bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Scale Study of Greywater Treatment Using Gravel Sand Followed by Granular Activated Carbon
Authors: Samal Milan , Lama Shreeja Lopchan , Luitel Subodh , Ghimire Anish
Published: June 2024

Greywater (GW) reuse can help reduce water footprint if used as an alternative source of water for non-potable use, but it requires careful treatment to remove the contaminants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a simple treatment system with low-cost and low footprint. This study evaluated the performance of a treatment plant with flow rate of 1 m3/day and organic loading rate of 0.32 kg COD/m3.day for on-site treatment and reuse of water collected from wash basins and sinks, as a major source of GW. Gravel sand filter followed by granular activated carbon (GAC) were used as filter medias. Results showed that the removal efficiencies of TSS, COD and BOD concentration were reduced by an average of 53%, 57% and 47% respectively corresponding to 36 mg/L, 125.6 mg/L and 85.3 mg/L, respectively in the treated effluent. The treated effluent satisfied Nepal Water Quality Guideline for irrigation for parameters like EC, pH and TSS. However, the microbial removal efficiency was found to be low so, use of disinfectant is recommended. The cost-benefit analysis indicated payback after 500 m3 of GW treatment and reuse, thereby reducing water demand with monetary benefits.
Design and Analysis of Bogie and Coach of Mass Rapid Transit (Metro) for Nepal
Authors: Karki Parash Jung , Sharrf Bikash , Tuladhar Daniel , Mahat Chiranjeevi
Published: June 2024

Mass Rapid Transit (Metro) has become the ultimate solution for city transportation due to its various advantages including traffic issues solv- ing ability, emission free mode, comfortability, speed and efficiency. In developing countries like Nepal where people are deprived of proper transportation system, Metro railway can bring about lots of positive socio-economic changes. A lot of analysis regarding the technical aspects and designing process adapted throughout the globe has been done and the best suited design for the context of Nepal has been included in the paper. A Bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels attached to the train, serving as a modular subassembly of wheels and axles. Old bogies are cast models which are huge and bulky in its nature. In order to overcome the limitations of the existing FIAT bogie, a new bogie namely Y32 Bogie is designed to equip with the coach. The coach with the longitudinal arrangements of seats is designed to accommodate the higher number of passengers. The design of the various bogie components is done following the procedures of machine design and various standards that suits the best for our context. The 3D-modeling of the bogie and the coach is performed in CREO PARAMETRIC 5.0. The design of bogie frame is then imported to ANSYS 19.2 for Finite Element Analysis. The analysis on stresses and maximum deformation induced in the bogie frame structure for different materials is performed and the comparison is made to find the best suited design. To achieve the Finite Element Analysis, the load criteria are considered from Indian Railway Standards.
Design, Fabrication and Testing of River Water Pump for Rural Communities
Authors: Khanal Paras , Acharya Shyamhari , Shrestha Milan , Chitrakar Sailesh , Neopane Hari Prasad
Published: June 2024

This paper presents development of river water pump that can operate without fuel and electricity mostly applicable in rural communities that are close to a water stream. The river water pump consists of a propeller, drum, hose, rotary coupling and helical coil. The pump is driven by a propeller which is rotated by moving water. Because these pumps do not require any external energy or fuel, the operating cost for irrigation, as well as for other household purposes can be minimized. In this study, two different shaped pumps were fabricated and tested. Although the general mathematical relations for the design of the pump was kept constant for the two pumps, the variation of the shape of the drum was incorporated for comparing the performances. The main purpose of this study was to compare performance of the cylindrical shaped and conical shaped pump. It was found from this study that by making a conical shape of the drum, the total discharge could be maximized. However, the design of the supporting structure to withhold the pump on the river needs to be modified to balance the unsymmetrical distribution of the mass caused due to the conical shape. Compared to the conventional coil pump, this study also uses double layer of coil to enhance the overall performance of the pump. Thus, this study is expected to support in the product development within this family of the pump.
Study of Surge Phenomena in a Hydropower Plant: A Numerical Approach
Authors: Timilsina Prabin , Chaulagain Nabin Raj , Bijukchhe Pawan Lal , Chitrakar Sailesh
Published: June 2024

