bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Activities of Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesized from Elaeagnus indica Leaf Extract
Authors: Indhira Dhatchanamoorthi , Aruna Arumugam , Manikandan Krishnamoorthy , Albeshr Mohammed F. , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Vinayagam Ramachandran , Kathirvel Arumugam , Priyan Selvaraj Ranjith , Kumar Govindan Suresh , Srinivasan Ramalingam
Published: April 2023

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) have recently received much interest due to their low toxicity, high bioavailability, and wide applications. This study synthesized Se NPs using selenious acid as a starting material and leaf extract from Elaeagnus indica as a reducing agent. Spectroscopic and electron microscopy investigations have demonstrated the production of aggregated amorphous Se NPs with phytochemicals. Furthermore, the reduction of selenious acid into Se NPs by phytochemicals present in the leaf extract of E. indica was confirmed in a prominent band at 269 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles have a 10–15 nm particle size distribution. The agar well diffusion assay exhibited remarkable dose-dependent, wide-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of the Se NPs against all the tested microorganisms. Moreover, the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (10 µg/mL) was noted against Salmonella Typhimurium and Fusarium oxysporum. The prepared Se NPs degraded methylene blue dye by about 89% after 6 h of exposure to sunlight. In conclusion, the synthesis of Se NPs using E. indica leaf extract shows promise as a method for producing Se NPs with significant antimicrobial activity and potential for methylene blue photodegradation. These properties make them potentially valuable in various fields, including water treatment and biomedical applications, in the future.
Evaluation of Crude Oil Wax Dissolution Using a Hydrocarbon-Based Solvent in the Presence of Ionic Liquid
Authors: Zainal Abidin Muhammad Rahmat Syafiq , Noh Mohd Hilmi , Moniruzzaman Muhammad , Goto Masahiro
Published: April 2023

The current alternative of using aromatic-based wax soak solvents has been found to be hazardous and imposes a high cost on field expenditures. These solvents are widely used in the oil and gas industry to soften up wax before the pigging process. However, their impacts on the environment are quite concerning. Plus, they also impose hazardous exposure and are found to be damaging to both plastic and rubber hoses. To replace the current alternative with other hydrocarbon-based wax soak solvents, ionic liquids were found to have the capability to increase the solvent power capabilities and the efficiency of wax soak solvent in dissolving heavy crude oil. To optimise the application of hydrocarbon solvents and ionic liquid in wax dissolution, the affinity of ionic liquids in three solvents was studied. The solvents were condensate, ethyl acetate, and xylene. It was found that from four types of ionic liquids tested, only BMIMCL and HMIMBr were miscible in all three of the solvents used. Dissolution of hard deposited paraffin wax in condensate, ethyl acetate and xylene was conducted using the spectral analysis method, and it was found that the dissolution of paraffin wax was greatest in ethyl acetate. However, enchantment on wax dissolution was also observed for gas condensate and xylene. The wax soaking time was also optimised, in which the dissolution of wax was found to reach a saturation level when the wax had been soaked for over 90 min in the solvents, especially for gas condensate. Further study on the effect of ionic liquid introduced alongside condensate, ethyl acetate and xylene, aiming to enhance the solvent power, was also conducted using the spectral analysis method. The introduction of ionic liquids to all hydrocarbon-based wax soak solvents used in this project was proven to significantly increase the UV-VIS absorbance of the extracted solvents after paraffin wax had been soaked for 30 min.
On the Energy Performance and Energy Saving Potential of the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Study Based on the Italian Energy Audits
Authors: Bruni Giacomo , Martini Chiara , Martini Fabrizio , Salvio Marcello
Published: April 2023

The growing attention towards environmental sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry and increased awareness of the potential for improving energy performance are justified by the fact that the sector is energy intensive. However, the variety of the processes and the lack of data about production and energy consumption make it difficult to calculate Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs) as much as to list Energy Performance Improvements Actions (EPIAs). This work elaborates data, such as final energy consumption and site characteristics, from 84 mandatory Italian Energy Audits (EAs) to calculate the mean and standard deviation of site-level EnPIs. Additionally, the suggested and implemented EPIAs are analyzed to describe achieved and potential savings. The results show what follows. In the typical pharmaceutical plant, around 70% of energy is used in auxiliary services, and its use is not related to production. For this reason, EnPIs calculated both with respect to mass production and plant surfaces have a mid-to-wide standard deviation; the mean primary energy EnPI calculated with respect to plant surface area is 0.38 ± 0.22 toe/m2. Most suggested EPIAs regard cold and hot energy production, as well as on-site energy production, from renewables and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants. The payback time is less than 4 years for many EPIAs, including both technical and managerial ones. According to the results, plant energy managers should calculate site EnPIs with respect to the site surface and increase monitoring of energy consumption at the process level. The last recommendation is also likely to be associated with more effective planning of EPIAs, allowing their introduction where the saving potential and economic indicators are more promising.
Microstructure, Wear Resistance and Corrosion Performance of Inconel 625 Layer Fabricated by Laser/Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Induction Hybrid Deposition
Authors: Sun Rui , Qiao Yuhang , Li Xinhong , Shi Yongjun , Wang Xiaogang
Published: April 2023

