Digital Commons Network^™

Preparation, Characterization And Utilization Of Polyacrylamid-Kaolin Composite In The Removal Of Nickel Ions From Water, Mahmood Barbooti, Raghad Hilal, Balkees Al-Dabbagh

Engineering and Technology Journal

A composite material of polymeric matrix Polyacrylamid (PAM) that is reinforced by a certified clay mineral of the Iraqi kaolinite at several weight ratios (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) was prepared by mixing the polymer water solution with the clay followed by hand molding method. Some of the mechanical properties of the prepared composite such as tensile strength, impact and hardness Shore A were studied to improve the mechanical capability to be as a sorbent for the removal of heavy metals from water.The results showed an improvement in the mechanical properties as the kaolin content was increased. The powdered …

Analytical Characterization And Antimicrobial Activity Of Bismuth Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Laser Ablation Technique, Abdul Hadi Judran

Engineering and Technology Journal

Bismuth nanoparticles were synthesized using laser ablation technique by focusing solid bismuth target in distilled deionized water by 1064 nm and 532 nm laser radiations generated by Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser, respectively. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The XRD pattern of the synthesized sample was indexed as. UV–Vis spectrophotometer indicated that the peak of absorption spectra of bismuth nanoparticles located in UV-region (230 nm) and increased towards IR region with increase laser energy and laser wavelength. SEM and TEM exhibited spherical shape …

Seasonal Variation Of Residual Aluminum Concentration In Drinking Water, Layla Alwan, Ayat Mahdi

Engineering and Technology Journal

Data for aluminum concentration in Baghdad raw and drinking water have been taken from Baghdad Mayoralty for the period of the year (2005-2006) and for six water treatment plants (Al-Karkh, East Tigris, Al-Wathba, Al-Karama, Al-Qadisia and Al-Dora). The available data were analyzed by using statistical programs like (spss, statistica, grapher and excel) .Relation with water quality parameters was obtained like relation with pH and temperature. From the study the pH value was found to be ranged between (7.45-7.85) in supplied water for minimum aluminum residual. From the contour plot results show that an equation has been concluded which connect concentration …

Effects Of Electrode Geometry On Energy Transfer Characteristics Of Electrolytic Cells Used For Production Of Metallic Nanostructures, Noor Naji

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this work, the effects of geometries of stainless steel electrodes used inelectrolytic analysis cells were studied. These cells are used for preparation ofmetallic nanostructures. These effects can be observed by studying energy transfercharacteristics of electrolytic cell as the electric field and current density aredetermined by its electrode geometry. Four electrode geometries were used in thiswork.

Text File Hiding Randomly Using Secret Sharing Scheme, Yossra Ali, Hussein Mankhi

Engineering and Technology Journal

Exchange of information through the channels of communication can beunsafe. Communication media are not safe to send sensitive information so it isnecessary to provide the protection of information from disclosure to unauthorizedpersons. This research presented the method to information security is donethrough information hiding into the cover image using a least significant bit (LSB)technique, where a text file is encrypted using a secret sharing scheme. Then,generating positions to hiding information in a random manner of cover image,which is difficult to predict hiding in the image-by-image analysis or statisticalanalyzes. Where it provides two levels of information security through encryptionof a text …

Design A Fuzzy Pid Controller For Trajectory Tracking Of Mobile Robot, M.J. Mohamed, M.Y. Abbas

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this paper, a trajectory tracking control for a non-holonomic differential wheeled mobile robot (WMR) system is presented. A big number of investigations have been used the kinematic model of mobile robot which is a nonlinear model in nature, thus a hard task to control it. This work focuses on the design of fuzzy PID controller tuned with a firefly optimization algorithm for the kinematic model of mobile robot. The firefly optimization algorithm has been used to find the best values of controller's parameters. The aim of this controller is trying to force the mobile robot tracking a pre-defined continuous …

Metaphors And Socio-Cultural Values In China's Press Statement Translation, Adinda Natassa Valentine Hutabarat