Sudden closure and opening of valves might cause unwanted water hammering effects in hydropower plants. In many cases, surge shafts are used as pressure neutralizers to dampen out the generated pressure pulsations. This study focuses on analyzing the surge phenomena and effects of using simple surge and restricted orifice surge on the flow behavior during the closing and opening of turbine inlet valves. A case of a Nepalese hydropower plant was taken and calculations were done over a simplified water transportation system of the plant. Analytical result was compared with the result obtained from an open-source CFD toolbox, OpenFOAM. A 3D fluid domain was made in SolidWorks and the mesh was created using snappyHexMesh utility of OpenFOAM. This study uses a multiphase solver called interFoam with the implementation of κ-ω SST turbulence model. The analytical result for maximum increase in water level in the surge shaft was calculated as 18.68 meters assuming a case of U-tube oscillation. The calculations neglected the presence of penstock pipes and assumed instantaneous closure thus giving a maximum value for upsurge height. Similar physical condition was recreated in OpenFOAM but with the presence of penstock, and a change in surge height with respect to time was analyzed. The obtained CFD result showed the average water level height in surge shaft to be 11.23 meters, which is less than the analytical result as expected. Then, the time of closure and time of opening were increased to 6 seconds and 30 seconds respectively and the effect of surge with and without orifice were visualized with respect to mass oscillations, pressure inside penstock and velocity of water in headrace tunnel. The numerical techniques used in this study can be applicable to other hydropower plants, which could provide a basis for the verification of the analytical designs.
Multi-Response Optimization of Bambara Nut Milling-Sieving Machine
Authors: Francisca Ikechukwu Ijeoma
Published: June 2024

Response Surface Experimental design was used to investigate the optimal operational parameters and response of Bambara nut milling–sieving machine; Performance result revealed particle size of milled flour, number and speed of the paddle as these machine process/operational parameters with significant influence on its performance while throughput and extraction efficiency constitutes its functional performance indicators. Extraction of the grain starch granules from its fiber depends on the particle size of the milled grain and paddle parameters. In addition, the multi-response performance simulation of this machine predict 1080 rpm, 4 paddles and 35 μm respectively for speed of the paddles, number of paddles and particle size of bambara flour as values require for its optimal operation with optimal value of throughput and extraction efficiency of 117.8 kg/h and 98.45% respectively which indicates that the novel bambara nut milling-sieving machine reduced the food loss to chaff in this sector to 1.55% against 15.82% associated with the widely used semi-mechanized system. It also promotes hygiene in this sector because it eliminated human contact with the milled grain during sieving operation. Its operation with the optimal parameters derived in this study is therefore recommended to both small and medium scale bambara flour producers to enhance quantity and quality bambara flour production for food security and poverty alleviation.
Enhancing Indoor Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings of Hot Humid Region of Nepal – A Case of Biratnagar Metropolitan City
Authors: Chaulagain Nischal , Shah Malesh , Baral Bivek
Published: June 2024

Essence of indoor thermal comfort and reduction of active power consumption to meet indoor thermal needs has been a keen interest of academia around the globe which has resulted into formulation of strict guidelines for indoor environment requirements in developed countries. Nepal on the other hand lacks the basic provisions when it comes to assuring indoor comfort. Studies shows that unscientific building construction has caused people to depend on changing food and clothing habits to accommodate to the present scenario of indoor environment. The main aim of this study is to address this underlying issue through passive interventions such that both indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency can be achieved. The study is based on evaluating the effects of various passive and energy efficient building technologies on indoor thermal environment through building energy modeling using EnergyPlus computational engine. Present scenario of indoor thermal environment of residential buildings at Biratnagar and retrofitting measures including insulation, glazing variants, shading, air tightness and others that can enhance indoor thermal comfort whilst enhancing energy efficiency is presented in this paper. In present context, the indoor thermal comfort as indicated by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) 55 Adaptive Model 80% Acceptability limits is only 32% of total hours in a year, i.e. indoor comfort is compromised for above 5800 hours (equivalent to 8 months) with `hot' to `sweltering' indoor environment. Effects of 8 passive design interventions on residential building was analyzed based on the thermal load reduction potential and increase in acceptable limits of indoor comfort hours. It was found that combination of various design changes would help achieve up to 86% indoor thermal comfort hours and reduce annual thermal load by 68% relative to the base case scenario The study shows that incorporating passive techniques on Nepalese residential buildings can assure indoor comfort and reduce active heating/cooling demand.
Influence of Tempering Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Welded Mild Steel
Authors: Sujakhu Surendra , Chaudhary Balkrishna , Panthee Sabal , Dahal Dadiram
Published: June 2024

An experimental study is performed in this research to investigate the changes in mechanical properties of mild steel during the welding and tempering heat treatment cycle. Four experimental cases were considered; i) as-received, ii) heat-treated, iii) welded, and iv) post-weld heat treated. Both the heat-treated and post-weld heat-treated cases followed the identical tempering process. Charpy and tensile tests were done to investigate the tested specimens’ impact energy and fracture strength. A total of 16 tensile tests and 16 Charpy tests were conducted. Fracture surface studies were performed to determine the types of fracture on samples of all four cases. The results of the Charpy test according to the toughness of samples were: heat-treated > as-received > post-weld heat-treated > welded. Similarly, the tensile test results according to tensile strength were: heat-treated > as-received > post-weld heat-treated > welded. The hardness of samples was predicted from tensile strength, using the correlation of hardness and tensile strength of mild steel. The predicted hardness at four cases of samples was: heat-treated > as received > post-weld heat-treated > welded. It was observed that the strength of welded samples is less as compared to the as-received case and there was an increase in the strength of samples after being heat-treated and post-weld heat treated.
Does Mccutcheon’s Mortality Polynomial Matrix Actually Account for Mortality Decline at Ten Years?
Authors: Michael Ogungbenle Gbenga
Published: June 2024