In order to avoid microstructure degradation caused by low frequency induction heat in laser-induction hybrid deposition, this paper proposes a laser/ultra-high frequency (UHF) induction hybrid deposition method. Microstructure observation is carried out to reveal the effect of UHF induction heat on the microstructure of the deposited layer. Results indicate that the laser-UHF induction hybrid deposited layer, under a current density of 1.14 × 108 A/m2, exhibits a finer microstructure and fewer Laves phases than that of the laser deposited layer. As the current density increases from 1.01 × 108 A/m2 to 1.14 × 108 A/m2, the microstructure of the laser-UHF induction hybrid deposited layer is significantly refined; however, as the current density further increases, the microstructure is only slightly further refined, since the enhanced thermal effect, along with the increasing current density, may help grain growth. Wear test demonstrates that the laser-UHF induction hybrid deposited layer obtained with a current density of 1.40 × 108 A/m2 has the lowest average friction coefficient of 0.375 and the lowest wear rate of 15.53 × 10−5 mm3/N·m, indicating a better wear resistance. Corrosion resistance is also evaluated by electrochemical corrosion test. Results indicate that the addition of UHF induction heat improves the corrosion resistance of the deposited layer. Owing to the high ohm resistance of the passive film, the deposited layer fabricated with a current density of 1.01 × 108 A/m2 exhibits the best corrosion resistance. Based on the analysis of wear and corrosion performance, the current density of 1.40 × 108 A/m2 is an optimal parameter for a laser-UHF induction hybrid deposited Inconel 625 layer.
The Relationship between Knowledge, Attitudes, Values, and Technology in Promoting Zero-Waste Pro-Environmental Behaviour in a Zero-Waste Campus Framework
Authors: Baba-Nalikant Mayawi , Abdullah Nor Athiyah , Husin Mohd Heikal , Syed-Mohamad Sharifah Mashita , Mohamad Saleh Mohamad Saifudin , Rahim Asyirah Abdul
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and values in promoting zero-waste, pro-environmental behaviour among the university campus community and how technology plays its role. A survey instrument was developed from the findings of earlier focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, which were based on the adaptation and adoption of previous studies, especially Kollmuss and Agyeman’s 2002 Model of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and a modified Knowledge-Attitude-Practises Model. Three hundred ninety-three respondent samples from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Sains Malaysia were analysed for their insights regarding their vision of a Zero-Waste Campus using the Structural Equation Modelling approach. The results show positive relationships between the five studied variables and the proposed hypotheses. Knowledge and attitudes serve as moderating variables, enhancing the strength of the causal effects of the related relationships. As the results show good significance, proper planning for integrating the studied variables and the proposed zero-waste campus framework can be used by university management, other institutions, or national-level agencies to develop an environment-specific plan to promote zero-waste, pro-environmental behaviour.
A Prison Philosopher: A Personal Essay
Authors: Brown Alexander A.
Published: April 2023

Prison is often thought of as hell behind barbed wire, housing the most nefarious of sorts who have thrown away any inkling of wisdom. Nevertheless, a number of reasons can make prison an ideal place to develop an appreciation for, and put into practice, philosophy, the love of wisdom. I offer a rough characterization of the practice of philosophy in the context of prison. The removal of persons from a world that is comparatively unfettered to a place of silence and solitude can lead to wonder and questioning. I then consider how I, as a prison philosopher, develop questions and reflection around various ideas from God, truth, beauty, and love, to death.
Reaching Out: Using Social Media to Recruit ‘Invisible Groups’: The Case of South Asian Women in the UK Experiencing Gender-Related Violence
Authors: Sandhu Kalwinder , Brady Geraldine , Barrett Hazel
Published: April 2023

