Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Digital Solutions For Conformity Assessment Of Legally Controlled Measuring Instruments In Tanzania, Faraja Nyoni

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The advent of state-of-the-art digital technologies since 2011 has led to the digital transformation of legal metrology practices to ensure the trustworthiness of software-controlled measuring instruments globally. Despite the digital transformation in legal metrological practices, the conformity assessment of legally controlled measuring instruments is manually done (i.e., paper-based) in Tanzania. The paper-based conformity assessment of legally controlled measuring instruments is prone to error and lacks efficiency and effectiveness. This study aimed to assess digital solutions for improving conformity assessment through a comprehensive survey conducted across various regions in Tanzania, targeting a stratified sample of 51 respondents from organizations involved in …

Optimizing The Processing Temperature For Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles Within Cellulose-Wool Keratin Supramolecular Matrix Using Butylmethylimmidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquid, Ngesa E. Mushi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

To date, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose and wool keratin biopolymer, while dissolved in ionic liquid, is attractive because of its biomedical potential. However, the optimal processing temperature for the nanoparticle formation is unclear. The previously reported temperature of approximately 120°C gives unpredictable results. The current study employs a combination of 50% cellulose and 50% keratin, along with 69 mg of silver chloride, in Butylmethylimidazolium Chloride BMImCl ionic liquid, using a single-pot process to produce a supramolecular film via non-derivatized mechanochemical interactions. The primary objective is to experimentally establish the processing temperature to achieve stable …

The Effect Of Computer-Mediated Communication On Occupational Positive Mental Health Mediated By Work-Family Enrichment In Workers In Remote Areas: Analysis Using Structural Equation Modelling, Herlando Junanta, Suryo Wibowo, Herqutanto ., Dewi Yunia Fitriani, Titis Mariyamah, Dewi Sumaryani Soemarko

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) on occupational positive mental health (OPMH) mediated by work-family enrichment (WFE) in workers in remote areas using the CMC, OPMH-40, and WFE questionnaires. Method: The latent variables in this study are CMC, OPMH, and WFE. The observed variables include all items from CMC, OPMH, and WFE. The sample technique used was total sampling, revealing that 349 workers in the project department of an oil and gas company located in the West Papua Province of Indonesia expressed their willingness to participate as research participants. To test research hypotheses using …

Metabolic And Physiological Regulation In C. Elegans: Insights Into Sperm Activation And Peroxisome-Mediated Longevity, Yash Flora

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Organelle dynamics lie at the heart of cellular signaling and metabolic regulation, orchestrating physiological processes such as reproduction and aging across the lifespan. In this dissertation, I investigate how organelle-based signaling coordinates sperm activation and modulates organismal aging in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. I identify SPIN-4, a previously uncharacterized Spinster family transporter, as a key regulator of spermiogenesis. SPIN-4 is strongly expressed in developing sperm, localizes to the plasma membrane, and promotes sperm activation by facilitating the export of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Loss of spin-4 results in defective pseudopod formation, reduced motility, and compromised fertility, phenotypes that can be rescued …

Hydration Status And Acute Kidney Injury Biomarkers In Ncaa Female Soccer Athletes During Preseason Conditioning, Daniel E Newmire, Erica M Filep, Jordan B Wainwright, Heather E Webb, Darryn S Willoughby

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Exercise training in extreme temperatures concurrent with hypohydration status may potentiate the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in young, healthy persons.

Background/Objectives: It is unknown how repeated training bouts in ambient higher temperatures and humidity may influence measures of AKI. The purpose of this study was to investigate hydration status and renal biomarkers related to AKI in NCAA Division I female soccer athletes during preseason conditioning.

Methods: A convenience sample of n = 21 athletes were recruited (mean ± SEM; age: 19.3 ± 0.25 y; height: 169.6 ± 1.36 cm; mass: 68.43 ± 2.46 kg; lean body …

Faith On The Frontlines: Exploring The Religiosity Of Ukrainian Soldiers During War, Alexander Karlsson

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Wartime religiosity among Ukrainian Christian soldiers reveals a spectrum of spiritual responses shaped by personal experience, cultural identity, and institutional dynamics. Interview-based evidence indicates that war influences religious engagement in diverse and often contradictory ways. For many, religiosity intensifies during moments of danger, functioning more as a coping mechanism than a transformation of belief. Institutional realignment may also reflect broader socio-political changes, as soldiers gravitate toward religious communities that resonate with their evolving values. For some, the adoption of Norse mythology illustrates the fluidity and adaptability of religious identity in wartime. Simultaneously, confrontations with theodicy may give rise to both …

