bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating English Language Education for Career Readiness in Intercultural Communication: Employer Insights and Recommendations
Authors: Azhari Muhammad Aizat , Satimin Onaliza
Published: November 2024

The gap between academic training and industry expectations can be bridged by gathering insights from employers, particularly regarding the English language skills they value. Understanding these skills is essential for curriculum development and ensuring graduates are prepared for careers in intercultural communication. This research aims to achieve two main objectives: firstly, to assess the relevance and effectiveness of English language components in compulsory university courses, core courses and intercultural communication courses in meeting employers’ requirements and secondly, to identify employers’ recommendations for additional English language skills and courses to enhance graduates’ career readiness in intercultural communication. A total of 112 respondents from both government and private sectors voluntarily participated in the survey, which was distributed at the end of the internship period before students completed their semester. The results indicate that graduates must equip themselves with intercultural communications in various professional settings to succeed in the professional environment and not just depend on their English language skills. Thus it is recommended for educational institutions to collaborate with industry stakeholders to gain more insight on specific needs of the current workplace environment.
High-Frequency Trading Strategies and their Market Impact in Kenya's Capital Market Authority
Authors: Barngetuny Jackson
Published: November 2024

This study explores the impact of high-frequency trading (HFT) on financial markets in Kenya compared to established economies like the United States and Europe. Through a comparative analysis, the research highlights significant differences in market liquidity, regulatory frameworks, technological infrastructure, investor behavior, and price volatility. The findings indicate that while HFT generally enhances liquidity in developed markets by narrowing bid-ask spreads, its introduction in Kenya may not yield similar benefits due to historically lower trading volumes and limited participation. The regulatory environment in Kenya is underdeveloped, posing challenges for effective oversight and risk management, in contrast to the comprehensive frameworks in established markets. Technological disparities further hinder local firms from competing effectively in HFT, as essential infrastructure such as low-latency data feeds and co-location services is lacking. Moreover, the impact of HFT on market behavior in Kenya is less pronounced, with insufficient competitive pressure for traditional investors to adopt algorithmic strategies. Concerns about increased price volatility in Kenya are heightened by inadequate regulatory safeguards, potentially leading to market instability. The study emphasizes the need for tailored regulatory approaches and technological investments to harness HFT's potential benefits while mitigating associated risks in emerging markets.
Clinical and microbiological profile of patients with urinary tract infection visiting general outpatient department, National Referral Hospital
Authors: Thinley Ugyen , Sonam Dhrupthob , Adhikari Chhabi Lal , Tshering Sangay , Dorji Namkha
Published: November 2024

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections encountered in outpatient settings. The random use of antibiotics, particularly in resource-limited settings, has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to identify common uropathogens and assess their antibiotic sensitivity patterns among patients with symptoms of UTI attending the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to August 2022, involving patients over the age of 13 years with symptoms of UTI. Midstream urine collected via proper technique was analyzed by the laboratory. Once there was growth on the urine culture media, antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed against the commonly used antibiotics in the GOPD.
Result: Amongst 351 participants, 77.8% were female, and the most common symptoms reported were dysuria (93.4%) and increased urinary frequency of micturition (92.3%). Patient’s age, sex and previous episodes of UTI were significantly associated with the occurrence of UTI (p < 0.05). The overall urine culture positivity rate was 50.53%, with Escherichia coli (84.7%) identified as the predominant uropathogen, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.3%). Among the antibiotics tested, gentamicin and nitrofurantoin exhibited the highest sensitivity, while amoxicillin and ampicillin were the least effective antibiotics against Escherichia coli.
Conclusion: UTI predominantly affected females. Escherichia coli was the commonest causative agent and nitrofurantoin could be the potential drug of choice for UTI treatment. The irrational use of antibiotics, as a contributing factor to resistance should be addressed.
HILDEGARD: Human-in-the-Loop Data Extraction and Graphically Augmented Relation Discovery
Authors: Palma Cosimo
Published: November 2024

This research paper presents HILDEGARD, an application conceived to guide a semi-expert user in the domain of cultural heritage data management toward the creation of a lightweight knowledge graph tailored for supporting Automatic Story Generation (ASG). For this purpose, a subset of CIDOC-CRM classes and properties is preliminarily selected to fit the domain of interest. The input is constituted by one or more seed-heritage objects selected from a knowledge base. In our case study, they are SPARQL-queried from a Linked Open Database for Italian Cultural Heritage. The shortest path algorithm is then run online on all couplets obtained by a combination of the Wikipedia entities from the selected entry-seeds descriptions. The retrieved entities are subsequently linked to their related DBpedia or YAGO-entry in the chosen language, and the relationships among them are automatically retrieved. The proposed tool addresses different knowledge gaps and societal needs simultaneously, such as the lack of solutions tailored for narrative purposes in the cultural heritage domain, that is, to be used in a scenario where objects belonging to the same room must be linked through a narrative, which shall not only be coherent and informative but also engaging and interesting. The prototype, already able to generate the triples required for the following step of the proposed general ASG pipeline, is intended to be graphically enhanced so that the end user may guide the graph expansion interactively.
 