The rise of social media use has been phenomenal, particularly during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Facebook has also seen its share of users rise at a meteoric rate. At the same time, the academy is producing a growing body of literature concerning the use of online methods for primary data collection. Yet, despite the increase in the use of the internet as a research tool, very little still exists on the use of social media to recruit research participants, particularly those deemed “socially invisible”. This paper addresses this gap. Another research project explored the experiences of South Asian women who had departed the social norms of arranged marriage to form an intimate relationship with a partner of choice and who then experienced forms of gender-related violence (GRV). The project encountered difficulties in recruiting participants from this marginalised and often invisible group in UK society, who are often too frightened or ashamed to come forward. This study demonstrates how to use Facebook ethically and methodologically, highlighting some of the methods used to overcome the challenges that were presented. The research was undertaken before the COVID-19 pandemic (which prompted a widespread use of social media in social science research). We argue that, despite the ethical challenges, the advantages of using social media to recruit participants when researching a highly sensitive topic such as GRV with ‘invisible groups’ was highly beneficial. We therefore suggest that social media should be an integral part of the research recruitment process, alongside non-digital methods, so that other ‘invisible groups’ are not created comprising those who cannot access technology. We share the lessons learned for the benefit of researchers using a similar approach today when recruiting research participants from invisible and marginalised groups. The authors caveat their recommendation of using social media with suggesting that those who do not have high levels of experience of data collection with such cohorts instead consider working with gatekeepers to facilitate the recruitment.
Perception of Scientific and Social Values in the Sustainable Development of National Innovation Systems
Authors: Volchik Vyacheslav , Maslyukova Elena , Strielkowski Wadim
Published: April 2023

National innovation systems (NIS) are generally perceived as a set of interconnected organizations (or structures) that domestically produce and commercially implement scientific knowledge and technology. The development of any national innovation system is the key element for shaping up the scientific values in every country. Our paper identifies the trends in global innovation and technological scope associated with the formation of global economic relations, global investment, the flow of knowledge, technology, increased internationalization of R&D, and the formation of global innovation networks. In addition, it attempts to trace the relationship between instrumental values associated with the perception of science and technology and the development of NIS within the context of sustainable economic development using a case study from Russia. The paper carries out the analysis of values on the basis of the World Values Survey (WVS), as well as statistical indicators characterizing the development of the national innovation system. The obtained quantitative results stemming from our empirical model are further refined with the help of qualitative research, including the narrative economics approaches. Our results might be beneficial for the stakeholders and policymakers working with innovation policies and approaches in business, economics, and education.
Quadrivalent Formulation of Intranasal Influenza Vaccine M2SR (M2-Deficient Single Replication) Protects against Drifted Influenza A and B Virus Challenge
Authors: Hill-Batorski Lindsay , Hatta Yasuko , Moser Michael J. , Sarawar Sally , Neumann Gabriele , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Bilsel Pamuk
Published: April 2023

Current influenza vaccines demonstrate low vaccine efficacy, especially when the predominantly circulating strain and vaccine are mismatched. The novel influenza vaccine platform M2- or BM2-deficient single replication (M2SR and BM2SR) has been shown to safely induce strong systemic and mucosal antibody responses and provide protection against significantly drifted influenza strains. In this study, we demonstrate that both monovalent and quadrivalent (Quad) formulations of M2SR are non-pathogenic in mouse and ferret models, eliciting robust neutralizing and non-neutralizing serum antibody responses to all strains within the formulation. Following challenge with wildtype influenza strains, vaccinated mice and ferrets demonstrated reduced weight loss, decreased viral replication in the upper and lower airways, and enhanced survival as compared to mock control groups. Mice vaccinated with H1N1 M2SR were completely protected from heterosubtypic H3N2 challenge, and BM2SR vaccines provided sterilizing immunity to mice challenged with a cross-lineage influenza B virus. Heterosubtypic cross-protection was also seen in the ferret model, with M2SR vaccinated animals exhibiting decreased viral titers in nasal washes and lungs following the challenge. BM2SR-vaccinated ferrets elicited robust neutralizing antibodies toward significantly drifted past and future influenza B strains. Mice and ferrets that received quadrivalent M2SR were able to mount immune responses equivalent to those seen with each of the four monovalent vaccines, demonstrating the absence of strain interference in the commercially relevant quadrivalent formulation.
Calidad en la gestión de proyectos en las instituciones educativas
Authors: Hernandez Hector Andres , Echeverri-Buitrago Fernando , Parra-Burbano Alexander , Salas-Tosne Deyby Sebastián
Published: April 2023

La educación como derecho fundamental, inscribe procesos a través de su historia. De acuerdo a estos procesos, el ser humano ha desarrollado competencias para la vida y para la sociedad, logrando paz e igualdad entre el mismo, el otro y lo otro. Es por tal motivo que, se identifica la importancia de la calidad en la gerencia de proyectos en instituciones educativas en especial de la básica primaria, básica secundaria y media técnica. Así mismo, desde los procesos en la dirección de proyectos, las diferentes áreas de conocimiento y sus grupos de procesos como la ejecución, seguimiento y control de los objetivos estratégicos propuestos por cada institución educativa.

