Actual Context Research Articles

From responsibilization to responsibility: justifications of everyday ecological practices of Moscow youth and worth of proactivity

ABSTRACT In modernity, responsibilization has become a tool for addressing public issues in citizens’ access to public goods, including the sphere of environmental protection. In Russia, having insufficient institutional, legislative, political, and discursive support, the emphasis has lately been put on the role of individuals in protecting the environment. Taking account of the ambivalent context of environmental activity, this paper aims to reconstruct the justifications that environmentally engaged youth in Moscow attach to their environmental engagement. We focus on the case of Moscow as a ‘bridge’ between the Western templates and the local institutional setting. The empirical basis of the research is 36 in-depth interviews with Muscovites, who are persistently engaged in caring for the environment. The empirical results show that the environmental engagement of the youth is justified as an anchor of one’s identity of a reflexive, autonomous, self-managing subject. The results allow to broaden the concept of responsibility and citizenship among the youth in the states where a clash between neoliberal policies of responsibilization and the actual institutional context can be observed.

CYRIL AND METHODIUS AS PRECURSORS OF THE ‘RUS’ WORLD’: THE IMAGE OF THE SOLUN BROTHERS AND RUSSIAN IMPERIALISM

This article analyses the recent Russian Orthodox discourse on the Solun Brothers. This analysis shows, on the one hand, that the politicised interpretation of the mission of Cyril and Methodius is not a recent ideological innovation, but appeals to the same motives that made their cult popular in 19th-century Russian Orthodoxy. On the other hand, the reinterpretation of the meaning of their mission that is currently taking place is acquiring additional political objectives harmonised with those of Russian state ideology, as well as cultural and foreign policy, especially in relation to the post-Soviet area. At the same time, however, the religious significance of Cyril and Methodius is almost disappearing from church discourse and theological reflection. A common element of Russian discourse on the Solun Brothers, in both the 19th and 21st centuries, is ahistoricity, understood as a complete disconnection from the actual historical context in which Cyril and Methodius lived and worked .

Digital Communication of Conscientious Brands: Case Studies

In the actual context, it is increasingly crucial for brands to act with a conscience and communicate their environmental and social commitments to gain social legitimacy from stakeholders. Despite the relevance of this issue, limited studies provide insight into conscientious communication. Specifically, there is a dearth of research in the conscientious brand literature on how conscience-driven brands can communicate in digital environments. Indeed, brands may benefit from digital touchpoints by increasing social acceptance. The proposed paper aims to provide a conscientious communication definition and explore requirements that conscientious brands can fulfil to communicate their conscientiousness to stakeholders in the online context. The findings emerging from secondary data-based case studies offer a preliminary definition of conscientious communication and initial answers to what conscientious brands communicate (main contents), to whom (main audience), for what objectives (functions), how (main principles) and where (main digital means and channels) they communicate. Furthermore, the paper provides a compass to orient managers and practitioners toward conscientious communication strategies and practices to achieve environmental, social, and governance goals. This study broadens the debate on conscientious brands and offers theoretical insights into social legitimacy. Finally, it paves the way for future research in this emerging field.

Brand new: how visual context shapes initial response to logos and corporate visual identity systems

PurposeWhen a new logo is released, it does not have an established meaning in the mind of the viewer. As logos have become more highly scrutinized by consumers and critics, it has become more important to understand viewers’ initial responses to logos. While other studies have researched the impact of aesthetic choices on viewer reaction to logos, this study aims to understand the effect of the surrounding visual identity system when a new logo is introduced.Design/methodology/approachThis study combines a content analysis of 335 posts on the logo review website Brand New with the voting data from their polls to understand how visual context correlates with a viewer’s initial response.FindingsIncreased amounts of visual context correlate to an improved response from viewers. Different types of context that can be presented – from logo variations and environmental examples to videos and animation – have varied effects.Practical implicationsWhen releasing a new logo, companies and organizations may receive a better response from viewers if they provide more visual context. Animations may also provide an improved response.Originality/valueThis study takes a novel approach to exploring viewer responses to logos by combining content analysis with voting data. While most studies use fictitious or abstract logo designs, this study uses actual logos and context to better understand viewer responses.