Received: 25 March 2024 | Revised: 9 July 2024 | Accepted: 18 August 2024
 
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work.
 
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available on GitHub at https://github.com/Glottocrisio/HILDEGARD.
 
Author Contribution Statement
Cosimo Palma: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing, Visualization, Project administration.
Role of RyR2 and SERCA2a in the Cardioprotective Effects of Vincanine and Pyrazoline Alkaloids
Authors: Zhumaev Inoyat Zulfiqorovich , Ugli Boboev Sadriddin Nurillo , Usmanov Pulat Bekmuratovich , Rustamov Shavkat Yusubovich , Zaripov Abdisalim Abdikarimovich , Qurbonova Shakhnoza Bakhtiyorovna , Mirzaeva Yulduzkhon Takhirjanovna , Ugli Ibragimov Eldor Bakhtiyor , Esimbetov Adilbay Tlepovich , Adizov Shahobiddin Mukhammadovich
Published: November 2024

In the conducted studies, the effect of vincanine and pyrazoline indole alkaloids on cardiac muscle cell sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-transport systems (RyR2 and SERCA2a) was investigated under normal and hypoxic conditions. The effect of vincanine and pyrazoline on ryanodine receptor (RyR2) was evaluated in the presence of ruthenium red and it was found that the role of RyR2 in the positive inotropic effect of these alkaloids is small. Also, in the presence of cyclopiazonic acid (IC50 = 5.6 µM), an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a), the positive inotropic effect of vincanine and pyrazoline alkaloids was reduced. In general, the positive inotropic effects and cardioprotective properties of vincanine and pyrazoline alkaloids are mediated by modulation of SERCA2a function.
HIGHLIGHTS

Vincanine and pyrazoline indole alkaloids have a positive inotropic effect on the force of papillary muscle contraction of the rat heart.
Vincanine and pyrazoline indole alkaloids have a cardioprotective effect and effectively eliminate the disturbances in the papillary muscle contractile activity of the rat heart caused by hypoxia.
Vincanine and pyrazoline alkaloids effectively reverse hypoxia-induced SERCA2a dysfunction and normalize changes in rat cardiac papillary muscle contractile activity.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Evaluation of Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity of the Ethanolic Extract from Ulva Lactuca
Authors: Osotprasit Supawadee , Samrit Tepparit , Savedvanich Gavin , Chaiwichien Athit , Changklungmoa Narin , Kueakhai Pornanan , Athipornchai Anan , Tamtin Montakan , Sobhon Prasert , Jaikua Wipaphorn
Published: November 2024

Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) is  a  popular food for consumers and has high nutritional value. It has also been found to be a source of health-promoting substances, including a high amount of proteins  which can be utilized  as a future plant-based functional ingredient in the food industry. However, before extensive applications in the aforementioned fields, it is crucial to ensure the extracts’ biological-pharmacological activities and their safety. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and antioxidant activity of  the ethanolic extract of the  sea lettuce extract.We tested cytotoxicity by MTT assays on 5 cell lines, including fibroblast (L929), macrophages (RAW 264.7), hepatocytes (FL83B), keratinocytes (HaCaT) and normal colon (CCD-18co) cells. Genotoxicity of the extract was tested by comet and micronucleus assays on human lymphoblast cells (TK6). Our results demonstrated at a concentration lower than 50 µg/mL the extract did not show any cytotoxicity as well as genotoxicity. The extract was shown to possess high antioxidant capacity  by DPPH and ABTS scavenging at the EC50 value of U. lactuca extracts was 631.84 ± 5.64 and 330.35 ± 19.49 μg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the extract may be safely used as an ingredient for food, that should help to ensure food security for humans in the future, as well as for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and other health-promoting products.
HIGHLIGHTS

Ulva lactuca extract displayed strong antioxidant activity.
Neither cytotoxicity nor genotoxicity to cell lines are seen in the ethanol extract of lactuca.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Vacas sagradas y mercantilismo educativo
Authors: Collantes-González Rubén Darío , Santos-Murgas Alonso
Published: November 2024

El estudio analítico, descriptivo, exploratorio y reflexivo sustenta que la educación de calidad es uno de los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y un compromiso de todos como sociedad. Sin embargo, persisten obstáculos en las instituciones educativas, públicas o privadas, como las vacas sagradas y el mercantilismo educativo. El primero se refiere a aquellas personas que no poseen las competencias requeridas ni la vocación para el cargo que ostentan y cuyo desempeño es deficiente; pero que, por vínculos sociopolíticos, logran mantenerse en el sistema ocasionando problemas. Sobre lo segundo, para satisfacer la creciente demanda de formación académica a nivel superior, han proliferado ofertas que pregonan ser formadores de profesionales de excelencia, sin que ello en muchos casos esté debidamente respaldado por equipos con docentes idóneos ni se brinden programas formativos pertinentes, tanto en tiempo como en contenido y estructura. Esta revisión sistemática aborda dicha temática, la cual es sensitiva para la educación de calidad en el nuevo milenio.
New Heritage of Horror
Authors: Pirie David
Published: November 2024

David Pirie's acclaimed history of British gothic film and television has long been regarded as a foundational study of the roots of British horror, identifying it as 'the only staple cinematic myth which Britain can properly claim as its own.'