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

In real practice, political text translations are in line with a country’s main foreign policies. Thus, an in-depth understanding on communicative strategies employed in translating political texts, e.g. press statements, is essential. The paper analyses the translation of press statements from the Source Text (Mandarin Chinese) into the Target Texts (English and Indonesian). To elaborate, this study uses van Dijk’s Political Discourse Analysis at the macro (contexts) and micro (texts) levels. By considering Newmark’s equivalent translation concept, as well as metaphor and annotated translations, the analysis reveals that the translation from China’s perspective uses metaphors and China’s socio-cultural values within …

Strategi Penerjemahan Lirik Lagu Album The Satanist Karya Behemoth Oleh Platform Musixmatch Dari Bahasa Inggris Ke Dalam Bahasa Indonesia, Saiyidinal Firdaus Sf

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This study examines the translation strategies employed by Musixmatch in translating the lyrics of The Satanist by Behemoth from English into Indonesian. Using a qualitative descriptive case study approach, the research analyzes nine translated songs through the theoretical frameworks of Peter Newmark and Vinay and Darbelnet, while also incorporating contemporary perspectives from digital translation studies, machine translation, and ideological translation. The findings indicate that Musixmatch predominantly applies literal translation strategies in transferring religious terminology, symbolic expressions, and intertextual references. Although this approach enables rapid semantic transfer and general comprehension, it frequently results in the reduction of aesthetic, liturgical, symbolic, and …

Scrolling, Following, Deciding: The Hidden Power Of Digital Influence On Wise Financial Decision, Nur Fatihah Muhamad Irwan, Wan Rasyidah Wan Nawang

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The effect of social media and digital influencers on financial behaviours has been well documented, but there is yet any solid evidence of their role in driving wise financial decision-making among Malaysians in particular. This study hence sets out to examine the impact of social media engagement and parasocial interaction in shaping financial attitudes, and the influence of financial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on the intention to practice wise financial decision-making. The mediating role of financial attitude was also studied, specifically in the link between social media engagement, parasocial interaction, and intention. A total of 250 Malaysian …

Impact Of Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg) Practices On The Stability And Profitability Of Financial Institutions In Malaysia, Sharifah Najihah Syed Ishar, Sharifah Fairuz Syed Mohamad, Nurul Sima Mohamad Shariff, Mazlynda Md Yusuf

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) activities affect the stability and profitability of Malaysian financial institutions, in light of the country's growing emphasis on sustainable finance. Using annual data from 2014 to 2024, the study focuses on three main objectives: assessing whether stronger ESG practices enhance financial stability, identifying the most influential ESG pillar among environmental, social, and governance components, and evaluating whether ESG performance affects profitability. This study employs random-effects panel regression with robust standard errors, yielding empirical evidence relevant to Malaysia’s dual banking landscape. The results show that stronger ESG performance raises the stability of …

What Drives Consumers To Use Insurtech Apps? The Role Of Insurance Literacy, Jia Chun Chia, Hui Shan Lee, Bik Kai Sia

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Although financial technology has spread worldwide, the adoption of InsurTech in Malaysia is still low because of the knowledge-action gap, in which people continue to use traditional agents. This study examines the factors that determine behavioral intention to use InsurTech apps by incorporating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and including a novel insurance literacy factor. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was adopted, and 406 valid responses were gathered from 406 Malaysian Generation Z individuals and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that the model explains 58% of the variance …

Analysis Of The Determinants Of Buy-Now-Pay-Later Payment Mode Among Malaysians In Klang Valley, Wai Zhi Tay, Chi Hau Tan

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service has become increasingly popular in Malaysia in recent years, especially in the Klang Valley. The BNPL service offers consumers a more convenient payment method and access to credit, raising concerns about increased household debt and financial vulnerability. In this study, this paper used financial literacy, perceived risk, credit attitude, and economic vulnerability to examine which factors influence the intention to use the BNPL payment mode. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is used to explain the factors influencing consumers’ intention to use BNPL services. This study adopts a quantitative research design and collects …

Pricing Under Pressure: Cost Volatility, Customer Affordability And Value Perception In Micro And Small Food Businesses, Fadhlur Rahim Azmi, Nursyahwani Mohd Sukri, Maciej Woźniak, Haslinda Musa