Pseudo dense counterfactual augmentation for aspect-based sentiment analysis

Aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) is a fine-grained text classification task, and the cutting-edge ABSA models have achieved outstanding performance. Unfortunately, the robustness of these ABSA models is neglected. ABSA models must face numerous challenges to be robust, and we concentrate on one of these challenges caused by negation words, such as “not”, “un-”. In the actual context, these negation words intuitively result in two problems: negative sensitivity and spurious correlation. First, a negation word tends to reverse the sentiment polarity of a sentence. Meanwhile, in the ABSA datasets, most sentences containing negation words express Negative polarities, which will lead the predictive model to learn the spurious correlation between negation words and polarities. To resolve these ambiguous issues, we are inspired by causal inference and propose a novel data augmentation framework, namely Pseudo Dense Counterfactual Augmentation (PDCaug) for ABSA. Specifically, we initialize a pseudo sequence and employ a multi-head multi-layer attention network to achieve counterfactual augmentation for a vanilla sentence in the hidden space. This pseudo sequence will be adversarially trained. PDCaug is a plug-and-play method for various ABSA models, so we evaluate it on discriminative models and generative prompt-based models. Our extensive experiments show that our PDCaug can significantly and consistently outperform several data augmentation methods and ABSA models.

From Research to Practice: Strengthening the Irish National Code of Professional and Ethical Frameworks for Librarianship

ABSTRACTAll over the world, libraries are facing fraught political and economically insecure times; books are being banned, marginalised communities are being protested, and Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) are struggling to narrow the digital divide to support a well‐informed society. This poster explores the connection between the competencies required by two professional library organisations and the reality of Irish library and information professionals in their actual work context. Our initial data collection consisted of a quantitative survey with 897 Irish library‐based participants. The preliminary analysis suggests the need for the strengthening of an Irish national code of professional and ethical framework, which would be of benefit to LIPs and Irish society. These ethics and values statements are the foundational pillars on which knowledge, skills, and professional abilities are built.

Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Communicative English for Chinese Learners (Integrated Course) From the Perspective of Ecosophy

Abstract Textbooks may reflect a certain ecosophy through the linguistic elements of the content that significantly influences students’ values. This analysis selected 88 discourses from the reading sections of Communicative English for Chinese Learners (Integrated Course), from Books 1 to 4, designed for undergraduate English majors. Based on Systemic Functional Linguistics, the title and the illustration of the reading sections are analyzed to ascertain whether the ideology they reflect is in accord with the ecosophy, that is, the harmonious coexistence of humans, nature, and the development of society. After conducting a textual analysis, all multimodal discourses that can reflect clear ecosophy conform to this idea. Concerning illustrations, seven of them are at variance with the ecosophy. As for the analysis of the logico-semantic relations between image and text, only three discourses are found at variance with the ecosophy, but in actual pedagogical context, these three discourses aim to arouse the thinking of the audience about people’s inappropriate conduct and arouse their ecological consciousness.

AN ANALYSIS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING IN THE PROCEDURE TEXT LESSON PLAN

It has been a big issue that the quality of teacher candidates or teachers in Indonesia in conducting learning activities in lesson plans. This research aims to analyse the appropriateness between main learning activities with the syntax of problem-based learning and student worksheet. There are five syntaxes which analysed in this research including student orientation to the problem, organizing students, individual and group research guide, development and presenting the work, and analyse and evaluate the problem-solving process. This study employed descriptive qualitative method. The data was the procedure text lesson plan designed by English teacher from senior high school. The data were collected using observation sheet. Data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing were used to analyse this research data. The findings of this research reveal that teacher creates systematically main learning activities which is required the core of each syntax of problem-based learning. In addition, the main learning activities had implemented student-centered learning through interactive questions and answers, individual assignments, pair assignments and group discussion. It also finds that teacher conducted student’s worksheet which is in accordance with the learning activities and served actual or daily context of situations being discussed as the point of Problem-based Learning model.