This paper intends to employ a non-parametric technique as an alternative technique of modelling and estimating the instantaneous mortality rate intensities which serves as the underlying basis in modeling the distribution of future lifetime. It relies heavily on the analytic properties of life table survival functions lx. The specific objectives of the study are (i) to derive models for the force of mortality using polynomial function (ii) to derive the survival function (iii) to detect the age at which mortality actually declines and (iv) estimate the curve of death. Computational evidence from our results confirms that in the models 1-3, the mortality intensity µx and the curve of death µxlx are not both defined within the age band 0 ≤ x ≤ 2. The implication is that the infant mortality cannot be captured and the model is not admissible within this interval. Furthermore, it is also observed that µx = µ is constant within the interval 2 ≤ x ≤ 9 and mortality declines at age x=10. Consequently, there is a visible improvement in the care of infants which accounts for the decline in infant mortality. In model 4 since lx < lx-1 < lx-2 < lx-3 < lx-4 < lx-5 < lx-6, it then becomes apparent that µx < 0. The fact that the force of mortality becomes negative represents a phantom detected from the McCutcheon's mortality matrix.
Relationship between fibroblast growth factor 23 level and vitamin D status in chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ratu Andi Puspa , Rasyid Haerani , Bakri Syakib , Mansyur Andi Makbul Aman , Iskandar Harun , Seweng Arifin
Published: June 2024

Complications stemming from chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates. During the early stages of CKD, a delicate balance in homeostasis and mineral regulation is maintained largely due to fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23). However, as kidney function declines, there is a detrimental effect on vitamin D synthesis. Understanding the dynamics of FGF-23 levels in relation to vitamin D status is crucial for assessing kidney function and its implications on hormonal regulation, calcium homeostasis, and cardiovascular health. Therefore, this study aimed to scrutinize and comprehend the correlation between FGF-23 levels and vitamin D status in patients afflicted with CKD.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was undertaken at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, involving 58 patients diagnosed with stage 3-5 non-dialysis CKD. Relationships between FGF-23 level with vitamin D level status and CKD stage were analyzed by chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results. The FGF-23 levels, with a median of 100 pg/mL as the designated cut-off, exhibit significance concerning the levels of vitamin D (p=0.003). The average values of FGF-23 in cases of deficiency and insufficiency are markedly elevated when compared to patients with sufficient vitamin D levels (p=0.016). The significance of FGF-23 levels becomes more prominent with advancing CKD stages (p=0.06).
Conclusions. FGF-23 is a related marker with vitamin D deficiency in patients with CKD but is inconsistent in stage development and not an independent factor.
Transformation of Requirements for the Design of University Campuses in Modern Conditions
Authors: POPOV A.V. , GOLUBEVA A.A. , SERGEEVA I.A. , STARKOVA A.A.
Published: June 2024

The principles of the formation of comfortable and modern-compliant complexes and buildings of dormitories for nonresident and foreign university students are considered. Often, dormitories of universities in the Russian Federation do not have the proper level of comfort for living. Students are a unique category of housing consumers, they have high potential and limited financial resources. To determine the directions for improving the architectural and urban planning organization of housing for students of higher educational institutions, taking into account modern requirements, a sociological study was conducted, as a result of which a hierarchy of needs of students living in temporary housing was revealed; the most significant parameters of buildings and service infrastructure were determined, taking into account the socio-demographic characteristics of residents; the main requirements imposed by students on infrastructure were determined the campus of a higher educational institution; the necessity of an integrated approach to the organization of the university campus was confirmed.
Comparison of Software Packages for BIM Modeling During the Restoration of a Cultural Heritage Site
Authors: MAHOV I.O. , SERGIENKO D.A. , CHIZHEVSKAYA A.D.
Published: June 2024

Creating a virtual building model in BIM allows you to set not only the geometric parameters of the elements, but also the characteristics of the materials. At the same time, the application of BIM in historical buildings can be difficult due to the complexity and variety of geometric shapes and materials. In this regard, an important criterion for choosing software is the simplicity of setting the basic parameters necessary to solve specific tasks. The creation of a digital model of a historical building significantly expands the capabilities of the designer and allows you to find non-standard ways to solve the tasks set, at the same time to be confident in the reality of the implementation of design solutions. At the same time, standard BIM tools are focused on modern buildings and may not take into account the complexity of the geometry of a historical building. The need to create historical structures, such as wooden floor slabs or vaulted elements, may be associated with significant difficulties when creating in a BIM environment in various software packages.
(RE)CONSTRUCTING ARMENIA IN LEBANON AND SYRIA
Authors: Migliorino Nicola
Published: June 2024