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines how micro and small food businesses make pricing decisions under cost volatility, customer affordability pressure, and value perception constraints. Drawing on semi-structured interview evidence from 12 Malaysian micro and small food and beverage businesses, this study adopts an interpretive qualitative multiple-case design. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and cross-case comparison, with dynamic capabilities as an interpretive lens. The findings show that pricing is not a simple cost-plus calculation or the application of a single pricing method. Instead, micro and small food businesses practice adaptive hybrid pricing by combining cost awareness, competitor reference, affordability judgment, value …

A Visual Analysis Of The Color Variety In Pekalongan Hand-Drawn Batik From 1910 To 2015, Christophera Ratnasari Lucius, Yanuar Ramadhan, Ahmad Fuad

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

UNESCO has recognized Indonesian Batik's variety of designs and colors as an intangible cultural asset. Pekalongan batik, which is categorized as batik pesisir and is distinguished by its varied and expressive color combination, is one prominent example. Cultural acculturation influenced by China, Japan, India, and the Netherlands has created its visual identity. In order to create a culture-based color reference, this study will map the color variations of sixty hand-drawn Pekalongan batik pieces created between 1910 and 2015. Contemporary batik from current workshops and museum collections are among the research subjects. Digital photography was used for visual documentation, and Adobe …

Visual Aesthetic Structure In East Java Temple Reliefs: A Study Of Line, Plane, Proportion, And Rhythm, Marina Wardaya

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The temple reliefs of East Java constitute one of the main categories of the material tradition that reflects not only the aesthetic taste of Javanese culture, but also its spiritual viewpoint and the socio-cultural milieu that characterized early Javanese society. In addition to being abstract visual texts, these reliefs also embody and represent cultural identity and values. The proposed research will analyze the visual structure of temple reliefs using a visual language (Bahasa Rupa) approach and visual design theory by examining the four principal visual components (line, plane, proportion, and visual rhythm) that together form the formal structure of these …

Theatre Practice As A Restorative Medium For Collective Memory In The Collaborative Performance ``Install Ulang: Surawana Lewat Jalan Memutar'', Rifqi Haekal Amanullah, Wahyu Novianto

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study examines the socio-cultural estrangement between members of the Canggu Village community and the reliefs and spatial environment of Surawana Temple. It explores how theatrical practice can serve as a performative medium for reactivating and reinterpreting collective memory associated with a historical site embedded in everyday life. Focusing on the collaborative performance Install Ulang: Surawana Lewat Jalan Memutar, the study employs artistic research with a practice-based approach, with the lead author acting as director and artistic facilitator. Data were collected through interviews, observation, literature review, workshops, artistic exploration, and post-performance reflection involving temple caretakers, farmers, archaeologists, and local …

The Equipp Framework: Achieving Quality Through Lnterprofessional Synergy, Lynn Gallagher-Ford, Lee Ann Strait, Cynthia D. Beckett, Karey Dufour

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce interprofessional clinicians, evidence-based practice (EBP) experts, and process improvement (Pl) experts to a new framework titled: Evidence-based Quality in Practice and Process Framework (EQUiPP). It is uniquely designed to provide structure and guidance to synergistically align EBP and Pl work to effectively improve and sustain outcomes. Use of the EQUiPP Framework decreases the frequency of implementing ineffective changes, saves time and money, and improves care and outcomes. The EQUiPP Framework integrates evidence-based practice and process improvement methods for sustained quality.