The impact of normative appeals and affective priming on public service announcements (PSAs) – a moderating role of self-construals

PurposeIt is believed that the effectiveness of public service announcements (PSAs) in persuading recipients to engage in the advocated behavior may be influenced by the content of PSAs, the recipient and the context in which the recipient is exposed to the PSA. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the persuasive process of PSAs with respect to these three aspects. Specifically, how the normative appeals used in PSA, affective priming and self-construals of recipients influence the recipients' behavioral intention is investigated.Design/methodology/approachBetween-subject experiments were conducted to collect data. The proposed hypotheses were verified by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Process macro.FindingsResults show that participants with sad emotional experiences exhibit significantly higher behavioral intention after exposure to PSA compared to those with joy primed. However, the difference in behavioral intention between participants with guilt and neutral emotional experiences was insignificant. Concerning normative appeals, descriptive norms are more persuasive than injunctive norms. In addition, participants' self-construals moderate the relationship between normative appeals and behavioral intention.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, this study selected a group of college students as participants and used “Empty Your Plate” campaign as stimulus. Future research should test this mechanism with different samples. Second, this study only tested the effect of print advertising. Future research may examine whether these findings still work with advertisement in different formats. Moreover, future research should investigate the impact of priming guilt that is related to the PSA themes on PSAs' persuasive outcomes. Finally, this study only explored the moderating role of self-construals. Other personal traits were not investigated in current study need to be further explored.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the effectiveness of PSA and have practical implications for PSA practitioners. Firstly, descriptive norms can be used more frequently to improve the effectiveness of PSAs. Secondly, negative emotion exerts a positive influence on persuasive outcomes, so PSA practitioners can arrange media planning more rationally. Furthermore, they can adapt their normative appeals to the self-construal characteristics of their primary audiences to achieve their communication goals more effectively. This study reveals the effectiveness mechanism of PSA in the Chinese context, and thus meets practical needs.Social implicationsThis research will help improve the effectiveness of PSAs to protect the public interest and alleviate social problems by optimizing media planning strategies and increasing the willingness of viewers to change their behavior.Originality/valueThis study enriches theory in PSAs about persuading individuals to engage in prosocial behaviors and provides evidence from China that is rarely seen. In addition, this study contributes to optimizing PSA practice by restoring the actual PSA delivery context in the experimental situation.

Towards Intergenerational Transfer to Raise Awareness about the Benefits and Co-Benefits of Energy Retrofits in Residential Buildings

The LES Project (LES-Llavor Energètica i Salut. Del cole a casa i a la societat, in English: Energy and Health Seed. From school to home and society) is seen as an opportunity to increase the visibility of the role of science and women scientists in their actual contexts and to present architectural research as essential in mitigating climate change and improving people’s health. The goal of this research was to reach the greatest range of people possible through intergenerational transfer. However, the main receptors and drivers were students aged between 8 and 10 years old who were responsible for transmitting energy and environmental conditioning concepts and their interrelations with strategic performance in buildings. Awareness was raised through scientific workshops implemented in primary schools that had energy and air quality deficiencies and opportunities, and the concepts were extrapolated to housing. Two schools in different socioeconomic districts (vulnerable and middle-income families) were selected as a strategy to provide details about the perceptions of energy benefits in both schools’ families. The results of the experience were highly satisfactory. Children from 8 to 10 years old were interested and ready to understand and transfer key concepts about energy efficiency and health improvement through the transformation of the buildings surrounding them. The dissemination of the project and social awareness reached the primary students of the two schools selected for the project and the entire educational community (students, teachers, families and all of society). Currently, we are working on a second stage that will allow for a broad volume of replicability of the workshops, with schoolteachers taking the lead in these actions. For this purpose, LES has the support of the Department of Education of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Contesting the Shifting Center of World Christianity to Africa: Methodological Reconsiderations