This edition has been revised and updated to include discussion of films and TV dramas that have been newly discovered, restored or released since publication of the previous edition in 2007, as well as addressing newly-emergent screenwriters, directors and genres.

Drawing on insider accounts and archival sources, David Pirie investigates the notion of horror versus realism in popular fiction, and analyses the horror boom that developed around films includingThe Othersand28 Days Later. He chronicles British horror cinema from its origins in Gothic literature traces the rise of Hammer Films, its key directors and films as well as its battles with the censors, explores major horror sub genres including comedy horror and sci-fi, and brings the story up to the present day, where horror is flourishing in new ways, with films such asShaun of the Dead, Under the SkinandCensor;the rise of genres such as folk horror and films that tackle questions of race and gender, and the emergence of a new generation of writers and directors including Prano Bailey-Bond, Ben Wheatley and Edgar Wright.
History of Crimea
Authors: Jobst Kerstin S.
Published: November 2024

With the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014 - 160 years after the Crimean War – the peninsula has come to the geopolitical fore once more on the global stage. This book provides a comprehensive history of the region that until now has been missing, one that stretches from ancient times through to the present and which explores various aspects and inhabitants through the ages.

Kerstin S. Jobst examines the complex history of the multi-ethnic and pluri-religious Crimea, and not only from a political perspective. Jobst deals with the manifold cultural and historical interdependencies that are central to the territory. The book presents myths and legends about the Crimea, as well as the various peoples for whom the Crimea was a settlement and transit area and who shaped the fate of the peninsula. These included Greek colonists, Eurasian nomads, Crimean Tatars, and others. A History of Crimea shows the importance of Crimea as a place of early Christianity, but also as a contact zone between different religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It also emphasizes the role of the peninsula as a peripheral area of various great powers – the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Golden Horde, and the Ottoman and Russian Empires.

With this overview of 2,000 years of Crimea's history, Kerstin S. Jobst places the most recent explosive events on the peninsula in their historical context and shows how the Crimea has become for the majority of Russians a highly emotionalized space since the first Russian annexation in 1783.
Shoes and the Georgian Man
Authors: McCormack Matthew
Published: November 2024

Shoes are everyday objects but they are loaded with meaning.This book reveals how shoes played a powerful role in the wider story of shifts in gender relations in 18th-century Britain. It focuses on the relationship of shoes with the body and its movements, and therefore how what we wear on our feet relates closely to social, occupational and gender roles. It also uses footwear to explore topics such as politics, war, dance and disability.

Thinking about shoes as material objects, McCormack studied historic shoes first-hand in museums, in order to ascertain their physical properties and what they would have been like to wear. Worn shoes preserve traces of the wearer’s body in their indentations, stretches and scuffs, providing a unique primary source about their wearer. This approach forges new connections between the histories or material culture, gender and the body, and sheds new light on what it meant to be a man in the 18th century.
Activism and the Literary Self in 20th- and 21st-Century Literature
Authors: Keuss Jeffrey F.
Published: November 2024

Exploring how Shusaku Endo, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Thomas Merton, Marilynne Robinson, Cormac McCarthy, and Octavia E. Butler engage with social justice and activism, this book explores the significant role that literature plays in the formation of justice.Jeff Keuss foregrounds literature and the role of poetics as both a method and a frame by which justice can not only be understood but uniquely positioned to transform and redeem the moral call on individuals in ways that some recent philosophical and ethical projects do not. He examines how these authors are representative of a theme in literature which is the “turn to justice” as a literary form and discusses how these authors’ engagement with activism challenges isolated and anxious models of contemporary selfhood.

Demonstrating how these writers utilize fiction, across different contexts of race, gender, culture, and theological denominations, to present themes of justice in communion with others, Keuss provides new insights into “communal selfhood” and shows how we can use this idea to shape our ideas of ethics, morality, activism, and justice.
Mastering Type
Authors: Bosler Denise
Published: November 2024

By breaking down the study of type into a systematic progression of relationships—letter, word, sentence, paragraph, page, and screen—award-winning graphic designer and professor of communication design Denise Bosler provides a unique and illuminating perspective on typography, for both print and digital media, and for designers of all skill levels.