For almost nine decades, since their mass-resettlement to the Levant in the wake of the Genocide and First World War, the Armenian communities of Lebanon and Syria appear to have successfully maintained a distinct identity as an ethno-culturally diverse group, in spite of representing a small non-Arab and Christian minority within a very different, mostly Arab and Muslim environment. The author shows that, while in Lebanon the state has facilitated the development of an extensive and effective system of Armenian ethno-cultural preservation, in Syria the emergence of centralizing, authoritarian regimes in the 1950s and 1960s has severely damaged the autonomy and cultural diversity of the Armenian community. Since 1970, the coming to power of the Asad family has contributed to a partial recovery of Armenian ethno-cultural diversity, as the community seems to have developed some form of tacit arrangement with the regime. In Lebanon, on the other hand, the Armenian community suffered the consequences of the recurrent breakdown of the consociational arrangement that regulates public life. In both cases the survival of Armenian cultural distinctiveness seems to be connected, rather incidentally, with the continuing ‘search for legitimacy’ of the state.
TRANSFORMATIONS AND CRISES
Authors: Jørgensen Thomas Ekman
Published: June 2024

The Left in the 1960s and 1970s has a powerful, almost mythical, place in the history of the 20th century. It was during these decades that the radical Left managed to renew the language of socialism as an alternative to communism and liberalism alike, but also when radicalism often led to extremism and social movements turned into political sects. Focusing on the Left in Denmark and Sweden during those turbulent decades, this study pays close attention to the political language in the two countries and shows the constant challenge to the concepts of the Left in the face of rapid social, cultural and political changes. The precarious relationship between the Left and the nation serves as a starting point for the exploration of the development of the New Left after the break with communism, the subsequent student revolts and radicalization of the late 1960s until the movement’s apparent collapse at the end of the 1970s. This book illustrates the challenges the Left was facing in its attempt to articulate a credible political language at a time of social, cultural and political transformation.
AN ACADEMIC SKATING ON THIN ICE
Authors: Worsley Peter
Published: June 2024

Peter Worsley’s studies at Cambridge were interrupted by war service as a communist officer in the colonial forces in Africa and India, and it was here that he developed a keen interest in anthropology. He work in mass education in Tanganyika and then studied with Max Gluckman at Manchester University. Banned from re-entering Africa, Worsley went to Australia where he was banned once more, this time from New Guinea, yet he did succeed in completing field-research for his Ph.D. on an Australian Aboriginal tribe. His subsequent book on ‘Cargo’ cults in Melanesia is now regarded as a classic, but his left-wing politics ensured that he could not get a job in anthropology, so he switched to sociology, on his return to Manchester.
NAZI PARIS
Authors: Mitchell Allan
Published: June 2024

Basing his extensive research into hitherto unexploited archival documentation on both sides of the Rhine, Allan Mitchell has uncovered the inner workings of the German military regime from the Wehrmacht’s triumphal entry into Paris in June 1940 to its ignominious withdrawal in August 1944. Although mindful of the French experience and the fundamental issue of collaboration, the author concentrates on the complex problems of occupying a foreign territory after a surprisingly swift conquest. By exploring in detail such topics as the regulation of public comportment, economic policy, forced labor, culture and propaganda, police activity, persecution and deportation of Jews, assassinations, executions, and torture, this study supersedes earlier attempts to investigate the German domination and exploitation of wartime France. In doing so, these findings provide an invaluable complement to the work of scholars who have viewed those dark years exclusively or mainly from the French perspective.
MELANESIAN ODYSSEYS
Authors: Josephides Lisette
Published: June 2024

In a series of epic self-narratives ranging from traditional cultural embodiments to picaresque adventures, Christian epiphanies and a host of interactive strategies and techniques for living, Kewa Highlanders (PNG) attempt to shape and control their selves and their relentlessly changing world. This lively account transcends ethnographic particularity and offers a wide-reaching perspective on the nature of being human. Inverting the analytic logic of her previous work, which sought to uncover what social structures concealed, Josephides focuses instead on the cultural understandings that people make explicit in their actions and speech. Using approaches from philosophy and anthropology, she examines elicitation (how people create their selves and their worlds in the act of making explicit) and mimesis (how anthropologists produce ethnographies), to arrive at an unexpected conclusion: that knowledge of self and other alike derives from self-externalization rather than self-introspection.
LEARNING DEMOCRACY
Authors: Puaca Brian M.
Published: June 2024