The Paradoxical Effect: How Destruction Of Religious Buildings In Ukraine Undermined Russian Propaganda Narratives (2022-2024), Oleksandr Kostiuk, Fedir Vlasenko, Vitalii Turenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This research examines the paradoxical relationship between the destruction of religious buildings in Ukraine during the Russian invasion and the effectiveness of Russian propaganda narratives. Using a mixed-methods approach combining statistical data, sociological surveys, and document analysis, we investigate how the systematic targeting of Ukrainian religious sites by Russian forces has produced effects contrary to those likely intended. The research reveals that instead of undermining Ukrainian national identity, the destruction of churches and other religious buildings has catalyzed profound transformations in Ukraine's religious landscape, accelerated the transition of parishes from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church …

Catholic Social Services In Ukraine During The Current War Against Ukraine, Olga Nedavnya

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the organization and content of the social work of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine (RCC in Ukraine) during the ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The application of the social services of these Churches, its performers and beneficiaries, and the features of the implementation of humanitarian charity in wartime are identified. In the UGCC, social work is supervised by its Department of Social Service, in the RCC in Ukraine by the Caritas-Spes Commission, and the relevant practical activity is carried out mainly through the specific Catholic organizations …

Analyzing Focus Groups Through Poetic Dialogues: Enhancing Participant Engagement And Representation In Program Evaluation, Catherine E. Sanders, Alexa J. Lamm, Jori N. Hall, Abigail Borron, Maria Navarro, James C. Anderson Ii

The Qualitative Report

Evaluating programs in rural communities can present challenges when large, observable successes, such as infrastructure additions, are limited due to resource challenges. These successes are often quantifiable and easily identified by external stakeholders. However, there are often intangible and social impacts that should be captured as successes of rural community-focused programs that may not fit the more quantitative methodology. Arts-based methodologies, like poetic analysis, can help capture the diverse impacts of a program, while also centering the voices of program participants in the evaluation itself. This study examined the use of poetic dialogues, an application of poetic transcriptions for focus …

Navigating Identity Tensions And Emotional Struggles: Indonesian Pre-Service Teachers In The Teaching Practicum, Afrianto Daud, Minh Hue Nguyen, Raqib Chowdhury

The Qualitative Report

Despite the critical role of teaching practicums in teacher education, little is known about how pre-service teachers navigate emotional tensions in Indonesia. In this study, we aim to explore the nature of tensions and emotional struggles pre-service teachers face and their coping mechanisms. Seven pre-service teachers from the English Education department at an Indonesian public university were purposefully selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews before the practicum and a focused group discussion after the program. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to capture rich, in-depth accounts of participants’ experiences, while thematic analysis provided a structured approach to …

Hybrid War: The Influence Of The Russian Orthodox Church On The Ukrainian Media, Oksana Lytvynchuk, Andrii Shevchuk, Zoriana Hrytsyshena

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a key instrument of hybrid warfare against Ukraine. It analyzes the ROC's primary strategies for influencing Ukraine's information space, particularly through religious rhetoric manipulation and the exploitation of ecclesiastical structures to disseminate pro-Kremlin narratives. The study identifies key mechanisms of the ROC's media influence, including direct control over religious media outlets, active participation of clergy in promoting Russian propaganda narratives, financial backing of pro-Russian media projects, and systematic disinformation campaigns about Ukraine's religious landscape.

Key findings demonstrate the destructive consequences of this hybrid warfare: exacerbation of interfaith tensions leading to societal …

Religious Faith In The Context Of The Russian-Ukrainian War: Challenges And Risks, Olena Predko, Mykola Ptytsia

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the role of religious faith in the context of the russian-Ukrainian war, its impact on society, and the challenges and risks faced by religious communities and believers. The study analyzes how the war brings the issue of religious faith-seeking to the forefront, its semantic nuances, and how it transforms religious identity and the level of religiosity among the population. Special attention is given to the use of religious faith in hybrid warfare, the issue of spiritual support for both military personnel and civilians, as well as the risks associated with the politicization of religious life. The article …