New to this edition: - New interviews from type designers and graphic designers, including Alex Slobzheninov, Lavinia Lascaris, Harkiran Kalsi, Adonis Durado, Janine Vangool, and Kiel Mutschelknaus - More coverage of recent typeface developments, including Open Type and Variable fonts, as well as kinetic typography, projection mapping, and generative type - Updated examples and imagery throughout the book to showcase the latest designs and innovations in typography

Through instruction, interviews, and real-world inspiration, Mastering Type explores the power of each typographic element—both as it stands alone and as it works with other elements—to create successful design, to strengthen your skill set, and to inspire your next project.
Napoleon in British Culture
Authors: Gregory James
Published: November 2024

This book studies British cultural engagement with Napoleon Bonaparte from his 1815 surrender and time in British custody, until the return of his remains to France in 1840.

Adopting a chronological approach, James Gregory studies the British use of Bonaparte in various spheres – covering political, dramatic, literary, and visual culture, and popular entertainment over a 25-year period. Gregory acknowledges not only canonical literary treatments, but also appearances of the figure in novels, anecdotes, travelling shows, and private collections – in order to analyse contemporary fascination with Napoleon.

Centring on key themes such as responses to Napoleon’s presence on British territory, and later reactions to his death, Gregory also takes into account the influence of factors such as geography and gender, in order to craft a comprehensive picture of cultural engagement with Napoleon in the period 1815-40. Covering factors including the role of commemoration, the impact of Peterloo and Queen Caroline's death, and the rise of Romanticism, this book demonstrates how truly pervasive the myth of Napoleon became in 19th-century Britain.
Theory and Resistance in Education
Authors: Giroux Henry A.
Published: November 2024

Reissued with a new introduction from Henry A. Giroux, this classic work provides theoretical and political tools for addressing how pedagogy, knowledge, resistance, and power can be analyzed within and across a variety of cultural spheres, including but not limited to the schools.This edition includes four new chapters covering critical pedagogy and resistance, cultural politics and public intellectuals, challenging gangster capitalism and the lies and violence of fascist politics. These new chapters show how the calls for radical social change made in the previous edition are needed now more than ever in the struggle against fascism, authoritarianism, racism and other systems of oppression that are still built into society and our education systems. The book includes a foreword by Paulo Freire and a preface by Stanley Aronowitz.
Churchill and Industrial Britain
Authors: Tomlinson Jim
Published: November 2024

This book offers a new understanding of the main economic and political trends of 20th-century Britain, through the lens of Churchill’s early career and approach to industrialisation.

Shedding fresh light on Churchill’s political endeavours between 1900 and 1922, this study analyses his work within his political constituencies, and highlights how he attempted to balance their local concerns with his larger imperial agenda. Tomlinson guides readers through Britain’s industrial challenges at the start of the twentieth century - with a particular focus on the textile economies of Churchill’s constituencies in Lancashire and Scotland - and shows how industrial competition within the Empire exemplified the tensions between domestic economic policy and attempts at globalization, and influenced Churchill’s later politics.

Tomlinson acknowledges the role of the First World War in boosting the industrial output and bargaining power of countries within the Empire, and analyses these alongside key moments in Churchill’s early career, such as his defeat at Dundee, and time at the Exchequer. In doing so, the author highlights the context in which Churchill’s ideas on the politics and economics of Empire were first formed, particularly in relation to the impact of imperial economic policy on British domestic prosperity. Ultimately, this book delivers a new assessment of twentieth-century British economic history, in the light of Britain’s relationship to the Empire and the 'first great globalization'.
Essence of Catholicism
Authors: Forrest Peter
Published: November 2024

Peter Forrest argues that Essential Catholicism is the one and only religion to which reasonable humanists could commit.Drawing on Immanuel Kant’sReligion within the Bounds of Bare Reasonand Ludwig Feuerbach’sThe Essence of Christianity, he provides an in-depth philosophical investigation into the synthesis of Catholicism and the Enlightenment.

In this nuanced study humanity and divinity are two species of the same genus. Chapters defend the apologetic project from common objections and cover the argument from evil to Catholicism, the case for the Catholic synthesis, the argument from tradition, and finally the negative case for Essential Catholicism. Forrest elucidates how the various Catholic churches have Essential Catholicism in common, discussing the Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, and the Old Catholics, as well as High Church Anglicanism with Methodism as a borderline case. He argues that we can learn from other Christian denominations and from other religions, but Catholicism is the overarching and one true religion.

An engaging and original account,The Essence of Catholicismdeparts from Vatican theory and provides a sharp philosophical reflection on a distinctive religious position within the Catholic tradition of thought.
Against Progress
Authors: Žižek Slavoj
Published: November 2024

To define 'progress' is to lay claim to the future. Seminal thinker Slavoj Žižek turns essayist to interrogate the competing visions which form the horizons of human possibility and ask: Can things, which have never seemed worse, get better? What would a better world be?And how, when we are constantly besieged by doomers, degrowthers and disorienting relativisms can we make any headway at all in the face of unprecedented ecological, social and political crises?In thirteen iconoclastic essays, Slavoj Žižek disrupts the death-grip that neoliberalists, Trumpian populists, toxic self-improvement industries and accelerationists alike have established on the idea of progress. Anatomizing what is lost when opponents of the future are allowed to define it, Žižek ruthlessly exposes what different visions of progress exclude or sacrifice and the dynamics of desire, denial and disavowal at work in Hollywood blockbusters, Buddhist economics, decolonization movements and other engines of vision. In a whirlwind tour that takes in everything from gentrification to the theory of relativity, Lacan to Lenin, Putin to Mary Poppins and Marine Le Pen to the end of the world, these essays never stop asking hard questions of imagined futures. Nor does Žižek shrink from the hardest question of all: How do we free ourselves from the hypocritical, guilt-ridden dreaming in which we’re enmeshed, and begin to build a better world?
Attachment Film, Emotion, and Cognition
Authors: Kramer Mette
Published: November 2024