Scholarship on the history of West Germany’s educational system has traditionally portrayed the postwar period of Allied occupation as a failure and the following decades as a time of pedagogical stagnation. Two decades after World War II, however, the Federal Republic had become a stable democracy, a member of NATO, and a close ally of the West. Had the schools really failed to contribute to this remarkable transformation of German society and political culture? This study persuasively argues that long before the protest movements of the late 1960s, the West German educational system was undergoing meaningful reform from within. Although politicians and intellectual elites paid little attention to education after 1945, administrators, teachers, and pupils initiated significant changes in schools at the local level. The work of these actors resulted in an array of democratic reforms that signaled a departure from the authoritarian and nationalistic legacies of the past. The establishment of exchange programs between the United States and West Germany, the formation of student government organizations and student newspapers, the publication of revised history and civics textbooks, the expansion of teacher training programs, and the creation of a Social Studies curriculum all contributed to the advent of a new German educational system following World War II. The subtle, incremental reforms inaugurated during the first two postwar decades prepared a new generation of young Germans for their responsibilities as citizens of a democratic state.
COLETTE'S REPUBLIC
Authors: Tilburg Patricia A.
Published: June 2024

In France’s Third Republic, secularism was, for its adherents, a new faith, a civic religion founded on a rabid belief in progress and the Enlightenment conviction that men (and women) could remake their world. And yet with all of its pragmatic smoothing over of the supernatural edges of Catholicism, the Third Republic engendered its own fantastical ways of seeing by embracing observation, corporeal dynamism, and imaginative introspection. How these republican ideals and the new national education system of the 1870s and 80s - the structure meant to impart these ideals - shaped belle époque popular culture is the focus of this book. The author reassesses the meaning of secularization and offers a cultural history of this period by way of an interrogation of several fraught episodes which, although seemingly disconnected, shared an attachment to the potent moral and aesthetic directives of French republicanism: a village’s battle to secularize its schools, a scandalous novel, a vaudeville hit featuring a nude celebrity, and a craze for female boxing. Beginning with the writer and performer Colette (1873–1954) as a point of entry, this re-evaluation of belle époque popular culture probes the startling connections between republican values of labor and physical health on the one hand, and the cultural innovations of the decades preceding World War I on the other.
Response to Issue 32 (2) – ‘Off the Grid on the Road in Europe’
Authors: Laviolette Patrick
Published: June 2024

Michael O'Regan (2023) starts the introduction to his guest-edited special issue on living ‘off grid’ with reference to the notion of ‘polycrisis’. This is especially apt for us to consider, because at the time the issue had gone to press, the world was learning about the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023. These immediately resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and hostage captures. The ensuing escalation of war between Israel and Palestine, with a domino effect of retaliations, have afflicted thousands more, many of whom are also non-military personnel. For anyone who knows even a little about the recent history of the Middle East, off-grid is especially relevant, since it was at the sites of a festival and a few kibbutzim (Kfar Aza, Re'im and Be'eri) close to the Gaza border that the initial violent operations took place.
Intangible Cultural Heritage and Climate Change
Authors: McDermott Philip , Craith Mairéad Nic
Published: June 2024

It has now been two decades since UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted. A ground-breaking treaty, the Convention brought recognition of heritage as a living, breathing element of human existence, but has it reached its full potential? This article acts as an introduction to our forum edition on the connection between climate change and intangible cultural heritage (ICH). We consider how debates on heritage, and in particular ICH, have increasingly focussed on intersections between tradition and present-day social concerns, including those around the environment. Throughout our introduction, we identify themes discussed by each of the authors in the forum. In doing so, we illustrate how ICH acts as an important method through which to illuminate and potentially tackle challenges around climate change and its impact on society and human culture.
When Tradition Depends on the Weather
Authors: Dziubata-Smykowska Karolina
Published: June 2024

Tradition helps local communities cope with the uncertainty of familiar and repetitive actions. What if tradition depends on variables and, in times of climate crisis, unstable factors? The Polish cultural landscape contains multiple traditions grounded in the human–environment relationship. This article presents the early results of ongoing research on the relationship between the practice of intangible cultural heritage in Poland and climate change. By drawing on ethnographic data, this article explores the implications of declining snow resources, alterations in the vegetation cycle, and hydrological drought on the tradition of winter horse-drawn carriage races and wickerwork. Based on the notions of ethnoclimatology and the anthropology of weather, the text draws attention to local perceptions of climate change and potential methods of safeguarding tradition as well as harnessing heritage into resilient actions in times of climate change.
Impact and Challenges of Disseminating Ideas on Environmental Consciousness through Intangible Cultural Heritage Educational Programmes in Greece
Authors: Karampampas Panas
Published: June 2024