Abstract This essay contests the regnant narratives that the center of gravity of Christianity is shifting to Africa. First, it is not always clear what theorists mean as to what constitutes the centering of Christianity and what ‘shifting centers’ mean beyond the claims of the demographic, social and cultural history of Christian expansion. Furthermore, the field of world Christianity and the methods for studying it continue to evolve, pointing more to a divergence than a convergence in both method and subject matter. Through critical study of old and emerging methodologies, the essay proposes that the claims about world Christianity and its variants and features in Africa must be rethought in ways that give value to the actual faith and context of Africans. The essay proposes four possible approaches for developing an account of Christianity in Africa and the world, focusing on theological, missional, and biblical prescriptive perspectives, that complement the predominant descriptive, sociological, and historical accounts of Christian expansion in Africa in current scholarship.

A Virtual, 3D Multimodal Approach to Victim and Crime Scene Reconstruction.

In the last two decades, forensic pathology and crime scene investigations have seen a rapid increase in examination tools due to the implementation of several imaging techniques, e.g., CT and MR scanning, surface scanning and photogrammetry. These tools encompass relatively simple visualization tools to powerful instruments for performing virtual 3D crime scene reconstructions. A multi-modality and multiscale approach to a crime scene, where 3D models of victims and the crime scene are combined, offers several advantages. A permanent documentation of all evidence in a single 3D environment can be used during the investigation phases (e.g., for testing hypotheses) or during the court procedures (e.g., to visualize the scene and the victim in a more intuitive manner). Advanced computational approaches to understand what might have happened during a crime can also be applied by, e.g., performing a virtual animation of the victim in the actual context, which can provide important information about possible dynamics during the event. Here, we present an overview of the different techniques and modalities used in forensic pathology in conjunction with crime scene investigations. Based on our experiences, the advantages and challenges of an image-based multi-modality approach will be discussed, including how their use may introduce new visualization modalities in court, e.g., virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. Finally, considerations about future directions in research will be mentioned.

Toward a Context-Aware Course-Planning Model in Pervasive Learning Environments

This article proposes a context-aware course-planning model for pervasive learning environments. The model considers learners’ preferences, including their learning styles, locations, activities, and devices. The model generates four-dimensional contexts based on these preferences, each dimension being a weighted vector of visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic (VARK) features. Using a content-based similarity algorithm, the model adapts the course content to each learner’s context. The courses are created in a sequence of rings, each containing all possible learning materials (LMs) that have the same content in different formats. Each LM is represented by a vector with weights like those of the learners’ context dimensions. The model generates all possible plans based on the predefined contexts of the learner, detects the learner’s actual context, and adapts the content accordingly. The goal of the model is to enable learners to learn what they want, in the way they prefer, and to complete courses efficiently, at any time, place, and during any activity, in the appropriate format.

Thermal Evaluation of Silica-Based Insulated Magnet Wires from the Sol-Gel Process.

The conventional enameling process used in the fabrication of magnet wires requires harmful processes and products. The target of the industry in the actual context of electrification is to increase the electrical machines' efficiency. Indeed, the electrical insulation systems (EIS) of an electrical machine undergo various environmental constraints that can shorten their lifespans. Consequently, aspects of the insulation need to be improved, such as its thermal resistance. One of the challenges is to implement sustainable technology without losing performance. This work consists of the thermal performance evaluation of new magnet wires insulated by three types of composites of silica-based solution from the Sol-gel process and amorphous polyamide-imide (PAI). These composite coats are overcoated by an extruded thermoplastic resin with and without fillers. Different types of insulation are tested and compared to determine the better configuration. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, curing characteristics by tangent delta curve, and thermal-aging tests at three temperatures were carried out on the different EIS systems. Dielectric measurements were made between thermal-aging cycles. Their basic mechanical, electrical, and thermal characteristics are promising: the cut-through temperature is situated above 430 °C, their breakdown voltage values are between 5 kV and 9 kV (grade 3), and a good adhesion (overcoming more than 140 turns on a peel test). The thermal-aging results have been consistent with the TGA analysis results. The thermal index following the IEC standards was estimated for the selected EIS, which would have the main basic characteristics of a magnet wire of 200 class; moreover, it would be a greener enameled wire compared to the conventional one.