Attachment Film, Emotion, and Cognitionis a bold intervention that seeks to center the bodily and affective dimensions of film traditionally regarded as “feminine”.

The author uses attachment theory in an interdisciplinary framework with an emphasis on biology and a species-based understanding of pro-social behavior to approach films about attachment motivations.

By blending affective and cognitive neuroscience research with tendencies deeply embedded in the humanities, this book makes a major contribution to the field of cognitive film theory. The focus on attachment theory also makes a meta-generic address via its focus on romance and melodrama that makes it useful for other narratives that overlap affective and generic boundaries. The book presents a model of attachment-film experiences with its inbuilt shifts in affective and cognitive regulative processes and makes an ambitious case for how engagement with attachment film viewing can be understood from both a universal and an individual perspective.
European Court of Human Rights and Mental Health
Authors: Eldergill Professor Anselm , Evans Matthew , Sibley Eleanor
Published: November 2024

How does the European Convention on Human Rights apply to people who suffer mental ill-health or are alleged to be affected by such a condition? The last few years have seen a raft of important judgments from Strasbourg concerning the rights of people with mental health issues.

This book provides a practical and critical analysis of obligations arising from the rights to life, freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment, liberty and security of the person, family and private life, and other ECHR rights. It considers the impact of human rights and mental health in the context of criminal law, family law and Court of Protection issues.

The authors give an article-by-article summary of the most important case law, as well as a thematic summary, drawing together issues relevant to practitioners specialising in mental health law as well as legal practitioners working in fields that require knowledge of Strasbourg jurisprudence on mental health including Court of Protection, family and criminal practitioners.

This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Family Law online service.
Taxation of Intellectual Property
Authors: Hickey Julian , Khilji Zeeshan
Published: November 2024

This specialist title analyses the approach of the UK tax regime towards intellectual property assets. Following the life-cycle of intellectual property from creation to disposal, the commentary highlights the tax considerations and planning issues for individuals, non-corporate entities and companies. A separate chapter deals with international issues including UK tax residence, transfer pricing and controlled foreign companies.

Two new chapters have been added to this edition, one dealing with crypto-assets, and the other providing guidance on dealing with disputes, enquiries and appeals.

A large amount of new material is added to reflect changes to the law and practice in this area since the last edition was published in 2016. These include:

- changes to the corporate intangible asset regime - expansion of guidance on the patent box to reflect application of new rules from July 2021 - changes to the R&D tax relief regime - updated to reflect the post-Brexit world, including international protection, recognition and enforcement of UK and non-UK IP; and the new VAT regime. - new commentary on 'hybrid' IP: domain names and protection via goodwill/passing off - update to the international tax planning to reflect recent tax residence decisions such asDevelopment Securities Plc v HMRC- New case law: -Hull City AFC (Tigers) Ltd v HMRC(image rights) -Thaler v Comptroller General of Patent Trade Marks and Designs(confidentiality - no property in information) -Ingenious(trading v investment -Vaccine Research Limited(trading v investment)

The commentary also features a number of new examples and case studies to help illustrate the guidance given.
Essays on Violence
Authors: Vijaisri Priyadarshini
Published: November 2024

Essays on Violence:Pollution, Sacrifice and Madnessis an exploration of the intersecting histories of caste and violence in the Indian context foregrounding ideational and temporal continuities and deep linkages between ideas, processes and events by combing historical sources with ethnographic data.Traversing the diverse and conflicting strands in Indian traditions, it traces the centrality of the idea of violence in discourses on sacrificial violence, self, body, evil and danger and their reverberations in critical moments of Indian history. The discourse on caste violence is unpacked through analysis of concepts likedanda,matsyanyayaandvadhoavadha, religious and textual exegesis of negation and demonization and historical sites to locate processes of transitions in cultures of violence via the Telangana armed uprising and imagined cartography of the incipient nation. By drawing attention to the nature of caste violence in postcolonial Andhra, the book offers glimpses into the emergence of contradictory pulls in the forging of caste identities, nationhood and the shifts in the subjectivity of outcastes within the context of repressive political culture of postcolonial democratic experience.
CSR AND FIRM FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: MODERATING EFFECT OF OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION IN THE FRENCH CONTEXT
Authors: Gharbi Manel , Jarboui Anis
Published: November 2024