Las instituciones educativas materializan sus propuestas formadoras y de impacto a la sociedad a través de la ejecución de sus proyectos educativos institucionales. Cada componente del proyecto gestiona aspectos esenciales que van desde lo académico, lo formativo, y lo administrativo hasta llegar a lograr estilos de vida no sólo de sus estudiantes, sino también de sus familias, lo que posibilita de alguna manera la transformación de sus entornos. Sin embrago, la herramienta metodológica utilizada para la gestión de estos proyectos se realiza desde una visión muy académica, en la mayoría de los casos. Lo cual deja abierta la posibilidad de indagar y experimentar la aplicación de metodologías más sistemáticas en la gerencia de proyectos, desde las teorías empresariales, ajustando y guardando las distancias, a los procesos de planeación, ejecución, seguimiento y control de los proyectos educativos institucionales.

El presente articulo tiene como propósito realizar una revisión de la forma como funcionan los proyectos educativos institucionales, en sus diferentes dimensiones y elementos, así como en el rol que desempeñan los directores o directivos, quienes son los encargados de la planeación y ejecución de los procesos y actividades que cada año se deben llevar a cabo para alcanzar los objetivos fundamentales de las instituciones educativas y cómo desde las lecciones aprendidas, implementan mejores estrategias para prestar un servicio educativo de calidad.

En este sentido, este artículo presenta una perspectiva Mixta, una investigación documental haciendo una revisión bibliográfica para identificar los elementos fundamentales que permitan conocer y avaluar el impacto de la gerencia de proyectos en las instituciones educativas. Además, involucra diferentes actores claves en el desarrollo de estrategias que puedan ser aplicadas en los proyectos educativos institucionales.
Aplicación de estrategias en la gestión de proyectos en el sector de la ingeniería contra incendios
Authors: Hernandez Hector Andres , Echeverri Bryan Steven , Diosa-Becerra Jhon Alexander , Calderón-Sotero Jaime Hernán
Published: April 2023

En la actualidad, la aplicación de estrategias en la gestión de proyectos en el sector de la ingeniería contra incendios será un mecanismo que permitirá el desarrollo estructural y comercial de las organizaciones pertenecientes al sector. Se encuentran diversos estudios centrados en la toma de decisiones estratégicas, herramientas como las metodologías ágiles y cuadro de mando integral, gestión de riesgos y sostenibilidad empresarial que permiten disminuir la incertidumbre y aumentar el éxito en los proyectos en el sector de la ingeniería contra incendios. Lo anterior permite crear un sistema que mejora los procesos estructurales de la gestión de proyectos en el sector de la ingeniería contra incendios en procura del aumento de la competitividad y de la aplicación de estrategias focalizadas, garantizando así la rentabilidad del sector económico y el impacto positivo para una sociedad más sostenible. El objetivo de este estudio permitió identificar las estrategias claves para la planeación, ejecución y cierre de los proyectos cuando se intervienen desde una perspectiva holística enfocada a la mejora continua.
Sundanese Language Variations on Children’s Speech Found in Multicultural Environment
Authors:   Department of English, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Indonesia, Prihandini Asih
Published: April 2023

Language used in multicultural environment has been analyzed and showed many new findings. This study was purposed to examine Sundanese language variations on children's speech found in multicultural environment, especially who live in Bandung, West Java. Obtaining data were done by observing competent observations. Results of simak, libat, cakap methods are described qualitatively. The results show that there are some different language variations with their various factors. Language variations began to be used along with the development of their age, so the acquisition of the language has begun to show its uniqueness. The level of speech used is not used to fulfill the rules in force, such as using polite language when talking to their parents. This situation is very possible to occur due to environmental factors that do not support the use of speech levels at the time of speaking. Language variation of formal and informal can already be distinguished by speakers both consciously or not. The speech form is marked by the form of words and sentences that are concise, such as in the language spoken in a child's environment. Some languages that emerge and are used in daily life, are Indonesian, Sundanese, English and Arabic and they make speakers have a lot of vocabularies. Serious revitalization is needed to protect local language lost. Keywords: language variation, speech, multilingual, language lost
Multimodal Analysis about the America’s Mascots Comics on the Shen Comics Instagram Account (A Language Learning Media)
Authors:   English Department, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Indonesia, Juanda J
Published: April 2023