The Perspective of Pre-Service Teachers through Synchronous Learning According to Coaching and Mentoring: SAIFON Guidelines

This research aims to enhance pre-service teachers' English language teaching ability in the 21st Century toward SAIFON guidelines. The population consists of 40 Rajabhat University pre-service teachers, and the sample group consists of 25 students of fifth-year pre-service teachers. They studied in the second semester of the 2020 academic year. The tools used in the research are 1) Need analysis, 2) In-depth interview, and  3) Field notes. Mixed Method research includes Qualitative Research,  In-depth interviews, Field notes, using content analysis and coding techniques for grounded theory, and quantitative research consists of a Need analysis.  
 The results revealed that:      
 Pre-service teachers enhance teaching English ability in the 21st Century toward SAIFON guidelines that consisted of eight aspects: 1) S = Survey the teachers' needs, 2) A= Associating with a plan, 3)  I = Instructing teaching strategies, 4) F = Feedback on teaching demonstration, 5) O = Observing teaching in the actual context, and 6) N = Notifying problems and solutions. Furthermore, it included pre-service teachers' perspectives on Synchronous Learning in three aspects: impressions, problems, and solutions.

Exploring Factors Conditioning the Expression of Botryosphaeria Dieback in Grapevine for Integrated Management of the Disease.

Species from the Botryosphaeriaceae family are the causal agents of Botryosphaeria dieback (BD), a worldwide grapevine trunk disease. Because of their lifestyle and their adaptation to a wide range of temperatures, these fungi constitute a serious threat to vineyards and viticulture, especially in the actual context of climate change. Grapevine plants from both nurseries and vineyards are very susceptible to infections by botryosphaeriaceous fungi due to several cuts and wounds made during their propagation process and their entire life cycle, respectively. When decline becomes chronic or apoplectic, it reduces the longevity of the vineyard and affects the quality of the wine, leading to huge economic losses. Given the environmental impact of fungicides, and their short period of effectiveness in protecting pruning wounds, alternative strategies are being developed to fight BD fungal pathogens and limit their propagation. Among them, biological control has been recognized as a promising and sustainable alternative. However, there is still no effective strategy for combating this complex disease, conditioned by both fungal life traits and host tolerance traits, in relationships with the whole microbiome/microbiota. To provide sound guidance for an effective and sustainable integrated management of BD, by combining the limitation of infection risk, tolerant grapevine cultivars, and biological control, this review explores some of the factors conditioning the expression of BD in grapevine. Among them, the lifestyle of BD-associated pathogens, their pathogenicity factors, the cultivar traits of tolerance or susceptibility, and the biocontrol potential of Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma spp. are discussed.

Multi-objective reinforcement learning-based framework for solving selective maintenance problems in reconfigurable cyber-physical manufacturing systems

ABSTRACT Unlike mass production manufacturing systems, where configurations are rarely changed after the initial design, reconfigurable cyber-physical systems (RCPMS) self-change their structures throughout missions and thus self-adjust production in response to demand requirements. Accordingly, such a paradigm requires enhancing selective maintenance strategy to optimise scheduling maintenance actions, selecting configuration layouts for capacity and product family changes, and achieving maintenance cost reduction and reliability maximisation. This paper is the first to propose a robust model for a selective maintenance problem with imperfect repairs in the RCPMS context. The model also integrates uncertainties originating from the imperfect observations of components' health status. The model's objectives are to maximise the expected reliability and minimise the variance and maintenance cost under maintenance resource constraints. Moreover, we propose a new deep reinforcement learning framework for solving the resulting multi-objective and combinatorial optimisation problem. In addition, we use decision values to enhance the scalarisation process by permitting the priorities of specific objectives to be adjusted after the learning process. Furthermore, we employ Analytical Hierarchy Process to adjust the static priorities with respect to the objective functions and the actual learning context. Finally, broad experiments are conducted to highlight the performance of the proposed model and resolution framework.