The content of the workshop will guide healthcare interprofessionals to effectively plan …

Health Promotion In Tertiary Music Institutions: A Position Paper, Raluca Matei, B. Ackermann, J. Allen, U. Alpagut, K. Ananda-Owens, L. S. Araújo, R. Arnold, K. Árnason, T. Babyak, M. Baroody, F. Barreto Kochem, S. Bastepe-Gray, K. Behel, K. R. Beuschau, M. Bidlack, C. Blouin, A. Bull, A. Bush, S. Callan-Harris, K. Chesky, J-Y. Chi, R. Chiu, V. Cornett, M. Cortesi, S. Couth, A. Détári, U. Devadas, M. Doğantan-Dack, S. Dunbar, G. Ege

School of Health Professions

Health promotion in tertiary music education lacks shared guidance despite rising concern for musicians’ well-being. This position paper addresses that gap with a consensus-based, evidence-informed framework developed by 122 contributors across six continents and a variety of disciplines, including musicians and student representatives. It advances a broad understanding of health—physical, psychological, social, cultural, and occupational—and positions health promotion as integral to musicking rather than an add-on. We offer seven adaptable recommendations for institutions: (1) Reframe musicianship through health-informed cultural transformation; (2) Transform institutional culture and governance; (3) Collaborate across disciplines and expertise; (4) Equip educators, leaders, and staff to promote …

Material Transformation And Cultural Aesthetics In Javanese Keris Pamor: A Perspective On Sustainable Art, Kuntadi Wasi Darmojo, Iwan Budi Santoso, Ippei Suzuki

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study investigates the transformation of discarded motorcycle shock absorber material into an alternative material for producing pamor in traditional Javanese keris craftsmanship from the interdisciplinary perspectives of material culture, visual aesthetics, and sustainable craft practice. A practice-based research approach combined with descriptive qualitative methods was employed through material exploration, traditional forging experiments, pamor formation, keris production, visual observation, and cultural interpretation. The findings demonstrate that discarded motorcycle shock absorber material can be incorporated into the traditional forging process to produce stable, layered pamor patterns. The resulting pamor exhibited black, dark gray, and dull silvery-white tones, a layered surface structure, …

An Initial Formulation Of A Tactile-Based Art Creation Method From A Low-Vision Artist's Relief Painting Practice At Yayasan Teratai Bali, Ida Bagus Komang Sindu Putra, I Wayan Adnyana, I Wayan Karja, I Wayan Sujana

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This article examines the relief painting practice of one low-vision artist at Yayasan Teratai Bali as the basis for an initial formulation of a tactile-oriented visual art creation method. It addresses a methodological gap in inclusive art education and disability art studies, where blind and low-vision individuals are often discussed as learners, participants, or audiences, while their own procedures for making artworks receive less attention. Using an instrumental case study with a descriptive-interpretive orientation, data were collected through repeated observation, informal conversational interviews, artwork and process documentation, close observation of textural details, and contextual workshop documentation. Recurring actions and statements …

Court Reform And State Constitutions, Bryna Godar, Miriam Seifter

Northwestern University Law Review

State legislatures regularly propose and enact laws that seek to shape the substantive outcomes of state courts. These maneuvers, including court-packing, jurisdiction-stripping, and more creative changes to judicial selection or authority, would amount to legal earthquakes at the federal level. At the state level, these efforts often receive virtually no attention.

This Essay brings the potent category of outcome-shaping state court reform measures into focus and evaluates it as a question of state constitutional law. We argue that state constitutions, organized around principles of popular sovereignty, do not bar measures that align state courts with popular preferences or the public’s …

State Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosure Laws And The Dormant Commerce Clause: Leveraging The State Interest In Protecting Residents From Deception To Pass The Pike Balancing Test, Matthew Macphail

Northwestern University Law Review

Misleading corporate claims about greenhouse gas emissions pose a high risk of consumer deception, as there is currently no uniform federal standard governing how companies must measure or disclose those emissions. Without a national regulatory scheme, firms can selectively report, use inconsistent methodologies, or market vague “carbon neutral” claims, making it difficult for consumers to assess accuracy or compare companies’ representations.

In 2023, California introduced legislation requiring companies doing business in the state to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to bring transparency to this area. But such state-level mandates face a constitutional obstacle: the Dormant Commerce Clause, …

State Constitutional Rights And Judicial Power, Zachary D. Clopton

Northwestern University Law Review

On the one hand, we are in a moment when interest in state courts and state constitutional law is growing. Especially, though not exclusively, among those who question the Supreme Court of the United States, there are increasing calls for state supreme courts to rely on state constitutions to expand rights. On the other hand, we are in a moment when interest in reducing the power of the courts is growing. Especially, though not exclusively, among those who question the Supreme Court of the United States, there are increasingly calls for reining in judicial power.