This study investigated the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Financial Performance (FP) and the moderating role of corporate governance. In particular, this paper aims to empirically examine the impact of ownership concentration on the relationship between CSR and financial performance. This study was based on a sample of 200 firms over 2010 /2021. The direct and moderating effects were tested by using multiple regression techniques. The empirical findings indicated that companies with higher levels of CSR reporting invested more effectively than companies with lower CSR reporting levels. The empirical analysis suggested two main findings: CSR has a significant effect on financial performance and this relationship depends on ownership concentration. This research presents new evidence that improves the discussion around CSR involvement and financial performance in French firms. Then, this research shows that ownership concentration positively moderates the impact of CSR on corporate financial performance.
Convertible Bread and Pastry Production Table
Authors: Badiana Rachel E. , Dela Torre Russel M.
Published: November 2024

This study sought to develop and fabricate a Convertible Bread and Pastry Production table with the following technical features such as easy conversion, space-saving, and easy cleaning; the study further aimed to evaluate the level of performance in terms of the time of conversion and determine the level of acceptability in terms of design, functionality, and usability. The researcher used developmental and descriptive methods of research. The research instrument used was a modified questionnaire among 50 respondents consisting of an Assistant School Principal, Technical Vocational and Livelihood Home Economics teachers, and students. The results reveal that the product has a shorter time to convert and a foldable platform that can be stored easily. Overall, the average mean score of 5.00 was interpreted as Very High. Moreover, all criteria obtained a mean score of 5.00, interpreted as Very High in all items. The respondents rated the product as Strongly Agreed regarding acceptability in areas such as design, functionality, and usability. The researcher recommended a user manual to effectively and efficiently execute the transformation of the convertible bread and pastry production table without supervision. The table can be an alternative table for bread and pastry production. Relative to the findings and conclusion derived from the study, the researcher highly recommended the mass production and utilization of the table for classroom instructions, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor-related culinary activities.
Physicochemical Properties as Affected by Concretionary Nodules of Oxic Rhodustalf of Southern Guinea Savanna Agroecological Zone of Nigeria
Authors: Emmanuel David , onathan Adeyemo Adebayo , Adegbile Oluwagbemi, Israel , Afor Omalle, Joy , Chinwe Osakwe Uju , Sunday Ewulo Babatude
Published: November 2024

Diverse concretion types are prevalent across diverse soil types in the savanna region. However, its chemistry, mineralogy, profile, dimension, and abundance can significantly vary, influenced by the distinct weathering processes characteristic of each location. The accumulation of concretions in soil can have a considerable impact on its physical and chemical properties, especially at high concentrations. This effect largely depends on the chemical composition and mineralogy of the oxide components present [1]. Despite the potential significance of these effects, the influence of concretionary nodules on soil physicochemical properties remains underexplored. Existing studies are few and often lack detailed insights. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the physicochemical properties of soil influenced by concretionary nodules in the Oxic Rhodustalf of Southern Guinea Savannah, Nigeria. Results obtained from our analysis revealed interesting variations obtained. Three distinct textural classes were identified regarding physical properties: Sandy Loam, Sandy Clay Loam, and Loamy Sand. At various sites, the soil generally exhibited a slightly higher clay content (20.06 %) and sand content (74.04 %) compared to the concretions. However, the concretions had a higher silt content, at 7.34 %. Obbo Ile recorded the highest clay content (24.09 %) but the lowest silt and sand content among the locations. In contrast, Owu Isin had a significantly higher sand content (75.04 %). Clay content increased with depth, while sand content decreased. Although silt content generally increased, it dropped significantly after the 90-120 cm depth. Analysis of the chemical properties revealed significant variations (p < 0.05) for the parameters evaluated. The conductivity, pH in water, and CaCL2 were higher in Soil than in concretions.   Similarly, the elements Na, K, Ca, and Mg also displayed higher values in soil. OM, SOC, Ex. Acidity and CEC except N (%) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in soil than in concretions. The pH in H₂O was stable across depths and locations, with the highest value at 60-90 cm in Obbo Ile for soil and the lowest at the same depth in Owu Isin for concretions. pH measured with CaCl₂ mirrored this trend, peaking at 5.93. Conductivity decreased with depth, reaching its highest at 0-30 cm in Osi for soil. Base cations (Na, K, Ca, and Mg) were significantly higher in Obbo Ile and Osi compared to Owu Isin, with values consistently higher in soil than in concretions. Total nitrogen was highest (1.31 %) at 90-120 cm in Obbo Ile’s concretions. Soil organic carbon (SOC) peaked at 1.11 % at 0-30 cm in Owu Ile, and exchangeable acidity was highest at 90-120 cm there. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was highest (0.35 meq/100 g) at 30-60 cm in Osi’s soil.
Tendencias sobre la justicia escolar restaurativa en el contexto mundial. Estudio de sistematización
Authors: Rubiano-Cepeda Leyla Jazmin , Bedoya-Ríos Nohemí Marcela
Published: November 2024