The Bhagavad Gita And The Attitude Of Contemporary Ukrainian Krishna Devotees Towards The Issue Of War And Peace, Vitalii Matvieiev, Olga Dobrodum, Mykola Palinchak, Olena Hudzenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article deals with the main philosophical and ethical provisions of the Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred text, which is a part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. A special place is given to the issues related to life, death, fulfillment of duty, i.e., following one’s dharma, which should result in spiritual perfection and liberation from samsara (the cycle of death and birth). The central element of the Bhagavad-Gita is the discussion of the problems of war and peace, presented through the dialog between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The authors of the article …

Regularity, Uniqueness And The Relative Size Of Small And Large Scales In Sqg Flows, Z. Akridge, Z. Bradshaw

Mathematical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The problems of regularity and uniqueness are open for the supercritically dissipative surface quasi-geostrophic equations in certain classes. In this note we examine the extent to which small or large scales are necessarily active both for the temperature in a hypothetical blow-up scenario and for the error in hypothetical non-uniqueness scenarios, the latter understood within the class of Marchand's solutions. This extends prior work for the 3D Navier-Stokes equations. The extension is complicated by the fact that mild solution techniques are unavailable for supercritical SQG. This forces us to develop a new approach using energy methods and Littlewood-Paley theory.

Characterization And Drug Release Evaluation Of Chlorhexidine-Encapsulated Silica Nanoparticles For Potential Root Canal Disinfection, Widya Rakhmawati, Andrie Harmaji, Fanni Kusuma Djati, Bambang Sunendar

Makara Journal of Science

The failure of root canal treatments is often attributed to bacterial invasion of the dentinal tubules, where pathogens can persist and complicate healing. Chlorhexidine digluconate, a potent antimicrobial agent, has been widely utilized for its broad-spectrum antibacterial effects. However, challenges remain in achieving efficient distribution and sustained release within the root canal system. This study investigates the encapsulation of chlorhexidine digluconate within silica nanoparticles as a novel drug delivery system that is aimed at improving root canal treatment outcomes. Silica nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method and subsequently immersed in a 2% chlorhexidine digluconate solution for 15 to 30 …

Qris Adoption And Utilization: Examining Gen Z’S Digital Payment Behavior Among Indonesian Vocational Students, Febri Andriyani, Beatrix Siagian, Pijar Suciati, Ajenk Citra

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

The rapid growth of digital payment systems has significantly influenced consumer behavior, particularly among Generation Z, who readily adopt cashless transactions. This study examines the adoption and usage of QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) as a payment method at the Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (Vokasi UI) canteen. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from 145 respondents through a structured survey with Stratified Random Sampling to ensure representativeness. The findings reveal that 98% of respondents actively use QRIS, and 100% expressed confidence in understanding its functionality. Users rated QRIS as practical and reliable (100%) and secure (98%), …

Correlation Between Drug-Related Problems And The Treatment Cost For Geriatric Ischemic Stroke Patients In Tulungagung, Dhanang Prawira Nugraha, Martanty Aditya

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Ischemic stroke was one of the diseases that frequently occurred in geriatric patients, while hemorrhagic stroke had a higher prevalence. Geriatric patients who experienced a stroke were not exempt from drug-related problems (DRP) due to the complexity of treatment and comorbid factors they encountered. This study aimed to determine the correlation between DRP and the cost of care for ischemic stroke patients, particularly in the geriatric population. The study design was cross-sectional, with data collected retrospectively, and the sample comprised 53 geriatric stroke patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. DRP was assessed using the PCNE 6.2 criteria, and …

Production And Characterization Of Biodiesel From Malapari Seed Oil (Pongamia Pinnata L.): Evaluation Of Quality Parameters Based On The Indonesian National Standard (Sni) 04-7182-2015, Desi Adriyanti Nina Taebenu, Ni Luh Arpiwi, Ida Ayu Astarini

Makara Journal of Science

This study produced biodiesel from Malapari seed oil (Pongamia pinnata L.) by optimizing the esterification and transesterification processes. The objectives of this study were to determine the sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) catalyst concentration in the esterification reaction that can reduc the free fatty acid (FFA) content of the seed oil to ≤2%, analyze the oil to methanol molar ratio (i.e.,1:6, 1:9, and 1:12) and KOH concentration (i.e.,2%, 4%, and 6%) that will produce the highest biodiesel yield, and evaluate the quality of the produced biodiesel according to the Indonesian National Standar (SNI) 04-7182-2015. The research was …

Effect Of Mercury Dose Variation On Growth And Nitrate Reductase Activity In Aquarius Palifolius (Nees & Mart.) Christenh. & Byng, Tsurayya Nurhanifah, Dwi Umi Siswanti