Proposed Farm Information Management System Design and Database Management for Recommendation Fertilizer and Financial Record Feature

This study proposes a comprehensive Farm Information Management System (FIMS) design and database management strategy for addressing the specific requirements of Indonesian agriculture, with a particular emphasis on fertilizer recommendation and financial record management. The study employs the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology as a framework for directing the system’s design, development, and implementation. The goal of the FIMS is to provide producers with a user-friendly interface to access accurate fertilizer recommendations based on crop-specific requirements and local soil conditions. Additionally, the system includes a robust financial record function to aid producers in effectively managing their income, expenses, and investments. The proposed SDLC-based approach assures a structured and methodical development process, including requirements analysis, system design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. Using the SDLC methodology, this study seeks to develop a scalable, secure, and interoperable FIMS that can be effectively integrated into Indonesia’s existing agricultural infrastructure. The effectiveness and usability of the proposed system will be determined through extensive testing and evaluation to ensure its suitability and functionality in actual agricultural contexts. Ultimately, the proposed Farm Information Management System, developed using the SDLC method, aims to empower Indonesian farmers with optimized fertilizer recommendations and streamlined financial record management, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture practices, and enhanced economic incomes for the nations.

Fostering Pancasila Student Profile through Learning Civics at Mis Weigh Opponents

This article aims to reveal the implementation and form of fostering the profile of Pancasila students through Civics learning at MIS Timbang Lawan. To explore and uncover meaning in the actual context, this study uses qualitative research with interview, observation, and documentation data collection methods. And the triangulation technique is a way to assess the validity of the data in this study. The results of the study were obtained as follows. First, Civics learning planning understands students in terms of fostering Pancasila student profiles designed in accordance with the school curriculum. Second, the implementation of Civics learning in accordance with the RPP by including the values of profile building on Pancasila in Civics learning. Third, the development of Pancasila student profiles in Civics learning with six main characteristics, Pancasila students represent Indonesian students as lifelong learners who are culturally competent and operate in accordance with Pancasila values which include Faith, piety to God Almighty, ethics, independence, teamwork, cultural diversity, critical thinking, and creativity. The results showed that students were not only intellectually developed but also had a character in accordance with the ideals of Pancasila. Of course, to meet the goals of nation and state, a deeper understanding of inclusion is also needed.

A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Effectiveness and Perceptions of Learning English Collocations Using the Keyword Method and the Rote Learning Method.

This study investigated the effectiveness, as well as EFL learners' perceptions, of the keyword method (KWM) in comparison to the rote learning method (RLM) for the learning of English collocations. A controlled laboratory-like setting was adopted for randomly assigning participants to the KWM group (n = 15) or the RLM group (n = 15). After receiving training on the use of the respective strategy, the two participant groups applied the respective strategy to the learning of collocations. Collocations were assessed at three different time periods, and additional data regarding perceptions of the two strategies were elicited through one-on-one post hoc interviews. The quantitative data revealed that the KWM was superior to the RLM in terms of the long-term retention of productive collocation knowledge; knowledge of adjective-noun collocations was retained better than verb-noun collocations. The qualitative data revealed that participants deemed that the KWM was unfamiliar but effective. Additionally, participants claimed that the RLM was facile but may result in a high rate of forgetting. The pedagogical implications are that foreign language teachers should encourage language learners to use the KWM for learning English collocations. Although the KWM has been recommend by many researchers, it is still rarely advocated for by foreign language instructors. Therefore, it is important that both EFL learners and teachers should be aware of the KWM's long-term retention effects on the learning of English collocations and apply this vocabulary learning strategy (VLS) in their actual learning and teaching context.