Ante el fracaso del enfoque tradicional de disciplina es necesario un cambio de paradigma sobre la justicia en el contexto educativo. El presente estudio de sistematización tiene como objetivo analizar el estado de la producción científica sobre justicia escolar restaurativa; para lo cual se explora la producción científica sobre el tema y se sintetizan las principales discusiones encontradas. Para el cumplimiento de estos propósitos se empelaron los métodos revisión documental, hermeneútico y estadístico. Las fuentes consultadas fueron Scopus, WOS y Scielo. Se seleccionaron 30 artículos publicados entre 2018 y 2023 que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Entre los principales hallazgos se encuentra que el país con mayor producción científica sobre esta temática es Estados Unidos, seguido por Brasil. El año con mayor porcentaje de investigaciones es 2020. Se identifican y analizan tres categorías temáticas: a) justicia y prácticas restaurativas, b) disciplina y convivencia escolar y c) implicación de los docentes. Además, se señala el protagonismo de los docentes y sus prácticas en el cambio de la disciplina tradicional. Se reconoce una diversidad de estrategias y prácticas restaurativas. Por último, se hace énfasis en los resultados positivos de la implementación integral de programas de justicia escolar restaurativa.
Los incentivos laborales y el crecimiento económico sostenido en la empresa distribuidora “Manuel Batallas”
Authors: Mocha-Román Verónica Johana
Published: November 2024

La relación entre los incentivos laborales y el crecimiento económico sostenido de las empresas ha sido objeto de atención en la literatura académica y empresarial. Con el objetivo de analizar la influencia de los incentivos laborales en el crecimiento económico en la empresa distribuidora “Manuel Batallas” se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo con un enfoque cuanti-cualitativo.  En la recopilación de la información se utilizaron las técnicas de encuesta y entrevista. La muestra quedó constituida por 10 empleados y 3 directivos de la empresa. Se encontró que los incentivos que promueven la motivación, el compromiso, la responsabilidad y el rendimiento de los empleados tienen un impacto significativo en la productividad y rentabilidad. Además, se identificaron prácticas específicas de incentivos que han demostrado ser más efectivas para estimular el crecimiento económico.
Investigación del mercado inmobiliario para el proyecto de construcción de una urbanización en Chilcapamba, Cuenca
Authors: Mogrovejo-Lazo Alberto Esteban , Calle-Castro Aida Karina
Published: November 2024

Cuenca ha tenido un crecimiento demográfico significativo durante la última década; además, la parte urbana se ha vuelto muy comercial, factores que inciden en la búsqueda de nuevos espacios para la urbanización. La presente investigación descriptiva con enfoque cuantitativo tiene como objetivo analizar el mercado inmobiliario para el proyecto de construcción de una urbanización en el sector Chilcapamba de la ciudad de Cuenca. Para su cumplimiento se aplicó la técnica de encuesta a 138 sujetos seleccionados aleatoriamente de una población estimada de 116.718 habitantes de la ciudad de Cuenca. Entre los principales hallazgos se destaca que, si bien la mayoría de los pobladores encuestados requieren viviendas a bajo costo, hay un target muy importante que buscan otras cualidades en el momento de elegir una casa o departamento, como son: seguridad, tranquilidad y modernidad. Se recomienda construir la urbanización en el sector de Chilcapamba, ya que los índices financieros así lo avalan (Valor Actual Neto de $8.269.169,01; Tasa Interna de Retorno del 39,45% e índice de Beneficio Costo de $2,78).
Gestión y disrupción del conocimiento: prácticas juveniles en el ciberespacio
Authors: Fabila-Echauri Angélica María , Pérez-Morales Flor de Líz , Castillo-Guzmán Rosaura
Published: November 2024

El artículo presenta un análisis reflexivo que busca develar las hechuras y dinámicas de construcción de las formas en que jóvenes universitarios tabasqueños se relacionan con sus realidades cercanas, para entenderlas, significarlas y actuar con ellas en los ámbitos político, artístico o formativo. El análisis tiene como base las experiencias y resultados de investigaciones concurrentes realizadas entre 2012 y 2022, que exploran el encuentro de jóvenes con la tecnología digital como una vía de expresión e interacción con el mundo. La recuperación de las experiencias juveniles que comprometen los acercamientos académicos de referencia, se basan en entrevistas a jóvenes universitarios autores o participantes en expresiones socioculturales de diversa índole, que trazan rutas de comprensión sobre las formas en que los jóvenes viven e interpretan sus realidades para fundar formas epistémicas particulares, fraguadas en complicidad con la tecnología.  Los escenarios descritos dan cuenta de cómo el mundo tecnológico lleva a modos diferentes de ver la realidad, y acusan la transformación de los modelos sensibles, mentales y de representación que hacen los jóvenes, al desplazar sus ámbitos de actividad a territorios cibernéticos en la gestación de una nueva episteme que modela sus prácticas.
Binarismo de los cuerpos sexuados de nativos digitales en relación a la telefonía móvil
Authors: Lobo-Fernández Eugenio Fernando
Published: November 2024