Makara Journal of Science

Mercury, a byproduct of mining, can harm the environment. One method to reduce this impact is through phytoremediation. This study used the Mexican sword (Aquarius palifolius), a plant with the potential to absorb and accumulate mercury. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mercury stress on nitrate reductase activity, which plays a role in plant productivity, and to assess its impact on growth parameters, including plant height growth rate, leaf length, and number of leaves. Three-month-old A. palifolius plants obtained from rice fields in Sleman were treated with mercury at doses of 0, 14, …

Development Of An Ann-Based Predictive Model For The Efficient Treatment Of Industrial Wastewater, Alisher Khudoyberdi Ugli Rakhimov, Hasan Siddiq Ugli Murodov, Farrukh Bakhtiyorovich Igitov, Shuhrat Ahmadjonovich Mutalov, Jaloliddin Abdurazzakovich Eshbobaev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The effective removal of free chlorine ions from industrial wastewater is critical to ensure process safety, minimize equipment corrosion, and protect aquatic environments. In this study, a laboratory-scale activated carbon filtration system was developed and tested to treat chlorine-contaminated water collected from sludge collectors at industrial facilities. A total of 200 experimental trials were conducted under varied operational conditions, including changes in flow rate, initial chlorine concentration, pressure, pH, temperature, and activated carbon dosage. The resulting dataset was used to train a predictive model based on a feedforward backpropagation artificial neural network (ANN) implemented in MATLAB. The ANN model demonstrated …

The Enjoyment Of Live Magic And Its Relation To Other Forms Of Entertainment, Gustav Kuhn, Emma Rustruck ;, Srishti Kiran Pattundeed, Rebecca Chamberlain

School of Psychology

Magic is a performance art that allows us to experience the impossible. We present data from a questionnaire-based study that examined how the liveness and social and physical proximities of a magic performance affects people’s enjoyment and how this relates to other forms of entertainment. We found moderate to strong evidence to suggest a preference for magic performances that were live to when they were presented on video, but this preference for live performances was also found for dance, theatre, visual arts and sport, but not for film music and comedy. People’s enjoyment of live magic correlated positively with all …

Friction Points Between The Eu Data Act And Wto Law, Pedro R. Borges De Carvalho

Indian Journal of International Economic Law

It has been noted that many of the provisions of the EU Data Act are protectionist in character, seemingly designed to guard data as a national resource to be explored by EU actors first and foremost, and not to be exported, to the detriment of third-country companies. To international trade treaty partners, most notably the United States, it may seem as though the EU’s policy of digital sovereignty, in its current contours, risks violating WTO Law, which is premised on ideals of global free trade and comparative advantage. This essay analyses the most problematic provision of the Data Act in …

Advancements In Mooring Systems For The Oe35 Wave Energy Converter: Dynamic Design And Validation, Chenyu Zhao, Faryal Khalid, Tony Lewis, Sean Barrett, Brian Mcswiney, Rémy Cr. Pascal, Bernardo Kahn, Lars Johanning

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This research presents a comprehensive analysis of the mooring system design for the 1 MW OE35 wave energy converter, which is being developed by the WEDUSEA project. The study centres on the dynamic analysis of mooring configurations using Orcaflex software to simulate the environmental and operational conditions expected at the deployment site. The analysis involved an iterative design and validation process, refined through both numerical modelling and basin testing. These tank tests were crucial for validating the Orcaflex model outcomes by providing a controlled environment to observe the physical behaviours of the proposed mooring configurations under simulated sea conditions. The …

Effect Of Genotype On Herbivory And Growth Rate In Heliconia Stricta In A Common Garden Experiment In The Amazon, Xaali O’Reilly-Berkeley, Abhiraj Chakraborty, Javier L. Patiño Uyaguari, Hannah L. Mossman, Richard F. Preziosi, Jennifer K. Rowntree

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Plant genotype is known to affect plant-invertebrate interactions. However, in megadiverse tropical habitats there has been relatively little exploration of the influence of the plant genotype on plant growth and biotic interactions in an experimental setting. We set-up three adjacent plots in rainforest at the foothills of the Andes (Orellana, Ecuador), where we planted clones of 37 individual Heliconia stricta rhizomes collected from up to 4 km away. Each rhizome was split into at least three individual pieces, resulting in three genetically identical replicates. At least one representative of each genotype was planted in each plot. Shoot height was measured …