The research entitled Multimodal Analysis of comics about America’s Mascots in Shen Comics Instagram Account. The research has purposes to analyze the interpretation language that is appear in the comics on Shen Comics Instagram account. The research used the theories of multimodality analysis by Kress and Leeuwen. Theory of comic by Franz and Meier. The method of this research is a descriptive-analytic method. The analysis is based on an investigation of an event, essay, or act for know the real situation. This research is done by describing the data and information obtained, the writer used scientific journals, the sources are downloaded from the internet, as well as through visual media such as visual image from the Shen Comics Instagram account and at the final stage will be the conclusion of the analysis results. There are found that the interpretation language that is appear on comic in Shen Comics Instagram account is about local wisdom by illustrating the big four cities in America including San Fransisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. This analysis can be used for language learning purposes such as semiotic studies.The suggestions of the research are it would be better for the reader to understand the meaning of the comic, it will help the reader to be more completely understand the message or even the entertainment of the comic. Therefore, the reader will be able to acknowledge the information without any ambiguity occurs.
Students’ Originality in Expressing Their Ideas, Thoughts and Opinion in the Writing
Authors:   Bahasa dan Sastra Asing, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Setiawati A S , Oesman A M ,   Bahasa dan Sastra Asing, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Wardhana C K ,   Bahasa dan Sastra Asing, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Ramdhani F ,   Bahasa dan Sastra Asing, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Ozy J D A ,   Bahasa dan Sastra Asing, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Semarang
Published: April 2023

This research aims to see how original students express their ideas, thoughts and opinions through essays. The research approach used is quantitative and qualitative. The data were obtained from the scores of students' essays which were determined using an assessment rubric for the instrument. The essay consisted of 4 themes written by 63 students with a total of 252 essays. The results of quantitative analysis show that the level of originality of students' thinking, opinions, and ideas has increased from one theme to another. The low level of originality can be seen in essays on the theme of “Supootsu to Shiai” (Sports and Matches). Students only repeat the opinions expressed by experts contained in newspaper articles or other references they read. Then, qualitatively average students have the ability to express opinions in sentences which are general ideas but expressed using their own language style. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the Japanese language education study program students of UNNES have good abilities in expressing original ideas and opinions. This research has had an impact on increasing the ability to think creatively in terms of originality.
Utilizing Comparative Method for Analyzing the Course of Basic Design on Vorlehre and Three-Dimensional Form
Authors:   Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, Lucius C R , Santosa I ,   Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, Nugraha A ,   Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
Published: April 2023

The comparative method is a research strategy oriented to case study comparisons, where the analysis of each case study becomes a combination of the characteristics of the phenomena to be defined. Its case study analysis is interpretive of historical evidence, with the aim of explaining comparable processes for generating generalizations about the causes of the phenomenon. This comparative method is applied in building a logical foundation to identify the similarities and differences of the Course of Basic Design which was carried out at the Vorlehre of the Staatliches Bauhaus and the Three-Dimensional Form of Institut Teknologi Bandung. The comparison is focused on the definition of the comparable objects based on the interpretation of the available literature data. This analysis can explain a comparison pattern, which will be used to compare Bauhaus design work and Indonesian design work. The results of this study are part of a study on the influence of Bauhaus on design in Indonesia.
Optimizing Google Drive Media For Writing Paperless Office Letter
Authors:   Accounting Department, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Indonesia, Rachmanto Adi
Published: April 2023

University as an institution is equipped with an administration which always includes archiving activities. Making electronic letters can help administrative activities in obtaining cover letters from campus, one of which is a cover letter from the campus to carry out practical work in companies / institutions. Therefore, making manual letters / archives can be equipped with electronic archiving, one of which is the Google Drive application which has the purpose of being a paperless office. The purpose of this study was to create a cover letter making system using the Google Drive application as a support for a paperless office in universities. In the Google Drive application, other applications will also be used, including google form which is used to display the data entry interface, google docs for document creation and google spreadsheet is used for data storage and processing. This research is a descriptive study with a practical and applicable approach. The subjects in this study were secretariat employees and final year students who carried out practical work. The data collection techniques used were observation, interview and documentation. The impact of making this application is to be able to help students to simplify and speed up in obtaining a cover letter for practical work from campus.
Le statut de Pachybrachis catalonicus subsp. fallaciosus Burlini, 1968 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae, Cryptocephalini)
Authors: Coulon Jacques , Debreuil Marc , Cantot Pierre
Published: April 2023

Le mâle étudié par Burlini pour décrire Pachybrachis catalonicus subsp. fallaciosus a été examiné, de même que deux paratypes mâles et d’autres exemplaires topotypiques de Pachybrachis alpinus Rapilly, 1982 et quelques exemplaires de P. catalonicus Burlini, 1968 d’Espagne. L’étude des édéages et des genitalia femelles montre que la subsp. fallaciosus est une bonne espèce différente de P. catalonicus et dont P. alpinus est un synonyme junior. Par conséquent, P. fallaciosus Burlini, 1968, bona species, nouveau statut = P. alpinus Rapilly 1982, nouvelle synonymie.
Sur une nouvelle espèce du genre Menenia du Costa Rica : Menenia hyalinata n. sp., (Hemiptera : Fulgoromorpha)
Authors: Audibert Cédric , Porion Thierry
Published: April 2023