En este ensayo, se reflexiona en torno a la repercusión que ha tenido la interacción de los llamados "nativos digitales" con las actuales tecnologías, particularmente con la telefonía móvil, y se le relaciona con el grado de aceptación social, que en general existe, por parte de estos hacia la perspectiva del no binarismo de los cuerpos. La argumentación es llevada a cabo sobre tres aspectos fundamentales: materialidad fija versus inmaterialidad corpórea de los objetos cotidianos; cuerpo como generador de historicidad irreversible versus el cuerpo actual de historicidad manipulable y cuerpo-molestia como dependiente de la alteridad versus independencia. Estos tópicos se abordan desde un proceso inductivo de razonamiento, que parte del ejercicio hermenéutico, procurando ir desde ejemplos concretos a la explicación conceptual. Entre los hallazgos se significan que: el cuerpo disfrute es un proceso cognitivo de aprendizaje corporeizado mediante el cual se espera que el dispositivo móvil, como extensión de la subjetividad y de la corporalidad genere soluciones ante las ansiedades cotidianas experimentadas; además, el cuerpo no puede ser un límite, no debe no poder vivirse desde la identidad genérica y sexual que determine subjetivamente en cada momento un individuo.
Análisis jurídico sobre las condiciones precarias y falta de recursos de la industria minera
Authors: Moreira-Travez Víctor Hugo , Pachano-Zurita Ana Cristina
Published: November 2024

En muchos países, especialmente en aquellos con una industria minera significativa, los trabajadores enfrentan condiciones laborales peligrosas y precarias; estas incluyen largas jornadas laborales, exposición a sustancias tóxicas y peligrosas, falta de equipo de protección adecuado, salarios insuficientes y falta de acceso a servicios de salud y seguridad. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar desde una perspectiva jurídica las condiciones precarias y falta de recursos de los trabajadores mineros en Ecuador. El ejercicio indagatorio se centra en el análisis de la situación laboral de los trabajadores en la industria minera y en la evaluación de las leyes y regulaciones existentes para garantizar sus derechos y protección; en tal sentido se realiza un estudio de revisión, auxiliado por los métodos: exegético y analítico-sintético. El análisis realizado permite avizorar la necesidad de acciones y reformas tanto a nivel legal como práctico. Es fundamental fortalecer la protección laboral, mejorar las condiciones de trabajo, promover la salud y seguridad de los trabajadores y garantizar un enfoque sostenible en la industria minera en un marco de colaboración estrecha entre los diferentes actores involucrados.
Diagnóstico de competencias digitales docentes en una institución de educación superior
Authors: Rodriguez-Rivas Jose Gabriel
Published: November 2024

Las competencias digitales son cruciales en los docentes del siglo XXI. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el nivel de competencias digitales de los docentes de Instituto Tecnológico de Durango en relación con las cinco áreas del marco DigComp. El estudio con diseño no experimental y transversal es de tipo descriptivo con un enfoque cuantitativo. Se utilizó un instrumento adaptado y validado basado en el modelo DigComp. Participaron 83 docentes de los diferentes departamentos académicos de la institución. Los resultados mostraron un nivel avanzado en el área de competencia búsqueda y gestión de información y datos. Por otro lado, la mayor parte de los docentes tienen un nivel intermedio en las áreas de competencia comunicación y colaboración, seguridad, creación de contenidos digitales y resolución de problemas. Los resultados demuestran que es recomendable medir las competencias digitales para planear las estrategias de formación de acuerdo con las necesidades de cada departamento.
Cadena de valor y externalidades ambientales en procesos de faenamiento: GAD Montúfar, Carchi, Ecuador
Authors: Pantoja-Guerra Melany Odalis , Guerrero-Villegas Wilma Matilde , Rosero-Rosero Piedad Maribel , Villares-Villafuerte Héctor Gustavo
Published: November 2024

Las políticas públicas dirigidas al bienestar de la población han influido en la composición de la dieta humana, particularmente en el aumento del consumo de carne de origen animal. Para abordar esta creciente demanda alimenticia, los gobiernos locales destinan más espacio para el faenamiento de animales, lo que podría generar externalidades ambientales negativas debido a una inadecuada gestión de los desechos. Esta investigación exploratoria y trasnversal con enfoque mixto tiene por objetivo analizar la cadena de valor del centro de faenamiento de bovinos y porcinos del cantón Montúfar, provincia del Carchi, y las posibles externalidades ambientales derivadas de su localización en el área urbana. Para analizar la cadena de valor se aplicó el método Value Links, la observación directa y la revisión documental; así como, las técnicas de entrevista y encuesta para identificar las externalidades y conocer la percepción de la población sobre problemas de contaminación. Los hallazgos revelan que, la cadena de valor no integra todos los componentes necesarios, restando competitividad al servicio final ofrecido al consumidor. Se destaca el interés de la población en participar en el cuidado ambiental y se reconoce el potencial de la organización colectiva para aportar a la internalización de externalidades ambientales.