Foreign Language Learning Enjoyment And Anxiety: The Effects Of Teacher Variables And Online Class Environment, Xiaoyan Wei

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study explores the relationship between foreign language classroom enjoyment (FLE), foreign language classroom anxiety (FLA), teacher-related factors in online classroom environment. An online survey was conducted with 118 English as second language learners from junior high schools in China. The results indicate a moderate negative correlation between FLE and FLA. Overall, students in online classrooms reported higher levels of FLE compared to offline classrooms. Five teacher personality traits (e.g., teacher likability, humor, and friendliness) account for 60.4% of the variance in foreign language enjoyment, while they can only predict 12.9% of the changes in anxiety and 39.6% in motivation, …

Do They Already Know? Level Of Gender Language Sensitivity Among Education Students, Bethany P. Villanueva, Azil Jane Guingguing, Bryan Abondo, Diane Deuna, Adelyne Abrea

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study, conducted within a Philippine educational setting, assessed gender language sensitivity among education students. Completing two tests, the gender-neutral pronoun usage test and the gender-sensitive language test, 255 randomly selected first- and second-year students participated. Additional qualitative data was gathered through a focus group discussion. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance and Z-tests revealed no significant differences in the use of gender-neutral pronouns based on year level, program, gender identity, and preferred pronouns. However, a significant difference was observed in using gender-sensitive language based on year level and preferred pronouns. Overall, the respondents demonstrated a beginning level of proficiency …

Interdisciplinary Comparison Of Verb Complementation Patterns In Selected Nigerian University Course Textbooks: Insights From Humanities And Natural Sciences, Scholastica Chinyere Amadi

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This paper describes the variation in the distributions and use of verb complementation types and patterns in selected academic textbooks. The theoretical framework is Chomsky’s phrase structure grammar. The data, obtained from the first chapters, titled, ‘General introduction’ and ‘Atom and its structure’ of purposively selected English Studies and Physics textbooks, comprising 473 transitive verb phrases are manually analyzed. The findings reveal that three verb complementation types, mono-transitive, intensive, and complex-transitive, vary in patterns across the two textbooks with the mono-transitive V+NP and intensive V+NP patterns being dominant in English while the complex-transitive V+PP pattern dominates in Physics. The findings …

Obesity And Smoking Status: Relationships With Specific Pulmonary Functions In University Of Babylon College Of Pharmacy Students, Safa W. Aziz

Muthanna Medical Journal

Adult pulmonary function impairment is associated with both smoking and obesity, albeit the consequences vary from person to person. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between smoking and obesity and their relationship to specific pulmonary functions in a selected group of the population (University of Babylon College of Pharmacy students, Iraq). Materials and Methods: The observational study was carried out on 90 male students at the college pharmacy in the University of Babylon, Iraq. Students enrolled in this study were aged between 19-23 years. The control group (30 males) from general students in the college pharmacy without smoking, …

Mono And Polymicrobial Biofilm Formation By Candida Species And Staphylococcus Aureus, Ghadeer Ali Saad, Mohammad Hashim Al-Yasiri

Muthanna Medical Journal

Polymicrobial biofilms, composed of fungi and bacteria such as Candida and Staphylococcus aureus, exhibit interactions dependent on environmental factors and organism type. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of S. aureus and Candida species to construct mono and polymicrobial biofilms. Candida species and S. aureus were isolated from various clinical sources. The identification of these isolates was based on morphological and biochemical characteristics as well as using Vitek 2 compact. Biofilm formation was evaluated using flat-bottom microtiter plate assay with crystal violet. A total of 41 S. aureus, 15 C. tropicalis, 14 C. …

Cross-Section Study Of Iron Deficiency Anemia In A Group Of Adolescents: Frequency And Contributing Factors, Murtaza Hassan Hadi, Mostafa Abdalla Abdelkareem, Nasser Ghaly Yousif

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains a significant global health concern, particularly among adolescents. This study investigated the prevalence and contributing factors of IDA among adolescents at Al Hussain Teaching Hospital, addressing a critical knowledge gap in the Iraqi healthcare context. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 77 adolescent patients (ages 12-18 years) from October 01, 2024, to January 30, 2025. Data collection included hemoglobin levels, serum ferritin measurements, dietary iron intake assessment, and socioeconomic status evaluation. Statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for categorical variables, and multivariate analysis to identify contributing factors. Results: The …