Une nouvelle espèce de Fulgoridae appartenant au genre Menenia est décrite du Costa Rica.
Hypertension-in-pregnancy-induced offspring weight loss in infancy presents physiological compensations on vascular function in adulthood
Authors: De Macedo Erick Ewdrill Pereira , Zochio Gabriela Palma , Caetano Edileia de Souza Paula , Junior Carlos Alan Dias
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Descendants of preeclamptic pregnancies have less body weight at birth; however, vascular function of hypertension-in-pregnancy-induced offspring weight loss is still unclear. Aims: Evaluate the impact of hypertensive pregnancy on cardiovascular system of first-generation male offspring rats focusing the nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Main methods: male rats, divided into 2 groups (n = 6 per group), group 1 offspring of normotensive mothers and group 2 offspring of hypertensive mothers. After birth, offspring were weighed, and blood pressure was measured. In adulthood, offspring were euthanized to perform vascular reactivity experiments, and metabolites of NO were examined in plasma. Key findings: Offspring of hypertensive mothers showed significant decreases in body weight on days 10 and 21 (P <0.05), while no significant differences were found in adult weight. Blood pressure of the offspring showed normal values in adulthood, and no significant changes were found on vascular function. Also, the metabolites of NO presented no statistical differences. Significance: The present results suggest that although reduced infant body weight gain were found, there may be physiological compensations throughout the development of the cardiovascular system of the offspring, since no differences were found in blood pressure parameters, NO and weight gains at 60 and 90 days of life of the offspring of hypertensive mothers.
The Cultural Closet: Masculinity Tested by Sexuality in Turkey
Authors: BAKIR Ayşegül , Haskan Avcı Özlem
Published: April 2023

This study aims to explore the experiences of Muslim Turkish men who hide their romantic relationships from their families. The study was carried out according to the phenomenological design and through semi-structured interviews. Participants were Turkish male university students aged between 18-33 years. The data was analyzed involving an inductive system of categories and codes. Four themes emerged from the analysis: Family attitudes towards romantic relationships, reasons for hiding sexual experiences from family, consequences of the prohibition of premarital sex, and indirect sources of information about sexuality. According to the findings, families' pressure and control practices related to gender norms lead men to hide their romantic relationships and sexual experiences from their families. Families' prohibitive attitudes towards premarital sexuality result in Turkish men lacking family guidance in sexuality education. These attitudes have adverse effects on individuals' mental health and romantic relationships. Socially, there are risks such as hasty and early marriages.
Gender Equality in the role of Independent Directors. Is it linked to sustainability?
Authors: BECK TOMMASO , ARDUINI SIMONA
Published: April 2023

The growing interest in social, environmental, and ethical aspects of business has underscored the need for a change of course from the typically male composition of Boards of Directors (BoD). Too often, in the past, management and board positions were delegated to men, not only based on competence, but also because of cultural biases and “male traditions”. Falling behind on this issue, and particularly with reference to gender equality related to the concepts of sustainability and ethics, would certainly mean missing new opportunities in value creation for companies. In this sometimes precarious, yet steadily increasing scenario, the important figure of the Independent Director (ID) and his gender, is too often overlooked. This figure, in fact, works concretely in the interest of the company and shareholders, overseeing and guiding the company itself in the right direction. Due to his non-executive role in the board, the ID, as opposed to the internal members of the BoD, enjoys an autonomous point of view.

The purpose of this paper, in a nutshell, is to examine this important profile from a gender perspective in order to observe the statistics with respect to the number, effectiveness, and performance of the female gender in this role. In addition to the phenomenon of detecting the performance of the IDs, the issue has also gained ethical importance, for example, in the same sustainable "good governance" strategies that have arisen in the past fifteen years. For this reason, in our view, the presence or absence of female IDs must necessarily also be read in terms of its impact on sustainability, as its cue for encouragement and outreach. The study concludes with a factual discussion of the empirical analysis conducted on a sample of thirteen banks in the Italian scenario, with reference to the present and the gender of the IDs. Through this statistical study, it was possible to draw a clear picture in support of the literature examined for the relationship between sustainable practices and female IDs, creating also a link between the theory analyzed and the practice identified in this field of research.
Women in Management Positions: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Guerrero-Ochoa Brescia Sofia , Cordova-Buiza Franklin , Aragon-Grados Evelin
Published: April 2023

