed inverse problem with unknown source control parameters. Applying numerical techniques to such problems is a challenging task due to the presence of nonlinear terms, unknown control parameter sources along the solution inside the given region. To find the numerical solution, derivatives are discretized adopting implicit finite-difference scheme and Haar wavelets. The computational stability and theoretical rate of convergence of the proposed HWCM are discussed in detail. Two numerical experiments are incorporated to show the well-condition behavior of the matrix obtained from HWCM and hence not required to supplement some regularization procedures. Moreover, the numerical solutions of the considered experiments illustrate the reliability, suitability, and correctness of HWCM.
Educational Expansion, Social Class, and Choosing Latin as a Strategy of Distinction
Authors: Gerhards Jürgen , Kohler Ulrich , Sawert Tim
Published: November 2021

In times of educational expansion, privileged families are looking for new strategies of distinction. Referring to Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of distinction, we argue that choosing Latin at school – a language that is no longer spoken and therefore has no direct value – is one of the strategies of privileged families to set themselves apart from less privileged families. Based on two surveys we conducted at German schools, the paper analyzes the relationship between parents’ educational background and the probability that their child will learn Latin. Results indicate that historically academic families have the strongest tendency towards learning Latin, followed by new academic families, and leaving behind the non-academic families. We distinguish between four causal mechanisms that might help to explain these associations: cultural distinction, selecting a socially exclusive learning environment, beliefs in a secondary instrumental function of learning Latin, and spatial proximity between the location of humanist Gymnasiums and the residential areas of privileged families. The hypotheses are formalized by means of Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG). Findings show that the decision to learn Latin is predominately an unintended consequence of the selection of a socially exclusive learning environment. In addition, there is evidence that especially children from historically academic families learn Latin as a strategy of cultural distinction.
Development and Structure of Environmental Worries in Germany 1984–2019
Authors: Hartmann Jörg , Preisendörfer Peter
Published: November 2021

Referring to a survey question in the German socio-economic panel, which measures worries about protecting the environment, the article looks at the development of environmental worries in Germany for the timespan 1984–2019. The analyses mainly have descriptive character. We explore several expectations and assumptions discussed in historical accounts of the environmental movement in Germany and in empirical studies on environmental attitudes and their determinants. Results show that the overall development can be divided into a period of rising environmental worries in the 1980s, a considerable decline in the 1990s, and a relative stability since 2000. From 2018 to 2019, however, a sizable upswing can be observed. Environmental worries are associated negatively with the unemployment rate and economic worries over time. In the 1980s and early 1990s, younger people were more worried than older people, but, in the meanwhile, this no longer holds. Education and (less so) income yielded significant differences in the 1980s and 1990s, but also these differences have faded away since 2000. Data confirm that environmental worries are shared more broadly in the population and that previously important group differences are increasingly leveling out.
Dimension Stone Water Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity: An Interlaboratory Study of the Influence of Size, Shape, and Test Methodology on Properties Determination
Authors: Arnold Jacob W. , Kneezel Daren S. , Scallorn Scott
Published: November 2021

Three laboratories independently conducted round-robin testing for determining percentage water absorption and bulk specific gravity of several types of dimension stone. The primary objectives of the study were to evaluate interlaboratory variation associated with this testing, to evaluate the influence of the wetting method between ASTM and European procedures, and to better understand the effect of specimen shape/size and immersion duration. Each laboratory tested 15 different stone types of varying shape and size in accordance with ASTM C97, Standard Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone. Specimen sizes included 3- and 2-in. cubes to evaluate the effect of the limits of ASTM specimen size requirements on test results. Subsequent testing was performed on 1½-in.-thick and ⅜-in.-thick plates cut from the 3-in. cube specimens to evaluate the effect of reduced specimen thickness on test results, as the fabrication of 2-in. minimum cube specimens is often impractical (e.g., stone tile or thin-stone cladding) and in some cases not possible (e.g., forensic evaluation of thin applications). The laboratories also tested the absorption of each stone type in accordance with the European Standard EN 13755 to evaluate the effect of the prescribed wetting method that differs from the ASTM method. The EN procedure prescribes the gradual immersion of specimens, whereas the ASTM procedure prescribes immediate and complete immersion. The EN procedure also prescribes weighing the wetted specimens every 24 h until constant mass is achieved, whereas the ASTM procedure prescribes 48-h immersion. Results of this testing are presented in figures and tables to compare the results from the three laboratories and analyze the effects of differences in the wetting method, specimen shape/size, and immersion duration on property determination. This paper provides an interpretation and discussion of the test results and presents proposed modifications to the ASTM C97 test procedure as appropriate (e.g., longer immersion duration or accommodation for thin specimens).
Evaluating the Potential for Limestone Discoloration Using Accelerated Weathering Testing and Petrography
Authors: Carter Sidney W. , Williams Taryn N. , Searls Carolyn L.
Published: November 2021

As part of an evaluation of two types of limestone as candidates for the replacement of limestone tablets at a historic cemetery, we conducted accelerated weathering testing to determine whether the color of limestone samples would change perceptibly after cyclic exposure to moisture and ultraviolet (UV) light. Although there is no ASTM standard for accelerated weathering testing of stone specifically, we followed the general guidelines and operating procedures for accelerated weathering testers provided by ASTM G151, and ASTM G154, in developing our testing protocol. After every 10 cycles of testing, we documented the test specimens on a flatbed scanner with a photographic color reference in each scan to verify color accuracy and consistency in the images. After the completion of testing after 1,008 total hours, we used color sampling and measurement tools in photographic editing software to quantify differences in the L*a*b* color values of reference areas on images collected before the start of testing (zero cycles) and images collected at the end of testing (84 cycles). The accelerated weathering testing generally produced only slight changes in the color of the stones, but quantitative measurements of color differences and calculations of total color difference based on changes in L*a*b* values confirmed the color of one of the types of limestone changed more than that of the other. Although the results of laboratory-based accelerated testing cannot be extrapolated to weathering within defined time frames in outdoor environments, our findings show that perceptible and measurable changes in the overall color of the evaluated limestone types could occur as a result of exposure to high levels of solar UV radiation and moisture at elevated temperatures. Our petrographic examination of the accelerated weathering specimens suggested two potential causes for the observed color changes, both involving mobilization of iron-bearing compounds in the limestone samples.