This article examines the challenges associated with implementing and designing educational programmes on intangible cultural heritage (ICH) concerning environmental consciousness. These include (1) students being disconnected from the context of the ICH elements of the programmes; (2) teachers lacking adequate ICH training in designing and implementing the programmes; and (3) a Kafkaesque bureaucracy and incommensurability between actors. These programmes relate to a trend derived from UNESCO and European Union interests in transmitting ICH through education. Some of these challenges are surpassed by ‘avocational individuals’ who go beyond their job descriptions to enhance student learning. The article demonstrates how such programmes redefine human–environment relationships and make practical suggestions. Although the ethnographic examples are from Greece, the findings are arguably relevant to other places with a similar educational and social context.
Roma Community and Health Inequalities during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania
Authors: Budian Raluca Cosmina , Blaga Oana Maria
Published: June 2024

During a pandemic situation, already existing health inequalities tend to worsen. This study explores the inequalities in health care experienced by members of two Roma communities during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. In August–September 2021, we conducted thirty ethnographic interviews: twenty in two Roma communities in Mure County, and ten with various professionals working with these communities, such as health mediators. The interview guide was developed considering anthropological and sociological perspectives on health. We conducted a thematic analysis and identified three relevant issues: (a) scepticism about COVID-19 and the vaccine; (b) the role of the health mediator before and during the pandemic; and (c) discrimination suffered before and during the pandemic with regard to medical attention. During the pandemic situation in Romania, in which inequalities were increasing, the work of health mediators as cultural facilitators was remarkable. They were interlocutors between the state's health-care institutions and its minority groups, and the Roma mediators provided valuable knowledge on the reality lived by the Roma communities.
Algae Openings
Authors: Otto Laura , Rospert Carly
Published: June 2024

Humans have always lived with and around algae. At times, algae enable life, and at others, render life difficult. This article examines two sites suffering from atypical—and potentially harmful—algae blooms: Lake Erie in Ohio (USA) and the Riviera Maya (Mexico). Referring to ethnographic fieldwork, as well as to newspaper articles, policy papers, and online fora, we demonstrate how the narratives around algae have changed over time and shed light on how changes in these narratives opened the discussion of wetland repair and coastal integrity. We argue that conceptualizing algae as the “unwanted” unifies people, brings them together, and makes the treatment of lake eutrophication and coastal protection actionable.
Mathematics Graduate Students’ Teacher Identity Development: Examining Roles Within the Teaching Assistant Position
Authors: Olarte T. Royce , Swartz Micah , Roberts Sarah A.
Published: June 2024

The ways that serving as a teaching assistant (TA) influences the teacher identity development of mathematics graduate students is still a largely undertheorized area of postsecondary mathematics education research. Drawing on sociocultural theories and role identity theories, we qualitatively examined how interactions within the mathematics TA position prompted graduate students to take up a multitude of role identities. We found that different interactions uniquely positioned participants to assume roles, such as instructor, supporter, mentor, and learner. Some role identities were only situated within specific interactions, while others were evident across multiple interactions. Teacher identity is a complex, multidimensional construct, and we found that serving as a TA supported the teacher identity development of mathematics graduate students through opportunities to take up a myriad of role identities. Understanding the nuances and complexities of the identities and experiences of mathematics graduate students can equip mathematics departments and higher education institutions to better support their transition to the mathematics professoriate.
THE SYNTHESIS OF A COPPER (II) OXIDE (CUO)/ REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE (RGO) NANOCOMPOSITE USING A HYDROTHERMAL METHOD FOR USE IN BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Authors: Kota Ravi , Prathipati Jayarangarao , Lakshmi Matcha Sowbhagya , Bhaskara Lakshmi Yaddanapudi Venkata , Tamminana Narasimhulu
Published: June 2024

This study focuses on the degradation of pollutants through photocatalysis involves utilizing lightinduced catalytic processes to break down harmful substances. The CuO/RGO nanocomposite is employed for visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation regarding pollutants such as 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The nanocomposite was synthesized through a green and straightforward hydrothermal method in a solvent-free environment. The resulting structure and morphology of the product can be characterized as follows: composite was analyzed using FESEM and TEM, while elemental analysis (EDS) was confirmed. The existence of copper, oxygen, and carbon is evident. FTIR spectra revealed characteristics. The peaks detected within the 600-400 cm-1 range confirm the development of monoclinic CuO. Nevertheless, the composites exhibited significant agglomeration attributed to the presence of iron oxide and silver. Continued exploration of the ternary nanocomposite involves further investigation. Morphology was conducted through TEM at magnifications of 50 and 100 nm, highlighting agglomeration issues. The composite exhibited superior degradation of 4-NP compared to pure CuO, achieving complete degradation of 4-NP, while CuO alone achieved only 72%.
THE INFLUENCE OF SUMMARIZING TECHNIQUE AND READING MOTIVATION TOWARD READING COMPREHENSION ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 18 PALEMBANG
Authors: Rifdah Nafila  , Indawan Syahri  , Mulyadi
Published: June 2024