Throughout history, there has been an idea that women had to follow orders, which caused them to be kept in subordinate positions even after they entered the labor market; fortunately, during the last few decades, research focused on gender and female leadership has increased substantially. This has facilitated the visibility of women's potential in top positions in organizations around the world. It has been proven that the presence of women on boards of directors’ benefits organizations because it allows them to have a wider diversity of talent for business management. The present study aimed to analyze theoretical and empirical studies on the factors that facilitate women's access to board positions between 2017 and 2022. This systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA statement strategy of articles in the Proquest, Ebsco, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. Articles published between the indicated years were selected, in Spanish and English, using inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a subsequent critical analysis of the articles obtained. A total of 34 articles were included from which the corresponding results were extracted. The results show that there is a greater amount of research on the subject in European and North American countries, published almost entirely in English. And according to the analysis, the factors that facilitate women's access to board positions can be divided into political types, such as rules, regulations and quotas, cultural factors such as support for women, equal opportunities and gender equity, organizational factors such as organizational culture, policies, practices and training programs, and social factors such as media visibility, the presence of mentors and partner support. The research concludes that the most investigated factors were political, as these factors increase the number of women on boards in the short term; however, it’s also necessary to highlight the importance of a fusion with social, cultural, and organizational factors to achieve long-term improvement; as well as the commitment of all the agents that interact in the professional life of women. This paper will contribute to future scientific research on women's access to board positions.
Gender Equality Plan: An Explorative Analysis of Italian Academia
Authors: Chamochumbi Diaz Gail Denisse , Palazzi Federica , Sentuti Annalisa , Sgrò Francesca
Published: April 2023

Since 2015, the European Union, always sensitive to gender issues, has been recommending and actively supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in academic and research organisations: a set of commitments and actions that aim to promote gender equality through a process of structural change. Moreover, the European Commission recognises GEPs as an eligibility criterion for participation in all Horizon Europe calls for research and innovation. Gender issues in academia are particularly topical in Italy. According to the last Global Gender Gap Report, in terms of economic participation and opportunities, Italy ranks 110th out of a total of 146 states, after several developing countries. In the country, even though women outnumber men among graduate students, a strong inequality in superior grades of the academic careers persists. In compliance with Decree No. 2/2019, and in line with EU-COM No.152/2020, Italian universities are required to adopt a GEP, which identifies the strategy of individual universities for gender equality. Consequently, most Italian universities have implemented their first GEP edition in last two years. Despite the growing attention to gender issues in academia, studies on GEP implementation and content are still scarce. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the implementation of GEPs in Italian universities by responding to the following research question: (RQ1) What is the state of the art about GEPs in Italian universities? Content analysis will be employed to identify to what extent universities have disclosed the information related to their GEPs. The study consists of the analysis of the total population of 67 Italian public universities that have been drafted referring to the period 2019-2025 (except for one GEP drawn up for 2015-2021). Results highlight that most universities easily disclose information on goals, actions, beneficiaries and institutional members and that universities seem to have difficulties in identifying the subjects operationally involved in the plan implementation, the financial resources and the expected results of the policies adopted for each action. This paper is original for two reasons. First, it provides insights into GEPs as a novelty strategic tool. Second, it represents the first empirical study that provides an overview of the GEPs’ structure and contents, with a focus on Italian academia.
Gender Representations in Greek Children’s Literature: Activities of Male and Female Characters
Authors: Karanikolaou Theopoula
Published: April 2023

In recent decades, extensive research has examined gender depiction in children’s literature as well as its impacts on young readers’ minds and attitudes. Children’s picture books are considered an important socializing factor as they provide their audience with a wide variety of information about life. Due to their young age, children have limited experience and knowledge of the world and therefore they depend on books in order to draw information about socially acceptable behaviours. As a cultural product, literature usually expresses the dominant ideology of the society in which it is produced and consumed. Therefore, intentionally or not, books frequently reproduce established attitudes, regardless of their validity, such as gender bias. This happens due to the fact that ideologies penetrate the language itself and by extension the way we think, speak or write. For this reason it is possible for books of the twenty-first century to still depict outdated gender portrayals. Naturally this is not a conscious, out loud statement of the writer or the illustrator, but it appears implicitly, usually as a given. Such gender portrayals can be outlined in a story by a character’s interests and activities. Leisure activities, sports and other hobbies can provide hints about the character’s personality, physical condition and talents. In the past, research has shown disparities in children’s literature, with male characters monopolizing ‘energetic’ activities and female characters spending their free time more statically. Stereotyped gender representations in picture books reproduce gender biases by implanting them to the next generation’s minds. Using content analysis methodology, this qualitative research examines if gender is depicted stereotypically in children’s picture books published in Greece from 2009 to 2019. According to findings, both male and female characters of the sample engage in activities which are in agreement with traditional gender-stereotyped traits. Implicit gender categorization of interests and hobbies operates restrictively for young children. This new data can constitute a useful tool for science, publishers and the state, as gender inequalities are considered to be the source of various social problems globally.
Do Women Have the Right Skills, Network and Support to Become CEOs?
Authors: Gunnarsdóttir Sigrún , Óladóttir Ásta Dís , Christiansen Þóra H. , Kristjánsdóttir Erla S.
Published: April 2023