This Essay is not an …

Non-State Actors And The Due Diligence Obligation To Protect Healthcare Facilities In Cyberspace: Is The World Prepared For The Next Pandemic?, Dr. Ardit Memeti

Pace International Law Review

This article presents a novel approach by developing a lex specialis due diligence framework based on the elements identified in the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, which by analogy, establishes sector-specific elements to protect healthcare facilities from cyberattacks by Non-State Actors (NSAs). Cyberattacks by NSAs during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks, including the disruption of essential healthcare services and hindrance of positive obligations to ensure the rights to health, life, and privacy, among others. Existing instruments, including the Budapest Convention, the Tallinn Manuals, and the Oxford Statements, offer an important but incomplete framework. Meanwhile, the recent UN Convention …

Editorial Commentary (Special Issue): Cricket And Politics, Roy Mccree, Kamilla Swart, Umer Hussain

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

Cricket’s global history cannot be separated from the political histories through which the game has traveled. Although cricket emerged as an instrument of British imperial culture, it has also become a medium of postcolonial agency, commercial expansion, diasporic belonging, and resistance to inherited hierarchies. This special issue examines those tensions across the Caribbean, Aotearoa New Zealand, India, and the United States. The four contributions analyze foreign investment and cultural extractivism in West Indies cricket; the reproduction and contestation of Pākehā norms in a cricket workplace; the glocalization of Indian Premier League (IPL) capital and culture through Major League Cricket (MLC); …

Correction To “Global Inventory Of Fluoropolymer Production Plants And Their Associated Pfas Environmental Contamination”, Anna J. Miller, Kevin Kleemann, Juliane GlüGe, Rainer Lohmann, Ian T. Cousins, Dorte Herzke, Mark F. Miller, Amanda Rensmo, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang, Martin Scheringer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Global Contributors, Local Maps: The Story Of Openstreetmap In A Small Town, Sterling Quinn

Geography Faculty Scholarship

Digital platform capitalism depends on geographic data to connect users with nearby goods and services, thus playing a role in both representing and shaping commercial landscapes. OpenStreetMap (OSM) represents a vast and low-cost geographic data source for platform capitalism; however, OSM is crowdsourced and exhibits uneven development across space, especially in rural areas. OSM researchers have observed that the map is built by a mix of local and remote volunteers, as well as corporate editors paid to identify and fill data gaps; however, deeper place-based inquiries are needed in order to better understand the process by which OSM contributors grow …

In The Problem Lies The Solution: How Digital Mindfulness Can Address The College Students’ Mental Health Crisis And Support Holistic Education, Steve Haberlin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

The mental health of today’s college students remains a serious concern. The alarming trend of greater psychological distress among undergraduates shows no signs of slowing. Excessive smartphone usage, screen time, and social media have been attributed as partial factors. However, what if forms of digital mindfulness and technology-assisted contemplative practices are the key to assisting students with stress, anxiety, depression and other problems? In this article, the author posits that innovations, such as neurofeedback-loop meditation platforms that dramatically increase focus, virtual reality platforms featuring in depth-meditation instruction, and Artificial Intelligence have the potential to address the crisis, establishing a refreshed …

Nurturing The Spiritual Core In Teachers Within The Nexus Of Science And Spirituality, Sarina C. Molina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This reflective essay explores the intersection of science and spirituality in nurturing teachers’ inner lives as a foundation for supporting student well-being. Against the backdrop of a global mental health crisis, it integrates insights from neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom traditions, and values-based education to advocate for a holistic mind–body–nature connection. Emerging research on neuroplasticity, heart–brain coherence, and self-transcendence has shown the physiological and psychological benefits of spiritual cultivation for educators. Drawing on Indigenous epistemologies, this essay highlights contemplative and heart-centered practices that foster self-transformation, resilience, and authentic relationality. Practical applications for teacher education, curriculum design, and community engagement illustrate how spiritual …

Slo Protest Against Prop 8, Marya Figueroa

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.