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant difference in reading comprehension between students who are taught a summarizing technique and those who are not. Additionally, the study sought to determine whether there is a significant difference in reading comprehension between students who are taught a summarizing technique and those who have low reading motivation. The students in the seventh grade at Junior High School 18 Palembang were divided into two groups. In this investigation, factorial design was used. The study's population consisted of all 238 seventh-grade students enrolled in Junior High School 18 Palembang during the academic year 2023–2024. Saturation sampling was used to take samples from 68 students: 34 students from the VII.7 class were in the experimental group, while 34 students from the VII.6 class were in the control group. The researcher used a questionnaire to gather data in order to evaluate students' reading motivation. She also used traditional and summarizing techniques to teach students reading comprehension skills. The data were then analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics. The study's findings demonstrated a substantial difference in reading comprehension between students who were taught a summarizing strategy and those who were not, with regard to seventh-grade students at Junior High School 18 Palembang. The students with high reading motivation were taught the technique.
Means of Creating Comical Effect in Animated Discourse
and the Problem of Their Reproduction in Translation
Authors: Sharova A. A. , Danilov G. A.
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes the functioning and translation of the means of creating
a comic effect in the American animated series ”South Park”. The analysis of the
episodes of the two seasons of the series shows that its creators actively use such means
as colloquialisms, jargon, slang, realia – precedent phenomena, phonetic distortions, as
well as means of artistic expression of various levels, including irony, puns, hyperbole
and grotesques. When translating these means, interpreters use two main methods such as
adaptation and non-adaptive translation. The analysis shows that most often the means of
creating the comic in the series are subjected to a certain degree of adaptation using such
techniques as various substitutions (lexical substitution, emphatization and neutralization,
approximate translation), modulation and compensation. Non-adaptive translation with
small lexical and grammatical transformations is used to convey those means that have
a common principle of construction for the source and target linguocultures (for example,
hidden comparison or exaggeration). At the same time, the leading factors determining
the translator’s choice in favor of adaptive or non-adaptive translation methods are the
specifics of audiovisual translation (limited timing, lip-sync), national-cultural marking of
the means of creating the comic, as well as its acceptability in the culture of the receptor
language.
ПОТЕНЦІАЛ ТУРИЗМУ В КОНТЕКСТІ ІНТЕГРАЦІЇ ВНУТРІШНЬО ПЕРЕМІЩЕНИХ ОСІБ: СОЦІАЛЬНИЙ ТА ЕКОНОМІЧНИЙ АСПЕКТИ
Authors: ГОРОБЕЦЬ Ілля , НЕСТОРИШЕН Ігор
Published: June 2024

В статті досліджено особливості інтеграції внутрішньо переміщених осіб в Україні засобами залучення їх до туристичного підприємництва. Авторами зазначено, що до першочергових завдань на рівні держави слід віднести розроблення механізмів їх економічної та соціальної інтеграції до нових умов проживання в приймаючих територіальних громадах. Зауважено, що близько 15 % ВПО (орієнтовно 745 000) не планують переїжджати, а прагнуть інтегруватися за місцем поточного перебування у якості довгострокового рішення . Авторами проаналізовано співвідношення категорій «туристичний потенціал» і «потенціал туризму», а також узагальнено компонентний склад потенціалу туризму в контексті соціальної та економічної інтеграції внутрішньо переміщених осіб.
ВПЛИВ РЕКЛАМНИХ КАМПАНІЙ НА СПОЖИВАЦЬКІ ВПОДОБАННЯ: ТЕОРЕТИЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ
Authors: БЄЛОЗЕРЦЕВ Василь , КАТАН Володимир , ОНІАНІ Георгій , ПЕТРУСЕНКО Максим
Published: June 2024

Мета даної статті – ретельний аналіз різних каналів та методів рекламної комунікації в контексті їх впливу на сучасне суспільство. Методика. Стаття досліджує традиційні (телебачення, радіо, преса, зовнішня реклама) та цифрові (соціальні мережі, персоналізація) засоби масової інформації. Наукова новизна виявляється в докладному аналізі рекламної стратегії "Share a Coke" від The Coca-Cola Company. Результати. Результати дослідження підтверджують ключову роль реклами у формуванні споживчих вподобань та визначають її вплив на культурні та економічні аспекти сучасного життя. Наукова новизна. Наукова новизна виявляється в докладному аналізі рекламної стратегії "Share a Coke" від The Coca-Cola Company, що підкреслює ефективність інноваційних підходів. Практична значимість. Заключний висновок статті акцентує на важливості адаптації рекламних стратегій до змін у споживчих уподобаннях, підкреслюючи рекламу як стратегічний фактор взаємодії брендів із споживачами. Практична значимість полягає у можливості використання отриманих знань для покращення ефективності рекламних кампаній та зміцнення брендової лояльності.
Development of modern steel casting systems based on innovative solutions
Authors: Zolotukhin V. I. , Murat S. G. , Gordeev E. I. , Golovko A. G , Gaponov D. E.
Published: June 2024