This study investigates how women board members in listed companies perceive the fit between women’s leadership skills and how the role of CEO in listed companies is defined in the recruitment process. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 women board members, representing all listed companies in Iceland, to obtain an understanding of their experiences regarding support of women candidates and whether they believe estimates of women’s leadership skills contribute to the small number of women holding the position of CEO in a listed company. Data analysis revealed three themes; the first theme concerns networks and their impact on the appointments of CEO; the second deals with support for women seeking CEO positions and the third considers assessment of women’s leadership skills in relation to CEO appointments. The findings provide a new insight into the experience of women board members as regards the assessment of women’s leadership skills and the support to take on the position of CEO in listed companies in Iceland, but only limited research is available about the topic. The findings indicate that when selecting the CEOs of listed companies, it is a matter of importance that the applicant is a member of a male network and complies with masculine stereotypes of leadership styles. The findings suggest that when appointing CEOs of listed companies there is more support for men’s overconfidence than women’s reserved demeanour and men’s overconfidence is perceived as a better fit to how the role of CEO is defined in the recruitment process. The study provides new insights into how these outdated ideas on effective leadership and gender roles impact decisions when CEOs of listed companies are selected with corresponding likelihood of women being overlooked as successful candidates in the selection process.

Keywords: Gender, effective leadership, CEO recruitment, listed companies, boards, stereotypes.
Influence of Workplace Microaggressions on Engineering Female Faculty Motivation to do Research
Authors: Mardani Mojdeh , Stupnisky Robert
Published: April 2023

Negative and often unconscious beliefs about marginalised groups, including women and people of colour, sometimes manifest in discriminatory and degrading slights called microaggressions. Since most often microaggressions are in the form of subtle actions, unobtrusive comments, or humorous gestures, they are frequently overlooked as innocent and harmless, specifically to bystanders. However, their adverse effects on those on the receiving end are anything but innocuous, even if perpetrators are utterly unaware of their harmful comments or behaviours. Minorities and marginalized individuals often find microaggressions more harmful than blatant racism and discrimination. Six hundred and eleven STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) faculty from ten USA universities completed an online survey in the spring of 2021, of which 39% self-identified as Underrepresented Minority, URM, faculty. This study revealed that on average, URM women were 50% more susceptible to gender microaggressions, which correlated negatively with autonomy (having choice) and competence (being capable and effective), and positively with amotivation (lack of motivation). Case in point, 38% of them believed their opinions were overlooked in a group discussion because of their gender. Women with intersecting identities, such as women of colour, experienced both forms of gender and racial/ethnic microaggressions. They have experienced being ignored at work, being treated differently, and their opinion being overlooked based on their gender and/or their race/ethnicity. While detecting bias and microaggression and acknowledging their occurrence is crucial, taking deliberate and precise actions to disrupt and prevent them from re-occurring is even more pivotal. By realising the prevalence of discrimination and microaggressions towards underrepresented minority female faculty, and sharing insights into the complex and overarching race, ethnic, and gender relations among other social constructs, this study deepens our understanding of the challenges and barriers that this group has to grapple with. By adopting and creating effective institutional policies and professional training in support of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency we can improve the experiences of URM faculty and positively impact their motivation and productivity.
Challenges Facing Palestinian Women in Assuming Leadership Positions in Higher Education Institutions: Glass Ceiling
Authors: Najim Dr Munawwar
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to reveal the opinions of women leaders about the challenges facing Palestinian women that prevents women from being a leader, which is called the glass ceiling. Mix method was used in this research, using a survey and a questionnaire. The participants of the study consisted of (15) women leaders working in higher education universities in Palestine holding the following positions: heads, deans, committee chairpersons, administrative officers, and vice chancellors. The research came out with several results. The most important challenges came in descending order as follows:  social cultural and political challenges, organizational and management challenges, family challenges, and finally the psychological and subjective challenges got the fourth rank. Women are excluded from assuming administrative positions due to several factors, including nepotism and male bias; Women have the ability and competence, but they need a supporter to strengthen them and enhance their confidence to take the step of candidacy for leadership; Lack of confidence in women’s capabilities and their scientific and practical competence from the point of view of men, and fear of the decisions they will make upon assuming higher positions. It is recommended that establishing formal and informal professional networks among women is necessary to strengthen communication, exchange experiences and information, discuss and analyse problems and provide solutions. Also, it is necessary for higher education institutions to provide an organizational climate supportive of women assuming leadership positions, providing them with the latest techniques and modern management methods, to overcome obstacles, and the consequent provision of training and qualification programs and courses that enable them to master their work.