The article deals with the development of modern steel casting gate valves of the slide type. The article gives the essential signs characterising the first generation gate of “rigid type” and “cassette type” gate of both foreign and domestic design. The designs with elastic compression of gate plates are analyzed in the most detail. Variants of constructing schemes of clamping mechanisms of valves are given. The development of production and supply of steel filling systems VT by years and enterprises is given. The components of the modular design of gates as adaptive sys-tems are considered. Comparative characteristics of the parameters of domestic and foreign valves are given. Typical complexes of gate ceramics of closures and comparative indicators of durability in melting for casting materials are given. The results of the replacement of old-type and imported valves with valves of the VT series produced by NPP Vulkan-TM LLC and the prospects for further ensuring the technological sovereignty of the domestic metallurgy are analyzed
Outpatient Consultation of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases Patients in Abuja Public Hospitals Based on Selected Indicators
Authors: Osuafor Nkeiruka Grace , Ukwe Chinwe Victoria , Ogbonna Brian Onyebuchi
Published: June 2024

AIM. Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are among the reasons for most outpatient consultations. The study aimed to evaluate the reported experiences of patients being managed for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the outpatient clinics of Abuja public hospitals.

METHOD. A prospective cross-sectional study of 787 systematically sampled patients receiving care in five public hospitals in Abuja was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the number of yearly consultations, problems encountered in accessing trained health personnel, time spent on hospital appointments, major treatment challenges, and ways to improve their experience on hospital visits. Consultation experience was defined as good or poor. Patients who consulted at least four times in a year, reported no problems in accessing trained health personnel, and had no treatment challenges were regarded as having a good consultation experience. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize the data. Logistic regression was used to predict and classify the binary outcomes. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS. More of the patients (66.2%) had up to four consultations in a year. Long waiting time (56.1%) was the common problem encountered when accessing trained medical personnel. The major treatment challenge was hospital waiting time (49.4%). The mean time spent in the hospital on appointment days was 5.04±1.80. Approximately 40% of the patients suggested proper scheduling of hospital appointments as the major way to improve treatment experiences. Poor consultation was recorded by 96.6% of the patients. Logistic regression showed that a higher educational level (OR = 0.031, 95% CI [0.008-0.119], _P=_0.001) was associated with reporting poor management.

CONCLUSION. The average number of yearly consultations was below the minimum standard, and patients spent long hours on consultation days before meeting with healthcare personnel. Most patients were dissatisfied with the services received and rated them poor.
Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition through Gamification
Authors: Jaiswal Preeti
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the effects of gamification on vocabulary acquisition and student motivation among 54 students enrolled in the Orientation Program at a higher education institution in Bahrain. The study compared traditional vocabulary instruction with a gamified approach using the Kahoot platform. Results revealed that the gamified group achieved significantly higher vocabulary gains, with a mean post-test score of 86 compared to 78 for the control group. Furthermore, 85% of participants in the gamified group found this method more effective for retention, and 92% preferred it over traditional worksheets. The findings indicate that gamification can considerably enhance vocabulary learning by making the process more engaging and effective. Nevertheless, to fully leverage its benefits, it is essential to overcome challenges such as technical issues and varying levels of student familiarity with the platform
An Integrated Project Delivery-Based Supply Chain Management for Modular Construction in the Philippines
Authors:   Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Capuyan Ghlenn Perry , Jocson Joefil ,   Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Published: June 2024

This study explores the enhancement of Supply Chain Management (SCM) efficiency in the Philippines' modular construction sector through Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). It highlights the critical alignment of SCM success factors with IPD principles, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in modular construction projects. Quantitative analysis via surveys among modular construction professionals assesses IPD's impact on SCM efficiency, uncovering a positive correlation between IPD adoption and compliance with SCM success factors, particularly in larger organizations. This reveals the benefits of early collaboration and shared management practices. The research proposes a comprehensive framework tailored to the Philippine construction industry to optimize SCM efficiency by integrating modular construction with IPD principles. This strategy aims to tackle unique organizational and individual challenges, offering insights for improving SCM practices through IPD. The study paves the way for superior project delivery in developing economies and calls for future research into IPD and SCM risks, the influence of organizational structures, and the role of emerging technologies and cultural factors in modular construction.